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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small particles released by many cell types in different tissues, including the liver, and transfer specific cargo molecules from originating cells to receptor cells. This process generally culminates in activation of distant cells and inflammation and progression of certain diseases. The global chronic liver disease (CLD) epidemic is estimated at 1.5 billion patients worldwide. Cirrhosis and liver cancer are the most common risk factors for CLD. However, hepatitis C and B virus infection and obesity are also highly associated with CLD. Nonetheless, the etiology of many CLD pathophysiological, cellular, and molecular events are unclear. Changes in hepatic lipid metabolism can lead to lipotoxicity events that induce EV release. Here, we aimed to present an overview of EV features, from definition to types and biogenesis, with particular focus on the molecules related to steatosis-related liver disease, diagnosis, and therapy.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems and triggered global economic downturns. While vaccines have reduced the lethality rate of SARS-CoV-2 to 0.9% as of October 2024, the continuous evolution of variants remains a significant public health challenge. Next-generation medical therapies offer hope in addressing this threat, especially for immunocompromised individuals who experience prolonged infections and severe illnesses, contributing to viral evolution. These cases increase the risk of new variants emerging. This study explores miniACE2 decoys as a novel strategy to counteract SARS-CoV-2 variants. Using in silico design and molecular dynamics, blocking proteins (BPs) were developed with stronger binding affinity for the receptor-binding domain of multiple variants than naturally soluble human ACE2. The BPs were expressed in E. coli and tested in vitro, showing promising neutralizing effects. Notably, miniACE2 BP9 exhibited an average IC50 of 4.9 µg/mL across several variants, including the Wuhan strain, Mu, Omicron BA.1, and BA.2 This low IC50 demonstrates the potent neutralizing ability of BP9, indicating its efficacy at low concentrations.Based on these findings, BP9 has emerged as a promising therapeutic candidate for combating SARS-CoV-2 and its evolving variants, thereby positioning it as a potential emergency biopharmaceutical.
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Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2 , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes , COVID-19 , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2/efectos de los fármacos , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Humanos , COVID-19/virología , COVID-19/inmunología , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/química , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/metabolismo , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/química , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/inmunología , Simulación por Computador , Pandemias , Unión Proteica , Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Betacoronavirus/efectos de los fármacos , Pruebas de NeutralizaciónRESUMEN
Introduction: Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that is transmitted mainly by the feces of infected Triatomines. In Ecuador the main vector is Rhodnius ecuadoriensis which is distributed in several provinces of the country. More than 40% of these insects in the wild have T. cruzi as part of their intestinal microbiota. For this reason, the objective of this research was to characterize the intestinal bacterial microbiota of R. ecuadoriensis. Methods: The methodology used was based on the DNA extraction of the intestinal contents from the wild collected insects (adults and nymphs V), as well as the insects maintained at the insectary of the CISeAL. Finally, the samples were analyzed by metagenomics extensions based on the different selected criteria. Results: The intestinal microbiota of R. ecuadoriensis presented a marked divergence between laboratory-raised and wild collected insects. This difference was observed in all stages and was similar between insects from Loja and Manabí. A large loss of microbial symbionts was observed in laboratory-raised insects. Discussion: This study is a crucial first step in investigating microbiota interactions and advancing new methodologies.
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BACKGROUND: The tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), a member of the Lepisosteidae family, is native to regions extending from southeastern Mexico to southern Costa Rica. This species serves as a unique bridge between tetrapods and teleosts due to its phylogenetic position, slow evolutionary rate, dense genetic map, gene similarities with humans, and ease of laboratory cultivation. As a taxonomic sister group to teleosts like the zebrafish (Danio rerio), known for its high regenerative capacity, it remains unclear whether the tropical gar shares a similar ability for regeneration. RESULTS: This study aims to elucidate the caudal fin regeneration process in tropical gar through skeletal and histological staining methods. Juvenile specimens were observed over a two-month period, during which they were fed brine shrimp, and anesthetized with 1% eugenol for caudal fin amputation. Samples were collected at various days post-amputation (dpa). Alcian blue and alizarin red staining were used to highlight skeletal regeneration, particularly the formation of new cartilage, while histological staining with hematoxylin and eosin was performed to observe tissue regeneration at the amputation site. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal a remarkable ability for caudal fin regeneration in juvenile tropical gar. Given the Garfish evolutionary relationship with teleosts, this opens new avenues for research into tissue regeneration across different groups of Actinopterygii.
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The abuse of synthetic steroids, such as nandrolone decanoate (ND), is often associated with violent behavior, increasing the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). After a TBI, proteins like APP, ß-amyloid peptide-42 (Aß42), and phosphorylated tau (pTau) accumulate and trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress associated with an unfolded protein response (UPR). The involvement of mitochondrial bioenergetics in this context remains unexplored. We interrogate whether the abuse of ND before TBI alters the responses of ER stress and mitochondrial bioenergetics in connection with neurodegeneration and memory processing in mice. Male CF1 adult mice were administered ND (15 mg/kg) or vehicle (VEH) s.c. for 19 days, coinciding with the peak day of aggressive behavior, and then underwent cortical controlled impact (CCI) or sham surgery. Spatial memory was assessed through the Morris water maze task (MWM) post-TBI. In synaptosome preparations, i) we challenged mitochondrial complexes (I, II, and V) in a respirometry assay, employing metabolic substrates, an uncoupler, and inhibitors; and ii) assessed molecular biomarkers through Western blot. TBI significantly increased APP, Aß42, and pTauSer396 levels, along with ER-stress proteins, GRP78, ATF6, and CHOP, implying it primed apoptotic signaling. Concurrently, TBI reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux in exchange with Na+, disturbed the formation/dissipation of membrane potential, increased H2O2 production, decreased biogenesis (PGC-1⺠and TOM20), and ATP biosynthesis coupled with oxygen consumption. Unexpectedly, ND abuse before TBI attenuated the elevations in APP, Aß42, and pTauSer396, accompanied by a decrease in GRP78, ATF6, and CHOP levels, and partial normalization of mitochondrial-related endpoints. A principal component analysis revealed a key hierarchical signature featuring mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux, CHOP, GRP78, TOM20, H2O2, and bioenergetic efficiency as a unique variable (PC1) able to explain the memory deficits caused by TBI, as well as the preservation of memory fitness induced by prior ND abuse.
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Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose significant challenges to global health due to pathogen complexity and antimicrobial resistance. Biosensors utilizing antimicrobial peptides offer innovative solutions. Hylarana picturata Multiple Active Peptide 1 (Hp-MAP1), derived from Temporin-PTA, exhibits antibacterial properties sourced from the skin secretions of the Malaysian fire-bellied frog. An innovative sensing layer was developed for the electrochemical biorecognition of diverse pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy differentiated microorganisms based on distinct electrochemical responses. The sensor layer, composed of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) associated with Hp-MAP1, exhibited varying levels of charge transfer resistance (RCT) for different microorganisms. Gram-negative species, especially P. aeruginosa, displayed higher RCT values, indicating better impedimetric responses. Excellent LODs were observed for P. aeruginosa (0.60), K. pneumoniae (0.42), E. coli (0.67), and S. aureus (0.59), highlighting the efficacy of the MWCNTs/Hp-MAP1 biosensor in microbial identification. The MWCNTs/Hp-MAP1 biosensor platform presents a promising and effective microbial identification strategy with potential healthcare applications to mitigate HAIs and enhance patient care.
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Considering a circular economy perspective, this study evaluates the possible effect of targeted short-term supplementation with Withania somnifera L. (WS; Ashwagandha) on ram's seminal quality, socio-sexual behaviors, and blood constituents. Black Belly rams (n = 20) received a basal diet comprising feed-leftovers from dairy cows in the north-arid Mexico (i.e., Comarca Lagunera CL). The experimental units, with proven libido and fertility, were homogeneous in terms of age (3.41 ± 0.21 yr.), live weight (LW; 53.8 ± 3.3 kg), body condition (BC; 2.96 ± 0.01 units), initial sperm concentration (2387 ± 804 × 106), and viability (23.9 ± 15.6%). Rams were randomly assigned during the transition reproductive period (i.e., May to Jun; 25° NL) to three treatment groups: non-supplemented control group (CONT; n = 6), low WS-supplemented (LWS; i.e., 100 mg kg LW-1 d-1 × 40 d; n = 7), and high-WS-supplemented (HWS; i.e., 200 mg kg LW-1 d-1 × 40 d; n = 7). The basal leftover diet was offered twice daily (0700 and 1600 h); the experimental period (EP) lasted 47 d. No differences (p > 0.05) among treatments occurred regarding LW and BCS at the onset of the EP. Whereas the greater scrotal circumference (SCRC, cm) arose in the LWS and CONT rams, an increased ejaculated volume (VOLEJA, mL) occurred in the WS-rams. A total of 5/9 (i.e., 55%) appetitive and 3/3 (i.e., 100%) consummatory sexual behaviors favored (p < 0.05) the WS-rams, particularly the HWS rams, towards the final EP. The same was true (p < 0.05) regarding the hemogram variables white blood cell count (×109 cells L-1), hemoglobin concentration (g dL-1), and medium corpuscular volume (fL). This study, based on a rethink-reuse-reduce enquiry approach, enabled connectedness between two noteworthy animal systems in the CL: dairy cows and meat sheep schemes. Certainly, the use of dairy cow feed-leftovers aligned with the short-term supplementation with WS promoted enhanced testicular function, augmented seminal volume, and an increased sexual behavior in Black Belly rams in northern Mexico. Finally, while our research outcomes should enhance not only the resilience and sustainability of sheep production and the well-being of sheep-producers and their families, it may also embrace clinical translational applications.
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The cefazolin inoculum effect (CzIE) has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections. We aimed to investigate the point prevalence of the CzIE among nasal colonizing MSSA isolates from ICU patients in a multicenter study in Colombia (2019-2023). Patients underwent nasal swabs to assess for S. aureus colonization on admission to the ICU, and some individuals had follow-up swabs. We performed cefazolin MIC by broth microdilution using standard and high inoculum and developed a modified nitrocefin-based rapid test to detect the CzIE. Whole-genome sequencing was carried out to characterize BlaZ types and allotypes, phylogenomics, and Agr-typing. A total of 352 patients were included; 46/352 (13%) patients were colonized with S. aureus and 22% (10/46) and 78% (36/46) with MRSA and MSSA, respectively. Among 36 patients who contributed with 43 MSSA colonizing isolates, 21/36 (58%) had MSSA exhibiting the CzIE. BlaZ type A and BlaZ-2 were the predominant type and allotype in 56% and 52%, respectively. MSSA belonging to CC30 were highly associated with the CzIE, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses supported possible transmission of MSSA exhibiting the CzIE among some patients of the same unit. The modified nitrocefin rapid test had 100%, 94.4%, and 97.7% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively. We found a high point prevalence of the CzIE in MSSA colonizing the nares of critically ill patients in Colombia. A modified rapid test was highly accurate in detecting the CzIE in this patient population.
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Antibacterianos , Cefazolina , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Infecciones Estafilocócicas , Humanos , Colombia/epidemiología , Cefazolina/farmacología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Femenino , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Staphylococcus aureus/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus/genética , Staphylococcus aureus/aislamiento & purificación , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/genética , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/aislamiento & purificación , Prevalencia , Nariz/microbiología , Anciano , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , AdultoRESUMEN
Fold-switching enables metamorphic proteins to reversibly interconvert between two highly dissimilar native states to regulate their protein functions. While about 100 proteins have been identified to undergo fold-switching, unveiling the key residues behind this mechanism for each protein remains challenging. Reasoning that fold-switching in proteins is driven by dynamic changes in local energetic frustration, we combined fold-switching simulations generated using simplified structure-based models with frustration analysis to identify key residues involved in this process based on the change in the density of minimally frustrated contacts during refolding. Using this approach to analyze the fold-switch of the bacterial transcription factor RfaH, we identified 20 residues that significantly change their frustration during its fold-switch, some of which have been experimentally and computationally reported in previous works. Our approach, which we developed as an additional module for the FrustratometeR package, highlights the role of local frustration dynamics in protein fold-switching and offers a robust tool to enhance our understanding of other proteins with significant conformational shifts.
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Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Pliegue de Proteína , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Transactivadores/química , Transactivadores/metabolismo , Transactivadores/genética , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Factores de Elongación de Péptidos/química , Factores de Elongación de Péptidos/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación Proteica , TermodinámicaRESUMEN
Precise measurement of fiber diameter in animal and synthetic textiles is crucial for quality assessment and pricing; however, traditional methods often struggle with accuracy, particularly when fibers are densely packed or overlapping. Current computer vision techniques, while useful, have limitations in addressing these challenges. This paper introduces a novel deep-learning-based method to automatically generate distance maps of fiber micrographs, enabling more accurate fiber segmentation and diameter calculation. Our approach utilizes a modified U-Net architecture, trained on both real and simulated micrographs, to regress distance maps. This allows for the effective separation of individual fibers, even in complex scenarios. The model achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.1094 and a mean square error (MSE) of 0.0711, demonstrating its effectiveness in accurately measuring fiber diameters. This research highlights the potential of deep learning to revolutionize fiber analysis in the textile industry, offering a more precise and automated solution for quality control and pricing.
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E6 and E7 oncogenes are pivotal in the carcinogenic transformation in HPV infections and efficient diagnostic methods can ensure the detection and differentiation of HPV genotype. This study describes the development and validation of an electrochemical, label-free genosensor coupled with a microfluidic system for detecting the E6 and E7 oncogenes in cervical scraping samples. The nanostructuring employed was based on a cysteine and graphene quantum dots layer that provides functional groups, surface area, and interesting electrochemical properties. Biorecognition tests with cervical scraping samples showed differentiation in the voltammetric response. Low-risk HPV exhibited a lower biorecognition response, reflected in ΔI% values of 82.33 % ± 0.29 for HPV06 and 80.65 % ± 0.68 for HPV11 at a dilution of 1:100. Meanwhile, high-risk, HPV16 and HPV18, demonstrated ΔI% values of 96.65 % ± 1.27 and 93 % ± 0.026, respectively, at the same dilution. Therefore, the biorecognition intensity followed the order: HPV16 >HPV18 >HPV06 >HPV11. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification of E6E7 microfluidic LOC-Genosensor was 26 fM, and 79.6 fM. Consequently, the E6E7 biosensor is a valuable alternative for clinical HPV diagnosis, capable of detecting the potential for oncogenic progression even in the early stages of infection.
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Técnicas Biosensibles , Proteínas Oncogénicas Virales , Técnicas Biosensibles/métodos , Humanos , Proteínas Oncogénicas Virales/genética , Femenino , Límite de Detección , Proteínas E7 de Papillomavirus/genética , Cuello del Útero/virología , Grafito/química , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/virología , Técnicas Electroquímicas/métodos , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Técnicas Analíticas Microfluídicas/métodos , Técnicas Analíticas Microfluídicas/instrumentación , Puntos Cuánticos/química , Dispositivos Laboratorio en un Chip , Papillomaviridae/genética , Papillomaviridae/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
Bio-energy systems with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) will be essential if countries are to meet the gas emission reduction targets established in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This study seeks to carry out a thermodynamic optimization and analysis of a BECCS technology for a typical Brazilian cogeneration plant. To maximize generated net electrical energy (MWe) and carbon dioxide CO2 capture (Mt/year), this study evaluated six cogeneration systems integrated with a chemical absorption process using MEA. A key performance indicator (gCO2/kWh) was also evaluated. The set of optimal solutions shows that the single regenerator configuration (REG1) resulted in more CO2 capture (51.9% of all CO2 emissions generated by the plant), penalized by 14.9% in the electrical plant's efficiency. On the other hand, the reheated configuration with three regenerators (Reheat3) was less power-penalized (7.41%) but had a lower CO2 capture rate (36.3%). Results showed that if the CO2 capture rates would be higher than 51.9%, the cogeneration system would reach a higher specific emission (gCO2/kWh) than the cogeneration base plant without a carbon capture system, which implies that low capture rates (<51%) in the CCS system guarantee an overall net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in sugarcane plants for power and ethanol production.
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AIM: Patients with Heart Failure (HF) commonly have poor quality of life (QoL), secondary to the persistence and severity of HF symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of QoL measures on all-cause mortality in patients with HF from the Colombian registry of heart failure (RECOLFACA). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from patients registered in RECOLFACA during 2017-2019. QoL was measured using the EuroQol-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D). From the questionnaire, two independent predictors of mortality were obtained, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the utility score (US). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary variables evaluated were demographic factors, comorbidities, NYHA classification, medications used and laboratory test results. To analyze survival among patients, the Kaplan-Meier method and the hierarchical Cox proportional-hazards regression model were used. This study included 2514 patients from RECOLFACA. Most patients were male (57.6%), and mean age was 67.8 years. Mean value and standard deviation (SD) of the VAS score was 78.8 ± 20.1 points, while the mean and SD of the US score was 0.81 ± 0.20. As the Kaplan-Meier curve illustrated, patients in the lower quartiles of both VAS and US scores had a significantly higher probability of mortality (log-rank test: p<0.001 for both scores). CONCLUSION: QoL, as calculated by the EQ-5D questionnaire, served as an independent predictor of mortality in patients from RECOLFACA. Further studies may be needed to evaluate whether provision of optimizing therapies and follow-up care based on patients' perceived QoL reduces short- and long-term mortality rates in this population.
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The human FoxP transcription factors dimerize via three-dimensional domain swapping, a unique feature among the human Fox family, as result of evolutionary sequence adaptations in the forkhead domain. This is the case for the conserved glycine and proline residues in the wing 1 region, which are absent in FoxP proteins but present in most of the Fox family. In this work, we engineered both glycine (G) and proline-glycine (PG) insertion mutants to evaluate the deletion events in FoxP proteins in their dimerization, stability, flexibility, and DNA-binding ability. We show that the PG insertion only increases protein stability, whereas the single glycine insertion decreases the association rate and protein stability and promotes affinity to the DNA ligand.
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Factores de Transcripción Forkhead , Glicina , Prolina , Proteínas Represoras , Eliminación de Secuencia , Humanos , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/genética , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/química , Prolina/genética , Prolina/metabolismo , Prolina/química , Glicina/metabolismo , Glicina/genética , Glicina/química , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/química , Dominios Proteicos , Evolución Molecular , Estabilidad Proteica , Multimerización de Proteína , ADN/metabolismo , ADN/genética , ADN/química , Unión Proteica , Secuencia de AminoácidosRESUMEN
Bioactive and biodegradable scaffolds that mimic the natural extracellular matrix of bone serve as temporary structures to guide new bone tissue growth. In this study, 3D-printed scaffolds composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (90-10 wt.%) were modified with 1%, 5%, and 10 wt.% of ZnO to enhance bone tissue regeneration. A commercial chain extender named Joncryl was incorporated alongside ZnO to ensure the printability of the composites. Filaments were manufactured using a twin-screw extruder and subsequently used to print 3D scaffolds via fused filament fabrication (FFF). The scaffolds exhibited a homogeneous distribution of ZnO and TCP particles, a reproducible structure with 300 µm pores, and mechanical properties suitable for bone tissue engineering, with an elastic modulus around 100 MPa. The addition of ZnO resulted in enhanced surface roughness on the scaffolds, particularly for ZnO microparticles, achieving values up to 241 nm. This rougher topography was responsible for enhancing protein adsorption on the scaffolds, with an increase of up to 85% compared to the PLA-TCP matrix. Biological analyses demonstrated that the presence of ZnO promotes mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and differentiation into osteoblasts. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an important indicator of early osteogenic differentiation, increased up to 29%. The PLA-TCP composite containing 5% ZnO microparticles exhibited an optimized degradation rate and enhanced bioactivity, indicating its promising potential for bone repair applications.
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Materiales Biocompatibles , Regeneración Ósea , Fosfatos de Calcio , Diferenciación Celular , Proliferación Celular , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Osteoblastos , Poliésteres , Impresión Tridimensional , Ingeniería de Tejidos , Andamios del Tejido , Óxido de Zinc , Andamios del Tejido/química , Fosfatos de Calcio/química , Poliésteres/química , Regeneración Ósea/efectos de los fármacos , Ingeniería de Tejidos/métodos , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Óxido de Zinc/química , Materiales Biocompatibles/química , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Osteoblastos/citología , Osteogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Ensayo de Materiales , Huesos , Regeneración Tisular Dirigida/métodos , Humanos , Animales , Fosfatasa Alcalina/metabolismo , Módulo de Elasticidad , Porosidad , Propiedades de SuperficieRESUMEN
Although Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, its remote location does not protect it from the impacts of human activities. Antarctic metazoans such as filter-feeding invertebrates are a crucial component of the Antarctic benthos. They play a key role in the benthic-pelagic carbon flux in coastal areas by filtering particles and planktonic organisms from the sediment-water interface. Due to their peculiar ecological niche, these organisms can be considered a wasp-waist in the ecosystem, making them highly sensitive to marine pollution. Recently, anthropogenic particles such as micro-nanoplastics and manufactured nanoparticles (MNP) have been classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) due to their small size range, which also overlaps with the preferred particle size ingested by aquatic metazoans. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that some species such as Antarctic krill can ingest, transform, and release MNPs, making them newly bioavailable for other Antarctic filter-feeding organisms. Similarly, the production and use of anthropogenic MNP are rapidly increasing, leading to a growing presence of materials, such as nano-sized metal-oxides, in the environment. For these reasons, it is important to provide evidence of the adverse effects of such emerging contaminants at sub-lethal concentrations in environmental risk assessments. These contaminants may cause cascade effects with consequences not only on individuals but also at the community and ecosystem levels. In this review, we discuss the state-of-the-art knowledge on the physiological and molecular effects of anthropogenic MNP in Antarctic aquatic metazoans. We further highlight the importance of identifying early biomarkers using sessile metazoans as sentinels of environmental health.
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Organismos Acuáticos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Regiones Antárticas , Animales , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Nanopartículas , EcosistemaRESUMEN
The cefazolin inoculum effect (CzIE) has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with MSSA infections. We aimed to investigate the point prevalence of the CzIE among nasal colonizing MSSA isolates from ICU patients in a multicenter study in Colombia (2019-2023). Patients underwent nasal swabs to assess for S. aureus colonization on admission to the ICU and some individuals had follow-up swabs. We performed cefazolin MIC by broth-microdilution using standard and high-inoculum and developed a modified nitrocefin-based rapid test to detect the CzIE. Whole genome sequencing was carried out to characterize BlaZ types and allotypes, phylogenomics and Agr-typing. All swabs were subjected to 16S-rRNA metabarcoding sequencing to evaluate microbiome characteristics associated with the CzIE. A total of 352 patients were included; 46/352 (13%) patients were colonized with S. aureus; 22% (10/46) and 78% (36/46) with MRSA and MSSA, respectively. Among 36 patients that contributed with 43 MSSA colonizing isolates, 21/36 (58%) had MSSA exhibiting the CzIE. BlaZ type A and BlaZ-2 were the predominant type and allotype in 56% and 52%, respectively. MSSA belonging to CC30 were highly associated with the CzIE and SNP analyses supported transmission of MSSA exhibiting the CzIE among some patients of the same unit. The modified nitrocefin rapid test had 100%, 94.4% and 97.7% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, respectively. We found a high prevalence point prevalence of the CzIE in MSSA colonizing the nares of critically-ill patients in Colombia. A modified rapid test was highly accurate in detecting the CzIE in this patient population.
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The lack of synthesized information regarding biodiversity is a major problem among researchers, leading to a pervasive cycle where ecologists make field campaigns to collect information that already exists and yet has not been made available for a broader audience. This problem leads to long-lasting effects in public policies such as spending money multiple times to conduct similar studies in the same area. We aim to identify this knowledge gap by synthesizing information available regarding two Brazilian long-term biodiversity programs and the metadata generated by them. Using a unique dataset containing 1904 metadata, we identified patterns of metadata distribution and intensity of research conducted in Brazil, as well as where we should concentrate research efforts in the next decades. We found that the majority of metadata were about vertebrates, followed by plants, invertebrates, and fungi. Caatinga was the biome with least metadata, and that there's still a lack of information regarding all biomes in Brazil, with none of them being sufficiently sampled. We hope that these results will have implications for broader conservation and management guiding, as well as to funding allocation programs.
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Biodiversidad , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales , Brasil , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales/métodos , Ecología , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodosRESUMEN
In recent years, emerging environmental pollutants have increasingly endangered the health of freshwater organisms. The gut microbiota exhibits sensitivity to medications, dietary factors and environmental pollutants, rendering it a novel target for toxicological studies. The gut microbiota can be a potential exposure route affecting the host's health. Herein, we review the current knowledge on two different but concurrent pollutants, microplastics and pesticides, regarding their impact on the gut microbiota, which includes alterations in microbial composition, gene expression, function, and health effects in the hosts. Moreover, synergetic interactions between microplastics and pesticides can exacerbate dysbiosis and health risks. We discuss health-related implications of gut microbial changes based on the consequences in metabolism, immunity, and physiology function. Further research is needed to discover the mechanisms underlying these effects and develop strategies for mitigating their harmful impacts on freshwater animals.