Cacao production is a rapidly expanding industry in Puerto Rico, with new farmers planting ~20,000 trees in the past few years. To determine the etiology and extent of diseases affecting cacao in Puerto Rico, a survey was performed at eight sites around the island. Pod rot and/or branch dieback were observed at all sites. Most organisms isolated from symptomatic pod and stem samples were identified as Diaporthe spp. (48%) and Lasiodiplodia spp. (25%) based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions. Within these genera, Diaporthe tulliensis and Lasiodiplodia theobromae were the most prevalent species and were used in inoculation studies to determine their relative virulence on pods and stems. Phytophthora palmivora served as a positive control due to its well-established pathogenicity in all tissues. On pods, L. theobromae and P. palmivora caused significantly larger lesions (6.1 and 5.9 cm, respectively) than D. tulliensis (2.7 cm) four days post-inoculation. All three species caused disease on stems, with no differences found among species. Although P. palmivora was thought to be the primary pathogen affecting cacao in Puerto Rico, this study identifies L. theobromae and D. tulliensis as the common pathogens on the island. This improved understanding will help scientists and farmers control disease by selecting fungicides effective against both oomycetes and fungi.

Suicide is a global public health issue and the 10th leading cause of death, regardless of age, in the U.S. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens with one of the highest rates of suicide ideation and attempts (SIA) among all Latino sub-groups. Research has found that stigma is a risk factor for SIA. Medical students are an important group to target as they engage in routine clinical interactions with potential suicide victims, playing an important role in suicide prevention efforts. However, these efforts may be hampered by suicide stigma. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlates of suicide stigma in a sample of medical students in Puerto Rico. We implement an exploratory cross-sectional design using quantitative techniques. A total of 123 medical students participate in the study. Bivariate analyses suggest that gender is significantly correlated to suicide stigma (p < 0.05). Hierarchical regression analysis suggests that suicide literacy (β = −0.196, p < 0.05) and emotional reaction to suicide (β = 0.212, p < 0.05) predict suicide stigma. Although preliminary, these findings echo previous research regarding the importance of literacy and emotional reaction in the stigmatization process. Future research may develop intervention strategies aimed at reducing suicide stigma among medical students.

Bromeliads tank water or phytotelma is an eutrophic microenvironment where microorganisms have evolved to resist sudden changes in pH and nutritional competition. Metagenomics studies have been poorly studied in bromeliads and environmental DNA (eDNA) characterization for its microenvironment is deficient in Puerto Rico. Therefore, the data represents the microbial communities inhabiting bromeliads phytotelma. eDNA was extracted using Metagenomic DNA Isolation Kit for Water. Next-Generation-Sequencing technology (Illumina MiSeq) was used for sequencing the isolated eDNA. This data provides an insight about diversity and functional depiction of microorganisms inhabiting bromeliads phytotelma. The data of this metagenome is available in the BioSample Submission Portal as Bioproject PRJNA39461 and Sequence Read Archive (SRA) accession number SRP114300. MG-RAST metagenomic analysis server is located under the study ID mgp79812.

The mongoose is the principal reservoir for rabies on the island of Puerto Rico. This report describes a molecular epidemiological study of representative rabies viruses recovered from the island in 1997. Two closely related but distinct variants circulating in regionally localised parts of the island were identified. The lack of a monophyletic relationship of these viruses suggests that two independent incursions of rabies onto the island have occurred. Both of these Puerto Rican variants were closely related to a variant, known as the north central skunk strain, currently circulating in North American skunk populations and all are members of the cosmopolitan rabies lineage spread during the colonial period. However, the Puerto Rican viruses are clearly distinct from those presently circulating in mongooses in Cuba and which are epidemiologically closely linked to the Mexican dog rabies virus. This study clearly establishes the distinct origins of the rabies viruses now circulating on these two Caribbean islands.

The fireworms Odontosyllis spp. are globally distributed and well-known for their characteristic and fascinating mating behavior, with secreted mucus emitting bluish-green light. However, knowledge about the molecules involved in the light emission are still scarce. The fireworms are believed to emit light with a luciferin-luciferase reaction, but biochemical evidence of the luciferase is established for only one species living in Japan and no information is available for its luciferin structure. In this study, we identified a luciferase gene from a related Puerto Rican fireworm. We identified eight luciferase-like genes in this Puerto Rican fireworm, finding amino acid identities between Japanese and Puerto Rican luciferase-like genes to be less than 60%. We confirmed cross reactivity of extracts of the Japanese fireworm luciferin with a recombinant Puerto Rican luciferase (PR1). The emission spectrum of recombinant PR1 was similar to the crude extract of the native luciferase, suggesting that PR1 is a functional luciferase of this Puerto Rican fireworm. Our results indicate that the molecular mechanism of luminescence is widely conserved among fireworms.

Preventative health behaviors were encouraged for all at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic continued after 2020, some people stopped implementing all measures. It is unknown if people living in Puerto Rico continued to perform preventive health behaviors throughout the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore if the risk perceptions of COVID-19 were associated with preventative health behaviors among Puerto Ricans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample from Puerto Rico (N = 285) was recruited from January to March 2021 to participate in a cross-sectional, online survey about health behaviors and risk perceptions of COVID-19. Demographics were reported, and a multivariate logistic regression explored the relationships between health behaviors (e.g., handwashing, staying at home, and not allowing visitors) and fear of COVID-19 (outcome variable) and risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 (outcome variable). Those who reported that they washed their hands more often than usual were more likely (adjusted odds ratios = 6.93) to indicate that they were afraid of COVID-19 compared with those who were not performing this behavior. Also, those who reported not leaving their home as much and who did not receive visitors into their house as much as they did before the pandemic were 2.49 and 2.89 times as likely to report being afraid of the virus, respectively, as their counterparts. Although fear may not effectively change all behaviors, it may encourage Puerto Rican adults to practice healthy behaviors that will prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Hurricanes are among the most devastating natural disasters, playing a significant role in public health. Currently, the epidemiology of fall-related injuries after the occurrence of a tropical storm is not well described. This study aims to compare the demographical patterns, clinical profile, hospital course, and costs of patients admitted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital before and after Hurricane Maria.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is the seventh most important food crop due to its distinct advantages, such as adaptability to different environmental conditions and high nutritional value. Assessing the genetic diversity of this important crop is necessary due to the constant increase of demand for food and the need for conservation of agricultural and genetic resources. In Puerto Rico (PR), the genetic diversity of sweet potato has been poorly understood, although it has been part of the diet since Pre-Columbus time. Thus, 137 landraces from different localities around PR were collected and subjected to a genetic diversity analysis using 23 SSR-markers. In addition, 8 accessions from a collection grown in Gurabo, PR at the Agricultural Experimental Station (GAES), 10 US commercial cultivars and 12 Puerto Rican accessions from the USDA repository collection were included in this assessment. The results of the analysis of the 23 loci showed 255 alleles in the 167 samples. Observed heterozygosity was high across populations (0.71) while measurements of total heterozygosity revealed a large genetic diversity throughout the population and within populations. UPGMA clustering method revealed two main clusters. Cluster 1 contained 12 PR accessions from the USDA repository collection, while cluster 2 consisted of PR landraces, US commercial cultivars and the PR accessions from GAES. Population structure analysis grouped PR landraces in five groups including four US commercial cultivars. Our study shows the presence of a high level of genetic diversity of sweet potato across PR which can be related to the genetic makeup of sweet potato, human intervention and out-crossing nature of the plant. The history of domestication and dispersal of sweet potato in the Caribbean and the high levels of genetic diversity found through this study makes sweet potato an invaluable resource that needs to be protected and further studied.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in Puerto Rico and the United States (US).

Puerto Ricans, the second largest Latino group in the continental US, are underrepresented in genomic studies of Alzheimer disease (AD). To increase representation of this group in genomic studies of AD, we developed a multisource ascertainment approach to enroll AD patients, and their family members living in Puerto Rico (PR) as part of the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP), an international effort to advance broader personalized/precision medicine initiatives for AD across all populations.

Ecosystem services, including availability of greenspace, clean air, and clean water, can have benefits to human well-being, but their relative importance compared to economic or social services is often overlooked. In Puerto Rico, for example, improving community well-being, including economic and cultural opportunities, human health, and safety, are often overarching goals of environmental management decisions, but the degree to which improvements in ecological condition and provision of ecosystem services could impact local communities is complicated by wide variation in social and economic conditions. This study quantifies and maps neighborhood-scale indicators of human well-being and ecosystem services for Puerto Rico to better understand the degree to which ecosystem services provisioning, alongside co-occurring social and economic services, explains variability in a number of indicators of human well-being. In Puerto Rico, variability in indicators of human well-being were predominately explained by economic services related to accumulating income and personal savings, and social services, including availability of family services, healthcare services, and access to communication technology. Despite the large explanatory power of economic and social services, however, the analysis detected that substantial portions of well-being, in particular education and human health, could be explained by variability in ecosystem services over space and time, especially availability of greenspace. Linking ecosystem services to multivariate elements of human well-being can serve to complement more traditional community planning or environmental management efforts by helping identify potential unintended consequences or overlooked benefits of decisions.

Camuy River Cave Park (CRCP) is an underground cave system located at the subtropical karst carved by the Camuy River in the subtropical moist forest of northern Puerto Rico (Nieves-Rivera, 2003) [1]. This article contains a metagenomic dataset from the microbial and functional diversity of Clara Cave and Empalme Sinkhole water samples. The environmental DNA (eDNA) from the samples was extracted following direct Metagenomic DNA Isolation method, followed by Next-Generation-Sequencing technology (Illumina MiSeq). The sequences were submitted to MG-RAST online server for taxonomic profile generation and functional in silico description of the samples. The data consisted of domain Bacteria (96.69%), followed up by Viruses (2.87%), Eukaryotes (0.37%), and Archaea (0.02%). The data distribution by phyla showed Proteobacteria (92.61%), Bacteroidetes (1.66%), Actinobacteria (1.12%), and Firmicutes (0.48%). The subsystem functional data showed that 12.97% of genes were related to clustering-based subsystems, 11.40% to carbohydrates, and 11.0% to amino acids and derivatives. The metagenome dataset generated will provide an understanding and comparison framework of the microbial composition and functional diversity present in caves.

Introduced psittacine birds can become highly invasive. In this study, we assessed invasions of Psittaciformes in Puerto Rico. We reviewed the literature, public databases, citizen science records, and performed in situ population surveys across the island to determine the historical and current status and distribution of psittacine species. We used count data from Ebird to determine population trends. For species whose populations were increasing, we modelled their potential distribution using niche modeling techniques. We found 46 Psittaciformes in Puerto Rico, of which 26% are only present as pets, at least 29 species have been reported in the wild, and of those, there is evidence that at least 12 species are breeding. Our results indicate that most introduced species which have been detected as established still persist, although mostly in localized areas and small populations. Clear evidence of invasiveness was found for Brotogeris versicolurus and Myiopsitta monachus, which have greatly expanded their range in recent years. Psittacara erythrogenys and Eupsittacula canicularis also showed population increases, although to a lesser degree. The niche models predicted suitable areas for the four species, and also indicate the potential for range expansion. We discuss the factors leading to invasion success, assess the potential impacts, and we discuss possible management strategies and research prospects.

Religiosity may influence COVID-19 vaccination. However, it remains unclear how religiosity is associated with beliefs toward COVID-19 and vaccination against it, particularly amongst ethnic minorities. This study examined the association between religiosity, vaccination intent, beliefs, and attitudes related to COVID-19 and vaccination among adults in Puerto Rico. Data from an online survey conducted between December 2020-February 2021 among adults (≥18 yr; n = 1895) residing in Puerto Rico were used. Rating of the importance of religiosity was used to capture the level of religiosity ('less important', 'somewhat important', 'important', and 'very important'). The health belief model (HBM) assessed beliefs and attitudes toward COVID-19 and vaccination against it. Adjusted Poisson models with robust error variance estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals for vaccination intent and individual COVID-19 HBM constructs. Compared to individuals rating religiosity as 'less important' to them, those rating it as 'very important' were more likely to be unwilling or uncertain to get the COVID-19 vaccine (PR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.10-2.05). Higher ratings of importance of religiosity, compared to the lowest level, were associated with significantly lower perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, more vaccine barriers, and lower vaccine benefits (all p < 0.05). Individuals who reported religiosity being very important to them were more likely to report that they will get the COVID-19 vaccine only if given adequate information about it (PR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.02-1.27) and more likely to get the vaccine if more people decide to receive it (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest an association between religiosity and COVID-19 vaccination intent and beliefs and attitudes toward vaccination. The study highlights important guidelines for public health campaigns to increase vaccine uptake among religious communities in Puerto Rico.

Psychosocial stress during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth (PTB). This has not been studied in Puerto Rico, an area with high PTB rates. Our objective was to develop a conceptual model describing the interrelationships between measures of psychosocial stress and depression, a result of stress, among pregnant women in Puerto Rico and to examine their associations with PTB. We used data from the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats pregnancy cohort (PROTECT, N = 1,047) to examine associations among depression and different continuous measures of psychosocial stress using path analysis. Psychosocial stress during pregnancy was assessed using validated measures of perceived stress, negative life experiences, neighborhood perceptions and social support. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between psychosocial stress measures in tertiles and PTB. Perceived stress, negative life experiences, and neighborhood perceptions influenced depression through multiple pathways. Our model indicated that perceived stress had the strongest direct effect on depression, where one standard deviation (SD) increase in perceived stress was associated with a 57% SD increase in depression. Negative life experiences were directly but also indirectly, through perceived stress, associated with depression. Finally, neighborhood perceptions directly influenced negative life experiences and perceived stress and consequently had an indirect effect on depression. Psychosocial stress was not associated with PTB across any of the measures examined. Our study examined interrelationships between multiple measures of psychosocial stress and depression among a pregnant Puerto Rican population and identified negative neighborhood perceptions as important upstream factors leading to depression. Our findings highlight the complex relationship between psychosocial stress measures and indicate that psychosocial stress and depression, assessed using 5 different scales, were not associated with PTB. Future research should investigate other environmental and behavioral risk factors contributing to higher rates of PTB in this population.

Existing research has established a causal link between Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and severe birth defects or consequent health impairments; however, more subtle cognitive impairments have not been explored.

The Puerto Rico population may be modeled as an admixed population with contributions from three continents: Sub-Saharan Africa, Ancient America, and Europe. Extending the study of the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to an admixed population such as Puerto Rico has the potential to shed light on IBD genes identified in studies of European populations, find new genes contributing to IBD susceptibility, and provide basic information on IBD for the care of US patients of Puerto Rican and Latino descent. In order to study the association between immune-related genes and Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Puerto Rico, we genotyped 1159 Puerto Rican cases, controls, and family members with the ImmunoChip. We also genotyped 832 subjects from the Human Genome Diversity Panel to provide data for estimation of global and local continental ancestry. Association of SNPs was tested by logistic regression corrected for global continental descent and family structure. We observed the association between Crohn's disease and NOD2 (rs17313265, 0.28 in CD, 0.19 in controls, OR 1.5, p = 9×10-6) and IL23R (rs11209026, 0.026 in CD, 0.0.071 in controls, OR 0.4, p = 3.8×10-4). The haplotype structure of both regions resembled that reported for European populations and "local" continental ancestry of the IL23R gene was almost entirely of European descent. We also observed suggestive evidence for the association of the BAZ1A promoter SNP with CD (rs1200332, 0.45 in CD, 0.35 in controls, OR 1.5, p = 2×10-6). Our estimate of continental ancestry surrounding this SNP suggested an origin in Ancient America for this putative susceptibility region. Our observations underscored the great difference between global continental ancestry and local continental ancestry at the level of the individual gene, particularly for immune-related loci.

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems in the marine realm, and they not only contribute a plethora of ecosystem services to other marine organisms, but they also are beneficial to humankind via, for instance, their role as nurseries for commercially important fish species. Corals are considered holobionts (host + symbionts) since they are composed not only of coral polyps, but also algae, other microbial eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In recent years, Caribbean reef corals, including the once-common scleractinian coral Acropora cervicornis, have suffered unprecedented mortality due to climate change-related stressors. Unfortunately, our basic knowledge of the molecular ecophysiology of reef corals, particularly with respect to their complex bacterial microbiota, is currently too poor to project how climate change will affect this species. For instance, we do not know how light influences microbial communities of A. cervicornis, arguably the most endangered of all Caribbean coral species. To this end, we characterized the microbiota of A. cervicornis inhabiting water depths with different light regimes.

We reconstructed the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic caused by Omicron variant in Puerto Rico by sampling genomes collected during October 2021-May 2022. Our study revealed that Omicron BA.1 emerged and replaced Delta as the predominant variant in December 2021. Increased transmission rates and a dynamic landscape of Omicron sublineage infections followed.

Preterm birth (PTB; gestational age <37 weeks), the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, is of particular concern in Puerto Rico. Rates of PTB in Puerto Rico peaked at 20% in 2006, which are historically some of the highest in the world. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated as contributors to adverse birth outcomes, including PTB, and these associations have not been explored in Puerto Rico. Our objective was to examine associations between urinary oxidative stress biomarkers and PTB in the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) pregnancy cohort (N = 469).