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Ítem Genomic analysis of sewage from 101 countries reveals global landscape of antimicrobial resistance(Nature Research, 2022-12) Munk, Patrick; Brinch, Christian; Møller, Frederik Duus; Petersen, Thomas N.; Hendriksen, Rene S.; Seyfarth, Anne Mette; Kjeldgaard, Jette S.; Svendsen, Christina Aaby; van Bunnik, Bram; Berglund, Fanny; Bego, Artan; Power, Pablo; Rees, Catherine; Lambrinidis, Dionisia; Neilson, Elizabeth Heather Jakobsen; Gibb, Karen; Coventry, Kris; Collignon, Peter; Cassar, Susan; Allerberger, Franz; Begum, Anowara; Hossain, Zenat Zebin; Worrell, Carlon; Vandenberg, Olivier; Pieters, Ilse; Victorien, Dougnon Tamègnon; Salazar Gutierrez, Angela Daniela; Soria, Freddy; Grujić, Vesna Rudić; Mazalica, Nataša; Rahube, Teddie O.; Tagliati, Carlos Alberto; Rodrigues, Dalia; Oliveira, Guilherme; de Souza, Larissa Camila Ribeiro; Ivanov, Ivan; Juste, Bonkoungou Isidore; Oumar, Traoré; Sopheak, Thet; Vuthy, Yith; Ngandijo, Antoinette; Nzouankeu, Ariane; Olivier, Ziem A. Abah Jacques; Yost, Christopher K.; Kumar, Pratik; Brar, Satinder Kaur; Tabo, Djim-Adjim; Adell, Aiko D.; Paredes-Osses, Esteban; Martinez, Maria Cristina; Sara, Cuadros-Orellana; Ke, Changwen; Zheng, Huanying; Baisheng, Li; Lau, Lok Ting; Chung, Teresa; Jiao, Xiaoyang; Yu, Yongjie; JiaYong, Zhao; Morales, Johan F. Bernal; Valencia, Maria Fernanda; Donado-Godoy, Pilar; Coulibaly, Kalpy Julien; Hrenovic, Jasna; Jergović, Matijana; Karpíšková, Renáta; Deogratias, Zozo Nyarukweba; Elsborg, Bodil; Hansen, Lisbeth Truelstrup; Jensen, Pernille Erland; Abouelnaga, Mohamed; Salem, Mohamed Fathy; Koolmeister, Marliin; Legesse, Mengistu; Eguale, Tadesse; Heikinheimo, Annamari; Le Guyader, Soizick; Schaeffer, Julien; Villacis, Jose Eduardo; Sanneh, Bakary; Malania, Lile; Nitsche, Andreas; Brinkmann, Annika; Schubert, Sara; Hesse, Sina; Berendonk, Thomas U.; Saba, Courage Kosi Setsoafia; Mohammed, Jibril; Feglo, Patrick Kwame; Banu, Regina Ama; Kotzamanidis, Charalampos; Lytras, Efthymios; Lickes, Sergio A.; Kocsis, Bela; Solymosi, Norbert; Thorsteinsdottir, Thorunn R.; Hatha, Abdulla Mohamed; Ballal, Mamatha; Bangera, Sohan Rodney; Fani, Fereshteh; Alebouyeh, Masoud; Morris, Dearbhaile; O’Connor, Louise; Cormican, Martin; Moran-Gilad, Jacob; Battisti, Antonio; Diaconu, Elena Lavinia; Corno, Gianluca; Di Cesare, Andrea; Alba, Patricia; Hisatsune, Junzo; Yu, Liansheng; Kuroda, Makoto; Sugai, Motoyuki; Kayama, Shizuo; Shakenova, Zeinegul; Kiiyukia, Ciira; Ng’eno, Eric; Raka, Lul; Jamil, Kazi; Fakhraldeen, Saja Adel; Alaati, Tareq; Bērziņš, Aivars; Avsejenko, Jeļena; Kokina, Kristina; Streikisa, Madara; Bartkevics, Vadims; Matar, Ghassan M.; Daoud, Ziad; Pereckienė, Asta; Butrimaite-Ambrozeviciene, Ceslova; Penny, Christian; Bastaraud, Alexandra; Rasolofoarison, Tiavina; Collard, Jean-Marc; Samison, Luc Hervé; Andrianarivelo, Mala Rakoto; Banda, Daniel Lawadi; Amin, Arshana; Rajandas, Heraa; Parimannan, Sivachandran; Spiteri, David; Haber, Malcolm Vella; Santchurn, Sunita J.; Vujacic, Aleksandar; Djurovic, Dijana; Bouchrif, Brahim; Karraouan, Bouchra; Vubil, Delfino Carlos; Pal, Pushkar; Schmitt, Heike; van Passel, Mark; Jeunen, Gert-Jan; Gemmell, Neil; Chambers, Stephen T.; Mendoza, Fania Perez; Huete-Pιrez, Jorge; Vilchez, Samuel; Ahmed, Akeem Olayiwola; Adisa, Ibrahim Raufu; Odetokun, Ismail Ayoade; Fashae, Kayode; Sørgaard, Anne-Marie; Wester, Astrid Louise; Ryrfors, Pia; Holmstad, Rune; Mohsin, Mashkoor; Hasan, Rumina; Shakoor, Sadia; Gustafson, Natalie Weiler; Schill, Claudia Huber; Rojas, Maria Luz Zamudio; Velasquez, Jorge Echevarria; Magtibay, Bonifacio B.; Catangcatang, Kris; Sibulo, Ruby; Yauce, Felipe Campos; Wasyl, Dariusz; Manaia, Celia; Rocha, Jaqueline; Martins, Jose; Álvaro, Pedro; Di Yoong Wen, Doris; Shin, Hanseob; Hur, Hor-Gil; Yoon, Sukhwan; Bosevska, Golubinka; Kochubovski, Mihail; Cojocaru, Radu; Burduniuc, Olga; Hong, Pei-Ying; Perry, Meghan Rose; Gassama, Amy; Radosavljevic, Vladimir; Tay, Moon Y. F.; Zuniga-Montanez, Rogelio; Wuertz, Stefan; Gavačová, Dagmar; Pastuchová, Katarína; Truska, Peter; Trkov, Marija; Keddy, Karen; Esterhuyse, Kerneels; Song, Min Joon; Quintela-Baluja, Marcos; Lopez, Mariano Gomez; Cerdà-Cuéllar, Marta; Perera R.R.D.P.; Bandara N.K.B.K.R.G.W.; Premasiri H.I.; Pathirage, Sujatha; Charlemagne, Kareem; Rutgersson, Carolin; Norrgren, Leif; Örn, Stefan; Boss, Renate; Van der Heijden, Tanja; Hong, Yu-Ping; Kumburu, Happiness Houka; Mdegela, Robinson Hammerthon; Hounmanou, Yaovi Mahuton Gildas; Chonsin, Kaknokrat; Suthienkul, Orasa; Thamlikitkul, Visanu; de Roda Husman, Ana Maria; Bidjada, Bawimodom; Njanpop-Lafourcade, Berthe-Marie; Nikiema-Pessinaba, Somtinda Christelle; Levent, Belkis; Kurekci, Cemil; Ejobi, Francis; Kalule, John Bosco; Thomsen, Jens; Obaidi, Ouidiane; Jassim, Laila Mohamed; Moore, Andrew; Leonard, Anne; Graham, David W.; Bunce, Joshua T.; Zhang, Lihong; Gaze, William H.; Lefor, Brett; Capone, Drew; Sozzi, Emanuele; Brown, Joe; Meschke, John Scott; Sobsey, Mark D.; Davis, Michael; Beck, Nicola Koren; Sukapanpatharam, Pardi; Truong, Phuong; Lilienthal, Ronald; Kang, Sanghoon; Wittum, Thomas E.; Rigamonti, Natalia; Baklayan, Patricia; Van, Chinh Dang; Tran, Doan Minh Nguyen; Do Phuc, Nguyen; Kwenda, Geoffrey; Larsson, D. G. Joakim; Koopmans, Marion; Woolhouse, Mark; Aarestrup, Frank M.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health. Understanding the emergence, evolution, and transmission of individual antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is essential to develop sustainable strategies combatting this threat. Here, we use metagenomic sequencing to analyse ARGs in 757 sewage samples from 243 cities in 101 countries, collected from 2016 to 2019. We find regional patterns in resistomes, and these differ between subsets corresponding to drug classes and are partly driven by taxonomic variation. The genetic environments of 49 common ARGs are highly diverse, with most common ARGs carried by multiple distinct genomic contexts globally and sometimes on plasmids. Analysis of flanking sequence revealed ARG-specific patterns of dispersal limitation and global transmission. Our data furthermore suggest certain geographies are more prone to transmission events and should receive additional attention. © 2022, The Author(s).Ítem Baseline Corticosterone, Stress Responses, and Leukocyte Profiles in Chicks of Precocial Birds in Rural and Urban Environments(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-11) Quirici, Verónica; Valeris-Chacín, Carlos E.; Parada, Pablo; Cuevas, Elfego; Wingfield, John C.The urban environment produces complex relationship among urban stressors that could change the levels of the steroid hormone, glucocorticoid (GCs). Studies that have evaluated baseline corticosterone (Cort) levels (the main GC in birds) and stress responses during development in urban and rural environments have obtained contrasting results. This ambiguity could partially be because the studies were carried out in altricial species, where parental care and sibling competition can affect Cort levels. Therefore, in this study, we compared levels of circulating baseline levels of CORT (blood sample obtained within 3 min of capture) and stress responses (blood sample obtained 30 min after capture) and the H/L ratio (an alternative method to measure stress) in chicks of a precocial bird, southern lapwings (Vanellus chilensis), from one rural (6 chicks), one urban low-polluted (13 chicks), and one urban high-polluted (10 chicks) site of Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile. We observed higher baseline Cort (2.41 ± 1.78 ng/mL) in the urban high-polluted site, a higher H/L ratio (0.51 ± 0.20) in the urban low-polluted site, and similar stress response across the three sites. We propose that the difference in stress physiology we observed within Santiago de Chile is because the two zones are at extremes in terms of stressors (noise, light, chemical, and human presence). It is unusual to find a precocious bird that lives in both urban and rural areas; therefore, the results of this study will advance our knowledge of the effect of the urban environment during the development of wildlife, which is relevant in terms of management and conservation. © 2023 by the authors.Ítem Biodegradation of olive mill solid waste by Anthracophyllum discolor and Stereum hirsutum: effect of copper and manganese supplementation(Springer, 0025) Benavides V.; Serrano A.; Pinto-Ibieta F.; Rubilar O.; Ciudad GAnthracophyllum hirsutum and Stereum hirsutum produce manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase to break down lignin, a potential biological pretreatment for lignocellulosic biomass. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) added to olive mill solid waste (OMSW) inoculated with A. discolor and S. hirsutum on ligninolytic enzyme activity, lignin degradation, and phenolic compound removal. Different optimal metal dosages were determined for each fungal strain. For S. hirsutum, the addition of 6.1 mg Cu kg⁻1 and 7.3 mg Mn kg⁻1 resulted in 173 ± 5 U·L⁻1 MnP activity (an 863% increase compared to no metal addition) and 42 ± 3% lignin degradation (183% higher than with no metal addition, 15 ± 3%). These conditions also led to 65–75% phenol removal efficiencies in OMSW at 25 days and 80–95% in leachates between 20 and 30 days. For A. discolor, 14.6 mg Mn kg⁻1 yielded 37 ± 7 U·L⁻1 MnP activity (a 142% increase compared to no metal addition) and 38 ± 7% lignin degradation (150% higher than with no metal addition, 15 ± 3%). Under these conditions, A. discolor achieved 80–90% phenol removal in leachates at 20 days. These results demonstrate the positive effect of optimised metal supplementation, highlighting the potential of S. hirsutum and A. discolor for effective lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment and future mycoremediation processes. © The Author(s) 2025.Ítem Production of minicell-like structures by Escherichia coli biosynthesizing cadmium fluorescent nanoparticles: a novel response to heavy metal exposure(BioMed Central Ltd, 2025-12) Valenzuela-Ibaceta, Felipe; Álvarez, Sergio A.; Pérez-Donoso, José M.The bacterial synthesis of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs), presents a sustainable method for producing nanomaterials with customized optical properties and significant technological potential. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms for this process remain elusive. Specifically, the role of cellular structures in QD generation has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we examined the morphological changes in Escherichia coli during the biosynthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) QDs, using a strain overexpressing the gshA gene to promote QD biosynthesis through increased glutathione (GSH) levels. Microscopy analyses revealed that fluorescence emission associated with QDs was concentrated at the cell poles, along with fluorescence emission from small spherical cells, a phenomenon exclusively detectable during QD biosynthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed electron-dense nanomaterials localized at the cell poles. Furthermore, it was demonstrated the formation of minicell-like structures (∼ 0.5 μm in diameter) originating from these poles under biosynthesis conditions. These minicells encapsulated nanometric electron-dense material. Additional analyses indicated that minicells contained inclusion bodies, likely formed due to gshA overexpression and cadmium stress. Our findings confirms the role of minicells as a bacterial mechanism for sequestering cadmium at the cell poles and expelling the metal in the form of nanoparticles. This underscores the importance of minicells in bacterial physiology and stress responses, introducing a novel mechanism for heavy metal detoxification in bacteria.Ítem γδ T cell distribution in the adventitial layer of non-fertile cystic echinococcosis cysts from cattle livers(Nature Research, 0025) Stoore, Caroll; Baquedano, María Soledad; Hidalgo, Christian; Cabello-Verrugio, Claudio; Paredes, RodolfoCystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, forming cysts in ruminants and humans with major health and economic impacts. The immune response to CE cysts is complex, with fertility linked to the host’s inflammatory reaction. This study examines γδ T cell distribution and role within the adventitial layer of non-fertile CE cysts in cattle, including cases co-infected with the trematode Fasciola hepatica (FH), a known immune response modulator. Using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence, we observed γδ T cells dispersed in the adventitial layer, enriched in inflammatory zones. Co-infected cases (CE + FH+) showed a reduced γδ T cell proportion among CD3+ T cells compared to non-coinfected cases, suggesting an immunoregulatory effect of FH. Our findings align with prior studies showing γδ T cell recruitment in granulomatous diseases in ruminants but reveal that co-infection alters this response. This study provides the first detailed characterization of γδ T cells in cattle CE cysts, emphasizing their potential role in granulomatous immune responses. It highlights the need for further research into mechanisms influencing CE cyst fertility and immune modulation in helminth co-infections, advancing our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and informing disease management strategies. © The Author(s) 2025.Ítem Connexin46 in the nucleus of cancer cells: a possible role as transcription modulator(10.1186/s12964-025-02151-w, 0025) Fernández-Olivares, Ainoa; Orellana, Viviana P; Llanquinao, Jesús; Nuñez, Gonzalo; Pérez-Moreno, Pablo; Contreras-Riquelme, Sebastián; Martin, Alberto JM; Mammano, Fabio; Alfaro, Ivan E; Calderón, Juan F; Stehberg, Jimmy; Sáez, Mauricio ABackground: Oncogenes drive cancer progression, but few are active exclusively in tumor cells. Connexins (Cxs), traditionally recognized as ion channel proteins, can localize to the nucleus and regulate gene expression, playing key roles in both physiological and pathological processes. Cx46, once thought to be restricted to the eye lens, has been implicated in tumor growth, though its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the nuclear presence of Cx46 in cancer cells and its potential role as a transcriptional modulator. Methods: We employed ChIP-Seq, confocal immunofluorescence, and nuclear protein purification to assess Cx46 localization and DNA interactions. Functional assays were conducted to evaluate its effects on invasion, division, spheroid formation, and mesenchymal marker expression. Single-point mutations and molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore potential Cx46-DNA interactions. Results: Cx46 mRNA upregulation was found in a variety of tumors compared to adjacent healthy tissue. In HeLa cells, which do not express Cx46, its transfection promoted proliferation, invasion and self-renewal capacity, cancer stem cell traits and mesenchymal features. Consistently, in Sk-Mel-2, which naturally express Cx46, reduced Cx46 expression led to a decrease in the similar parameters. In HeLa cells, nuclear Cx46 was detected in two forms, full length 46 kDa and a 30 kDa fragment (GJA3-30 k), ChIP-Seq experiments revealed that Cx46 binds to the DNA at intergenic and promoter regions, leading to the activation of oncogenic pathways. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that GJA3-30 k dimerizes in a RAD50-like structure, forming stable DNA complexes. Cx46 and in some cases GJA3-30 k were detected in the nuclei of multiple cancer cell lines, including prostate, breast and skin cancers. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a novel nuclear role for Cx46 in cancer, demonstrating its function as a transcriptional regulator and its potential as a therapeutic target. © The Author(s) 2025.Ítem Tracing the invasion: Wing morphometrics reveal population spread and adaptation patterns of Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) across Southern Europe(Public Library of Science, 0025) Pajač Beus, Martina a; Lemic, Darija; Benítez, Hugo A. b; Pérez, Laura M; Rot, Mojca; Konjević, Aleksandra; Andreadis, Stefanos S.; Živković, Ivana PajačInvasive species such as Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), the brown marmorated stink bug, pose a significant threat to agriculture due to their rapid spread and adaptability. The aim of this study is to assess the phenotypic variability of H. halys populations by analyzing the size and shape morphology of the anterior and posterior wings and to determine whether geometric morphometrics can serve as a cost-effective alternative to genetic methods for tracking invasion patterns. Populations from four southern European countries (Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Greece) with 540 specimens and 2,160 wings were analysed and showed clear phenotypic differences in wing morphology consistent with the known invasion dynamics previously determined by genetic studies. Mahalanobis distances highlight the close morphological relationship between the Serbian and Slovenian populations, suggesting common ancestry or recent gene flow, while the Greek and Croatian populations show significant differences, suggesting different invasion pathways or rapid morphological adaptation. The Greek population exhibited lower phenotypic plasticity, whereas the Serbian population displayed the greatest variation, likely reflecting the influence of multiple invasion sources. These results show that wing morphology can reliably detect invasion-related patterns and phenotypic plasticity and is a valuable tool for biomonitoring in integrated pest management programs, especially in areas where genetic methods are less feasible. This study highlights the utility of geometric morphometrics in monitoring the spread and adaptation of invasive species such as H. halys in different environments. © 2025 Pajač Beus et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Ítem Production of minicell-like structures by Escherichia coli biosynthesizing cadmium fluorescent nanoparticles: a novel response to heavy metal exposure(BioMed Central Ltd, 0025) Valenzuela-Ibaceta, Felipe; Álvarez, Sergio A.; Pérez-Donoso, José M.The bacterial synthesis of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs), presents a sustainable method for producing nanomaterials with customized optical properties and significant technological potential. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms for this process remain elusive. Specifically, the role of cellular structures in QD generation has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we examined the morphological changes in Escherichia coli during the biosynthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) QDs, using a strain overexpressing the gshA gene to promote QD biosynthesis through increased glutathione (GSH) levels. Microscopy analyses revealed that fluorescence emission associated with QDs was concentrated at the cell poles, along with fluorescence emission from small spherical cells, a phenomenon exclusively detectable during QD biosynthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed electron-dense nanomaterials localized at the cell poles. Furthermore, it was demonstrated the formation of minicell-like structures (∼ 0.5 μm in diameter) originating from these poles under biosynthesis conditions. These minicells encapsulated nanometric electron-dense material. Additional analyses indicated that minicells contained inclusion bodies, likely formed due to gshA overexpression and cadmium stress. Our findings confirms the role of minicells as a bacterial mechanism for sequestering cadmium at the cell poles and expelling the metal in the form of nanoparticles. This underscores the importance of minicells in bacterial physiology and stress responses, introducing a novel mechanism for heavy metal detoxification in bacteria. © The Author(s) 2025.Ítem Multiple clonal transmissions of clinically relevant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase–producing Escherichia coli among livestock, dogs, and wildlife in Chile(Elsevier Ltd, 2023-09) Hayer, Juliette; Salgado-Caxito, Marília; Opazo-Capurro, Andrés; González Muñoz, Paulina; Millán, Javier; Piñeiro, Ana; Munita, Jose M.; Rivas, Lina; Benavides, Julio A.Objectives: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli) are a main cause of human deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite hundreds of reports of the faecal carriage of ESBL-E. coli in domestic and wild animals, the dynamics of its circulation remains poorly understood. Methods: We used whole genome sequencing of 19 ESBL-E. coli previously isolated in the same local setting from dogs, livestock, and a wild rodent in Central Chile to assess potential cross-species transmission of ESBL-E. coli. Results: Isolates harboured a large number of AMR (n = 95) and virulence (n = 45) genes, plasmids replicons (n = 24), and E. coli sequence types including top extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli ST410, ST58, ST88, and ST617. Almost identical clones (<50 single nucleotide polymorphisms difference, same antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes, virulence genes, and plasmids) were found in faeces of dogs, cattle, or sheep from the same farm, and in a dog and a wild rodent living in proximity. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple clonal cross-species transmission of ESBL-E. coli in domestic and potentially wild animals of Latin America. Our results suggest that relatively rare spread of AMR across animal species can still occur by both clonal and plasmid dissemination. Our study highlights the need for establishing preventive measures to limit the circulation of these bacteria among animals in agricultural settings, particularly given the highly pathogenic profile of several E. coli strains detected in these animals. © 2023 The AuthorsÍtem Coxiella burnetii Infection in Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, and Ticks in Latin America and the Caribbean: a Comprehensive Review of the Literature(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023-09) Epelboin, Loïc; De Souza Ribeiro Mioni, Mateus; Couesnon, Aurelie; Saout, Mona; Guilloton, Edith; Omar, Salma; De Santi, Vincent Pommier; Davoust, Bernard; Marié, Jean Lou; Lavergne, Anne; Donato, Damien; Guterres, Alexandro; Rabier, Sebastien; Destoop, Justin; Djossou, Felix; Baudrimont, Xavier; Roch, Antoine; Cicuttin, Gabriel Leonardo; Rozental, Tatiana; Nacher, Mathieu; Millán, Javier; De Lemos, Elba R. Sampaio; Fernandes, Jorlan; Duron, Olivier; De Thoisy, Benoit; Rousset, ElodiePurpose of the Review: Q fever, a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, is reported very heterogeneously in humans in Latin America. The objective of this study was to review the data on Coxiella burnetii Infection in animals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Findings: A comprehensive literature review was carried out in the 47 countries and territories of Latin America on various search engines and grouped into four groups: livestock, pets, wildlife, and ticks. Summary: Thus, 113 studies were selected between 1950 and 2022. Among the 47 countries, only 25 (53%) had at least one publication related to C. burnetii infection in animals. The most productive country was Brazil (N = 51), followed by French Guiana (N = 21), and Colombia (N = 16). Studies in livestock from 20 countries have shown widely varying country-to-country rates of seroprevalence, ranging from 0 to 67%. Some studies from seven countries, especially French Guiana and Brazil, found antibodies and sometimes positive PCR in dogs and cats, generally in the context of investigations around human clustered cases. Knowledge remained fragmented about infection in wildlife from only five countries (Chile, Colombia, Brazil, French Guiana, and Uruguay). C. burnetii infection was identified by PCR in Chiroptera (7 species), Rodentia (6 species), Suina (2 species), Xenartha (1 species), Cingulata (1 species), and Perissodactyla (1 species). Studies on Coxiella sp. in ticks have been performed in 11 countries, mostly in Brazil, and mainly found Coxiella-like endosymbionts. Thus, data on C. burnetii infection in animals are sparse and incomplete in Latin America and the Caribbean, and more research is warranted. © 2023, The Author(s).Ítem Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases PERK5 and PERK12 are involved in pollen tube growth(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2021-10) Borassi, Cecilia; Sede, Ana R.; Mecchia, Martín A.; Mangano, Silvina; Marzol, Eliana; Denita-Juarez, Silvina P.; Salgado Salter, Juan D.; Velasquez, Silvia M.; Muschietti, Jorge P.; Estevez, José M.Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs) belong to the hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) superfamily known to be involved in many plant developmental processes. Here, we characterized two pollen-expressed PERKs from Arabidopsis thaliana, PERK5 and PERK12. Pollen tube growth was impaired in single and double perk5-1 perk12-1 loss of function mutants, with an impact on seed production. When the segregation was analysed, a male gametophytic defect was found, indicating that perk5-1 and perk12-1 mutants carry deficient pollen transmission. Furthermore, perk5-1 perk12-1 displayed an excessive accumulation of pectins and cellulose at the cell wall of the pollen tubes. Our results indicate that PERK5 and PERK12 are necessary for proper pollen tube growth, highlighting their role in cell wall assembly and reactive oxygen species homeostasis. © 2021 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.Ítem Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 0025) Ibáñez, Christian M.; Rosenfeld, Sebastián; Catalán, Jennifer; Zapata-Hernández, Germán; Gacitúa-Leible, Manuel; Vargas, Rocio; Morales, Pamela; Díaz, Angie; Carrasco, Sergio A; Sellanes, Javier; Mills, SadieFor the first time, field surveys for exploring the diversity and composition of shallow-water polyplacophorans in West Antarctica have been conducted. During the austral summer sampling campaigns of 2022, 2023 and 2024, a total of 1717 specimens of four species were collected from 21 localities. The composition, abundance, and diversity estimate of the assemblages showed that richness decreased southward due to changes in species composition. The ordination analysis showed a high similarity among localities. Thus, of the seven shallow-water chiton species previously recorded in Antarctica, only four were recorded here. Of them, Tonicina zschaui, Leptochiton kerguelensis, and Hemiarthrum setulosum were the most common and abundant, while Callochiton bouveti was the rarest and least abundant species. The diversity of shallow-water polyplacophorans in this area of Antarctica is low compared to the higher number of species reported in other sub-Antarctic regions. It is suggested that the effect of ice cover on shallow-water habitats could affect the abundance and diversity of chitons. In turn, the high similarity of assemblages may be due to the transport of larvae and juveniles by ocean currents and rafting between the studied sites. © 2025 by the authors.Ítem Transient gestational hypothyroxinemia accelerates and enhances ulcerative colitis-like disorder in the male offspring(Frontiers Media SA, 0024) Rivera, Juan Carlos; Opazo, Ma. Cecilia; Hernández-Armengol, Rosario; Álvarez, Oscar; Mendoza-León, María José; Caamaño, Esteban; Gatica, Sebastian; Bohmwald, Karen; Bueno, Susan M.; González, Pablo A.; Neunlist, Michel; Boudin, HeleneIntroduction: Gestational hypothyroxinemia (HTX) is a condition that occurs frequently at the beginning of pregnancy, and it correlates with cognitive impairment, autism, and attentional deficit in the offspring. Evidence in animal models suggests that gestational HTX can increase the susceptibility of the offspring to develop strong inflammation in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a frequent inflammatory bowel disease with unknown causes. Therefore, the intensity of ulcerative colitis-like disorder (UCLD) and the cellular and molecular factors involved in proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses were analyzed in the offspring gestated in HTX (HTX-offspring) and compared with the offspring gestated in euthyroidism (Control-offspring). Methods: Gestational HTX was induced by the administration of 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole in drinking water to pregnant mice during E10–E14. The HTX-offspring were induced with UCLD by the acute administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The score of UCLD symptomatology was registered every day, and colon histopathology, immune cells, and molecular factors involved in the inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response were analyzed on day 6 of DSS treatment. Results: The HTX-offspring displayed earlier UCLD pathological symptoms compared with the Control-offspring. After 6 days of DSS treatment, the HTX-offspring almost doubled the score of the Control-offspring. The histopathological analyses of the colon samples showed signs of inflammation at the distal and medial colon for both the HTX-offspring and Control-offspring. However, significantly more inflammatory features were detected in the proximal colon of the HTX-offspring induced with UCLD compared with the Control-offspring induced with UCLD. Significantly reduced mRNA contents encoding for protective molecules like glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and mucin-2 (MUC-2) were found in the colon of the HTX-offspring as compared with the Control-offspring. Higher percentages of Th17 lymphocytes were detected in the colon tissues of the HTX-offspring induced or not with UCLD as compared with the Control-offspring. Discussion: Gestational HTX accelerates the onset and increases the intensity of UCLD in the offspring. The low expression of MUC-2 and GCLC together with high levels of Th17 Lymphocytes in the colon tissue suggests that the HTX-offspring has molecular and cellular features that favor inflammation and tissue damage. These results are important evidence to be aware of the impact of gestational HTX as a risk factor for UCLD development in offspring. Copyright © 2024 Rivera, Opazo, Hernández-Armengol, Álvarez, Mendoza-León, Caamaño, Gatica, Bohmwald, Bueno, González, Neunlist, Boudin, Kalergis and Riedel.Ítem Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus and Pathogenic Retroviruses; A Sero-Molecular Survey of Cats in Santiago, Chile(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 0024) Choi, Yan Ru; Iturriaga, María Paz; Nekouei, Omid; Tu, Thomas; Van Brussel, Kate; Barrs, Vanessa R.; Beatty, Julia A.Cat ownership is common in Chile, but data on the regional prevalence of infectious agents are limited. A sero-molecular survey of 120 client- or shelter-owned domestic cats in greater Santiago was performed. Whole blood DNA was tested for the novel hepatitis-B-like virus, domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) by conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR), and for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) by qPCR. Point-of-care serology for FeLV p27 antigen and antibodies recognising feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) p15 and p24 was performed. DCH DNA was detected in the serum of 2/120 cats (1.67%). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the DCH detected in Chile occupies a position outside the main clustering of DCH in the near-complete genome tree. Progressive (antigen-positive, provirus-positive) and regressive (antigen-negative, provirus-positive) FeLV infections were identified in 6/120 (5%) and 9/120 (7.5%) of cats. A total of 2/120 (1.7%) cats had dual FeLV/FIV infection, and another 2 cats had FIV infection alone. This study shows that the global footprint of DCH includes South America with a low molecular frequency in Chile, similar to that reported in the USA. Progressive FeLV infection is relatively common in urban Chile, and male cats are at greater risk than females. Testing and control measures for pathogenic retroviruses are indicated. The potential impact of FeLV, FIV and DCH on Chile’s wildcat species is worthy of further investigation. © 2023 by the authors.Ítem Preliminary Functional Analysis of the Gut Microbiome in Colic Horses(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-11) Thomson, Pamela; Garrido, Daniel; Santibáñez, Rodrigo; Lara, FelipeColic in horses is a common condition that can affect different organs of the abdominal cavity. In recent years, attempts have been made to associate this pathology with changes that occur in the intestinal microbiome. Through a case–control study, we analyzed the intestinal microbiome of a group of healthy horses and another with colic by massive sequencing of 16S rRNA to observe the differences in the bacterial composition and functionality of these groups. The intestinal microbiomes of both groups are dominated by the phyla Firmicuteota, Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota. The abundance of Firmicuteota was negatively correlated with Pseudomonadota and Actinobacteriota in horses with colic. The microbiome of equine colic was predicted to be enriched with aerobic respiration pathways and fatty acid and amino acid degradation, observations that indicate discrete but important differences in the intestinal microbiome of horses with colic, which correlate with a more pro-inflammatory microbial community.Ítem Stable Reusability of Nanocellulose Aerogels with Amino Group Modification in Adsorption/Desorption Cycles for CO2 Capture(Materials, Volume 18, Issue 2January 2025 Article number 243, 2025) Valdebenito, Fabiola; Albornoz, Camila; Rivera, Valentina; Elgueta, Elizabeth; Nisar, Muhammad; Lira, Sebastian; Valerio, Oscar; Narváez, Ana; Quezada, Carolina; Muñoz, Robinson; Azócar, Laura; Sandoval, FrancoThis study evaluated the stability and reusability of amino-functionalized nanocellulose aerogels as CO2-adsorbent materials. The modified aerogels, synthesized via a controlled silylation using N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ethylenediamine (DAMO), demonstrated excellent thermal stability up to 250 °C (TGA) and efficient CO2 adsorption through chemisorption, which was the main adsorption mechanism. The performance of the aerogels was assessed using both adsorption isotherms and the decay pressure technique, revealing that CO2 adsorption capacity increased with higher amino group loading (4.62, 9.24, and 13.87 mmol of DAMO). At 298 K and 4 bar, CO2 adsorption capacity increased proportionally with the amino group concentration, reaching values of 3.17, 5.98, and 7.86 mmol of CO2 g−1 polymer, respectively. Furthermore, over 20 adsorption/desorption cycles, the aerogels maintained 95% CO2 desorption at ambient temperature, indicating their potential for industrial use. These findings highlight the aerogels suitability as stable, reusable materials for large scale CO2 capture and storage technologies. © 2025 by the authors.Ítem Exploring the Influence of Small-Scale Geographical and Seasonal Variations Over the Microbial Diversity in a Poly-extreme Athalosaline Wetland(Springer, 2023) Pardo-Esté, Coral; Guajardo Leiva, Sergio; Remonsellez, Francisco; Castro-Nallar, Eduardo; Castro-Severyn, Juan; Saavedra, Claudia P.Microorganisms are the most diverse life form on the planet and are critical for maintaining the geochemical cycles, especially in extreme environments. Bacterial communities are dynamic and respond directly to changes in abiotic conditions; among these communities, poly-extremophiles are particularly sensitive to perturbations due to their high specialization. Salar de Huasco is a high-altitude wetland located on the Chilean Altiplano exhibiting several conditions considered extreme for life, including negative water balance, extreme variations in temperature and pH values, high UV radiation, and the presence of various toxic metal(oids). However, previous reports have revealed a diverse bacterial community that has adapted to these conditions, here, we aimed to determine whether microbial community diversity and composition changed in response to geographical and seasonal variations. We found that there are significant differences in diversity, abundance, and composition in bacterial taxa that could be attributed to local geographical and seasonal variations, which in turn, can be associated with microbial traits. In conclusion, in this poly-extreme environment, small-scale changes can trigger significant changes in the microbial communities that maintain basic biogeochemical cycles. Further in depth analysis of microbial functionality and geo-ecological dynamics are necessary to better understand the relationships between seasonal changes and bacterial communities. © 2023, The Author(s).Ítem Economic evaluation: Impact on costs, time, and productivity of the incorporation of integrative digital pathology (IDP) in the anatomopathological analysis of breast cancer in a national reference public provider in Chile(Journal of Pathology Informatics, Volume 16January 2025 Article number 100417, 2025) Lenz-Alcayaga, Rony; Paredes-Fernández, Daniela; Verdejo, Fancy Gaete; Páez-Pizarro, Luciano; Hernández-Sánchez, KarlaIntroduction: The incidence of breast cancer has risen in Chile, along with the complexity of diagnosis. For accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to complement the morphology assessed with hematoxylin and eosin with additional techniques to evaluate specific tumor markers. Evaluating the impact on costs, time, and productivity of automated techniques integrated with digital pathology solutions is crucial. Objectives: To estimate the impact on costs, time, and productivity of incorporating the automation of the HER2 in situ hybridization technique combined with integrative digital pathology (IDP) in breast cancer diagnosis in a Chilean public provider versus a manual technique. Methods: This economic evaluation adopted a health economics multi-method approach. A decision model was developed to represent the current manual fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) scenario versus an automated dual in situ hybridization (DISH) plus IDP in breast cancer diagnosis. Business process management (BPM) methodology was applied for capturing working time and latencies, in combination with a time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) methodology for estimating direct, total, and average cost (2023 USD) for both scenarios for the following vectors: Human resources, supplies, and equipment, sorted by pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases. Indirect costs (2023 USD) were also retrieved. Both BPM and TDABC served to estimate labor productivity. Results: In the baseline scenario based on manual FISH, the turnaround time (TAT) was estimated at 1259 min, at an average total cost of $265.67, considering direct and indirect costs for all phases. An average of 20.5 FISH reports were submitted per pathologist monthly during the baseline. The automated DISH plus IDP scenario consumed 203 min per biopsy, at an average total cost of $231.08, considering direct and indirect costs for all phases; it also showed an average of 22.8 submitted reports per pathologist monthly. This represents a decrease of 13.02% in average total costs, an 83.86% decrease in TAT, and an average labor productivity increase of 11.29%. Conclusions: The incorporation of automated DISH plus IDP in the pathology department of this public provider has resulted in reductions in the time required to perform the in situ hybridization technique, a decrease in total costs, and increased productivity. Particular attention should be given to adopting new technologies to accelerate processing times and workflow. © 2024 The AuthorsÍtem Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin‑Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps(Journal of Glaciology, 2025, 2025) González-Santacruz, Nicolás; Fernandoy, Francisco b; Goto-Azuma, Kumiko; Hirabayashi, Motohiro; Cordero, Raúl; Feron, Sarah; Faria, Sérgio HenriqueThis study investigates black carbon (BC) concentrations in the seasonal snowpack on the Godwin-Austen Glacier and in surface snow at K2 Camps 1 and 2 (Karakoram Range), assessing their impact on snowmelt during the 2019 ablation season. Potential BC and moisture sources were identified through back-trajectory analysis and atmospheric reanalyses. Variations in water stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) in the snowpack were analysed to confirm its representativeness as a climatic record for the 2018–19 accumulation season. The average BC concentration in the snowpits (12 ng g-1) generated 66 mm w.e. (or 53 mm w.e. excluding the basal zone) of meltwater. Surface snow at K2 Camp 1 showed BC concentrations of 7 ng g-1, consistent with those on the snowpack surface, suggesting it may reflect local BC levels in late February 2019. In contrast, higher concentrations at K2 Camp 2 (26 ng g-1) were potentially linked to expedition activities. © 2025 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.Ítem Ventilation-induced acute kidney injury in acute respiratory failure: Do PEEP levels matter?(BioMed Central Ltd, 0025) Benites, Martín H.; Suarez-Sipmann, Fernando; Kattan, Eduardo; Cruces, Pablo; Retamal, JaimeAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients, and mechanical ventilation (MV) plays a critical role in its management. One of the key parameters of MV is the level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), which helps to maintain an adequate lung functional volume. However, the optimal level of PEEP remains controversial. The classical approach in clinical trials for identifying the optimal PEEP has been to compare “high” and “low” levels in a dichotomous manner. High PEEP can improve lung compliance and significantly enhance oxygenation but has been inconclusive in hard clinical outcomes such as mortality and duration of MV. This discrepancy could be related to the fact that inappropriately high or low PEEP levels may adversely affect other organs, such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, which could counteract its potential beneficial effects on the lung. Patients with ARDS often develop acute kidney injury, which is an independent marker of mortality. Three primary mechanisms have been proposed to explain lung-kidney crosstalk during MV: gas exchange abnormalities, such as hypoxemia and hypercapnia; remote biotrauma; and hemodynamic changes, including reduced venous return and cardiac output. As PEEP levels increase, lung volume expands to a variable extent depending on mechanical response. This dynamic underlies two potential mechanisms that could impair venous return, potentially leading to splanchnic and renal congestion. First, increasing PEEP may enhance lung aeration, particularly in highly recruitable lungs, where previously collapsed alveoli reopen, increasing lung volume and pleural pressure, leading to vena cava compression, which can contribute to systemic venous congestion and abdominal organ impairment function. Second, in lungs with low recruitability, PEEP elevation may induce minimal changes in lung volume while increasing airway pressure, resulting in alveolar overdistension, vascular compression, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Therefore, we propose that high PEEP settings can contribute to renal congestion, potentially impairing renal function. This review underscores the need for further rigorous research to validate these perspectives and explore strategies for optimizing PEEP settings while minimizing adverse renal effects. © The Author(s) 2025.