First evidence of enterovirus A71 and echovirus 30 in Uruguay and genetic relationship with strains circulating in the South American region

Human enteroviruses (EVs) comprise more than 100 types of coxsackievirus, echovirus, poliovirus and numbered enteroviruses, which are mainly transmitted by the faecal-oral route leading to diverse diseases such as aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis, among others. Since enteroviruses are excreted in faeces, wastewater-based epidemiology approaches are useful to describe EV diversity in a community. In Uruguay, knowledge about enteroviruses is extremely limited. This study assessed the diversity of enteroviruses through Illumina next-generation sequencing of VP1-amplicons obtained by RT-PCR directly applied to viral concentrates of 84 wastewater samples collected in Uruguay during 2011–2012 and 2017–2018. Fifty out of the 84 samples were positive for enteroviruses. There were detected 27 different types belonging to Enterovirus A species (CVA2-A6, A10, A16, EV-A71, A90), Enterovirus B species (CVA9, B1-B5, E1, E6, E11, E14, E21, E30) and Enterovirus C species (CVA1, A13, A19, A22, A24, EV-C99). Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and echovirus 30 (E30) strains were studied more in depth through phylogenetic analysis, together with some strains previously detected by us in Argentina. Results unveiled that EV-A71 sub-genogroup C2 circulates in both countries at least since 2011–2012, and that the C1-like emerging variant recently entered in Argentina. We also confirmed the circulation of echovirus 30 genotypes E and F in Argentina, and reported the detection of genotype E in Uruguay. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of the EV-A71 C1-like emerging variant in South-America, and the first report of EV-A71 and E30 in Uruguay.

Infection with Helicobacter Pylori Presenting the vacA s2m2 haplotype is Strongly Associated with Protection Against Gastric Cancer

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori is recognized as the main risk factor for gastric cancer (GC); the clinical outcome of this infection is variable and partially depends on the virulence of the infective strain. This study characterizes H. pylori virulence genes in patients with diverse gastric lesions, from preneoplasia to GC, from a South American region with high GC mortality rates.Methods: We studied the virulence profiles of H. pylori strains to colonize the antrum of 318 patients with non-atrophic gastritis (NAG), 58 patients with preneoplastic lesions (PN), and 90 with GC from Ibagué, Colombia. The presence of 16S rDNA, the cagA and cagE genes, and the vacA s1, s2, m1, and m2 alleles were determined by PCR.Results: H. pylori infection was detected in 44% of all patients, 41.2% in NAG, 43.1% in PN and 54.4% of GC patients (p= 0.0813). cagA and cagE genes were significantly more frequent in and GC than in NAG (p= <.0001). The vacA s1m1 haplotype was significantly more frequent in PN (68%) and GC (65.3%) than in NAG (37.4%). The frequency of vacA s2m2 haplotype decreased significantly from NAG (42.7%) to PN (12%) and this to GC (4.1%). A total of 23 different genotypes were identified, with cagA+/cagE+/vacA s1m1 (84/205) as the more frequent in PN and GC and cagA-/cagE-/vacA s2m2 in NAG (49/205).Conclusions: In the population studied, vacA s2m2 was identified as a significant marker for protection against PN and GC, and genotype cagA+/cagE+/vacA s1m1 as a marker for increased GC risk. We also found that patients with PN and GC had a higher frequency of cagA+/cagE+/vacA s1m1 H. pylori strains known to be aggressive.

OS TRIÂNGULOS COMPETITIVO-COOPERATIVOS NAS RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS: UMA CONTRIBUIÇÃO TEÓRICA DO PODER A PARTIR DO ESTUDO DE CASO DAS FORÇAS POLÍTICAS INTERNAS E EXTERNAS NA AMÉRICA DO SUL

In the 21st century, power projects in South America constitute disputes that comprise a dialectical correlation between Internal and External Political Forces. In this sense, this article aims to conduct an innovative debate based on the theoretical formulation called Competitive-Cooperative Triangles of Power, taking the South American region as a case study. From a realist view of international relations and by using an empirical-deductive methodology, the objective is to achieve an epistemological construction regarding power in the international system, explaining the challenges and possibilities of the South American Internal Political Forces.

Is the Minimum Wage Effective in a Context of Informality?

There is a general trend in the South American region to increase the minimum wage (MW) to reduce poverty and inequality. However, empirical studies are inconclusive with respect to the effect of the MW. This study seeks to contribute to the empirical evidence regarding the impact of this policy by exploring its limitations and possibilities for reducing poverty in Ecuador. Unlike other studies, a measure to capture informality in the labor market is included. Using fixed effect estimation with panel data, I determine the relationship between labor income deciles and variations in the MW, using a proxy for its effectiveness. The results suggest that the MW positively affects the lower income deciles, to a lesser extent the intermediate deciles and with no effect on the higher ones. However, when considering a control for the degree of informality in the labor market, the effect on the lower deciles is mitigated. Therefore, increases in the MW may be a strategy to increase the income of the middle and vulnerable class, but it does not seem to be useful for reducing poverty.

Diseases of Eucalypts in Paraguay and First Report of Teratosphaeria zuluensis from South America

Background and objectives: The global forest economy is threatened by eucalypt pathogens which are often latent or cryptic species that escape common quarantine and detection methods. Plantation forestry using eucalypts is of considerable importance to Paraguay, but knowledge regarding the pests and diseases affecting these plantations is limited. This study identified fungal diseases present in these plantations. Materials and Methods: We surveyed eucalypt plantations in four provinces in Paraguay and collected material from diseased trees for identification of the causal agents. The samples were analyzed using a combination of morphological and molecular methods. Results: Diseases encountered included Botryosphaeria stem canker, Calonectria leaf blight, Chrysoporthe stem canker, myrtle/eucalypt rust, Coniella leaf spot, heartwood rot and Teratosphaeria stem canker. Contrary to expectations, the causal agent of Teratosphaeria stem canker was identified as Teratosphaeria zuluensis (M.J. Wingf., Crous & T.A. Cout.) M.J. Wingf. & Crous and not Teratosphaeria gauchensis (M.-N. Cortinas, Crous & M.J. Wingf.) M.J. Wingf. & Crous, that is commonly documented for the South American region. Conclusions: This study updates the knowledge on forest fungal pathogens in Paraguayan eucalypt plantations and is the first report of T. zuluensis in Paraguay and in South America.

Mídia E Política Externa Brasileira: Uma Abordagem Crítica

Este artigo abordará a relação entre a mídia e a política externa brasileira em momentos de crise regional. Para tanto, as narrativas de liderança brasileira, construídas pela Mídia nacional– no caso, jornal o Globo – sobre a região da América do Sul serão retratadas em quatro momentos de crise diferentes, mas com dois países apenas: Bolívia e Venezuela. As crises são: (i) na tentativa de golpe de Estado na Venezuela, em 2002; (ii) durante a nacionalização dos hidrocarbonetos bolivianos, em 2006; (iii) a vinda do senador boliviano Roger Pinto, em 2013; e (iv) a suspensão da Venezuela no Mercosul, em 2016. O marco teórico deste artigo se pauta na Teoria Crítica e apresenta propostas para se analisar o papel da mídia na sociedade e sua relação com a política externa brasileira em momentos específicos.Palavras-chave: Mídia; Política Externa Brasileira; Teoria Crítica.ABSTRACTThis article will address the relation between the media and the Brazilian Foreign Politic in times of regional crisis. By doing so, the narratives of the Brazilian leadership, built by the national media – in this case, the newspaper O Globo – about the South American region will be portrayed in four different scenarios of crisis, but with only two countries: Bolivia and Venezuela. Those crises are: (i) the attempted coup in Venezuela in 2002; (ii) during the nationalization of the Bolivian hydrocarbons, in 2006; (iii) with the Bolivian senator Roger Pinto, in 2013; and (iv) the suspension of Venezuela in Mercosur, in 2016. The theoretical framework of this article is based on the Critical Theory and it presents pathways to analyze the role of the media in society and its relations with the Brazilian Foreign Policy.Keywords: Media; Brazilian Foreign Policy; Critical Theory.

Geostrategic Visions on the South Atlantic: Brazil and Colombia, a Comparative Approach

<p><strong>[Visiones geoestratégicas del Atlántico Sur: Brasil y Colombia, un enfoque comparativo]</strong></p><p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p>This article seeks to analyze the different approaches that Brazil and Colombia have had to date on the geostrategic importance of the South Atlantic, emphasizing the differences that the ocean has had for their respective conceptions of nation and their insertion in the South American region. It argues and concludes that while Brazil seeks leadership in South America by emphasizing its role as promoter of an integral autonomizing2 conception that articulates development, defense and regional security, Colombia prioritizes its role as a reference in the fight against transnational crime, positioning itself as a Middle Oceanic Power.</p><p><strong>RESUMEN</strong></p><p>Este artículo busca analizar los diferentes enfoques que Brasil y Colombia han tenido hasta la fecha sobre la importancia geoestratégica del Atlántico Sur, destacando las diferencias que ha tenido el océano para su respectiva concepción del país y su inserción en la región de América del Sur. Se argumenta y concluye que mientras Brasil busca el liderazgo en esta zona a través de un énfasis en su papel como promotor de una concepción autónoma integral para el Atlántico Sur que articula el desarrollo, la defensa y la seguridad regional, Colombia a su vez prioriza su papel en la región como referencia en la lucha contra la delincuencia transnacional, posicionándose como una potencia oceánica media.</p>