Hierarchical spatial modeling of the presence of Chagas disease insect vectors in Argentina. A comparative approach

We modeled the spatial distribution of the most important Chagas disease vectors in Argentina, in order to obtain a predictive mapping method for the probability of presence of the vector species. We analyzed both the binary variable of presence-absence of Chagas disease and the vector species richness in Argentina, in combination with climatic and topographical covariates associated to the region of interest. We used several statistical techniques to produce distribution maps of presence–absence for the different insect species as well as species richness, using a hierarchical Bayesian framework within the context of multivariate geostatistical modeling. Our results show that the inclusion of covariates improves the quality of the fitted models, and that there is spatial interaction between neighboring cells/pixels, so mapping methods used in the past, which assumed spatial independence, are not adequate as they provide unreliable results.We thank J. E. Rabinovich from Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores of Buenos Aires, Argentina for drawing our attention to this particular application problem and for providing access to the Chagas data base used. Work partially funded by grant MTM2013-43917-P from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, grant PAPIIT IN114814 of the Direccio ́ n General de Asuntos del Personal Acade ́ mico of the Universidad Nacional Auto ́ noma de Me ́ xico and Grant CONACYT number 241195

Using spatial patterns of seeds and saplings to assess the prevalence of heterospecific replacements among cloud forest canopy tree species

12 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 1 tabla.- referencias.-Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13083Questions To gain insights into the role of species-by-species replacements in cloud forest community structuring, we asked: (1) What are the effects of the spatial distribution of standing individuals on the seed rain, soil seed bank, and sapling density and survival in this cloud forest? and (2) What is the prevalence of conspecific vs. heterospecific replacements in the regeneration of this forest? Location Santo Tomás Teipan, Oaxaca State, southern Mexico. Methods In a 1-ha cloud forest plot we assessed seed rain, seed bank, and sapling density and survival of four canopy tree species (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, Cornus disciflora, Quercus laurina, Oreopanax xalapensis). All standing individuals of these and other tree species (dbh ≥ 2.5 cm) were mapped. We used neighbourhood models to examine the spatial patterns of the three life cycle stages relative to the spatial distribution of adults. The neighbourhood effect was assessed through the Neighbourhood Index, which integrates information on size (dbh) and distance to adults. Data analysis was based on maximum likelihood and model selection procedures. Results We found large between-species differences regarding the spatial patterns of seeds and saplings. Three species showed evidence for the Janzen-Connell effect operating at the seed (C. pentadactylon and Q. laurina) or sapling (O. xalapensis) stage. We also found support for a critical role of specific microsite factors (i.e., niche differentiation) in the regeneration of two species (C. pentadactylon and C. disciflora). Conclusions Seed and sapling distribution patterns suggest the prevalence of heterospecific replacements, and that both Janzen-Connell and niche differentiation effects contribute to this pattern. Our results largely support the notion that the prevalence of heterospecific replacements among canopy species promotes species coexistence in cloud forestsThis estudy received partial support from the Mexican Science Council (CONACyT–México) through a doctoral scholarship and a post-doctoral grant to NRM-D. The Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, provided additional funding.Peer reviewe

Data from: Amphibian functional diversity is related to high annual precipitation and low precipitation seasonality in the New World

Aim. We examined the geographical distribution of functional diversity for American Amphibians and tested the relationship between functional diversity and environment. We also explored how the functional evenness of life history traits varies across biogeographical regions. Location. Continental Americas. Methods. We performed a trait classification based on an Eltonian approach and calculated functional diversity using Hill numbers, Shannon and Gini-Simpson indices. We tested the relationship between functional diversity and different axes of environmental variation by performing a series of spatial autoregressive models (SAR). Results. Based on 212 different functional attributes for 2776 species, we found that functional diversity has a latitudinal gradient consistent with that of species richness, regardless of the diversity index used. Evenness of functional diversity of amphibian assemblages varies depending on the region, but in general they are close to the maximum possible value. Areas with more functional richness relative to species richness, are associated with high annual precipitation and low precipitation seasonality regardless of temperature; in contrast, areas with fewer functions than expected are associated with high aridity. Main conclusions. The highest functional diversity is located in mountainous regions. Overall functional diversity is positively correlated with humid environments with low precipitation seasonality and low aridity regardless of temperature. This is especially relevant for amphibians facing contemporary climate change because it suggests that future variation in rainfall patterns, but not annual mean temperature, may interact with functional diversity to pose an imminent threat to amphibian functional diversity

Dimensions of amphibian alpha diversity in the New World

Aim The links between taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and how these vary geographically are key to understanding how historical and contemporary processes have shaped communities at regional and local scales. Here, we evaluate the links between taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity for the amphibians in the Continental Americas and how these vary geographically under an explicit hypothesis testing framework. Location Continental Americas. Taxon Amphibia. Methods We identify spatial disparities between biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) using geographically weighted regressions. Based on these mismatches we examined whether different eco‐evolutionary processes would fit (competitive exclusion, habitat filtering, available ecological space, strong biotic interactions, speciation rates, and dispersion). Results We found extensive variation in spatial mismatches between the three dimensions of biodiversity examined here. In general, at higher latitudes, we detected relatively little phylogenetic diversity, suggesting rapid functional diversification from temperate clades. In contrast, at low latitudes, environmental filtering mechanisms appear to be restricting functional diversity. Main conclusions The geographical mismatches between dimensions of diversity suggest different eco‐evolutionary causes. Patterns of diversification across amphibian lineages demonstrate how different environments can have contrasting effects on the different dimensions of diversity, potentially leading to decoupling. Neither dimension of alpha diversity of amphibians is a general predictor for another, and thus, general explanations for amphibian diversity and evolution should be avoided. Nonetheless, these dimensions can provide critical insights about conservation measures that explicitly emphasize evolutionary history, functionality or classic species richness

Ontogenetic variation in the venom of Mexican Jumping Viper (Metlapilcoatlus nummifer)

The viperid genus Metlapilcoatlus (previously Atropoides) is represented in Mexico by four species: M. olmec, M. mexicanus, M. occidus, and M. nummifer. To date, no studies on their venoms have been reported. Here, we comparatively characterized the venom from M. nummifer neonates (≤8 months of age), young adults (18 months) and adults (≥24 months). We performed biological and enzymatic activities, as well as electrophoretic and RP-HPLC profiling combined with proteomic assignment of major fractions. Venoms from neonates and adults differed in their electrophoretic and chromatographic profiles, indicating that an ontogenetic compositional shift occurs in this species. Protein family assignments showed that neonates produce a venom rich in Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and Snake Venom Serine Proteases (SVSPs), but lacking Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s). In contrast, adults express abundant venom PLA2s, and lower molecular weight proteins, as evidenced by SDS-PAGE. Functionally, neonate venom did not display PLA2 or procoagulant activities, whereas adult venom did. Hemorrhagic activity was present in both neonate and adult venoms, with similar potencies. Finally, it is of considerable concern that the lethal activity of neither neonate nor adult venoms was neutralized by two therapeutic antivenoms produced in Mexico.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Frequency of the T307A, N680S, and -29G>A single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in Mexican subjects of Hispanic ancestry

Abstract Background FSHR SNPs may influence the ovarian sensitivity to endogenous and exogenous FSH stimulation. Given the paucity of data on the FSHR c.919A > G, c.2039A > G and − 29G > A SNPs in Hispanic population, we here analyzed their frequency distribution in Mexican mestizo women. Methods Samples from 224 Mexican mestizo women enrolled in an IVF program as well as a genotype database from 8182 Mexican mestizo subjects, were analyzed for FSHR SNPs at positions c.919, c.2039 and − 29G > A. Association between the genetic variants and reproductive outcomes was assessed. Results The c.919 and c.2039 SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium and their corresponding genotype frequencies in the IVF group were: AA 46.8%, AG 44.2%, and GG 8.9%, and AA 41.9%, AG 48.2% and GG 9.8%, respectively. For the -29G > A SNP, genotype frequencies were 27% (GG), 50% (GA) and 23% (AA). In normal oocyte donors with the c.2039 GG genotype, the number of oocytes recovered after ovarian stimulation (COS) were significantly (p  A SNP. Analysis of the large scale database revealed that both allelic and genotype frequencies for the three SNPs were very similar to those detected in the IVF cohort (p ≥ 0.38) and that female carriers of the c.2039 G allele tended to present lower number of pregnancies than women bearing the AA genotype; this trend was stronger when women with more Native American ancestry was separately analyzed (OR = 2.0, C.I. 95% 1.03–3.90, p = 0.04). There were no differences or trends in the number of pregnancies among the different genotypes of the -29G > A SNP. Conclusions The frequency of the GG/GG combination genotype for the c.919 and c.2039 SNPs in Mexican hispanics is among the lowest reported. The GG genotype is associated with decreased number of oocytes recovered in response to COS as well as to lower pregnancy rates in Hispanic women from the general population. The absence of any effect of the -29AA genotype on the response to COS, indicates that there is no need to perform this particular genotype testing in Hispanic women with the purpose of providing an individually-tailored COS protocol

p-values of Spearman´s correlation analysis in Fig 1B.

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Correlation analysis of the metabolites and the clinical tests in the severe group.

A. Spearman correlations analysis of metabolites and clinical tests. SpO2 = Oxygen saturation; LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase; Art pH = Arterial pH; PaO2 = Partial pressure of oxygen; PaCO2 = Partial pressure of CO2; Art HCO3 = Arterial bicarbonate; PaFi = PaO2/FiO2; TB = Total bilirubin; DB = Direct bilirubin; IB = Indirect bilirubin; ALT = Alanine aminotransferase; AST = Aspartate aminotransferase; AP = Alkaline phosphatase; Alb = Albumin; INR = International Normalized Ratio; CRP = C reactive protein; CPK = Creatine phosphokinase. Different intensities in blue and red numbers indicate a positive or negative association, respectively (see also the gradient scale at the right side of the figure). B. Proposed model for the main changes identified in our cohort. The graphs were constructed with normalized values. H, healthy controls; M, mild/moderate disease; S, severe disease. ‡Direct involvement of cystine over glutamic acid levels through xCT antiporting system. †Enzymatic involvement over glutamic levels through proline dehydrogenase activity. Statistical differences were calculated employing Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. P*<0.05 **<0.01, ***<0.001, ****<0.0001.</p

Main demographic features of the patients included in the analysis.

Main demographic features of the patients included in the analysis.</p

Untargeted serum metabolomics of COVID-19 patients.

A. Heatmap and hierarchical clustering analysis of COVID-19 and control individuals with all the metabolites included in the analysis. Different intensities in red and blue colors in the heatmap and scale bar at the right side of the figure, denotes increased or reduced levels, respectively. B. Spearman correlation analysis of serum metabolites in COVID-19 and control groups. H, healthy controls, M, mild/moderate disease; S, severe disease. Blue numbers indicate a positive association. Red numbers indicate a negative association. Asterisks denote statistical significance with p-value S3 Table.</p