Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Recent advances in protein extraction methods from bone tissue for proteomics analysis

Abstract Proteomic analysis is a fundamental tool for obtaining new information about biological functions that occur at the molecular level in the body, allowing the understanding of physiological and pathological processes, as well as contributing to the diagnosis and preventio...

A supergene and genomic mosaicism are associated with phenotypic evolution in Galápagos tree finches

Abstract Adaptive radiations provide powerful models to study the origins of phenotypic novelty and species diversity. Darwin’s finches constitute a classic example of adaptive radiation, in which beak morphology is a key trait related to fitness. Here, we focus on Camarhynchus t...

Heat Treatment Effects on Additively Manufactured Polymer Matrix Composites

Additive manufacturing (AM) of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) enables the fabrication of complex, structurally efficient parts, but the layer-wise thermal history intrinsic to processes such as material extrusion, vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, and direct ink writi...

Reflections across borders: analyzing service-learning collaborative reflections of Chilean and Ecuadorian university students

This study delves into the application of a service-learning collaborative reflection model (SL-CRM) via Instagram, contrasting the experiences of students from Chilean and Ecuadorian universities. The study aimed to explore these students’ reflections within the context of the S...

Influence of Low TiO2 Nanoparticle Loading on Electrospun sPEEK Fiber Morphology and Chemistry and on the Tensile Properties of Corresponding Solution-Cast Membranes

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have garnered importance due to their unique combination of mechanical, thermal, and functional properties. However, their performance depends on overcoming challenges related to dispersion, bonding, and processing. Electrospinning is an advanced...

Comparative Effectiveness Research in the Americas on Penetrating Brain Injury: The COMPAS-PBI Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Penetrating brain injury (PBI) is a highly lethal form of traumatic brain injury, with substantial mortality and marked differences across high-income countries and low- to middle-income countries. The aim of the Comparative Effectiveness Research in th...

Priority Effects Shape Interactions Between Invasive Parasites in Darwin's Finches of the Galápagos Islands

ABSTRACT Invasive parasites are a major threat to naïve, island hosts. Furthermore, hosts often deal with multiple parasite taxa (hereon, co‐parasitism), which can directly compete with each other or indirectly interact through the hosts' immune system (i.e., priority effects). S...

Diagnostic advantages of local versus nonlocal definitions of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) in semi-rural Ecuador

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common outpatient morbidities globally and can progress to invasive infections, including sepsis. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common cause of UTIs and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCR) UPEC are...

Social Determinants of Health and Neurocognitive Aging in Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Older Adults in Rural Andean Ecuador: A Population-Based Study in Cotacachi

Introduction: Social determinants of health shape dementia risk in Latin America, particularly in rural and Indigenous populations. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined cognitive impairment and associated social factors in 75 adults aged 60 years or older in Cotacachi, Ec...

Horizontal mitochondrial transfer and mitochondrial transplantation in skin: protection against UVR-induced ROS damage and enhancement of cell proliferation and wound healing

Skin homeostasis, protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and wound repair depend on coordinated interactions among melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. Horizontal mitochondrial transfer (HMT) is a naturally occurring form of intercellular communication in which m...

Occupational Risk of Histoplasma capsulatum Exposure among Field Biologists in Ecuador: Evidence from Skin Testing and Serology

Abstract Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus, is the causative agent of histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease with a wide clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe pulmonary or disseminated disease. Although Ecuador is recognized as an endemic country...

Primary healthcare centers as key partners in HPV self-sampling: a mixed-methods study on feasibility and acceptance in rural areas near Quito, Ecuador

Cervical Cancer (CC), preventable through vaccination and screening, is the second most common cancer among Ecuadorian women. Access to screening is unequal, with rural populations disproportionally affected by limited healthcare resources, transportation, and poverty. While huma...

Chlorpyrifos Attenuation and Accumulation by Lindernia rotundifolia: Evidence from Laboratory and Outdoor Mesocosm Experiments

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is frequently detected in freshwater ecosystems and continues to raise environmental concerns, particularly in regions where its use remains weakly regulated. While phytoremediation has been proposed as a low-impact strategy for pesticide removal from water, th...

Association of Native American, European, and African Ancestry with CYP450 Pharmacogenetics and Metabolic Phenotypes in Admixed Latin American Populations from Ecuador and Nicaragua

Background/Objectives: Interethnic variability significantly influences drug response, highlighting the importance of assessing genomic ancestry for personalized medicine. Although Latin American populations are highly admixed, they remain underrepresented in pharmacogenetic rese...

Evaluating bromeliads as environmental reservoirs for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and amphibian disease dynamics in equatorial forests

Abstract The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is widely distributed across tropical ecosystems, yet the microhabitats that facilitate its environmental persistence remain poorly understood. We evaluated Bd detection in bromeliad tank contents and infec...

Amazon Forgotten Fishes. How the remarkable diversity of freshwater fishes is critical to people, rivers and forest

Across the vast sweep of the Amazon Basin, thousands of rivers, streams and floodplain lakes flow in an immense, interconnected waterscape— home to an unparalleled diversity of freshwater fishes. More than 2,700 species have so far been recorded, with dozens more added each year...

Ipsilateral epistaxis in a patient with episodic cluster headache

Juan Fernando Ortiz, Camila D. Lopez, Romina Ballagan Escobar, and Nicholas J. Lannen declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Association of past colorectal cancer screening with family history of cancer and behavioral factors in Quito, Ecuador: a mixed methods study

In Latin America, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and fourth most common cancer among women. Ecuador has experienced an upward trend in CRC incidence and mortality, highlighting the need to strengthen population-based prevention and early detection str...

Highly contiguous reference genome assembly of the endangered Orcés’ blue whiptail Holcosus orcesi

Abstract Holcosus orcesi , the Orcés’ Blue Whiptail, is a Critically Endangered lizard endemic to the upper Jubones River basin in southern Ecuador. Restricted to a narrow elevational range within semi-arid Andean shrublands, it represents one of the few montane members of a pred...

History of divergence and gene flow shaping geographic variation in Andean warblers (Myioborus).

Studying how genetic variation is structured across space, and how it relates to divergence in phenotypic traits relevant to reproductive isolation, is important for our understanding of the speciation process. We used ddRAD-seq data to examine genetic variation across the distri...