A horizon scan exercise for aquatic invasive alien species in Iberian inland waters

As the number of introduced species keeps increasing unabatedly, identifying and prioritising current and potential Invasive Alien Species (IAS) has become essential to manage them. Horizon Scanning (HS), defined as an exploration of potential threats, is considered a fundamental component of IAS management. By combining scientific knowledge on taxa with expert opinion, we identified the most relevant aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula, i.e., those with the greatest geographic extent (or probability of introduction), severe ecological, economic and human health impacts, greatest difficulty and acceptability of management. We highlighted the 126 most relevant IAS already present in Iberian inland waters (i.e., Concern list) and 89 with a high probability of being introduced in the near future (i.e., Alert list), of which 24 and 10 IAS, respectively, were considered as a management priority after receiving the highest scores in the expert assessment (i.e., top-ranked IAS). In both lists, aquatic IAS belonging to the four thematic groups (plants, freshwater invertebrates, estuarine invertebrates, and vertebrates) were identified as having been introduced through various pathways from different regions of the world and classified according to their main functional feeding groups. Also, the latest update of the list of IAS of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 includes only 12 top-ranked IAS identified for the Iberian Peninsula, while the national lists incorporate the vast majority of them. This fact underlines the great importance of taxa prioritisation exercises at biogeographical scales as a step prior to risk analyses and their inclusion in national lists. This HS provides a robust assessment and a cost-effective strategy for decision-makers and stakeholders to prioritise the use of limited resources for IAS prevention and management. Although applied at a transnational level in a European biodiversity hotspot, this approach is designed for potential application at any geographical or administrative scale, including the continental one

Black list and Alert list of the Aquatic Invasive Alien Species in the Iberian Peninsula: an action of the LIFE INVASAQUA

Resumen del trabajo presentado en VI Congreso Nacional sobre Especies Exóticas Invasoras y I Congreso Ibérico sobre EEI (EEI 2022) celebrado en Navarra del 20 al 23 de abril de 2022.One of the objectives of LIFE INVASQUA project is to develop tools that will be more efficient the Early Warning and Rapid Response (EWRR) framework for Invasive Alien Species in the Iberian Peninsula. Horizon scanning for high-risk IAS is basic in implementing measures to reduce new invasions, developing Alert lists, and to focus effort in the species already established, for instance making a Black list. We developed a trans national horizon scanning exercise focused on inland waters of Spain and Portugal in order to provide a prioritized lists (Black list and Alert list) of aquatic IAS that may pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and socio economic sectors in the future. We followed a step approach of existing information about IAS (Plants, Freshwater Invertebrates, Estuarine Invertebrates and Vertebrates; 127 established taxa in Black list; 90 non established taxa in Alert list) combining with an expert scoring of prioritized taxa. IAS established in the Iberian aquatic system consistently highlighted as the worst included vertebrates (e.g. Cyprinus carpio, Gambusia holbrooki, Silurus glanis), freshwater and estuarine invertebrates (e.g. Procambarus clarkii, Dreissena polymorpha, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Ficopomatus enigmaticus, Callinectes sapidus, Corbicula fluminea) and plants (e.g. Eichhornia crassipes, Azolla filiculoides, Ludwigia grandiflora). Amongst taxa not yet established (Alert list), expert pointed to Perna viridis, Hydroides dirampha, Dreissena bugensis, Procambarus fallax f. virginallis, Perccottus glenii with higher risk of invasion, ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Over 20.6% of the taxa in the preliminary black list received no votes (no prioritization) by experts, 17.8% in the innitial alert list. Our horizon scanning approach is inclusive of all-taxa, prioritizes both established and emerging biological threats across trans-national scales, and considers not only the ecological impact, but also potential direct economic consequences as well as the manageability of invasive species.This work received funds from the LIFE Programme (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515)

LISTA NEGRA Y LISTA DE ALERTA DE ESPECIES EXÓTICAS INVASORAS ACUÁTICAS DE LA PENÍNSULA IBÉRICA - Ejercicio de exploración del horizonte transnacional centrado en las especies exóticas invasoras acuáticas de alto riesgo para las aguas interiores ibéricas.

Un objetivo importante de LIFE INVASAQUA es desarrollar herramientas que mejoren la gestión y sean más eficientes en el marco de Alerta Temprana y Respuesta Rápida (EWRR) para las Especies Exóticas Invasoras (EEI) en la Península Ibérica. La exploración del horizonte para las EEI de alto riesgo es básica para aplicar medidas que reduzcan las nuevas invasiones y para centrar los esfuerzos en las especies ya registradas. Desarrollamos un ejercicio transnacional de exploración del horizonte centrado en las aguas interiores de España y Portugal con el fin de proporcionar una lista negra de las EEI acuáticas actualmente establecidas y una lista de alerta de las EEI acuáticas potenciales que pueden suponer una amenaza para los ecosistemas acuáticos y los sectores socioeconómicos en el futuro. Para la exploración del horizonte seguimos un enfoque estructurado de 5 pasos que combinaba las pruebas existentes sobre las EEI con una puntuación de expertos de los taxones priorizados. En la lista negra final se priorizaron 126 EEI, que representan el 41,2% de los taxones exóticos registrados en las aguas continentales ibéricas. Las 24 primeras especies tenían un riesgo de impacto muy alto porque obtuvieron los valores máximos en el proceso de puntuación de la evaluación de riesgos. Además, la lista de alerta incluía 89 EEI con un riesgo significativo de invasión en la Península Ibérica en el futuro, estando 11 taxones en cabeza con un riesgo muy alto de invasión

Deep-sequencing reveals broad subtype-specific HCV resistance mutations associated with treatment failure

A percentage of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients fail direct acting antiviral (DAA)-based treatment regimens, often because of drug resistance-associated substitutions (RAS). The aim of this study was to characterize the resistance profile of a large cohort of patients failing DAA-based treatments, and investigate the relationship between HCV subtype and failure, as an aid to optimizing management of these patients. A new, standardized HCV-RAS testing protocol based on deep sequencing was designed and applied to 220 previously subtyped samples from patients failing DAA treatment, collected in 39 Spanish hospitals. The majority had received DAA-based interferon (IFN) a-free regimens; 79% had failed sofosbuvir-containing therapy. Genomic regions encoding the nonstructural protein (NS) 3, NS5A, and NS5B (DAA target regions) were analyzed using subtype-specific primers. Viral subtype distribution was as follows: genotype (G) 1, 62.7%; G3a, 21.4%; G4d, 12.3%; G2, 1.8%; and mixed infections 1.8%. Overall, 88.6% of patients carried at least 1 RAS, and 19% carried RAS at frequencies below 20% in the mutant spectrum. There were no differences in RAS selection between treatments with and without ribavirin. Regardless of the treatment received, each HCV subtype showed specific types of RAS. Of note, no RAS were detected in the target proteins of 18.6% of patients failing treatment, and 30.4% of patients had RAS in proteins that were not targets of the inhibitors they received. HCV patients failing DAA therapy showed a high diversity of RAS. Ribavirin use did not influence the type or number of RAS at failure. The subtype-specific pattern of RAS emergence underscores the importance of accurate HCV subtyping. The frequency of “extra-target” RAS suggests the need for RAS screening in all three DAA target regions

El examen MIR, su cambio como una opción estratégica The MIR examination, the change as a strategic option

El examen MIR es un punto estratégico capaz de promover cambios en cascada en su entorno, con repercusiones tanto en la etapa de licenciatura como en la de especialización. Actualmente, la implantación de un nuevo currículo basado en competencias y las nuevas metodologías de entrenamiento y evaluación, aconsejan adecuar el examen MIR a las necesidades actuales. El rediseño del examen MIR requiere incrementar el número de preguntas y apoyarlas con iconografía, y relacionarlas con competencias predeterminadas, a la vez que se incorpora la evaluación objetiva de habilidades. Este cambio requiere más tiempo para realizar los exámenes, una gestión más ágil, equipos multidisciplinares de diseño y centros acreditados. El soporte informático debe dar cobertura al 100% de las actividades del examen MIR. La equidad, la transparencia y la accesibilidad deben ser los valores del examen MIR.<br>The MIR examination constitutes a strategic point which is capable of promoting cascading changes in its environment with repercussions at both the undergraduate and specialisation stages. At present, the implementation of a new skills-based syllabus and new training and evaluation methodologies make it necessary to adapt the MIR examination to current needs. The redesign of the MIR examination requires an increase in the number of questions; these must be supported with iconography and related to predetermined competences along with the incorporation of objective skills evaluation. This change requires more examination time, more efficient management, multi-disciplinary design teams and accredited centres. Information technology support must provide 100% cover to the MIR examination activities. Equity, transparency and accessibility must be the values of the MIR examination

El examen MIR, su cambio como una opción estratégica

El examen MIR es un punto estratégico capaz de promover cambios en cascada en su entorno, con repercusiones tanto en la etapa de licenciatura como en la de especialización. Actualmente, la implantación de un nuevo currículo basado en competencias y las nuevas metodologías de entrenamiento y evaluación, aconsejan adecuar el examen MIR a las necesidades actuales. El rediseño del examen MIR requiere incrementar el número de preguntas y apoyarlas con iconografía, y relacionarlas con competencias predeterminadas, a la vez que se incorpora la evaluación objetiva de habilidades. Este cambio requiere más tiempo para realizar los exámenes, una gestión más ágil, equipos multidisciplinares de diseño y centros acreditados. El soporte informático debe dar cobertura al 100% de las actividades del examen MIR. La equidad, la transparencia y la accesibilidad deben ser los valores del examen MIR