Statistical analysis on the cnidome of genus Hydra using Generalized Linear Models

In the systematics of cnidarians, the different types of cnidocysts are considered an important taxonomic character. In Hydra, the four types of cnidocysts found in the ectoderm, concentrated in tentacles and their measurements, together with other morphological and reproductive characteristics, are very important for the taxonomy of the species. In this study, we explore in detail the biometric and statistical characteristics of the cnidome of three species of Hydra collected in three different environments for each climate season. A total of 17,378 capsules were measured. We used ANOVA test and Generalized Linear Model to analyze the distribution and differences reflected in each cnidome, considering the factors “individuals”, “season”, “lagoon” and “species”. The results were clear: the cnidome keep specific information that, together with other taxonomic characteristics, allows us to discern between species of different groups. The same happens with cnidome of the same species but from different lagoons or climatic seasons: we observed a variation of parameters for each type of cnidocyst that could differentiate “ecological races”, since these differences are not enough to declare different species

Cost-Effective Method to Perform SARS-CoV-2 Variant Surveillance: Detection of Alpha, Gamma, Lambda, Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta in Argentina

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with concerning characteristics to public health has attracted the attention of the scientific community and governments both regionally and globally since the end of 2020. The most relevant variants described so far include: Alpha (lineage B.1.1.7), first detected in the United Kingdom; Beta (lineage B.1.351), initially detected in South Africa; Gamma (lineage P.1), initially detected in Manaus, Brazil, and Japan; Delta (lineage B.1.627.2), initially detected in India; Lambda (lineage C.37), initially detected in Peru; Mu (lineage B.1.621), first detected in Colombia; Epsilon (lineages B.1.427 and B.1.429), initially detected in California, United States; and Zeta (lineage P.2), first detected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1). Four of these variants (Alpha to Delta) have been defined as variants of concern (VOCs) given their increased transmissibility and other characteristics, while Lambda and Mu have been defined as variants of interest (VOIs). The VOCs have also been associated with an increased risk of hospitalization (2, 3) and, in the case of Beta, Gamma, and Delta, with a moderate to a substantial reduction in neutralizing activity of monoclonal antibodies, convalescent, and vaccine sera (4–6). Gamma and Lambda are particularly relevant for Argentina due to their major presence in the South American region during the time of this study. Importantly, some of these variants share mutations in the Spike protein—several of them in the receptor-binding domain region—that potentially affect transmissibility, pathogenesis, and/or response to vaccination and immune-based therapies (7, 8). PAIS is the interinstitutional federal consortium of SARS-CoV-2 genomics in Argentina. It was created by the Ministry of Science and Technology to monitor SARS-CoV-2 diversity and evolution in the country, including surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest (http://pais.qb.fcen.uba.ar/). The objective of this work was to implement a SARS-CoV-2 molecular surveillance strategy, in a context of limited resources, which allowed an assessment of the dynamic situation of circulation of viral variants, and at the same time, to perform genomic and evolutionary analyzes to study their origin and dispersion in our country.Instituto de Patología VegetalFil: Torres, Carolina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mojsiejczuk, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Mojsiejczuk, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Dolores. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Dolores. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Alexay, Sofía. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Amadio, Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Amadio, Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea; ArgentinaFil: Aulicino, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aulicino, Paula. Hospital de Pediatría “Prof. Juan P. Garrahan". Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Retrovirus; ArgentinaFil: Debat, Humberto Julio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Fay, Fabián. CIBIC Laboratorio; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Franco Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Giri, Adriana A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Giri, Adriana A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Grupo Virología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Goya, Stephanie. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Konig, Guido Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Konig, Guido Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lucero, Horacio. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Nabaes Jodar, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nabaes Jodar, Mercedes. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Pianciola, Luis. Ministerio de Salud. Laboratorio Central Ciudad de Neuquén; ArgentinaFil: Sfalcin, Javier A. CIBIC Laboratorio; ArgentinaFil: Acevedo, Raúl M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acevedo, Raúl M. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste-CONICET. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Bengoa Luoni, Sofía Ailin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Bengoa Luoni, Sofia Ailin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina.Fil: Bolatti, Elisa M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bolatti, Elisa M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Grupo Virología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Brusés, Bettina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Cacciabue, Marco Polo Domingo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Cacciabue, Marco Polo Domingo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina.Fil: Casal, Pablo E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Grupo Virología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Cerri, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cerri, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Grupo Virología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Chouhy, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chouhy, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Grupo Virología Humana; ArgentinaFil: Dus Santos, Maria Jose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Dus Santos, Maria Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Dus Santos, Maria Jose. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham. Laboratorio de Diagnóstico-UNIDAD COVID; ArgentinaFil: Eberhardt, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Eberhardt, María Florencia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Ailen. Ministerio de Salud. Laboratorio Central Ciudad de Neuquén; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Paula Del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Paula Del Carmen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina.Fil: Fernández Do Porto, Darío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Do Porto, Darío. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Cálculo; ArgentinaFil: Formichelli, Laura. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Gismondi, María Inés. CIBIC Laboratorio; ArgentinaFil: Gismondi, María Inés. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Irazoqui, Jose Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Irazoqui, Jose Matias. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzini Campos, Melina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzini Campos, Melina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Lusso, Silvina. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Marquez, Nathalie. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz Hidalgo, Marianne Graziel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología. Unidad de Genómica; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz Hidalgo, Marianne Graziel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina.Fil: Mussin, Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mussin, Javier. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Natale, Mónica. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Oria, Griselda. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba(UNC). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; ArgentinaFil: Posner, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Posner, Victoria. Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Laboratorio Mixto de Biotecnología Acuática; ArgentinaFil: Puebla, Andrea Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Biotecnología. Unidad de Genómica; ArgentinaFil: Puebla, Andrea Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina.Fil: Viegas, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Viegas, Mariana. Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentin

Omicron Waves in Argentina: Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages BA.1, BA.2 and the Emerging BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5

The COVID-19 pandemic has lately been driven by Omicron. This work aimed to study the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages during the third and fourth waves of COVID-19 in Argentina. Molecular surveillance was performed on 3431 samples from Argentina, between EW44/2021 and EW31/2022. Sequencing, phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses were performed. A differential dynamic between the Omicron waves was found. The third wave was associated with lineage BA.1, characterized by a high number of cases, very fast displacement of Delta, doubling times of 3.3 days and a low level of lineage diversity and clustering. In contrast, the fourth wave was longer but associated with a lower number of cases, initially caused by BA.2, and later by BA.4/BA.5, with doubling times of about 10 days. Several BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 sublineages and introductions were detected, although very few clusters with a constrained geographical distribution were observed, suggesting limited transmission chains. The differential dynamic could be due to waning immunity and an increase in population gatherings in the BA.1 wave, and a boosted population (for vaccination or recent prior immunity for BA.1 infection) in the wave caused by BA2/BA.4/BA.5, which may have limited the establishment of the new lineages.Fil: Villanova, Gabriela Vanina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuática. Centro Científico Tecnológico y Educativo Acuario del río Paraná; Argentina

The Lambda Variant in Argentina: Analyzing the Evolution and Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage C.37

The second wave of COVID-19 occurred in South America in early 2021 and was mainly driven by Gamma and Lambda variants. In this study, we aimed to describe the emergence and local genomic diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant in Argentina, from its initial entry into the country until its detection ceased. Molecular surveillance was conducted on 9356 samples from Argentina between October 2020 and April 2022, and sequencing, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic analyses were performed. Our findings revealed that the Lambda variant was first detected in Argentina in January 2021 and steadily increased in frequency until it peaked in April 2021, with continued detection throughout the year. Phylodynamic analyses showed that at least 18 introductions of the Lambda variant into the country occurred, with nine of them having evidence of onward local transmission. The spatial–-temporal reconstruction showed that Argentine clades were associated with Lambda sequences from Latin America and suggested an initial diversification in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires before spreading to other regions in Argentina. Genetic analyses of genome sequences allowed us to describe the mutational patterns of the Argentine Lambda sequences and detect the emergence of rare mutations in an immunocompromised patient. Our study highlights the importance of genomic surveillance in identifying the introduction and geographical distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant, as well as in monitoring the emergence of mutations that could be involved in the evolutionary leaps that characterize variants of concern