BackgroundThe aim of this study was to detect and molecularly identify Rickettsia spp. in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) collected from free-roaming dogs in 30 communities from five municipalities in the south of Coahuila State, northern Mexico, where Rocky Mountain spotted fever is endemic.MethodsIn total, 60 dogs from each municipality were examined for engorged ticks. DNA was isolated from tick pools and conventional PCR assays targeting the 23S-5S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer and outer membrane protein (ompA) gene of Rickettsia spp. were performed.ResultsAll ticks (n = 1238) were morphologically identified as R. sanguineus (s.l.). Six pools (each with six engorged females) from four municipalities were positive to Rickettsia spp. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of R. rickettsii and R. rhipicephali in R. sanguineus (s.l.) in these ticks.ConclusionsThis study confirms the presence of R. rickettsii and R. rhipicephali in R. sanguineus (s.l.) from stray dogs in the south of Coahuila. This suggests that stray dogs may play a role in the inter-municipal dissemination of infected ticks in this region. Further research is required to assess whether ticks from stray dogs could serve as good indicators for the molecular xenomonitoring of R. rickettsii in this region. Considering that R. sanguineus (s.l.) is a proven vector of R. rickettsii in Mexico, increased awareness regarding permanent tick control in dogs is warranted.

The aim of this study was to determine the soil microbiome throughout mass sequencing in coffee plantations managed with either an organic (OAM; i.e., bio-fertilizers Azospirillum brasilense and Glomus intraradices) or a conventional (CAM; i.e., traditional NPK-fertilization) agronomic systems. Soil microbiome samples were collected in tropical eastern Mexico (Veracruz, 19°28’ N & 96° 52’ W), with annual average temperature and rainfall of 24.8° C, and 882.6 mm, respectively. Upon DNA soil-microbiome extraction, the V3-V4 16S rRNA region was amplified, and sequenced (Illumina). Results were analyzed with QIIME based on the EzBioCloud reference. Diverse phyla (n=16), classes (n=40), orders (n=90), families (n=135) and genera (n=333) were identified. The diversity index values were similar in both treatments, with Shannon's being 9.7 and Simpson's 0.99. While the phylum Proteobacteria was more abundant in CAM-soils and classified as copiotrophic, the phylum Acidobacteria was more abundant in OAM-soils and classified as oligotrophic. This classification may be related to the application of microorganisms and their effect on the soil´s state of organic matter and carbon fractions. Our research outcomes indicate that the application of bio-fertilizers promoted an increased presence of Acidobacteria, a phylum positively correlated with organic matter while significantly involved in carbon sequestration. Undisputable, metagenomics emerges as an interesting up-to-date genomic technology for unveiling the hidden content of the soil microbiome black box.

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This review highlights the relationship between the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and H2S-reactive sulfur species (RSS). These three metabolic pathways, collectively termed reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species (RONSS), constitute a conglomerate of reactions that function as an energy dissipation mechanism, in addition to allowing environmental signals to be transduced into cellular information. This information, in the form of proteins with posttranslational modifications or signaling metabolites derived from RONSS, serves as an inducer of many processes for redoxtasis and metabolic adjustment to the changing environmental conditions to which plants are subjected. Although it is thought that the role of reactive chemical species was originally energy dissipation, during evolution they seem to form a cluster of RONSS that, in addition to dissipating excess excitation potential or reducing potential, also fulfils essential signaling functions that play a vital role in the stress acclimation of plants. Signaling occurs by synthesizing many biomolecules that modify the activity of transcription factors and through modifications in thiol groups of enzymes. The result is a series of adjustments in plants’ gene expression, biochemistry, and physiology. Therefore, we present an overview of the synthesis and functions of the RONSS, considering the importance and implications in agronomic management, particularly on the biostimulation of crops.