Geobiology of Andean Microbial Ecosystems Discovered in Salar de Atacama, Chile

The Salar de Atacama in the Chilean Central Andes harbors unique microbial ecosystems due to extreme environmental conditions, such as high altitude, low oxygen pressure, high solar radiation, and high salinity. Combining X-ray diffraction analyses, scanning electron microscopy and molecular diversity studies, we have characterized twenty previously unexplored Andean microbial ecosystems in eight different lakes and wetlands from the middle-east and south-east regions of this salt flat. The mats and microbialites studied are mainly formed by calcium carbonate (aragonite and calcite) and halite, whereas the endoevaporites are composed predominantly of gypsum and halite. The carbonate-rich mats and microbialites are dominated by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla. Within the phylum Proteobacteria, the most abundant classes are Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. While in the phylum Bacteroidetes, the most abundant classes are Bacteroidia and Rhodothermia. Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia phyla are also wellrepresented in the majority of these systems. Gypsum endoevaporites, on the contrary, are dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Euryarchaeota phyla. The Cyanobacteria phylum is also abundant in these systems, but it is less represented in comparison to mats and microbialites. Regarding the eukaryotic taxa, diatoms are key structural components in most of the microbial ecosystems studied. The genera of diatoms identified were Achnanthes, Fallacia, Halamphora, Mastogloia, Navicula, Nitzschia, and Surirella. Normally, in the mats and microbialites, diatoms form nano-globular carbonate aggregates with filamentous cyanobacteria and other prokaryotic cells, suggesting their participation in the mineral precipitation process. This work expands our knowledge of the microbial ecosystems inhabiting the extreme environments from the Central Andes region, which is important to ensure their protection and conservation.Centro de Investigaciones Geológica

Geobiology of Andean microbial ecosystems discovered in Salar de Atacama, Chile

The Salar de Atacama in the Chilean Central Andes harbors unique microbial ecosystems due to extreme environmental conditions, such as high altitude, low oxygen pressure, high solar radiation, and high salinity. Combining X-ray diffraction analyses, scanning electron microscopy and molecular diversity studies, we have characterized twenty previously unexplored Andean microbial ecosystems in eight different lakes and wetlands from the middle-east and south-east regions of this salt flat. The mats and microbialites studied are mainly formed by calcium carbonate (aragonite and calcite) and halite, whereas the endoevaporites are composed predominantly of gypsum andhalite. The carbonate-rich mats and microbialites are dominated by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla. Within the phylum Proteobacteria, the most abundant classes are Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. While in the phylum Bacteroidetes, the most abundant classes are Bacteroidia and Rhodothermia. Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia phyla are also wellrepresented in the majority of these systems. Gypsum endoevaporites, on the contrary, are dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Euryarchaeota phyla. The Cyanobacteria phylum is also abundant in these systems, but it is less represented in comparison to mats and microbialites. Regarding the eukaryotic taxa, diatoms are key structural components in most of the microbial ecosystems studied. The genera of diatoms identified were Achnanthes, Fallacia, Halamphora, Mastogloia,Navicula, Nitzschia, and Surirella. Normally, in the mats and microbialites, diatoms form nano-globular carbonate aggregates with filamentous cyanobacteria and other prokaryotic cells, suggesting their participation in the mineral precipitation process. This work expands our knowledge of the microbial ecosystems inhabiting the extreme environments from the Central Andes region, which is important to ensure their protection and conservation.Fil: Vignale, Federico Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Kurth, Daniel German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Lencina, Agustina Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca; ArgentinaFil: Poiré, Daniel G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Chihuailaf, Elizabeth. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada; ChileFil: Muñoz Herrera, Natalia. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada; ChileFil: Novoa, Fernando. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada; ChileFil: Turjanski, Adrián G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Lithifying and Non-Lithifying Microbial Ecosystems in the Wetlands and Salt Flats of the Central Andes

The wetlands and salt flats of the Central Andes region are unique extreme environments as they are located in high-altitude saline deserts, largely influenced by volcanic activity. Environmental factors, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, arsenic content, high salinity, low dissolved oxygen content, extreme daily temperature fluctuation, and oligotrophic conditions, resemble the early Earth and potentially extraterrestrial conditions. The discovery of modern microbialites and microbial mats in the Central Andes during the past decade has increased the interest in this area as an early Earth analog. In this work, we review the current state of knowledge of Central Andes region environments found within lakes, small ponds or puquios, and salt flats of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, many of them harboring a diverse range of microbial communities that we have termed Andean Microbial Ecosystems (AMEs). We have integrated the data recovered from all the known AMEs and compared their biogeochemistry and microbial diversity to achieve a better understanding of them and, consequently, facilitate their protection.Centro de Investigaciones Geológica

Clinical and Serological Features in Latin American IgG4-Related Disease Patients Differ According to Sex, Ethnicity, and Clinical Phenotype

Background/Objective Data on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) come almost exclusively from cohorts from Asia, Europe, and North America. We conducted this study to describe the clinical presentation, phenotype distribution, and association with sex, ethnicity, and serological markers in a large cohort of Latin American patients with IgG4-RD. Methods We performed a multicenter medical records review study including 184 Latin American IgG4-RD patients. We assigned patients to clinical phenotypes: group 1 (pancreato-hepato-biliary), group 2 (retroperitoneal/aortic), group 3 (head and neck-limited), group 4 (Mikulicz/systemic), and group 5 (undefined). We focused the analysis on how sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype may influence the clinical and serological presentation. Results The mean age was 50.8 ± 15 years. Men and women were equally affected (52.2% vs 48.8%). Fifty-four patients (29.3%) were assigned to group 1, 21 (11.4%) to group 2, 57 (30.9%) to group 3, 32 (17.4%) to group 4, and 20 (10.8%) to group 5. Male sex was associated with biliary tract (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-8.26), kidney (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.28-9.25), and retroperitoneal involvement (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.45-20). Amerindian patients presented more frequently with atopy history and gallbladder involvement. Group 3 had a female predominance. Conclusions Latin American patients with IgG4-RD were younger, and men and women were equally affected compared with White and Asian cohorts. They belonged more commonly to group 1 and group 3. Retroperitoneal and aortic involvement was infrequent. Clinical and serological features differed according to sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype.Fil: Martín-Nares, Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology; MéxicoFil: Baenas, Diego Federico. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Cuellar Gutiérrez, María Carolina. Hospital Del Salvador. Departamento de Medicina Interna. Servicio de Reumatología; ChileFil: Hernández-Molina, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology; MéxicoFil: Ortiz, Alberto Christian. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Neira, Oscar. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Neira, Oscar. Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad Del Desarrollo. Unidad Reumatología; ChileFil: Gutiérrez, Miguel A. Universidad de Valparaíso. Hospital Naval Almirante Nef. Departamento de Reumatologia; ChileFil: Calvo, Romina. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Saad, Emanuel José. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Departamento de Clínica Médica; ArgentinaFil: Elgueta Pinochet, Sergio. Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. Sección Reumatología. Departamento de Medicina; ChileFil: Gallo, Jesica. Hospital Central de Reconquista. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Moya, Alejandra. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ChileFil: Mansilla Aravena, Bellanides Agustina. Hospital Clínico Magallanes; ArgentinaFil: Crespo Espíndola, María Elena. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Hospital Evangélico. Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes; BrasilFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Centro Asistencial Del Sindicato Médico Del Uruguay. Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes; UruguayFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Institut Pasteur. Laboratorio de Inmunorregulación e Inflamación; UruguayFil: Bertoli, Ana María. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Córdoba, Mercedes. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Wurmann Kiblisky, Pamela. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile.Fil: Basualdo Arancibia, Washington Javier. Departamento de Medicina. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Badilla Piñeiro, María Natalia. Hospital Del Salvador, Universidad de Chile. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Gobbi, Carla Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Berbotto, Guillermo Ariel. Sanatorio Británico. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Pisoni, Cecilia N. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno. Sección Reumatología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Juárez, Vicente. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Cosatti, Micaela Ana. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno. Sección Reumatología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Aste, Nora María. Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Airoldi, Carla. Hospital Provincial. Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Llanos, Carolina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Vergara Melian, Cristian Fabián. Hospital San Martin de Quillota; ChileFil: Vergara Melian, Cristian Fabián. Clinica Ciudad Del Mar; ChileFil: Erlij Opazo, Daniel. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Departamento de Medicina Oriente; ChileFil: Goecke, Annelise. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Reumatología; ChileFil: Pastenes Montaño, Paula Andrea. Hospital Carlos Van Buren. Servicio de Medicina. Departamento de Reumatología; ChileFil: Tate, Patricio. Organización Médica de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Pirola, Juan Pablo. Sanatorio Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Stange Núñez, Lilith. Clínica Ciudad Del Mar. Centro de Artritis Reumatoide; ChileFil: Burgos, Paula I. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ChileFil: Mezzano Robinson, María Verónica. Hospital Del Salvador. Clínica Las Condes; ChileFil: Michalland H, Susana. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Silva Labra, Francisco. Hospital Padre Hurtado. Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad Del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Labarca Solar, Cristián Humberto. Hospital Padre Hurtado. Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad Del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Lencina, María Verónica. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Izquierdo Loaiza, Jorge Hernán. Clínica de Occidente S.A. Grupo de Reumatología; ColombiaFil: Del Castillo Gil, David Julián. Clínica de Occidente S.A. Grupo de Reumatología; ColombiaFil: Caeiro, Francisco. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Paira, Sergio. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; Argentin