Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daiana Pamela Eliceche, Maria Fernanda Achinelly, Carlos Silvestre, Maria Victoria Micieli, Gerardo Anibal Marti
Summary: The study showed that entomopathogenic nematodes can effectively reduce the survival rate of pyrethroid-resistant and non-resistant Triatoma infestans nymphs, and all three strains were able to multiply and emerge as infective juveniles from the cadavers of the insects. Highest infective juvenile production was observed in H. bacteriophora strains. Future research should focus on incorporating drought-tolerant EPN strains and evaluating release strategies for effective biological control of T. infestans.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Jose Alejandro Martinez-Ibarra, Fernando Martinez-Hernandez, Yunuen Grant-Guillen, Guiehdani Villalobos, Benjamin Nogueda-Torres
Summary: This study reports on the important biological parameters of a population of Triatoma infestans introduced into Mexico, highlighting its significance as a vector for Trypanosoma cruzi transmission and advocating for active entomological surveillance to prevent its dissemination in the country.
Article
Entomology
Solange Peixoto, Tiago Belintani, Dayse Rocha, Felipe Fontes, Natalia Frota, Cleber Galvao
Summary: Populations of Triatoma infestans were found in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Bahia, Brazil. Morphometric differences between residual and wild focus of T. infestans were evaluated using head geometric morphometry. Significant morphometric differences were observed between the studied populations. A morphometric relationship between these populations and hypotheses about the distribution and maintenance of residual foci of T. infestans in Brazil were established.
Article
Entomology
Juan Tellez-Rendon, Lyda Esteban, Laura Rengifo-Correa, Hector Diaz-Albiter, Heron Huerta, Carolina Dale
Summary: This study describes a new species, Triatoma yelapensis sp. nov., from the Pacific coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Statistical support is provided for the morphological distinctiveness of this species, and an updated key of the Triatoma genus for species recorded in Mexico is also presented.
Article
Entomology
F. Martinez-Hernandez, G. Villalobos, O. D. Montanez-Valdez, J. A. Martinez-Ibarra
Summary: We report a new record of Triatoma infestans in Mexico after 50 years and describe the discovery area. The introduced species was found mainly in the peridomestic areas of a single house in the port of Manzanillo, with 71.2% of the collected specimens being adults. The introduction of these triatomines to Mexico may be due to seed shipment from South America, and they likely invaded nearby residential areas through the storage of the maritime container.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Justin O. Schmidt, Mary L. Miller, Stephen A. Klotz
Summary: The most important weather factors for predicting high activity of kissing bugs are evening warm temperatures and low wind speeds. Humidity and moonlight were not important. It is important for residents to know when to take precautions to prevent these insects from entering homes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fernando Martinez-Hernandez, Guiehdani Villalobos, Oziel Dante Montanez-Valdez, Jose Alejandro Martinez-Ibarra
Summary: Genetic identification using cytochrome B and cytochrome oxidase I confirmed specimens in Mexico as belonging to the T. infestans clade, with a probable origin from Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina. Introduction of T. infestans in Mexico was hypothesized to have occurred through a seed shipment inside a maritime container from the countries of origin, representing a potential pathway for global transmission.
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Cintia Judith Fernandez, Beatriz Alicia Garcia
Summary: In this study, the genetic variation of triatomine vectors was analyzed, revealing differences between different species. The evolutionary relationships with other Reduviidae species were examined, and the divergence time of main lineages was estimated. The results showed that the diversification time of the Triatominae subfamily agrees with the Andean uplift geological event.
NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
B. Nogueda-Torres, J. A. Martinez-Ibarra, M. Barboza-Lopez, O. D. Montanez-Valdez, J. G. Michel-Parra
Summary: In recent years, concerns about Chagas disease in the United States have increased due to the increasing presence of Triatomine bugs. This study evaluated biological parameters of two populations of Triatoma protracta protracta and T. p. woodi from Mexican locations near the U.S. border, finding similar mortality rates and feeding behaviors among the populations, but differences in defecation patterns. The study suggests that Triatoma protracta and Triatoma woodi are efficient vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, contributing to the understanding of North American Triatomine behavior and defecation patterns.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Tiago Belintani, Jader Oliveira, Heloisa Pinotti, Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi, Juliana Damieli Nascimento, Estela Sasso-Cerri, Cleber Galvao, Joao Aristeu da Rosa
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description and identification of key species within the Triatoma genus through morphological and morphometric analysis, offering new features for species differentiation. By studying the female external genitalia and eggshells, the four species T. garciabesi, T. guasayana, T. patagonica, and T. sordida can be successfully distinguished.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Heloisa Pinotti, Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi, Jader de Oliveira, Amanda Ravazi, Fernanda Fernandez Madeira, Yago Visinho dos Reis, Ana Beatriz Bortolozo de Oliveira, Maria Tercilia Vilela de Azeredo-Oliveira, Joao Aristeu da Rosa
Summary: The subfamily Triatominae consists of 156 species divided into five tribes, all potential vectors of Chagas disease. The Triatoma brasiliensis complex, with eight taxa, has been studied through experimental crosses to analyze the segregation pattern of phenotypic characteristics in hybrids. The results show the importance of integrative taxonomy in correctly identifying Chagas disease vectors, particularly in cases of natural hybridization.
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
P. A. Lobbia, C. Remon, G. Mougabure-Cueto
Summary: The study compared the autogenic capacity and reproductive potential between deltamethrin-resistant and susceptible T. infestans, finding that a lower proportion of resistant unfed females laid eggs but no other differences in reproductive parameters were observed. The possible mechanisms underlying these differences and their consequences on resistance spread were discussed.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Norman L. Beatty, Zoe S. White, Chanakya R. Bhosale, Kristen Wilson, Anthony P. Cannella, Tanise Stenn, Nathan Burkett-Cadena, Samantha M. Wisely
Summary: Kissing bugs are bloodsucking insects that can harbor the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Their bites can lead to serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, requiring emergency medical attention. Residents in regions where kissing bugs are found should be aware of the potential allergenic reactions from their bites.
Article
Ecology
Julieta Nattero, Romina V. Piccinali, Federico G. Fiad, Florencia Cano, Ana Laura Carbajal-de-la-Fuente
Summary: This study investigates the association between flight muscle dimorphism and wing variation in T. infestans. The results show that females with flight muscles have more elongated and thinner wings, which may contribute to enhanced flight performance.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yanna Reis Praca, Paula Beatriz Santiago, Sebastien Charneau, Samuel Coelho Mandacaru, Izabela Marques Dourado Bastos, Kaio Luis da Silva Bentes, Sofia Marcelino Martins Silva, Waldeyr Mendes Cordeiro da Silva, Ionizete Garcia da Silva, Marcelo Valle de Sousa, Celia Maria de Almeida Soares, Jose Marcos Chaves Ribeiro, Jaime Martins Santana, Carla Nunes de Araujo
Summary: This study reports the first sialome study on the synanthropic triatomine Triatoma sordida, analyzing the transcript and protein compositions of its salivary glands. The results provide comprehensive information on the abundant protein families and enzyme classes, as well as the identification of specific proteins. This enhances the understanding of the vector's biology, hematophagous behavior, and subfamily's evolution.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniela Costa, Simon Levesque, Nitin Kumar, Pablo Fresia, Ignacio Ferres, Trevor D. Lawley, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: The subspecies of Campylobacter hyointestinalis, hyointestinalis and lawsonii, show distinct phylogenetic lineages and apparent genetic isolation, with hyointestinalis having a more diverse accessory genome likely due to its colonization of different mammalian hosts. The higher incidence of genome-wide recombination events in hyointestinalis may be the driving force behind its diversification, with distinct patterns of gene families involved in genome plasticity and DNA repair compared to lawsonii.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Danko, Daniela Bezdan, Evan E. Afshin, Sofia Ahsanuddin, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Daniel J. Butler, Kern Rei Chng, Daisy Donnellan, Jochen Hecht, Katelyn Jackson, Katerina Kuchin, Mikhail Karasikov, Abigail Lyons, Lauren Mak, Dmitry Meleshko, Harun Mustafa, Beth Mutai, Russell Y. Neches, Amanda Ng, Olga Nikolayeva, Tatyana Nikolayeva, Eileen Png, Krista A. Ryon, Jorge L. Sanchez, Heba Shaaban, Maria A. Sierra, Dominique Thomas, Ben Young, Omar O. Abudayyeh, Josue Alicea, Malay Bhattacharyya, Ran Blekhman, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Ana M. Canas, Aspassia D. Chatziefthimiou, Robert W. Crawford, Francesca De Filippis, Youping Deng, Christelle Desnues, Emmanuel Dias-Neto, Marius Dybwad, Eran Elhaik, Danilo Ercolini, Alina Frolova, Dennis Gankin, Jonathan S. Gootenberg, Alexandra B. Graf, David C. Green, Iman Hajirasouliha, Jaden J. A. Hastings, Mark Hernandez, Gregorio Iraola, Soojin Jang, Andre Kahles, Frank J. Kelly, Kaymisha Knights, Nikos C. Kyrpides, Pawel P. Labaj, Patrick K. H. Lee, Marcus H. Y. Leung, Per O. Ljungdahl, Gabriella Mason-Buck, Ken McGrath, Cem Meydan, Emmanuel F. Mongodin, Milton Ozorio Moraes, Niranjan Nagarajan, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Houtan Noushmehr, Manuela Oliveira, Stephan Ossowski, Olayinka O. Osuolale, Orhan Ozcan, David Paez-Espino, Nicolas Rascovan, Hugues Richard, Gunnar Ratsch, Lynn M. Schriml, Torsten Semmler, Osman U. Sezerman, Leming Shi, Tieliu Shi, Rania Siam, Le Huu Song, Haruo Suzuki, Denise Syndercombe Court, Scott W. Tighe, Xinzhao Tong, Klas Udekwu, Juan A. Ugalde, Brandon Valentine, Dimitar Vassilev, Elena M. Vayndorf, Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan, Jun Wu, Maria M. Zambrano, Jifeng Zhu, Sibo Zhu, Christopher E. Mason
Summary: This study establishes a global metagenomic atlas of urban microbial ecosystems, revealing a vast number of unknown microbial species and genetic elements, highlighting the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in cities, and indicating the influence of geographical and climatic characteristics on urban microbial composition.
Article
Virology
Natalia Rego, Cecilia Salazar, Mercedes Paz, Alicia Costabile, Alvaro Fajardo, Ignacio Ferres, Paula Perbolianachis, Tamara Fernandez-Calero, Veronica Noya, Matias R. Machado, Mariana Brandes, Rodrigo Arce, Mailen Arleo, Tania Possi, Natalia Reyes, Maria Noel Bentancor, Andres Lizasoain, Viviana Bortagaray, Ana Moller, Odhille Chappos, Nicolas Nin, Javier Hurtado, Melissa Duquia, Maria Belen Gonzalez, Luciana Griffero, Mauricio Mendez, Maria Pia Techera, Juan Zanetti, Emiliano Pereira, Bernardina Rivera, Matias Maidana, Martina Alonso, Pablo Smircich, Ighor Arantes, Daiana Mir, Cecilia Alonso, Julio Medina, Henry Albornoz, Rodney Colina, Gonzalo Bello, Pilar Moreno, Gonzalo Moratorio, Gregorio Iraola, Lucia Spangenberg
Summary: Uruguay successfully controlled viral dissemination at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but faced a surge in new cases towards the end of 2020. Analysis of genetic diversity from November 2020 to April 2021 revealed the most prevalent variant during the first epidemic wave as P.6, with mutations Q675H and Q677H.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack Leeming, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: Computational microbiologist Gregorio Iraola leads a consortium that focuses on customizing public-health interventions according to local needs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun Wu, David Danko, Ebrahim Afshinnekoo, Daniela Bezdan, Malay Bhattacharyya, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Agnieszka Chmielarczyk, Nur Hazlin Hazrin-Chong, Youping Deng, Emmanuel Dias-Neto, Alina Frolova, Gabriella Mason-Buck, Gregorio Iraola, Soojin Jang, Pawel Labaj, Patrick K. H. Lee, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Olayinka O. Osuolale, Christos A. Ouzounis, Michael H. Perlin, Bharath Prithiviraj, Nicolas Rascovan, Anna Rozanska, Lynn M. Schriml, Torsten Semmler, Haruo Suzuki, Juan A. Ugalde, Ben Young, Johannes Werner, Maria Mercedes Zambrano, Yongxiang Zhao, Christopher Mason, Tieliu Shi
Summary: Microbes play a crucial role in maintaining ecological functions that support human health and city life in urban ecosystems. However, knowledge about the species and functions in urban environments is limited. In this study, we identified 732 novel bacterial species from 4728 samples collected from the mass transit system in 60 cities. The number of novel species was positively correlated with city population, and more species were found in skin-associated samples. We also discovered an increased presence of biosynthetic gene clusters in novel species.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pablo Aguilera, Maria Florencia Mascardi, Fiorella Sabrina Belforte, Ayelen Daiana Rosso, Sofia Quesada, Ignacio Llovet, Gregorio Iraola, Julieta Trinks, Alberto Penas-Steinhardt
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global public health, affecting the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. This study compared the fecal microbiota of individuals in Buenos Aires before and during the pandemic and found significant differences in microbial diversity and community structure. These findings suggest that the microbiome of individuals has changed during the social isolation measures, and provide valuable insights for the development of interventions to improve public health in the post-pandemic era.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Brenda Vasini, Pablo Farace, Amadio Ariel, Karina Cirone, Laura Mendez, Claudia Morsella, Pablo Fresia, Gregorio Iraola, Andrea Gioffre, Fernando Paolicchi
Summary: This study investigates the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) strains from different bovine and deer herds in Argentina using MLVA and WGS techniques. The study reveals the coexistence of different MAP strains in the country and highlights the need for animal monitoring and control programs.
VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cecilia Salazar, Veronica Antelo, Mariela Vieytes, Cristina Davila, Fabio Grill, Antonio Galiana, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: This study characterized the first detected Klebsiella pneumoniae ST15 carrying the epi-demic carbapenemase OXA-48 in South America. The strain was found to be multi-drug resistant and carried multiple plasmids and transposons. The discovery of this strain in the urinary tract of a patient in Uruguay highlights the difficulties in detecting and reporting emerging carbapenem-resistant clones in non-endemic geographic areas.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Cecilia Salazar, Matias Gimenez, Nadia Riera, Andres Parada, Josefina Puig, Antonio Galiana, Fabio Grill, Mariela Vieytes, Christopher E. Mason, Veronica Antelo, Bruno D'Alessandro, Jimena Risso, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: This study extensively examines the microbial communities in urban waters and their correlation with human-derived bacteria and antimicrobial resistance. The findings reveal the impact of hospital outbreaks on the urban environment and highlight the potential of urban metagenomics and outbreak genomic surveillance in infection control, antibiotic stewardship, and pathogen epidemiology.
Article
Microbiology
Ayelen D. Rosso, Pablo Aguilera, Sofia Quesada, Florencia Mascardi, Sebastian N. Mascuka, Maria C. Cimolai, Jimena Cerezo, Renata Spiazzi, Carolina Conlon, Claudia Milano, Gregorio M. Iraola, Alberto Penas-Steinhardt, Fiorella S. Belforte
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents a notable diagnostic challenge due to its clinical heterogeneity and treatment responses, especially in underdeveloped countries. This study characterized epigenetic biomarkers and gut microbial profiles in UC and CD patients in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan area for the first time, revealing differences between non-IBD controls and IBD patients.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Cecilia Salazar, Ignacio Ferres, Mercedes Paz, Alicia Costabile, Gonzalo Moratorio, Pilar Moreno, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: Most relevant mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome are found in the S gene, but large-scale whole-genome sequencing is challenging in developing countries due to cost and infrastructure limitations. To address this issue, a fast and cost-effective workflow is presented, which includes a library preparation protocol based on tiled amplification of the S gene and sequencing using Nanopore platforms. This protocol enables quick identification of key variants and mutational surveillance of the highly relevant S gene, reducing detection time and overall costs, particularly in low-income regions.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marianoel Pereira-Gomez, Rodrigo Arce, Diego Ferla, Diego Simon, Cecilia Salazar, Paula Perbolianachis, Alicia Costabile, Alvaro Fajardo, Fabian Aldunate, Nicolas Nin, Javier Hurtado, Gregorio Iraola, Pilar Moreno, Gonzalo Moratorio
Summary: Understanding the transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for effective interventions in healthcare institutions. Longitudinal studies about surface contamination in hospitals with different infrastructure are needed to advance our knowledge about viral spread. Our study found that negative pressure systems in hospitals were associated with lower levels of surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2.
Letter
Immunology
Natalia Rego, Alicia Costabile, Mercedes Paz, Cecilia Salazar, Paula Perbolianachis, Lucia Spangenberg, Ignacio Ferres, Rodrigo Arce, Alvaro Fajardo, Mailen Arleo, Tania Possi, Natalia Reyes, Ma Noel Bentancor, Andres Lizasoain, Maria Jose Benitez, Viviana Bortagaray, Ana Moller, Gonzalo Bello, Ighor Arantes, Mariana Brandes, Pablo Smircich, Odhille Chappos, Melissa Duquia, Belen Gonzalez, Luciana Griffero, Mauricio Mendez, Ma Pia Techera, Juan Zanetti, Bernardina Rivera, Matias Maidana, Martina Alonso, Cecilia Alonso, Julio Medina, Henry Albornoz, Rodney Colina, Veronica Noya, Gregorio Iraola, Tamara Fernandez-Calero, Gonzalo Moratorio, Pilar Moreno
Summary: The study presents a genomic surveillance program for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in Uruguay, including a PCR method for VOCs, surveillance workflow, and the multiple introductions and community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 VOC in Uruguay.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ignacio Ferres, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: Interpreting the output of bacterial pangenome reconstruction software requires multiple downstream analyses that integrate diverse genetic and phenotypic data. Pagoo is a post-processing tool designed to fill this gap, providing a standardized yet flexible and extensible framework for data integration, analysis, and storage.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ignacio Ferres, Gregorio Iraola
Summary: Pangenome analysis is essential for studying molecular evolution in bacterial populations. Pagoo, an R framework, allows for easy handling of pangenome data and storing of complex molecular information. It provides tools for querying, comparing, and statistical analysis, as shown through examples with E. coli and Campylobacter fetus genomes.
CELL REPORTS METHODS
(2021)