We realize a nationwide population-based retrospective study to analyze the characteristics and risk factors of fungal co-infections in COVID-19 hospitalized patients as well as describe their ...causative agents in the Spanish population in 2020 and 2021. Data were obtained from records in the Minimum Basic Data Set of the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data in Spain, provided by the Ministry of Health, and annually published with two years lag. The assessment of the risk associated with the development of healthcare-associated fungal co-infections was assessed using an adjusted logistic regression model. The incidence of fungal co-infection in COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 1.41%. The main risk factors associated were surgery, sepsis, age, male gender, obesity, and COPD. Co-infection was associated with worse outcomes including higher in-hospital and in ICU mortality, and higher length of stay. Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. were the microorganisms more frequent. This is the first study analyzing fungal coinfection at a national level in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Spanish population and one of the few studies available that demonstrate that surgery was an independent risk factor of Aspergillosis coinfection in COVID-19 patients.
Whole-genome duplication (polyploidy) occurs frequently and repeatedly within species of plants. According to the source of the genomes giving origin to a polyploid plant species, these are ...classified into allopolyploid (when two or more genomes are combined through either intraspecific or interspecific hybridization) and autopolyploid (when a single genome becomes duplicated). According to the time period in which polyploidy occurred plant species are classified as paleopolyploid (ancient polyploids), mesopolyploid (less ancient polyploids), and neopolyploid (recent polyploids). Many plant species appearing as diploid are actually paleopolyploids (ancient polyploids) derived from at least one event of whole-genome duplication followed by a process known as diploidization, which consists in massive gene loss and genomic reorganization (diploidized paleopolyploids). Many polyploid species of plants have been shown to present morphological and physiological characteristics making them further attractive for industry than their lower ploidy level counterparts. Polyploidy is a fundamental but relatively underexplored biological process. With the aim of understanding the factors involved in the formation of polyploid plant species, many studies have been carried out on synthetic polyploidy obtained by mitotic inhibitors and hybridization. However, the rapid progress of genetic engineering techniques makes genetic modification (GM) to become a feasible strategy for obtaining polyploid plants. In this review we discuss advances made about factors known to influence plant polyploidy and we suggest that in a future, this knowledge could be used for generating polyploids in vitro by GM and for crop improvement.
Abstract
Background
We performed a nationwide population-based retrospective study to describe the epidemiology of bacterial co-infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-hospitalized patients ...in Spain in 2020. We also analyzed the risk factors for co-infection, the etiology and the impact in the outcome.
Methods
Data were obtained from records in the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) of the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data in Spain, provided by the Ministry of Health and annually published with 2 years lag. COVID-19 circulated in two waves in 2020: from its introduction to 31st June and from 1st July to 31st December. The risk of developing a healthcare-associated bacterial co-infection and the risk for in-hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in co-infected patients was assessed using an adjusted logistic regression model.
Results
The incidence of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 2.3%. The main risk factors associated with bacterial co-infection were organ failure, obesity and male sex. Co-infection was associated with worse outcomes including higher in-hospital, in-ICU mortality and higher length of stay. Gram-negative bacteria caused most infections. Causative agents were similar between waves, although higher co-infections with Pseudomonas spp. were detected in the first wave and with Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the second.
Conclusions
Co-infections are not as common as those found in other viral respiratory infections; therefore, antibiotics should be used carefully. Screening for actual co-infection to prescribe antibiotic therapy when required should be performed.
SUMMARY
Biofuels have been shown to be a promising and highly attractive alternative for minimizing the use of fossil fuels, and microalgae have positioned themselves as potential candidates for ...production of lipids and other substances of commercial interest. We briefly review recent advances made in microalgae culture conditions and genetic manipulation for improving lipid yields for biofuel production – with both approaches showing similar yields of triacylglycerides, indicating that more work is required for improving lipid yield and accumulation in algae. Aiming at gaining knowledge of algae genetic manipulation and exploring future use of this information for modifying the lipid biosynthesis pathway, we investigated whether some characteristics of enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis could relate to lipid yield and accumulation in algae. We made an in silico analysis of amino acid sequence of enzymatic domains and modeled tertiary structure of three proteins involved in the biosynthesis of lipids in microalgae: acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, Acyl‐CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase. Our results suggest that, based on primary amino acid sequences and tertiary structure of proteins shared by certain algae, it is likely that these proteins may relate to lipid yield and accumulation, which makes bioinformatics a powerful tool for in silico study of proteins and for selecting genes involved in lipid biosynthesis that could be useful for heterologous transformation in algae with the long term objective of improving their yield, accumulation, and fatty acid composition by genetic engineering.
Agave
L. is a genus of economic importance, and many of the 166 species in the American plant genus
Agave
L. inhabit high-stress environments, which makes the genus promising for facing global ...climate change. However, sustainable use of economically important species without interfering with their ecology and evolution requires generating knowledge about the factors responsible for their genetic variation and diversity and, on this basis, their adaptation and speciation. Few genetic studies exploring the evolutionary relationships, speciation processes, genetic variability and diversity within species of
Agave
are currently available. Analyses of rDNA loci have been performed with the purpose of determining the genetic variability and diversity of the genus
Agave
, and these loci have been used as genetic markers of ploidy. However, the factors involved in the diversity of 5S rDNA regions in
Agave
have not yet been studied in depth. Our study explored the possible mechanisms of genetic (retroelements) and epigenetic (DNA methylation) diversity in 5S rDNA regions in
Agave
. We characterized the 5S rDNA gene tandem in species of the genus with different ploidy numbers and determined the levels of methylation in 13 haplotypes of 5S rDNA and in four non-transcribed spacers (NTS). Our results showed highly dynamic methylation with a high percentage in haplotypes and NTS of 5S rDNA regions in
Agave
. The characterization of the 5S rDNA tandem array in
Agave
revealed vestigial remains of the
Cassandra
terminal-repeat retrotransposon in miniature (TRIM). Our analysis supported previous results suggesting that in species of
Agave
L., regulation and diversity of 5S rDNA regions are controlled by coordinated genetic and epigenetic events, which will vary according to the species and the level of ploidy. The artificial pressure to which some agave crops are subjected may affect the mechanisms of evolution of gene 5S rDNA.
Polyploidy has been widely described in many Agave L. species, but its influence on environmental response to stress is still unknown. With the objective of knowing the morphological adaptations and ...regulation responses of genes related to biotic (LEA) and abiotic (NBS-LRR) stress in species of Agave with different levels of ploidy, and how these factors contribute to major response of Agave against environmental stresses, we analyzed 16 morphological trials on five accessions of three species (Agave tequilana Weber, Agave angustifolia Haw. and Agave fourcroydes Lem.) with different ploidy levels (2n=2x=60 2n=3x=90, 2n=5x=150, 2n=6x=180) and evaluated the expression of NBS-LRR and LEA genes regulated by biotic and abiotic stress. It was possible to associate some morphological traits (spines, nuclei, and stomata) to ploidy level. The genetic characterization of stress-related genes NBS-LRR induced by pathogenic infection and LEA by heat or saline stresses indicated that amino acid sequence analysis in these genes showed more substitutions in higher ploidy level accessions of A. fourcroydes Lem. ‘Sac Ki’ (2n=5x=150) and A. angustifolia Haw. ‘Chelem Ki’ (2n=6x=180), and a higher LEA and NBS-LRR representativeness when compared to their diploid and triploid counterparts. In all studied Agave accessions expression of LEA and NBS-LRR genes was induced by saline or heat stresses or by infection with Erwinia carotovora, respectively. The transcriptional activation was also higher in A. angustifolia Haw. ‘Chelem Ki’ (2n=6x=180) and A. fourcroydes ‘Sac Ki’ (2n=5x=150) than in their diploid and triploid counterparts, which suggests higher adaptation to stress. Finally, the diploid accession A. tequilana Weber ‘Azul’ showed a differentiated genetic profile relative to other Agave accessions. The differences include similar or higher genetic representativeness and transcript accumulation of LEA and NBS-LRR genes than in polyploid (2n=5x=150 and 2n=6x=180) Agave accessions, thus suggesting a differentiated selection pressure for overcoming the lower ploidy level of the diploid A. tequilana Weber ‘Azul’.
Two ribosomal DNA regions (5S and 18S) were characterized in three economically important species of Agave Linnaeus, 1753 namely Agave tequilana Weber, 1902; Agave angustifolia Haworth, 1915; and ...Agave fourcroydes Lemaire, 1864 which are used to produce several products such as tequila, mezcal, and hard fibers. Characterization included Agave L. accessions with different ploidy levels (2n = 2x = 60 to 2n = 6 × = 180) in order to relate this factor with copy number, haplotype number, expression profile, and predictable functionality of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences. Only total rDNA copy number (5S and 18S) was related with ploidy level. Main differences were found in the 5S rDNA gene since it exhibited different genetic traits of Agave L. accession. In this gene, four different allelic groups (I, 105; II, 107; III, 110; and IV, 111 bp) were detected, which have probably evolved separately, thus exhibiting different expression profiles and different haplotype occurrence. Allelic groups III and IV exhibit the highest number of total and expressed copies in all Agave L. accessions. Non-redundant haplotypes were probably more functional in these allelic groups. Differences between the Agave L. accessions were more clearly observed in the most cultivated accession, A. tequilana (2n = 2 × = 60), where the allelic group III shows non-redundant haplotypes and is transcriptionally upregulated suggesting a different evolutionary pressure on this Agave L. accession.
The aim of this study was to compare international reference values (RV) for tibial and radial speed of sound (SoS) assessed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in pediatric populations. These values ...were compared by age and country of origin in a systematic review with meta-analysis from studies published on QUS (Sunlight Omnisense). A search was carried out in electronic databases. Nine studies with 6963 patients were included in the meta-analysis. For the newborn populations, 3 studies (from Italy, Portugal, and Israel) were used. These studies included subjects with 27-42 wk gestational age. The mean difference (Portugal-Israel) was found to be 23.62 m/s 95% confidence interval CI 6.29, 40.95. Additionally, no difference was found between Italy-Portugal (p = 0.69), or Italy-Israel (p = 0.28). In pediatric populations, we compared 8 studies from Canada, Mexico, Israel, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. No significant differences found for SoS RV between Israel-Turkey, Israel-Greece, or Israel-Canada (p > 0.05). Significant differences were found in Mexico-Israel -105.29 m/s (95% CI -140.05, -70.54) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Portugal -115.14 m/s (95% CI -164.86, -65.42) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Greece: -239.14 m/s (95% CI -267.67, -210.62) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Turkey: -115.14 m/s (95% CI -164.86, -65.42) (p < 0.001); Mexico-Canada: -113.51 m/s (95% CI -140.25, -86.77) (p < 0.001).This study demonstrates that there are differences in SoS-RV obtained by tibial and radial QUS in pediatric populations between Mexico and other countries (Israel, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and Canada).
Three-dimensional distribution of larval fish habitats was analyzed, from the upper limit of the shallow oxygen minimum zone (~0.2mL/L) to the sea surface, in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean off ...Mexico in February 2010. The upper limit rises from ~250m depth in the entrance of the Gulf of California to ~80m depth off Cabo Corrientes. Three larval fish habitats were defined statistically: (i) a Gulf of California habitat dominated by Anchoa spp. larvae (epipelagic species), constrained to the oxygenated surface layer (>3.5mL/L) in and above the thermocline (~60m depth), and separated by a salinity front from the Tropical Pacific habitat; (ii) a Tropical Pacific habitat, dominated by Vinciguerria lucetia larvae (mesopelagic species), located throughout the sampled water column, but with the highest abundance in the oxygenated upper layer above the thermocline; (iii) an Oxygen Minimum habitat defined mostly below the thermocline in hypoxic (<1mL/L; ~70m depth) and anoxic (<0.2mL/L; ~80m depth) water off Cabo Corrientes. This subsurface hypoxic habitat had the highest species richness and larval abundance, with dominance of Bregmaceros bathymaster, an endemic neritic pelagic species; which was an unexpected result. This may be associated with the shoaling of the upper limit of the shallow oxygen minimum zone near the coast, a result of the strong costal upwelling detected by the Bakun Index. In this region of strong and semi-continuous coastal upwelling in the eastern tropical Pacific off Mexico, the shallow hypoxic water does not have dramatic effects on the total larval fish abundance but appears to affect species composition.
•The largest hypoxic region of the world is the eastern tropical Pacific off Mexico.•Three larval fish habitats were defined with different affinities to dissolved oxygen.•A larval fish habitat was defined in hypoxic and anoxic water off Cabo Corrientes.•This habitat was the most abundant of the study dominated by Bregmaceros bathymaster.•No dramatic effect of growth of hypoxic water on larval fish abundance was apparent.
