Accumulation, biochemical responses and changes in the redox proteome promoted by Ag and Cd in the burrowing bivalve Scrobicularia plana.

Silver (Ag) and cadmium (Cd) are non-essential metals that, as a result of natural processes and human activities, reach the aquatic environment where they interact with biota inducing potential toxic effects. To determine the biological effects of these metals on the endobenthic bivalve Scrobicularia plana, specimens were exposed to Ag and Cd at two concentrations, 5 and 50 μg∙L, for 7 days in a controlled microcosm system. The levels of the metals were measured in the seawater, sediments and clam tissues.

Ions and nanoparticles of Ag and/or Cd metals in a model aquatic microcosm: Effects on the abundance, diversity and functionality of the sediment bacteriome.

Metals can be adsorbed on particulate matter, settle in sediments and cause alterations in aquatic environments. This study assesses the effect of Ag and/or Cd, both in ionic and nanoparticle (NP) forms, on the microbiome of sediments. For that purpose, aquatic controlled-microcosm experiments were exposed to an environmentally relevant and at tenfold higher doses of each form of the metals.

Assessment of nitrification process in a sequencing batch reactor: Modelling and genomic approach.

Nitrification of ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH) to nitrate (N-NO) was investigated in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to evaluate its efficiency. During the nitrification process the removal of N-NH reached 96%, resulting in 73% formation of N-NO. A lineal correlation (r = 0.

Antitumor effect of a small-molecule inhibitor of KRAS in xenograft models of mucinous appendicular neoplasms.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease characterized by a massive accumulation of mucus in the peritoneal cavity. The only effective treatment is aggressive surgery, aimed at removing all visible tumors. However, a high percentage of patients relapse, with subsequent progression and death.

Intraoperative oxygen tension and redox homeostasis in Pseudomyxoma peritonei: A short case series.

Introduction: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignant disease characterized by a massive multifocal accumulation of mucin within the peritoneal cavity. The current treatment option is based on complete cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. However, the recurrence is frequent with subsequent progression and death.

Monitoring COVID-19 through SARS-CoV-2 quantification in wastewater: progress, challenges and prospects.

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is widely used to monitor the progression of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at local levels. In this review, we address the different approaches to the steps needed for this surveillance: sampling wastewaters (WWs), concentrating the virus from the samples and quantifying them by qPCR, focusing on the main limitations of the methodologies used. Factors that can influence SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in WWs include: (i) physical parameters as temperature that can hamper the detection in warm seasons and tropical regions, (ii) sampling methodologies and timetables, being composite samples and Moore swabs the less variable and more sensitive approaches, (iii) virus concentration methodologies that need to be feasible and practicable in simpler laboratories and (iv) detection methodologies that should tend to use faster and cost-effective procedures.

Meta-omic evaluation of bacterial microbial community structure and activity for the environmental assessment of soils: overcoming protein extraction pitfalls.

Microorganisms play unique, essential and integral roles in the biosphere. This work aims to assess the utility of soil's metaomics for environmental diagnosis. Doñana National Park (DNP) was selected as a natural lab since it contains a strictly protected core that is surrounded by numerous threats of pollution.

Influence of packing material on the biofiltration of butyric acid: A comparative study from a physico-chemical, olfactometric and microbiological perspective.

The influence of bed material on the odor removal performance of a biofilter was studied. A compost-wood biofilter and a wood biofilter were treated with a gaseous stream contaminated with butyric acid and comparatively evaluated at pilot scale using olfactometric, physico-chemical and microbiological approaches. The variables analyzed in both biofilters were correlated with specific families of their microbiota composition.

Constructing a de novo transcriptome and a reference proteome for the bivalve Scrobicularia plana: Comparative analysis of different assembly strategies and proteomic analysis.

Scrobicularia plana is a coastal and estuarine bivalve widely used in ecotoxicological studies. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for S. plana pollutant responses are hardly known due to the lack of molecular databases.

High-throughput molecular analyses of microbiomes as a tool to monitor the wellbeing of aquatic environments.

Aquatic environments are the recipients of many sources of environmental stress that trigger both local and global changes. To evaluate the associated risks to organisms and ecosystems more sensitive and accurate strategies are required. The analysis of the microbiome is one of the most promising candidates for environmental diagnosis of aquatic systems.

Biofiltration of butyric acid: Monitoring odor abatement and microbial communities.

The objective of this study is to evaluate comparatively the odor removal efficacy of two biofilters operated under different conditions and to identify taxonomically the microbial communities responsible for butyric acid degradation. Both biofiltration systems, which were filled with non-inoculated wood chips and exposed to gas streams containing butyric acid, were evaluated under different operational conditions (gas airflow and temperature) from the physical-chemical, microbiological and olfactometric points of view. The physical-chemical characterization showed the acidification of the packing material and the accumulation of butyric acid during the biofiltration process (<60 days).

Metal body burden and tissue oxidative status in the bivalve Venerupis decussata from Tunisian coastal lagoons.

Coastal transitional waters are exposed to many anthropogenic threats. This study aims to assess the trace metals' pollution status of transitional waters by evaluating its biological effects in the clam Venerupis decussata. Among the studied sites along the Tunisian littoral, South Tunis and Boughrara were the most impacted, since clams from these two lagoons presented significant differences in: (i) trace metal contents, (ii) in-cell hydrogen peroxide, (iii) enzymatic and non-enzymatic defenses, (iv) damage to lipids and proteins, and (v) protein post-translational modifications.

Redox and global interconnected proteome changes in mice exposed to complex environmental hazards surrounding Doñana National Park.

Natural environments are receiving an increasing number of contaminants. Therefore, the evaluation and identification of early responses to pollution in these complex habitats is an urgent and challenging task. Doñana National Park (DNP, SW Spain) has been widely used as a model area for environmental studies because, despite its strictly protected core, it is surrounded by numerous threat sources from agricultural, mining and industrial activities.

Alterations in oxidative responses and post-translational modification caused by p,p´-DDE in Mus spretus testes reveal Cys oxidation status in proteins related to cell-redox homeostasis and male fertility.

The major derivate of DDT, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p´-DDE), is a persistent pollutant previously associated with oxidative stress. Additionally, p,p´-DDE has been linked to several metabolic alterations related to sexual function in rodents. In this study, we analysed the effects of a non-lethal p,p´-DDE dose to Mus spretus mice in testes, focusing on oxidative damage to biomolecules, defence mechanisms against oxidative stress and post-translational protein modifications.

Using environmental proteomics to assess pollutant response of Carcinus maenas along the Tunisian coast.

Biochemical responses to pollutants were studied at four Tunisia littoral sites using Carcinus maenas as a bioindicator. Proteomic analysis was used to assess the global impact of complex pollution mixtures, and to provide new biomarkers and basic insights into pollutant toxicity. Metal contents and metallothionein levels followed a gradient based on sampling sites: Bizerte ≫ Teboulba > Gargour~Mahres.

Proteomic analysis through larval development of Solea senegalensis flatfish.

The post-embryonic development of the Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, a flatfish of growing interest in fisheries and aquaculture, is associated with drastic morpho-physiological changes during metamorphosis. Although in the last two decades knowledge on sole culture has notably increased, especially in Southern Europe, its progress was restricted due to lack of methods to control reproduction, improve larval quality and increase juvenile disease resistance. A limited knowledge of the physiological, molecular and genetic mechanisms involved is at the base of such limitation.

Redox proteomics as biomarker for assessing the biological effects of contaminants in crayfish from Doñana National Park.

Despite its environmental relevance and sensitivity, Doñana National Park (DNP) is under high ecological pressure. In crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), the utility of redox proteomics as a novel biomarker was evaluated in the aquatic ecosystems of DNP and its surroundings, where agricultural activity is a serious concern. After fluorescence labeling of reversibly oxidized Cys and 2-DE separation, the total density of proteins with reversibly oxidized thiols was found to be much higher in animals from the Matochal (MAT) and Rocina (ROC) streams, while no difference was found in crayfish from Partido (PAR) stream compared to those from the DNP core at Lucio del Palacio (the negative control).

Comparison of protein expression profiles between three Perkinsus spp., protozoan parasites of molluscs, through 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

The genus Perkinsus includes protozoan parasites of a wide range of marine molluscs worldwide, some of which have been responsible for heavy mollusc mortalities and dramatic economic losses. This study was performed with the aim of increasing the knowledge of Perkinsus spp. proteome.

Proteomic analysis in caged Mediterranean crab (Carcinus maenas) and chemical contaminant exposure in Téboulba Harbour, Tunisia.

This study uses proteomics approach to assess the toxic effects of contaminants in the Mediterranean crab (Carcinus maenas) after transplantation into Téboulba fishing harbour. High levels of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in sediments. Although their effects on vertebrates are well described, little is known about their early biological effects in marine invertebrates under realistic conditions.

Biochemical responses in seabream (Sparus aurata) caged in-field or exposed to benzo(a)pyrene and paraquat. Characterization of glutathione S-transferases.

Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) specimens were caged in-field at the Téboulba harbour or exposed to benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] or to paraquat [PQ] plus B(a)P, and several biochemical biomarker responses were investigated. Antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase and glutathione reductase, significantly increased in the in-field and B(a)P+PQ exposures, but were only moderately affected by B(a)P alone. Glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases significantly diminished after in-field exposure.

Omic approaches in environmental issues.

Biomonitoring requires the application of batteries of different biomarkers, as environmental contaminants induce multiple responses in organisms that are not necessarily correlated. Omic technologies were proposed as an alternative to conventional biomarkers since these techniques quantitatively monitor many biological molecules in a high-throughput manner and thus provide a general appraisal of biological responses altered by exposure to contaminants. As the studies using omic technologies increase, it is becoming clear that any single omic approach may not be sufficient to characterize the complexity of ecosystems.

Proteomics of juvenile senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) affected by gas bubble disease in hyperoxygenated ponds.

Solea senegalensis is a commercial flat fish traditionally farmed in earth ponds in coastal wetlands that might also become important to more intensive aquaculture. Gas bubble disease (GBD) is a potential risk for outdoor fish farming, particularly in certain periods of the year, related to improper management leading to macroalgae blooms. Physical-chemical conditions inducing hyperoxia, including radiation, temperature, and high levels of dissolved oxygen, have been monitored in fish affected by GBD together with observed symptoms.

New metallothionein assay in Scrobicularia plana: heating effect and correlation with other biomarkers.

Metallothionein (MT) and other biomarker levels were measured in Scrobicularia plana clams to assess pollution of the Guadalquivir Estuary possibly affected by metals released from Aznalcóllar pyrite mine in 1998. After optimizing reagent concentrations for monobromobimane derivatization, MT levels were quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection (RP-HPLC-FD) in heated or unheated digestive gland extracts and compared to those obtained by differential pulse polarography (DPP). MT content assayed by RP-HPLC-FD in unheated samples was higher than that obtained by DPP and correlated better with metals and anti-oxidant activities.

Metallothionein induction by Cu, Cd and Hg in Dicentrarchus labrax liver: assessment by RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection and spectrophotometry.

Metallothionein was quantified in sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with different Cu, Cd and Hg doses (50-250 microg kg(-1) wet wt) after 48 h exposure.