RESUMEN
Objective: We aimed to quantify SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies' seroprevalence among university students in Porto. Methods: A rapid point of care testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies was performed, and a questionnaire was applied to 6512 voluntary students from September to December 2020. We computed the apparent IgM, IgG, and IgM or IgG prevalence, and the true prevalence and 95% credible intervals (95% CI) using Bayesian inference. Results: We found an apparent prevalence (IgM or IgG) of 9.7%, the true prevalence being 7.9% (95% CI 4.9-11.1). Prevalence was significantly higher among males (10.9% vs. 9.2%), international students (18.1% vs. 10.4% local vs. 8.8% nationally displaced), and increased with age. Those with a known risk contact, that experienced quarantine, had symptoms, or a previous negative molecular test had a higher seroprevalence. Of the 91 (1.4%) students who reported a molecular diagnosis, 86.8% were reactive for IgM or IgG. Conclusion: Based on immunological evidence infection was 5.6-fold the reported molecular diagnosis. The higher seroprevalence among male, older, and international students emphasizes the importance of identifying particular groups.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Masculino , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , SARS-CoV-2 , Estudios Transversales , Inmunoglobulina M , Teorema de Bayes , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Inmunoglobulina G , EstudiantesRESUMEN
Bax-dependent mitochondrial permeabilization during apoptosis is controlled by multiple factors, including the phosphorylation by the protein kinase AKT. We used the heterologous co-expression of human Bax and AKT1 in yeast to investigate how the kinase modulates the different steps underlying Bax activation. We found that AKT activated Bax and increased its cellular content. Both effects were dependent on Ser184, but a phosphorylation of this residue did not fully explain the effects of AKT. Additional experiments with mutants substituted on Ser184 suggested that the regulation of Bax dynamic equilibrium between the cytosol and mitochondria might be more tightly regulated by Bcl-xL when Bax is phosphorylated.