Transcriptome analysis of the spider Phonotimpus pennimani reveals novel toxin transcripts.

Background: Phonotimpus pennimani (Araneae, Phrurolithidae) is a small-sized (3-5 mm) spider endemic to the Tacaná volcano in Chiapas, Mexico, where it is found in soil litter of cloud forests and coffee plantations. Its venom composition has so far not been investigated, partly because it is not a species of medical significance. However, it does have an important impact on the arthropod populations of its natural habitat. Methods: Specimens were collected in Southeastern Mexico (Chiapas) and identified taxonomically by morphological characteristics. A partial sequence from the mitochondrial gene coxI was amplified. Sequencing on the Illumina platform of a transcriptome library constructed from 12 adult specimens revealed 25 toxin or toxin-like genes. Transcripts were validated (RT-qPCR) by assessing the differential expression of the toxin-like PpenTox1 transcript and normalising with housekeeping genes. Results: Analysis of the coxI-gene revealed a similarity to other species of the family Phrurolithidae. Transcriptome analysis also revealed similarity with venom components of species from the families Ctenidae, Lycosidae, and Sicariidae. Expression of the toxin-like PpenTox1 gene was different for each developmental stage (juvenile or adult) and also for both sexes (female or male). Additionally, a partial sequence was obtained for the toxin-like PpenTox1 from DNA. Conclusion: Data from the amplification of the mitochondrial coxI gene confirmed that P. pennimani belongs to the family Phrurolithidae. New genes and transcripts coding for venom components were identified.

Fungal diversity in shade-coffee plantations in Soconusco, Mexico.

Background: As forested natural habitats disappear in the world, traditional, shade-coffee plantations offer an opportunity to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Traditional coffee plantations maintain a diversity of tree species that provide shade for coffee bushes and, at the same time, are important repositories for plants and animals that inhabited the original cloud forest. However, there is still little information about shade-coffee plantation's fungal diversity despite their relevance for ecosystem functioning as decomposers, symbionts and pathogens. Specifically, it is unknown if and what mycorrhizae-forming fungi can be found on the branches and trunks of coffee bushes and trees, which hold a diversity of epiphytes. Here, we evaluate fungal communities on specific plant microsites on both coffee bushes and shade trees. We investigate the ecological roles played by this diversity, with a special focus on mycorrhizae-forming fungi that may enable the establishment and development of epiphytic plants. Methods: We collected 48 bark samples from coffee bushes and shade trees (coffee; tree), from four plant microsites (upper and lower trunks, branches and twigs), in two shade-coffee plantations in the Soconusco region in southern Mexico, at different altitudes. We obtained ITS amplicon sequences that served to estimate alpha and beta diversity, to assign taxonomy and to infer the potential ecological role played by the detected taxa. Results: The bark of shade trees and coffee bushes supported high fungal diversity (3,783 amplicon sequence variants). There were no strong associations between community species richness and collection site, plant type or microsite. However, we detected differences in beta diversity between collection sites. All trophic modes defined by FUNGuild database were represented in both plant types. However, when looking into guilds that involve mycorrhizae formation, the CLAM test suggests that coffee bushes are more likely to host taxa that may function as mycorrhizae. Discussion: We detected high fungal diversity in shade-coffee plantations in Soconusco, Chiapas, possibly remnants of the original cloud forest ecosystem. Several mycorrhiza forming fungi guilds occur on the bark of coffee bushes and shade trees in this agroecosystem, with the potential of supporting epiphyte establishment and development. Thus, traditional coffee cultivation could be part of an integrated strategy for restoration and conservation of epiphytic populations. This is particularly relevant for conservation of threatened species of Orchidaceae that are highly dependent on mycorrhizae formation.

Effects of a Bulking Agent on the Protein:Carbohydrate Ratio, Bioconversion, and Cost-effectiveness of a Larval Diet for Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Although the bulking agent is categorized as 'inert', it could modify protein bioavailability and nutritional quality. In this study, the main goal was to determine if the bulking agent modified the protein:carbohydrate (P:C) ratio and bioconversion from diet biomass to larval biomass of Anastrepha ludens. The diet was altered only by modifying the type of bulking agent (corncob powder, coconut fiber, carrot fiber, oatmeal) added without changing the composition and concentration of the other components in the formulation. This allowed reclassification of the food matrices according to P:C ratios of 1:30, 1:35, 1:64, and 1:93. A food matrix with a high P:C ratio promoted a high protein and carbohydrate content in the larval hemolymph and immediately influenced the life-history traits of the larva or delayed them in the adult. The present study indicated a positive relationship between the P:G+T (glucose+trehalose) ratio in the larval hemolymph and the P:C ratio in the larval diet. Our results highlight the importance of including the optimum and real P:C ratio in whole fresh larval diets, since considering only the theoretical concentration of the formulation is not enough to understand the variation in key life-history traits. In addition, the bioconversion index should be included as an indicator of the efficacy of larval diets for mass rearing insects. A diet with high cost-effectiveness should be evaluated by taking into account flying flies as the end product of the mass rearing process to enhance operational SIT programs.

Big particles, best nutrition? Absorption and excretion of protein by Anastrepha obliqua larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae).

For purposes of mass-rearing fruit flies, nutrient intake through artificial diets is a challenge, artificial food content and processing should promote sufficient absorption and availability to ensure fly fitness. Bulking agents play an essential role in creating a quality diet, but its physical characteristics, such as particle size, may establish a better microenvironment for feeding and development. Currently, there is a lack of information about protein metabolism in mass-reared fruit flies. Therefore, we evaluated whether the particle size of the bulking agent affects the absorption and excretion of the proteins, as well as their effect on the life-history traits of Anastrepha obliqua. We determined the protein content of hemolymph and feces, as well as the presence of nitrogen end-products as indicators of their level of absorption in a diet elaborated with coarse and fine corn cob particles as a bulking agent. The bromatological composition showed that coarse particles increased the bioavailability and content of crude, digestible, and soluble protein for the diet and hemolymph protein of larvae alike. We found an inverse relationship between the protein content of the hemolymph and feces of the larvae. Ammonium was determined to be a product of the catabolism of proteins. Also, A. obliqua improved its development (yield and pupal weight) and fitness (adult emergence and flight ability) when larvae were reared on a coarse particle diet. In conclusion, a diet elaborated with a coarse bulking agent features increased protein bioavailability and nutritional quality, which, in turn, increases the life-history traits of A. obliqua.

Rizobacterias promotoras de crecimiento en Guarianthe skinneri (Orchidaceae) / Growth-promoting rhizobacteria from Guarianthe skinneri (Orchidaceae)

Resumen La orquídea Guarianthe skinneri está incluida en la norma NOM-059-ECOL-2010 de México como una especie amenazada. Con el fin de estudiar las BPCV (bacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal) en esta orquídea, se recolectaron 10 raíces de diferentes plantas para aislar bacterias asociadas a las raíces, que se analizaron mediante pruebas in vitro como: producción de AIA, fijación de nitrógeno, interacción con el hongo micorrízico Thanatephorus sp. cepa RG26 y solubilización de fosfato. De los 71 aislados bacterianos se caracterizaron 10 cepas mediante secuenciación con el marcador 16s rADN y se identificaron seis cepas: Sphingomonas sp., Sinorhizobium sp., Bacillus sp., Nocardia cerradoensis, Bacillus megaterium y Burkholderia phytofirmans. Se observó que la bacteria Sinorhizobium sp. produjo mayor cantidad de AIA (69.189 µg/ml) y Bacillus sp. presentó mayor reducción de acetileno (10.251 nmol cultivo/96 h). En las interacciones de las bacterias y el hongo RG26 se presentaron cuatro categorías (sumamente positivo, positivo, antagonismo 50-50 e inhibición). En relación a la solubilización de fosfato, la bacteria Burkholderia phytofirmans presentó mayor IS a las 48 y 96 hr con IS de 3.11 y 3.48, respectivamente. Los resultados indican que Bacillus sp. pudiera tener las mejores características para promover el desarrollo de la orquídea G. skinneri mediante la inoculación de semillas y plántulas.

Abstract The Guarianthe skinneri orchid is included in NOM-059-ECOL-2010, Mexico standard as an endangered species. In order to study PGPR (promoting growth plant rhizobacteria) from this orchid, 10 roots were collected from different plants to isolate bacteria associated with the roots, which were analyzed by in vitro tests such as: production of AIA, nitrogen fixation, interaction with the mycorrhizal fungus Thanatephorus sp. strain RG26 and phosphate solubilization. We obtain 71 bacterial isolates, 10 strains of them were characterized by sequencing with the 16d rDNA marker identifying six bacteria: Sphingomonas sp. Sinorhizobium sp. Bacillus sp. Nocardia cerradoensis, Bacillus megaterium and Burkholderia phytofirmans. We observed that the bacterium Sinorhizobium sp. produced a greater amount of AIA (69.189 μg/ml) and Bacillus sp. performed greater acetylene reduction (10.251 nmol cultivo/96h). In the interactions of the bacteria and the fungus RG26, four categories were presented (extremely positive, positive, antagonism 50-50 and inhibition). In relation to the solubilization of phosphate, Burkholderia phytofirmans presented higher IS after 48 and 96 hr with an IS of 3.11 and 3.48, respectively. The results indicate that Bacillus sp. it could have the best characteristics to promote the development of the G. skinneri orchid by inoculating seeds and seedlings. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(3): 953-968. Epub 2018 September 01.

Atención tanatológica para mejorar el bienestar espiritual de los pacientes hospitalizados con quemaduras / Thanatology care to improve spiritual well-being of hospitalized patients with burns

Resumen:

Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de la atención tanatológica en pacientes con quemaduras, a través de la escala de bienestar espiritual FACIT-Spl2.

Metodología: el estudio se realizó en pacientes con quemaduras de diversos grados. Se recolectaron datos sociodemográficos y a los pacientes se les aplicó la encuesta FACIT-Spl2 para evaluar su bienestar espiritual al inicio y al final de su estancia hospitalaria. Se les proporcionó atención de tanatología durante todo el periodo de hospitalización. El análisis incluyó estadística descriptiva y no paramétrica.

Resultados: se seleccionaron 107 pacientes que obtuvieron un promedio de 35.7 puntos en la encuesta FACIT-Spl2 aplicada al inicio. La puntuación aumentó a 40.7 al final del tratamiento hospitalario, lo que nos indica una mejoría en el bienestar espiritual de los pacientes, puesto que la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa (Z = -6.53, p = 0.000).

Conclusiones: la atención tanatológica debe incluirse en el tratamiento integral proporcionado a pacientes con quemaduras, ya que demostró que mejoraba su bienestar espiritual, influyendo positivamente en su recuperación durante su estancia hospitalaria.

Abstract:

Objective: to evaluate the effect of Thanatology counseling in burn patients through the FaCIT-Spl2 spiritual well-being scale.

Methodolog: the study population comprised of hospitalized patients with several burn injuries. Socio-demographic information was collected, and participants completed the FACIT-Spl2 scale for spiritual well-being assessment the first and last day of hospital stay. Thanatology counseling was provided to them through the complete hospitalization time. Descriptive statistics was calculated for socio-demographic variables and non-parametric tests to calculate differences between obtained scores.

Results: the sample included 107 burn patients and scored 35.7 in the FACIT-Spl2 scale applied at baseline. This score increased to 40.7 at the end of treatment, which indicates an improvement in the spiritual well-being of patients and this difference was statistically significant (Z = -6.53, p = 0.000).

Conclusions: thanatology counseling should be included as part of the integral treatment given to burn patients because it has showed to improve their spiritual well-being, therefore it has a positive effect in their recovery during their hospital stay.