Helping to Resolve Taxonomic Conflicts within the Genus Amblyomma (Acari:Ixodidae) from a Molecular Perspective

This work sought to reassess the taxonomic status of Amblyomma parvum Aragao, 1908 and of the A. maculatum group of ticks Camicas, 1998. By using different molecular markers, 12SrDNA, 16SrDNA, DL, COI, COII (mitochondrial) and ITS2 (nuclear), I analyzed the systematic relationships between these taxa and their closest relatives. Phylogenetic analyses by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis were performed in order to determine relationships among species and populations, and to determine the evolutionary history of these ixodids. The data obtained supported the hypothesis of cryptic speciation occurring within A. parvum, with the northern populations of Central America being a different species from the one occurring in the southern latitudes, mainly in Brazil and Argentina. As for the A. maculatum group of species, the results strongly suggest that A. triste should be synonymized with A. maculatum, while A. tigrinum is maintained as a separated taxon until further biological evidence is gathered. In conclusion, the analyses presented herein successfully resolved some of the taxonomic issues within this large genus of hard ticks, while raising additional questions for future investigations

Heleobia conexa (Mollusca, Cochliopidae) y Mugil platanus (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae), hospedador intermediario y definitivo de Dicrogaster fastigatus (Trematoda, Haploporidae) en Uruguay

La lisa Mugil platanus es un pez común en el estuario del Río de la Plata, que se desplaza entre cuerpos de agua dulce y salada, dependiendo de su comportamiento reproductivo. Se colectaron 34 ejemplares de esta especie en la costa uruguaya del Río de la Plata, que presentaron una longitud total promedio de 13,7 cm, de los cuales 30 (88,2%) se hallaron parasitados en su intestino delgado por un trematode perteneciente a la familia Haploporidae identificado como Dicrogaster fastigatus. Se determinó, mediante infecciones experimentales de lisas libres de infección, que el hospedador intermediario de este trematode en la costa de Montevideo es el caracol Heleobia conexa (Cochliopidae). Siete de 317 ejemplares H. conexa colectados en la costa emitieron cercarias de D. fastigatus, siendo ésta la más común de los 10 tipos de cercarias liberadas por estos caracoles. Otros 8 ejemplares, identificados como Heleobia australis colectados en la misma localidad, no emitieron cercarias. Se describe brevemente la morfología de los adultos, redias, cercarias y metacercarias de este parásito. Éste es el primer registro de D. fastigatus para Uruguay y es también la primera descripción parcial del ciclo de vida de esta especie.The mullet Mugil platanus is a common fish in the estuary of the Río de la Plata. It migrates between freshwater and marine habitats depending on its reproductive biology. Thirty four mullets, with an average length of 13,7 cm collected in the Uruguayan coast of Río de la Plata, were examined. The intestines of 30 fish (88,2%), were found parasitized by a fluke of the family Haploporidae identified as Dicrogaster fastigatus. The intermediate host in the coast of Montevideo was found to be the snail Heleobia conexa (Cochliopidae). This was confirmed by experimental infection of uninfected mullets. Seven out of 317 H. conexa shed cercariae of D. fastigatus, which is the most common cercaria of the 10 types released by this snail species. No cercariae were shed by other snails, identified as Heleobia australis, collected in the same locality. We described the morphology of adults, rediae, cercariae, and metacercariae of D. fastigatus. This is the first record of this trematode in Uruguay and is also the first partial description of the life cycle of this species.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

An Overview of Life Gratitude on Ex-Prisoner Adolescents

Adolescence is a very important and critical part of an individual's development. This is because, in the stages of adolescent development, it is often marked by an identity crisis which causes an adolescent to be very vulnerable to conduct behavior that is not following prevailing norms and rules, such as deviant behavior. Adolescents who are found guilty according to the applicable law will be placed and fostered at the Special Development Institution for Children (LPKA) and referred to as Correctional Students (Andikpas). After serving a criminal period, adolescent ex-prisoner will come out and live again in society. However, this is not easy due to environmental resistance and the difficulty of carrying out social reintegration. On the other hand, this brings its lessons for adolescent ex-prisoners so that they can be grateful by seeing life more positively. This paper will discuss the different and unique overview of life gratitude of ex-prisoner adolescents. The discussion is hoped to be able to provide knowledge related to the gratitude of life and adolescent ex-prisoners

Contribuciones a la epidemiología de la rickettsiosis por Rickettsia parkeri en el área endémica del Uruguay :análisis serológico de caninos domésticos

Orientador: José Manuel Venzal.Co-orientador: Marcelo Labrun

A molecular dynamics modelling adsorption study of Cu and Ag nanoparticles on pristine and functionalized graphene surfaces

The overuse of antibiotics has led to the flourishment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and consequently to the need to develop new, more efficient pharmacological compounds. It is well known that graphene oxide (GO) doped with metallic particles exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In addition, in order to improve the pharmacokinetic behavior of these compounds and their solubility in biological media, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is attached to the graphene surface. Among the different available characterization techniques, molecular dynamics simulations (MD) deserve special attention, as they allow the study of different materials from a molecular point of view. In this work, MD simulations of the adsorption of small Ag and Cu clusters on pristine graphene and PEGylated graphene oxide (GO_PEG) surfaces were carried out. The results are presented in terms of adsorption energies, mean equilibrium distances between nanoparticles and graphene surfaces, radial distribution functions and diffusion coefficients of the metallic nanoclusters. These preliminary results show that PEGylation of the surface is critical to strengthen the interaction between the surfaces and the metallic clusters, which, in turn, is a key factor for improving the efficacy of these compoundsUEM1915No data JCR 20200.341 SJR (2020) Q3, 306/638 Materials Science (miscellaneous)No data IDR 2019UE

Modelling the interaction between graphene surfaces and metallic nanoclusters

The overuse of antibiotics has led to the flourishment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria [1] and consequently to the need to develop new, more efficient pharmacological compounds. Several advanced materials are being studied, among which are metallic nanoparticles and certain graphene oxides (GO) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) [2-4]. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the adsorption of small Ag and Cu clusters on pristine graphene and PEGylated graphene oxide (GO_PEG) surfaces were carried out. The results are presented as a function of nanoparticles concentration, adsorption energies, mean equilibrium distances between nanoparticles and graphene surfaces (figure 1), radial distribution functions and diffusion coefficients of the metallic nanoclusters. These preliminary results show that PEGylation of the surface is critical to strengthen the interaction between the surfaces and the metallic clusters, which, in turn, is a key factor for improving the efficacy of these compounds.Sin financiaciónNo data 2020UE

Do parapatric populations of the ticks Amblyomma tonelliae Nava, Beati & Labruna, 2014 and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 (Acari: Ixodidae) hybridize?

This work aimed to determine if the tick species, Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma tonelliae, hybridize along their contact zones in Argentina. Free-living adults and nymphs of A. sculptum and A. tonelliae were collected in seven sampling locations of northern Argentina. In four of them, the two species occur in parapatry (possible hybrid zone) whereas in the other three sites, only one species is known to occur. A total of 65 A. sculptum and 65 A. tonelliae from both, allopatric and parapatric populations, were analysed. The nuclear (ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI and 12SrDNA) gene sequences of each tick were amplified and analysed to verify whether or not they could reveal the presence of hybrids among the parapatric samples. No morphological and molecular evidence was found to support the hypothesis of ongoing natural hybridization. Intrinsic postzygotic barriers may be the cause of lack of gene flow between the two species in areas of co-ocurrence. The results can be explained by the length of time the two lineages spent in allopatry since the middle of the Miocene and before their respective distribution range expanded again reaching a narrow secondary contact zone.Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Grant/Award Numbers: PICT 2015-0550, PICT 2016-774, PICT 2018-2579EEA RafaelaFil: Tarragona, Evelina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); ArgentinaFil: Tarragona, Evelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); ArgentinaFil: Lado, Paula. Colorado State University, Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases; Estados UnidosFil: Beati, Lorenza. Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, United States National Tick Collection; Estados UnidosFil: Mangold, Atilio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); ArgentinaFil: Mangold, Atilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); ArgentinaFil: Guglielmone, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Guglielmone, Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas;, ArgentinaFil: Guglielmone, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); ArgentinaFil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Nava, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL); Argentin

Integrating population genetic structure, microbiome, and pathogens presence data in Dermacentor variabilis

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) continue to emerge and re-emerge in several regions of the world, highlighting the need for novel and effective control strategies. The development of effective strategies requires a better understanding of TBDs ecology, and given the complexity of these systems, interdisciplinary approaches are required. In recent years, the microbiome of vectors has received much attention, mainly because associations between native microbes and pathogens may provide a new promising path towards the disruption of pathogen transmission. However, we still do not fully understand how host genetics and environmental factors interact to shape the microbiome of organisms, or how pathogenic microorganisms affect the microbiome and vice versa. The integration of different lines of evidence may be the key to improve our understanding of TBDs ecology. In that context, we generated microbiome and pathogen presence data for Dermacentor variabilis, and integrated those data sets with population genetic data, and metadata for the same individual tick specimens. Clustering and multivariate statistical methods were used to combine, analyze, and visualize data sets. Interpretation of the results is challenging, likely due to the low levels of genetic diversity and the high abundance of a few taxa in the microbiome. Francisella was dominant in almost all ticks, regardless of geography or sex. Nevertheless, our results showed that, overall, ticks from different geographic regions differ in their microbiome composition. Additionally, DNA of Rickettsia rhipicephali, R. montanensis, R. bellii, and Anaplasma spp., was detected in D. variabilis specimens. This is the first study that successfully generated microbiome, population genetics, and pathogen presence data from the same individual ticks, and that attempted to combine the different lines of evidence. The approaches and pre-processing steps used can be applied to a variety of taxa, and help better understand ecological processes in biological systems

Do parapatric populations of the ticks Amblyomma tonelliae Nava, Beati & Labruna, 2014 and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 (Acari: Ixodidae) hybridize?

This work aimed to determine if the tick species, Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma tonelliae, hybridize along their contact zones in Argentina. Free-living adults and nymphs of A. sculptum and A. tonelliae were collected in seven sampling locations of northern Argentina. In four of them, the two species occur in parapatry (possible hybrid zone) whereas in the other three sites, only one species is known to occur. A total of 65 A. sculptum and 65 A. tonelliae from both, allopatric and parapatric populations, were analysed. The nuclear (ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI and 12SrDNA) gene sequences of each tick were amplified and analysed to verify whether or not they could reveal the presence of hybrids among the parapatric samples. No morphological and molecular evidence was found to support the hypothesis of ongoing natural hybridization. Intrinsic postzygotic barriers may be the cause of lack of gene flow between the two species in areas of co-ocurrence. The results can be explained by the length of time the two lineages spent in allopatry since the middle of the Miocene and before their respective distribution range expanded again reaching a narrow secondary contact zone.Fil: Tarragona, Evelina Luisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; ArgentinaFil: Lado, Paula. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Beati, Lorenza. Georgia State University; Estados UnidosFil: Mangold, Atilio Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; ArgentinaFil: Guglielmone, Alberto Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; ArgentinaFil: Nava, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; Argentin