Ten simple rules for aspiring scientists in a low-income country

Being a scientist entails a common set of characteristics. Admiring nature and having concern for social issues; possessing a strong academic background, team work abilities, honesty, discipline, skepticism, communication skills, competitiveness, ability to accept and give criticism, and productive relationships are some of the most obvious traits that scientists should have. To be a scientist in a low-income country (LIC), however, requires a complementary set of qualities that are necessary to confront the drawbacks that work against the development of science. The failure of many young researchers to mature as professional scientists upon their return to their country from advanced training elsewhere, motivated us to propose these ten rules.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Development of public universities in latin america: an alternative perspective to the economicist model of profitability

Los modelos ideológico-económicos preponderantes en Latinoamérica en las últimas décadas han impuesto un concepto estrecho de rentabilidad económica en muchas áreas de la sociedad, incluyendo aquellas en las que se desenvuelven las universidades públicas. Ello implica una presión a estas instituciones para generar utilidades propias con base en venta de bienes y prestación remunerada de servicios, así como para enfocar el desarrollo institucional en espacios académicos que tienen un mayor impacto en la esfera económica-productiva, en perjuicio de otros campos del conocimiento. Este ensayo cuestiona esta perspectiva economicista de rentabilidad para las universidades públicas, la cual cercena la posibilidad de un desarrollo integral en las instituciones de educación superior. Se propone, como alternativa, que las universidades deben promover un balance entre rendimientos académico, social, ambiental y económico. El eje central del trabajo universitario debe ser el desarrollo académico sólido basado en el fortalecimiento de los tres pilares fundamentales sobre los que se levanta la misión solidaria y de excelencia de una universidad con orientación para beneficio público, a saber: la investigación, la docencia y la extensión. Además, los esfuerzos institucionales deben tener un fundamento ético, en el sentido de que procuren favorecer un desarrollo donde la equidad y la racionalidad ambiental sean componentes fundamentales. De esta manera, la rentabilidad económica, y los esfuerzos dirigidos a garantizarla, deben ubicarse en el contexto de una estrategia de desarrollo institucional que se fundamente en criterios y prioridades de racionalidad académica, social, económica y ambiental y no en visiones estrictamente economicistas.The predominant neoliberal paradigm in Latin America has imposed the concept of economic profitability to all areas of society, including public universities. There is pressure to focus research and teaching efforts in disciplines that predominantly foster economic development. In addition, universities are increasingly pressed to generate a significant part of their own financial resources. This paper questions such narrow conceptualization of university productivity, which excludes essential issues in public universities, such as the promotion of all disciplines, regardless of their economic impact, and the need to consider the social and environmental implications of university work. It is proposed that a more integral concept of institutional development should be pursued in public universities, based on a balance between academic, social, environmental and economic aspects. Public universities should contribute to equity and sustainable development, which benefits all the population and which critically considers the social and environmental impact of developmental policies. The work in public universities in Latin America should be primarily focused on academic performance, and on the social and environmental impact of academic work. Public universities should not reproduce the economicist view of development, characterized by its blindness to social and ecological issues, and should instead promote an integral concept of academic endeavour, emphasizing on the social and ethical consequences of academic work.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

The struggle of neglected scientific groups: ten years of NeTropica efforts to promote research in tropical diseases in Central America

artículo (arbitrado) -- Universidad de Costa Rica, 2011The general strategy used by high-income countries to address global health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) relies heavily on short-term strategies designed to diminish the burden of diseases afflicting the populations of those countries. Thanks to the support and funding of international agencies, in many cases these initiatives have resulted in health improvements. However, in order to have a sustainable impact on the public health of LMICs, “vibrant local scientific communities” need to be implemented in parallel efforts [1]. In this article we describe 10 years of activities of the Network for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Central America (NeTropica), aimed to develop a competitive Central American scientific community in the field of tropical diseases, with the assistance of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the participation of the public universities of Central America (CA).Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Métodos de Investigación: destrezas básicas para el trabajo científico en las disciplinas biomédicas

Esta obra didáctica nace con el objetivo de presentar a sus lectores una visión introductoria sobre el fenómeno científico actual, sus orígenes, su contexto costarricense, y posteriormente presentar las principales destrezas generales que involucra la investigación científica y tecnológica. El texto va dirigido especialmente, aunque no exclusivamente, a estudiantes de posgrado en las disciplinas biomédicas. De hecho, en gran medida esta obra se apoya en las experiencias de los autores en el dictado del curso 'Métodos de Investigación (SP-5314)' del Programa de Posgrado en Microbiología, Parasitología, Química Clínica e Inmunología que se imparte en la Universidad de Costa Rica, así como en su labor de guía y supervisión de las tesis de posgrado realizadas por numerosos estudiantes. Los diversos temas se presentan en un estilo llano, y en ocasiones incluso coloquial, utilizando un formato electrónico con la finalidad de facilitar un acceso libre, tanto a los estudiantes del programa arriba citado como programas afines, tanto en Costa Rica como en otros países de habla Hispana. Se han ilustrado los temas con diversas imágenes de licencias Creative Commons tomadas de la Web, así como de elaboración propia de los autores. Esperamos que este texto pueda enriquecerse y evolucionar a partir de esta primera edición electrónica, con los comentarios y observaciones de sus lectores, que de antemano agradecemos.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de MicrobiologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Salud::Maestría Académica en ParasitologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Salud::Maestría Académica en InmunologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrad

Índices bibliométricos y revistas de ‘corriente central’: implicaciones para el desarrollo de las ciencias naturales en Costa Rica

Dada esta amplia variación en la calidad de las publicaciones en ciencias naturales, es esencial para la comunidad científica tener una perspectiva clara de dicha heterogeneidad y de sus implicaciones en la generación y transmisión del conocimiento. La pregunta obvia entonces es: ¿cómo identificar las revistas con mayor impacto y pertinencia en las diversas ramas de las ciencias naturales?UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

La vacuna contra la Covid-19: ¿Garantía, esperanza o amenaza?

Esta es una síntesis del diálogo organizado por REDICIRE el 24 de junio de 2021. La actividad está grabada en video (REDICIRE, 2021). Se presentan distintas perspectivas a favor y en contra de la vacunación.Red para el Diálogo entre Ciencia y Religión (REDICIRE) de la Universidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[VI 245-B8-369]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Educación::Escuela de Educación FísicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIP

N-Formyl-Perosamine Surface Homopolysaccharides Hinder the Recognition of Brucella abortus by Mouse Neutrophils

Brucella abortus is an intracellular pathogen of monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and placental trophoblasts. This bacterium causes a chronic disease in bovines and in humans. In these hosts, the bacterium also invades neutrophils; however, it fails to replicate and just resists the killing action of these leukocytes without inducing significant activation or neutrophilia. Moreover, B. abortus causes the premature cell death of human neutrophils. In the murine model, the bacterium is found within macrophages and dendritic cells at early times of infection but seldom in neutrophils. Based on this observation, we explored the interaction of mouse neutrophils with B. abortus. In contrast to human, dog, and bovine neutrophils, naive mouse neutrophils fail to recognize smooth B. abortus bacteria at early stages of infection. Murine normal serum components do not opsonize smooth Brucella strains, and neutrophil phagocytosis is achieved only after the appearance of antibodies. Alternatively, mouse normal serum is capable of opsonizing rough Brucella mutants. Despite this, neutrophils still fail to kill Brucella, and the bacterium induces cell death of murine leukocytes. In addition, mouse serum does not opsonize Yersinia enterocolitica O:9, a bacterium displaying the same surface polysaccharide antigen as smooth B. abortus. Therefore, the lack of murine serum opsonization and absence of murine neutrophil recognition are specific, and the molecules responsible for the Brucella camouflage are N-formyl-perosamine surface homopolysaccharides. Although the mouse is a valuable model for understanding the immunobiology of brucellosis, direct extrapolation from one animal system to another has to be undertaken with caution.Fondo Especial de la Educación Superior/[UNA-SIA-0505-13]/FEES-CONARE/Costa RicaFondo Especial de la Educación Superior/[UNA-SIA-0504-13]/FEES-CONARE/Costa RicaFondo Especial de la Educación Superior/[UNA-SIA-0248-13]/FEES-CONARE/Costa RicaFondo Especial de la Educación Superior/[UNA-SIA-0434-14]/FEES-CONARE/Costa RicaConsejo Nacional para Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas/[FV-0004-13]/CONICIT-FORINVES/Costa RicaThe International Center for Genomic Engineering and Biotechnology/[CRP/12/007]/ICGEB/IndiaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[803-B3-761]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET

Depletion of complement enhances the clearance of Brucella abortus in mice

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of animals and humans. Brucella abortus barely activates the innate immune system at the onset of infection, and this bacterium is resistant to the microbicidal action of complement. Since complement stands as the first line of defense during bacterial invasions, we explored the role of complement in B. abortus infections. Brucella abortus-infected mice depleted of complement with cobra venom factor (CVF) showed the same survival rate as mice in the control group. The complement-depleted mice readily eliminated B. abortus from the spleen and did so more efficiently than the infected controls after 7 days of infection. The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6) remained within background levels in complement-depleted B. abortus-infected mice. In contrast, the levels of the immune activator cytokine gamma interferon and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 were significantly increased. No significant histopathological changes in the liver and spleen were observed between the complement-depleted B. abortus-infected mice and the corresponding controls. The action exerted by Brucella on the immune system in the absence of complement may correspond to a broader phenomenon that involves several components of innate immunity.Universidad de Costa Rica/[803-B0-601]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[803-B8-762]/UCR/Costa RicaInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/[CRP/16/005]/ICGBE/ArgentinaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Emergence of an Outbreak-Associated Clostridium difficile Variant with Increased Virulence

The prevalence of Clostridium difficile infections has increased due to the emergence of epidemic variants from diverse genetic lineages. Here we describe the emergence of a novel variant during an outbreak in a Costa Rican hospital that was associated with severe clinical presentations. This C. difficile variant elicited higher white blood cell counts and caused disease in younger patients than did other strains isolated during the outbreak. Furthermore, it had a recurrence rate, a 30-day attributable disease rate, and disease severity as great as those of the epidemic strain NAP1. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genotyping indicated that the outbreak strains belong to a previously undescribed variant, designated NAPCR1. Whole-genome sequencing and ribotyping indicated that the NAPCR1 variant belongs to C. difficile ribotype 012 and sequence type 54, as does the reference strain 630. NAPCR1 strains are resistant to fluoroquinolones due to a mutation in gyrA, and they possess an 18-bp deletion in tcdC that is characteristic of the epidemic, evolutionarily distinct, C. difficile NAP1 variant. NAPCR1 genomes contain 10% more predicted genes than strain 630, most of which are of hypothetical function and are present on phages and other mobile genetic elements. The increased virulence of NAPCR1 was confirmed by mortality rates in the hamster model and strong inflammatory responses induced by bacteria-free supernatants in the murine ligated loop model. However, NAPCR1 strains do not synthesize toxin A and toxin B at levels comparable to those in NAP1 strains. Our results suggest that the pathogenic potential of this emerging C. difficile variant is due to the acquisition of hypothetical functions associated with laterally acquired DNA.Universidad de Costa Rica/[803-B1-654]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[803-B1-602]/UCR/Costa RicaConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/[FV-0004-13]/CONICIT/Costa Rica. Fondo gestionado a través de FORINVESPrograma de Cooperación Internacional/[130621650]/FA0/BrasilWellcome Trust/[098051}//Reino UnidoWellcome Trust/[086418]//Reino UnidoWellcome Trust/[098051]//Reino UnidoUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe