Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Thunnus albacares in Isla del Coco National Park through Predictive Habitat Suitability Models

Information on the distribution and habitat preferences of ecologically and commercially important species is essential for their management and protection. This is especially important as climate change, pollution, and overfishing change the structure and functioning of pelagic ecosystems. In this study, we used Bayesian hierarchical spatial-temporal models to map the Essential Fish Habitats of the Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the waters around Isla del Coco National Park, Pacific Costa Rica, based on independent underwater observations from 1993 to 2013. We assessed if observed changes in the distribution and abundance of this species are related with habitat characteristics, fishing intensity or more extreme climatic events, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation, and changes on the average sea surface temperature. Yellowfin tuna showed a decreasing abundance trend in the sampled period, whereas higher abundances were found in shallow and warmer waters, with high concentration of chlorophyll-a, and in surrounding seamounts. In addition, El Niño Southern Oscillation events did not seem to affect Yellowfin tuna distribution and abundance. Understanding the habitat preferences of this species, using approaches as the one developed here, may help design integrated programs for more efficient management of vulnerable species.Marine Stewardship Council/[]/MSC/LondresUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR

Determinación in vitro de la potencia del extracto de pituitaria del pargo mancha (Lutjanus guttatus) (Steindachner, 1869)

López Garro, A. M. (2004). Determinación in vitro de la potencia del extracto de pituitaria del pargo mancha (Lutjanus guttatus) (Steindachner, 1869). [Tesis de Licenciatura]. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.El pargo mancha (L. guttatus), es una especie de gran importancia en las pesquerías de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica. Debido al descenso en la producción pesquera y al apetecido valor de su carne en el mercado, surge la necesidad de reproducir esta especie en cautiverio por parte del sector acuícola nacional. Para esto se deben controlar diferentes etapas del ciclo de vida, tales como reproducción, crecimiento, nutrición, etc Para el caso de L. guttatus su reproducción ha sido posible mediante la inducción hormonal con compuestos sintéticos como la HCG, OVAPRIM, etc. Además, se utilizan extractos de la pituitaria de algunos peces como la carpa (SPC). En esta investigación se determinó la potencia del extracto de pituitaria del pargo mancha (SPPM 9 y $) en UI (Unidades Internacionales), mediante la técnica in vitro. Para ello se aplicaron diferentes tratamientos o concentraciones de HCG y SSM (® y 3) a oocitos maduros, midiendo el incremento en diámetro y madurez a las 24 y 48 horas (IDP24-48 y IMP24-48) de exposición.The spotted snapper (L. guttatus) is a species of great importance in the fisheries of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Due to the decrease in fishing production and the desired value of its meat in the market, the need arises to reproduce this species in captivity by the national aquaculture sector. For this, different stages of the life cycle must be controlled, such as reproduction, growth, nutrition, etc. In the case of L. guttatus, its reproduction has been possible through hormonal induction with synthetic compounds such as HCG, OVAPRIM, etc. In addition, extracts from the pituitary of some fish such as carp (SPC) are used. In this investigation, the potency of the pituitary extract of the spotted snapper (SPPM 9 y$ ) in IU (International Units) was determined, using the in vitro technique. For this, different treatments or concentrations of HCG and SSM (® and 3) were applied to mature oocytes, measuring the increase in diameter and maturity at 24 and 48 hours (IDP24-48 and IMP24-48) of exposure.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Ciencias Biológica

Relevance of the ancestry for the variability of the Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms in a multiethnic Costa Rican population

CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 metabolize around 40 % of drugs and their genes vary across populations. The Costa Rican population has a trihybrid ancestry and its key geographic location turns it into a suitable scenario to evaluate interethnic differences across populations. This study aims to describe the diversity of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms in Costa Rican populations in the context of their ancestry. A total of 448 healthy individuals were included in the study: Bribri (n= 47), Cabécar (n= 27), Maleku (n= 16), Guaymí (n= 30), Huetar (n= 48), Chorotega (n= 41), Admixed/Mestizos from the Central Valley/Guanacaste (n= 189), and Afro-Caribbeans (n= 50) from Limón. CYP2C9 (alleles *2, *3, *6) and CYP2C19 (*2, *3, *4, *5, *17) genotypes were determined by Real-Time PCR. African, European and Native American ancestry were inferred using 87 ancestry informative markers. The frequency of the decreased activity allele CYP2C9*2 is lower in the self-reported Amerindian groups compared to the admixed population, and the highest frequencies of CYP2C19*2 (null activity) and the CYP2C19*17 (increased activity) were found in the self-reported Afro- Caribbean population. Moreover, a frequency of 0.7 % CYP2C9 gPMs in the Admixed population and a variable frequency of CYP2C19 gUMs (0.0-32.6 %, more prevalent in Afro-Caribbeans) in Costa Rican populations, was found. Finally, the following alleles were positively correlated with genomic African ancestry and negatively correlated with genomic Native American ancestry: CYP2D6*5 (null activity), CYP2D6*17 (decreased activity), CYP2D6*29 (decreased activity) and CYP2C19*17 (increased activity). No correlation for CYP2C9 polymorphisms and genomic ancestry was found. Further studies assessing the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 sequence in these populations, preferentially by sequencing these genes, are warranted

Interethnic Variability in CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 Genes and Predicted Drug Metabolism Phenotypes Among 6060 Ibero- and Native Americans: RIBEF-CEIBA Consortium Report on Population Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenetic variation in Latin Americans is understudied, which sets a barrier for the goal of global precision medicine. The RIBEF-CEIBA Network Consortium was established to characterize interindividual and between population variations in CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 drug metabolizing enzyme genotypes, which were subsequently utilized to catalog their "predicted drug metabolism phenotypes" across Native American and Ibero American populations. Importantly, we report in this study, a total of 6060 healthy individuals from Ibero-America who were classified according to their self-reported ancestry: 1395 Native Americans, 2571 Admixed Latin Americans, 96 Afro-Latin Americans, 287 white Latin Americans (from Cuba), 1537 Iberians, and 174 Argentinean Ashkenazi Jews. Moreover, Native Americans were grouped into North-, Central-, and South Amerindians (from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru, respectively). All subjects were studied for the most common and functional CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 allelic variants, and grouped as genotype-predicted poor or ultrarapid metabolizer phenotypes (gPMs and gUMs, respectively). Native Americans showed differences from each ethnic group in at least two alleles of CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. Native Americans had higher frequencies of wild-type alleles for all genes, and lower frequency of CYP2D6*41, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C19*17 (p < 0.05). Native Americans also showed less CYP2C19 gUMs than the rest of the population sample. In addition, differences within Native Americans (mostly North vs. South) were also found. The interethnic differences described supports the need for population-specific personalized and precision medicine programs for Native Americans. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study carried out in Native Americans and other Ibero-American populations analyzing CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms. Population pharmacogenomics is a nascent field of global health and warrants further research and education