Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a serious public health problem that needs new antibacterial compounds for control. Fungi, including resupinated fungi, are a potential source to discover new bioactive compounds efficient again to bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The inhibitory capacity against the bacterial species was statistically evaluated. All the species (basidiomata and strains) were molecularly characterized with the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 barcoding marker. The strains Ceraceomyces sp., Fuscoporia sp., Gloeocystidiellum sp., Oliveonia sp., Phanerochaete sp., and Xenasmatella sp. correspond to resupinate Basidiomycetes, and only the strain Hypocrea sp. is an Ascomycete, suggesting contamination to the basidiome of Tulasnella sp. According to the antagonistic test, only the Gloeocystidiellum sp. strain had antibacterial activity against the bacterial species Escherichia coli of clinical interest. Statistically, Gloeocystidiellum sp. was significantly (<0.001) active against two E. coli pathotypes (O157:H7 and ATCC 25922). Contrarily, the antibacterial activity of fungi against other pathotypes of E. coli and other strains such as Serratia sp. was not significant. The antibacterial activity between 48 and 72 h increased according to the measurement of the inhibition halos. Because of this antibacterial activity, Gloeocystidiellum sp. was taxonomically studied in deep combined morphological and molecular characterization (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2; partial LSU D1/D2 of nrDNA). A new species Gloeocystidiellum lojanense, a resupinate and corticioid fungus from a tropical montane rainforest of southern Ecuador, with antibacterial potential against E. coli, is proposed to the science.

Organic and conventional agriculture are vital for the development of human society; however, the use of contaminated water and the inappropriate use of organic chemical fertilizers can lead to an increase in the microbial load (potentially pathogenic) of the normal microbiota of the agricultural soil. In this context, the aim of our study was to isolate Gram-negative bacteria from the superficial soil layer and irrigation water of agricultural areas (11 organic farms and nine conventional farms) and consider their potential ecological and health risk importance. Through culture isolation using three bacterial media (TSA) trypticase soy agar (general nutritive media); MacConkey Gram-negative bacteria and (EMB) eosin methylene blue agar (selective for Enterobacteriaceae) and classical biochemical tests, we recorded a total of 12 bacterial species, most belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, such as Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Salmonella and Shigella, which can be pathogenic for humans and animals. In contrast, bacteria such as Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Burkholderia mallei could facultatively work as diazotrophic or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Soil bacteria richness detected with the media applied was significantly higher than water bacteria, but we found no significant differences between organic and conventional agriculture. We conclude that the isolated bacteria in water and soil mostly belongs to enteropathogenic bacteria which could be pathogenic to animals and humans. While other bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be viewed as useful by improving nutrient availability in agricultural soil.

Coffee production worldwide is affected by the pathogen Hemileia vastatrix, which causes the “coffee rust” disease and may be associated with other fungi. Ecuador lacks studies on fungal diversity associated with coffee rust, which could potentially control or escalate pathogen activity. Using the ITS-5.8S nrDNA region, we randomly detected a small preliminary fungi diversity related to coffee rust in Ecuador, which we report here for the first time. Ten coffee farms (four in Loja, three in Calvas, and three in Quilanga) from the Loja Province were sampled to analyze the genetic diversity of the pathogen Hemileia vastatrix in rust lesions on coffee leaves. A high number of selected sequences (Sanger sequencing) showed the presence of 48 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) or “hypothetical species” of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes distributed across all the sampled farms. The genera Akanthomyces, Ceramothyrium, Cladosporium, Didymella, Fusarium, Mycosphaerella, Neoceratosperma, and Trichothecium of Ascomycetes, as well as Bulleribasidium, Hannaella, and Meira of Basidiomycetes, were the most abundant. To avoid taxonomic conflict, some sequences were placed into Capnodiales (Ascomycetes) and Tremelalles (Basidiomycetes) without a genus definition. A new phylogenetic group of sequences is considered Incertae Sedis from Basidiomycetes. Additionally, morphospecies of Akanthomyces (synonymous with some Lecanicillium species) and Colletotrichum were observed macroscopically and microscopically growing closely with rust. Most of the OTUs probably correspond to rust mycoparasites, as previously reported in the literature. However, this study is limited by the number of sequences analyzed phylogenetically, which may hinder the discovery of significant insights. Future studies are needed to determine whether this preliminary fungal diversity is associated with the rust fungus or corresponds to ubiquitous airborne fungi. Furthermore, research into the function of these species may reveal whether they promote rust pathogenicity or enhance plant responses by activating resistance mechanisms.

Despite the critical public health implications of viral disease transmission, limited public understanding of virology often fosters widespread misinformation, inadequate risk perception, and stigma. This study describes ‘Viruscopia,’ an interdisciplinary public health communication initiative that bridges biology and art, using physical 3D models as a narrative tool intended to support health literacy and viral risk awareness. During the Loja International Festival of Living Arts (FIAVL 2025 in spanish) in Ecuador, ten high-fidelity physical 3D models representing viral structures were exhibited to the public through guided interactive tours. Public perception of the intervention was assessed after the visit through a mixed-methods approach, using an ad hoc questionnaire with high internal consistency (α = 0.88) voluntarily completed by 480 of approximately 800 visitors. Descriptive results showed a predominant positive perception, with median scores of 5.0 across most items, indicating a marked ceiling effect. Inferential analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant age-based variations in the “Reflection” variable (p < 0.05), with the over–65 cohort showing a strong concentration of responses at the maximum score (Me = 5.0; IQR = 0.00) compared with participants aged 12–17. No significant differences were found regarding biological sex. The results suggest that integrating physical 3D models with artistic interpretation was well received as a public health risk communication resource. From this perspective, art goes beyond simple illustration; combined with scientific content and guided explanations, it can serve as a preventive communication tool that helps demystify complex pathogen structures and may support viral health literacy and informed reflection on public health challenges. Consequently, this approach offers a useful model for making complex scientific knowledge more accessible to the public, although, given the single-group, post-visit design, these findings reflect self-reported perceptions rather than objectively measured learning outcomes.

The organoleptic profile of coffee is modulated by microbially mediated fermentation processes; thus, characterizing the coffee microbiome is essential for the specialty coffee industry. This research investigated three coffee farms in Loja, Ecuador, to determine the cultivable bacterial diversity in coffee cherries (Coffea arabica var. Geisha) subjected to different post-harvest processing methods. Bacteria were isolated on Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA), Blood Agar Base, and MacConkey Agar after a broth enrichment step. Isolates were initially grouped into 14 morphotypes (MT) based on colony morphology and Gram staining. Molecular identification was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis and Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) delimitation at a 99% identity threshold. Although 45 purified strains (19 Gram-positive and 26 Gram-negative) were initially clustered, morphological characterization showed significant taxonomic limitations compared with molecular tools. Molecular analysis identified nine genera and 19 bacterial genotypes, with Lactococcus lactis and Enterobacter spp. being the most frequently recovered and resilient taxa across all treatments. Statistical analyses (PERMANOVA and PCA) revealed no significant differences in bacterial community composition among post-harvest processes (Natural or Carbonic Maceration) or among farms, indicating that the predominant cultivable isolates remained consistent under the conditions evaluated, as presented here. According to the literature, several of the recovered species have functional roles in coffee fermentation, providing a baseline for the future development of starter cultures to optimize and standardize coffee sensory quality in southern Ecuador.