Pathological viral transmission via food has been a problem throughout humankind's evolutionary history, impacting food safety and public health. Fresh produce can be contaminated at any stage from ...pre- to post-harvest and frequently goes through little to no processing, imposing a high risk for contamination by foodborne viruses. Also, due to the globalization of the food industry and supply networks, the spread of enteric virus-related foodborne disorders has worsened. The current understanding of the transmission of viruses through contaminated foods needs more information regarding the potential infectivity, and it is essential to have effective ways to prevent viral transmission and minimize its adverse effects on human and animal health.
This review addresses the global public health issue related to foodborne viruses and the current challenges of food safety. It provides an overview of food-grade and naturally occurring antiviral compounds with good antimicrobial activity and emphasizes how edible films and coatings with embedded antiviral agents can reduce the transmission of foodborne illness.
Antiviral edible films and coatings can be developed using plant-based compounds and their derived-products, like essential oils and extracts, with bioactive properties. Their use in food products and food contact materials can contribute to developing strategies to contain infectious outbreaks. Results show that these compounds interact with the viral particle, causing some damage to the virus integrity and affecting its infectivity. The development of antiviral edible films and coatings containing these bioactive compounds showed great potential against enteric viruses that cause foodborne illness, specifically norovirus and hepatitis A virus. However, some antiviral agents have also been shown to be very effective against other pathogenic viruses of great importance, some of which are not typically foodborne but can also be dangerous to humans.
•Food can be a transmission route for viruses.•Various food grade and natural antiviral compounds present antiviral activity.•Antiviral compounds can be effective against foodborne enteric viruses.•Active edible films and coatings can be used to contain the spread of viruses.
The viability of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and its propagation through the food chain has been discussed by several stakeholders, as it may represent a serious public health problem, bringing new ...challenges to the food system. This work shows for the first time that edible films can be used against SARS-CoV-2. Sodium alginate-based films containing gallic acid, geraniol, and green tea extract were evaluated in terms of their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that all these films have strong in vitro antiviral activity against this virus. However, a higher concentration of the active compound (1.25%) is needed for the film containing gallic acid to achieve similar results to those obtained for lower concentrations of geraniol and green tea extract (0.313%). Furthermore, critical concentrations of the active compounds in the films were used to evaluate their stability during storage. Results showed that gallic acid-loaded films lose their activity from the second week of storage, while films with geraniol and green tea extract only show a drop in activity after four weeks. These results highlight the possibility of using edible films and coatings as antiviral materials on food surfaces or food contact materials, which may help to reduce the spreading of viruses through the food chain.
•Active edible films showed in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.•Geraniol and green tea extract showed the highest activity at lower concentrations.•The films with higher activity maintain their performance during four weeks of storage.
Mercury in the aquatic environment can lead to exposure of the human population and is a known toxic metal due to its capacity for accumulation in organs. We aimed to evaluate the mercury level in ...the blood and urine of fishermen and correlate it with the level of oxidative stress in blood cells. We show in this case-control study that the fishermen of the exposed group (case) of Mundaú Lagoon (Maceió - Alagoas, Brazil) have higher concentrations of total mercury in the blood (0.73–48.38 μg L−1) and urine (0.430–10.2 μg L−1) than the total mercury concentrations in blood (0.29–17.30 μg L−1) and urine (0.210–2.65 μg L−1) of the control group. In the blood cells of fishermen, we observed that the lymphomononuclear cells produced high levels of reactive oxygen species (61.7%), and the erythrocytes presented increased lipid peroxidation (151%) and protein oxidation (41.0%) and a decrease in total thiol (36.5%), GSH and the REDOX state (16.5%). The activity of antioxidant system enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GST) was also reduced in the exposed group by 26.9%, 28.3%, and 19.0%, respectively. Furthermore, hemoglobin oxygen uptake was decreased in the exposed group (40.0%), and the membrane of cells presented increased osmotic fragility (154%) compared to those in the control group. These results suggest that mercury in the blood of fishermen can be responsible for causing impairments in the oxidative status of blood cells and is probably the cause of the reduction in oxygen uptake capacity and damage to the membranes of erythrocytes.
•Fishermen’s blood that living around Mundaú lagoon (Brazil) has a higher Hg level.•Fishermen’s lymphomononuclear cells produced 61.7% more reactive oxygen species.•In erythrocytes of fishermen, mercury induces oxidative damage in biomolecules.•The enzymatic antioxidant system was no efficient in erythrocytes of fishermen.•Fishermen’s oxygen uptake and membrane integrity of erythrocytes were compromised.
Status epilepticus (SE) is defined as continuous and self-sustaining seizures, which trigger hippocampal neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and energy failure. During SE, ...the neurons become overexcited, increasing energy consumption. Glucose uptake is increased via the sodium glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) in the hippocampus under epileptic conditions. In addition, modulation of glucose can prevent neuronal damage caused by SE. Here, we evaluated the effect of increased glucose availability in behavior of limbic seizures, memory dysfunction, neurodegeneration process, neuronal activity, and SGLT1 expression. Vehicle (VEH, saline 0.9%, 1 μL) or glucose (GLU; 1, 2 or 3 mM, 1 μL) were administered into hippocampus of male Wistar rats (
Rattus norvegicus
) before or after pilocarpine to induce SE. Behavioral analysis of seizures was performed for 90 min during SE. The memory and learning processes were analyzed by the inhibitory avoidance test. After 24 h of SE, neurodegeneration process, neuronal activity, and SGLT1 expression were evaluated in hippocampal and extrahippocampal regions. Modulation of hippocampal glucose did not protect memory dysfunction followed by SE. Our results showed that the administration of glucose after pilocarpine reduced the severity of seizures, as well as the number of limbic seizures. Similarly, glucose after SE reduced cell death and neuronal activity in hippocampus,
subiculum
, thalamus, amygdala, and cortical areas. Finally, glucose infusion elevated the SGLT1 expression in hippocampus. Taken together our data suggest that possibly the administration of intrahippocampal glucose protects brain in the earlier stage of epileptogenic processes via an important support of SGLT1.
Heavy metal exposure leads to multiple system dysfunctions. The mechanisms are likely multifactorial and involve inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate markers and ...risk factors for atherosclerosis in the LDL receptor knockout mouse model chronically exposed to inorganic mercury (Hg) in the drinking water. Results revealed that Hg exposed mice present increased plasma levels of cholesterol, without alterations in glucose. As a major source and target of oxidants, we evaluated mitochondrial function. We found that liver mitochondria from Hg treated mice show worse respiratory control, lower oxidative phosphorylation efficiency and increased H2O2 release. In addition, Hg induced mitochondrial membrane permeability transition. Erythrocytes from Hg treated mice showed a 50% reduction in their ability to take up oxygen, lower levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and GPx). The Hg treatment disturbed immune system cells counting and function. While lymphocytes were reduced, monocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils were increased. Peritoneal macrophages from Hg treated mice showed increased phagocytic activity. Hg exposed mice tissues present metal impregnation and parenchymal architecture alterations. In agreement, increased systemic markers of liver and kidney dysfunction were observed. Plasma, liver and kidney oxidative damage indicators (MDA and carbonyl) were increased while GSH and thiol groups were diminished by Hg exposure. Importantly, atherosclerotic lesion size in the aorta root of Hg exposed mice were larger than in controls. In conclusion, in vivo chronic exposure to Hg worsens the hypercholesterolemia, impairs mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox function, alters immune cells profile and function, causes several tissues oxidative damage and accelerates atherosclerosis development.
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•Exposure to contaminating Hg worsens hypercholesterolemia in the LDLr-/- mice.•Hg elevates systemic and tissues oxidative stress markers in LDLr-/- model.•Hg impairs mitochondrial redox and bioenergetics function.•Hg alters white blood cells profile compatible with inflammation.•Exposure to inorganic mercury worsens atherosclerosis severity.
Chagas disease is a deadly and centenary neglected disease that is recently surging as a potential global threat. Approximately 30% of infected individuals develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy and ...current treatment with the reference benznidazole (BZN) is ineffective for this stage. We presently report the structural planning, synthesis, characterization, molecular docking prediction, cytotoxicity, in vitro bioactivity and mechanistic studies on the anti-T. cruzi activity of a series of 16 novel 1,3-thiazoles (2–17) derived from thiosemicarbazones (1a, 1b) in a two-step and reproducible Hantzsch-based synthesis approach. The anti-T. cruzi activity was evaluated in vitro against the epimastigote, amastigote and trypomastigote forms of the parasite. In the bioactivity assays, all thiazoles were more potent than BZN against epimastigotes. We found that the compounds presented an overall increased anti-tripomastigote selectivity (Cpd 8 was 24-fold more selective) than BZN, and they mostly presented anti-amastigote activity at very low doses (from 3.65 μM, cpd 15). Mechanistic studies on cell death suggested that the series of 1,3-thiazole compounds herein reported cause parasite cell death through apoptosis, but without compromising the mitochondrial membrane potential. In silico prediction of physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetic parameters showed promising drug-like results, being all the reported compounds in compliance with Lipinski and Veber rules. In summary, our work contributes towards a more rational design of potent and selective antitripanosomal drugs, using affordable methodology to yield industrially viable drug candidates.
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•16 thiazole analogues were designed and synthesised via an accessible methodology.•In silico studies for drug-likeness analysis show promising results for the series.•In vitro activity against trypo, epi and amastigotes of T. cruzi was encouraging.•Molecular docking on cruzain highlighted important ligand-receptor interactions.•Flow cytometry-based mechanistic studies pointed to apoptosis and DNA damage.
The brewing industry is regarded as a fiercely competitive and insatiable sector of activity, driven by the significant technological improvements observed in recent years and the most recent ...consumer trends pointing to a sharp demand for sensory enhanced beers. Some emergent and sustainable technologies regarding food processing such as pulsed electric fields (PEF), ultrasound (US), thermosonication (TS), high-pressure processing (HPP), and ohmic heating (OH) have shown the potential to contribute to the development of currently employed brewing methodologies by both enhancing the quality of beer and contributing to processing efficiency with a promise of being more environmentally friendly. Some of these technologies have not yet found their way into the industrial brewing process but already show potential to be embedded in continuous thermal and non-thermal unit operations such as pasteurization, boiling and sterilization, resulting in beer with improved organoleptic properties. This review article aims to explore the potential of different advanced processing technologies for industrial application in several key stages of brewing, with particular emphasis on continuous beer production.
The inflammatory response to biomaterials, traditionally viewed as detrimental, is nowadays considered essential for tissue repair/regeneration, being macrophages recognized as the key players in ...resolving inflammation. Here, the preparation of chitosan (Ch)/poly-(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) as vehicle for a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac (Df), is described and the response of primary human macrophages to this system is evaluated. Df was incorporated in Ch/γ-PGA NPs at controlled pH (5.0) (maximum 0.05 mg/ml). The components molar ratio and order of addition revealed to be critical to obtain NPs (315 ± 50 nm with 0.36 ± 0.06 polydispersion index). Df was released at physiological pH and this drug-delivery system was proved to be non toxic to macrophages, being rapidly internalized (95 %). Importantly, efficacy of Df-NPs was confirmed by their ability of inhibit/revert PGE2 production of activated macrophages. Therefore, Df-NPs could contribute to stifle local inflammatory reactions, namely those associated with biomaterials.
Often, pressure overload-induced myocardial remodeling does not undergo complete reverse remodeling after decreasing afterload. Recently, mitochondrial abnormalities and oxidative stress have been ...successively implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic pressure overload cardiac diseases. Therefore, we aim to clarify the myocardial energetic dysregulation in (reverse) remodeling, mainly focusing on the mitochondria.
Thirty-five Wistar Han male rats randomly underwent sham or ascending (supravalvular) aortic banding procedure. Echocardiography revealed that banding induced concentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction (early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to peak early-diastolic annular velocity ratio, E/E': sham, 13.6±2.1, banding, 18.5±4.1,
=0.014) accompanied by increased oxidative stress (dihydroethidium fluorescence: sham, 1.6×10
±6.1×10
, banding, 2.6×10
±4.5×10
,
<0.001) and augmented mitochondrial function. After 8 to 9 weeks, half of the banding animals underwent overload relief by an aortic debanding surgery (n=10).
Two weeks later, hypertrophy decreased with the decline of oxidative stress (dihydroethidium fluorescence: banding, 2.6×10
±4.5×10
, debanding, 1.96×10
±6.8×10
,
<0.001) and diastolic dysfunction improved simultaneously (E/E': banding, 18.5±4.1, debanding, 15.1±1.8,
=0.029). The reduction of energetic demands imposed by overload relief allowed the mitochondria to reduce its activity and myocardial levels of phosphocreatine, phosphocreatine/ATP, and ATP/ADP to normalize in debanding towards sham values (phosphocreatine: sham, 38.4±7.4, debanding, 35.6±8.7,
=0.71; phosphocreatine/ATP: sham, 1.22±0.23 debanding, 1.11±0.24,
=0.59; ATP/ADP: sham, 6.2±0.9, debanding, 5.6±1.6,
=0.66). Despite the decreased mitochondrial area, complex III and V expression increased in debanding compared with sham or banding. Autophagy and mitophagy-related markers increased in banding and remained higher in debanding rats.
During compensatory and maladaptive hypertrophy, mitochondria become more active. However, as the disease progresses, the myocardial energetic demands increase and the myocardium becomes energy deficient. During reverse remodeling, the concomitant attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress allowed myocardial energetics, left ventricle hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction to recover. Autophagy and mitophagy are probably involved in the myocardial adaptation to overload and to unload. We conclude that these mitochondrial reversible changes underlie diastolic function adaptations during myocardial (reverse) remodeling.
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