Biology subjects

Angulo, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Angulo, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Advancing the design of the kissing bug kill trap for surveillance of triatomines

Standardized surveillance and control of kissing bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), the insect vectors of the Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, remains difficult. The Kissing Bug Kill Trap consists of solar powered LED lights mounted over a column of black funnels. It operates autonomously to capture, kill and preserve adult triatomines. We conducted experiments from 2022-2024 testing potential ways to improve trap performance, ease of deployment, and minimize cost. Thirteen prototypes evaluated in Texas, Guatemala, and Mexico captured 1,531 triatomines. In 2022-2023 we selected a six-funnel trap suspended from a single support pole with an angle bracket, and with four LED lights and a solar panel mounted above the rain-guard, as a reference trap. In 2023, traps with smaller funnels, blue funnels, and blue lights were inferior to the reference trap based on high by-catch of other arthropods and/or fewer triatomines caught per day. In 2024, traps with more or fewer than six funnels or with LED lights mounted on or below the rain guard did not outperform the reference trap. The experiments added five new triatomine species to the four already known to be caught by the Kissing Bug Kill Trap and revealed differences and similarities in phenology of dispersal flights of Triatoma gerstaeckeri over a three-year period in Texas. The reference trap was selected as the pre-commercial prototype, based on its suitability for triatomine surveillance and potential for reducing the risk of T. cruzi infection by intercepting dispersing adult triatomines before they reach human habitats.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Expanding the Distribution and Phylogenetic Insights of Chrysobrycon mojicai in the Peruvian Amazon: Morphological and Molecular Analyses with Taxonomic Corrections

This study focuses on the genus Chrysobrycon, particularly Chrysobrycon mojicai, which was initially described in the Amacayacu National Natural Park in Colombia. Here, we document a new geographical record of C. mojicai in various locations of the Peruvian Amazon, including the Nanay, Putumayo, Tapiche, and Tigre Rivers basins. Based on morphological, morphometric, and molecular analyses, we confirm the presence of C. mojicai in these new locations, expanding its known distribution. Morphological features such as the distinct shape of the hypertrophied scales and the specific arrangement of teeth were used to confirm its identity. Molecular data, obtained through cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing, provide additional validation and contribute to understanding its phylogenetic relationships within the Stevardiini tribe. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals unresolved relationships within the tribe, particularly in the genus Gephyrocharax, and highlights discrepancies in the current taxonomic framework, with C. mojicai showing close genetic affinity to C. myersi from the Pachitea River basin. The study also presents morphometric information of the holotype of C. mojicai, specifically the percentages of measurements relative to the head, which were not included in the original description. It also includes ecological observations of the habitats where C. mojicai was collected, noting its presence in blackwater and mixed water streams characterized by fluctuating water levels and specific physical and chemical parameters. Additionally, the study restricts the distribution of C. guahibo for Colombia and invalidates the COI sequence of Hysteronotus megalostomus available in molecular databases. This research not only expands the known distribution of C. mojicai but also underscores the need for further taxonomic and ecological studies to resolve existing ambiguities within the Stevardiini subfamily.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2022

Discovering hub genes involved in the pathophysiological impact of COVID-19 on diabetes kidney disease by differential gene expression and interactome analysis

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a frequently chronic kidney pathology derived from diabetes comorbidity. This condition has irreversible damage, and its risk factor increases with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The prognostic outcome for diabetic patients with COVID-19 is dismal, even with intensive medical treatment. However, there is still scarce information on critical genes involved in the pathophysiological impact of COVID-19 on DKD. Herein, we characterize differential expression gene (DEG) profiles and determine hub genes undergoing transcriptional reprogramming in both disease conditions. Out of 995 DEGs, we identified 42 DEGs shared with COVID-19 pathways. Enrichment analysis elucidated that they are significantly induced with implications for immune and inflammatory responses. By performing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and applying topological methods, we determine the following five hub genes STAT1, IRF7, ISG15, MX1, and OAS1. Then, by network deconvolution, we determine their co-expressed gene modules. Moreover, we validate the conservancy of their upregulation using the Coronascape database (DB). Finally, tissue-specific regulation of the five predictive hub genes indicates that OAS1 and MX1 expression levels are lower in healthy kidney tissue. Altogether, our results suggest that these genes could play an essential role in developing severe outcomes of COVID-19 in DKD patients.

bioinformatics↗