Background Artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities are producing contamination with heavy metals and metalloids (HMM) into soils and water worldwide. The HMM are considered as one of the major abiotic stresses due to their long-term persistence in soil. In this context, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) confer resistance to a variety of abiotic plant stressors including HMM. However, little is known regarding the diversity and composition of AMF communities in heavy metal polluted sites in Ecuador. Methods In order to investigate the AMF diversity, root samples and associated soil of six plant species were collected from two sites polluted by heavy metals, located in Zamora-Chinchipe province, Ecuador. The AMF 18S nrDNA genetic region was analyzed and sequenced, and fungal OTUs were defined based on 99% sequence similarity. Results were contrasted with AMF communities from a natural forest and from reforestation sites located in the same province and with available sequences in GenBank. Results The main pollutants in soils were Pb, Zn, Hg, Cd and Cu with concentrations exceeding the soil reference value for agricultural use. Molecular phylogeny and OTU delimitation showed 19 OTUs, the family Glomeraceae was the most OTU-rich followed by Archaeosporaceae, Acaulosporaceae, Ambisporaceae and Paraglomeraceae. Most of the OTUs (11 of 19) have been found at other locations worldwide, 14 OTUs were proven from nearby non-contaminated sites in Zamora-Chinchipe. Conclusion Our study showed that there are no specialized OTUs at the studied HMM polluted sites, but rather generalists adapted to a wide variety of habitats. Their potential role in phytoremediation approaches remains to be investigated.

No abstract

La actividad académica Hackathon multidisciplinario fue aplicada a diferentes grupos de estudiantes de varios componentes de matemáticas de la Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja en el semestre octubre 2016 – marzo 2017. Los estudiantes inscritos a la actividad formaron grupos multidisciplinarios, generando propuestas a la pregunta: ¿Qué problema o necesidad social has detectado y te gustaría resolver? La actividad académica se ejecutó en 3 etapas informativas, de ensayo y evaluación. A través de la aplicación de la metodología Desing thinking los grupos de trabajo diseñaron posibles soluciones a los retos planteados. Estas soluciones fueron definidas en el ámbito tecnológico, alimentario, ambiental, farmacológico y educativo. La comisión de docentes eligió la mejor solución en base a la rúbrica de evaluación, y posteriormente, se realizó una retroalimentación a cada una de las propuestas. Los resultados obtenidos de este proyecto muestran que el estudiante conoce y aplica el uso de nuevas metodologías de aprendizaje para ser adaptadas en futuros proyectos en ciencia, medicina, educación y biotecnología.

Análisis de comunidades bacterianas asociadas a la rizósfera de especies vegetales Miconia zamorensis y Erato polymnoides en suelos contaminados por metales pesados.Bacterial community analysis associated to rhizosphere plant species of Miconia zamorensis and Erato polymnoides in heavy metals polluted soils.

(1) Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and trends in cancer incidence and mortality are increasing over last years in Loja-Ecuador. Cancer treatment is expensive because of social and economic issues which force the patients to look for other alternatives. One such alternative treatment is ivermectin-based antiparasitic, which is commonly used in treating cattle. This paper analyzed ivermectin use as cancer treatment in the rural area of the Loja province and the medical opinion regarding the use of ivermectin in humans. (2) Methods: The study used a mixed methodology using different sampling techniques such as observation, surveys, and interviews. (3) Results: The main findings show that 19% of the participants diagnosed with cancer take medicines based on ivermectin as alternative therapy to the cancer control and treatment without leaving treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, while 81% use it to treat other diseases. (4) Conclusions: Finally, we identify that the interviewed not only use IVM as anticancer treatment, but it is also used as a treatment against other diseases. Although the participants’ opinions indicate that they feel improvements in their health after the third dose, the specialist considers that there is no authorization to prescribe these alternative treatments. In addition, they confirmed that currently, there is no scientific knowledge about the application of these treatments in humans and they do not recommend their application. Thus, the anticancer mechanism of ivermectin remains to be further investigated; therefore, we consider that it is important to continue with this research by proposing a new stage to evaluate and determine the pharmacological action of this type of drug through an in vitro study in different cultures of cancer cells.