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Matters arising from: Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19 Original Article published on 08 July 2021 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03767-x The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a major public health threat, especially in countries with low vaccination rates. To better understand the biological underpinnings of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, we formed the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative1. Here we present a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of up to 125,584 cases and over 2.5 million control individuals across 60 studies from 25 countries, adding 11 genome-wide significant loci compared with those previously identified2. Genes at new loci, including SFTPD, MUC5B and ACE2, reveal compelling insights regarding disease susceptibility and severity. Here we present meta-analyses bringing together 60 studies from 25 countries (Fig. 1 and Supplementary Table 1) for three COVID-19-related phenotypes: (1) individuals critically ill with COVID-19 on the basis of requiring respiratory support in hospital or who died as a consequence of the disease (9,376 cases, of which 3,197 are new in this data release, and 1,776,645 control individuals); (2) individuals with moderate or severe COVID-19 defined as those hospitalized due to symptoms associated with the infection (25,027 cases, 11,386 new and 2,836,272 control individuals); and (3) all cases with reported SARS-CoV-2 infection regardless of symptoms (125,584 cases, 76,022 new and 2,575,347 control individuals). Most studies have reported results before the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. An overview of the study design is provided in Supplementary Fig. 1. We found a total of 23 genome-wide significant loci (P

Background Given the increased popularity of flaxseed in meals, several cases of allergy to these seeds have been reported. Little is known about allergens implicated in hypersensitivity reactions to these seeds. The present work aimed to identify the allergens involved in IgE-mediated reactions in five patients with a clinical history of severe systemic symptoms after flaxseed consumption. Methods Proteins susceptible to be allergens with IgE-binding capacity were purified from flaxseed extract by chromatographic techniques. Their identification was achieved via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Immunoassays were performed using the five allergic patient's era either by testing them individually or as a pool. Results Proteins susceptible to be allergens with IgE-binding capacity were purified from flaxseed extract by chromatographic techniques. Their identification was achieved via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Immunoassays were performed using the five allergic patient's era either by testing them individually or as a pool. Results: Four out of five patients recognized a low-molecular-mass protein (around 13kDa) by immunoblotting of the flaxseed extract, while two patients recognized a protein of approximately 55 kDa. They were identified by mass spectrometry as flaxseed 2S albumin, included into WHO/IUIS allergen nomenclature as Lin u 1,and 11S globulin, respectively. Inhibition assays revealed in vitro IgE-cross-reactivity of Lin u 1 with peanut and cashew nut proteins, while IgE recognition of 11S globulin by patients' sera was partially inhibited by several plant-derived sources. Conclusions Seed storage proteins from flaxseed were involved in the development of severe symptoms in five individuals and exhibited cross-reactivity with other allergenic sources. Besides the severity of flaxseed allergy in patients sensitized to 2S albumin, it is the first time that the 11S globulin is identified as a potential allergen. We consider that these data should be taken into account for a more accurate diagnosis of patients.

A total of 5,136 size observations of porbeagle were recovered for the period 1987-2017. The GLM results explained very moderately the variability of the sizes considering three main factors, suggesting minor but significant differences in some cases especially for the year factor and non-significant differences in other factors depending on the analysis. The greatest differences in the standardized mean length between some zones were caused by some large fish of unidentified sex. The standardized mean length data for the northern zones showed stability throughout the time series, very stable range of mean values and very few differences between sexes. The size distribution for northern areas indicated an FL-overall mean of 158 cm. The size showed a normal distribution confirming that a small fraction of individuals of this stock/s is available in the oceanic areas where the North Atlantic fleet is regularly fishing and the fishes are not fully recruited to those areas and / or this fishing gear up to 160 cm. The data suggests that some individuals could sporadically reach some intertropical areas of the Atlantic

How does the news media respond to health emergencies abroad? Between 2015 and 2018, Zika virus spread rapidly throughout Latin America before arriving in the continental United States. Despite the risks to adults and newborns, it is unclear how media coverage developed and framed the threat for its audience. In this paper, we argue that while the frequency of coverage was responsive to infections, its content failed to promote proactive health behaviour. To assess these claims, we analyse each of 442 articles dealing with Zika virus published by The New York Times from 2015-18. We find that the amount of coverage reflected infections but did not change once the disease emerged in the US. Furthermore, content analysis using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software reveals that coverage emphasised differences between communities (those affected and those at home) and that present and past time orientations dominated coverage as opposed to future time orientations.كيف تستجيب وسائل الإعلام لحالات الطوارئ الصحية في الخارج ؟ من عام 2015 إلى عام 2018، انتشر مرض فيروس زيكا بسرعة في جميع أنحاء أمريكا اللاتينية قبل وصوله إلى الولايات المتحدة القارية. على الرغم من المخاطر التي يتعرض لها البالغون والأطفال حديثي الولادة، فمن غير الواضح كيف استجابت التغطية الإعلامية وصورت المخاطر لمتتبعيها. في هذا المقال، نناقش بأنه على الرغم من أن تكرار التغطية كان مستجيباً لانتشار العدوى إلا أن محتواها فشل في تعزيز السلوك الصحي الاستباقي. لتقييم هذه الادعاءات، سنقوم بتحليل كل مقال يتناول فيروس زيكا تم نشره بين 2015-2018 بواسطة صحيفة نيويورك تايمز. نجد أن مقدار التغطية ينعكس على مدى انتشار العدوى لكنها لم تتغير بمجرد وصول الفيروس إلى الولايات المتحدة. علاوة على ذلك، يكشف تحليل المحتوى باستخدام برنامج تحليل النصوص LIWC أن التغطية أكدت الاختلافات بين المجتمعات (المتأثرة وتلك الموجودة في المنزل) وأن التوجهات الزمنية الحالية والماضية سيطرت على التغطية بدلاً من التوجهات الزمنية المستقبلية. الكلمات المفتاحية: الوباء، التأطير، التغطية الإعلامية، الصحة العامة، فيروس زيكا.新闻媒体如何应对国外的卫生突发事件？从2015年到2018年，寨卡病毒疾病在抵达美国大陆之前迅速蔓延整个拉丁美洲。尽管成人和新生儿面临风险，但目前还不清楚媒体报道是如何为其受众回应和定调风险的。在这篇文章中，我们认为，虽然报道的频率对感染有响应，但其内容未能促进主动的健康行为。为了评估这些主张，我们分析了《纽约时报》在2015-2018年间发表的每一篇涉及寨卡病毒的文章（442篇）。我们发现，报道数量反映了感染情况，但在病毒到达美国后，报道数量并没有改变。此外，使用LIWC文本分析程序进行的内容分析显示，报道强调了群体之间的差异（受影响的人和居家的人），而且现在和过去的时间取向在报道中占主导地位，未来的时间取向并没有占主导。 关键词: 流行病，定调，媒体报道，公共卫生，寨卡病毒.

Metastasis formation is the main cause of cancer-related death in patients with solid tumours. At the beginning of this process, cancer cells escape from the primary tumour to the blood circulation where they become circulating tumour cells (CTCs). Only a small subgroup of CTCs will survive during the harsh journey in the blood and colonise distant sites. The in-depth analysis of these metastasis-competent CTCs is very challenging because of their extremely low concentration in peripheral blood. So far, only few groups managed to expand in vitro and in vivo CTCs to be used as models for large-scale descriptive and functional analyses of CTCs. These models have shown already the high variability and complexity of the metastatic cascade in patients with cancer, and open a new avenue for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Birds in mixed-species flocks benefit from greater foraging efficiency and reduced predation, but also face costs related to competition and activity matching. Because this cost–benefit trade-off is context-dependent (e.g. abiotic conditions and habitat quality), the structure of flocks is expected to vary along elevational, latitudinal and disturbance gradients. Specifically, we predicted that the connectivity and cohesion of flocking networks would (i) decline towards tropical latitudes and lower elevations, where competition and activity matching costs are higher, and (ii) increase with lower forest cover and greater human disturbance. We analysed the structure of 84 flock networks across the Andes and assessed the effect of elevation, latitude, forest cover and human disturbance on network characteristics. We found that Andean flocks are overall open-membership systems (unstructured), though the extent of network structure varied across gradients. Elevation was the main predictor of structure, with more connected and less modular flocks upslope. As expected, flocks in areas with higher forest cover were less cohesive, with better defined flock subtypes. Flocks also varied across latitude and disturbance gradients as predicted, but effect sizes were small. Our findings indicate that the unstructured nature of Andean flocks might arise as a strategy to cope with harsh environmental conditions. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes’.

Emerging infectious diseases affecting marine ecosystems are increasing worldwide. Nevertheless, there are very few histopathological analyses describing the tissue damage associated with a specific disease. This makes it difficult to study the host response and to relate the findings to the isolated agent. Octocoral disease research has focused on the observation of lesions and on the identification of the potential pathogens involved. The aim of this investigation was to identify macroscopic lesions and describe histopathological findings in octocorals to determine potential causes. Fifty-five octocorals were investigated, and 18 of them had visible lesions (32.7%). Samples from the injured tissues of nine individuals of Gorgonia spp., seven individuals of Eunicea spp., one individual of Plexaurella dichotoma and one individual of Pseudopterogorgia acerosa were collected and processed for histopathological analysis. Algal and crustacean abrasions were the main causes of lesions detected in the field. Lesions with a focal distribution were present in most of the colonies, together with changes in tissue coloration. Histopathology revealed that melanization, amoebocytosis and polyp necrosis were the main reactions associated with algae and crustaceans. Histopathology allowed us to confirm the algae and crustacean involvement even when they were not macroscopically evident by the tissue damage and the associated response of these octocorals. Las enfermedades infecciosas emergentes que afectan a los ecosistemas marinos están aumentando en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, hay muy pocos análisis histopatológicos que describan el daño tisular asociado a una enfermedad específica. Esto dificulta el estudio de la respuesta del huésped y la relación de los hallazgos con el agente aislado. La investigación sobre la enfermedad de los octocorales se ha centrado en la observación de las lesiones y en la identificación de los posibles patógenos implicados. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las lesiones macroscópicas y describir los hallazgos histopatológicos en los octocorales para determinar las posibles causas. Se investigaron 55 octocorales y 18 de ellos presentaban lesiones visibles (32,7%). Se tomaron muestras de los tejidos lesionados de nueve individuos de Gorgonia spp., siete individuos de Eunicea spp., un individuo de Plexaurella dichotoma y un individuo de Pseudopterogorgia acerosa y se procesaron para su análisis histopatológico. Las abrasiones por algas y crustáceos fueron las principales causas de las lesiones detectadas en el campo. En la mayoría de las colonias se observaron lesiones de distribución focal, junto con cambios en la coloración de los tejidos. La histopatología reveló que la melanización, la amebocitosis y la necrosis de los pólipos eran las principales reacciones asociadas a las algas y los crustáceos. La histopatología nos permitió confirmar la implicación de algas y crustáceos incluso cuando no eran evidentes macroscópicamente por el daño tisular y la respuesta asociada de estos octocorales. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica. Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria

Autophagy is a mechanism responsible for the degradation of cellular components to maintain their homeostasis. However, autophagy is commonly altered and compromised in several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be considered a multifactorial disease because environmental factors, genetic factors, and aging are involved. Several genes are involved in PD pathology, among which the LRRK2 gene and its mutations, inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, are responsible for most genetic PD cases. The R1441G LRRK2 mutation is, after G2019S, the most important in PD pathogenesis. Our results demonstrate a relationship between the R1441G LRRK2 mutation and a mechanistic dysregulation of autophagy that compromises cell viability. This altered autophagy mechanism is associated with organellar stress including mitochondrial (which induces mitophagy) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, consistent with the fact that patients with this mutation are more vulnerable to toxins related to PD, such as MPP+.

Insect diversity levels and change in remnant urban habitats have been poorly examined in Neotropical regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and composition of foliage/shrub dwelling beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) regarding the influence of patch attributes (i.e., patch size, connectivity, and surrounding matrix) and within-patch habitat complexity, in an urban landscape at Chetumal, Yucatán peninsula, Mexico. Despite the potential species-specific responses to urban landscape pattern, our study reveals that there are effects of patch spatial features and habitat complexity on overall beetle diversity. These effects are as follows: 1) relatively larger urban patches contained higher overall beetle richness, 2) beetle species composition varied significantly regarding understory vegetation structure and tree richness, and 3) patches of intermediate vegetation age had highest beetle richness. This research provides a case study of patch and habitat features related to Neotropical insect assemblages in urban settlements, underlying the importance of using ecological information to offer management recommendations in ever-expanding urban tropical settlements.

Historical information on wildfires and dendrochronological studies offer meaningful clues about fire and climate regimes, factors that affect forest structure and dynamics. This study aimed to determine the effect of fire history on vegetation dynamics and successional pathways of areas under different fire management policies in the Lagunas de Montebello National Park (LMNP), Chiapas, Mexico. The selected study sites were El Parque area under fire exclusion policies since 1961; Tziscao-inhabited area under fire prohibition since 1984; and Antela area with a traditional agricultural fire management history. A Pinus oocarpa ring-width chronology was used as a proxy for climate variability to which wildfire occurrence was mapped and to determine the establishment patterns of this dominant species. Current vegetation composition and structure and fuel loads were determined to characterise the study sites. Large wildfires, like those occurring in 1984 and 1998, were associated with periods of high humidity followed by intense droughts; they were linked to strong El Nino events and severely impacted the LMNP. Vegetation dynamics indicated simplification of mesophyll forest (climax) to pine-oak-sweetgum forests, with Pinus dominating the overstorey in all sampling sites. Pine, oak and sweetgum species were the dominant juvenile trees in Antela, El Parque and Tziscao, respectively. Late-successional seedlings (i.e., Prunus) were present in Antela and El Parque, while were absent from Tziscao where several wildfires had occurred. Fuel accumulation in sites within protected areas subject to fire exclusion policies was very high (40-68 t ha-1); in contrast, it was the lowest in rural Antela (24 t ha-1). Considering vegetation vulnerability to wildfires associated with extreme humid-dry climate events, increased fire hazard due to fuel accumulation, and the socio-ecological impacts of these events, we recommend revising the fire exclusion policies currently implemented in the LMNP and applying an integrated fire management approach that incorporates local socio-ecological conditions.

Tuberculosis continues to be an important public health problem. Particularly considering Beijing-family strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which have been associated with drug-resistance and hypervirulence. The Beijing-like SIT190 (BL) is the most prevalent Beijing strain in Colombia. The pathogenic mechanism and immune response against this pathogen is unknown. Thus, we compared the course of pulmonary TB in BALB/c mice infected with Classical-Beijing strain 391 and BL strain 323. The disease course was different among infected animals with Classical-Beijing and BL strain. Mice infected with BL had a 100% mortality at 45 days post-infection (dpi), with high bacillary loads and massive pneumonia, whereas infected animals with Classical-Beijing survived until 60 dpi and showed extensive pneumonia and necrosis. Lung RNA extraction was carried out at early (day 3 dpi), intermediate (day 14 dpi), and late (days 28 and 60 dpi) time points of infection. Transcriptional analysis of infected mice with Classical-Beijing showed several over-expressed genes, associated with a pro-inflammatory profile, including those for coding for CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines, both biomarkers of disease severity. Conversely, mice infected with BL displayed a profile which included the over-expression of several genes associated with immune-suppression, including Nkiras, Dleu2, and Sphk2, highlighting an anti-inflammatory milieu which would allow high bacterial replication followed by an intense inflammatory response. In summary, both Beijing strains induced a non-protective immune response which induced extensive tissue damage, BL strain induced rapidly extensive pneumonia and death, whereas Classical-Beijing strain produced slower extensive pneumonia later associated with extensive necrosis. Abbreviations Mtb: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; SIT: Spoligotype International Type; TB: Tuberculosis; CTB: Classical-typical Beijing; BL: Beijing-Like; CCL3: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3); CCL4: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand four (CCL4); WHO: World health Organization; DR: Direct Repeats; IFN-γ: Interferon Gamma; IL: Interleukin; TGF-β: Transforming Growth Factor Beta; XDR: Extremely Drug Resistant; MDR: Multi Drug Resistant; MIRU-VNTR: Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units–Variable Number Tandem repeats; OADC: Oleic Albumin Dextrose Catalase; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; MOI: Multiplicity of Infection; CFUs: Colony Forming Units; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; qRT-PCR: Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR; RNA-seq: Ribonucleic Acid sequencing; RIN: RNA Integrity Number; RNA: Ribonucleic Acid; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid; dsDNA HS: Double stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid High Sensitivity; RAI: Red de Apoyo à la Investigacion, Mexico City, Mexico; DEG: Differential Expressed Genes; GO: Gene Ontology; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ORA: Over-Representation Analysis; SNPs: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms; TNFα: Tumoral necrosis factor alpha; DE: Differential Expression; EPA: Enrichment Pathways Analysis; TLR: Toll-Like receptor; NLRP: NOD-like receptor with Pyrin domain; tRNA: Transfer RNA; MAPK: Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase; NK: Natural killer; ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate; DGC: dystrophin-glycoprotein complex; PDIM: Ptiocerol Dimicocerosate; NCBI: National Center for Bioinformatics Information

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of acquiring devastating infections with unusual pathogens. Nocardia are aerobic actinomycetes that affect the lungs, brain, skin and soft tissue. Cladophialophora species are dematiaceous fungi that overwhelmingly cause infections in the brain. Both organisms carry a high mortality rate. We present the first reported renal transplant case with Cladophialophora bantiana involving the renal allograft with concurrent invasive nocardiosis involving the lungs and brain.

Proteostasis is a challenge for cellular organisms, as all known protein synthesis machineries are error-prone. Here we show by cell fractionation and microscopy studies that misfolded proteins formed in the endoplasmic reticulum can become associated with and partly transported into mitochondria, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function. Blocking the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES), but not the mitochondrial sorting and assembly machinery (SAM) or the mitochondrial surveillance pathway components Msp1 and Vms1, abrogated mitochondrial sequestration of ER-misfolded proteins. We term this mitochondria-associated proteostatic mechanism for ER-misfolded proteins ERAMS (ER-associated mitochondrial sequestration). We testify to the relevance of this pathway by using mutant α-1-antitrypsin as an example of a human disease-related misfolded ER protein, and we hypothesize that ERAMS plays a role in pathological features such as mitochondrial dysfunction., Sanchón et al find that misfolded proteins formed in the ER can become associated with mitochondria, both in mammalian cells and in yeast, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function. They further discover that components of ERMES-mediated ER-mitochondria contacts are needed for this mechanism, which they name ERAMS, for ER-associated mitochondrial sequestration.

The metals present in freshwater have a toxic profile with bioaccumulation and are biomagnified along the aquatic food chain. The metals induce high sensitivity in most aquatic organisms, while others, such as some microalgae species, evolve towards resistance. Therefore, this research predicted through the Combination Index method the binary interaction exposed to divalent metals by inhibiting population growth in a Cd-resistant strain (DcRCd100) compared to the wild-type strain (Dc1Mwt) of Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides and evaluate the specific resistance level obtained by DcRCd100 to Cd relative to other divalent metals.The results showed that DcRCd100 presents resistance compared to Dc1Mwt in individual exposure in the order of Fe2+ > Ni2+ > Cd2+ > Co2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Hg2+ with 50% inhibitory concentration at 72 h of exposure (IC50(72)) values 1253, 644.4, 423, 162.7, 141.3, 35.1, and 9.9 µM, respectively. It induces cross-resistance with high antagonistic rates (Combination Index (CI); CI > > 1) in the Cd/Zn and Cd/Cu. Cd/Ni, its initial response, is antagonistic, and it ends in an additive (CI = 1). DcRCd100 showed a lower resistance in Co, and Cd/Fe resistance was reduced individually. The interaction with Hg increased its resistance ten times more than individually.This research highlights the use of the CI as a highly efficient prediction method of the binary metal interactions in wild-type and Cd-resistant strains of D. chlorelloides. It may have the potential for metal accumulation, allowing the development of new methods of bioremediation of metals in effluents, and to monitor the concentration of metals in wastewater, its relative availability, transport, and mechanisms on resistant strains of microalgae.

La enfermedad de Chagas es una antropozoonosis parasitaria de transmisión mayoritariamente vectorial. Si bien afecta principalmente a América, constituye una de las mayores enfermedades desatendidas a nivel mundial. Solamente dos fármacos con un alto grado de toxicidad se encuentran disponibles para su tratamiento, por lo que es preciso aunar esfuerzos en pos del desarrollo de nuevas drogas antitripanosomales eficaces y con escasos efectos adversos. En este estudio, se aplicó la topología molecular para el desarrollo de un modelo QSAR capaz de predecir la actividad citotóxica antitripanosomal de un grupo de 39 compuestos. El modelo desarrollado mediante análisis lineal discriminante permitió clasificar correctamente al 93,3 % de los compuestos activos estudiados. Para la predicción de la potencia antitripanosomal se empleó un análisis de regresión multilineal, que fue capaz de explicar el 90,8 % de la varianza. Ambos análisis fueron validados mediante un test interno de tipo “leave some out”. Se aplicó el modelo obtenido a nuevos compuestos, destacándose ocho moléculas potencialmente activas que podrán ser utilizadas en futuros ensayos preclínicos. Chagas disease is a protozoan anthropozoonosis primarily transmitted by vectors. America is the main affected continent, although it is considered a worldwide neglected tropical disease. Only two drugs with a high toxicity level are available for its treatment. Because of this, it is necessary to make an effort in order to develop new effective and safe therapies. In this study, molecular topology was used to create a QSAR model to predict anti-trypanosomal cytotoxic activity in a group of 39 compounds. Linear discriminant analysis correctly classified 93.3 % of the active studied compounds. To predict the anti-trypanosomal potency, multilinear regression analysis was used; being this capable of explaining 90.8 % of the variance. Both analyses were validated by an internal “leave some out” test. The resulting model was applied to new compounds, selecting eight of them as potential active molecules that could be used in future preclinical studies. Ciencias Experimentales

There are few studies in Mexico aimed at evaluating the genetic variability of Sechium spp. Despite certain biological variants are reported with very high potential to develop antineoplastic supplements to treat public health conditions. Using the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique, the genetic variability of a sample of 95 accessions of three species of Sechium (S. edule, S. chinantlense, S. compositum) was evaluated, with leaf DNA from the Banco Nacional de Germoplasma de Sechium edule en Mexico. Four combinations of AFPL were applied (EcoRI + ACC/MseI + CAC, EcoRI + ACC/MseI + CAT, EcoRI + ACC/MseI + CGC, and EcoRI + ACC/MseI + CGG). DNA samples were classified into three groups based on the flavour of the fruit (sweet, neutral, bitter). An average of 47.91% polymorphism, 0.16 heterozygosity, 32.83 number of polymorphic bands, and a zero Wright fixation index (Fst) was obtained. The evidence showed that the domesticated accessions (sweet, neutral) were separated from the bitter-taste genotypes. A monophyletic tree was generated with the genetic distance matrix and the neighbour-joining methodology. Analyses showed S. edule as the root taxon, deriving S. compositum and S. chinantlense as subgroups, and suggesting that there is not enough differentiation to treat them as separate species. The evaluated sample showed that there is no apparent reproductive barrier for genetic cross breeding. Genotypes behaved as a complex with evolutive dynamism; that genetic complexity would allow the design of new variants.

La inoculación con rizobios y hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA), de manera simple o combinada, puede contribuir con el crecimiento y establecimiento de Prosopis laevigata por una interacción positiva de los simbiontes con la planta. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la inoculación simple y combinada de tres aislados locales de rizobios (R1, R2 y R3) y dos cepas de HMA (HMA1 y HMA2) en la colonización micorrízica, la nodulación, el crecimiento y producción de biomasa de P. laevigata en sustrato con pH cercano a la neutralidad. El experimento se desarrolló en invernadero, en la Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria de la UASLP en 2020-2021. Se evaluaron 13 tratamientos en un diseño completamente aleatorizado con cinco repeticiones. Se estudiaron las variables número de esporas g-1 de sustrato, colonización y densidad visual micorrízica, nódulos totales, nódulos efectivos, número de foliolos, altura, diámetro de tallo y rendimiento de biomasa. La inoculación promovió mayor colonización, nodulación y crecimiento vegetal con respecto al testigo sin inocular. Con HMA1, HMA2, R1, R3, R1+HMA1, R3+HMA1, R1+HMA2 y R3+HMA2, se obtuvieron resultados superiores que el resto de los tratamientos. Se concluye que la inoculación con aislados locales de rizobios y su combinación con HMA favorece el desarrollo de estructuras micorrízicas, la nodulación, el crecimiento y la producción de biomasa de P. laevigata crecido en sustrato con pH neutro. Se registró a los aislados R1, R3, las cepas HMA1, HMA2 y las combinaciones R1+HMA1, R1+HMA2, R3+HMA1 y R3+HMA2 como inoculantes efectivos para aumentar el crecimiento de P. laevigata.

Aim: To evaluate the genetic distribution of the rs4149056 and rs2306283 variants in the SLCO1B1 gene in Mexican Mestizo (admixed) and Native American groups. Materials & methods: We recruited 360 volunteers who were qPCR-genotyped with TaqMan probes. Results: Allele and genotype frequencies are reported. Among the expected rs4149056– rs2306283 haplotypes, T–A (42.35–58.47%) was the most prevalent which relates to the normal activity of the OATP1B1 transporter. This was followed by the T–G haplotype associated with further statin transport and cholesterol reduction (32.49–43.76%). Conclusion: Based on these SLCO1B1 gene variants, we confirmed that a minimum fraction of the Mexican study populations would be at risk from decreasing simvastatin transport and the development of statin-induced myopathy.

Eryngium maritimum L. is considered a key species in dunes of the western Mediterranean. Although Northern European populations are endangered, the Mediterranean populations show a good conservation status, despite a lack of studies of the reproductive requirements and strategies of this species. This study aims to analyse the reproductive biology of a population of E. maritimum in the western Mediterranean (Balearic Islands, Spain), specifically focusing on differences in morphometric and reproductive traits among inflorescence orders. Capitulum size, number of flowers, fruit set and seed set were analysed to evaluate the morphological and reproductive differences among inflorescence orders. The association between subterranean development and investment in reproductive structures was also studied along the dune location. Breeding system was analysed, evaluating self-pollination capacity at capitulum level and the pollen/ovary ratio. Finally, floral visitors were assessed. Morphometric and reproductive traits showed a decline in size and production from early to subsequent inflorescence orders. A correlation between width of stem base (caudex) and number of reproductive structures was observed, whereas seashore distance did not affect the reproductive development. Flowering occurred during summer, from May until late July, while fructification took place from the middle of August until the last days of September. Pollinator exclusion treatments induced a fruit and seed set decline. Twenty-one species of floral visitor were found. First and second inflorescence orders contributed to the generation of seeds, displaying high fruit and seed production, while other inflorescence orders seemed to attract pollinators. Reproductive and non-reproductive development could depend on the capacity to reallocate resources from underground to aerial structures, which seemed to be superior in samples with highly developed caudices. In the studied population, inner areas closest to the seashore showed a delay in anthesis, which could be related to microclimate differences along the coast-to-inland gradient. Pollination is strongly entomophilous and showed low levels of self-compatibility at capitulum level. Considering these results, for habitat conservation the reported microclimate diversity should be taken into consideration, with a focus on conservation of the pollinator populations.

Husk tomato is an annual vegetable crop grown for its fruits in Mexico, where it grows as weedy and wild. Eight races are recognized from wild (Wild and Milpero) and cultivated (Arandas, Manzano, Puebla, Rendidora, Salamanca, and Tamazula) conditions based on morphological and ecological traits. However, few studies have addressed the genetic diversity and divergence of all races. We aimed to (i) assess the genetic diversity and structure of 10 cultivars representing the recognized races of husk tomato and (ii) compare the genetic diversity of the cultivated and wild pools. We identified 270 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 40 samples using multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). The results showed lower to moderate diversity in each cultivar (HE = 0.082–0.147) and lower to moderate pairwise genetic differentiation (FST = − 0.011 to 0.195) between cultivars. The Bayesian clustering analysis identified three genetic groups (K = 3) with ancestry coefficients (Q = 0.6–0.89) that suggest gene flow among cultivars. Ordination and classification analysis based on genetic distances revealed two main genetic clusters related to fruit traits and geographic regions where cultivars are commercialized, while a third group included the Wild and Milpero. Analysis of molecular variance revealed higher variation within cultivars (80%) than among cultivars (18%). The cultivated pool harbors 96% of the diversity present in the wild (Ht = 0.322 vs. Ht = 0.311) and does not show severe genetic bottlenecks related to the domestication process. Our results suggest that husk tomato domestication, like other Mesoamerican crops, might be diffuse rather than from a single geographic origin.

Seeds are the central components of the plant life cycle because the establishment of a new generation of plants depends on them [...]

Lesions to DNA compromise chromosome integrity, posing a direct threat to cell survival. The bacterial SOS response is a widespread transcriptional regulatory mechanism to address DNA damage. This response is coordinated by the LexA transcriptional repressor, which controls genes involved in DNA repair, mutagenesis and cell-cycle control. To date, the SOS response has been characterized in most major bacterial groups, with the notable exception of the Bacteroidetes. No LexA homologs had been identified in this large, diverse and ecologically important phylum, suggesting that it lacked an inducible mechanism to address DNA damage. Here, we report the identification of a novel family of transcriptional repressors in the Bacteroidetes that orchestrate a canonical response to DNA damage in this phylum. These proteins belong to the S24 peptidase family, but are structurally different from LexA. Their N-terminal domain is most closely related to CI-type bacteriophage repressors, suggesting that they may have originated from phage lytic phase repressors. Given their role as SOS regulators, however, we propose to designate them as non-canonical LexA proteins. The identification of a new class of repressors orchestrating the SOS response illuminates long-standing questions regarding the origin and plasticity of this transcriptional network.

Multiple paternity is common to all sea turtle species, but its causes and consequences are hard to ascertain and the behaviors and success of males difficult to observe. This study aims to describe patterns of multiple paternity for olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea at Playa de Escobilla, an ‘arribada’ (mass-nesting) site on the Mexican Pacific coast with over a million clutches laid each reproductive season. A total of 15 females and their hatchlings were sampled during 3 arribada events which occurred over the 2016-2017 nesting season. Females and hatchlings (N = 329) were genotyped at 5 microsatellite loci, from which we inferred the alleles of 46 contributing males. Multiple paternity was detected in 60% of the analyzed clutches, which were sired by a range of 2 to 7 males. Multiple paternity rates differed significantly across arribada events, suggesting more males achieved fertilizations earlier in the breeding season. Paternal contribution in 6 of the clutches with multiple paternity was skewed towards a single male; the remaining clutches had a homogeneous male contribution. However, our results are based on relatively small within-arribada sample sizes. The frequency of multiple paternity among turtle clutches laid on this arribada beach could be related to the density of breeding individuals in the reproductive patch off Playa de Escobilla, rather than to the nesting population size or female size.

The tick Ixodes dampfi Cooley 1943, a member of the Pholeoixodes subgenus, was first described from gophers (Geomys sp.) collected in the state of Mexico. However, information on the origin and parasite-host association of I. dampfi is lacking. Here, new records of the occurrence of this tick species were provided nearly 80 years since its original description, in addition to new localities, genetic data, and host-parasite records. A total of four hosts (one Bassariscus astutus, two Didelphis virginiana, and one Peromyscus gratus) from three orders (Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, and Rodentia) were parasitised by seven I. dampfi females. Sequences of the 16S rDNA gene from the ticks exhibited a similarity ranging from 97 (389/403 bp) to 100% (403/403 bp), with the unique sequence of I. dampfi available on GenBank (AF549837). Additionally, Rickettsia-specific 16S rDNA, htrA, and ompA gene assays generated sequences in four of the seven I. dampfi specimens (57.14%). Partial sequences revealed 99–100% genetic identities with Candidatus Rickettsia angustus (GenBank accession HF935069, HF935072, HF935078) and Candidatus Rickettsia kingi (GenBank accession HF935068, HF935071, HF935077) from Canada. Our results represent the first record of this elusive ectoparasite in a natural protected area, which is a triumph for conservation, as accelerated defaunation processes pose the risk of coextinction for many groups of vertebrates and their ectoparasites.

Understanding the impact of mangrove vegetation and environmental conditions over rodents’ occurrence allow to optimize conservation efforts, due to the fact these mammals are sensitive to extremely changing habitat conditions, such as changes in stand structure, floristic composition and flooding variations by daily tide. Using site-occupancy models, we aimed to assess the effect of mangrove species composition and stand structure together with flooding variations in rodent occupancy patterns in mangroves of Laguna de Cuyutlan, West-Central Mexico. We recorded two rodent species: Oryzomys couesi and Hodomys alleni, and one marsupial: Tlacuatzin canescens. Hodomys alleni is considered the first report for mangrove ecosystems. In total, we captured 41 individuals, 34 of O. couesi, six of H. alleni and one of T. canescens. Six models had substantial AIC weight (Akaike weight > 0.10; ΔAIC 0.13; ΔAIC

La coloración atípica permanente en mamíferos puede ocurrir por una condición congénita o por causas ambientales, pero se expresa por defectos en el número o función de los melanocitos (células productoras de melanina). Alrededor del mundo, se han reportado murciélagos con coloración anormal en la piel, pero en México se conocen pocos casos. Aquí, presentamos registros de trastornos cromáticos en varias especies capturadas en diferentes lugares de México. Los murciélagos fueron capturados con redes de niebla afuera de los sitios de percha o en senderos con vegetación. Todos los individuos fueron liberados en el sitio de captura. Registramos 9 individuos de la familia Phyllostomidae y 3 de Molossidae con trastornos cromáticos: 11 individuos con manchas blancas y 1 con albinismo. El fenotipo de manchas blancas se reporta por primera vez en Mimon cozumelae y el primer registro para Leptonycteris yerbabuenae y Nyctinomops laticaudatus en México. Los registros de individuos con trastornos pigmentarios son raros en la naturaleza, e informar la ocurrencia de estos eventos en murciélagos aumenta el conocimiento de la historia natural de las especies.

Abstract Chemical compounds produced by humans are continuously reaching the environment. In this work, we characterised the expression patterns of important endocrine-related genes involved in the ecdysone pathway in the fourth larval instar of the model species Chironomus riparius after exposure to three chemicals: ethinyl oestradiol (EE), nonylphenol (NP) and bis(tributyltin) oxide (TBTO). We used real-time PCR to analyse the gene expression levels of ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (usp), two genes that encode the dimerising partners of the functional ecdysone receptor; the orphan receptor ERR (oestrogen-related receptor), with an unknown function in invertebrates; and E74, an early response gene induced by ecdysteroids. We estimated the bioaccumulation potential, bioavailability and physicochemical properties of these chemicals, together with a number of other exogenous agents known to interfere with the hormonal system. We also provide a review of previous transcriptional studies showing the effect of all these chemicals on ecdysone cascade genes. This analysis provides useful data for future ecotoxicological studies involving invertebrate species. Capsule Changes in transcriptional activities of EcR, E74, usp and ERR genes after exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals would be useful as molecular bioindicators of endocrine disruption in Chironomus riparius.

Peromyscus fraterculus (Miller, 1892) is a small rodent commonly called the northern Baja deermouse. Its pelage is dark, the tail is considerably longer than the body, and the number of caudal vertebrae ranges from 30 to 34. The geographic distribution of P. fraterculus includes the area west of the Colorado River, from southern California in the United States of America southward to the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, south of La Paz Isthmus. It is found in a broad variety of habitats from sea level to 1,175 m. P. fraterculus does not have special conservation status, although the island populations have conservation issues, mainly due to the introduction of non-native species. It is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen of increasing clinical importance worldwide, especially given its ability to readily acquire resistance determinants. Motile strains of this bacterium can move by either or both of two types of motility: (i) twitching, driven by type IV pili, and (ii) surface-associated motility, an appendage-independent form of movement. A. baumannii strain MAR002 possesses both twitching and surface-associated motility. In this study, we isolated spontaneous rifampin-resistant mutants of strain MAR002 in which point mutations in the rpoB gene were identified that resulted in an altered motility pattern. Transcriptomic analysis of mutants lacking twitching, surface-associated motility, or both led to the identification of deregulated genes within each motility phenotype, based on their level of expression and their biological function. Investigations of the corresponding knockout mutants revealed several genes involved in the motility of A. baumannii strain MAR002, including two involved in twitching (encoding a minor pilin subunit and an RND [resistance nodulation division] component), one in surface-associated motility (encoding an amino acid permease), and eight in both (encoding RND and ABC components, the energy transducer TonB, the porin OprD, the T6SS component TagF, an IclR transcriptional regulator, a PQQ-dependent sugar dehydrogenase, and a putative pectate lyase). Virulence assays showed the reduced pathogenicity of mutants with impairments in both types of motility or in surface-associated motility alone. By contrast, the virulence of twitching-affected mutants was not affected. These results shed light on the key role of surface-associated motility and the limited role of twitching in the pathogenicity of A. baumannii.

Objetivo: examinar el efecto del consumo de Passiflora edulis (P. edulis) sobre marcadores bioquímicos de estrés oxidativo (BMEOX) en mujeres voleibolistas de una selección universitaria. Método: población catorce jugadoras (edad: 19.3±2.2 años; masa: 57.5±5.0 kg; estatura: 1.62±6.2 m), fueron divididas aleatoriamente en grupo experimental (GE) y grupo placebo (GP). Durante los siete días del microciclo, al GE se les suministró 2 ml/día de zumo de P edulis y el GP recibió 2 ml/día de placebo (agua saborizada). Se tomaron muestras sanguíneas durante los días 1, 4, 7 y 14. Se cuantificaron creatina quinasa (CK), glutamato oxalacetato transaminasa (GOT), glutamato piruvato transaminasa (GPT), creatinina (Cr), catalasa (CAT), superóxido dismutasa (SOD), la peroxidación lipídica por el método de sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) y la tasa de filtración glomerular (TFG). Resultados: las transaminasas, se incrementaron significativamente en el día 4, y descendieron en los días 7 y 14 en ambos grupos. CK y Cr, aumentaron, pero no retornaron a valores basales en el día 14. TBARS y CAT aumentaron en ambos grupos sin diferencias significativas, mientras SOD aumentó con diferencias significativas para todos los días solo en GP. Conclusión: El microciclo produce cambios en los BMEOX, aumentando su nivel con el aumento de la intensidad del mismo; El consumo de P. edulis no afectó de manera significativa las actividades transaminasas, SOD y CAT, pero estas enzimas permanecen más estables en las deportistas que consumieron P. edulis. Es necesario profundizar el conocimiento sobre usos de antioxidantes y ejercicio intenso. Abstract. Objective: to examine the effect of the consumption of Passiflora edulis (P. edulis) on biochemical markers of oxidative stress (BMEOX) in female volleyball players of a university team. Method: population fourteen players (age: 19.3 ± 2.2 years; mass: 57.5 ± 5.0 kg; height: 1.62 ± 6.2 m), were randomly divided into experimental group (EG) and placebo group (GP). During the seven days of the microcycle, the EG was given 2 ml / day of P edulis juice and the GP received 2 ml / day of placebo (flavored water). Blood samples were taken during days 1, 4, 7 and 14. Creatine kinase (CK), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), creatinine (Cr), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Results: transaminases increased significantly on day 4, and decreased on days 7 and 14 in both groups. CK and Cr, increased, but did not return to baseline values on day 14. TBARS and CAT increased in both groups without significant differences, while SOD increased with significant differences for all days only in GP. Conclusion: The microcycle produces changes in the BMEOX, its level increase with the increase in its intensity; Consumption of P. edulis did not significantly affect transaminase, SOD and CAT activities, but these enzymes remain more stable in athletes who consumed P. edulis. It is necessary to deepen the knowledge about antioxidant uses and intense exercise.

This work examined the diet of the porbeagle shark Lamna nasus in the south-west Atlantic Ocean (SWAO, Argentina, 52° S-56° S) by analysing the stomach content information obtained by scientific observers who sampled specimens captured as by-catch on-board commercial fishing vessels from 2010 to 2020. A total of 148 fishing sites were analysed, in which the estimated catch was composed mainly of hoki Macruronus magellanicus (56.00%) and southern blue whiting Micromesistius australis (33.13%). From 413 porbeagle sharks sampled (292 females and 121 males) ranging from 71 to 241 cm total length (LT ) (mean: 179.76 ± 26.74 cm), 310 (75.06%) contained food in the stomachs. The forage fish were mainly hoki M. magellanicus (23.53%) and southern blue whiting M. australis (19.05%), followed by the Patagonian sprat Sprattus fuegensis (4.48%) and nototheniids (1.4%). Cephalopods and crustaceans accounted for 10% of the diet. The estimated trophic level was 4.35. Generalized linear models revealed that the consumption of hoki M. magellanicus and southern blue whiting M. australis increased with the LT of the porbeagle shark. Moreover, smaller porbeagle sharks preyed upon both small and large teleost fish, whereas larger porbeagle sharks predated exclusively upon large fish. The diet of porbeagle shark involved interactions with fisheries as it fed upon the fish species that constituted the main catch in the analysed fishing sites, as well as the main catches of the austral trawl fisheries. The ecological role of porbeagle shark observed in the SWAO exposed implications for fisheries management from a multispecies perspective.

La introducción de especies exóticas puede afectar negativamente a las especies nativas; por ejemplo, el perro doméstico (Canis lupus familiaris) puede aumentar su riesgo de depredación. Evaluamos el efecto de la presencia de perros y humanos sobre el comportamiento de forrajeo y uso de hábitat del fara, Didelphis pernigra, en un área exurbana en los Andes colombianos. Usamos la técnica de densidades de abandono (DDA), la cantidad de alimento dejada por un forrajeador después de explotar un parche en el que experimenta ganancias decrecientes, y que informa sobre los costos de forrajeo experimentados por un individuo, incluyendo el riesgo percibido de depredación. Medimos las DDA en experimentos en presencia de perro o humano en un área de regeneración natural de bosque andino y en una plantación exótica de Eucaliptus globulus cerca al río Bogotá en Cajicá, Colombia. Los faras utilizaron más el área de regeneración que la plantación; la plantación fue muy poco utilizada. La presencia humana redujo el forrajeo del fara en la regeneración. No se encontró efecto del perro sobre el forrajeo de los faras. Además, el forrajeo también fue afectado por la iluminación de la luna, pero su efecto dependió del periodo de la noche. Este marsupial nativo seleccionó los sitios de forrajeo dependiendo de su exposición a posibles depredadores. El fara no parece reconocer al perro como una amenaza, probablemente incrementando su vulnerabilidad al ataque de estos carnívoros.

Germination is considered as one of the most crucial steps in a plant’s lifetime. The germination of Eryngium maritimum, a dune species located across all European coasts, has been extensively analysed in Northern populations, where it is considered a locally endangered species. However, less attention has been given to southern populations, where the knowledge about the germination of the species is very limited. The main objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of cold stratification in one Mediterranean and one Atlantic population of the species, as well as to compare the potential variation of seed dormancy among a latitudinal gradient in European populations based on current literature. Seeds collected from Mallorca (Mediterranean, Spain) and Asturias (Atlantic, Spain) were germinated at different temperatures and cold stratification periods ranging from 4 to 20 weeks. These results were merged with the results of previous studies to test the potential effect of latitude and climatic variables in germination. Although the optimal incubation temperature was 10 ºC, the highest final germination percentages (up to 96%) was obtained in both populations combining specific cold stratification periods (5 ºC) and constant incubation temperatures (15–20 ºC). Atlantic seeds needed longer cold stratification times to reach high germination percentages compared with Mediterranean seeds. Apart from the stratification response, significant differences in viability and in germination were observed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean populations. Considering data from previous studies in the analysis, the results suggest that there is a potential effect of latitude in the ecological germination requirements, by which the higher the latitude, the longer the cold stratification period required to germinate, with a correlation with the mean annual temperature. These results suggests that two factors, modulation of dormancy relating to adaptative or maternal effects and viability, govern the germination of the species.

In most birds, red feather color is linked to diet and attributed to carotenoids contained in plants and fruits. In the red crown feathers of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), a new biopigment was identified based on carminic acid, the main coloring compound of cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) and other scale insects. This has revealed a potential new class of carminic acid-based biopigments, not previously identified in feathers. In this research, red crown feathers of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were analyzed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) employing synthesized silver star-shaped colloids as the nanoplasmonic platform. Results indicated peaks at 450, 670, 1290-1312, 1355, 1410, 1570, 1620 cm-1 in the feather SERS spectra characteristic of carminic acid. SERS has proven to be an extremely sensitive, non-destructive technique for the identification of different feather biopigments, even at trace quantities and in the presence of other predominant coloring substances.

Helminth infections impact the composition of the mammalian gut microbiota; however, the mechanisms underpinning these interactions are, thus far, unknown. In this article, we propose that microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles might represent key players in host-helminth-microbiome crosstalk, and outline future directions to elucidate their role(s) in host-parasite relationships.

Determining how growth rates and body size vary spatially and among reef fish species is important to understanding functional traits and demographic trade-offs. Variability in reef fish growth trajectories may be influenced by intrinsic (e.g., biological, phylogenetic) and extrinsic factors (e.g., environmental), as well as their interaction via ecological processes. To assess interspecific variation in these traits, we estimated age and growth for a guild of butterflyfishes sampled from reefs spanning ~ 10˚ degrees of latitude in the Red Sea to the adjacent Gulf of Aden. This study region was chosen because it spans environmental gradients known to influence fish life history traits and allowed for comparisons between regional versus more widespread butterflyfish species. Across the 10 study species, we found significant interspecific differences in growth. This finding contrasted with almost no intraspecific differences between populations across the study region. Moreover, we found that maximum body size was significantly correlated with the phylogenetic placement of the butterflyfish species. These patterns suggest that intrinsic factors and a high degree of ecological specialization may elicit spatially conservative demographic profiles, even when faced with considerable environmental variation across a region.

Early Cretaceous ichthyosaur diversity has markedly increased in recent years with the discovery of new taxa in the field and in museum collections. This has led to new characters, and a better und...

espanolEste articulo estudia la encomienda de indios del valle de Copiapo, en Chile, a mediados del siglo xvi, mediante una visita y tasa realizada en 1558 durante el gobierno de don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza por el oidor de la Audiencia de Lima don Hernando de Santillan. El analisis de dicho documento nos permitira ver como la economia colonial local, orientada hacia la explotacion de los yacimientos auriferos del reino de Chile, se desarrollo en desmedro de la encomienda de Copiapo. EnglishThis article studies the encomienda of Indians from the Copiapo valley, in Chile, in the middle of the 16th century, through a visit and rate carried out in 1558 during the government of don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza by the oidor of the Audiencia of Lima don Hernando de Santillan. The results of the analysis of this document allow us to show not only the evolution of this encomienda through the weight generated by it, but also the profound changes generated by in the local colonial economy, which was based on the exploitation of the gold deposits of the kingdom of Chile.

Not all regions of the world have access to advanced means of analysis, such as molecular or quantitative genetics. In the absence of these or other means of selection, phenotypic analyses are used for breed differentiation as well as to evaluate productive aptitude. The objective of this work is to characterize morphometric variables and zoometric indices, as well as the morphological and phaneroptic characterization, of the Guaymi Creole cattle in conservation centers in Panama. The study included all available Guaymi creoles (98 females and 27 males) aged ≥ 3 years. The results indicate that the Guaymi breed has sexual dimorphism, little heterogeneity, and characteristics appropriate for areas where there is limited quality forage. The characteristics of the Guaymi breed correspond to a dolichocephalic profile, a longilineal and brachypelvic type. The indexes characterize it as having poteintial milk and meat-type aptitude, so it can be considered dual-purpose cattle in the absence of a directed selection program. The morphological characteristics are similar to those of Bos taurus breeds from Ibero-America and Africa. Key words: Livestock, biodiversity, conservation, creoles.