Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas

Onion is among the most consumed vegetables in Uruguay, grown in the northwestern and southern regions of the country. The onion supply presents interannual variations associated with significant postharvest losses, mainly caused by bacterial rots. Besides bulb rotting, onion leaf lesions as well as infections on seed-stalks during seed production may be devastating for some varieties under conducive conditions. This research aimed to identify the causal agents of bulb rots and leaf blight of onion crops in Uruguay. Symptomatic bulbs, seeds-stalks, and leaves were collected from commercial fields from 2015 to 2020. Bacterial colonies were isolated and identified at genera level using physiological tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A collection of 59 Pantoea spp. isolates was obtained (11 from bulbs and 48 from leaves and seeds-stalks). Multilocus sequence analysis using four housekeeping genes (rpoB, gyrB, leuS, and fusA) allowed the assignment of the isolates to five Pantoea species: P. ananatis, P. agglomerans, P. allii, P. eucalypti, and P. vagans. The last two species were not previously reported as onion pathogens elsewhere. The ability to cause disease symptoms was tested by leaf inoculation and red onion scale assays. P. ananatis isolates showed the highest aggressiveness in both assays. Specific isolates from P. allii (MAI 6022), P. eucalypti (MAI 6036), P. vagans (MAI 6050), and Pantoea sp. (MAI 6049) ranked second in aggressiveness on onion leaves, whereas only three isolates belonging to P. eucalypti (MAI 6036 and MAI 6058) and P. agglomerans (MAI 6045) exhibited the same scale-clearing phenotype as P. ananatis. Leaf inoculation assays were also performed on a set of eight onion cultivars and breeding lines. Overall, P. ananatis MAI 6032 showed the highest aggressiveness in all tested cultivars, followed by P. eucalypti MAI 6036. The presence of new reported bacterial species leads to complex disease management and highlights the need for further studies on virulence factors and the epidemiology of these pathogens.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, different countries are showing strengths and weaknesses of both healthcare systems and technology access. Until now in Uruguay, COVID-19 has been very much under control. Evidence-based policies, a strong public health care system, and scientific innovations are believed to be the main factors of success. Uruguayan evidence-based policies consider several inputs, including scientific, medical-epidemiological, economic, and educational aspects. A Scientific Advisory Group regularly makes specific recommendations on health and data science to a team composed of high caliber figures in the government. This team evaluates and submits the reports and suggestions to the President of the Republic, for making final decisions concerning different responses to the pandemic and the economic reactivation. Designing and implementing such evidence-based policies require a vigorous scientific community and a government that gives importance to scientific and technical assessments, and an effective knowledge on brokering mechanisms.

Chytridiomycosis, an emergent infectious disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is considered one of the drivers of the current amphibian biodiversity loss. To inform endangered species conservation efforts, it is essential to improve our knowledge about the abiotic and biotic factors that influence Bd infection dynamics in the wild. Here, we analyzed variation of Bd infection in the redbelly toad Melanophryniscus montevidensis, a threatened bufonid from Uruguay. We tested the influence of temperature, precipitation, season, and host population size on Bd prevalence and intensity. Additionally, considering the sub-lethal effects of Bd, we tested if these variables, potentially through their effect on Bd, also explain the variation in host body condition. We determined a high Bd prevalence of 41% (100/241), and that population size influenced both Bd prevalence and infection intensity. We identified an effect of precipitation and season on Bd infection intensity and an effect of season on toad body condition. In addition, we found a negative effect of infection intensity on body condition; moreover, while some toads cleared the infection, their body condition did not improve, suggesting a long-term cost. This is the first report on host population size as an important factor in Bd infection dynamics in a threatened anuran species, and seasonal demographic changes appear to play an important role in the dynamics. Finally, we highlight the need for monitoring Bd in this and other endangered amphibian populations, especially those within the genus Melanophryniscus, which includes several Endangered and Data Deficient species in South America.

The formation of the Punta del Este Basin is associated with the fragmentation of West Gondwana and consequently the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean during the Early Cretaceous. The basin comprises the Cretaceous depocentre of the Uruguayan continental margin (UCM). This study provides a seismic stratigraphic analysis of the Cretaceous post-rift sedimentary interval in the basin by defining its seismic facies, depositional sequences, shelf-edge trajectories and palaeophysiographical settings. All depositional sequences of the Cretaceous post-rift sedimentary interval represent intense basinward progradation marked by two depositional trends. The Lower Cretaceous sedimentary interval exhibits a dominant flat-to-descending shelf-edge trajectory with a migration of up to 37 km. Deposition occurred over an irregular physiography with proximal NW–SE and distal WSW–ENE trends controlled by the characteristics of the volcanic margin. The basin geometry has strong implications for understanding the deposition of a deep-water turbidite system in the UCM, with a strong analogy to the recent discovery of the Venus well in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. Towards the Late Cretaceous, the NW–SE depositional trend was controlled by a NE–SW slope break, indicating deposition over the south and north highs. A low-angle ascending shelf-edge trajectory was observed, with a migration of up to 16 km.

In the past few years there has been an increasing interest for the study of honey bee populations that are naturally resistant to the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, aiming to identify the mechanisms that allow the bees to limit the reproduction of the mite. In eastern Uruguay there are still bees resistant to mites that survive without acaricides. In order to determine if the differential resistance to V. destructor was maintained in other environments, a reciprocal transplant experiment was performed between the mite-resistant bee colonies and the mite-susceptible bee colonies from the east and the west of the country, respectively, infesting bees with local mites. In both regions, the mite-resistant colonies expressed a higher hygienic behavior and presented a higher phoretic mites/reproductive mites and mites in drone cells/mites in worker cells ratio than the mite-susceptible colonies. All the mite-susceptible colonies died during fall–winter, while a considerable number of mite-resistant colonies survived until spring, especially in the east of the country. This study shows that the bees in the east of the country maintain in good measure the resistance to V. destructor in other regions and leaves open the possibility that the mites of the two populations have biases in the reproductive behavior.

ABSTRACT Patched‐related (Ptr) is a transmembrane protein implicated in developmental processes in Drosophila melanogaster , yet its precise role remains incompletely understood. Here, we use Ptr 23c null mutants to investigate the functional significance of Ptr through the entire life cycle monitoring survival during embryonic, larval, pupal and adult development, and studying larval locomotion and muscle structure. We report that Ptr 23c larvae displayed impaired hatching, indicative of defective embryonic development. Moreover, mutant larvae exhibited reduced mobility and lethargy, suggesting a potential involvement of Ptr in neuromuscular function. Morphological analysis of somatic muscles in mutant larvae revealed enlarged cell nuclei. Despite high preadult mortality, a subset of Ptr 23c mutant adults display an unexpected extension in lifespan compared to controls, implicating Ptr in the regulation of longevity. Our findings provide critical insights into the multifaceted role of Ptr in Drosophila development, highlighting its contributions to post‐embryonic survival, neuromuscular function, and lifespan regulation. This study underscores the significance of exploring broader genetic networks to unravel the complexities of developmental processes.

Las enfermedades emergentes, no son eventos epidemiológicos nuevos: desde la antigüedad existieron epidemias, inclusive en territorio uruguayo. La globalización con intervención de múltiples factores, acentuó el dinamismo biológico de los agentes infecciosos y de las poblaciones humanas. Considerando como enfermedad emergente la ocasionada por un agente nuevo o la que produce un número de casos que sobrepasa el número esperado, que invade un área geográfica diferente o reaparece luego de una prolongada desaparición, se intentó recuperar memorias de epidemias ocurridas, en Uruguay, durante el siglo XX. Se destacó además, el progreso de los conocimientos sobre la biología de los agentes infecciosos y su control. Muchas de las enfermedades endémico-epidémicas de las primeras décadas del siglo, al finalizar este fueron controladas por vacunas. También subsisten brotes de otras enfermedades trasmisibles o aparecen etiologías desconocidas. Para lograr toda esta información se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica, pero se localizaron relativamente pocas publicaciones de epidemias bacterianas o virales. Sin embargo, la información recuperada permitió seguir el comportamiento de las enfermedades prevalentes, apreciar a través de los años, la evolución de sus brotes epidémicos, los éxitos y fracasos de recursos para su control, así como la capacidad de subsistencia de la mayoría de los agentes infecciosos. En el mundo y en Uruguay, durante el siglo XX, fue sorprendente la expansión de los conocimientos que partiendo de una incipiente microbiología alcanzaron un alto nivel científico / técnico que permitió comenzar una nueva centuria con auspiciosas posibilidades para enfrentar persistentes y imprevisibles desafíos.

A strategy to promote innovation in organizations consists of the adoption of Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) management systems. This paper aims at describing the current situation of the new R&D&I Management Model (MGPDI) that is applicable to any organization, independently of the size, type and activity. The novelty is in the definition of the: 1) Process Reference Model MR-MGPDI based on innovation best practices and on requirements of the Brazilian ABNT NBR 16501 and the Spanish AENOR UNE 166001-166002 standards; 2) Process Assessment Model MA-MGPDI based on the family of standards ISO/IEC 33000 for process assessment. Until December 2016 there are three goals: 1) to develop, test and publish two MGPDI guides (General Guide and Assessment Guide); 2) train the first implementation consultants, assessors and instructors; 3) perform three pilot of MGPDI implementation and assessment in organizations in southern Brazil, including tests with two online software support tools (SGPDI and MGPDI AA). MGPDI is a process model with great potential of replication in Latin America and Caribbean countries.

As doenças emergentes não são novos eventos epidemiológicos: existiram epidemias, mesmo no território uruguaio. A globalização com múltiplos fatores de intervenção acentuou o dinamismo biológico de agentes infecciosos e populações humanas. Considerando que uma doença emergente é causada por um novo agente ou que produz uma série de casos que excedem o número esperado, que invade uma área geográfica diferente ou reaparece após um desaparecimento prolongado, foram feitas tentativas para recuperar memórias de epidemias ocorridas no Uruguai durante o século XX. Também destacou o progresso do conhecimento sobre a biologia dos agentes infecciosos e seu controle. Muitas das doenças epidêmicas endêmicas das primeiras décadas do século, no final deste século foram controladas por vacinas. Há também surtos de outras doenças transmissíveis ou aparecem etiologias desconhecidas. Para obter toda essa informação, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica, mas foram encontradas relativamente poucas publicações de epidemias bacterianas ou virais. No entanto, a informação recuperada nos permitiu seguir o comportamento de doenças prevalentes, apreciar ao longo dos anos, a evolução de seus surtos epidêmicos, os sucessos e falhas de recursos para seu controle, bem como a capacidade de subsistência da maioria dos agentes infecciosos. No mundo e no Uruguai, durante o século 20, foi surpreendente expandir o conhecimento que, a partir de uma microbiologia incipiente, atingiu um alto nível científico / técnico que nos permitiu iniciar um novo século com possibilidades auspiciosas para enfrentar desafios persistentes e imprevisíveis.

Información suplementaria en: doi.org10.48331/scielodata.OUUPQ4