Confirmation of the presence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in lung tissue of the African giant snail (Lissachatina fulica) in Colombia / Confirmación de la presencia de Angiostrongylus cantonensis en tejido pulmonar de caracol gigante Africano (Lissachatina fulica) en Colombia

Objetive: To confirm the presence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Lissachatina fulica individuals in Colombia. Methods: 19 individuals of L. fulica were collected in the city of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Lung tissue was extracted and two analysis methods were used: visual identification by histological observation, and identification through conventional and real-time PCR. The A. cantonensis detection rate was established taking into account each of the analysis techniques used. Results: Presence of A. cantonensis was confirmed in the lung tissue of L. fulica specimens collected in the city of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The detection rate based on visual identification through histological analysis was 89%, whereas it was 95% using conventional PCR, and 100% using real-time PCR. Conclusion: This study confirmed for the first time the presence of A. cantonensis associated with L. fulica specimens in Colombia. Therefore, eosinophilic meningitis could be considered an emerging disease in Colombia.

Objetivo: confirmar la presencia de Angiostrongylus cantonensis en individuos de Lissachatina fulica en Colombia. Materiales y métodos: se recolectaron 19 individuos de L. fulica en la ciudad de Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Se extrajo el tejido pumonar y se utilizaron dos métodos de análisis: identificación visual por observación histológica e identificación a través de PCR convencional y en tiempo real. La tasa de detección de A. cantonensis fue establecida para cada una de las técnicas de análisis utilizadas. Resultados: se confirmó la presencia de A. cantonensis en el tejido pulmonar de los especímenes de L. fulica recolectados en la ciudad de Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. La tasa de detección alcanzanda a través de la técnica de identificación visual mediante análisis histológico fue del 89%, mientras que usando la técnica de PCR convencional fue del 95% y de PCR en tiempo real fue del 100%. Conclusión: este estudio confirma por primera vez la presencia de A. cantonensis asociado a especímenes de L. fulica en Colombia. Por lo tanto, se sugiere que la meningitis eosinofílica sea propuesta como una enfermedad emergente en Colombia.

Características y desafíos del crimen organizado transnacional en la Triple Frontera: Argentina-Paraguay-Brasil / Characteristics and challenges of the transnational organized crime on the tripartite border among Argentine, Paraguay and Brazil / Características e desafios do crime organizado transnacional na tríplice fronteira: Argentina-Paraguai-Brasil

Resumen El impacto del crimen organizado transnacional en la frontera compartida entre Argentina, Paraguay y Brasil es tan grande, que hace que la región sea caracterizada por la prensa internacional y se considere como una de las más peligrosas del mundo. Este documento pretende, en primer lugar, realizar una caracterización de la región, con el fin de establecer el contexto que hace propicia la consolidación de los esquemas criminales. En seguida, se mostrará cuáles son los principales crímenes que se desarrollan y los actores involucrados. Finalmente, se establecerá cuáles han sido las respuestas de los tres gobiernos para superar la situación. La metodología empleada fue cualitativa, con vocación analítica y documental, a partir de fuentes primarias y secundarias que permitieron identificar la importancia estratégica y socioeconómica de los corredores fronterizos en la Triple Frontera, y la existencia de zonas grises, donde ha tenido amplio desarrollo el crimen organizado transnacional, a partir de la existencia de grupos nativos y no nativos en la zona, y de un amplio portafolio criminal que pone en evidencia la evolución de las amenazas a la seguridad. Las iniciativas implementadas por los gobiernos, en forma individual y en conjunto, finalmente se muestran insuficientes para contener el avance del fenómeno y como uno de los principales desafíos en la Triple Frontera.

Abstract The impact of the transnational organized crime in the tripartite border among Argentine, Paraguay and Brazil is so great that the region is characterized by the international media and considered one of the most dangerous areas in the world. This paper aims, first, to do a characterization of the region to establish the context that makes the consolidation of the criminal schemas favorable. Then, it will present the main crimes perpetrated and the individuals involved. Finally, it will establish the three governments' responses to overcome this problematic. This study used a qualitative analysis and documentary methodology, starting from primary and secondary sources. These sources allowed identifying the strategic and socioeconomic importance of the border corridors in this triple borderline, and the existence of grey zones, where transnational organized crime has had a great growth since the existence of native and non-native groups in this area; and of a broad criminal portfolio that points out the evolution of threats to security. The initiatives implemented by the governments, individually and collectively, are insufficient to stop the advancement of this matter and are shown as one of the main challenges in this shared border.

Resumo O impacto do crime organizado transnacional na fronteira compartilhada entre Argentina, Paraguai e Brasil é tão grande, que faz que a região seja caraterizada pela imprensa internacional e que seja considerada como uma das mais perigosas do mundo. Este documento pretende, em primeiro lugar, realizar uma caracterização da região, com o fim de establecer o contexto que propicia a consolidação dos esquemas criminais. Logo, se mostrará quais são os principais crimes cometidos e os atores envolvidos. Finalmente, se estabelecerá quais têm sido as propostas dos três governos para resolver a situação. A metodología utilizada foi qualitativa de tipo analítica e documental, a partir de fontes primárias e secundárias que permitiram identificar a importância estratégica e socioeconómica dos corredores fronteiriços na tríplice fronteira, e a existência de zonas cinzentas, onde o crime organizado transnacional tem tido um amplo desenvolvimento a partir da existência de grupos nativos e não nativos na zona, e de uma ampla variedade de crimes que evidencia a evolução das ameaças à segurança. As iniciativas implementadas pelos governos, de forma individual e conjunta, finalmente se mostram insuficientes para conter o avanço do fenômeno e se mostram como um dos principais desafios na tríplice fronteira.

La realidad de la crisis migratoria europea / The reality of the European migration crisis / A realidade da crise migratória europeia

Resumen Producto de los conflictos internacionales que se desarrollan en la actualidad, la crisis migratoria atacó a los países miembros de la Unión Europea de manera elevada desde el 2015, dejando a la vista las falencias en políticas migratorias y la necesidad de elaborar soluciones de manera coordinada que hagan frente a este fenómeno, teniendo en cuenta que la seguridad fronteriza es un tema que le compete a todos los Estados y precisa la disposición de toda la Unión para encontrar una solución a esta problemática común.

Abstract Product of the international conflicts the migration crisis attacked the member countries of the European Union since 2015, this difficulty exposed the shortcomings in migration policies and the need to develop solutions in a coordinated way to deal with this phenomenon. Border security is an issue that must be taken into account and it is incumbent on all States, It is therefore necessary for the whole Union to find a solution to this common problem.

Resumo Como resultado dos conflitos internacionais que estão ocorrendo atualmente, a crise migratória atacou os países membros da União Européia de forma elevada desde 2015, expondo as deficiências nas políticas de migração e a necessidade de desenvolver soluções de forma coordenada. abordar este fenômeno, levando em conta que a segurança nas fronteiras é uma questão que diz respeito a todos os Estados e exige a vontade de toda a União de encontrar uma solução para esse problema comum.

A genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of Lysinibacillus sphaericus unveils unexploited biotechnological potentials.

The toxic lineage (TL) of Lysinibacillus sphaericus has been extensively studied because of its potential biotechnological applications in biocontrol of mosquitoes and bioremediation of toxic metals. We previously proposed that L. sphaericus TL should be considered as a novel species based on a comparative genomic analysis. In the current work, we constructed the first manually curated metabolic reconstruction for this species on the basis of the available genomes. We elucidated the central metabolism of the proposed species and, beyond confirming the reported experimental evidence with genomic a support, we found insights to propose novel applications and traits to be considered in further studies. The strains belonging to this lineage exhibit a broad repertory of genes encoding insecticidal factors, some of them remain uncharacterized. These strains exhibit other unexploited biotechnological important traits, such as lactonases (quorum quenching), toxic metal resistance, and potential for aromatic compound degradation. In summary, this study provides a guideline for further research aimed to implement this organism in biocontrol and bioremediation. Similarly, we highlighted the unanswered questions to be responded in order to gain a deeper understanding of the L. sphaericus TL biology.

Evidence-based validation of quorum quenching from Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Geobacillus sp. in bioremediation of oil sludge.

Many studies on quorum quenching focus on the discovery and characterization of novel acyl-homoserine lactonases (AHL-lactonases) because these enzymes could be used in the control of diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The effects of quorum quenching are also remarkable in the performance of bacterial consortia in applications such as bioremediation. In the current work, we demonstrated the presence of a potential novel AHL-lactonase-encoding locus (Bsph_3377) from Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Geobacillus sp. The deduced amino acid sequences for this enzyme possess the characteristic domains and motifs involved in Zn-binding from AHL lactonases and were grouped into 1 clade within the phylogeny of the lactonases from firmicutes, showing 70% of identity with the lactonase AhlS from Solibacillus silvestris. We demonstrated the locus transcription by RT-qPCR and its relationship with the suppression of the pathogenicity of Pectobacterium carotovorum. Additionally, we analyzed the interaction of these bacilli with a commercial consortium in the bioremediation of a hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, showing inhibitory effects on its establishment. These results represent a new contribution in the understanding of the potential biotechnological applications of L. sphaericus and Geobacillus sp. as well as in the research on antibacterial techniques based on quorum-sensing disruption.

Comparative genomics reveals Lysinibacillus sphaericus group comprises a novel species.

BACKGROUND: Early in the 1990s, it was recognized that Lysinibacillus sphaericus, one of the most popular and effective entomopathogenic bacteria, was a highly heterogeneous group. Many authors have even proposed it comprises more than one species, but the lack of phenotypic traits that guarantee an accurate differentiation has not allowed this issue to be clarified. Now that genomic technologies are rapidly advancing, it is possible to address the problem from a whole genome perspective, getting insights into the phylogeny, evolutive history and biology itself. RESULTS: The genome of the Colombian strain L. sphaericus OT4b.49 was sequenced, assembled and annotated, obtaining 3 chromosomal contigs and no evidence of plasmids. Using these sequences and the 13 other L. sphaericus genomes available on the NCBI database, we carried out comparative genomic analyses that included whole genome alignments, searching for mobile elements, phylogenomic metrics (TETRA, ANI and in-silico DDH) and pan-genome assessments. The results support the hypothesis about this species as a very heterogeneous group. The entomopathogenic lineage is actually a single and independent species with 3728 core genes and 2153 accessory genes, whereas each non-toxic strain seems to be a separate species, though without a clear circumscription. Toxin-encoding genes, binA, B and mtx1, 2, 3 could be acquired via horizontal gene transfer in a single evolutionary event. The non-toxic strain OT4b.31 is the most related with the type strain KCTC 3346. CONCLUSIONS: The current L. sphaericus is actually a sensu lato due to a sub-estimation of diversity accrued using traditional non-genomics based classification strategies. The toxic lineage is the most studied with regards to its larvicidal activity, which is a greatly conserved trait among these strains and thus, their differentiating feature. Further studies are needed in order to establish a univocal classification of the non-toxic strains that, according to our results, seem to be a paraphyletic group.

Complete Genome Sequence of Lysinibacillus sphaericus WHO Reference Strain 2362.

Lysinibacillus sphaericus is a species that contains strains widely used in the biological control of mosquitoes. Here, we present the complete 4.67-Mb genome of the WHO entomopathogenic reference strain L. sphaericus 2362, which is probably one of the most commercialized and studied strains. Genes coding for mosquitocidal toxin proteins were detected.