Portuguese cork industry: filling the knowledge gap regarding occupational exposure to fungi and related health effects.

Introduction: The presence of the section (formerly known as ) in the cork industry involves the risk of respiratory diseases such as suberosis.

Methods: The aim of this study was to corroborate the predominant fungi present in this occupational environment by performing a mycological analysis of 360 workers' nasal exudates collected by nasal swabs. Additionally, evaluation of respiratory disorders among the cork workers was also performed by spirometry.

Microbial Contamination in the Coffee Industry: An Occupational Menace besides a Food Safety Concern?

Respiratory abnormalities among workers at coffee roasting and packaging facilities have already been reported; however, little is known about microbiological contamination inside coffee production facilities. This study intends to assess the microbial contamination (fungi and bacteria) in two coffee industries from Brazil with a multi-approach protocol for sampling and for subsequent analyses using four main sources of samples: filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD) used by workers, settled dust, electrostatic dust cloths (EDC) and coffee beans. The fungal contamination in the assessed industries was also characterized through the molecular detection of toxigenic species and antifungal resistance.

MicroRNA-181a restricts human γδ T cell differentiation by targeting Map3k2 and Notch2.

γδ T cells are a conserved population of lymphocytes that contributes to anti-tumor responses through its overt type 1 inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. We have previously shown that human γδ T cells acquire this profile upon stimulation with IL-2 or IL-15, in a differentiation process dependent on MAPK/ERK signaling. Here, we identify microRNA-181a as a key modulator of human γδ T cell differentiation.

Bioburden in sleeping environments from Portuguese dwellings.

A wider characterization of indoor air quality during sleep is still lacking in the literature. This study intends to assess bioburden before and after sleeping periods in Portuguese dwellings through active methods (air sampling) coupled with passive methods, such as electrostatic dust cloths (EDC); and investigate associations between before and after sleeping and bioburden. In addition, and driven by the lack of information regarding fungi azole-resistance in Portuguese dwellings, a screening with supplemented media was also performed.

From thymus to periphery: Molecular basis of effector γδ-T cell differentiation.

The contributions of γδ T cells to immune (patho)physiology in many pre-clinical mouse models have been associated with their rapid and abundant provision of two critical cytokines, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-17A (IL-17). These are typically produced by distinct effector γδ T cell subsets that can be segregated on the basis of surface expression levels of receptors such as CD27, CD44 or CD45RB, among others. Unlike conventional T cells that egress the thymus as naïve lymphocytes awaiting further differentiation upon activation, a large fraction of murine γδ T cells commits to either IFN-γ or IL-17 expression during thymic development.

MicroRNA-181a regulates IFN-γ expression in effector CD8 T cell differentiation.

CD8 T cells are key players in immunity against intracellular infections and tumors. The main cytokine associated with these protective responses is interferon-γ (IFN-γ), whose production is known to be regulated at the transcriptional level during CD8 T cell differentiation. Here we found that microRNAs constitute a posttranscriptional brake to IFN-γ expression by CD8 T cells, since the genetic interference with the Dicer processing machinery resulted in the overproduction of IFN-γ by both thymic and peripheral CD8 T cells.

Exposure assessment in one central hospital: A multi-approach protocol to achieve an accurate risk characterization.

The bioburden in a Hospital building originates not only from patients, visitors and staff, but is also disseminated by several indoor hospital characteristics and outdoor environmental sources. This study intends to assess the exposure to bioburden in one central Hospital with a multi-approach protocol using active and passive sampling methods. The microbial contamination was also characterized through molecular tools for toxigenic species, antifungal resistance and mycotoxins and endotoxins profile.

Aspergillus spp. prevalence in Primary Health Care Centres: Assessment by a novel multi-approach sampling protocol.

Exposure to Aspergillus conidia may cause adverse effects on human health; however, no specific recommendations for routine assessments of Aspergillus in the clinical environment have been suggested so far. This study intended to determine the prevalence of Aspergillus in the clinical environment, focusing on ten Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC) through a novel multi-approach sampling protocol. Air and passive sampling, culture-based methods and a probe-based real-time assay for the detection of four clinically relevant Aspergillus sections were performed.

γδ-T cells promote IFN-γ-dependent pathogenesis upon liver-stage infection.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a major cause of death due to infection. Both parasite and host factors contribute to the onset of CM, but the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to its pathogenesis remain poorly characterized. Unlike conventional αβ-T cells, previous studies on murine γδ-T cells failed to identify a nonredundant role for this T cell subset in experimental cerebral malaria (ECM).

MicroRNA-146a controls functional plasticity in γδ T cells by targeting NOD1.

γδ T cells are major providers of proinflammatory cytokines. They are preprogrammed in the mouse thymus into distinct subsets producing either interleukin-17 (IL-17) or interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which segregate with CD27 expression. In the periphery, CD27 γδ (γδ27) T cells can be induced under inflammatory conditions to coexpress IL-17 and IFN-γ; the molecular basis of this functional plasticity remains to be determined.

Aspergillus prevalence in air conditioning filters from vehicles: Taxis for patient transportation, forklifts, and personal vehicles.

The frequency and importance of infections is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to assess the occupational exposure of forklifts and taxi drivers to spp. Nineteen filters from air conditioning system of taxis, 17 from forklifts and 37 from personal vehicles were assessed.

Control of T cell effector functions by miRNAs.

The differentiation of effector T cells is a tightly regulated process that relies on the selective expression of lineage-defining master regulators that orchestrate unique transcriptional programs, including the production of distinct sets of effector cytokines. miRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators that are now viewed as critical players in these gene expression networks and help defining cell identity and function. This review summarises the role of individual miRNAs in the regulation of the differentiation of effector T cell subsets, including CD4 T helper cells, cytotoxic CD8 T cells and innate-like NKT cells.

Fungal burden exposure assessment in podiatry clinics from Ireland.

Unlabelled: Fungi are amongst the bioaerosols of most importance, as indicated by the growing interest in this field of research. The aim was to characterize the exposure to fungal burden in podiatry clinics using culture-based and molecular methods.

Methods: Airborne fungi were collected using an impaction air sampler and surface samples were also performed.

Aspergillus spp. prevalence in different Portuguese occupational environments: What is the real scenario in high load settings?

The genus Aspergillus is one of the most prevalent regarding fungi in several highly contaminated occupational environments. The goal of the current study was to assess the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. in different settings, focusing on those where a higher load of fungal contamination is expected according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

Fungal contamination in green coffee beans samples: A public health concern.

Studies on the microbiology of coffee cherries and beans have shown that the predominant toxigenic fungal genera (Aspergillus and Penicillium) are natural coffee contaminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of fungi in Coffea arabica L. (Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora L.

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden - Does it matter?

Objectives: Mycological contamination of occupational environments can be a result of fungal spores' dispersion in the air and on surfaces. Therefore, it is very important to assess it in both types of the samples. In the present study we assessed fungal contamination in the air and in the surface samples to show relevance of surfaces sampling in complementing the results obtained in the air samples.

Occupational exposure to fungi and particles in animal feed industry.

Background: Very few studies regarding fungal and particulate matter (PM) exposure in feed industry have been reported, although such contaminants are likely to be a significant contributing factor to several symptoms reported among workers. The purpose of this study has been to characterize fungal and dust exposure in one Portuguese feed industry.

Material And Methods: Air and surface samples were collected and subject to further macro- and microscopic observations.

Assessment of exposure to the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry using complementing methods.

Cork oak is the second most dominant forest species in Portugal and makes this country the world leader in cork export. Occupational exposure to Chrysonilia sitophila and the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry is common, and the latter fungus is associated with suberosis. However, as conventional methods seem to underestimate its presence in occupational environments, the aim of our study was to see whether information obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular-based method, can complement conventional findings and give a better insight into occupational exposure of cork industry workers.

Cross-regulation between cytokine and microRNA pathways in T cells.

microRNA (miRNA) mediated regulation of protein expression has emerged as an important mechanism in T-cell physiology, from development and survival to activation, proliferation, and differentiation. One of the major classes of proteins involved in these processes are cytokines, which are both key input signals and major products of T-cell function. Here, we summarize the current data on the molecular cross-talk between cytokines and miRNAs: how cytokines regulate miRNA expression, and how specific miRNAs control cytokine production in T cells.

Fungal burden in waste industry: an occupational risk to be solved.

High loads of fungi have been reported in different types of waste management plants. This study intends to assess fungal contamination in one waste-sorting plant before and after cleaning procedures in order to analyze their effectiveness. Air samples of 50 L were collected through an impaction method, while surface samples, taken at the same time, were collected by the swabbing method and subject to further macro- and microscopic observations.

Cholesterol 24S-Hydroxylase Overexpression Inhibits the Liver X Receptor (LXR) Pathway by Activating Small Guanosine Triphosphate-Binding Proteins (sGTPases) in Neuronal Cells.

The neuronal-specific cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) is important for brain cholesterol elimination. Cyp46a1 null mice exhibit severe deficiencies in learning and hippocampal long-term potentiation, suggested to be caused by a decrease in isoprenoid intermediates of the mevalonate pathway. Conversely, transgenic mice overexpressing CYP46A1 show an improved cognitive function.

Assessment of fungal contamination in waste sorting and incineration-case study in Portugal.

Organic waste is a rich substrate for microbial growth, and because of that, workers from waste industry are at higher risk of exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to assess fungal contamination in two plants handling solid waste management. Air samples from the two plants were collected through an impaction method.

Epigenetic and transcriptional signatures of stable versus plastic differentiation of proinflammatory γδ T cell subsets.

Two distinct subsets of γδ T cells that produce interleukin 17 (IL-17) (CD27(-) γδ T cells) or interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (CD27(+) γδ T cells) develop in the mouse thymus, but the molecular determinants of their functional potential in the periphery remain unknown. Here we conducted a genome-wide characterization of the methylation patterns of histone H3, along with analysis of mRNA encoding transcription factors, to identify the regulatory networks of peripheral IFN-γ-producing or IL-17-producing γδ T cell subsets in vivo. We found that CD27(+) γδ T cells were committed to the expression of Ifng but not Il17, whereas CD27(-) γδ T cells displayed permissive chromatin configurations at loci encoding both cytokines and their regulatory transcription factors and differentiated into cells that produced both IL-17 and IFN-γ in a tumor microenvironment.

Non-coding RNAs: multi-tasking molecules in the cell.

In the last years it has become increasingly clear that the mammalian transcriptome is highly complex and includes a large number of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here we review the biogenesis pathways of the three classes of sncRNAs, namely short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). These ncRNAs have been extensively studied and are involved in pathways leading to specific gene silencing and the protection of genomes against virus and transposons, for example.

Targeting γδ T lymphocytes for cancer immunotherapy: from novel mechanistic insight to clinical application.

Abundant interferon-γ secretion, potent cytotoxicity, and major histocompatibility complex-independent targeting of a large spectrum of tumors make γδ T cells attractive mediators of cancer immunotherapy. However, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor cell recognition and γδ T-cell activation is required to improve the limited success of γδ T-cell-mediated treatments. Here, we review key advances in basic knowledge made over the past 3 years, and summarize the results of γδ T-cell-based clinical trials concluded to date.