Phylogenetic Analysis of Transmission Dynamics of Dengue in Large and Small Population Centers, Northern Ecuador.

Although dengue is typically considered an urban disease, rural communities are also at high risk. To clarify dynamics of dengue virus (DENV) transmission in settings with characteristics generally considered rural (e.g., lower population density, remoteness), we conducted a phylogenetic analysis in 6 communities in northwestern Ecuador. DENV RNA was detected by PCR in 121/488 serum samples collected from febrile case-patients during 2019-2021. Phylogenetic analysis of 27 samples from Ecuador and other countries in South America confirmed that DENV-1 circulated during May 2019-March 2020 and DENV-2 circulated during December 2020-July 2021. Combining locality and isolation dates, we found strong evidence that DENV entered Ecuador through the northern province of Esmeraldas. Phylogenetic patterns suggest that, within this province, communities with larger populations and commercial centers were more often the source of DENV but that smaller, remote communities also play a role in regional transmission dynamics.

Reemergence of Cosmopolitan Genotype Dengue Virus Serotype 2, Southern Vietnam.

We performed phylogenetic analysis on dengue virus serotype 2 Cosmopolitan genotype in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We document virus emergence, probable routes of introduction, and timeline of events. Our findings highlight the need for continuous, systematic genomic surveillance to manage outbreaks and forecast future epidemics.

Semiempirical Approach to the Fukui Function Analysis of Uric Acid under Different pH Conditions.

Analytic Fukui functions calculated at a first-principles level are combined with experimental pKa values and the calculation of tautomerization energies to obtain the effective regioselectivity of uric acid toward electron-transfer reactions under different pH conditions. Second-order electron binding energies are also computed to determine which of the tautomers is more likely to participate in the electron transfer. A comparison of vertical and adiabatic proton detachment energies allows us to conclude that tautomerization is not mediating deprotonation and that two monoanionic species are of comparable relevance. The main difference between these monoanionic species is the ring that has been deprotonated. Both monoanionic species are produced from a single neutral tautomer and mainly produce a single dianionic tautomer. As a method for the analysis of systems affected by pH such as uric acid, we propose to plot condensed Fukui functions versus pH, allowing us to draw the effect of pH on the regioselectivity of electron transfer in a single image.

Ab initio derivation of flavin hyperfine interactions for the protein magnetosensor cryptochrome.

The radicals derived from flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are a corner stone of recent hypotheses about magnetoreception, including the compass of migratory songbirds. These models attribute a magnetic sense to coherent spin dynamics in radical pairs within the flavo-protein cryptochrome. The primary determinant of sensitivity and directionality of this process are the hyperfine interactions of the involved radicals. Here, we present a comprehensive computational study of the hyperfine couplings in the protonated and unprotonated FAD radicals in cryptochrome 4 from C. livia. We combine long (800 ns) molecular dynamics trajectories to accurate quantum chemistry calculations. Hyperfine parameters are derived using auxiliary density functional theory applied to cluster and hybrid QM/MM (Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics) models comprising the FAD and its significant surrounding environment, as determined by a detailed sensitivity analysis. Thanks to this protocol we elucidate the sensitivity of the hyperfine interaction parameters to structural fluctuations and the polarisation effect of the protein environment. We find that the ensemble-averaged hyperfine interactions are predominantly governed by thermally induced geometric distortions of the flavin. We discuss our results in view of the expected performance of these radicals as part of a magnetoreceptor. Our data could be used to parametrize spin Hamiltonians including not only average values but also standard deviations.

A structural basis for antibody-mediated neutralization of Nipah virus reveals a site of vulnerability at the fusion glycoprotein apex.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus that causes frequent outbreaks of severe neurologic and respiratory disease in humans with high case fatality rates. The 2 glycoproteins displayed on the surface of the virus, NiV-G and NiV-F, mediate host-cell attachment and membrane fusion, respectively, and are targets of the host antibody response. Here, we provide a molecular basis for neutralization of NiV through antibody-mediated targeting of NiV-F. Structural characterization of a neutralizing antibody (nAb) in complex with trimeric prefusion NiV-F reveals an epitope at the membrane-distal domain III (DIII) of the molecule, a region that undergoes substantial refolding during host-cell entry. The epitope of this monoclonal antibody (mAb66) is primarily protein-specific and we observe that glycosylation at the periphery of the interface likely does not inhibit mAb66 binding to NiV-F. Further characterization reveals that a Hendra virus-F-specific nAb (mAb36) and many antibodies in an antihenipavirus-F polyclonal antibody mixture (pAb835) also target this region of the molecule. Integrated with previously reported paramyxovirus F-nAb structures, these data support a model whereby the membrane-distal region of the F protein is targeted by the antibody-mediated immune response across henipaviruses. Notably, our domain-specific sequence analysis reveals no evidence of selective pressure at this region of the molecule, suggestive that functional constraints prevent immune-driven sequence variation. Combined, our data reveal the membrane-distal region of NiV-F as a site of vulnerability on the NiV surface.

Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has spread from China to 25 countries. Local cycles of transmission have already occurred in 12 countries after case importation. In Africa, Egypt has so far confirmed one case. The management and control of COVID-19 importations heavily rely on a country's health capacity. Here we evaluate the preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against their risk of importation of COVID-19. METHODS: We used data on the volume of air travel departing from airports in the infected provinces in China and directed to Africa to estimate the risk of importation per country. We determined the country's capacity to detect and respond to cases with two indicators: preparedness, using the WHO International Health Regulations Monitoring and Evaluation Framework; and vulnerability, using the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index. Countries were clustered according to the Chinese regions contributing most to their risk. FINDINGS: Countries with the highest importation risk (ie, Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa) have moderate to high capacity to respond to outbreaks. Countries at moderate risk (ie, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya) have variable capacity and high vulnerability. We identified three clusters of countries that share the same exposure to the risk originating from the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, and the city of Beijing, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Many countries in Africa are stepping up their preparedness to detect and cope with COVID-19 importations. Resources, intensified surveillance, and capacity building should be urgently prioritised in countries with moderate risk that might be ill-prepared to detect imported cases and to limit onward transmission. FUNDING: EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

Evolutionary Dynamics of Oropouche Virus in South America.

The Amazon basin is home to numerous arthropod-borne viral pathogens that cause febrile disease in humans. Among these, Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV) is a relatively understudied member of the genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae, that causes periodic outbreaks in human populations in Brazil and other South American countries. Although several studies have described the genetic diversity of the virus, the evolutionary processes that shape the OROV genome remain poorly understood. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the genomic dynamics of OROV that encompasses phylogenetic analysis, evolutionary rate estimates, inference of natural selective pressures, recombination and reassortment, and structural analysis of OROV variants. Our study includes all available published sequences, as well as a set of new OROV genome sequences obtained from patients in Ecuador, representing the first set of genomes from this country. Our results show differing evolutionary processes on the three segments that comprise the viral genome. We infer differing times of the most recent common ancestors of the genome segments and propose that this can be explained by cryptic reassortment. We also present the discovery of previously unobserved putative N-linked glycosylation sites, as well as codons that evolve under positive selection on the viral surface proteins, and discuss the potential role of these features in the evolution of OROV through a combined phylogenetic and structural approach.IMPORTANCE The emergence and reemergence of pathogens such as Zika virus, chikungunya virus, and yellow fever virus have drawn attention toward other cocirculating arboviruses in South America. Oropouche virus (OROV) is a poorly studied pathogen responsible for over a dozen outbreaks since the early 1960s and represents a public health burden to countries such as Brazil, Panama, and Peru. OROV is likely underreported since its symptomatology can be easily confounded with other febrile illnesses (e.g., dengue fever and leptospirosis) and point-of-care testing for the virus is still uncommon. With limited data, there is a need to optimize the information currently available. Analysis of OROV genomes can help us understand how the virus circulates in nature and can reveal the evolutionary forces that shape the genetic diversity of the virus, which has implications for molecular diagnostics and the design of potential vaccines.

Cubic aromaticity in ligand-stabilized doped Au superatoms.

The magnetic response of valence electrons in doped gold-based M@Au8L8 q superatoms (M = Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Cd, Hg, Ir, and Rh; L = PPh3; and q = 0, +1, +2) is studied by calculating the gauge including magnetically induced currents (GIMIC) in the framework of the auxiliary density functional theory. The studied systems include 24 different combinations of the dopant, total cluster charge, and cluster structure (cubic-like or oblate). The magnetically induced currents (both diatropic and paratropic) are shown to be sensitive to the atomic structure of clusters, the number of superatomic electrons, and the chemical nature of the dopant metal. Among the cubic-like structures, the strongest aromaticity is observed in Pd- and Pt-doped M@Au8L8 0 clusters. Interestingly, Pd- and Pt-doping increases the aromaticity as compared to a similar all-gold eight-electron system Au9L8 +1. With the recent implementation of the GIMIC in the deMon2k code, we investigated the aromaticity in the cubic and butterfly-like M@Au8 core structures, doped with a single M atom from periods 5 and 6 of groups IX-XII. Surprisingly, the doping with Pd and Pt in the cubic structure increases the aromaticity compared to the pure Au case not only near the central atom but encompassing the whole metallic core, following the aromatic trend Pd > Pt > Au. These doped (Pd, Pt)@Au8 nanoclusters show a closed shell 1S21P6 superatom electronic structure corresponding to the cubic aromaticity rule 6n + 2.

Dynamics of conflict during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: The 2018-2019 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest ever recorded in the DRC. It has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak emerged in a region of chronic conflict and insecurity, and directed attacks against health care workers may have interfered with disease response activities. Our study characterizes and quantifies the broader conflict dynamics over the course of the outbreak by pairing epidemiological and all available spatial conflict data. METHODS: We build a set of conflict variables by mapping the spatial locations of all conflict events and their associated deaths in each of the affected health zones in North Kivu and Ituri, eastern DRC, before and during the outbreak. Using these data, we compare patterns of conflict before and during the outbreak in affected health zones and those not affected. We then test whether conflict is correlated with increased EVD transmission at the health zone level. FINDINGS: The incidence of conflict events per capita is ~ 600 times more likely in Ituri and North Kivu than for the rest of the DRC. We identified 15 time periods of substantial uninterrupted transmission across 11 health zones and a total of 120 bi-weeks. We do not find significant short-term associations between the bi-week reproduction numbers and the number of conflicts. However, we do find that the incidence of conflict per capita was correlated with the incidence of EVD per capita at the health zone level for the entire outbreak (Pearson's r = 0.33, 95% CI 0.05-0.57). In the two provinces, the monthly number of conflict events also increased by a factor of 2.7 in Ebola-affected health zones (p value < 0.05) compared to 2.0 where no transmission was reported and 1.3 in the rest of the DRC, in the period between February 2019 and July 2019. CONCLUSION: We characterized the association between variables documenting broad conflict levels and EVD transmission. Such assessment is important to understand if and how such conflict variables could be used to inform the outbreak response. We found that while these variables can help characterize long-term challenges and susceptibilities of the different regions they provide little insight on the short-term dynamics of EVD transmission.

Analysis of the electronic delocalization in some isoelectronic analogues of B12 doped with beryllium and/or carbon.

In the current work, a new family of isoelectronic analogues to B12 is reported. The construction of this family was performed through the isoelectronic substitution principle to generate species such as B11C+, B11Be-, B10BeC, B10C22+, B10Be22- B9Be2C-, and B9BeC2+. The search for the global minimum was realized by utilizing genetic algorithms, while the induced magnetic field, electronic localization function, magnetic current densities, and multicenter aromaticity criteria were calculated to understand their electronic delocalization. Our results show that, in general, C atoms avoid hypercoordination, whereas we have found species with Be atoms located in hypercoordinated positions that are relatively stable. Our analysis of aromaticity indicates that B12 has double σ and π disk aromaticity. Mono, double or triple substitution of B by C+ or Be- reduces somewhat the aromaticity of the clusters, but less in the case of Be- substitution.

Calculation of the EPR g-tensor from auxiliary density functional theory.

The working equations for the calculation of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) g-tensor within the framework of the auxiliary density functional theory (ADFT) are presented. The scheme known as gauge including atomic orbitals (GIAOs) is employed to treat the gauge origin problem. This ADFT-GIAO formulation possesses an inherent high computational performance, allowing for the calculation of the EPR g-tensor of molecules containing some hundreds of atoms in reasonable computational time employing moderate computational resources. The effect of the use of a gauge independent auxiliary density on the quality of the g-tensor calculation for the evaluation of the exchange-correlation contribution is analyzed in this work. The best agreement with the experiment is obtained with the BLYP functional (Becke 1988 exchange and Lee-Yang-Parr correlation) in combination with a double-ζ basis set, in particular aug-cc-pVDZ. Furthermore, models of endohedral fullerenes N@Cn, with n = {60, 70, 100, 180, 240}, were used for benchmarking its computational performance.

Efficient calculation of the rotational g tensor from auxiliary density functional theory.

The computation of the rotational g tensor with the recently developed auxiliary density functional theory (ADFT) gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) methodology is presented. For the rotational g tensor, the calculation of the magnetizability tensor represents the most demanding computational task. With the ADFT-GIAO methodology, the CPU time for the magnetizability tensor calculation can be dramatically reduced. Therefore, it seems most desirable to employ the ADFT-GIAO methodology also for the computation of the rotational g tensor. In this work, the quality of rotational g tensors obtained with the ADFT-GIAO methodology is compared with available experimental data as well as with other theoretical results at the Hartree-Fock and coupled-cluster level of theory. It is found that the agreement between the ADFT-GIAO results and the experiment is good. Furthermore, we also show that the ADFT-GIAO g tensor calculation is applicable to large systems like carbon nanotube models containing hundreds of atom and thousands of basis functions.

Efficient calculation of nuclear spin-rotation constants from auxiliary density functional theory.

The computation of the spin-rotation tensor within the framework of auxiliary density functional theory (ADFT) in combination with the gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) scheme, to treat the gauge origin problem, is presented. For the spin-rotation tensor, the calculation of the magnetic shielding tensor represents the most demanding computational task. Employing the ADFT-GIAO methodology, the central processing unit time for the magnetic shielding tensor calculation can be dramatically reduced. In this work, the quality of spin-rotation constants obtained with the ADFT-GIAO methodology is compared with available experimental data as well as with other theoretical results at the Hartree-Fock and coupled-cluster level of theory. It is found that the agreement between the ADFT-GIAO results and the experiment is good and very similar to the ones obtained by the coupled-cluster single-doubles-perturbative triples-GIAO methodology. With the improved computational performance achieved, the computation of the spin-rotation tensors of large systems or along Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics trajectories becomes feasible in reasonable times. Three models of carbon fullerenes containing hundreds of atoms and thousands of basis functions are used for benchmarking the performance. Furthermore, a theoretical study of temperature effects on the structure and spin-rotation tensor of the H(12)C-(12)CH-DF complex is presented. Here, the temperature dependency of the spin-rotation tensor of the fluorine nucleus can be used to identify experimentally the so far unknown bent isomer of this complex. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that temperature effects on the spin-rotation tensor are investigated.

First whole-genome sequence and assembly of the Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps), a critically endangered species, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

The Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) is currently considered one of the most endangered primates in the world and is classified as critically endangered [International union for conservation of nature (IUCN)]. It faces multiple threats, the most significant one being habitat loss due to deforestation in western Ecuador. Genomic tools are keys for the management of endangered species, but this requires a reference genome, which until now was unavailable for A. f. fusciceps. The present study reports the first whole-genome sequence and assembly of A. f. fusciceps generated using Oxford Nanopore long reads. DNA was extracted from a subadult male, and libraries were prepared for sequencing following the Ligation Sequencing Kit SQK-LSK112 workflow. Sequencing was performed using a MinION Mk1C sequencer. The sequencing reads were processed to generate a genome assembly. Two different assemblers were used to obtain draft genomes using raw reads, of which the Flye assembly was found to be superior. The final assembly has a total length of 2.63 Gb and contains 3,861 contigs, with an N50 of 7,560,531 bp. The assembly was analyzed for annotation completeness based on primate ortholog prediction using a high-resolution database, and was found to be 84.3% complete, with a low number of duplicated genes indicating a precise assembly. The annotation of the assembly predicted 31,417 protein-coding genes, comparable with other mammal assemblies. A reference genome for this critically endangered species will allow researchers to gain insight into the genetics of its populations and thus aid conservation and management efforts of this vulnerable species.

Study of the Technological Properties of Pedrosillano Chickpea Aquafaba and Its Application in the Production of Egg-Free Baked Meringues.

Aquafaba is a by-product derived from legume processing. The aim of this study was to assess the compositional differences and the culinary properties of Pedrosillano chickpea aquafaba prepared with different cooking liquids (water, vegetable broth, meat broth and the covering liquid of canned chickpeas) and to evaluate the sensory characteristics of French-baked meringues made with the different aquafaba samples, using egg white as a control. The content of total solids, protein, fat, ash and carbohydrates of the aquafaba samples were quantified. Foaming and emulsifying capacities, as well as the foam and emulsions stabilities were determined. Instrumental and panel-tester analyses were accomplished to evaluate the sensory characteristics of French-baked meringues. The ingredients added to the cooking liquid and the intensity of the heat treatment affected the aquafaba composition and culinary properties. All types of aquafaba showed good foaming properties and intermediate emulsifying capacities; however, the commercial canned chickpea's aquafaba was the most similar to egg white. The aquafaba meringues showed less alveoli, greater hardness and fracturability and minimal color changes after baking compared with egg white meringues; the meat and vegetable broth's aquafaba meringues were the lowest rated by the panel-tester and those prepared with canned aquafaba were the highest scored in the sensory analysis.

Identification of evolutionary trajectories shared across human betacoronaviruses.

Comparing the evolution of distantly related viruses can provide insights into common adaptive processes related to shared ecological niches. Phylogenetic approaches, coupled with other molecular evolution tools, can help identify mutations informative on adaptation, whilst the structural contextualization of these to functional sites of proteins may help gain insight into their biological properties. Two zoonotic betacoronaviruses capable of sustained human-to-human transmission have caused pandemics in recent times (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2), whilst a third virus (MERS-CoV) is responsible for sporadic outbreaks linked to animal infections. Moreover, two other betacoronaviruses have circulated endemically in humans for decades (HKU1 and OC43). To search for evidence of adaptive convergence between established and emerging betacoronaviruses capable of sustained human-to-human transmission (HKU1, OC43, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2), we developed a methodological pipeline to classify shared non-synonymous mutations as putatively denoting homoplasy (repeated mutations that do not share direct common ancestry) or stepwise evolution (sequential mutations leading towards a novel genotype). In parallel, we look for evidence of positive selection, and draw upon protein structure data to identify potential biological implications. We find 30 mutations, with four of these [codon sites 18121 (nsp14/residue 28), 21623 (spike/21), 21635 (spike/25) and 23948 (spike/796); SARS-CoV-2 genome numbering] displaying evolution under positive selection and proximity to functional protein regions. Our findings shed light on potential mechanisms underlying betacoronavirus adaptation to the human host and pinpoint common mutational pathways that may occur during establishment of human endemicity.

Identification of Evolutionary Trajectories Shared across Human Betacoronaviruses.

Comparing the evolution of distantly related viruses can provide insights into common adaptive processes related to shared ecological niches. Phylogenetic approaches, coupled with other molecular evolution tools, can help identify mutations informative on adaptation, although the structural contextualization of these to functional sites of proteins may help gain insight into their biological properties. Two zoonotic betacoronaviruses capable of sustained human-to-human transmission have caused pandemics in recent times (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2), although a third virus (MERS-CoV) is responsible for sporadic outbreaks linked to animal infections. Moreover, two other betacoronaviruses have circulated endemically in humans for decades (HKU1 and OC43). To search for evidence of adaptive convergence between established and emerging betacoronaviruses capable of sustained human-to-human transmission (HKU1, OC43, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2), we developed a methodological pipeline to classify shared nonsynonymous mutations as putatively denoting homoplasy (repeated mutations that do not share direct common ancestry) or stepwise evolution (sequential mutations leading towards a novel genotype). In parallel, we look for evidence of positive selection and draw upon protein structure data to identify potential biological implications. We find 30 candidate mutations, from which 4 (codon sites 18121 [nsp14/residue 28], 21623 [spike/21], 21635 [spike/25], and 23948 [spike/796]; SARS-CoV-2 genome numbering) further display evolution under positive selection and proximity to functional protein regions. Our findings shed light on potential mechanisms underlying betacoronavirus adaptation to the human host and pinpoint common mutational pathways that may occur during establishment of human endemicity.

Convergent trends and spatiotemporal patterns of Aedes-borne arboviruses in Mexico and Central America.

BACKGROUND: Aedes-borne arboviruses cause both seasonal epidemics and emerging outbreaks with a significant impact on global health. These viruses share mosquito vector species, often infecting the same host population within overlapping geographic regions. Thus, comparative analyses of the virus evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics across spatial and temporal scales could reveal convergent trends. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Focusing on Mexico as a case study, we generated novel chikungunya and dengue (CHIKV, DENV-1 and DENV-2) virus genomes from an epidemiological surveillance-derived historical sample collection, and analysed them together with longitudinally-collected genome and epidemiological data from the Americas. Aedes-borne arboviruses endemically circulating within the country were found to be introduced multiple times from lineages predominantly sampled from the Caribbean and Central America. For CHIKV, at least thirteen introductions were inferred over a year, with six of these leading to persistent transmission chains. For both DENV-1 and DENV-2, at least seven introductions were inferred over a decade. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that CHIKV, DENV-1 and DENV-2 in Mexico share evolutionary and epidemiological trajectories. The southwest region of the country was determined to be the most likely location for viral introductions from abroad, with a subsequent spread into the Pacific coast towards the north of Mexico. Virus diffusion patterns observed across the country are likely driven by multiple factors, including mobility linked to human migration from Central towards North America. Considering Mexico's geographic positioning displaying a high human mobility across borders, our results prompt the need to better understand the role of anthropogenic factors in the transmission dynamics of Aedes-borne arboviruses, particularly linked to land-based human migration.

Edible Insects: Perceptions of Marketing, Economic, and Social Aspects among Citizens of Different Countries.

Because edible insects (EI) have been, in recent years, recommended as a nutritious animal protein food with enormous environmental advantages over other sources of animal protein for human consumption, studies aimed at investigating the consumer perspective have become more prominent. Hence, this study intended to examine the perceptions of participants from different countries about the commercialization and economic and social impacts of edible insects. The study was made using a questionnaire survey, and data were collected in Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. The final number of received answers was 7222 participants. For the treatment of the results, different statistical techniques were used: factor analysis, internal reliability by Cronbach's alpha, cluster analysis, ANOVA to test differences between groups, and Chi-square tests. The results obtained confirmed the validity of the scale, constituted by 12 out of the 14 items initially considered, distributed by 4 factors: the first related to the economic impact of EIs, the second related to the motivation for consumption of EIs, the third related to the places of purchase of EIs, and the fourth corresponding to a question presented to the participants as a false statement. A cluster analysis allowed identifying three clusters, with significant differences between them according to all the sociodemographic variables tested. Also, it was found that the participants expressed an exceptionally high level of agreement with aspects such as the difficulty in finding EIs on sale, knowledge acting as a strong motivator for EI consumption, and the role of personalities and influencers in increasing the will to consume EIs. Finally, practically all sociodemographic variables were found to be significantly associated with perceptions (country, sex, education, living environment, and income), but not age. In conclusion, the perceptions about EI commercialization were investigated and revealed differences among samples originating from different countries. Moreover, the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were found to be strongly associated with their perceptions.

Comparing the evolutionary dynamics of predominant SARS-CoV-2 virus lineages co-circulating in Mexico.

Over 200 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages have been observed in Mexico by November 2021. To investigate lineage replacement dynamics, we applied a phylodynamic approach and explored the evolutionary trajectories of five dominant lineages that circulated during the first year of local transmission. For most lineages, peaks in sampling frequencies coincided with different epidemiological waves of infection in Mexico. Lineages B.1.1.222 and B.1.1.519 exhibited similar dynamics, constituting clades that likely originated in Mexico and persisted for >12 months. Lineages B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.617.2 also displayed similar dynamics, characterized by multiple introduction events leading to a few successful extended local transmission chains that persisted for several months. For the largest B.1.617.2 clades, we further explored viral lineage movements across Mexico. Many clades were located within the south region of the country, suggesting that this area played a key role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico.