Abstract A good strategy to prevent early deposition of bacteria that can form biofilms is the application of antimicrobial coatings to existing surfaces, however this field has been little explored and coatings are often non uniform in thickness. A homogeneous film of R-Carvone-Octadiene (ppCop) was deposited on different substrates (coverslip, minced coverslip and fabric) by cold plasma copolymerization to study the influence of the substrate on antimicrobial activity and show clues about the influence of octadiene on copolymerization. The ppCop showed better antimicrobial activity results on the substrate with higher effective contact area, highlighting the influence of this variable on antimicrobial activity. The ppCop deposited on minced coverslip showed an inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria by 48.69 ±0.08% and 49.31 ±0.58% respectively, with an average roughness of 14.1±0.02 nm and a static water contact angle of 79± 0.4°. The ppCop showed no cytotoxicity to the human cell line.

Resumen: En noviembre de 2021 se informó sobre una nueva variante de preocupación (VoC) de SARS-CoV-2, la llamada variante Ómicron (B.1.1.529), que llamó la atención de los expertos por su elevado número de mutaciones en la proteína S. Presentamos a un paciente masculino de 51 años proveniente de Sudáfrica que comienza con síntomas respiratorios a las 48 horas de su llegada a la Ciudad de México. Durante su estancia en urgencias se obtuvo prueba de antígeno y RT-qPCR para SARS-CoV-2 positivas, con mínima alteración de parámetros de laboratorio y sin evidencia de afección pulmonar por tomografía. El paciente presentó evolución favorable y fue dado de alta seis días después. El día 29 de noviembre se recibió la notificación del Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos (InDRE) de que se trataba de la variante Ómicron del virus SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract: On November 2021 a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VoC), named Omicron (B.1.1.529) was reported. This variant draw attention for its high number of mutations on the S protein. We present a 51 year old male, from South Africa who started with respiratory symptoms 48 hours after his arrival to Mexico City. During his stay at the ER a positive antigen and positive RT-qPCR were obtained. Minimal laboratory alterations were observed with no evidence of lung involvement on the CT scan. The outcome was favorable and was discharged six days later. On November 29, a notification from InDRE was received, reporting that the sequence obtained was compatible with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

The expansion of the agricultural frontier produces fragmented landscapes, habitat decline and loss of diversity. In these landscapes, remnants of riparian vegetation are important elements to maintain biodiversity. We tested the hypothesis that a riparian remnant keeps similar values of dung beetles diversity, compared with a rainforest fragment. Therefore, we expected to fnd similar values of diversity between the riparian remnant and the adjacent rainforest fragment. The study was carried out in an area of the buffer zone of Natural Paramillo National Park of Córdoba, Colombia. A linear transect including 15 pitfall traps (30 m apart from each) was established at each sampling sites between April and May 2011. We collected 575 specimens, which were distributed among 26 species. The results show a community of dung beetles more equitable and diverse inside remnant forest riparian compared to forest fragment. The forest fragment was dominated by a species Canthon sp.01H that concentrated about 40% of the individuals captured, while in the remnant riparian forest three species were co-dominant Canthon sp.01H, S. moniliatus and Canthidium sp.02H. Beta diversity was <1.4 (maximum beta = 2.0). However, the biggest difference in the assemblies is presented in dominant species in each habitat. Results highlight the importance of riparian vegetation to the diversity of dung beetles to keep particular assemblages differing of the forest fragment mainly in dominant species. The remnant riparian forest was also important to present values of diversity that duplicate the forest fragment diversity and conserves some different species, contributing to the diversity of this landscape. However, this result should be taken with caution due to the particular condition of our study system that involved a comparison between a single fragment and a single riparian remnant. Future studies are needed for further generalization.

La expansión de la frontera agropecuaria genera fragmentación de paisajes, disminución de hábitats y pérdida de diversidad. En estos paisajes, los remanentes de vegetación ribereña son elementos que ayudan a mantener la biodiversidad. En este estudio se evaluó la hipótesis de que un remanente ribereño puede mantener una diversidad de escarabajos coprófagos comparable a un fragmento de bosque húmedo tropical. Por lo tanto, se esperaba encontrar valores similares de diversidad entre el remanente ribereño y un fragmento de bosque húmedo adyacente. El estudio se realizó en una localidad de la zona amortiguadora del Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo (PNNP) en Córdoba, Colombia. Se realizaron dos muestreos en la época de lluvias de 2011. En cada uno se trazó una transecta lineal por sitio y se instalaron 15 trampas "pitfall" separadas 30 m entre sí. Se recolectaron 575 individuos de 26 especies. En comparación con el fragmento de bosque, la comunidad de escarabajos fue más equitativa y diversa en el remanente ribereño. El fragmento de bosque estuvo dominado por la especie Canthon sp.01H, que concentró ~40% de los individuos colectados, mientras que en el remanente ribereño hubo codominancia de las especies Canthon sp.01H, Scybalocanthon moniliatus y Canthidium sp.02H. La diversidad beta fue <1.4 (beta máxima = 2); sin embargo, la mayor diferencia en los ensambles se presentó en las especies dominantes de cada hábitat. Los resultados sugieren que las zonas ribereñas son importantes para la diversidad de los escarabajos coprófagos por tener valores más altos de diversidad y por presentar ensambles particulares, diferenciándose del bosque en las especies dominantes. Sin embargo, este resultado debe tomarse con precaución debido a la condición particular de nuestro sistema de estudio, que involucró una comparación entre un solo fragmento de bosque y un remanente ribereño. Para poder generalizar se necesitarán más trabajos en el futuro.

Ostrich raising around the world have some key factors and farming profit depend largely on information and ability of farmers to rear these animals. Non fertilized eggs from ostriches are discharged in the reproduction season. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are microorganisms involved in animal and human diseases. In order to optimize the use of sub products of ostrich raising, non fertilized eggs of four selected birds were utilized for development of polyclonal IgY antibodies. The birds were immunized (200ug/animal) with purified recombinant staphylococcal enterotoxin C (recSEC) and synthetic recRAP, both derived from S. aureus, and recBFPA and recEspB involved in E. coli pathogenicity, diluted in FCA injected in the braquial muscle. Two subsequent immunization steps with 21 days intervals were repeated in 0,85% saline in FIA. Blood and eggs samples were collected before and after immunization steps. Egg yolk immunoglobulins were purified by precipitation with 19% sodium sulfate and 20% ammonium sulphate methodologies. Purified IgY 50µL aliquots were incubated in 850µL BHI broth containing 50µL inoculums of five strains of S. aureus and five strains of E.coli during four hours at 37ºC. Growth inhibition was evaluated followed by photometry reading (DO550nm). Egg yolk IgY preparation from hiperimmunized birds contained antibodies that inhibited significantly (p<0,05) growth of strains tested. Potential use of ostrich IgY polyclonal antibodies as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool is proposed for diseased animals.

Neste trabalho verificou-se a atividade do extrato aquoso de folhas de Polymnia sonchifolia no crescimento e na produção de aflatoxinas B1 por Aspergillus flavus. Suspensões de esporos de A. flavus foram inoculadas em 50 mL de meio de YES com diferentes concentrações do extrato aquoso. A aflatoxina B1 foi extraída e analisada por cromatografia de camada delgada e quantificada por fotodensitometria. Todas as concentrações testadas inibiram a produção de aflatoxina B1. O extrato aquoso apresentou citotoxicidade em células Vero somente em concentrações acima de 500 µg/mL.

The aqueous extract from Polymnia sonchifolia leaves (AE) was tested for inhibitory activity on aflatoxin B1(AFB1) production and growth of Aspergillus flavus. The cytotoxicity of AE on Vero cells was also performed. Suspensions of A. flavus spores were inoculated into 50 mL of YES medium together with different concentrations of the AE. The aflatoxin B1 was extracted, analyzed by thin layer chromatography and quantified by photodensitometry. All the concentrations of AE induced inhibition of AFB1 production. The aqueous extract showed in vitro cytotoxicity to Vero cells only at concentrations above 500 µg/mL.