National University of San Marcos

Two new species, Placomaronea fruticosa and P. placoidea , are described. They were originally discovered in the southern Peruvian Andes at altitudes between 3000 and 4650 m. One specimen of P. fruticosa was subsequently also found among herbarium material collected in Argentina. Placomaronea fruticosa is terricolous in high altitude grasslands with rocky cliffs. It is characterized by its fruticose to subfruticose thallus, which is up to 8 mm tall and partially immersed in the substrate, its branches are bright to deep yellow, flattened and on the substrate surface their elongated apices resemble placodioid lobes of crustose species in the genus Candelina , whereas the cylindrical basal parts are pale beige to deep violet and mostly grow immersed in their substrate. The species has asci with over 20 ascospores in a 60–80 μm tall hymenium. Placomaronea placoidea is a saxicolous species, growing in rocky exposed areas. It is characterized by its tightly adnate, foliose, placodioid thallus with a bright to deep yellow upper surface. No fertile specimens were found. Both species newly described here are morphologically very similar to species of Candelina but are clearly distinguished by a cortex anatomy characteristic of Placomaronea. Cortex anatomy can thus be immensely useful to distinguish crustose and subfoliose genera in Candelariaceae , whereas secondary chemistry is shown to be quite uniform, with some chemotype variation of little taxonomic relevance. An updated ITS-only phylogeny of Candelariaceae is presented and compared with earlier phylogenies of the family. Several well-supported clades are identified, including Candelina , Placomaronea and Protocandelariella , but much of Candelaria and Candelariella s. lat. remain unresolved, and the relationships between the supported clades are not yet known. The limitations of currently available molecular data, primarily only ITS, are discussed, particularly in relation to the lack of support at species level, such as the two newly described species of Placomaronea. An updated key to currently accepted genera in Candelariaceae and all species of Placomaronea now known is provided. A Spanish version of this abstract is provided in Supplementary Material File S1 (available online).

The response of the hyperarid Pacific coast of South America to greenhouse warming remains highly uncertain but has profound implications for the future habitability of the region. Here, we present the first paleobotanical study documenting the Peruvian Desert’s response to the Late Miocene greenhouse climate, when radiative forcing was comparable to 21st century projections. Fossil leaves, wood, and pollen from the Pisco Formation lagerstätte indicate a diverse dry forest biome where an absolute desert is observed today. Rainfall at 8–6 Ma is estimated to have been three times higher than today, possibly due to a warmer Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean or to more frequent El Niño events. Our results suggest that the impacts of tropical climate dynamical changes on ecosystems of the Pacific South American coast under greenhouse warming conditions may outweigh those of heat and evaporation, potentially enabling vegetation expansion, biome transformations, and enhanced habitability in this region.

This study explores the existence of ground state solutions for a Hamiltonian elliptic system in the whole plane $\mathbb{R}^{2}$, involving double exponential growth nonlinearities, which are given by the Trudinger–Moser inequalities in weighted radial Sobolev spaces. To find solutions, we apply a minimizing process on a generalized Nehari manifold.

Despite widespread vaccination, pertussis (caused by Bordetella pertussis ) persists in many countries, frequently causing outbreaks and severe cases in infants. The resurgence of pertussis may be due to genetic changes in the vaccine antigens of circulating B. pertussis strains. However, current typing methods, which depend on bacterial cultures, hinder our understanding of B. pertussis genotypes, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to analyze vaccine antigen-based genotypic variants ( ptxP , ptxA , fim3 , and prn ) of B. pertussis in Peru from 2018 to 2019 via direct Sanger sequencing of nasopharyngeal swabs ( n = 96). PCR-based sequencing was successful for the genes ptxP in 86% (83/96), ptxA in 100% (96/96), fim3 in 75% (72/96), and prn in 68% (65/96) of the samples. The ptxP3 variant was found in 100% (83/83), ptxA1 in 100% (96/96), fim3-1 in 97.3% (70/72), fim3-2 in 2.7% (2/72), and prn2 in 100% (65/65) of the samples. Sixty-three samples yielded a complete allelic profile, with genotype VI ( ptxP3-ptxA1-fim3-1-prn2 ) predominating nationwide (96.8%), mainly in Lima (29.5%), Amazonas (13.1%), Callao (11.5%), and La Libertad (11.5%). Genotype VII ( ptxP3-ptxA1-fim3-2-prn2 ) was less common (3.2%), found in Lima (50%) and Callao (50%). The predominance and expansion of genotype VI suggested the presence of biological traits linked to infection, possibly due to the ptxP3 allele, such as high respiratory colonization or increased pertussis toxin production, which could potentially increase disease transmission and severity. These findings will facilitate Peru’s ability to monitor and control B. pertussis , improving public health responses and reducing the outbreak incidence and severity. IMPORTANCE Despite widespread vaccination, pertussis (caused by Bordetella pertussis ) still causes severe outbreaks in infants worldwide. Genetic changes in the vaccine antigens of B. pertussis strains may drive this resurgence. Current culture-based typing methods limit our understanding of these genotypes, particularly in developing countries. This study provides valuable insights into the genotypic variability of B. pertussis in Peru from 2018 to 2019, employing an isolation-free genotyping method allowing the direct Sanger sequencing of vaccine antigen genes from clinical samples. These findings can enhance public health decision-making by improving our understanding of the genetic changes that drive severe pertussis outbreaks, particularly in developing countries that use whole-cell vaccines. This knowledge enables rapid outbreak responses, improved vaccine strategies, and strengthened surveillance, prevention, and control measures.

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies affecting women worldwide. Given the limitations of conventional treatments, there is an increasing interest in exploring naturally derived compounds with chemoprotective properties. Purple sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) are rich in anthocyanins and have been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. This study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of ethanolic extracts from purple sweet potato peels in a rat model of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Fifty female Rattus norvegicus (170–200 g) were randomized into five groups. Breast tumors were induced through a single subcutaneous dose of DMBA (20 mg/rat). Three experimental groups received daily oral administration of the extract at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 4 months. One control group received only DMBA, while another received the highest dose of the extract without DMBA. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. Anthocyanin content was quantified using spectrophotometry. Tumor latency, tumor volume, and histopathological alterations were evaluated to determine the extract’s chemopreventive effects. Results: The extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity comparable to quercetin at 1500 ppm (DPPH assay) and a high anthocyanin content (138.92 ± 0.58 mg/100 g dry extract). Tumor latency was significantly prolonged in the 600 mg/kg group (101 days) compared to the DMBA control (88 days). In addition, this group showed a marked reduction in tumor volume (2.26 cm3 vs. 15.21 cm3; p < 0.05). Histological examination revealed improved ductal epithelial integrity and reduced necrosis in extract-treated groups, particularly at the highest dose. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of purple sweet potato peels demonstrated a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect against DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats. The extract’s high anthocyanin content likely contributed to its antioxidant and antitumor activities. These findings suggest potential applications in dietary chemoprevention, warranting further investigation into its molecular mechanisms and clinical translation. Keywords: 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, breast cancer, Ipomoea batatas, tumor latency.

Artisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM) expansion in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon has transformed primary forests into a novel wetland complex of thousands of abandoned mining ponds. Despite their ecological relevance, post‐mining recovery of these systems remains understudied, particularly regarding fish biodiversity and recolonisation. In this study, we evaluate fish community richness and composition in mining ponds of different dimensions, years post abandonment, physicochemical properties and degree of pulse flood connectivity using traditional collection‐based methods and environmental DNA (eDNA) with the 12S and COI markers. We compared these two methods of biodiversity inventory and contrasted results from ASGM waterbodies with those obtained from nearby pristine oxbow lakes. Overall, we registered more fish richness at all sites using eDNA versus traditional methods, especially with the 12S marker. We identified 14 and 13 unique genera using traditional methods and eDNA, respectively, with 40 genera detected by both approaches, evidencing their complementarity. Notably, we found that the degree of pulse flooding connectivity was the main predictor of species richness among the abandoned mining ponds (p‐value < 0.05). We registered 11–22, 23–71 and 56 morphospecies in non‐flooded mining ponds, pulse flooded mining ponds and nearby oxbow lakes, respectively. Furthermore, the fish community composition of mining ponds most influenced by pulse flooding was similar to that of pristine lakes. Our findings highlight the role of hydrological connectivity in ecological recovery within mining‐impacted wetlands. Future restoration efforts should enhance aquatic connectivity to accelerate recovery in post‐mining environments.

RESUMEN Los sistemas de registro civil y estadísticas vitales (RCEV) proporcionan a las personas derechos a la identidad y acceso a los servicios públicos, así como información útil para la salud pública. En Perú, el sistema de RCEV utiliza aplicaciones que permiten la certificación médica en línea de hechos vitales, los cuales, al ser susceptibles a fraude, requieren medidas que garanticen su respaldo y no su repudio, como el uso de una firma digital. En este artículo se describe la implementación de la firma digital en los certificados de defunción (CDEF) elaborados en línea y su relación con la notificación de defunciones en el Sistema Informático Nacional de Defunciones (SINADEF). La firma digital para la emisión de CDEF en línea emplea el documento nacional de identidad electrónico (DNIe) que cuenta con un chip criptográfico que contiene un certificado digital, el cual vincula un par de claves (privada y pública) del médico. La implementación de la firma digital coincidió con la recuperación de la notificación de las defunciones en el 2024. La implementación de la firma digital fortalece la seguridad y confianza del sistema de RCEV, minimiza el riesgo de emisión del CDEF falsos, beneficia a los ciudadanos con procesos más simples y seguros, contribuye a la reducción del subregistro y a un aumento de la calidad del dato, y a la eficiencia del sistema.

The genus Cryptotis comprises 53 species, 18 of them known from South America, most belonging to the Cryptotis “thomasi” group. Recent discoveries suggest that its diversity remains unknown. In South America, one of the less studied regions for Cryptotis is southern Ecuador and northern Peru. A recent collection of two undetermined shrews from Zamora Chinchipe Province, southern Ecuador, which presented distinct morphology from the known Ecuadorian species for Ecuador, determined here as Cryptotis sp. “Ecuador”, led us to perform a review of Cryptotis from Ecuador and Peru, including a preliminary taxonomic revision of the “thomasi” group. An integrative approach using morphological analyses and molecular phylogenies based on two mitochondrial genes (CYTB and COI) confirmed that the “thomasi” group is monophyletic and that the specimens of Cryptotis sp. “Ecuador” are distinct from its congeners, representing a new species, with a genetic distance of 8 % from its closest congeners. Furthermore, we found that the currently recognized Peruvian species Cryptotis evaristoi , Cryptotis peruviensis , and C. “ montivagus ” ( sensu Zeballos, H., Pino, K., Medina, C.E., Pari, A., Chávez, D., Tinoco, N., and Ceballos, G. (2018). A new species of small-eared shrew of the genus Cryptotis (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) from the northernmost Peruvian Andes. Zootaxa 4377: 51–73) are reciprocally monophyletic, but showing low genetic distances (0.77–1.83 %) and high morphological similarity. This finding suggests the possibility they might represent variations of C. peruviensis (oldest available name) rather than distinct species.

Background Calcified neurocysticercosis (NCC), the end stage of brain cysts of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium is a common cause of epilepsy. Calcified NCC lesions are not inert and represent potential epileptogenic foci. Understanding the mechanisms of residual calcification in NCC is hindered by the difficulty of accessing human brain biopsies. Since cyst degeneration can be induced by antiparasitic treatment (APT) in NCC–infected pigs, this study assessed the residual calcification process in this model at three time points after APT. Methods/Principal findings Fifteen naturally infected pigs with viable NCC confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging received APT with albendazole and praziquantel and were sacrificed after 4, 8, and 12 months (n = 5 each). The pigs’ brains were removed and processed by ex vivo CT scan to assess the proportion of cysts that calcified by post–treatment time points using risk ratios (RR) from Poisson regression. Radiodensity levels (Hounsefield units) of calcified lesions were also measured and compared using linear coefficients from log–transformed values in generalized linear models. The overall proportion of residual calcification on CT scan was 63.9% (156 calcified lesions/244 viable cysts), being statistically higher in treated NCC pigs at 4 months (83.3% [50/60], RR = 2.61, P < 0.001) and 8 months (82.8% [77/93], RR = 2.59, P < 0.001) versus 12 months (31.9% [29/91]). At 8 months after APT, calcifications were more dense (100.6 ± 3.6 HU) compared to 12 months (74.4 ± 3.6 HU, β = 0.37, P = 0.010) and marginally higher compared to 4 months (85.2 ± 3.8 HU, β = 0.24, P = 0.096), and were also larger and more frequently found on histopathology. Conclusion/Significance Calcification in NCC is a dynamic process that can be induced and monitored in naturally infected pigs. Eight months after treatment seems to be an optimal time point for assessing residual calcification.

Ritual is broadly accepted as an important locus of social interaction in the pre-Hispanic Central Andes, and research into the development of durable sociopolitical inequality in the region often focuses on the social and political roles of public rituals. At the Middle-Late Formative Period (ca. 1200–400 BCE) monumental center of Chavín de Huántar, as well as at contemporary sites, ritual has long been hypothesized to include the use of psychoactive plants. However, neither psychoactive plant remains nor chemical traces of psychoactive compounds in likely ritual contexts have been identified at any of these sites. Recently excavated deposits sealed in an underground gallery at Chavín contained twenty-three artifacts of forms (especially bone tubes) associated with consumption of psychoactive plants elsewhere in the region. We here report, based on independent microbotanical and chemical analyses, two kinds of direct evidence for use of psychoactive plants in institutionalized ritual at Chavín. These results are direct evidence of psychoactive plants in archaeological bone tubes used as inhalers and the northernmost direct evidence of vilca and Nicotiana use in the pre-Hispanic Andes.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2025.117477 Camurati-Engelmann disease, type 1 (CED1, OMIM # 131300) is the rare autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia caused by select heterozygous loss-of-function defects within the gene TGFB1, which encodes transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1). CED1 mutations are found in TGFB1 exons 1–4 that form the latency-associated peptide (LAP) of pro-TGFB1. Consequently, skeletal action of TGFB1 increases and thereby enhances bone formation manifest clinically as “progressive diaphyseal dysplasia”. Beginning 24 years ago negative TGFB1 analysis suggested rare genetic heterogeneity for CED, and Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man designated, of unknown etiology, “CED2” (OMIM % 606631). In 2024, three sporadic occurrences considered CED2 were reported to harbor either of two mutations of TGFB2, which encodes the LAP of transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFB2). Herein, three adults (father, son, daughter) having the CED2 phenotype in a Peruvian family revealed a novel missense variant (c.108G > T, p.R36S) within the TGFB2 LAP domain. Debilitating painful skeletal disease featuring hyperostosis of entire long bones, worse in the men, presented early in childhood. Aminobisphosphonate therapy seemed helpful. Their TGFB2 variant was within a highly conserved domain across species, absent in the gnomAD database, “possibly damaging” by Polyphen-2, not tolerated by SIFT, homologous with TGFB1 at the same amino acid position (R36) as one reported TGFB2 mutation, co-segregated as autosomal dominant, and “likely pathogenic” per ACMG guidelines.

Background/Aims In low- and middle-income countries, home births and non-institutional births can be associated with higher risk of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the content and quality of antenatal care given to women in rural areas of Peru and the location of their child's birth. Methods An observational study was conducted using secondary data from a national survey in Peru for 2022. The association between the content of antenatal care and home births was assessed using a generalised linear model and prevalence ratios were calculated. Results A higher prevalence of home birth was observed if one or more aspects of care (P<0.001), examinations (P=0.008) or counselling (P<0.001) were not met. Similarly, the prevalence of home births was higher among women who attended <6 antenatal visits (P<0.001) and if the care was provided by someone other than a qualified healthcare professional (P<0.001). Conclusions The content and quality of prenatal care may influence the likelihood of a woman having a home birth, which in the Peruvian context may result in a higher level of morbidity and mortality. Barriers to healthcare services persist in rural areas. Implications for practice It is the responsibility of the healthcare system to ensure adequate provision of antenatal care in rural areas. Future studies should assess deficiencies in healthcare services to improve antenatal care and reduce the risks associated with non-institutional birth.

Background The Neotropics are considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, housing at least one third of all vascular plant species. One of the genera that has diversified in the Neotropics is Magnolia , with about 174 species of three sections ( Macrophylla , Magnolia and Talauma ) endemic to the Americas. In this work, we study the biogeographic history of the Neotropical Magnolia species using high-throughput sequencing data. Sequences from 39 species (38 from Magnolia and one from the sister genus Liriodendron ) were assembled. The dataset contained sequences from 239 nuclear targets and complete chloroplast genomes. Phylogenomic hypotheses and the ancestral distribution range of Magnolia were reconstructed. Results The results of the calibrated phylogenetic hypotheses and ancestral range construction suggest that the earliest arrival in the Neotropics were the ancestors of section Talauma (38 million years ago), which colonized the Pacific region. This early presence in South America suggests long-distance, overwater dispersal from North America, the presumed origin of the genus Magnolia . The analysis and the extant Talauma distribution indicate a south to north recolonization. The ancestors of the other two Neotropical sections, Magnolia and Macrophylla , migrated around 19 mya from Asia to North America, radiating southward to the Neotropics afterwards, around 11 mya. Conclusions Our results suggest that Neotropical magnolias originated from a North American ancestor. The current sections arrived at the region independently influenced by climatic processes such as temperature drops or the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Additionally, geological processes, such as the movement of the South and North American land masses and the emergence of the Panama isthmus, facilitated the migration between continents.

p> Context and relevance. The family's social climate is a crucial variable in the development of social skills. This research is based on Moos's family social climate theory, which posits that the characteristics and dynamics of the familial environment influence the mental health of its members. Objective . The general objective of this study was to determine the relationship between family social climate and the social skills of fourth and fifth-year high school students at a public school in Callao. Methods and materials. A retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational, non-experimental design was employed. Additionally, to determine if other variables act as moderators, a moderation analysis has been carried out. A sample of 137 students was selected using random probability sampling. The Family Climate Scale (FES) and the Social Skills Scale were administered. Hypothesis. there is a direct and significant relationship between family social climate and social skills of fourth and fifth-year high school students at a public school in Callao. Results . Is demonstrated a direct correlation (rho 0,418) with a medium effect size between the two variables. Additionally, direct and significant correlations were found between social skills and all three dimensions of the family social climate, with large effect sizes for each, with values that ranged between 0,69 and, 0,88. Conclusions. It is concluded that family social climate and social skills share a similar covariation in approximately 17% of cases. To confirm that this relationship is moderated by other factors, a moderation study was conducted with age, level of education, and sex. None of these variables were found to moderate the relationship between family social climate and social skills because the p values were greater than 0,05.</p

Background Dengue is the most prevalent acute febrile disease with serious clinical consequences in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and America. In Peru, it represents a significant public health issue due to its hyperendemic nature, with serotype 2 (DENV-2) being the predominant serotype that leads to the most severe clinical manifestations of the disease. This study focuses on the molecular characterization and analysis of the intraserotypic diversity of DENV-2 circulating in the endemic region of Cajamarca. Methods A total of 3,967 blood serum samples from patients with acute febrile illness (AFI) were analyzed between 2016 and 2022 to detect DENV and DENV-2 using real-time RT-PCR. The viral envelope (E) gene was then sequenced using the Sanger method. Finally, phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted using the maximum likelihood method. Results A total of 32 complete sequences of the envelope gene were obtained, and the phylogenetic and characterization analyses of the amino acid sequences revealed that, during the period from 2016 to 2022, two DENV-2 genotypes circulated: the Am/As genotype and the cosmopolitan genotype in lineages 2 and C, respectively. Conclusion Similarly, our findings showed that every studied outbreak was characterized by novel autochthonous variants of the Am/As genotype and by an imported variant of the cosmopolitan genotype; this demonstrates a temporal distribution of intraserotypic variability that indicates the displacement of the Am/As genotype around 2021 and the establishment of the cosmopolitan genotype. The need for ongoing genetic or genomic surveillance of the cosmopolitan virus arises in order to understand its distribution and diversification patterns in Peru.

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR K. pneumoniae) is a significant pathogen associated with nosocomial infections, often leading to high morbidity and mortality. This resistance is largely due to the efficient horizontal transfer of mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, which carry resistance genes and virulence factors. These elements contribute to the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases, which further complicates treatment. Despite the high prevalence of MDR K. pneumoniae in Peruvian hospitals, the genomic characterization of these strains remains limited. This study investigated the phenotypic and molecular identification of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), carbapenemases, and virulence factors in 91 MDR K. pneumoniae strains collected from three hospitals between 2022 and 2023. Phenotypic detection of ESBLs was performed using the Jarlier method, while carbapenemases were identified via double-disk synergy testing with boronic acid, EDTA, and Carba NP test. The positive isolates were further analyzed for resistance genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, and blaVIM). Four isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for further characterization. All multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (100%) were ESBL-positive, with 14.3% producing carbapenemases, primarily KPC-type and metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). The virulence factor analyses revealed that only 7.7% exhibited hypermucoviscosity. Protease activity was detected in 19.8% of the strains, and lipase activity in 1.1%. Regarding biofilm formation, 85.7% of the strains showed moderate adherence. Molecular analysis identified ESBL (blaCTX-M, 78%; blaTEM, 71.4%; blaSHV, 82.4%) and carbapenemase genes (blaKPC 7.7%, blaNDM 4.4%). Genomic analysis revealed various antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, including porin-coding gene mutations, aminoglycoside resistance linked to fluoroquinolone resistance, and multidrug efflux pump regulators. Sequence typing has identified high-risk clones (ST147, ST629, and ST37) associated with hospital outbreaks globally. These findings underscore the considerable concern of MDR and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae in Peruvian hospitals. These findings emphasize the pressing need for sustained genomic surveillance, enhanced infection control measures, and strategies to address the expanding problem of MDR K. pneumoniae.