Mass spectrometry (MS) has found numerous applications in medicine and has been widely used in the detection and characterization of biomolecules associated with viral infections such as COVID-19. ...COVID-19 is a multisystem disease and, therefore, the need arises to carry out a careful and conclusive assessment of the pathophysiological parameters involved in the infection, to develop an effective therapeutic approach, assess the prognosis of the disease, and especially the early diagnosis of the infected population. Thus, the urgent need for highly accurate methods of diagnosis and prognosis of this infection presents new challenges for the development of laboratory medicine, whose methods require sensitivity, speed, and accuracy of the techniques for analyzing the biological markers involved in the infection. In this context, MS stands out as a robust analytical tool, with high sensitivity and selectivity, accuracy, low turnaround time, and versatility for the analysis of biological samples. However, it has not yet been adopted as a frontline clinical laboratory technique. Therefore, this review explores the potential and trends of current MS methods and their contribution to the development of new strategies to COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis and how this tool can assist in the discovery of new therapeutic targets, in addition, to comment what could be the future of MS in medicine.
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•Trending strategies on MS analysis of biological samples infected with SARS-CoV-2.•Omic approaches applied to COVID-19 diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic targets.•Compilation of SARS-CoV-2 infection insights through MS-acquired data.•MS feasibility to generate valuable molecular information for medical purposes.
Dopamine (DA) is an important molecule that plays a role in the nervous and immune systems. DA is produced by a wide variety of animals and it is considered one of the oldest neurotransmitters. ...However, its specific function in immune cells has not been completely revealed. In a group of chordate animals, the ascidians, DA is reported to be produced by cells in the central nervous system (CNS); however, no dopaminergic receptor in their genomes has been described until now. Because this is an integrating characteristic of the ascidian dopamine system, here it was investigated the pharmacology, function, and phylogeny of DA and dopaminergic receptors (DRs) in the modulation of nitric oxide (NO) in the Phallusia nigra immune cells. The data disclosed, for the first time, that DA modulates NO production by immune cells. Its modulation probably occurs though adrenergic receptors, which display a special characteristic, in that they are capable of binding to noradrenaline (NA) and DA. A pharmacological analysis revealed that receptors present on the ascidian immune cells showed a high affinity to butaclamol, a non-selective D2-class receptor, increasing NO production. In addition, calcium intracellular mobilization was observed when DA was added to immune cells. In conclusion, the data revealed novel insights about the presence of catecholaminergic receptors (CRs) on the P. nigra immune cells, indicating that ascidian CRs have special pharmacological characteristics that are worth highlighting from an evolutionary point of view.
∙Ascidians central nervous system produce dopamine (DA), however no dopaminergic receptor has been described∙Addition of DA decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in the ascidian immune cells∙The modulation of NO production occurs through downstream calcium signaling pathway∙Ascidians genomes lack orthologs of vertebrates dopaminergic receptors; DA modulates immune cells through adrenergic receptors present in their surface.
This study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the pathogenicity of nodule-borne fungi of asymptomatic
Vigna
spp. plants, grown in soils from preserved tropical dry forests (Caatinga) areas and ...identify the occurrence of co-habiting bacteria from these plants, and which have potential to control the co-occurring pathogenic fungi. Fungi and bacteria were isolated from three
Vigna
species (
V. unguiculata
,
V. radiata,
and
V. mungo
), grown in soil samples collected in five preserved Caatinga areas (Northeastern, Brazil). All fungi and selected bacteria were phylogenetically characterized by the sequencing of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, and the 16S rRNA gene, respectively. The pathogenicity of fungi in cowpea seeds germination was evaluated throughout the inoculation experiment in Petri dishes and pots containing sterile substrate. The potential of nodule-borne bacteria to control pathogenic fungi in cowpea was assessed in a pot experiment with a sterilized substrate by the co-inoculation of fungi and bacteria isolated from the respective individual plants and soils. The 23 fungal isolates recovered were classified within the genera
Fusarium
,
Macrophomina
,
Aspergillus
,
Cladosporium,
and
Nigrospora
. The inoculation of fungi in cowpea seeds reduced the emergence of seeds in Petri dishes and pots. Twenty-four bacteria (
Agrobacterium
sp.,
Bradyrhizobium
sp.,
Bacillus
sp.,
Enterobacter
sp.,
Pseudomonas
sp.,
Paraburkholderia
sp., and
Rhizobium
sp.) inhibited the harmful effects of
Macrophomina
sp. and
Fusarium
sp., increasing the germination and emergency of potted cowpea plants, highlighting the strains
Agrobacterium
sp. ESA 686 and
Pseudomonas
sp. ESA 732 that controlled, respectively, the
Fusarium
sp. ESA 771 and
Macrophomina
sp. ESA 786 by 100 and 84.6% of efficiency.
Hydrogels made with depolymerized guar gum, oxidized with theoretical oxidation degrees of 20, 35 and 50 %, were obtained via Schiff's base reaction with N-succinyl chitosan. The materials obtained ...were subjected to characterization by FT-IR, rheology, swelling, degradation, and morphology. Additionally, their gelation time categorized all three hydrogels as injectable. The materials' swelling degrees in Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) were in the range of 26–35 g of fluid/g gel and their pore size distribution was heterogeneous, with pores varying from 67 to 93 μm. All hydrogels degraded in PBS solution, but maintained around 40 % of their initial mass after 28 days, which was more than enough time for wound healing. The biomaterials were also flexible, self-repairing, adhesive and cytocompatible and presented intrinsic actions, regardless of the presence of additives or antibiotics, against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). However, the most pronounced bactericidal effect was against resistant Staphylococcus aureus - MRSA. In vivo assays, performed with 50 % oxidized gum gel, demonstrated that this material exerted anti-inflammatory effects, accelerating the healing process and restoring tissues by approximately 99 % within 14 days. In conclusion, these hydrogels have unique characteristics, making them excellent candidates for wound-healing dressings.
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•Injectable, adhesive and self-healing hydrogels based on Guar Gum and Chitosan.•Hydrogel dressing that reduces inflammatory signs and accelerates the wound closure.•Innate antibacterial mechanism efficient without side effects against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E.coli and S. aureus-MRSA strains.
The isolation of seed-endophytic bacteria (SEB) is a promising approach for the selection of maize plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). With the hypothesis that maize seeds harbor SEB that occupy ...different niches and show plant-growth-promoting abilities, we aimed to isolate and characterize the potential PGPB from these seeds. The bacteria from commercial seeds (BRS Gorutuba) and axenically grown maize-seedlings were isolated, molecularly fingerprinted, and genetically characterized by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). All SEB were evaluated for their promotion of early root growth. The selected strains were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing and evaluated for their plant growth-promotion traits. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the ability of the SEB to promote maize-growth and nutrient accumulation. Fifty-one bacterial strains were retrieved, mostly isolated directly from the seeds. All the isolated bacteria represented different strains according to their molecular fingerprinting. ARDRA clustering revealed six clusters influenced by their plant tissue/organ of origin. Twenty-nine SEB were selected based on their influence on early root growth. The 16S rRNA sequences classified the SEB as
Bacillus
(22),
Paenibacillus
(2) and
Acinetobacter
(5). The inoculation of
Bacillus
ESA 674 improved the shoot dry mass in 57% and the
Acinetobacter
ESA 662 improved the root growth by 235%, both compared to the uninoculated control. At least 12 bacteria improved nutrient content in the shoots. The
Bacillus
spp. ESA 674 and ESA 652 outstood in improving maize nutrition by increasing the accumulation of several nutrients.
We adopted the reverse‐transcriptase‐loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (RT‐LAMP) to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐Cov‐2) in patient samples. Two primer sets for ...genes N and Orf1ab were designed to detect SARS‐CoV‐2, and one primer set was designed to detect the human gene Actin. We collected prospective 138 nasopharyngeal swabs, 70 oropharyngeal swabs, 69 salivae, and 68 mouth saline wash samples from patients suspected to have severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 to test the RT‐LAMP in comparison with the gold standard technique reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The accuracy of diagnosis using both primers, N5 and Orf9, was evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis were 96% (95% confidence interval CI: 87–99) and 85% (95% CI: 76–91) in 138 samples, respectively. Accurate diagnosis results were obtained only in nasopharyngeal swabs processed via extraction kit. Accurate and rapid diagnosis could aid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic management by identifying, isolating, and treating patients rapidly.
Abstract The stress response is a complex mechanism, which includes changes in the immune system to enable organisms to maintain homeostasis. The neurohormones dopamine, noradrenaline (NA) and ...adrenalin are responsible for the physiological modulations that occur during acute stress. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of NA on the immune system specific to nitric-oxide (NO) production by subpopulations of immune cells (hemocytes) of the ascidian Phallusia nigra . We also investigated the capability of immune cells to produce catecholamine (CA). Finally, we tested the involvement of protein kinase A (PKA) and C (PKC) in the NA downstream signaling pathway. The results revealed that NA can reduce NO production by P. nigra hemocytes three-fold, and that signet-ring cells, univacuolar refractile granulocytes and morula cells are the cell types most involved in this event. A challenge effected with Zymosan A induced CA production, and co-incubation with both inhibitors of the second messengers PKA and PKC revealed the involvement of these molecules in the adrenergic pathway of P. nigra hemocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that NO production can be down-regulated by NA through α- and β-adrenoceptors via the second messengers PKA and PKC.
Composite materials have gained significant attention owing to the synergistic effects of their constituent materials, thereby facilitating their utilization in new applications or in improving the ...existing ones. In this study, a composite based on nickel phthalocyanine (NiTsPc), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) was developed and subsequently immobilized on a pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE). The PGE/NiTsPc-ZnONPs-CNT was identified as a selective catalytic hybrid system for detection of neurotransmitter dopamine (DA). The electrochemical and morphological characterizations were conducted using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to detect DA and detection limits of 24 nM and 7.0 nM was found, respectively. In addition, the effects of some possible DA interferents, such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and serotonin, on DA response were evaluated. Their presence did not show significant variations in the DA electrochemical response. The high specificity and sensitivity of PGE/NiTsPc-ZnONPs-CNT for DA enabled its direct detection in human serum without sample pretreatment as well as in DA-enriched serum samples, whose recovery levels were close to 100%, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method. In general, PGE/NiTsPc-ZnONPs-CNT is a promising candidate for future applications in clinical diagnosis.
ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the use of barbed sutures over the surgical time, the leukogram, the tissue thickness in which the sutures were employed (ultrasonography), the costs, and the possible ...complications in bitches with pyometra submitted to ovariohysterectomy (OH). Methods Convectional 2.0 polyglyconate suture was used in the control group (CG n = 10) and 2.0 barbed polyglyconate suture in the barbed group (BG n = 10) to perform celiorrhaphy (simple continuous pattern) and subcutaneous closure (continuous intradermal pattern). Data were assessed using paired (leukogram between 24 and 48 h within the same group) and unpaired (leukogram, surgical time, tissue thickness, and costs) Student’s t-test. The Fisher exact test was used to assess the occurrence of seroma between groups (p < 0.05). Results are shown as mean ± standard error of mean. Results The time spent to perform the celiorrhaphy (195.30 ± 17.37 s vs. 204 ± 16.00 s), subcutaneous closure (174.0 ± 15.86 s vs. 198.0 ± 15.62 s), and the total surgical time (24.30 ± 1.44 min vs. 23.00 ± 1.30 min) did not differ between BG and CG, respectively (p > 0.05). Leukogram at 48 h post-surgery did not differ between groups (p = 0.20). No differences were observed in the subcutaneous and the abdominal wall thickness (cm) assessed by ultrasonography at 48 h in BG (0.31 ± 0.04, 0.80 ± 0.05) and CG (0.34 ± 0.03, 0.72 ± 0.06), respectively. Similarly, 15 days post-surgery the same structures did not differ between BG (0.26 ± 0.02, 0.74 ± 0.08) and CG (0.26 ± 0.03, 0.64 ± 0.05) (p > 0.05). In one bitch from each group, a mild seroma was observed on one side of the surgical wound 48 h after surgery (p = 1.00). The procedures in which barbed sutures were used had an average additional cost of R$ 200.00 ± 11.66 (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Barbed suture has proven to be efficient and safe for abdominal and subcutaneous closure. However, considering its current high cost in addition thatthe surgical time of bitches with pyometra undergone OH was not reduced, no advantages were observed with theuse of barbed sutures for this type of surgery.
and
are the vectors of important arboviruses: dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Female mosquitoes acquire arboviruses by feeding on the infected host blood, thus being able to ...transmit it to their offspring. The intrinsic ability of a vector to infect itself and transmit a pathogen is known as vector competence. Several factors influence the susceptibility of these females to be infected by these arboviruses, such as the activation of the innate immune system through the Toll, immunodeficiency (Imd), JAK-STAT pathways, and the interference of specific antiviral response pathways of RNAi. It is also believed that the presence of non-pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiota of these arthropods could influence this immune response, as it provides a baseline activation of the innate immune system, which may generate resistance against arboviruses. In addition, this microbiome has direct action against arboviruses, mainly due to the ability of
spp. to block viral genome replication, added to the competition for resources within the mosquito organism. Despite major advances in the area, studies are still needed to evaluate the microbiota profiles of
spp. and their vector competence, as well as further exploration of the individual roles of microbiome components in activating the innate immune system.
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