Unmasking seasonal cycles in a high-input dairy herd in a hot environment: How climate shapes dynamics of milk yield, reproduction, and productive status.

This study aimed to predict the annual herd milk yield, lactation, and reproductive cycle stages in a high-input dairy herd in a zone with prolonged thermal stress. Also, the impact of climatic conditions on milk yield and productive and reproductive status was assessed. An autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used in data fitting to predict future monthly herd milk yield and reproductive status using data from 2014 to 2020. Based on the annual total milk output, the highest predicted percentage of milk yield based on the yearly milk production was in February (9.1%; 95% CI = 8.3-9.9) and the lowest in August (6.9%; 95% CI = 6.0-7.9). The predicted highest percentage of pregnant cows for 2021 was in May (61.8; 95% CI = 53.0-70.5) and the lowest for November (33.2%; 95% CI = 19.9-46.5). The monthly percentage of dry cows in this study showed a steady trend across years; the predicted highest percentage was in September (20.1%; CI = 16.4-23.7) and the lowest in March (7.5%; 4.0-11.0). The predicted days in milk (DIM) were lower in September (158; CI = 103-213) and highest in May (220; 95% CI = 181-259). Percentage of calvings was seasonal, with the predicted maximum percentage of calvings occurring in September (10.3%; CI = 8.0-12.5) and the minimum in April (3.2%; CI = 1.0-5.5). The highest predicted culling rate for the year ensuing the present data occurred in November (4.3%; 95% CI = 3.2-5.4) and the lowest in April (2.5%; 95% CI = 1.4-3.5). It was concluded that meteorological factors strongly influenced rhythms of monthly milk yield and reproductive status. Also, ARIMA models robustly estimated and forecasted productive and reproductive events in a dairy herd in a hot environment.

Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis of O-hexyl 2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate by reptile sera.

This study shows the EDTA-resistant, Ca2+ and Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis of O-hexyl 2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate (HDCP) compound in reptiles sera determined by spectrophotometry UV/Vis and chiral chromatography. Samples of ten reptile species were incubated with aliquot of 100 or 400 µM HDCP in presence of 100 or 300 µM Cu2+, or 2.5 mM Ca2+ or 5 mM EDTA at 37 °C for 30-60 min. The results shown an activator effect of Cu2+ on HDCP hydrolysis in freshwater turtles sera (Trachemys scripta, Chelydra serpentina and Macrochelys temminckii) because the levels of 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCP; product hydrolysis) were similar (∼37 µM DCP) to chicken serum (positive control group). The marine turtles (Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata) and crocodiles (Crocodylusacutus and Crocodylus moreletii) showed ∼50% less HDCPase activity (13-17 µM DCP) compared to the HDCPase activity of the freshwater turtle species. Terrestrial reptile species (snakes and lizards) showed around 25% of activity (7-13 µM DCP) with both copper concentrations. These Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis were stereospecific to R(+)-HDCP (p˂0.05) in the three freshwater turtle species that showed similar hydrolysis to the chicken serum. However, the Ca2+ did not show a significant activating effect on the HDCPase activity (1-8 µM DCP) in any reptile serum. Their hydrolysis levels were very similar to those of EDTA-resistant activity. The present study demonstrates a Cu2+-dependent A-esterase (HDCPase) activity in turtles and points serum albumin as the cuproprotein responsible for this activity, reinforcing its N-terminal sequence (DAEH) as a catalytic center.

Severe COVID-19 patients have severe vitamin D deficiency in Northeast Mexico / Los pacientes graves con COVID-19 tienen deficiencia grave de vitamina D en el noreste de México

Objective: the association between vitamin D and COVID-19 severity is not consistent. We compared prevalences and analyzed the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity in Northeast Mexico. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study with individuals consecutively included at a referral diagnostic center during March-September 2020 (n = 181). Concurrently, every patient admitted to intensive care was also consecutively included (n = 116). Serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL was considered vitamin D deficiency. Descriptive, ANOVA, and multivariate ordinal regression analyses were performed. Results: vitamin D deficiency prevalence was 63.8 % (95 % CI, 54.7, 72.0) in severe COVID-19; 25.6 % (95 % CI, 17.4, 36.0) in mild COVID-19; and 42.4 % (95 % CI, 33.2, 52.3) in non-diseased individuals. Vitamin D deficiency increased 5 times the odds of severe COVID-19 (95 % CI, 1.1, 24.3), independently of sex, age, body mass index, and inflammatory markers. Conclusions: this study is the first report of vitamin D deficiency in Northeast Mexico. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with COVID-19 severity (AU)

Objetivo: la asociación entre la vitamina D y la gravedad de la COVID-19 no es consistente. Se comparó la prevalencia y se analizó la asociación de la deficiencia de vitamina D con la gravedad de los pacientes con COVID-19 en el noreste de México. Métodos: este fue un estudio transversal. Se incluyó consecutivamente a individuos de un centro de diagnóstico de referencia durante marzo-septiembre de 2020 (n = 181). Paralelamente, se reclutó a todos los pacientes que ingresaron a cuidados intensivos en ese mismo periodo (n = 116). Se consideró que había deficiencia de vitamina D ante cifras de 25(OH)D sérica < 20 ng/ml. Se realizaron un análisis descriptivo, un ANOVA y una regresión ordinal multivariante. Resultados: la prevalencia de la deficiencia de vitamina D fue del 63,8 % (IC del 95 %: 54,7; 72,0) en la COVID-19 grave, del 25,6 % (IC del 95 %: 17,4; 36,0) en la COVID-19 leve y del 42,4 % (IC del 95 %: 33,2; 52,3) sin COVID-19. La deficiencia aumentó 5 veces las probabilidades de una COVID-19 grave (IC del 95 %: 1,1; 23,9) independientemente del sexo, la edad, el índice de masa corporal y los marcadores inflamatorios. Conclusiones: este estudio es el primer informe de la deficiencia de vitamina D en el noreste de México. La deficiencia de vitamina D se asoció con la gravedad de la COVID-19 (AU)

Detección microscópica y molecular de Plasmodium spp. en flamencos (Phoenicopterus ruber) mantenidos bajo cuidado humano en Zoofari, Centro de Conservación, Morelos, México / Microscopic and molecular detection of Plasmodium spp. in American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) kept under human care in Zoofari Conservation center in Morelos, Mexico

Objetivos: Establecer la prevalencia de Plasmodium en la población de Phoenicopterus ruber mantenidos bajo cuidado humano en el Centro de Conservación Zoofari, Morelos, México. Configuración y Diseño: Se han presentado reportes de vectores de malaria aviar pertenecientes a la familia Culicidae en estado de Morelos, México. La malaria aviar puede afectar diversas especies de aves incluyendo Phoenicopteriformes (Phoeniconaias minor, Phoenicopterus chilensis) la población de interés podría ser portadora subclínica de Plasmodium. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio exploratorio en el total de la población de Phoenicopterus ruber. En la investigación se implementaron dos técnicas de diagnóstico de hemoparásitos, la primera corresponde a análisis de frotis sanguíneos teñidos con una tinción rápida tipo Romanowsky los cuales fueron evaluados mediante microscopía óptica convencional y la segunda concierne la realización de la PCR utilizando iniciadores para amplificar ADN mitocondrial de tres especies de hemoparásitos (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon). Análisis Estadístico utilizado. los resultados negativos del estudio no permiten realizar análisis estadístico. Resultados: En la evaluación mediante microscopía convencional no se evidenció en ningún frotis sanguíneo, presencia de merogonias o gránulos de hemozoína, obteniendo una totalidad de 80 muestras negativas. Las PCR realizadas bajo las condiciones utilizadas no demostraron amplificación exitosa de ADN parasitario. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio corresponde al primero de este tipo en la región. Después de implementar dos técnicas diferentes de diagnóstico para malaria aviar no se obtiene evidencia de la presencia de hemoparásitos en la población de Phoenicopterus ruber. Este tipo de investigaciones permite entender la dinámica e identificar enfermedades emergentes que puedan afectar a los animales y al hombre en una determinada región geográfica.(AU)

Aims: The goal of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium in the population of Phoenicopterus ruber kept under human care at Zoofari Conservation Center, Morelos, Mexico. Settings and Design: Avian malaria vectors belonging to the family Culicidae has been reported at different Mexican States. Malaria infections compromise different host ranges including Phoenicopteriformes (Phoeniconaias minor, Phoenicopterus chilensis). The singled population housed in Zoofari, Conservation Center may harbor subclinical malaria (Plasmodium) infections. Methods and Material: A descriptive cross- sectional study in a singled population of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). We compared and contrasted two diagnostic techniques, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for avian haemosporidia. In this study 80 blood smears stained in a Romanowsky stain were examined by microscopy, also molecular analysis were conducted, PCR was performed with the use of primers that amplifies parasite mtDNA from species of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon. Results: A total of 80 Phoenicopterus ruber birds were examined for malarial parasites using both microscopy and PCR diagnostic methods, none of them were positives. Conclusions: Our study corresponds to the first of its kind in the region. After implementing two different diagnostic methods for avian malaria, no evidence was obtained of the presence of hemoparasites in the Phoenicopterus ruber population. This type of research allows us to understand the dynamics and identify emerging diseases that can affect animals and man in a certain geographic region.(AU)

Use of coumarins as complementary medicine with an integrative approach against cervical cancer: background and mechanisms of action.

Cervical cancer is characterized by the cellular transformation caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), favoring cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Cervical cancer is conventionally treated with radiation therapy, and chemotherapy focused on the destruction of tumor cells. However, chemoresistance and low selectivity between tumor and non-tumor cells have been reported, causing side effects in patients. Metabolites of natural origin have shown selectivity against tumor cells, suggesting their use for reducing the side effects caused by drugs used in conventional therapy. Among these compounds, several natural coumarins stand out, such as auraptene, scopoletin, osthole, and praeruptorin, of which antiproliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive activity have been reported. Auraptene, scopoletin, osthole, and praeruptorin show a cytotoxic or antiproliferative effect on cervical tumor cells, arresting the cell cycle by inducing the overexpression of negative regulators of the cell cycle, or inducing cell death by increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and decreasing that of anti-apoptotic proteins. On the other hand, auraptene, scopoletin, and praeruptorin inhibit the capacity for migration, invasion, and metastasis of cervical tumor cells, mainly by inhibiting the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9. The PI3K/Akt signal pathway appears to be central to the anti-tumor activity of the coumarins analyzed in this review. In addition, auraptene, osthole, and praeruptorin are useful in sensitizing tumor cells to radiotherapy or chemotherapeutic molecules, such as FOLFOX, cisplatin, or DOX. Coumarins offer an excellent possibility for developing new drugs as complementary medicine with an integrative approach against cervical cancer.

Evidence for Succession and Putative Metabolic Roles of Fungi and Bacteria in the Farming Mutualism of the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus affinis.

The bacterial and fungal community involved in ambrosia beetle fungiculture remains poorly studied compared to the famous fungus-farming ants and termites. Here we studied microbial community dynamics of laboratory nests, adults, and brood during the life cycle of the sugarcane shot hole borer, Xyleborus affinis We identified a total of 40 fungal and 428 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from which only five fungi (a Raffaelea fungus and four ascomycete yeasts) and four bacterial genera (Stenotrophomonas, Enterobacter, Burkholderia, and Ochrobactrum) can be considered the core community playing the most relevant symbiotic role. Both the fungal and bacterial populations varied significantly during the beetle's life cycle. While the ascomycete yeasts were the main colonizers of the gallery early on, the Raffaelea and other filamentous fungi appeared after day 10, at the time when larval hatching happened. Regarding bacteria, Stenotrophomonas and Enterobacter dominated overall but decreased in foundresses and brood with age. Finally, inferred analyses of the putative metabolic capabilities of the bacterial microbiome revealed that they are involved in (i) degradation of fungal and plant polymers, (ii) fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and (iii) essential amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin provisioning. Overall, our results suggest that yeasts and bacteria are more strongly involved in supporting the beetle-fungus farming symbiosis than previously thought.IMPORTANCE Ambrosia beetles farm their own food fungi within tunnel systems in wood and are among the three insect lineages performing agriculture (the others are fungus-farming ants and termites). In ambrosia beetles, primary ambrosia fungus cultivars have been regarded essential, whereas other microbes have been more or less ignored. Our KEGG analyses suggest so far unknown roles of yeasts and bacterial symbionts, by preparing the tunnel walls for the primary ambrosia fungi. This preparation includes enzymatic degradation of wood, essential amino acid production, and nitrogen fixation. The latter is especially exciting because if it turns out to be present in vivo in ambrosia beetles, all farming animals (including humans) are dependent on atmospheric nitrogen fertilization of their crops. As previous internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding approaches failed on covering the primary ambrosia fungi, our 18S metabarcoding approach can also serve as a template for future studies on the ambrosia beetle-fungus symbiosis.

Anterior chamber associated immune deviation to cytosolic neural antigens avoids self-reactivity after optic nerve injury and polarizes the retinal environment to an anti-inflammatory profile.

It has been hypothesized that anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) to neural antigens induced prior to central nervous system injury can inhibit self-reactivity and lessen secondary degeneration. This work evaluated the effect of ACAID induced to three neural tissue-derived extracts (whole extract, cytosolic extract, CE; or organelle-membrane extract) prior to optic nerve injury on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. The results show that only ACAID to the CE increased RGC survival at 7 and14 days post-injury (dpi). This effect was achieved by retinal polarization towards an anti-inflammatory profile, driven by regulatory T cells and M2-type macrophages at 7 dpi.

Partnerships Between Ambrosia Beetles and Fungi: Lineage-Specific Promiscuity Among Vectors of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola.

Nutritional mutualisms that ambrosia beetles have with fungi are poorly understood. Although these interactions were initially thought to be specific associations with a primary symbiont, there is increasing evidence that some of these fungi are associated with, and move among, multiple beetle partners. We examined culturable fungi recovered from mycangia of ambrosia beetles associated with trees of Persea humilis (silk bay, one site) and P. americana (avocado, six commercial orchards) that were affected by laurel wilt, an invasive disease caused by a symbiont, Raffaelea lauricola, of an Asian ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. Fungi were isolated from 20 adult females of X. glabratus from silk bay and 70 each of Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus, Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborinus saxesenii, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus from avocado. With partial sequences of ribosomal (LSU and SSU) and nuclear (ß-tubulin) genes, one to several operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of fungi were identified in assayed individuals. Distinct populations of fungi were recovered from each of the examined beetle species. Raffaelea lauricola was present in all beetles except X. saxesenii and X. crassiusculus, and Raffaelea spp. predominated in Xyleborus spp. Raffaelea arxii, R. subalba, and R. subfusca were present in more than a single species of Xyleborus, and R. arxii was the most abundant symbiont in both X. affinis and X. volvulus. Raffaelea aguacate was detected for the first time in an ambrosia beetle (X. bispinatus). Yeasts (Ascomycota, Saccharomycotina) were found consistently in the mycangia of the examined beetles, and distinct, putatively co-adapted populations of these fungi were associated with each beetle species. Greater understandings are needed for how mycangia in ambrosia beetles interact with fungi, including yeasts which play currently underresearched roles in these insects.