Biology subjects

Sanchez-Flores, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Sanchez-Flores, A..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Comparative analysis of the EF-1α Intergenic Region in Babesia divergens isolates: Insights into TA Repeat Variation and Potential Regulatory Implications

Babesia divergens, a zoonotic tick-borne pathogen, causes bovine and human babesiosis in Europe. The Elongation Factor 1 alpha (EF-1) protein is important in many cellular processes and has emerged as a possible target for subunit vaccine development against parasitic infections, and its intergenic region (IG) is an important tool for genetic manipulation of Babesia parasites. While the EF-1 locus of B. divergens has been described, structural variation between isolates was poorly defined. In order to fill this gap, we performed a comparative analysis of the EF-1-IG region in B. divergens human (Rouen 87, and Spanish sample), and bovine (Turkiye) host isolates. Our findings revealed both conserved and variable elements, particularly in TA nucleotide repeat numbers and IG sequence length. The Spanish isolate exhibited the highest TA repeat expansion, whereas the Rouen 87 strain had the shortest IG region. Given the known role of repeat-rich promoter elements in gene regulation, these differences may influence EF-1 transcription. Additionally, these findings provide insights into the evolutionary divergence of B. divergens and its host adaptation mechanisms. This study establishes a foundation for future gene editing and transfection strategies, where selecting intergenic sequences with varying TA repeats could optimize transfection efficiency and explain phenotypic differences between isolates from different hosts or regions.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Multiomics analysis reveals B. MO1 as a distinct Babesia species and provides insights into its evolution and virulence.

Babesiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia, is an emerging tick-borne disease of significance for both human and animal health. Babesia parasites infect erythrocytes of vertebrate hosts where they develop and multiply rapidly to cause the pathological symptoms associated with the disease. The identification of various Babesia species underscores the ongoing risk of new zoonotic pathogens capable of infecting humans, a concern amplified by anthropogenic activities and environmental shifts impacting the distribution and transmission dynamics of parasites, their vectors, and reservoir hosts. One such species, Babesia MO1, previously implicated in severe cases of human babesiosis in the midwestern United States, was initially considered closely related to B. divergens, the predominant agent of human babesiosis in Europe. Yet, uncertainties persist regarding whether these pathogens represent distinct variants of the same species or are entirely separate species. We show that although both B. MO1 and B. divergens share similar genome sizes, comprising three nuclear chromosomes, one linear mitochondrial chromosome, and one circular apicoplast chromosome, major differences exist in terms of genomic sequence divergence, gene functions, transcription profiles, replication rates and susceptibility to antiparasitic drugs. Furthermore, both pathogens have evolved distinct classes of multigene families, crucial for their pathogenicity and adaptation to specific mammalian hosts. Leveraging genomic information for B. MO1, B. divergens, and other members of the Babesiidae family within Apicomplexa provides valuable insights into the evolution, diversity, and virulence of these parasites. This knowledge serves as a critical tool in preemptively addressing the emergence and rapid transmission of more virulent strains.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Regional epidemic dynamics and Delta variant diversity resulted in varying rates of spread of Omicron-BA.1 in Mexico

The Omicron subvariant BA.1 of SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in November 2021 and quickly spread worldwide, displacing the Delta variant. In Mexico, this subvariant began spreading during the first week of December 2021 and became dominant in the next three weeks, causing the fourth COVID-19 epidemiological surge in the country. Unlike previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, BA.1 did not acquire local substitutions nor exhibited a geographically distinct circulation pattern in Mexico. However, a regional difference in the speed of the replacement of the Delta variant was observed, as some northern states showed persistence of Delta lineages well into February 2022. Mexican states were divided into four regions (North, Central North, Central South, and Southeast) based on the lineage circulation before the dominance of BA.1 to study possible causes for this difference. For each region, the time to fixation of BA.1, the diversity of Delta sublineages in the weeks preceding BA.1 entry, the population density, and the level of virus circulation during the inter-wave interval were determined. An association between a faster Omicron spread and lower Delta diversity, as well as fewer COVID-19 cases during the Delta-BA.1.x inter-wave period, was observed. For example, the North region exhibited the slowest spread but had the highest diversity of Delta sublineages and the greatest number of inter-wave cases relative to the maximum amount of the virus circulating in the region, whereas the Southeast region showed the opposite. Viral diversity and the relative abundance of the virus in a particular area around the time of the introduction of a new lineage seem to have influenced the spread dynamics. Nonetheless, if there is a significant difference in the fitness of the variants or the time allowed for the competition is sufficient, it seems the fitter virus will eventually become dominant, as observed in the eventual dominance of the BA.1.x variant in Mexico. Impact statementThe surveillance of lineage circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has helped identify variants that have a transmission advantage and are of concern to public health and to track the virus dispersion accurately. However, many factors contributing to differences in lineage spread dynamics beyond the acquisition of specific mutations remain poorly understood. In this work, a description of BA.1 entry and dispersion within Mexico is presented, and which factors potentially affected the spread rates of the Omicron variant BA.1 among geographical regions in the country are analyzed, underlining the importance of population density, the proportion of active cases, and viral lineage diversity and identity before the entry of BA.1. Data summaryThis work was carried out using data shared through the GISAID initiative. All sequences and metadate are available through GISAID with the accession EPI_SET_220927gw, accession numbers and metadata are also reported in the supplemental material of this article. Epidemiological data was obtained though the Secretaria de Salud website (https://www.gob.mx/salud/documentos/datos-abiertos-152127),

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Comparing the evolutionary dynamics of predominant SARS-CoV-2 virus lineages co-circulating in Mexico

Over 200 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages have been observed in Mexico by November 2021. To investigate lineage replacement dynamics, we applied a phylodynamic approach and explored the evolutionary trajectories of five dominant lineages that circulated during the first year of local transmission. For most lineages, peaks in sampling frequencies coincided with different epidemiological waves of infection in Mexico. Lineages B.1.1.222 and B.1.1.519 exhibited similar dynamics, constituting clades that likely originated in Mexico and persisted for >12 months. Lineages B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.617.2 also displayed similar dynamics, characterized by multiple introduction events leading to a few successful extended local transmission chains that persisted for several months. For the largest B.1.617.2 clades, we further explored viral lineage movements across Mexico. Many clades were located within the south region of the country, suggesting that this area played a key role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Decoding The Nuclear Genome of The Human Pathogen Babesia duncani Shed Light on its Virulence, Drug Susceptibility and Evolution among Apicomplexa

Babesia species are tick-transmitted apicomplexan pathogens and the causative agents of babesiosis, a malaria-like disease of major medical and veterinary importance. Of the different species of Babesia reported so far, Babesia duncani causes severe to lethal infection in patients. Despite the highly virulent nature of this parasite and the risk it may pose as an emerging pathogen, little is known about its biology, metabolic requirements, and pathogenesis. B. duncani is unique among apicomplexan parasites that infect red blood cells in that it can be continuously cultured in vitro in human erythrocytes but can also infect mice leading to fulminant babesiosis infection and death. Here we have taken advantage of the recent advances in the propagation of this parasite in vitro and in vivo to conduct detailed molecular, genomic and transcriptomic analyses and to gain insights into its biology. We report the assembly, 3D structure, and annotation of the nuclear genome of this parasite as well as its transcriptomic profile and an atlas of its metabolism during its intraerythrocytic life cycle. Detailed examination of the B. duncani genome and comparative genomic analyses identified new classes of candidate virulence factors, suitable antigens for diagnosis of active infection, and several attractive drug targets. Translational analyses and efficacy studies identified highly potent inhibitors of B. duncani thus enriching the pipeline of small molecules that could be developed as effective therapies for the treatment of human babesiosis.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Hi-C deconvolution of a textile-dye degrader microbiome reveals novel taxonomic landscapes and link phenotypic potential to individual genomes

Microbial biodiversity is represented by genomic landscapes populating dissimilar environments on earth. These genomic landscapes usually contain microbial functional signatures connected with the community phenotypes. Here we assess the genomic microbiodiversity landscape of a river associated microbiome enriched with 200 mg.mL-1 of anthraquinone Deep-Blue 35 (); we subjected to nutritional selection a composite sample from four different sites from a local river basin (Morelos, Mexico). This paper explores the resultant textile-dye microbiome, and infer links between predicted biodegradative functions and the individual genome fractions. By using a proximity-ligation deconvolution method, we deconvoluted 97 genome composites, with 80% of this been potentially novel species associated with the textile-dye environment. The main determinants of taxonomic composition were the genera Methanobacterium, Clostridium, and Cupriavidus constituting 50, 22, and 11 % of the total population profile respectively; also we observe an extended distribution of novel taxa without clear taxonomic standing. Removal of 50% chemical oxygen demand (COD) with 23% decolorization was observed after 30 days after dye enrichment. By metagenome wide analysis we postulate that sequence elements related to catalase-peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and laccase enzymes may be causally associated with the textile-dye degradation phenotype under our study conditions. This study prompts rapid genomic screening in order to select statistically represented functional features, reducing costs, and experimental efforts. As well as predicting phenotypes within complex communities under environmental pressures.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genomic analysis of early SARS-CoV-2 strains introduced in Mexico

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected most countries in the world. Studying the evolution and transmission patterns in different countries is crucial to implement effective strategies for disease control and prevention. In this work, we present the full genome sequence for 17 SARS-CoV-2 isolates corresponding to the earliest sampled cases in Mexico. Global and local phylogenomics, coupled with mutational analysis, consistently revealed that these viral sequences are distributed within 2 known lineages, the SARS-CoV-2 lineage A/G, containing mostly sequences from North America, and the lineage B/S containing mainly sequences from Europe. Based on the exposure history of the cases and on the phylogenomic analysis, we characterized fourteen independent introduction events. Additionally, three cases with no travel history were identified. We found evidence that two of these cases represent local transmission cases occurring in Mexico during mid-March 2020, denoting the earliest events described in the country. Within this Mexican cluster, we also identified an H49Y amino acid change in the spike protein. This mutation is a homoplasy occurring independently through time and space, and may function as a molecular marker to follow on any further spread of these viral variants throughout the country. Our results depict the general picture of the SARS-CoV-2 variants introduced at the beginning of the outbreak in Mexico, setting the foundation for future surveillance efforts. This work is the result of the collaboration of five institutions into one research consortium: three public health institutes and two universities. From the beginning of this work, it was agreed that the experimental leader of each institution would share the first authorship. Those were the criteria followed to assign first co-first authorship in this manuscript. The order of the other authors was randomly assigned. IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the introduction, spread and establishment of SARS-CoV-2 within distinct human populations is crucial to implement effective control strategies as well as the evolution of the pandemics. In this work, we describe that the initial virus strains introduced in Mexico came from Europe and the United States and the virus was circulating locally in the country as early as mid-March. We also found evidence for early local transmission of strains having the mutation H49Y in the Spike protein, that could be further used as a molecular marker to follow viral spread within the country and the region.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

One step towards bioremediating a heavily polluted river: Metagenomic insights on the function of microbial community

The objective of this study is to understand the functional potential of the microbial community related to bioremediation activity and its relationship with the pollution of each site to enhance the future design of more accurate bioremediation processes. Water samples were collected at four sampling sites along the Apatlaco River (S1-S4), and a whole metagenome shotgun sequencing was performed to know and understand the microbial community involved in bioremediation. Additionally, HMMER was used for searching sequence homologs related to PET and polystyrene biodegradation and metal transformation in Apatlaco River metagenomes. The Apatlaco River is characterized by the presence of a broad spectrum of microorganisms with the metabolic potential to carry out bioremediation activities. Every site along the Apatlaco River has a particular community to perform bioremediation activities. The first site S1 has Thiomonas, Polaromonas, Pedobacter, and Myroides, S2 has Pedobacter, Myroides, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, S3, Thiomonas, Myroides, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Aeromonas; S4, Thiomonas, Myroides and Pseudomonas, Thauera.\n\nFurthermore, every site is rich in specific enzymes such as S1 has dioxygenase and dehydrogenase, which can degrade Catechol, Biphenyl, Naphthalene, and Phthalate. While, S2 and S3 are rich in dioxygenase and decarboxylating dehydrogenases to degrade Toluene, Fluorobenzoate, Xylene, Phenylpropanoate, and Phenol. S3 also has monooxygenases which degrade Benzene, and all the earlier mentioned enzymes were also found at S4.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Water quality assessments and metagenomic analysis of the polluted river Apatlaco, Mexico

The aim of this study is to analyze the water quality parameters and bacterial diversity and thereby understand the effect of water quality on the microbial population structure in the river. The following parameters: total coliforms, chemical oxygen demand, harness, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, total dissolved solids, and temperature were analyzing along 17 sampling points in the river. The worst levels of pollution were 510 mg/L chemical oxygen demand, 7 mg/L nitrite, 45 mg/L nitrate, 2 mg/L dissolved oxygen, and 756 mg/L of total dissolved solids. Whole metagenome shotgun sequencing was performed at 4 key points along the river (P1,P7,P10 and P17), the first point had clean water and the other points were polluted, as a result of this pollution, the structure of microbial communities along the river have changed. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the most representative phyla with a relative abundance of 57 and 43% respectively for P1, 82 and 15% for P7, 69 and 27% for P10 and 87 and 10% for the last point P17. P1 is rich in microorganism such as Limnohabitans a planktonic bacterium very common in freshwater ecosystems. However, in P7, P10 and P17 are rich in opportunistic pathogens such as Acinetobacter Arcobacter and Myroides that endangers the health of around 1.6 million people which live around the area. These results elucidate the influence of the pollution on the microbial community and the likely effects on the health of the people around.

ecology↗