Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi.

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms.

Connecting the multiple dimensions of global soil fungal diversity.

How the multiple facets of soil fungal diversity vary worldwide remains virtually unknown, hindering the management of this essential species-rich group. By sequencing high-resolution DNA markers in over 4000 topsoil samples from natural and human-altered ecosystems across all continents, we illustrate the distributions and drivers of different levels of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of fungi and their ecological groups. We show the impact of precipitation and temperature interactions on local fungal species richness (alpha diversity) across different climates. Our findings reveal how temperature drives fungal compositional turnover (beta diversity) and phylogenetic diversity, linking them with regional species richness (gamma diversity). We integrate fungi into the principles of global biodiversity distribution and present detailed maps for biodiversity conservation and modeling of global ecological processes.

Does size matter? An analysis of the niche width and vulnerability to climate change of fourteen species of the genus Crotalus from North America.

The niche comprises the set of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions in which a species can live. Consequently, those species that present broader niches are expected to be more tolerant to changes in climatic variations than those species that present reduced niches. In this study, we estimate the amplitude of the climatic niche of fourteen species of rattlesnakes of the genus Crotalus to evaluate whether those species that present broader niches are less susceptible to the loss of climatically suitable zones due to the projected climate change for the time period 2021-2040. Our results suggest that for the species under study, the breadth of the niche is not a factor that determines their vulnerability to climatic variations. However, 71.4% of the species will experience increasingly inadequate habitat conditions, mainly due to the increase in temperature and the contribution that this variable has in the creation of climatically suitable zones for most of these species.

Key issues in emergency department management of COVID-19: proposals for improving care for patients in Latin America. / Puntos clave sobre la COVID-19 en los servicios de urgencias: propuestas de mejora para su atención en Latinoamérica.

The incidence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Latin America and Spain and its impact particularly on hospital emergency departments have been great, sustained, and unpredictable. Unfortunately, this situation will continue in the medium term, regardless of the diverse concepts and definitions used to identify cases or hypotheses about the role of staff. In the context of the worldwide pandemic, a multinational group of experts from the Latin American Working Group to Improve Care for Patients With Infection (GT-LATINFURG) has drafted various opinion papers for use by emergency care systems in the member countries. The GT-LATINFURG is comprised of representatives from the 13 scientific associations affiliated with the Latin American Federation for Emergency Medicine (FLAME). Experts from the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) also participated. The present consensus statement offers protocols and recommendations to facilitate the work of hospital emergency departments with regard to key issues the group identified, namely, the need for reorganization, triage, and routine test availability. Additional issues discussed include biomarkers; clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and microbiologic criteria for identifying patients with COVID-19; and risk and prognostic factors for mortality that emergency staff can use to quickly detect severe cases in our settings.

La incidencia y el impacto de la COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) en Latinoamérica y España, en particular en sus servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), independientemente de la diversidad de los conceptos y definiciones de casos confirmados o sospechosos empleados ha sido, es, y, desgraciadamente a medio plazo, va a seguir siendo enorme, sostenida e imprevisible. En este escenario global, un grupo multinacional de expertos y representantes del Grupo de Trabajo Latinoamericano para la mejora de la atención del paciente con Infección en Urgencias (GTLATINFURG), compuesto por 13 Sociedades y Asociaciones Científicas que integran la Federación Latinoamericana de Medicina de Emergencias (FLAME), junto con la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), ha elaborado diversos documentos técnicos y de opinión destinados a los profesionales de los Sistemas de Urgencias y Emergencias de nuestros países. El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer unas pautas o recomendaciones consensuadas para facilitar la actuación de los SUH en relación los puntos que los miembros del grupo han considerado más interesantes o clave en relación a: la necesidad de reorganizar los SUH, triaje, disponibilidad de pruebas complementarias habituales y otras como biomarcadores, la identificación del paciente con COVID-19 a través de criterios clínicos, analíticos, radiológicos y microbiológicos, así como factores de riesgo, pronóstico y de mortalidad que puedan ayudar a detectar rápidamente a los pacientes graves a su llegada a los dispositivos de Urgencias y Emergencias de los hospitales en nuestro entorno.

Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research.

Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world's biodiversity, contributing to many crucial ecosystem functions. It is thus essential to identify general macroecological patterns related to the distribution and functioning of soil organisms to support their conservation and consideration by governance. These macroecological analyses need to represent the diversity of environmental conditions that can be found worldwide. Here we identify and characterize existing environmental gaps in soil taxa and ecosystem functioning data across soil macroecological studies and 17,186 sampling sites across the globe. These data gaps include important spatial, environmental, taxonomic, and functional gaps, and an almost complete absence of temporally explicit data. We also identify the limitations of soil macroecological studies to explore general patterns in soil biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, with only 0.3% of all sampling sites having both information about biodiversity and function, although with different taxonomic groups and functions at each site. Based on this information, we provide clear priorities to support and expand soil macroecological research.

Preliminary analysis of the association of TRPV1 to the formation of Marfan syndrome aneurysms.

Marfan syndrome (MS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue that is caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 (FBN-1) gene that cause degeneration of the artery. It is accompanied by endothelial dysfunction. The potential transient receptor of the vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) ion channel plays an important role in endothelial vascular functioning. Here we determine the association of the presence TRPV1 in aortic aneurysm with dilation and dissection of the artery in MS patients. Histological sections of aortic aneurysm tissue obtained by the surgical procedure of Bentall and De Bono or David, were processed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies against ICAM, VCAM, iNOS, eNOS, TRPV1 and TNF-α and the immunolabelling area was determined. We also measured the NO3⁻/NO2⁻ ratio in the aortic tissue. C-reactive protein and HDL in plasma were quantified. A significant increase in iNOS, TRPV1, VCAM (p≤0.05), NO3⁻/NO2⁻ ratio (p=0.002) and a significant decrease in eNOS (p=0.04) and HDL in plasma (p=0.02) in the MS vs. the C group were found. Conclusion: TRPV1 is over-expressed in aortic tissue from MS patients and can be associated with increases in iNOS, VCAM and a decrease in eNOS. These changes might contribute to the progression and rupture of the thoracic aneurysm.

Development of an interactive module to enhance and understand cavity navigation.

The Interactive Module for Cavity Navigation (IMCA) was created in order to enhance the Web Environment for Surgical Skills Training in Otolaryngology (WESST--OT); later, it was found that it could be used as an independent module which allowed the practice of path navigation in any medical cavity, and its potential use with patients was evidenced. This paper describes the making of IMCA and the potential use of genetic algorithms in path generation.

Seguridad alimentaria y fortificación de alimentos a base de pulpa de café en tiempos pandémicos

Introducción: la pandemia de COVID-19 originó pérdidas humanas, tensiones en la atención médica, la economía y otros sistemas sociales. Objetivo: recopilar información sobre seguridad alimentaria y fortificación de alimentos a base de pulpa de café considerando que una buena nutrición contrarresta las infecciones. Metodología: se analizó literatura en las bases SciELO y SCOPUS restringiendo términos de búsqueda a: seguridad alimentaria, COVID-19, tecnología de bloques o blockchain, suministro alimenticio, micronutrientes, regulación, fortificación con hierro con énfasis en productos a base de pulpa de café. Resultados: en tiempos de pandemia y otros desastres, uno de los factores que afectan la respuesta de un huésped al virus es la nutrición, la seguridad alimentaria es importante especialmente en países con altas tasas de desnutrición y anemia, por ende, es fundamental la fortificación de alimentos comunes para contribuir en garantizar la adecuación nutricional como parte de las respuestas de los gobiernos, especialmente en áreas rurales y urbanas empobrecidas, planteándose sistemas de suministro de alimentos con la tecnología de bloques o blockchain. Conclusión: la fortificación de productos alimenticios a base de pulpa de café y el suministro que aplique tecnología de bloques podría ser una estrategia de respuesta a las consecuencias de la pandemia

SUMMARY Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused human losses, tensions in medical care, the economy and other social systems. Objective: To collect information on food safety and fortification of foods based on coffee pulp, considering that good nutrition counteracts infections. Methodology: Literature in SciELO and SCOPUS bases was analyzed, restricting search terms to food safety, COVID-19, block chain technology, food supply, micronutrients, regulation, iron fortification with emphasis on coffee pulp-based products. Results: In times of pandemic and other disasters, one of the factors that affect the response of a host to the virus is nutrition. The importance of food security is recognized with proposals especially in countries with high rates of malnutrition and anemia, for the fortification of common foods to contribute to guaranteeing nutritional adequacy as part of the governments' responses, especially in impoverished rural and urban areas, considering food supply systems with block or Block Chain technology. Conclusion: The fortification of food products based on coffee pulp and their supply using block chain could be a response strategy to the consequences of the pandemic.

Introdução: a pandemia de COVID-19 causou perdas humanas, tensões na assistência médica, na economia e em outros sistemas sociais. Objetivo: coletar informações sobre segurança alimentar e fortificação de alimentos à base de polpa de café, considerando que uma boa nutrição combate infecções. Metodologia: a literatura foi analisada nas bases de dados SciELO e SCOPUS, restringindo os termos de busca a: segurança alimentar, COVID-19, tecnologia de bloco ou blockchain, abastecimento de alimentos, micronutrientes, regulação, fortificação de ferro com ênfase em produtos à base de polpa de café. Resultados: em tempos de pandemia e outros desastres, um dos fatores que afeta a resposta de um hospedeiro ao vírus é a nutrição, a segurança alimentar é importante principalmente em países com altos índices de desnutrição e anemia, portanto, a fortificação é essencial dos alimentos comuns para ajudar a garantir a adequação nutricional como parte das respostas governamentais, especialmente em áreas rurais e urbanas empobrecidas, considerando sistemas de abastecimento de alimentos com tecnologia block ou blockchain. Conclusão: a fortificação de produtos alimentícios à base de polpa de café e abastecimento aplicando tecnologia de blocos pode ser uma estratégia de resposta às consequências da pandemia.

Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on spatial memory and brain oxidative damage of ovariectomised-rats exposed to mobile phone / Efecto de Lepidium meyenii (maca) sobre la memoria espacial y el daño oxidativo cerebral de ratas ovariectomizadas expuestas a teléfonos móviles

Background: Oxidative stress, genetic expression changes, and decomposition of the blood-brain barrier have been shown to be caused by exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR); therefore, the search for drugs or food products that offer some protection from these effects has attracted interest. Lepidium meyenii (maca) is a native Andean plant known for its effects on the female reproductive system as well as its immunomodulating, energizing, antioxidant, and nutritive properties due to its high concentration of alkaloids, amino acids, glucosinolates, fatty acids, and macamides. Objectives: We aim to determine the effect of dietary maca supplementation on spatial memory and cerebral oxidative damage in rats with induced menopause and/or with exposure to mobile phone radiation. Method:Female rats divided into 6 groups (six rats in each group): control or not ovariectomized (O-), ovariectomized (O+), ovariectomized + estrogen (O+E+), ovariectomized + estrogen + irradiated (O+E+I+), ovariectomized + maca (O+M+), and ovariectomized + maca + irradiated (O+M+I). Rat spatial memory was tested using the Morris water navigation task. Rats were sacrificed, and cerebral malondialdehyde was measured. Results: After exposure to mobile phone radiation, the group supplemented with maca showed improved spatial memory and lower levels of malondialdehyde than the estrogenized group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that consumption of maca has a positive effect on the maintenance of memory and decreases oxidative stress caused by mobile phone radiation. However, it is necessary to extend this work using a larger sample size

Antecedentes: El estrés oxidativo, los cambios en la expresión genética y la descomposición de la barrera hematoencefálica son causados por la exposición a la radiación de radiofrecuencia (RFR); por tanto, ha despertado interés la búsqueda de fármacos o productos alimenticios que ofrezcan alguna protección frente a estos efectos. Lepidium meyenii (maca) es una planta andina nativa conocida por sus efectos sobre el sistema reproductor femenino así como por sus propiedades inmunomoduladoras, energizantes, antioxidantes y nutritivas debido a su alta concentración de alcaloides, aminoácidos, glucosinolatos, ácidos grasos y macamidas. Objetivos: Determinar el efecto de la suplementación dietética con maca sobre la memoria espacial y el daño oxidativo cerebral en ratas con menopausia inducida y / o con exposición a la radiación de teléfonos móviles. Método: Ratas hembras divididas en 6 grupos (seis ratas en cada grupo): control o no ovariectomizadas (O-), ovariectomizadas (O +), ovariectomizadas + estrógeno (O + E +), ovariectomizadas + estrógeno + irradiadas (O + E + I +), ovariectomizado + maca (O + M +), y ovariectomizado + maca + irradiado (O + M + I). La memoria espacial de las ratas se probó utilizando la tarea de navegación acuática de Morris. Se sacrificaron ratas y se midió el malondialdehído cerebral. Resultados: Después de la exposición a la radiación del teléfono móvil, el grupo suplementado con maca mostró una memoria espacial mejorada y niveles más bajos de malondialdehído que el grupo estrogenizado. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados sugieren que el consumo de maca tiene un efecto positivo en el mantenimiento de la memoria y disminuye el estrés oxidativo causado por la radiación del teléfono móvil. Sin embargo, es necesario ampliar este trabajo utilizando un tamaño de muestra más grande

Puntos clave sobre la COVID-19 en los servicios de urgencias: propuestas de mejora para su atención en Latinoamérica / Key issues in emergency department management of COVID-19: proposals for improving care for patients in Latin America

La incidencia y el impacto de la COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) en Latinoamérica y España, en particular en sus servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), independientemente de la diversidad de los conceptos y definiciones de casos confirmados o sospechosos empleados ha sido, es, y, desgraciadamente a medio plazo, va a seguir siendo enorme, sostenida e imprevisible. En este escenario global, un grupo multinacional de expertos y representantes del Grupo de Trabajo Latinoamericano para la mejora de la atención del paciente con Infección en Urgencias (GT-LATINFURG), compuesto por 13 Sociedades y Asociaciones Científicas que integran la Federación Latinoamericana de Medicina de Emergencias (FLAME), junto con la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES),ha elaborado diversos documentos técnicos y de opinión destinados a los profesionales de los Sistemas de Urgencias y Emergencias de nuestros países. El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer unas pautas o recomendaciones consensuadas para facilitar la actuación de los SUH en relación los puntos que los miembros del grupo han considerado más interesantes o clave en relación a: la necesidad de reorganizar los SUH, triaje, disponibilidad de pruebas complementarias habituales y otras como biomarcadores, la identificación del paciente con COVID-19 a través de criterios clínicos, analíticos, radiológicos y microbiológicos, así como factores de riesgo, pronóstico y de mortalidad que puedan ayudara detectar rápidamente a los pacientes graves a su llegada a los dispositivos de Urgencias y Emergencias de los hospitales en nuestro entorno

The incidence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Latin America and Spain and its impact particularly on hospital emergency departments have been great, sustained, and unpredictable. Unfortunately, this situation will continue in the medium term, regardless of the diverse concepts and definitions used to identify cases or hypotheses about the role of staff. In the context of the worldwide pandemic, a multinational group of experts from the Latin American Working Group to Improve Care for Patients With Infection (GT-LATINFURG) has drafted various opinion papers for use by emergency care systems in the member countries. The GT-LATINFURG is comprised of representatives from the 13 scientific associations affiliated with the Latin American Federation for Emergency Medicine (FLAME). Experts from the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) also participated. The present consensus statement offers protocols and recommendations to facilitate the work of hospital emergency departments with regard to key issues the group identified, namely, the need for reorganization, triage, and routine test availability. Additional issues discussed include biomarkers; clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and microbiologic criteria for identifying patients with COVID-19; and risk and prognostic factors for mortality that emergency staff can use to quickly detect severe cases in our settings

Conceptos fundamentales en ecología de hongos del suelo: una propuesta pedagógica y de divulgación / Fundamental concepts in ecology of soil fungi: a pedagogic and outreach proposal

El estudio de los procesos biogeoquímicos implica entender cómo los macro y micro nutrientes que componen los seres vivos se mueven de un componente a otro del ecosistema (incluyendo la atmósfera, organismos, suelo, cuerpos de agua, etc.). Usualmente, una mayor diversidad biótica y una mayor complejidad de las interacciones bióticas y abióticas, resultan en una mayor estabilidad ecosistémica. El rol de los hongos en los ciclos biogeoquímicos se suele estudiar superficialmente, no mucho más allá de sus funciones ecosistémicas generales: descomposición, simbiosis mutualista, y parasitismo. Esta revisión tiene por objetivo ilustrar los conceptos base de los roles ecológicos de los hongos del suelo, que debieran enseñarse en tres públicos objetivo: universitario, tomadores de decisiones, y estudiantes de educación secundaria/público general. En estos públicos, se propone abordar cuatro áreas temáticas: introducción al suelo, ecología de comunidades, interacciones de hongos con otros organismos, y biogeoquímica. Aunque los roles ecosistémicos de los hongos del suelo están bien documentados, su estudio debería partir de la base de que estos afectan y son afectados tanto por variables climáticas, como por características físico-químicas del suelo, y por flujos biogeoquímicos. Los roles ecológicos de los hongos del suelo debieran entenderse en un contexto holístico de integración multidisciplinar, y el nivel de especialización del conocimiento debiera darse hacia niveles superiores de la jerarquía biológica, es decir, conocer más en detalle la ecología de ecosistemas y comunidades de hongos que la de poblaciones y organismos, o que sus procesos bioquímicos y edáficos específicos.

The study of biogeochemical processes involves understanding how the macro and micro nutrients that make up living things move from one ecosystem component to another (including the atmosphere, organisms, soil, waterbodies, etc.). Usually, a greater diversity of biotic diversity and a greater complexity of biotic and abiotic interactions, result in a greater ecosystemic stability. The role of fungi in biogeochemical cycles is usually studied superficially, not much beyond their general ecosystem functions: decomposition, mutualistic symbiosis, and parasitism. The objective of this review is to illustrate the basic concepts of the ecological roles of soil fungi, which should be taught in three target audiences: university students, decision makers, and secondary school students / general public. In these audiences, it is proposed to address four thematic areas: introduction to soil, community ecology, interactions of fungi with other organisms, and biogeochemistry. Although the ecosystemic roles of soil fungi are well documented, their study should be based on the fact that they affect and are affected by climatic variables, physical-chemical soil characteristics, and biogeochemical flows. The ecological roles of soil fungi should be understood in an holistic context of multidisciplinary integration, and the level of specialization of knowledge should be given to higher levels of the biological hierarchy, that is, to know more in detail the ecology of ecosystems and communities of fungi than that of populations and organisms, or than that of their specific biochemical and edaphic processes.

Diversity and growth-effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi of a Nothofagus pumilio forest in the Andes of Southern Chile / (Diversidad y efectos de crecimiento de hongos ectomicorrízicos en un bosque de Nothofagus pumilio en los andes del sur de Chile

Chilean temperate rainforests have unique climatic, edaphic and biotic conditions, constituting pre-industrial blueprint ecosystems. Mycorrhizal associations play a central role in the biogeochemical processes of these ecosystems´ functioning. Baseline forest ecology studies are necessary in order to better understand diversity patterns, specifically regarding mycorrhizal symbiosis. Therefore, here we describe the vegetation characteristics and the mycorrhizal relationships of vascular plants in a Nothofagus pumilio forest. We also describe, via morphological methods, the ectomycorrhizal diversity present in this forest. Additionally, we determined whether ectomycorrhizal inoculation confers positive growth effects on N. pumilio seedlings. We found that from 46 vascular plant species identified in this study, 42 (91%) were mycorrhizal and of these 33 (72%) were associated with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), two (the dominant trees N. pumilio and N. dombeyi) were forming ectomycorrhizae (EM), five were associated with ericoid mycorrhizae, two with orchid mycorrhizae, and four were nonmycorrhizal. Additionally, 26 EM species were detected of which 15 belong to Cortinarius. Finally, there were clear differences in the growth of N. pumilio seedlings inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria laccata compared to noninoculated plants. We suggest that mycorrhizal fungi play a key role in seedling colonization of harsh environments such as the Andean treeline.

Los bosques templados lluviosos de Chile tienen condiciones climáticas, edáficas y bióticas únicas, constituyendo ecosistemas preindustriales modelo. Las asociaciones micorrízicas juegan un rol central en los procesos biogeoquímicos del funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas. Por lo tanto, en este estudio describimos las características de la vegetación y las relaciones micorrízicas de las plantas vasculares de un bosque de Nothofagus pumilio. También describimos, vía métodos morfológicos, la diversidad ectomicorrízica presente en este bosque. Adicionalmente, determinamos si inoculaciones ectomicorrízicas confieren efectos de crecimiento positivos a semilleros de N. pumilio. Encontramos que, de 46 especies de plantas vasculares identificadas en este estudio, 42 (91%) son micorrízicas, y de estas, 33 (72%) están formando micorrizas arbusculares (AM), dos (los árboles dominantes N. pumilio y N. dombeyi) están asociados con ectomicorrizas (EM), cinco están asociadas con micorrizas ericoides, dos con micorrizas orquioides, y cuatro fueron nomicorrizadas. Adicionalmente, 26 especies de EM fueron detectadas, de las cuales 15 pertenecen a Cortinarius. Finalmente, hubo claras diferencias en el crecimiento de los semilleros de N. pumilio inoculados con el hongo ectomicorrízico Laccaria laccata, comparados a plantas no inoculadas. Sugerimos que los hongos micorrízicos juegan un rol clave en la colonización de ambientes severos por juveniles, como en el límite altitudinal andino.