Effect of habitat structure on the most frequent echinoderm species inhabiting coral reef communities at Isla Isabel National Park (Mexico)

The spatial distribution and abundance of the seven most abundant species of echinoderms (Diadema mexicanum, Centrostephanus coronatus, Eucidaris thouarsii, Isostichopus fuscus, Pharia pyramidatus, Phataria unifascialis and Acanthaster ellisii) were evaluated in coral communities of Isla Isabel National Park (Mexico). Biological (corals and other benthic groups) and physical (rocks and boulders) structural elements of the habitat were evaluated to determine their relationship to these species. Our results show that species composition and abundance varied among sampling sites and between seasons. Also were obtained significant differences in the echinoderm assemblage among sites across seasons. Similar results were detected for the environmental variables related to benthic habitat structure. D. mexicanum, P. unifascialis, E. thouarsii and C. coronatus were the main contributors to the species abundance and distribution in Isla Isabel. Most echinoderm species were positively related to the coverage of different coral species, algae and various types of benthic organisms as well as to physical benthic variables. These outcomes suggest that the spatial distribution and abundance of these echinoderms are explained by the habitat structure, which should be used to design conservation and management strategies for coral communities

Validación y fiabilidad del dispositivo Haefni Health System 1.0 en la medición de la velocidad en el rango isocinético

Cuando se realizan valoraciones de cualquier protocolo de evaluaciónuno de los aspectos fundamentales es conocer la validez y fiabilidadde los dispositivos utilizados. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar lavalidez y fiabilidad de la variable de velocidad en el rango isocinético (VRI)en el dispositivo Haefni Health (HHe 1.0). Un total de dos protocolo se diseñaronpara el análisis de la validez y fiabilidad. Los resultados mostraronaltos Índices de Correlación Intraclase (ICC2,1) para las medidas de validezy fiabilidad del dispositivo (0,998 y 0,99, respectivamente). Cuando se analizóla fiabilidad de las medidas por cada una de las condiciones de evaluaciónaltos ICC2,1, además de bajos CV y SEM fueron encontraros (rango0,71–0,99, rango 0,19–3,73 y rango 0,001–0,004 m·s-1, respectivamente).Los resultados obtenidos avalan la validez y fiabilidad del dispositivo HaefniHealth HHe1.0 para la medición de la variable de VRI tanto para la faseconcéntrica como para la fase excéntrica del movimiento

Asociaciones de larvas de peces en relación a cambios ambientales en las Bahías Chamela, Jalisco y Santiago-Manzanillo, Colima (2001-2002)

Spatial and temporal structure of fish larvae associations and their relationship to the environmental variability were studied at Bahía Chamela, Jalisco, and Santiago-Manzanillo complex, Colima, during 2001-2002. Two spatial aggregations were found, related to the coastal physiography and to the adult habitat. The first was observed at Bahía Chamela, which integrated a combination of species belonging to coastal, demersal and inshore habitats (Bregmaceros bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., Engraulis mordax, and Labrisomidae type 1) and the other in Santiago-Manzanillo composed by species from lagoon and inshore areas (Eucinostomus sp., Abudefduf troschelii, Haemulidae type 2 and 3, and Enneanectes sexmaculatus). Temporal organization was influenced by the environmental shift between two periods (warm and temperate) defined by the regional environmental variability. The warm period was characterized by tropical species (Harengula thrissina, Eucinostomus sp., Auxis sp., and Haemulidae type 3), related to high temperature and rainfall, while temperate period was dominated by species with a tropical-subtropical affinity (B. bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., and E. mordax) and related to lower temperature and elevated nutrients, chlorophyll a and plankton concentrations.Se analizó la influencia de los factores ambientales sobre las asociaciones espacio-temporales de larvas de peces frente a Bahía Chamela, Jalisco y el conjunto de bahías Santiago-Manzanillo, Colima, durante un ciclo anual (2001-2002). Se identificaron dos agrupaciones relacionadas con la fisiografía de la costa y el hábitat de los adultos, una frente a Bahía Chamela integrada por una mezcla de especies de hábitats costero, demersal e intermareal-submareal (Bregmaceros bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., Engraulis mordax y Labrisomidae tipo 1) y otra en Santiago-Manzanillo compuesta por especies de origen lagunar e intermareal-submareal (Eucinostomus sp., Abudefduf troschelii, Haemulidae tipos 2 y 3, así como Enneanectes sexmaculatus). La organización temporal estuvo influenciada por la alternancia entre dos periodos (cálido y templado) definidos por la variabilidad ambiental regional. El periodo cálido estuvo caracterizado por especies principalmente tropicales (Harengula thrissina, Eucinostomus sp., Auxis sp. y Haemulidae tipo 3), relacionadas con una mayor temperatura y precipitación pluvial, en cambio durante el periodo templado dominaron las especies de afinidad tropical-subtropical (B. bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp. y E. mordax), relacionadas con una menor temperatura e incrementos en las concentraciones de nutrimentos, clorofila-a y zooplancton

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome

The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at first patient’s hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log10 copies/mL. Disease severity at the end of follow up was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Primary endpoint was a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death (n = 85, 26.4%). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load over the second quartile (≥ 7.35 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.003) and second tertile (≥ 8.27 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.01) were associated to unfavorable outcome in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. However, in the final multivariable analysis, viral load was not independently associated with an unfavorable outcome. Five predictors were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission and/or death: age ≥ 70 years, SpO2, neutrophils > 7.5 × 103/µL, lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 300 U/L, and C-reactive protein ≥ 100 mg/L. In summary, nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission is generally high in patients with COVID-19, regardless of illness severity, but it cannot be used as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome

Notes on two species of Processa (Decapoda: Processidae) from the Mexican Pacific

Material belonging to the genus Processa, held in the Regional Marine Invertebrates Collection in Mazatlán, Mexico, is revised including specimens of the widely distributed P. peruviana, and the scarcely collected P. hawaiensis. For comparative purposes with the specimens from Hawaii and other localities, a detailed description of a male of P. hawaiensis collected in continental Mexico is provided, including illustrations of all appendages. Small differences are noted with previous description and partial redescriptions of this species, including proportion between propodus and dactylus of the fourth pereopod, and between merus and carpus of the right cheliped. In addition, the shape and setation of the first pair of pleopods in the Mexican material differs from the description of P. hawaiensis based on African material

Notes on two species of Processa (Decapoda: Processidae) from the Mexican Pacific

Material belonging to the genus Processa, held in the Regional Marine Invertebrates Collection in Mazatlán, Mexico, is revised including specimens of the widely distributed P. peruviana, and the scarcely collected P. hawaiensis. For comparative purposes with the specimens from Hawaii and other localities, a detailed description of a male of P. hawaiensis collected in continental Mexico is provided, including illustrations of all appendages. Small differences are noted with previous description and partial redescriptions of this species, including proportion between propodus and dactylus of the fourth pereopod, and between merus and carpus of the right cheliped. In addition, the shape and setation of the first pair of pleopods in the Mexican material differs from the description of P. hawaiensis based on African material

Structure of the bivalve (Mollusca) assemblage of Mazatlan bay, Mexico, and its relationship to environmental variables

This work describes the structure of the assemblage of bivalve mollusks (i.e., composition, abundance, density, distribu- tion and species diversity) of four representative rocky beaches of Mazatlan bay, Mexico. Biological samples were taken in the upper intertidal, lower intertidal and shallow subtidal of the beaches together with environmental parameters: type of sediment, organic matter, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, wave exposure and concentration of chlorophyll a. A total of 19,848 individuals distributed in 77 species, 50 genera and 27 families were recorded. The permutational ANOVA and PERMANOVA indicated significant differences in the bivalve assemblage structure among environments across studied sites. However, the intertidal (IT) and SS environments had different bivalve assemblages. Six species had a broad distribution: Acar rostae, Arcopsis solida, Isognomon janus, Saccostrea palmula Chama buddiana and Carditamera affinis. Four species had the highest density in the IT: Brachidontes semilaevis (196.0 ind m 2 ), B. adamsianus (35.0 ind m 2 ), Arcopsis solida (18.0 ind m 2 ) and Lithophaga aristata (15.0 ind m 2 ), and in the SS were Lithophaga aristata (7.1 ind m 2 ), B. semilaevis and Acar rostae (3.2 ind m 2 ). This study shows that exposure to waves was determinant for the bivalve distribution that inhabit the intertidal zone. In contrast, chlorophyll a and organic material are the variables that best explain the distribution of the species in the SS. However, more detailed information is required regarding the importance of the interaction between the hydrodynamics and the topography of the rocky beaches of Mazatlan bay