Free amino acid and acylcarnitine values in Ursus americanus Pallas 1780 (black bear) from Northeastern Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Ursus americanus Pallas 1780 is the largest carnivore and the only ursid in Mexico. It is considered an endangered species in the country because its distribution and population have been reduced by up to 80% because of habitat loss or furtive hunting. These problems can lead to a diet change, which could result in metabolic disorders, such as fatty acid ß-oxidation defects or organic acid metabolism disorders. In our study, a free amino acid and acylcarnitine profile was characterized. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were drawn from nine free-ranging black bears in a period of five months, from June to October of 2019 in Northeastern Mexico, and 12 amino acids and 30 acylcarnitines were determined and quantified. Age differences were observed in the samples through ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: Only three metabolites showed a significant difference with age: alanine (Ala) [cubs vs juvenile], free-carnitine (C0) [juvenile vs cubs] and acetylcarnitine (C2) [cubs vs adults and juvenile vs cubs]. CONCLUSION: Metabolites with variability due to age were identified, making them potential biomarkers to monitor metabolic status as early diagnosis in endangered species. This is the first study of black bear amino acid and acylcarnitine profiles, and the values found could be used as reference for free amino acid and acylcarnitine concentrations in further studies of the species.

Suppression of Midgut Microbiota Impact Pyrethroid Susceptibility in Aedes aegypti.

Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that transmits viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. The insect's microbiota is recognized for regulating several biological processes, including digestion, metabolism, egg production, development, and immune response. However, the role of the bacteria involved in insecticide susceptibility has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the resident microbiota in a field population of A. aegypti to evaluate its role associated with susceptibility to the insecticides permethrin and deltamethrin. Mosquitoes were fed 10% sucrose mixed with antibiotics and then exposed to insecticides using a diagnostic dose. DNA was extracted, and sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA was carried out on Illumina® MiSeq™. Proteobacteria (92.4%) and Bacteroidetes (7.6%) were the phyla, which are most abundant in mosquitoes fed with sucrose 10%. After exposure to permethrin, the most abundant bacterial species were Pantoea agglomerans (38.4%) and Pseudomonas azotoformans-fluorescens-synxantha (14.2%). Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (38.4%) and Ps. azotoformans-fluorescens-synxantha (26.1%) were the most abundant after exposure to deltamethrin. Our results showed a decrease in mosquitoes' survival when exposed to permethrin, while no difference in survival when exposed to deltamethrin when the microbiota was modified. We found that the change in microbiota modifies the response of mosquitoes to permethrin. These results are essential for a better understanding of mosquito physiology in response to insecticides.

First record of Tamarixiadahlsteni Zuparko (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), a parasitoid of Triozaeugeniae Froggatt (Hemiptera, Triozidae) and current status of the Tamarixia species in Mexico.

Parasitic wasps of the genus Tamarixia represent important biological control agents of members of the true bug group, Psylloidea, and are host specific; therefore, they can be used to control insect pests. In this study we report, for the first time, the presence of the parasitoid Tamarixiadahlsteni in Mexico and its mitochondrial barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). We also review the species diversity of the genus Tamarixia in Mexico.

miRNAs of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus 1762) conserved in six orders of the class Insecta.

Aedes aegypti L. is the most important vector of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, Mayaro, and yellow fever, which impact millions of people's health per year. MicroRNA profile has been described in some mosquito species as being important for biological processes such as digestion of blood, oviposition, sexual differentiation, insecticide resistance, and pathogens dissemination. We identified the miRNAs of Ae. aegypti females, males and eggs of a reference insecticide susceptible strain New Orleans and compared them with those other insects to determine miRNA fingerprint by new-generation sequencing. The sequences were analyzed using data mining tools and categorization, followed by differential expression analysis and conservation with other insects. A total of 55 conserved miRNAs were identified, of which 34 were of holometabolous insects and 21 shared with hemimetabolous insects. Of these miRNAs, 32 had differential expression within the stages analyzed. Three predominant functions of miRNA were related to embryonic development regulation, metamorphosis, and basal functions. The findings of this research describe new information on Ae. aegypti physiology which could be useful for the development of new control strategies, particularly in mosquito development and metamorphosis processes.

Parasitoids of Chrysopidae Eggs in Sinaloa Mexico.

The eggs parasitoids Myartsevaia chrysopae (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Telenomus lobatus Johnson, Telenomus tridentatus Johnson (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman and Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are reported for the first time or in new localities in Mexico. Their occurrence was first discovered in 2018 during a survey of parasitism on chrysopid eggs, conducted on Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (Poales: Poaceae) and Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae) in different locations in Sinaloa, Mexico. The identity of the parasitoids was determined by morphology and for both species of Telenomus the barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (CO1) was generated to facilitate molecular diagnosis of these species in future studies.

The phenotype, psychotype and genotype of bruxism.

Bruxism is a jaw muscle activity that involves physio-pathological, psycho-social, hereditary and genetic factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between self-reported bruxism, anxiety, and neuroticism personality trait with the rs6313 polymorphism in the gene HTR2A. A sample of 171 subjects of both sexes (14-53 years of age) was included. The control group (group 1, n=60) exhibited no signs or symptoms of bruxism. The case group had signs and symptoms of bruxism (n=112) and was subdivided into group 2, bruxism during sleep (n=22); group 3, awake bruxism (n=44); and group 4 combined bruxism (n=46). As diagnostic tools, the Self-Reported Bruxism Questionnaire (SBQ), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated (EPQR-A) were used. HTR2A (rs6313) SNPs were determined by qPCR for all the participants. The packages SPSS, maxLik and EPI-INFO were used for data analysis. The combined bruxism group reported higher scores in bruxism symptoms, mean = 32.21; anxiety symptoms, mean = 14.80; and neuroticism, mean = 3.26. Combined bruxism was associated with a higher degree of neuroticism (OR=15.0; CI 1.52-148.32) and anxiety in grade 3-moderate (OR=3.56; CI 1.27-10.03), and grade 4-severe (OR=8.40; CI 1.45-48.61), as determined using EPISODE computer software. Genotypic homogeneity analysis revealed no significant differences in allele frequency (P=0.612) among the four groups. The population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (maxLik package). In conclusion, the three instruments confirm traits of bruxism, anxiety and neuroticism in individuals with bruxism. These data were ratified when the sample was divided by genotypic homogeneity. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the groups in the SNPs rs6313 from the HTR2A gene.

Profiles of Amino Acids and Acylcarnitines Related with Insecticide Exposure in Culex quinquefasciatus (Say).

Culex quinquefasciatus Say is a vector of many pathogens of humans, and both domestic and wild animals. Personal protection, reduction of larval habitats, and chemical control are the best ways to reduce mosquito bites and, therefore, the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens. Currently, to reduce the risk of transmission, the pyrethroids, and other insecticide groups have been extensively used to control both larvae and adult mosquitoes. In this context, amino acids and acylcarnitines have never been associated with insecticide exposure and or insecticide resistance. It has been suggested that changes in acylcarnitines and amino acids profiles could be a powerful diagnostic tool for metabolic alterations. Monitoring these changes could help to better understand the mechanisms involved in insecticide resistance, complementing the strategies for managing this phenomenon in the integrated resistance management. The purpose of the study was to determine the amino acids and acylcarnitines profiles in larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus after the exposure to different insecticides. Bioassays were performed on Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae exposed to the diagnostic doses (DD) of the insecticides chlorpyrifos (0.001 µg/mL), temephos (0.002 µg/mL) and permethrin (0.01 µg/mL). In each sample, we analyzed the profile of 12 amino acids and 31 acylcarnitines by LC-MS/MS. A t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences between groups and corrections of q-values. Results indicates three changes, the amino acids arginine (ARG), free carnitine (C0) and acetyl-carnitine (C2) that could be involved in energy production and insecticide detoxification. We confirmed that concentrations of amino acids and acylcarnitines in Cx. quinquefasciatus vary with respect to different insecticides. The information generated contributes to understand the possible mechanisms and metabolic changes occurring during insecticide exposure.

Association of the polymorphism 12109g>A from the REN gene as a risk factor for preterm birth.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm birth is the most important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is a multifactorial disease with different etiologies, including genetic factors. Genetic variability is represented by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of proteins involved in the contractile activity. We determine the association between SNP 12109G> A in REN associated with preterm birth and premature rupture of membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study of cases ( N=112, 22-36 weeks of gestation; mean: 31, 95% confidence interval 30.7-32.2) and controls ( N=66; 38-40 weeks of gestation from the last menstrual period; mean: 39.8, 95% confidence interval 38.9-39.4) was performed. Genomic DNA was isolated in all patients from peripheral blood. The SNP 12109G> A ( Mbo I) in REN was typified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: A significant difference in the case group for the SNP 12109G>A was observed. The A allele was increased in women with preterm birth (81% cases vs. 15% control, p<0.0000004). There was also a significant difference between genotypes, mainly an excess of G/A heterozygotes in women with preterm birth (60% cases vs. 23% controls). The phenotype 12109G> A has odds ratio 6.62 (95% confidence interval 3.14-14.15), which means a high risk of preterm birth/premature rupture of membrane in presence of allele A, both in homozygotes and in heterozygotes. CONCLUSION: Allelic frequency of A of SNP 12109G>A was higher in women with preterm birth than in women with normal vaginal delivery and could be considered a risk factor.