Article
Microbiology
Gleyciane Machado da Costa, Savio Souza Costa, Rafael Azevedo Barauna, Bruno Pureza Castilho, Izabel Cruz Pinheiro, Artur Silva, Ana Paula Schaan, Andrea Ribeiro-dos-Santos, Diego Assis das Gracas
Summary: The study reveals that human activities, such as the construction of a highway, have impacted the microbial communities in the Amazonian mangroves and resulted in a loss of biodiversity.
Article
Remote Sensing
Fahimeh Youssefi, Mohammad Javad Valadan Zoej, Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd, Alireza Borahani Dariane, Mehdi Khaki, Alireza Safdarinezhad
Summary: This study identifies high-risk depressions with the potential for Anopheles larval habitats by fusing remote sensing data with land-use and soil type maps, and creates a high-risk map of malaria based on these habitats.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar Johnson, Camila C. C. Ribas, Alexandre Aleixo, Luciano N. N. Naka, Michael G. G. Harvey, Robb T. T. Brumfield
Summary: Understanding the factors that influence genetic structure across species is essential for studying speciation and population genetics. This study examined population genetic data from bird species specialized in different Amazonian habitat types. The results showed that habitat type significantly affects population genetic structure, with species in more dynamic habitats having higher levels of gene flow. These differences in genetic variation across taxa specialized in distinct habitats could lead to divergent responses to environmental change and habitat-specific diversification dynamics over time.
Article
Plant Sciences
Q. Li, F. Wan, M. Zhao
Summary: Ageratina adenophora is one of the most hazardous invasive weeds in China, causing changes in soil microbial communities and involving specific microbes in soil nutrient cycling. Soil pH is the main factor affecting microbial communities.
Article
Oncology
Angelina De Martin, Mechthild Lutge, Yves Stanossek, Celine Engetschwiler, Jovana Cupovic, Kirsty Brown, Izadora Demmer, Martina A. Broglie, Markus B. Geuking, Wolfram Jochum, Kathy D. McCoy, Sandro J. Stoeckli, Burkhard Ludewig
Summary: Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, associated with high risk-human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) infections, has been found to have a distinct microbiome composition in the tonsillar crypts compared to sleep apnea patients. Specific bacterial species abundance such as Filifactor alocis and Prevotella melaninogenica are identified as traits of tonsil cancer.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Saraswoti Neupane, Travis Davis, Dana Nayduch, Bethany L. L. McGregor
Summary: This study found that microbial communities play an important role in midge larval habitat utilization. Habitat and grazing type significantly influenced the composition of bacterial, protistan, fungal, and metazoan communities. Soil properties also influenced microbial communities and the presence of midges. Grazed areas had higher prevalence of midges, possibly due to the abundance of hosts and food.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Fei Ye, Xiaoxiao Wang, Yu Wang, Shengjun Wu, Jiapeng Wu, Yiguo Hong
Summary: The interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and pioneer plants are crucial for ecological restoration after disturbance. Different pioneer species influence the composition of rhizosphere microbial communities, with bacteria being more sensitive to environmental changes than fungi. Plant traits, rather than species composition, play a key role in shaping the microbial communities in the soil.
Article
Microbiology
Saraswoti Neupane, Christopher Saski, Dana Nayduch
Summary: House fly larval grazing significantly altered the abundance and diversity of bacterial, archaeal, and protist communities differently than manure aging alone. Larvae likely adjust community composition by directly feeding on and eliminating microbes, as well as by competing with predatory microbes for nutrients and prey. Overall, larval grazing reduced bacterial and archaeal diversities but increased protist diversity.
Article
Ecology
Steven G. McBride, Ernest D. Osburn, Jane M. Lucas, Julia S. Simpson, Taylor Brown, J. E. Barrett, Michael S. Strickland
Summary: Variation in microbial use of soil carbon compounds is a significant factor in biogeochemical processes and microbial community composition. This study found that the effects of low molecular weight-dissolved organic carbon and volatile organic compounds on soil chemistry and microbial communities differ, and volatile organic compounds may have a greater influence on microbial functions and composition under low moisture conditions.
Article
Agronomy
Jiajia Li, Muhammad Arif, Dongdong Ding, Xin Hu, Qianwen Gen, Fan Yin, Changxiao Li
Summary: Research reveals that the soil methanotrophic community has greater diversity and a more complex co-occurrence network in vegetation-covered areas. Soil nitrogen, catalase, and plant diversity influence the stability and diversity of the community. The assembly process of the community is primarily influenced by soil pH and plant diversity, transitioning from stochastic to deterministic processes during vegetation restoration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isabel Byrne, Wilfredo Aure, Benny O. Manin, Indra Vythilingam, Heather M. Ferguson, Chris J. Drakeley, Tock H. Chua, Kimberly M. Fornace
Summary: The study found that land-use changes and topography influence the suitability of larval habitats for malaria vectors, potentially explaining the link between P. knowlesi incidence and deforestation. Predictive maps and identification of influential spatial scales may help target vector control interventions effectively.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sean R. Anderson, Elizabeth L. Harvey
Summary: Microbial interactions have significant impacts on ocean biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. A study on microbial networks in a river estuary revealed changes in relationships between different environmental periods, indicating the prevalence of mutualistic, competitive, or predatory relationships among microbes. Continuous monitoring of microbial communities is crucial for predicting microbial dynamics and biogeochemical processes in marine ecosystems.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carla C. Montenegro, T. Pershing Bustamante-Chauca, Cecilia Pajuelo Reyes, Miguel Bernal, Lizandro Gonzales, Rafael Tapia-Limonchi, Juan R. Tejedo, Stella M. Chenet
Summary: This study reports the outbreak of P. falciparum in native communities of Condorcanqui, Amazonas, highlighting the importance of timely identification and treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria cases for achieving malaria control and possible elimination in this area.
Article
Microbiology
Avnish Patel, Stephanie D. Nofal, Michael J. Blackman, David A. Baker
Summary: This study investigates the role of CDC50 proteins in Plasmodium falciparum and shows that CDC50B binds to GC alpha, regulating egress efficiency, while CDC50C plays a critical role in trophozoite maturation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kailee J. Reed, Isabelle G. Z. Kunz, Jessica A. Scare, Martin K. Nielsen, Philip J. Turk, Robert J. Coleman, Stephen J. Coleman
Summary: Horses, as hindgut fermenters, heavily rely on their cecum and large intestine microbiota for gut homeostasis and proper digestion. Our study found that while fecal microbiota may not accurately represent the proximal hindgut, it can offer insights into the microbial communities of the distal compartments in the equine large intestine. Additionally, the pelvic flexure appears to play a significant role in separating distinct hindgut populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lara Schwarz, Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, Emily S. Sbiroli, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: The study found that individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to visit the emergency department during heat waves, especially younger or elderly individuals, and those in need of psychiatric consultation are more vulnerable. The risk of emergency department visits is highest during daytime heat waves. After matching, the emergency department visit rate for individuals experiencing homelessness is significantly higher than non-homeless individuals.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noemie Letellier, Steven Zamora, Chad Spoon, Jiue-An Yang, Marion Mortamais, Gabriel Carrasco Escobar, Dorothy D. Sears, Marta M. Jankowska, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study examined the impact of air pollution exposure on metabolic disorders, and found that the association differs by ethnicity. The results highlight the importance of considering people's daily mobility when assessing the impact of air pollution on health.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Marcus Vinicius Niz Alvarez, Diego Peres Alonso, Samir Moura Kadri, Paulo Rufalco-Moutinho, Isabella Ariadne Ferrari Bernardes, Ana Carolina Florindo de Mello, Ana Carolina Souto, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Marta Moreno, Dionicia Gamboa, Joseph M. Vinetz, Jan E. Conn, Paulo E. M. Ribolla
Summary: This study investigated the population structure and genetic association of the malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in the Amazon region of Brazil using low-coverage genomic sequencing data. The results revealed weak but statistically significant population stratification and significant associations between biting behavior and SNP markers near the CYP4H14 gene, as well as blood-seeking periodicity and SNP markers near circadian rhythm genes. This study highlights the importance of low-coverage whole-genome sequencing in characterizing vector populations and conducting genome-wide association studies.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jason Rosado, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Oscar Nolasco, Katherine Garro, Hugo Rodriguez-Ferruci, Mitchel Guzman-Guzman, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, Joseph M. Vinetz, Narimane Nekkab, Michael T. White, Ivo Mueller, Dionicia Gamboa
Summary: The study measured antibody responses against serological exposure markers to identify individuals recently exposed to Plasmodium vivax. Low local transmission was detected by qPCR, while seroprevalence data indicated higher exposure in certain communities. Age and gender were associated with increased odds of seropositivity.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marta Moreno, Katherine Torres, Carlos Tong, Stefano S. Garcia Castillo, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Gerson Guedez, Lutecio Torres, Manuela Herrera-Varela, Layne Guerra, Mitchel Guzman-Guzman, Daniel Wong, Roberson Ramirez, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, Jan E. Conn, Dionicia Gamboa, Joseph M. Vinetz
Summary: Understanding the infectivity of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes to vector mosquitoes is crucial for malaria transmission elimination strategies. This study measured the transmissibility of symptomatic and asymptomatic P. vivax carriers to Nyssorhynchus darlingi mosquitoes in the Amazon Basin. The results showed that symptomatic infections had higher infectivity to mosquitoes compared to asymptomatic infections. Longitudinal studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine the natural variations in disease transmissibility.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Jose Matta-Chuquisapon, Edgar Manrique, Jorge Ruiz-Cabrejos, Jose Luis Barboza, Daniel Wong, German Henostroza, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study investigates the impact of human population movement on malaria risk in rural Peruvian Amazon using self-reported travel surveys, GPS trackers, and a Bayesian spatial model. The findings suggest that human population movement plays a significant role in sustaining malaria transmission in the region.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafaella Navarro, Jose Luis Paredes, Lourdes Tucto, Carlos Medina, Eddie Angles-Yanqui, Juan Carlos Nario, Jorge Ruiz-Cabrejos, Juan Luis Quintana, Kevin Turpo-Espinoza, Fernando Mejia-Cordero, Meylin Aphang-Lam, Jorge Florez, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Theresa Jean Ochoa
Summary: This study aimed to determine the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care personnel. The results showed that bLF did not have a significant effect in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of bLF supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luise Nottmeyer, Ben Armstrong, Rachel Lowe, Sam Abbott, Sophie Meakin, Kathleen M. O'Reilly, Rosa von Borries, Rochelle Schneider, Dominic Roye, Masahiro Hashizume, Mathilde Pascal, Aurelio Tobias, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Eric Lavigne, Patricia Matus Correa, Nicolas Valdes Ortega, Jan Kyncl, Ales Urban, Hans Orru, Niilo Ryti, Jouni Jaakkola, Marco Dallavalle, Alexandra Schneider, Yasushi Honda, Chris Fook Sheng Ng, Barrak Alahmad, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Iulian Horia Holobac, Ho Kim, Whanhee Lee, Carmen iniguez, Michelle L. Bell, Antonella Zanobetti, Joel Schwartz, Noah Scovronick, Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva, Magali Hurtado Diaz, Antonio Gasparrini, Francesco Sera
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the associations between COVID-19 incidence and meteorological variables globally. The findings showed that low temperatures and low absolute humidity were associated with increased risks of COVID-19 incidence, highlighting the regional heterogeneity of weather-related effects on COVID-19 transmission.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anna Dimitrova, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Robin Richardson, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study aims to identify the reasons for the decline in child immunization rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and analyze the disparities in immunization coverage among different socioeconomic groups. The findings indicate that childhood vaccination rates are particularly low in regions of Africa and Asia, and children from poorer households are less likely to be fully immunized. Therefore, more efforts are needed to ensure access to essential vaccines for all children in LMICs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edson J. Ascencio, Antony Barja, Tarik Benmarhnia, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar
Summary: Climate change presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, with extreme temperatures being one of its main direct effects. The variance in temperature within urban areas, known as the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect, was assessed in Lima, Peru. Land surface temperature (LST) was estimated using satellite data and socioeconomic data were obtained from the census. The study found that blocks with higher socioeconomic status had reduced exposure to SUHI compared to those with lower socioeconomic status. It also revealed significant variations in SUHI exposure among different ethnicities. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing socioeconomic inequalities when designing urban adaptation strategies to mitigate SUHI exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fedra Trujillano, Gabriel Jimenez Garay, Hugo Alatrista-Salas, Isabel Byrne, Miguel Nunez-del-Prado, Kallista Chan, Edgar Manrique, Emilia Johnson, Nombre Apollinaire, Pierre Kouame Kouakou, Welbeck A. Oumbouke, Alfred B. Tiono, Moussa W. Guelbeogo, Jo Lines, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Kimberly Fornace
Summary: Disease control programs rely on identifying mosquito breeding sites to target interventions and identify risk factors. The use of drone imagery and deep learning methods in this study successfully identified land cover types associated with vector breeding sites in malaria-endemic regions. The developed classifier achieved high accuracy in identifying vegetated and non-vegetated water bodies, as well as other land cover types such as tillage, crops, buildings, and roads. This study provides a framework for utilizing deep learning approaches in identifying vector breeding sites and highlights the importance of evaluating how these results can be used in disease control programs.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jan E. Conn, Sara A. Bickersmith, Marlon P. Saavedra, Juliana A. Morales, Freddy Alava, Gloria A. Diaz Rodriguez, Clara R. del Aguila Morante, Carlos G. Tong, Carlos Alvarez-Antonio, Jesus M. Daza Huanahui, Joseph M. Vinetz, Dionicia Gamboa
Summary: Malaria hotspots persist in Datem del Maranon Province, Peru. Vector control units collaborated with the Amazonian International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research in order to identify the main vectors in riverine villages with high annual parasite indices. Four vector species were identified, with Nyssorhynchus benarrochi B being the most abundant. The study highlights the risk of malaria transmission by these vectors even during the dry season.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhengyu Yang, Wenzhong Huang, Joanne E. Mckenzie, Rongbin Xu, Pei Yu, Tingting Ye, Bo Wen, Antonio Gasparrini, Ben Armstrong, Shilu Tong, Eric Lavigne, Joana Madureira, Jan Kysely, Yuming Guo, Shanshan Li, MCC Collaborative Res Network
Summary: This study evaluated lag-response associations and effect modifications of exposure to floods with all cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality risks on a global scale. The results showed that mortality risks increased for up to 60 days after exposure to flood, and the associations could vary by local climate type, socioeconomic status, and older age.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Wu, Shanshan Li, Qi Zhao, Bo Wen, Antonio Gasparrini, Shilu Tong, Ala Overcenco, Ales Urban, Alexandra Schneider, Alireza Entezari, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Antonella Zanobetti, Antonis Analitis, Ariana Zeka, Aurelio Tobias, Baltazar Nunes, Barrak Alahmad, Ben Armstrong, Bertil Forsberg, Shih-Chun Pan, Carmen Iniguez, Caroline Ameling, Cesar De la Cruz Valencia, Christofer Astrom, Danny Houthuijs, Do Van Dung, Dominic Roye, Ene Indermitte, Eric Lavigne, Fatemeh Mayvaneh, Fiorella Acquaotta, Francesca De'Donato, Shilpa Rao, Francesco Sera, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Haidong Kan, Hans Orru, Ho Kim, Iulian-Horia Holobaca, Jan Kysely, Joana Madureira, Joel Schwartz, Jouni J. K. Jaakkola, Klea Katsouyanni, Magali Hurtado Diaz, Martina S. Ragettli, Masahiro Hashizume, Mathilde Pascal, Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Nicolas Valdes Ortega, Niilo Ryti, Noah Scovronick, Paola Michelozzi, Patricia Matus Correa, Patrick Goodman, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva, Rosana Abrutzky, Samuel Osorio, Tran Ngoc Dang, Valentina Colistro, Veronika Huber, Whanhee Lee, Xerxes Seposo, Yasushi Honda, Yue Leon Guo, Michelle L. Bell, Yuming Guo
Summary: This study assessed the global burden of mortality associated with temperature variability using global temperature data and found geographical heterogeneity and temporal trends in the mortality burden.
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yao Wu, Bo Wen, Shanshan Li, Antonio Gasparrini, Shilu Tong, Ala Overcenco, Ales Urban, Alexandra Schneider, Alireza Entezari, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Antonella Zanobetti, Antonis Analitis, Ariana Zeka, Aurelio Tobias, Barrak Alahmad, Ben Armstrong, Bertil Forsberg, Carmen Iniguez, Caroline Ameling, Cesar De la Cruz Valencia, Christofer Astrom, Danny Houthuijs, Do Van Dung, Dominic Roye, Ene Indermitte, Eric Lavigne, Fatemeh Mayvaneh, Fiorella Acquaotta, Francesca De'Donato, Francesco Sera, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Haidong Kan, Hans Orru, Ho Kim, Iulian-Horia Holobaca, Jan Kysely, Joana Madureira, Joel Schwartz, Klea Katsouyanni, Magali Hurtado-Diaz, Martina S. Ragettli, Masahiro Hashizume, Mathilde Pascal, Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Noah Scovronick, Paola Michelozzi, Patrick Goodman, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva, Rosana Abrutzky, Samuel Osorio, Tran Ngoc Dang, Valentina Colistro, Veronika Huber, Whanhee Lee, Xerxes Seposo, Yasushi Honda, Michelle L. Bell, Yuming Guo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of heat and temperature variability on mortality and found that temperature variability modifies the association between heat and mortality. The modification effects of temperature variability varied geographically, with higher attributable fractions observed in Central Europe and lower fractions in North America. The study suggests that implementing targeted strategies to address heat exposure and fluctuating temperatures would benefit public health.