Regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis and protection in Aspergillus species.

Aspergillus fumigatus causes a range of human and animal diseases collectively known as aspergillosis. A. fumigatus possesses and expresses a range of genetic determinants of virulence, which facilitate colonisation and disease progression, including the secretion of mycotoxins. Gliotoxin (GT) is the best studied A. fumigatus mycotoxin with a wide range of known toxic effects that impair human immune cell function. GT is also highly toxic to A. fumigatus and this fungus has evolved self-protection mechanisms that include (i) the GT efflux pump GliA, (ii) the GT neutralising enzyme GliT, and (iii) the negative regulation of GT biosynthesis by the bis-thiomethyltransferase GtmA. The transcription factor (TF) RglT is the main regulator of GliT and this GT protection mechanism also occurs in the non-GT producing fungus A. nidulans. However, the A. nidulans genome does not encode GtmA and GliA. This work aimed at analysing the transcriptional response to exogenous GT in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, two distantly related Aspergillus species, and to identify additional components required for GT protection. RNA-sequencing shows a highly different transcriptional response to exogenous GT with the RglT-dependent regulon also significantly differing between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans. However, we were able to observe homologs whose expression pattern was similar in both species (43 RglT-independent and 11 RglT-dependent). Based on this approach, we identified a novel RglT-dependent methyltranferase, MtrA, involved in GT protection. Taking into consideration the occurrence of RglT-independent modulated genes, we screened an A. fumigatus deletion library of 484 transcription factors (TFs) for sensitivity to GT and identified 15 TFs important for GT self-protection. Of these, the TF KojR, which is essential for kojic acid biosynthesis in Aspergillus oryzae, was also essential for virulence and GT biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, and for GT protection in A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, and A. oryzae. KojR regulates rglT, gliT, gliJ expression and sulfur metabolism in Aspergillus species. Together, this study identified conserved components required for GT protection in Aspergillus species.

Selecting reference genes for RT-qPCR studies involving the presence of B chromosomes in Psalidodon (Characiformes, Characidae).

BACKGROUND: B chromosomes are extra non-essential elements present in several eukaryotes. Unlike A chromosomes which are essential and present in all individuals of a species, B chromosomes are not necessary for normal functioning of an organism. Formerly regarded as genetically inactive, B chromosomes have been discovered to not only express their own genes, but also to exert influence on gene expression in A chromosomes. Recent studies have shown that, in some Psalidodon (Characiformes, Characidae) species, B chromosomes might be associated with phenotypic effects, such as changes in the reproductive cycle and gene expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we aimed to establish stable reference genes for RT-qPCR experiments conducted on gonads of three fish species within Psalidodon genus, both in the presence and absence of B chromosomes. The stability of five selected reference genes was assessed using NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper, and RefFinder algorithms. We determined ppiaa and pgk1 as the most stable genes in P. fasciatus, whereas ppiaa and hmbsa showed the highest stability in P. bockmanni. For P. paranae, tbp and hprt1 were the most stable genes in females, and ppiaa and hprt1 were the most stable in males. CONCLUSIONS: We determined the most stable reference genes in gonads of three Psalidodon species considering the presence of B chromosomes. This is the first report of reference gene stability in the genus and provides valuable tools to better understand the effects of B chromosomes at gene expression level.

Validation of enzyme immunoassays for quantifying sex steroid hormones in tropical screech owls (Megascops choliba).

Androgens and estrogens are steroid hormones that regulate reproductive processes in both males and females. Monitoring plasma levels of these steroids or their metabolites present in feces, offers diagnostic support for assessing the reproductive status of animals. Immunoassays are commonly used methods for quantifying these hormones, but their protocols require species-specific validation to ensure reliability. The objective of this study was to perform analytically and biologically validation of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits for measuring testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), faecal androgen metabolites (fAM), and faecal estrogenic metabolites (fEM) in the tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba). Serum and fecal samples were collected from six adult females and six males both before and during breeding season, with males' gonadal activity assessed using electroejaculation (EE). The parallelism test confirmed the immunogenic similarity of the antigens in the estradiol and testosterone standards and the antigens in the serum samples and fecal extracts of M. choliba. Additionally, the EIA kits displayed nearly 100% recovery rates, and showed coefficients of variation ranging from 8% to 14% at the intra-assay level and from 10% to 16% at the inter-assay level, underscoring result reliability and consistency. In males, the highest serum T and fAM levels were recorded concurrently with the presence of spermatozoa in samples collected via EE. Although females did not exhibit oviposition events, significantly higher E2 and fEM levels were observed in August compared to May, suggesting potential seasonal variations in estrogenic hormone production. Fecal androgen and estrogen levels were significantly different between sexes in August, with males having higher fAM and females having higher fEM levels. Overall, the immunoassays validated in this study were found to be efficient in diagnosing reproductive activity in owls.

International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock.

Importance: Sepsis is a leading cause of death among children worldwide. Current pediatric-specific criteria for sepsis were published in 2005 based on expert opinion. In 2016, the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) defined sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, but it excluded children. Objective: To update and evaluate criteria for sepsis and septic shock in children. Evidence Review: The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) convened a task force of 35 pediatric experts in critical care, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, general pediatrics, nursing, public health, and neonatology from 6 continents. Using evidence from an international survey, systematic review and meta-analysis, and a new organ dysfunction score developed based on more than 3 million electronic health record encounters from 10 sites on 4 continents, a modified Delphi consensus process was employed to develop criteria. Findings: Based on survey data, most pediatric clinicians used sepsis to refer to infection with life-threatening organ dysfunction, which differed from prior pediatric sepsis criteria that used systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, which have poor predictive properties, and included the redundant term, severe sepsis. The SCCM task force recommends that sepsis in children be identified by a Phoenix Sepsis Score of at least 2 points in children with suspected infection, which indicates potentially life-threatening dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, and/or neurological systems. Children with a Phoenix Sepsis Score of at least 2 points had in-hospital mortality of 7.1% in higher-resource settings and 28.5% in lower-resource settings, more than 8 times that of children with suspected infection not meeting these criteria. Mortality was higher in children who had organ dysfunction in at least 1 of 4-respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, and/or neurological-organ systems that was not the primary site of infection. Septic shock was defined as children with sepsis who had cardiovascular dysfunction, indicated by at least 1 cardiovascular point in the Phoenix Sepsis Score, which included severe hypotension for age, blood lactate exceeding 5 mmol/L, or need for vasoactive medication. Children with septic shock had an in-hospital mortality rate of 10.8% and 33.5% in higher- and lower-resource settings, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: The Phoenix sepsis criteria for sepsis and septic shock in children were derived and validated by the international SCCM Pediatric Sepsis Definition Task Force using a large international database and survey, systematic review and meta-analysis, and modified Delphi consensus approach. A Phoenix Sepsis Score of at least 2 identified potentially life-threatening organ dysfunction in children younger than 18 years with infection, and its use has the potential to improve clinical care, epidemiological assessment, and research in pediatric sepsis and septic shock around the world.

Development and Validation of the Phoenix Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock.

Importance: The Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Sepsis Definition Task Force sought to develop and validate new clinical criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock using measures of organ dysfunction through a data-driven approach. Objective: To derive and validate novel criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock across differently resourced settings. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multicenter, international, retrospective cohort study in 10 health systems in the US, Colombia, Bangladesh, China, and Kenya, 3 of which were used as external validation sites. Data were collected from emergency and inpatient encounters for children (aged <18 years) from 2010 to 2019: 3 049 699 in the development (including derivation and internal validation) set and 581 317 in the external validation set. Exposure: Stacked regression models to predict mortality in children with suspected infection were derived and validated using the best-performing organ dysfunction subscores from 8 existing scores. The final model was then translated into an integer-based score used to establish binary criteria for sepsis and septic shock. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome for all analyses was in-hospital mortality. Model- and integer-based score performance measures included the area under the precision recall curve (AUPRC; primary) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC; secondary). For binary criteria, primary performance measures were positive predictive value and sensitivity. Results: Among the 172 984 children with suspected infection in the first 24 hours (development set; 1.2% mortality), a 4-organ-system model performed best. The integer version of that model, the Phoenix Sepsis Score, had AUPRCs of 0.23 to 0.38 (95% CI range, 0.20-0.39) and AUROCs of 0.71 to 0.92 (95% CI range, 0.70-0.92) to predict mortality in the validation sets. Using a Phoenix Sepsis Score of 2 points or higher in children with suspected infection as criteria for sepsis and sepsis plus 1 or more cardiovascular point as criteria for septic shock resulted in a higher positive predictive value and higher or similar sensitivity compared with the 2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference (IPSCC) criteria across differently resourced settings. Conclusions and Relevance: The novel Phoenix sepsis criteria, which were derived and validated using data from higher- and lower-resource settings, had improved performance for the diagnosis of pediatric sepsis and septic shock compared with the existing IPSCC criteria.

Integrative taxonomy reveals a new species of Characidium (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) shared by tributaries of upper Tapajós and Xingu river basins, Brazil.

A new species of Characidium shared by adjacent tributaries of the upper portions of the Tapajós and Xingu river basins is described. Characidium varii, new species, can be distinguished from the congeners by having distinctly speckled pattern of colouration, including dark blotches on cheek and ventral surface of head, by having conspicuous dark marks on fins, along with a single row of dentary teeth, isthmus completely covered by scales, 14 circumpeduncular scales, and swimbladder reduced. Molecular data reinforce the validation of the new species. The distribution of C. varii supports the hypothesis of the existence of a faunistic mixing between Tapajós and Xingu river basins, corresponding to the region of the Serra do Cachimbo and surrounding areas, previously proposed in the literature.

Phylogeographic patterns of Cyphocharax from trans-Andean rivers and northward expansion to lower Central America (Teleostei, Curimatidae).

Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear data of 31 specimens of Cyphocharax from trans-Andean rivers support the presence of one lineage of Cyphocharax aspilos in Lago Maracaibo and three cryptic lineages of Cyphocharax magdalenae: (1) Cauca-Magdalena and Ranchería, (2) León and Atrato, and (3) Chucunaque-Tuira, Santa María, and Chiriquí basins of Central America. Results suggest that the Serranía del Perijá facilitated Late Miocene cladogenetic events, whereas post-Isthmian C. magdalenae expansion was enabled by gene flow across the lower Magdalena valley and Central American lowlands. Time-calibrated phylogenetics indicate that the C. magdalenae colonized lower Central America in the Pliocene (3.7 MYA; Ma), the divergence Atrato-Magdalena occurred in Late Pliocene (3.0 Ma) and the split Ranchería-Magdalena during the Middle Pleistocene (1.3 Ma). Updated geographic distribution data support the hypothesis that the Cordillera de Talamanca functions as a barrier to northward expansion of C. magdalenae in Central America.

New report of the rare Sciadonus alphacrucis Melo et al., 2022 (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), DNA barcoding, and range extension in the western South Atlantic.

Sciadonus alphacrucis Melo, Gomes, Møller & Nielsen, 2022 is a rare deep-sea species, previously known from only two specimens collected off São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil, in the western South Atlantic. Herein, we report a new specimen of S. alphacrucis collected on the continental slope off Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, thereby extending its known distribution by 420 km. Additionally, we provide the new meristic and morphometric data, the molecular identification using sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), an updated distribution map, and a discussion of troglomorphic traits.

Integrative morphological, cytogenetic and molecular characterization of the Andean climbing catfish Astroblepus mindoensis (Regan, 1916) (Siluriformes:Astroblepidae).

Astroblepus species, commonly known as Andean climbing catfish, exhibit a unique challenge in species delimitation, leading to ongoing taxonomic debates. Here we report data on Astroblepus mindoensis, a vulnerable species endemic to Ecuador, obtained by an integrative approach that includes cytogenetic analysis, molecular identification of the specimens, and recording of morphological and morphometric characters useful for species diagnosis. Thus, this study aimed to associate the karyotype data of the specimens analyzed with morphological and molecular characters, improving and expanding the existing taxonomic information, thus contributing to the systematics of the species. Our morphology results, unlike Regan's original description, which is brief and ambiguous, provide a more detailed morphometric and meristic description. Molecular phylogenetic reconstruction and genetic distance based on a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) showed that our samples constitute a well-supported and monophyletic clade within the A. grixalvii species complex. The cytogenetic analysis identified distinct chromosomal markers, including a single cluster of major ribosomal genes (on chromosome pair 3) and of minor ribosomal genes (on chromosome pair 12) with their localization differing from those reported in other Astroblepus species analyzed. Additionally, the presence of a heteromorphic chromosome pair in males suggests the presence of an XX/XY sex-determination system that has not been identified in other congeneric species. Further investigation is necessary to determine if these chromosomes are associated with the accumulation of repeated sequences, as typically occurs with sex chromosomes, and to assess their presence in other species of the genus.

Intramacrophage lipid accumulation compromises T cell responses and is associated with impaired drug therapy against visceral leishmaniasis.

Under perturbing conditions such as infection with Leishmania, a protozoan parasite living within the phagosomes in mammalian macrophages, cellular and organellar structures, and metabolism are dynamically regulated for neutralizing the pressure of parasitism. However, how modulations of the host cell metabolic pathways support Leishmania infection remains unknown. Herein, we report that lipid accumulation heightens the susceptibility of mice to L. donovani infection and promotes resistance to first-line anti-leishmanial drugs. Despite being pro-inflammatory, the in vitro generated uninfected lipid-laden macrophages (LLMs) or adipose-tissue macrophages (ATMs) display lower levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Upon infection, LLMs secrete higher IL-10 and lower IL-12p70 cytokines, inhibiting CD4+ T cell activation and Th1 response suggesting a key modulatory role for intramacrophage lipid accumulation in anti-leishmanial host defence. We, therefore, examined this causal relationship between lipids and immunomodulation using an in vivo high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. HFD increased the susceptibility to L. donovani infection accompanied by a defective CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T cell response. The white adipose tissue of HFD mice displays increased susceptibility to L. donovani infection with the preferential infection of F4/80+ CD11b+ CD11c+ macrophages with higher levels of neutral lipids reserve. The HFD increased resistance to a first-line anti-leishmanial drug associated with a defective adaptive immune response. These data demonstrate that the accumulation of neutral lipids contributes to susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis hindering host-protective immune response and reducing the efficacy of antiparasitic drug therapies.

Phylogenomics, evolution of trophic traits and divergence times of hemiodontid fishes (Ostariophysi: Characiformes).

The South American characiform family Hemiodontidae comprises five genera and 34 species. The family lacks comprehensive phylogenetic hypotheses resolving its species relationships. The studies that addressed these questions exhibited a narrow taxon sampling or used single-locus markers. Herein we surveyed hundreds of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) loci to provide the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis and divergence time estimates for hemiodontids encompassing all its genera and most species (27 of the 34 valid species). We also tracked the history of the protractile upper jaw in the genera Argonectes and Bivibranchia across the recovered phylogenies through ancestral state reconstruction. Our results corroborate the monophyly of Hemiodontidae and the genera Argonectes and Bivibranchia in all phylogenetic methods with maximum clade support. The genera Anodus and Hemiodus were not monophyletic because Anodus elongatus was sister to the monotypic Micromischodus instead of A. orinocensis, and H. immaculatus did not form a clade with its other congeners, but instead was sister to the clade including Anodus and Micromischodus. All remaining species of Hemiodus were placed together into a monophyletic group, where they were arranged into four major subclades. The relationship in the family is summarised as: (Bivibranchia, (Argonectes, ((H. immaculatus, (Anodus, Micromischodus)), Hemiodus clade))), in discordance with the morphological phylogeny that placed all genera monophyletic and resolved the family as: ((Anodus, Micromischodus), (Hemiodus, (Argonectes, Bivibranchia))). The origin of Hemiodontidae was estimated from the Late Cretaceous to the Middle Paleogene, with the mean age in the Paleocene, while the origin of most hemiodontid genera except Bivibranchia occurred in the Miocene. Unordered parsimony and likelihood reconstruction indicates that Argonectes and Bivibranchia developed their protractile upper jaw independently.

Identifying fish eggs and larvae: from classic methodologies to DNA metabarcoding.

Studies involving fish eggs and larvae date back to the end of the nineteenth century. Since then, studies with ichthyoplankton have proved to be an essential tool, generating information for the knowledge of the ichthyofauna and the environmental inventory. Most of these studies reveal the difficulty of obtaining a precise taxonomic identification of the collected materials, making research with ichthyoplankton extremely challenging. With the advent of molecular biology, the use of markers such as COI enabled greater taxonomic precision, helping to understand events involving ichthyofauna. Now we can observe the evolution of the molecular identification tool for ichthyoplankton via DNA barcoding, which has been increasingly used over the last few decades. From 2000 to 2010, we found six publications; from 2011 to 2021, 75 papers were published, and in 2022 four studies. Our survey also showed the accuracy of molecular identification when compared to the taxonomic identification of these. In this review, we show the state of the art of studies that used barcode and DNA metabarcoding to identify fish eggs and larvae in different environments and discuss their importance as the best practice for working with these organisms.

Operationalizing Appropriate Sepsis Definitions in Children Worldwide: Considerations for the Pediatric Sepsis Definition Taskforce.

Sepsis is a leading cause of global mortality in children, yet definitions for pediatric sepsis are outdated and lack global applicability and validity. In adults, the Sepsis-3 Definition Taskforce queried databases from high-income countries to develop and validate the criteria. The merit of this definition has been widely acknowledged; however, important considerations about less-resourced and more diverse settings pose challenges to its use globally. To improve applicability and relevance globally, the Pediatric Sepsis Definition Taskforce sought to develop a conceptual framework and rationale of the critical aspects and context-specific factors that must be considered for the optimal operationalization of future pediatric sepsis definitions. It is important to address challenges in developing a set of pediatric sepsis criteria which capture manifestations of illnesses with vastly different etiologies and underlying mechanisms. Ideal criteria need to be unambiguous, and capable of adapting to the different contexts in which children with suspected infections are present around the globe. Additionally, criteria need to facilitate early recognition and timely escalation of treatment to prevent progression and limit life-threatening organ dysfunction. To address these challenges, locally adaptable solutions are required, which permit individualized care based on available resources and the pretest probability of sepsis. This should facilitate affordable diagnostics which support risk stratification and prediction of likely treatment responses, and solutions for locally relevant outcome measures. For this purpose, global collaborative databases need to be established, using minimum variable datasets from routinely collected data. In summary, a "Think globally, act locally" approach is required.

Pentraxin 3 Inhibits Complement-driven Macrophage Activation to Restrain Granuloma Formation in Sarcoidosis.

Rationale: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of granulomas in response to persistent stimuli. The long pentraxin PTX3 (pentraxin 3) has emerged as a component of humoral innate immunity with essential functions in the resolution of inflammation, but its role during granuloma formation is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate PTX3 as a modulator of pathogenic signals involved in granuloma formation and inflammation in sarcoidosis. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with sarcoidosis harboring loss-of-function genetic variants and gene-deleted mice were used to assess the role of PTX3 in experimental models of granuloma formation in vitro and in vivo. The identified mechanisms of granulomatous inflammation were further evaluated in tissue and BAL samples and correlated with the disease course. Measurements and Main Results: We have identified a molecular link between PTX3 deficiency and the pathogenic amplification of complement activation to promote granuloma formation. Mechanistically, PTX3 deficiency licensed the complement component C5a-mediated activation of the metabolic checkpoint kinase mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) and the reprogramming of macrophages toward increased glycolysis to foster their proliferation and aggregation. This process sustained the further recruitment of granuloma-promoting immune cells and the associated proinflammatory microenvironment and influenced the clinical course of the disease. Conclusions: Our results identify PTX3 as a pivotal molecule that regulates complement-mediated signaling cues in macrophages to restrain granulomatous inflammation and highlight the therapeutic potential of this signaling axis in targeting granuloma formation in sarcoidosis.

Energy levels and lysine, calcium and phosphorus adjustments on broiler nutrient digestibility and performance.

Chicken broilers digestibility and performance fed with different ME levels, with and without adjustments of digestible lysine, calcium, and available phosphorus, were evaluated. For digestibility, 210 male Cobb 500 chicken broilers were used and distributed into a 3x2+1 factorial arrangement, with three ME levels (3050; 3125 and 3200 kcal/kg) with and without nutrient adjustment, plus one control treatment (2975 kcal ME/kg), totaling seven treatments including six repetitions with five birds into each repetition. For initial performance, 1120 birds were distributed randomly with eight replications within treatments and 20 birds for each replication. For final performance, 1008 chickens were distributed with eight replications and 18 birds for each replication. The DCDM and DCCP were improved (P<0.05) according to the increase of ME and the adjustment in dietary nutrients, as well as GE digestibility. The final performance showed no interaction (P>0.05) between energy and nutrient adjustment, but the increase in energy levels improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR=1.370). Increasing energy density with nutrient adjustment improves both nutrient utilization and bird performance.

A new species of mailed catfish of genus Rhadinoloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Loricariinae) from Rio Negro basin, Brazil.

During a recent collection expedition to the Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, eight individuals of an unknown species were collected, with a combination of characteristics that placed the species in the genus Rhadinoloricaria. Furthermore, the presence of two autapomorphic characteristics, including numerous elongated papillae on the lower lip and unbranched barbelets on the margin of lower lip, suggests that it is a new species. From morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including the sequencing of specific genes to calculate the maximum likelihood analyses, coupled with osteological computed tomography (CT) scan analyses, the authors corroborated that the specimens represent a new species of Rhadinoloricaria, described in the present study.

Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Pediatric Sepsis Definition Taskforce.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associations of demographic, clinical, laboratory, organ dysfunction, and illness severity variable values with: 1) sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock in children with infection and 2) multiple organ dysfunction or death in children with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 1, 2004, and November 16, 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials in children greater than or equal to 37-week-old postconception to 18 years with suspected or confirmed infection, which included the terms "sepsis," "septicemia," or "septic shock" in the title or abstract. DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics, patient demographics, clinical signs or interventions, laboratory values, organ dysfunction measures, and illness severity scores were extracted from eligible articles. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed. DATA SYNTHESIS: One hundred and six studies met eligibility criteria of which 81 were included in the meta-analysis. Sixteen studies (9,629 patients) provided data for the sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock outcome and 71 studies (154,674 patients) for the mortality outcome. In children with infection, decreased level of consciousness and higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality scores were associated with sepsis/severe sepsis. In children with sepsis/severe sepsis/septic shock, chronic conditions, oncologic diagnosis, use of vasoactive/inotropic agents, mechanical ventilation, serum lactate, platelet count, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, Pediatric Index of Mortality-3, and Pediatric Risk of Mortality score each demonstrated significant and consistent associations with mortality. Pooled mortality rates varied among high-, upper middle-, and lower middle-income countries for patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Strong associations of several markers of organ dysfunction with the outcomes of interest among infected and septic children support their inclusion in the data validation phase of the Pediatric Sepsis Definition Taskforce.

Phylogenomic analysis of the Neotropical fish subfamily Characinae using ultraconserved elements (Teleostei: Characidae).

Characinae is one of the most species-rich subfamilies of Characidae and holds special taxonomic importance because it includes Charax, type-genus of Characidae and Characiformes. Currently, the monophyly and the hypotheses of intergeneric and interspecific relationships of Characinae are based on a few morphological and molecular studies but all with low species coverage. Given their diversity, taxonomic importance, and the lack of a taxon-dense phylogeny, we sought to buttress the systematic understanding of Characinae collecting DNA sequence data from ultraconserved elements (UCEs) of the genome from 98 specimens covering 57 species (61%) plus 17 characiforms as outgroups. We used maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and coalescent-based species tree approaches and the resulting phylogeny with 1,300 UCE loci (586,785 characters) reinforced the monophyly of the subfamily as well as of six genera: Acestrocephalus, Charax, Cynopotamus, Galeocharax, Phenacogaster, and Roeboides. The phylogeny provides a hypothesis of intergeneric and interspecific relationships for the subfamily with Phenacogaster sister to all genera, and Acanthocharax sister to Cynopotamini (Cynopotamus (Acestrocephalus Galeocharax)) and Characini (Charax Roeboides). We propose a new tribe Acanthocharacini to allocate Acanthocharax, two subclades for Phenacogaster, two for Cynopotamus, three for Charax, and reinforced the four subclades for Roeboides previously identified by morphological studies. Additionally, we generated a time-calibrated phylogeny for Characinae that suggested an initial diversification during the Miocene at around 19 million years ago and discussed historical biogeographic events for major subclades. The results obtained here will contribute to the development of further research on the evolutionary processes modulating species diversification in Characinae.

Accelerated Diversification Explains the Exceptional Species Richness of Tropical Characoid Fishes.

The Neotropics harbor the most species-rich freshwater fish fauna on the planet, but the timing of that exceptional diversification remains unclear. Did the Neotropics accumulate species steadily throughout their long history, or attain their remarkable diversity recently? Biologists have long debated the relative support for these museum and cradle hypotheses, but few phylogenies of megadiverse tropical clades have included sufficient taxa to distinguish between them. We used 1288 ultraconserved element loci spanning 293 species, 211 genera, and 21 families of characoid fishes to reconstruct a new, fossil-calibrated phylogeny and infer the most likely diversification scenario for a clade that includes a third of Neotropical fish diversity. This phylogeny implies paraphyly of the traditional delimitation of Characiformes because it resolves the largely Neotropical Characoidei as the sister lineage of Siluriformes (catfishes), rather than the African Citharinodei. Time-calibrated phylogenies indicate an ancient origin of major characoid lineages and reveal a much more recent emergence of most characoid species. Diversification rate analyses infer increased speciation and decreased extinction rates during the Oligocene at around 30 Ma during a period of mega-wetland formation in the proto-Orinoco-Amazonas. Three species-rich and ecomorphologically diverse lineages (Anostomidae, Serrasalmidae, and Characidae) that originated more than 60 Ma in the Paleocene experienced particularly notable bursts of Oligocene diversification and now account collectively for 68% of the approximately 2150 species of Characoidei. In addition to paleogeographic changes, we discuss potential accelerants of diversification in these three lineages. While the Neotropics accumulated a museum of ecomorphologically diverse characoid lineages long ago, this geologically dynamic region also cradled a much more recent birth of remarkable species-level diversity. [Biodiversity; Characiformes; macroevolution; Neotropics; phylogenomics; ultraconserved elements.].

Latin American Consensus on the Management of Sepsis in Children: Sociedad Latinoamericana de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos [Latin American Pediatric Intensive Care Society] (SLACIP) Task Force: Executive Summary.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), more specifically in Latin America. Design: A panel was formed consisting of 27 experts with experience in the treatment of pediatric sepsis and two methodologists working in Latin American countries. The experts were organized into 10 nominal groups, each coordinated by a member. Methods: A formal consensus was formed based on the modified Delphi method, combining the opinions of nominal groups of experts with the interpretation of available scientific evidence, in a systematic process of consolidating a body of recommendations. The systematic search was performed by a specialized librarian and included specific algorithms for the Cochrane Specialized Register, PubMed, Lilacs, and Scopus, as well as for OpenGrey databases for grey literature. The GRADEpro GDT guide was used to classify each of the selected articles. Special emphasis was placed on search engines that included original research conducted in LMICs. Studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were covered. Through virtual meetings held between February 2020 and February 2021, the entire group of experts reviewed the recommendations and suggestions. Result: At the end of the 12 months of work, the consensus provided 62 recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sepsis in LMICs. Overall, 60 were strong recommendations, although 56 of these had a low level of evidence. Conclusions: These are the first consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and management of pediatric sepsis focused on LMICs, more specifically in Latin American countries. The consensus shows that, in these regions, where the burden of pediatric sepsis is greater than in high-income countries, there is little high-level evidence. Despite the limitations, this consensus is an important step forward for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sepsis in Latin America.