• Eight COVID-19 severely affected regions with varied meteorological factors were included. • Multiple regression analysis was used to correlate the weather condition and the spread of COVID-19. • Rt, an indicator to reflect the transmission of infectious diseases, was adopted to analyze the correlation. • Absolute humidity is negatively correlated to the spread of COVID-19 in the selected regions. • Decreasing trend of absolute humidity raises the alarming of the potential COVID-19 spread.

Physiological and molecular response of Anadara tuberculosa (Arcoida: Arcidae) to salinity stress. The pustulose ark A. tuberculosa is an emblematic species of mangrove ecosystem that is currently in a vulnerable condition. The development of its aquaculture, to begin with genetic breeding programs, requires the identification of molecular biomarkers, particularly those associated with salinity stress. With this purpose, specimens of A. tuberculosa were collected from the adjacent mangroves of Puerto Pizarro bay (Tumbes, Perú), from January 2015 to February 2016. Different assays (groups of ten animals in triplicate) were undertaken in separated periods of 16 days: hypo-osmotic stress (extreme: 5, 10 ppt); (Moderate: 15, 25 ppt) and no stress (control group: 33 ppt). The presence of salinity stress biomarkers was assessed at the genetic level throughout PCR detection of 19 genes reported to be key actors in osmoregulation, and at the proteomic level with the sequencing of peptides (tandem mass spectrometry MALDI TOF/TOF), expressed in ark tissues exposed to different salinities. None of the tested genetic markers could be amplified by PCR, suggesting that A. tuberculosa has significant genetic differences compared to other mollusks. Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry on A. tuberculosa gill tissue, allowed to identify 26 peptides expressed in presential and differential forms at different salinities, highlighting possible markers such as HSP70 and trans-membrane chloride channel transportation protein, to be related with salinity adaptation. These amino acid sequences will allow the design of target specific primers for A. tuberculosa, to implement future research in ecophysiology of this important fishery resource. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (3): 1142-1151. Epub 2017 September 01.

The pustulose ark, Anadara tuberculosa, is considered as an emblematic species of the east Pacific mangrove ecosystem. The decline of its populations is of increasing preoccupation, in particular in Peru. The use of hatchery-produced larvae for stock enhancement or aquaculture is attractive but raises strong criticisms from an ecological point of view, as it could conduce to loss of genetic diversity in wild populations and favor the disease spreading from hatcheries to the environment. In this works, spat production through traditional aquaculture/biotechnology technologies was associated with pathogen molecular diagnostics and with genetic diversity estimation to produce specific pathogen-free (SPF) larvae from genetically characterized populations. All PCR and nested-PCR diagnostics of common bivalve pathogens, such as Bonamia, Martelia, Perkinsus and OsHV1, led to negative results for healthy or moribund adults and spat samples. Microbiological and molecular analyses realized during mortalities led to identifying a pathogenic Pseudomonas strain present on culture tank walls, in moribund spats and adults´ blood. Population genetic variation was assessed by mitochondrial COI gene sequences which showed 36.7% haplotype diversity. This study with hatchery production, pathology and genetic components for an overexploited native bivalve represents an original model for successful mollusk stock enhancement or/and innovative aquaculture programs.

Wild populations of the pustulose ark, Anadara tuberculosa (Bivalvia), an emblematic species of the East Pacific mangrove ecosystem declined in South American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) mainly due to overharvesting and habitat loss or degradation. Understanding the genetic aspects of geographic variations and population structure of A. tuberculosa , currently unknown, appears as a priority to fishery authorities in order to elaborate integrated and collaborative conservation policies for fishery management, aquaculture, and stock enhancement programs. We used mtDNA sequence data to investigate haplotype diversity, genetic structure, and demography of A. tuberculosa . Results indicate genetic homogeneity of populations distributed north and south of the equator, respectively. However, statistically significant differentiation emerged between northern and southern populations with pairwise ф ST values ranging between 0.036 and 0.092. The oceanic current system acting in the area (Panama Current and Humboldt Current) might play a role in limiting the larval dispersal of the species, still poorly understood. Demography reconstruction supported recent population expansion, possibly started after last glacial maximum. Our results would suggest separate and independent management of populations north and south of the equator.