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The goal of this work was to characterize potential biological agents responsible for biodeterioration in heritage buildings identified as Costa Rican Caribbean architecture using a multidisciplinary approach. First, an inventory of buildings of Caribbean architecture from Limón City was elaborated. Then, a multi-criteria evaluation system was used to define priority scores to select buildings for sampling and analysis. Selected buildings were sampled for potential biological agents responsible for biodeterioration. Wood samples were taken from sections showing visual damage and fungi were isolated and characterized using Sanger sequencing. A basic profile of Costa Rican Caribbean architecture was established. A preliminary identification of 101 buildings that satisfied the basic profile of characteristics was con-ducted. Subsequently, these buildings were classified into 4 typologies from which 23 buildings belonging to Typologies 1 and 2 were chosen for the collection and registration of data. Applying the multi-criteria evaluation, 6 buildings with final scores higher than 60 points were selected from which the 1st (Casa Misionera Bautista) and 3rd (Antigua Capitanía de Puerto) in the classification were selected for further characterization of biological agents. From the sampling conducted on these two buildings. A total of 36 fungi were isolated. All fungi identified belonged to the fungal group Ascomycota phylum, the most common genera being Trichoderma, Fusarium, and Penicillium. The study shows how multidisciplinary studies can improve the process of decision-making in the preservation of heritage with the use of a ranking obtained for each building in the multi-criteria evaluation and the use of advanced techniques for the identification of biological agents.

Social Impact Statement Vanilla planifolia is the source of the spice vanilla. This study is part of an international initiative to study the biology, including mycorrhizal fungi and cultivation practices of vanilla to improve its production in Mexico. The study focused on documenting mycorrhizal fungal diversity in vanilla. It also provided preliminary data on differences in mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with cultivation practices. A richer mycorrhizal community was observed in vanilla growing in a wild natural farm compared with those from a highly managed farm. Our research provides insights for sustainable vanilla production that can benefit Mexican farming communities. Summary Relatively little is known regarding differences in root symbionts (i.e., mycorrhizae) between epiphytic and terrestrial orchids. We characterized the mycorrhizal fungal communities of aerial and terrestrial roots of the orchid, Vanilla planifolia, from four Mexican farms representing different management systems. Amplicon sequencing identified 40 putative mycorrhizal fungi based on ITS sequence data, these included traditional orchid mycorrhizal fungi such as Ceratobasidium, and Thanatephorus in the order Cantharellales as well as Serendipitaceae in the order Sebacinales, and species of several genera traditionally considered as ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungal communities were similar in aerial and terrestrial roots, but differed in read abundances. Plants growing in wild‐natural conditions hosted a richer, but not statistically different, community of mycorrhizal fungi in comparison with plants in the highly managed farm. Soil characteristics including texture, organic matter, N, P, and K do not explain differences between fungal communities at these farms. This is one of the first reports of a diverse community of fungi traditionally considered to form ectomycorrhizas in association with aerial orchid roots. Further research is needed to understand the functional role of these putative mycorrhizal fungi in the ecology of V. planifolia, and if ectomycorrhizal fungi commonly occur in other hemiepiphytic and epiphytic orchids.

Illumina amplicon sequencing of soil in a temperate pine forest in the southeastern United States detected an abundant, nitrogen (N)-responsive fungal genotype of unknown phylogenetic affiliation. Two isolates with ribosomal sequences consistent with that genotype were subsequently obtained. Examination of records in GenBank revealed that a genetically similar fungus had been isolated previously as an endophyte of moss in a pine forest in the southwestern United States. The three isolates were characterized using morphological, genomic, and multilocus molecular data (18S, internal transcribed spacer [ITS], and 28S rRNA sequences). Phylogenetic and maximum likelihood phylogenomic reconstructions revealed that the taxon represents a novel lineage in Mucoromycotina, only preceded by Calcarisporiella, the earliest diverging lineage in the subphylum. Sequences for the novel taxon are frequently detected in environmental sequencing studies, and it is currently part of UNITE's dynamic list of most wanted fungi. The fungus is dimorphic, grows best at room temperature, and is associated with a wide variety of bacteria. Here, a new monotypic genus, Bifiguratus, is proposed, typified by Bifiguratus adelaidae.

Abstract Background The dominant fungi in arid grasslands and shrublands are members of the Ascomycota phylum. Ascomycota fungi are important drivers in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. These fungi play roles in soil stability, plant biomass decomposition, and endophytic interactions with plants. They may also form symbiotic associations with biocrust components or be latent saprotrophs or pathogens that live on plant tissues. However, their functional potential in arid soils, where organic matter, nutrients and water are very low or only periodically available, is poorly characterized. Results Five Ascomycota fungi were isolated from different soil crust microhabitats and rhizosphere soils around the native bunchgrass Pleuraphis jamesii in an arid grassland near Moab, UT, USA. Putative genera were Coniochaeta, isolated from lichen biocrust, Embellisia from cyanobacteria biocrust, Chaetomium from below lichen biocrust, Phoma from a moss microhabitat, and Aspergillus from the soil. The fungi were grown in replicate cultures on different carbon sources (chitin, native bunchgrass or pine wood) relevant to plant biomass and soil carbon sources. Secretomes produced by the fungi on each substrate were characterized. Results demonstrate that these fungi likely interact with primary producers (biocrust or plants) by secreting a wide range of proteins that facilitate symbiotic associations. Each of the fungal isolates secreted enzymes that degrade plant biomass, small secreted effector proteins, and proteins involved in either beneficial plant interactions or virulence. Aspergillus and Phoma expressed more plant biomass degrading enzymes when grown in grass- and pine-containing cultures than in chitin. Coniochaeta and Embellisia expressed similar numbers of these enzymes under all conditions, while Chaetomium secreted more of these enzymes in grass-containing cultures. Conclusions This study of Ascomycota genomes and secretomes provides important insights about the lifestyles and the roles that Ascomycota fungi likely play in arid grassland, ecosystems. However, the exact nature of those interactions, whether any or all of the isolates are true endophytes, latent saprotrophs or opportunistic phytopathogens, will be the topic of future studies.

Ribosomal Database Project (RDP; http://rdp.cme.msu.edu/) provides the research community with aligned and annotated rRNA gene sequence data, along with tools to allow researchers to analyze their own rRNA gene sequences in the RDP framework. RDP data and tools are utilized in fields as diverse as human health, microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, nucleic acid chemistry, taxonomy and phylogenetics. In addition to aligned and annotated collections of bacterial and archaeal small subunit rRNA genes, RDP now includes a collection of fungal large subunit rRNA genes. RDP tools, including Classifier and Aligner, have been updated to work with this new fungal collection. The use of high-throughput sequencing to characterize environmental microbial populations has exploded in the past several years, and as sequence technologies have improved, the sizes of environmental datasets have increased. With release 11, RDP is providing an expanded set of tools to facilitate analysis of high-throughput data, including both single-stranded and paired-end reads. In addition, most tools are now available as open source packages for download and local use by researchers with high-volume needs or who would like to develop custom analysis pipelines.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a bat disease caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which thrives in cold and very humid environments where bats frequently hibernate. Conidia of Pseudogymnoascus species are often documented on bats prior to the onset of WNS, but characterization of high-risk areas defined by microclimate cave conditions have been lacking. Investigating the occurrence of this fungal genus and appropriate environmental conditions to support P. destructans in southwestern U.S. caves is key to understanding the sites most likely to be impacted by WNS. Microclimate conditions in ten caves at El Malpais (ELMA) National Monument in New Mexico, USA were recorded using i-Button data loggers during the winters of 2011–2014 to assess appropriate environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity) for P. destructans and other Pseudogymnoascus species. Optimal microclimate conditions for P. destructans and other psychrophilic fungi were found in all the caves with at least 50% of the caves identified as high-risk areas. Pseudogymnoascus species were detected in 70% of the caves using culturing methods and PCR, but no soil samples were positive for P. destructans using real-time PCR in soil and guano samples. Pseudogymnoascus destructans has a recognized range of appropriate temperatures and relative humidity for growth and cave microclimate can help define high-risk areas. This study offers resource managers guidance for establishing priority monitoring areas in their bat caves to determine which bat species are at higher risk.

Este artículo aporta conocimiento al estado de la investigación de la patología de la construcción, tema poco desarrollado en Costa Rica, pero con potencial de generar investigación aplicada y contextualizada a las particularidades del país. Metodológicamente, el artículo se basó en un estudio bibliométrico realizado a partir de la base de datos de Scopus y analizada a través del programa Bibliometrix. Como principales resultados del estudio se obtuvieron 268 registros de publicaciones asociadas a los términos de búsqueda “building pathology”, “construction pathology” y “patología de la construcción”, abarcando un período de 1983 al 2020 y siendo las revistas, la fuente de mayor recurrencia en cuanto a publicaciones se refiere. A partir del análisis de las palabras clave se determinaron temáticas asociadas tales como: edificaciones, concreto, paredes, preservación histórica, construcción, técnicas no destructivas, entre otras. Entre los autores con mayor cantidad de publicaciones destaca Jorge De Brito, con el mayor índice H. En cuanto a la procedencia de la producción científica resalta España con un total de 147 contribuciones, siendo además, el país que presenta la mayor cantidad de colaboraciones internacionales. Se concluye que la mayor producción científica sobre patología de la construcción se ha centrado en la última década, en idioma inglés, siendo España el país con mayor aportación. Se logra evidenciar el vínculo de la patología de la construcción con áreas como la restauración patrimonial, las técnicas no invasivas y materiales de construcción, principalmente concreto.

Este artículo presenta la utilización del modelo iterativo e incremental (MII) como metodología de desarrollo de una aplicación móvil de realidad aumentada para barrio Amón, San José. El software desarrollado para el procesamiento y forma de visualización de la información recopilada, constituye una experiencia pionera en Costa Rica, dirigida a la puesta en valor y difusión del paisaje urbano histórico, por lo que busca dar a conocer esta investigación e innovación desde el ámbito universitario. Metodológicamente, se inició con una revisión bibliográfica que permitió comparar dos modelos de desarrollo de software; uno tradicional, denominado modelo en cascada en comparación con el MII basado en iteraciones y con liberaciones parciales y funcionales del software. Seguidamente, se comparó la utilización de ambas metodologías en el contexto del proyecto de investigación. Como última etapa, se analizó la aplicación de la metodología seleccionada para el desarrollo de la aplicación móvil Amón_RA. Entre los resultados destacan las ventajas al utilizar el MII que priorizaron su implementación, por ejemplo: la producción en simultáneo de varios módulos, realimentación constante de los aspectos funcionales por parte del equipo interdisciplinario, la posibilidad de someter a procesos de evaluación las tecnologías seleccionadas para su desarrollo en cada uno de los incrementos liberados en las iteraciones, con la respectiva valoración de riesgos y consideración de acciones para mitigar sus efectos durante el proceso de construcción. Se concluye, con base en las condiciones de desarrollo del proyecto de investigación, que el uso del MII permitió un aprendizaje en cada iteración, brindando un producto a la comunidad conforme a sus necesidades y generando en el equipo investigador una mayor experiencia para la toma de decisiones en futuros proyectos que utilicen la realidad aumentada.

This report summarizes a meeting held in Boulder, CO USA (19-20 October 2012) on fungal community analyses using ultra-high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The meeting was organized as a two-day workshop, with the primary goal of supporting collaboration among researchers for improving fungal ITS sequence resources and developing recommendations for standard ITS primers for the research community.

Microorganisms that reside on and in mammals, such as bats, have the potential to influence their host’s health and to provide defenses against invading pathogens. However, we have little understanding of the skin and fur bacterial microbiota on bats, or factors that influence the structure of these communities. The southwestern United States offers excellent sites for the study of external bat bacterial microbiota due to the diversity of bat species, the variety of abiotic and biotic factors that may govern bat bacterial microbiota communities, and the lack of the newly emergent fungal disease in bats, white-nose syndrome (WNS), in the southwest. To test these variables, we used 16S rRNA gene 454 pyrosequencing from swabs of external skin and fur surfaces from 163 bats from 13 species sampled from southeastern New Mexico to northwestern Arizona. Community similarity patterns, random forest models, and generalized linear mixed-effects models show that factors such as location (e.g., cave-caught versus surface-netted) and ecoregion are major contributors to the structure of bacterial communities on bats. Bats caught in caves had a distinct microbial community compared to those that were netted on the surface. Our results provide a first insight into the distribution of skin and fur bat bacteria in the WNS-free environment of New Mexico and Arizona. More importantly, it provides a baseline of bat external microbiota that can be explored for potential natural defenses against pathogens.

Tras el último boom inmobiliario y la consiguiente crisis, con efectos económicos sobradamente conocidos, hay que volver a insistir sobre la necesidad de abandonar un modelo de desarrollo urbano gobernado por el negocio inmobiliario y ajeno a criterios de racionalidad, equidad y sostenibilidad en el uso del territorio y en la construcción de espacio residencial. La vivienda, antes que un alojamiento, es un activo económico. Su mercado es la pieza fundamental de ese modelo que ignora su papel estructurante del territorio y su condición de espacio necesario para satisfacer un derecho básico. Se propone una reflexión sobre las raíces del actual modelo y se subrayan sus consecuencias en forma de despilfarro territorial y en el agravamiento de las dificultades para acceder al uso de una vivienda digna y adecuada. Finalmente, se hacen valoraciones a nivel local de los efectos del actual modelo, de las necesidades de vivienda y de las oportunidades de utilización del parque residencial existente.

Gypsum soils (calcium sulfate) occur throughout arid regions of the world. These soils contain a large number of endemic plants. Limited information is available about the microbial symbionts of these plants. We collected eight endemic gypsophilous flowering plant species in New Mexico and characterized their root- and leaf-associated fungi using molecular, microscopic, and culture techniques. Dominant culturable fungi were identified by analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region. Microscopic analysis of roots indicated that gypsophilous plants are colonized primarily by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi. Sporobolus nealleyi Vasey (a gypsophilous grass) showed the greatest percentages of fungal colonization. All fungal isolates belonged to the Ascomycota, dominated by the orders Pleosporales and Sordariales. Isolates in the Alternaria complex were the dominant fungi recovered from leaves, and Monosporascus was the dominant genus recovered from roots. The dominant genera show low plant specificity and wide distribution as plant symbionts in arid regions. The generalist nature of gypsophilous plants with respect to their fungal symbionts could be advantageous for their successful establishment and survival. A common cohort of fungal symbionts could facilitate efficient transfer of nutrients and water in these plants that are restricted to a specific substrate in an environment dominated by extreme conditions. Key words: gypsophilous plants, dark septate fungi, AMF, endophytes, semiarid grassland, Alternaria, Monosporascus, gypsum. Les sols de gypse (sulfate de calcium) se trouvent dans toutes les regions arides du monde. Ces sols comportent un grand nombre de plantes endemiques. L'information disponible sur les symbiotes microbiens de ces plantes est limitee. Nous avons recolte huit especes de plantes a fleurs gypsophiles endemiques au Nouveau-Mexique et caracterise les champignons associes a leurs racines et leurs feuilles par des techniques moleculaires, en microscopie et en culture. Des champignons cultivables dominants ont ete identifies par l'analyse de la region ITS de l'ADNr. L'analyse en microscopie des racines a indique que les racines des plantes gypsophiles sont d'abord colonisees par des champignons mycorhiziens a arbuscules et des champignons a septum fonce. Sporobolus nealleyi Vasey (une herbe gypsophile) presentait le plus fort pourcentage de colonisation fongique. Tous les isolats fongiques appartenaient aux Ascomycota, domines par les ordres des Pleosporales et des Sordariales. Les isolats du complexe Alternaria constituaient les champignons dominants recuperes des feuilles, et Monosporascus constituait le genre dominant recupere des racines. Le genre dominant presentait une faible specificite pour une plante donnee et une large distribution comme symbiote des plantes des regions arides. La nature generaliste des plantes gypsophiles en fonction de leurs symbiotes fongiques pourrait etre avantageuse au succes de leur etablissement et leur survie. Une cohorte commune de symbiotes fongiques pourrait faciliter le transfert efficace des nutriments et de l'eau chez ces plantes qui sont confinees a un substrat specifique dans un environnement domine par des conditions extremes. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: plantes gypsophiles, champignons a septum fonce, CMA, endophytes, prairie semi-aride, Alternaria, Monosporascus, gypse., Introduction Gypsum, composed mainly of calcium sulfate, covers more than 100 million hectares of arid land (Verheye and Boyadgiev 1997). It is common to find these soil deposits distributed as [...]

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