Limited large-scale studies have been conducted to investigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Latin America, particularly among the healthcare worker (HCW) population in Ecuador. The objective of this study was to assess a cohort of Ecuadorian healthcare workers for adverse reactions following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study to assess the potential adverse reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine among a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, from March to May 2021. The sample comprised 1291 patients, with a mean age of 39.3 years (SD, 13.5). In general, 79% (N = 1020) of participants presented an adverse effect of any type at first dose, while 75.1% (N = 969) did so at the second dose. Pain at the puncture site was the most common adverse effect overall after either the first (68.4%) and second (55.6%) dose. Regarding anaphylaxis, no participant developed the condition after the first dose, and only 0.2% (N = 2) developing it at the second dose. No fatalities were reported. Our findings suggest that adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are relatively common, albeit often mild and self-limited. Consistent with the literature there were few cases of anaphylaxis, and no deaths that could be attributed to the inoculation with the vaccine. We hope our findings can help to reassure the public that benefits of vaccination highly outweigh the risks and contribute to the effort of reducing vaccine hesitancy among those who are concerned about the safety and potential side effects.

The incidence of candidemia in healthcare centers is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frequency varies significantly among regions, with some species being more prevalent than others in Latin America. In this study, 191 clinical Candida isolates were collected from a major hospital in Ecuador from January 2019 to February 2020 aiming to assess their prevalence and distribution. After data processing, 168 isolates characterized by the VITEK 2 system were subsequently identified by ITS sequencing. Results showed diverse Candida species distributions, with C. albicans and C. tropicalis being the most prevalent across different clinical sources. In hospitalized individuals, C. tropicalis (38%) and C. albicans (37%) were the most prevalent, followed by, C. parapsilosis (16%), C. glabrata (5%), and other non-Candida albicans (NCA) species (6%). Conversely, C. parapsilosis (48%), C. albicans (20%), and C. glabrata (14%), associated with candidemia, were the most common in blood and CSF. Additionally, uncommon NCA species such as C. haemulonii, C. kefyr, and C. pelliculosa were identified in Ecuador for the first time. Discrepancies in species identification were observed between the VITEK 2 system and ITS sequencing, coinciding at 85%. This highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and identification efforts in Ecuador’s clinical and epidemiological settings.

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is the latest pandemic lineage causing COVID-19. Despite having a vaccination rate ≥85%, Ecuador recorded a high incidence of Omicron from December 2021 to March 2022. Since Omicron emerged, it has evolved into multiple sub-lineages with distinct prevalence in different regions. In this work, we use all Omicron sequences from Ecuador available at GISAID until March 2022 and the software Nextclade and Pangolin to identify which lineages circulate in this country. We detected 12 different sub-lineages (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.1.1.1, BA.1.1.14, BA.1.1.2, BA.1.14, BA.1.15, BA.1.16, BA.1.17, BA.1.6, BA.2, BA.2.3), which have been reported in Africa, America, Europe, and Asia, suggesting multiple introduction events. Sub-lineages BA.1 and BA.1.1 were the most prevalent. Genomic surveillance must continue to evaluate the dynamics of current sub-lineages, the early introduction of new ones and vaccine efficacy against evolving SARS-CoV-2.

Tuberculosis is a global public health concern, and understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission routes and genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis is crucial for outbreak control. This study aimed to explore the genomic epidemiology and genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis in Ecuador by analyzing 88 local isolates and 415 public genomes from 19 countries within the Euro-American lineage (L4). Our results revealed significant genomic diversity among the isolates, particularly in the genes related to protein processing, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. The population structure analysis showed that sub-lineages 4.3.2/3 (35.4%), 4.1.2.1 (22.7%), 4.4.1 (12.7%), and 4.1.1. (10.7%) were the most prevalent. Phylogenetic and transmission network analyses suggest that these isolates circulating within Ecuador share genetic ties with isolates from other continents, implying historical and ongoing intercontinental transmission events. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating genomic data into public health strategies for tuberculosis control and suggest that enhanced genomic surveillance is essential for understanding and mitigating the global spread of M. tuberculosis. This study provides a comprehensive genomic framework for future epidemiological investigations and control measures targeting M. tuberculosis L4 in Ecuador.

Background: Despite the growing concerns related to the potential of long-term pulmonary sequelae due to COVID-19, data about intermediate and long-term changes in the respiratory function of patients who recover is relatively sparse, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: To assess the characteristics and pulmonary function at follow-up in a sample of Ecuadorian patients that recovered from the virus. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 43 patients after symptomatic COVID infection, who were evaluated by spirometry, single breath DLCO, and 6MWT. For statistical analysis we performed point biserial correlations, and chi squared tests. Results: Overall, 30.3% of patients (n=13) reported persistent symptoms, with fatigue being the most common (23.3%, n=10). Around 34.9% (n=15) of the sample had a restrictive spirometry pattern, 18.6% (n=8) had an abnormally decreased adjusted DLCO. A restrictive spirometry pattern was associated with an abnormally low adjusted DLCO (χ2(2) = 11979, p = 0.001). Conclusion: We found that a considerable proportion of patients presented with persistent symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function following COVID-19, mainly a restrictive respiratory pattern and abnormally low DLCO. Further studies are needed to determine which patients may benefit from the follow-up with specific pulmonary function tests.

Peganum harmala (L.) Schrad., a perennial medicinal plant thriving in arid Moroccan soils, represents a natural reservoir of unexplored bacterial diversity. To uncover its hidden foliar endosphere microbiota, we isolated and characterized two Acinetobacter strains: a novel endophytic bacterium, AGC35, and another strain, AGC59, newly reported from this host. Both are non-halophilic, aerobic, Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting optimal growth at 30–35 °C, pH5, and with 1% NaCl. An integrative genomic, phylogenetic, functional, and phenotypic characterization classified both strains within the genus Acinetobacter (class Gamma-pseudomonadota). However, Average Nucleotide Identity (<96%) and digital DNA-DNA Hybridization (<70%) values distinguished the AGC35 strain as a novel species, for which the name Acinetobacter endophylla sp. nov. is proposed. A comparative genomic and phenotypic analysis with the co-isolated Acinetobacter pittii strain AGC59 revealed extensive genome rearrangements, reflecting distinct evolutionary lineage and ecological strategies. While both genomes share core metabolic pathways, A. endophylla harbors specialized genes for the degradation of plant-derived aromatic compounds (e.g., catechol) but shows reduced capacities in carbohydrate metabolism and osmotic stress tolerance, traits indicative of a metabolic specialist with plant-growth-promotion potential, including phosphorus, potassium, and silicon solubilization and indole-3-acetic acid production. In contrast, A. pittii exhibits a more generalist genome enriched in stress functions. Analysis using the Antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite Analysis Shell revealed multiple biosynthetic gene clusters in both strains, showing ≤26% similarity to known references, suggesting the potential for novel antimicrobial secondary metabolite biosynthesis, including antifungal lipopeptides and thiopeptide antibiotics. Altogether, functional specialization and ecological coherence of these findings support the recognition of A. endophylla sp. nov. as a genomically and functionally distinct species, highlighting niche partitioning and adaptive metabolism within the P. harmala holobiont. These results underscore the plant’s value as a reservoir of untapped microbial diversity with significant ecological and biotechnological relevance. Finally, future work will focus on elucidating the novel metabolites encoded by the biosynthetic gene clusters in both isolates and exploring their applications in crop-improvement strategies and natural-product discovery.