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Despite the widespread use of ecological niche models (ENMs) for predicting the responses of species to climate change, these models do not explicitly incorporate any population‐level mechanism. On the other hand, mechanistic models adding population processes (e.g. biotic interactions, dispersal and adaptive potential to abiotic conditions) are much more complex and difficult to parameterize, especially if the goal is to predict range shifts for many species simultaneously. In particular, the adaptive potential (based on genetic adaptations, phenotypic plasticity and behavioral adjustments for physiological responses) of local populations has been a less studied mechanism affecting species’ responses to climatic change so far. Here, we discuss and apply an alternative macroecological framework to evaluate the potential role of evolutionary rescue under climate change based on ENMs. We begin by reviewing eco‐evolutionary models that evaluate the maximum sustainable evolutionary rate under a scenario of environmental change, showing how they can be used to understand the impact of temperature change on a Neotropical anuran species, the Schneider's toad Rhinella diptycha. Then we show how to evaluate spatial patterns of species’ geographic range shift using such models, by estimating evolutionary rates at the trailing edge of species distribution estimated by ENMs and by recalculating the relative amount of total range loss under climate change. We show how different models can reduce the expected range loss predicted for the studied species by potential ecophysiological adaptations in some regions of the trailing edge predicted by ENMs. For general applications, we believe that parameters for large numbers of species and populations can be obtained from macroecological generalizations (e.g. allometric equations and ecogeographical rules), so our framework coupling ENMs with eco‐evolutionary models can be applied to achieve a more accurate picture of potential impacts from climate change and other threats to biodiversity.

The relationships among the morphoclimatic domains of South America have been a major biogeographical issue of recent years. Palynological, geological and phytogeographical data suggest that the Amazon Forest and the Atlantic Forest were connected during part of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. This study uses amphibians as model organisms to investigate whether relict northeastern forests are a transition between the Amazon Forest and the Atlantic Forest. We compiled matrices of species composition for four different phytogeographic formations and “Brejos de Altitude,” and analyzed them using clustering methods and Cladistic Analysis of Distributions and Endemism. Our results indicate that the anurofauna of these northeastern forest relicts is most similar in composition to the areas of the Atlantic Forest included in this study, and most dissimilar to the Amazon Forest, which leads us to affirm that events of biotic exchange were more frequent within the Atlantic Forest areas.

The scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) is a small freshwater turtle broadly distributed in South America and commonly consumed in some Brazilian regions. This study aimed to identify the species of helminths that parasitize the digestive tract of K. scorpioides and report infection parameters such as parasite prevalence, mean intensity of the infection, abundance, and the relationship between these nematodes and host body size in this species. We captured 20 adult male K. scorpioides, and 6 animals had nematodes in their gastrointestinal tract. These animals had Serpinema magathi (prevalence = 0.3) and Spiroxys figueiredoi (prevalence = 0.25). There were no correlations between the number of total parasites and carapace length (rs = 0.17, n = 6, P = 0.74) or the length of the gastrointestinal tract (rs = 0.18, n = 6, P = 0.73).

AimTo evaluate the effect of biogeographical history on climatic niche diversification.LocationSimulated clades evolving in South America.MethodsWe modelled species evolution under neutral community dynamics and purposely assumed that climatic niche is an emergent property of species. This assumption allows us to better understand whether phylogenetic niche conservatism could be observed when climatic niche is only constrained by biogeographical processes of dispersal and speciation. We varied speciation and dispersal probability, calculating phylogenetic signal of niche overlap and distance between niche centroids for each emergent artificial biota. We then compared the phylogenetic signal of our model with the expectation of climatic niche evolution under Brownian motion (BM).ResultsWe found that phylogenetic signal of climatic niche in the spatially explicit neutral model is usually higher than expected by chance, but lower than expected by BM evolution. Because simulated climatic niches have lower phylogenetic signal than expected by BM evolution, standard ecological and evolutionary interpretation would suggest that climatic niche evolved with little variation over time caused by strong evolutionary constraints. However, our model assumes that climatic niche does not evolve by adaptive forces and is only a consequence of stochastic dispersal and speciation over space and time.Main conclusionsOur study reinforces the strong imprints of biogeographical processes on climatic niche evolution, even when no adaptive forces are driving niche diversification. Therefore, although testing phylogenetic signal is the most common approach in studies evaluating phylogenetic patterns in climatic niche conservatism, our results reinforce previous claims that these patterns alone are not capable of distinguishing the possible effect of space in the retention of climatic niche. Biogeographical processes alone can leave imprints in patterns of climatic niche overlap between related species. A careful evaluation of macroevolutionary models underlying phylogenetic patterns of niche variation among species is important to avoid pitfalls related to interpretation of mechanisms of niche diversification.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) represent one of the most damaging plant-parasitic nematode genera worldwide. RNAi-mediated suppression of essential nematode genes provides a novel biotechnological strategy for the development of sustainable pest-control methods. Here, we used a Host Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) approach by stacking dsRNA sequences into a T-DNA construct to target three essential RKN genes: cysteine protease (Mi-cpl), isocitrate lyase (Mi-icl), and splicing factor (Mi-sf), called dsMinc1, driven by the pUceS8.3 constitutive soybean promoter. Transgenic dsMinc1-T4 plants infected with Meloidogyne incognita showed a significant reduction in gall formation (57–64%) and egg masses production (58–67%), as well as in the estimated reproduction factor (60–78%), compared with the susceptible non-transgenic cultivar. Galls of the RNAi lines are smaller than the wild-type (WT) plants, whose root systems exhibited multiple well-developed root swellings. Transcript levels of the three RKN-targeted genes decreased 13- to 40-fold in nematodes from transgenic cotton galls, compared with those from control WT galls. Finally, the development of non-feeding males in transgenic plants was 2–6 times higher than in WT plants, indicating a stressful environment for nematode development after RKN gene silencing. Data strongly support that HIGS of essential RKN genes is an effective strategy to improve cotton plant tolerance. This study presents the first application of dsRNA sequences to target multiple genes to promote M. incognita tolerance in cotton without phenotypic penalty in transgenic plants.

Several studies have investigated the effects of natural products in the treatment of diseases. Traditional Amazonian populations commonly use copaiba due to its well-known anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and healing properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of systemic administration of copaiba oleoresin (Copaifera reticulata Ducke) on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. To do so, 21 adult rats were divided into three groups (n = 7 each): a control group, ligature-induced periodontitis group, and ligature-induced periodontitis group treated with copaiba oleoresin (200 mg/kg/day). The ligature remained from day 0 to 14, and the copaiba oleoresin was administered via oral gavage during the last seven days. On day 14, the animals were euthanized, and mandibles were collected for histopathological evaluation and microcomputed tomography analysis. Our data showed that the administration of copaiba considerably reduced the inflammatory profile. Moreover, copaiba oleoresin limited alveolar bone loss, increased trabecular thickness and bone-to-tissue volume ratio, and decreased the number of trabeculae compared with those of the untreated experimental periodontitis group. Our findings provide pioneering evidence that supports the potential of copaiba oleoresin in reducing periodontitis-induced alveolar bone damage in rats.

Background Neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 remain partially described, mainly in low- and middle-income countries where diagnostic tools are limited. To address this, we assembled medical centers in Brazil with the goal of describing neurological syndromes associated with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods From June 1st, 2020 to June 1st, 2021, non-consecutive adult patients with new onset of six neurological syndromes up to 60 days after confirmed COVID-19 were included. Data were compiled from four tertiary centers and compared with general local COVID-19 data, as well as with a previous cohort focused on vascular syndrome. Results 197 patients were included, presenting with vascular syndromes (81), encephalopathy (68), encephalitis (19), Guillain-Barré syndrome (13), other neuropathies (12), and myelitis (4). The incidence curve of neurocovid mirrored that of COVID-19. Neurological syndromes were present regardless of COVID-19 severity. The median time from COVID-19 to onset of neurological symptoms was 14 days, suggesting a post-infectious immune-mediated mechanism. Patients were 10 times more likely to die (χ 2 (1) = 356.55, p < 0.01, OR = 10.89) and 38 times more likely to be hospitalized than other COVID-19 patients (χ 2 (1) = 1167.9, p < 0.01, OR = 38.22). Those developing vascular syndromes patients were 3 times more likely to require ICU (χ 2 (1) = 37.12, p < 0.01, OR = 3.78) and 4 times more likely to die (χ 2 (1) = 58.808, p < 0.01, OR = 4.73) than patients with vascular syndromes due to different etiologies. Conclusions Our study corroborates the association of neurological syndromes with COVID-19. The incidence correlated with local waves of COVID-19, and patients with neurocovid exhibited a higher susceptibility to adverse outcomes compared to other COVID-19 patients. Among all neurological syndromes, vascular syndromes were the most common, and their severity surpassed that of vascular syndromes not attributed to COVID-19.

Background Citrus canker is a disease that has severe economic impact on the citrus industry worldwide. There are three types of canker, called A, B, and C. The three types have different phenotypes and affect different citrus species. The causative agent for type A is Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri , whose genome sequence was made available in 2002. Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain B causes canker B and Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain C causes canker C. Results We have sequenced the genomes of strains B and C to draft status. We have compared their genomic content to X. citri subsp. citri and to other Xanthomonas genomes, with special emphasis on type III secreted effector repertoires. In addition to pthA , already known to be present in all three citrus canker strains, two additional effector genes, xopE3 and xopAI , are also present in all three strains and are both located on the same putative genomic island. These two effector genes, along with one other effector-like gene in the same region, are thus good candidates for being pathogenicity factors on citrus. Numerous gene content differences also exist between the three cankers strains, which can be correlated with their different virulence and host range. Particular attention was placed on the analysis of genes involved in biofilm formation and quorum sensing, type IV secretion, flagellum synthesis and motility, lipopolysacharide synthesis, and on the gene xacPNP , which codes for a natriuretic protein. Conclusion We have uncovered numerous commonalities and differences in gene content between the genomes of the pathogenic agents causing citrus canker A, B, and C and other Xanthomonas genomes. Molecular genetics can now be employed to determine the role of these genes in plant-microbe interactions. The gained knowledge will be instrumental for improving citrus canker control.

The battle against the spread of misinformation on the Internet is a daunting task faced by modern society. Fake news content is primarily distributed through digital platforms, with websites dedicated to producing and disseminating such content playing a pivotal role in this complex ecosystem. Therefore, these websites are of great interest to misinformation researchers. However, obtaining a comprehensive list of websites labeled as producers and/or spreaders of misinformation can be challenging, particularly in developing countries. In this study, we propose a novel methodology for identifying websites responsible for creating and disseminating misinformation content, which are closely linked to users who share confirmed instances of fake news on social media. We validate our approach on Twitter by examining various execution modes and contexts. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in identifying misinformation websites, which can aid in gaining a better understanding of this phenomenon and enabling competent entities to tackle the problem in various areas of society.