Native bees in blooming orange (Citrus sinensis) and lemon (C. limon) orchards in Yucatán, Mexico

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la riqueza y la abundancia de abejas (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) en huertas de naranja y limón en floración en Yucatán, México. Se colectaron ocho especies de abejas; el 98% de los especímenes correspondió a Apis mellifera, y el 2% restante a abejas nativas. Estos hallazgos se discuten con base en la ecología de las abejas nativas y en estudios previosen la misma área de estudio.The objective of this study was to determine the richness and abundance of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in orange and lemon orchards in bloom in Yucatan, Mexico. Eight were collected species of bees; 98% of the specimens corresponded to Apis mellifera, and the remaining 2% to bees native These findings are discussed based on the ecology of native bees and previous studiesin the same area of study

Quantitative analysis of interferon alpha receptor subunit 1 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 gene transcription in blood cells of patients with chronic hepatitis C

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon (IFN)-α receptor 1 (<it>ifnar1</it>) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (<it>socs1</it>) transcription levels were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 59 patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 17 non-infected individuals. Samples were obtained from patients infected with HCV that were either untreated or treated with IFN-α2 plus ribavirin for 1 year and divided into responders and non-responders based on viral load reduction 6 months after treatment. <it>Ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription was quantified by real-time RT-PCR, and the fold difference (2^-ΔΔCT) with respect to <it>hprt </it>housekeeping gene was calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription increased significantly in HCV-infected patients either untreated (3.26 ± 0.31), responders (3.1 ± 0.23) and non-responders (2.18 ± 0.23) with respect to non-infected individuals (1 ± 0.34; <it>P </it>= 0.005). <it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription increased significantly (<it>P </it>= 0.003) in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a (4.74 ± 0.25) and 1b (2.81 ± 0.25) but not in 1a1b (1.58 ± 0.21). No association was found of <it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription with disease progress, initial viral load or other clinical factors. With respect to <it>socs1 </it>transcription, values were similar for non-infected individuals (1 ± 0.28) and untreated patients (0.99 ± 0.41) but increased in responders (2.81 ± 0.17) and non-responder patients (1.67 ± 0.41). Difference between responder and non-responder patients was not statistically significant. <it>Socs1 </it>transcription increased in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a and 1b (2.87 ± 0.45 and 2.22 ± 0.17, respectively) but not in 1a1b (1.28 ± 0.40). <it>Socs1 </it>transcript was absent in three patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. A weak correlation between <it>ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription was found, when Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that HCV infection may up-regulate <it>ifnar1 </it>transcription. HCV genotypes differ in their capacity to affect <it>ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription, as well as in the ability to evade the antiviral response.</p

Etnoecología del Escarabajo Maquech (Zopherus chilensis Gray, 1832) en una Comunidad de Yucatán, México

En México, muchas comunidades rurales se caracterizan por aprovechar los recursos naturales como principal fuente de trabajo. La etnoecología analiza la manera en que las comunidades indígenas y sociedades campesinas tradicionales comprenden y explican su kosmos, corpus y praxis, aportando bases teóricas para entender sus formas de uso y manejo de recursos naturales. El presente estudio sistematiza el conocimiento etnoecológicoentre recolectores y adornadores, sobre la cosmovisión, conocimiento, aprovechamiento y manejo tradicional del maquech, un recurso natural utilizado en la comunidad maya de Huhí para elaborar una artesanía viva.Los resultados de las entrevistas confirmaron que la recolecta, es una actividad que no todos los varones de la comunidad desempeñan, pues implica un amplio conocimiento de la especie y el entorno natural, así como prácticas y percepciones personales. La recolecta de Z. chilensis es importante en el sistema de subsistencia de los maquecheros, pues permite, obtener la remuneración económica y recursos de autoconsumo, necesariospara el sustento familiar. Los adornadores, materializan y otorgan los elementos simbólicos al maquech. Son protagonistas indirectos que influyen sobre las poblaciones de Z. chilensis, pues regulan la intensidad de recolectade los maquecheros, basándose en la demanda de la artesanía a lo largo del año. Se concluye que en ambos casos, las nuevas generaciones de maquecheros y adornadores aprenden los conocimientos y prácticas de los adultos, especialmente de sus padres. Estos conocimientos se consolidan con el transcurso de la edad; sin embargo, la cosmovisión de los maquecheros y adornadores se considera el punto clave para regular el uso y aprovechamiento del maquech. Actualmente, la manera particular de percibir el aprovechamiento del recurso se expresa como netamente económica

Effect of Citrus floral extracts on the foraging behavior of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona pectoralis (Dalla Torre)

Effect of Citrus floral extracts on the foraging behavior of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona pectoralis (Dalla Torre). Stingless bees have an important role as pollinators of many wild and cultivated plant species in tropical regions. Little is known, however, about the interaction between floral fragrances and the foraging behavior of meliponine species. Thus we investigated the chemical composition of the extracts of citric (lemon and orange) flowers and their effects on the foraging behavior of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona pectoralis. We found that each type of flower has its own specific blend of major compounds: limonene (62.9%) for lemon flowers, and farnesol (26.5%), (E)-nerolidol (20.8%), and linalool (12.7%) for orange flowers. In the foraging experiments the S. pectoralis workers were able to use the flower extracts to orient to the food source, overlooking plates baited with hexane only. However, orange flower extracts were seemingly more attractive to these worker bees, maybe because of the particular blend present in it. Our results reveal that these fragrances are very attractive to S. pectoralis, so we can infer that within citric orchards they could be important visitors in the study area; however habitat destruction, overuse of pesticides and the competitive override by managed honeybees might have put at risk their populations and thus the ecological services they provide to us

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARACHNIDS IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO (EXCLUDING ARANAE AND ACARI)

The Chelicerata are the second group of arthropods with the highest diversity after insects and they can inhabit almost all types of environments. The most current classification recognizes 11 orders and estimates in the number of species vary from 52,000 to 100,000. We have made an extensive literature review on the diversity of arachnids in the Yucatan Peninsula (YP) (excluding spiders and ticks). In Mexico there are 834 known species which represent 6% of the worldwide diversity. In the YP 63 records were found (58 species and 5 genera) of arachnids, which represent 6.8% of the Mexican species. According to our research, 28 of the 58 species (48%) in the YP were also record in other parts of Mexico, the continent and the world. Undoubtedly, the state of Yucatan is the best represented of the YP. In order to have a better understanding of the diversity of arachnid species is important to promote biological compendiums and sampling programs, which will improve the representation of this group and probably increasing the number of local species

Supplemental Material - Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bees in Traditional Agroecosystems and Tropical Forest Patches on the Yucatan Peninsula

Supplemental Material for Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bees in Traditional Agroecosystems and Tropical Forest Patches on the Yucatan Peninsula by Laura P. Serralta-Batun, Juan J. Jiménez-Osornio, Virginia Meléndez-Ramírez and Miguel A. Munguía-Rosas in Tropical Conservation Science</p

Supplemental Material - Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bees in Traditional Agroecosystems and Tropical Forest Patches on the Yucatan Peninsula

Supplemental Material for Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bees in Traditional Agroecosystems and Tropical Forest Patches on the Yucatan Peninsula by Laura P. Serralta-Batun, Juan J. Jiménez-Osornio, Virginia Meléndez-Ramírez and Miguel A. Munguía-Rosas in Tropical Conservation Science</p

A comprehensive update of the status of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Mexico—A systematic review and meta-analysis (2008–2019)

Introduction and objectives: HCV infection is targeted by the WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis to be reduced notably by 2030. However, renovated epidemiological data is needed to line up with such goals. Herein, we provide an updated review of incidence, prevalence, genotypes (GTs), and risk factors (RFs) of HCV infection in Mexico to build elimination strategies. Material and methods: HCV incidence was charted using the cumulative new cases/year at week 52. Prevalence, GTs, and RFs data from low-risk (LR-G) and high-risk (HR-Gs) groups were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE/Medigraphic/Scielo databases from January 2008 to December 2019 as per PRISMA guidelines. Weighted mean prevalence (WMP) was estimated; GTs and RFs were registered. Results: In this study, 25,247 new cases were reported. Ten states accumulated 76.32% of HCV incidence that peaked in men at 50–59 years and women at 60–64 years. Thirty-four studies revealed a WMP between 0.774%–2.5% in LR-Gs and 11.8%–39.6% in HR-Gs that included mainly prison inmates, drug users, and dialyzed patients. GT1 and GT2 were predominant; GT3a emerged. Subtypes 1a and 1b circulate differentially, whereas novel GT2 subtypes appeared. Unsafe blood transfusion was infrequent in younger groups, but parenteral/intravenous transmission through drug-related risk behaviors has arisen. Conclusions: HCV transmission increased notably among LR-Gs and HR-Gs in Mexico. Novel genotypes/subtypes emerged as well as risky behavioral routes of transmission. A national elimination strategy will require pro-active screening in designated risk groups, research in molecular epidemiology, medical training, robust epidemiological databases, and antiviral treatment available to all eligible HCV-infected patients

Divulgación Científica No.3

La investigación constituye en sí misma un valioso instrumento para ser empleado por la sociedad, es mucho más que un objeto —sin abandonar lo que por naturaleza le compete: garantizar procesos de calidad—, puede entregar valiosa información sobre diferentes temas de interés, para avanzar en el análisis y propiciar la creación de redes de conocimiento.Research constitutes in itself a valuable instrument to be used by society, it is much more than an object —without abandoning what by nature is its responsibility: guaranteeing quality processes—, it can provide valuable information on different topics of interest, to advance in analysis and promote the creation of knowledge networks