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During 2020-2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19-related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Multi-taxa approaches are increasingly used because they describe complementary aspects of ecosystem dynamics from a community ecology perspective. In west-central Mexico, the complex biogeography and topography have created an environment where temperate and tropical forests converge, resulting in great biological diversity. Within this region, the Sierra de Quila Natural Protected Area (SQPA) offers an important example for understanding ecological community dynamics. We analyze the taxonomic diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in the SQPA by incorporating taxonomic levels associated with species. We evaluated the taxonomic diversity with i) an average taxonomic distinctiveness analysis (alpha diversity) and ii) an analysis of taxonomic dissimilarity and partitioning of turnover and differences in richness components (beta diversity). Tropical forests boast the highest taxonomic diversity of amphibians, reptiles, and birds, while temperate gallery forests exhibit lower values. Our results showed that terrestrial vertebrate alpha and beta diversity patterns respond mainly to contrasting vegetation types (tropical vs . temperate). Regarding beta diversity, the multi-vegetation type analysis showed the highest values for reptiles, followed by amphibians, birds, and mammals. Turnover had the highest contribution to beta diversity, while differences in richness were relevant for amphibians and reptiles, which could be related to their low mobility and sensitivity to environmental conditions. Despite the local scale, the SQPA presented high beta diversity, reflecting historical ecological processes in taxonomic composition derived from contrasting environments and constraints imposed on species. Evaluating taxonomic structure from a multi-taxa perspective is essential for conservation efforts because it allows the spatial recognition of biological assemblages as a first step for local interventions.

Currently, the management, availability, and equitable access to water are some of the most critical environmental challenges in many countries, including Mexico. The Household Water Insecurity Experience Scale (HWISE) offers a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of water insecurity (WI) as well as its relationship to poverty, at the local, state, and national levels, than traditional usage indicators do. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the association between water insecurity and household wellbeing in Mexico, as well as the role of geographic factors. Methods: We analyzed data from 11,512 households that had previously participated in a representative survey at the national, regional, and urban/rural levels. We conducted descriptive and bivariate analyses on the variables of interest according to household WI status. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the association between WI and the geographic, household, and household head variables of interest. Results: The factors associated with a greater odds ratio of household WI were low wellbeing conditions (OR = 1.74, p < 0.01), no running water in the home (OR = 2.71, p < 0.01), a monthly household income less than 6000 Mexican pesos (less than 352 dollars) (OR = 2.31, p = 0.006), living in an urban area (OR = 1.93, p = 0.001), and living in the Mexico State (OR = 3.92, p < 0.01), Mexico City (OR = 3.19, p < 0.01), or Central Pacific (OR = 3.27, p < 0.01) regions. Conclusions: Currently, multiple factors threaten household water security. These findings can inform decision-makers about the driving factors behind gaps in water access, availability, and use in Mexican households, thereby ensuring the “availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.

Reptiles are threatened by anthropogenic landscape transformation, largely due to agriculture. However, ecosystems nowadays constitute a matrix of fragmented landscapes. We analyzed a heterogeneous landscape’s reptile taxonomic and functional diversity patterns across ten land cover/use types in Jalisco state, in west-central Mexico. At the alpha diversity level, we assessed the taxonomic diversity using q-order indices, and functional diversity with multidimensional indices (FRic, FDiv, and FEve) by land cover/use. We evaluated the differences in species composition among land cover/use types (beta diversity). We utilized multidimensional distance-based analyses (dbRDA) to evaluate the association between reptile diversity, habitat structure, and environmental variables. Species richness did not correlate with functional richness across land cover types overall, except for riparian habitat surrounded by crops (RH-C), which exhibited higher species richness and functional diversity. Secondary vegetation surrounded by temperate forest (SV-TF), riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest (RH-TDF), and RH-C were the land cover/use types with the most functional groups. Herbaceous cover is crucial for preserving both reptile diversity facets in this landscape. These findings suggest that the availability of resources (e.g., riparian habitat and herbaceous cover) regardless of perturbation level could be more relevant for reptile diversity than the condition (tropical vs. temperate) due to the high plasticity and adaptation of the group. It is essential to recognize the ecological value of these habitats by adopting a holistic approach that values the intrinsic and ecological importance of reptile diversity.

Land use in Mexico has dramatically changed in recent decades since deforested lands have been repurposed for agriculture. We evaluated the amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity of a heterogeneous landscape with ten land cover/use types in west-central Mexico. Taxonomic diversity was evaluated with q-order indices, and functional diversity was calculated with three multivariate functional diversity indices by land cover/use. The relationship between amphibian diversity, habitat structure, and environmental variables was analyzed using multidimensional distance-based analyses. Our results showed that most native land cover types exhibited a similar species richness (low values) among the studied crops, except for the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest (high richness) and secondary vegetation (intermediate richness). Regarding functional diversity, the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest, sugar cane field, and secondary vegetation had the highest values. The secondary vegetation had more functional groups than other land cover/use types. Despite the lack of a clear spatial pattern of amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity, we determined that attributes such as herbaceous cover and water availability are essential to maintain both facets with high amphibian diversity in the land cover/use types (e.g., secondary vegetation and sugar cane).

Despite anecdotal reports of food insufficiency in the overland migration through Mexico, little is known about the frequency and extent of food insecurity during this transit. In a shelter in north central Mexico, we interviewed 95 Central American migrants traveling overland to the US regarding their experiences of food insecurity in transit. 74% experienced some degree of food insecurity, ranging from having only one meal to no food at all in one or several consecutive 24 h periods. Factors associated with relatively more severe food insecurity included more days in active transit, more severe illness impacting mobility, or travel companion illness in the prior 2 weeks. Illness was predicted by a pre-migration diagnosis of chronic disease. Understanding the factors associated with relative severity of food insecurity during overland migration can inform policies for prioritizing assistance and prevention.

The gut microbiome of wild birds contributes to host fitness by supporting nutrient absorption, toxin processing, and immune function. It also fights bacterial pathogens through competitive exclusion and the production of antimicrobial metabolites. This study analyzed the in vitro antagonistic activity of bacteria isolated from the feces of the violet-crowned hummingbird ( Ramsomyia violiceps ) against strains of Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli , Salmonella enterica , and Acinetobacter baumannii . Mist nets were placed in three parks within the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. Fecal samples were collected from captured R. violiceps and inoculated into culture media. Bacteria exhibiting antagonist activity were identified using molecular techniques that targeted the V1-V9 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The gut strains Bacillus sp. 1, Bacillus sp. 2, B. altitudinis , B. thuringiensis , and B. subtilis exhibited antagonistic activity against Bacillus cereus , B. tequilensis , and A. baumannii . Pseudomonas putida M5 antagonized Bacillus spp., E. coli, S. enterica , and A. baumannii. This result indicates that some Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. in the cultivable bacterial assembly of the gut of R. violiceps produce secondary metabolites that can inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Since diet plays a determining role in the gut bacterial assemblage of birds, our results suggest that the strains that showed antagonistic activity in vitro could be related to the nectar consumed by the hummingbird. This may help promote the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds as a resistance mechanism.

In Mexico, land use changes have significantly impacted the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a negative way. In light of this, we evaluate the alpha and beta components of the taxonomic diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico. Additionally, we provide a checklist of amphibian and reptile species recorded over nine years of observations within the studied landscape and surrounding areas. The land cover/use types with the highest species richness and alpha taxonomic diversity differed between amphibians and reptiles. Overall beta taxonomic diversity was high for both groups, but slightly higher in reptiles. This taxonomic differentiation mainly corresponded to a difference in the turnover component and was greater in pristine habitats compared to disturbed ones. The checklist records 20 species of amphibians (ten of which are endemic) and 48 of reptiles (30 endemics). Additionally, the study expands the known geographical distribution range of one species of frog and three species of snakes. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous landscapes with diverse land cover/use types can provide essential habitats for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species.

Prescribed fires are a management strategy involving the controlled application of fire to achieve specific ecological objectives. In the pine–oak forests in west-central Mexico, we conducted an experimental low-severity prescribed fire to assess its effects on hummingbird diversity. We hypothesized that low-severity prescribed fire would enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity by modifying understory vegetation structure and increasing floral resource availability. To test this, we performed point count censuses in both low-severity prescribed fire and fire-suppressed sites where wildfire had been excluded for over 40 years. Taxonomic diversity was assessed using Hill numbers to estimate true diversity across different abundance weights, while functional diversity was evaluated through indices such as functional richness, functional evenness, and functional divergence. Our results indicated that low-severity prescribed fires did not affect overall hummingbird diversity as both low-severity prescribed fire sites and fire-suppressed sites exhibited comparable species richness. However, sites with low-severity prescribed fire and concave summits showed a significantly higher abundance of common and highly abundant species. Notably, species richness did not align with functional richness, as the fire-suppressed site exhibited the highest functional diversity. These findings suggest that hummingbird community structure is influenced by a combination of fire history, topography, vegetation structure, and floral resource availability. We recommend maintaining a heterogeneous forest matrix, incorporating patches with fire suppression, and areas subjected to prescribed fires of varying severity. This multifaceted approach enhances both taxonomic and functional biodiversity, promoting habitat heterogeneity and ensuring the persistence of diverse hummingbird assemblages in fire-prone ecosystems.