Composición, abundancia y distribución del Fitoplancton frente a la costa del Perú durante el verano 1999

Resultados de los volúmenes de plancton, la distribución, composición e indicadores de masas de agua del fitoplancton en superficie, determinados durante el Crucero de Evaluación Hidroacústica de Recursos Pelágicos, a bordo del BIC José Olaya Balandra del 10 de febrero al 01 de abril de 1999 desde Zorritos (Tumbes) hasta Los Palos (Tacna). El plancton en superficie presentó volúmenes entre 0,07 mL/m3 y 5,14 mL/m3; este último localizado dentro de las 30 mn, en la región sur, determinándose un promedio de 0,68 mL/m3, con predominio del fitoplancton en 22%, mientras que el zooplancton alcanzó representatividad con dominancias en 49%. La comunidad fitoplanctónica en las áreas próximas a la costa estuvo tipificada por especies de afloramiento de las primeras fases de la sucesión, junto a organismos de fases avanzadas y dinoflagelados de distribución cosmopolita; especies oceánicas predominaron entre las 30 - 60 mn, las cuales en la región sur (Chala y al sur de Ilo) fueron registradas a 20 mn. La mayor densidad de 382 x 102 cel/50 mL, estuvo localizada frente al Callao y fue dada principalmente por el nanoplancton. Ceratium breve, indicador de Aguas Ecuatoriales Superficiales (AES), estuvo distribuido frente a Zorritos y Pimentel a 50 y 70 mn, respectivamente.

Importance of IL28B gene polymorphisms in hepatitis C virus genotype 2 and 3 infected patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Genetic variation in the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene has been associated with the response to interferon-alfa/ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-infected patients. The importance of three IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs8099917, rs12980275 and rs12979860) for HCV genotype 2/3-infected patients is unknown. METHODS: In patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2/3 (n=267), IL28B host genotypes (rs8099917, rs12980275 and rs12979860) were analyzed for associations with sustained virologic response (SVR) to antiviral therapy with (pegylated) interferon-alfa and ribavirin and with respect to epidemiological, biochemical, and virological parameters. For comparison, hepatitis C genotype 1 patients (n=378) and healthy controls (n=200) were included. RESULTS: The rs12979860 CC genotype, lower age, and genotype 2 were significantly associated with SVR in HCV genotype 2/3-infected patients (p=0.01, p=0.03 and p=0.03, respectively). No association was observed for rs8099917 and rs12980275. In addition, an SVR in patients with rapid virologic response (RVR) was associated with the rs12979860 CC genotype (p=0.05), while for non-RVR no association was found. Furthermore, a significant association with a higher baseline viral load was observed for all three IL28B genotypes in genotype 1/2/3-infected patients. Finally, increasing frequencies of the rs12979860 CC genotypes were observed in genotype 1- (33.9%), genotype 3- (38.9%), and genotype 2-infected (51.9%) patients in comparison with healthy controls (49.0%) (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In genotype 2/3-infected patients, rs12979860 was significantly associated with SVR. The frequency of the rs12979860 CC genotype is lower in HCV genotype 1 vs. genotype 2/3 patients. All major IL28B genotypes are associated with HCV-RNA concentration.