Frog hepatic health and metal pollution: An assemblage-level approach in a hotspot in southeastern Brazil.

Chemical pollutants include the harmful effects of various substances on soils, water bodies, and biodiversity. Amphibians are one of the most endangered groups of vertebrates and are impacted by chemical pollutants in various ways due to their complex life cycles. Since trace pollutant concentrations vary across environments, different frog ecomorphs (classified by their microhabitat use) may have different exposures.

Stable coexistence between an archaeal virus and the dominant methanogen of the human gut.

The human gut virome, which is mainly composed of bacteriophages, also includes viruses infecting archaea, yet their role remains poorly understood due to lack of isolates. Here, we characterize a temperate archaeal virus (MSTV1) infecting Methanobrevibacter smithii, the dominant methanogenic archaeon of the human gut. The MSTV1 genome is integrated in the host chromosome as a provirus which is sporadically induced, resulting in virion release.

Biophysical insights into sugar-dependent medium acidification promoting YfaL protein-mediated self-aggregation, biofilm formation and acid stress resistance.

The ability of bacteria to interact with their environment is crucial to form aggregates and biofilms, and develop a collective stress resistance behavior. Despite its environmental and medical importance, bacterial aggregation is poorly understood and mediated by few known adhesion structures. Here, we identified a new role for a surface-exposed protein, YfaL, which can self-recognize and induce bacterial autoaggregation.

Discarded substrates from soilless hydroponic horticulture as potential amendments for metal-contaminated soils.

Soil contamination with metals is a major threat for the environment and public health since most metals are toxic to humans and to non-human biota, even at low concentrations. Thus, new sustainable remediation approaches are currently needed to immobilize metals in soils to decrease their mobility and bioavailability. In this work, we explore the application of discarded substrates from hydroponic cultivation, namely coconut shell and a mixture of coconut shell and pine bark, for immobilization of metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Hg, Sb and As) in a naturally contaminated soil from a mining region in Portugal.

, an oral pathobiont associated with colorectal cancer, epigenetically reprograms human colonocytes.

Recently, an intestinal dysbiotic microbiota with enrichment in oral cavity bacteria has been described in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Here, we characterize and investigate one of these oral pathobionts, the Gram-positive anaerobic coccus . We identified two phylotypes (A and B) exhibiting different phenotypes and adhesion capabilities.

Gut microbiota profile and the influence of nutritional status on bacterial distribution in diabetic and healthy Tunisian subjects.

Gut microbiota plays a key role in the regulation of metabolism and immunity. We investigated the profile of gut microbiota and the impact of dietary intake on gut bacterial distribution in diabetic and healthy Tunisian subjects, aiming to identify a dysbiotic condition, hence opening the way to restore eubiosis and facilitate return to health. In the present research, we enrolled 10 type 1 diabetic (T1D), 10 type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients and 13 healthy (H) subjects.

Impact of DNA repair polymorphisms on DNA instability biomarkers induced by lead (Pb) in workers exposed to the metal.

Although the mechanisms of Pb-induced genotoxicity are well established, a wide individual's variation response is seen in biomarkers related to Pb toxicity, despite similar levels of metal exposure. This may be related to intrinsic variations, such as genetic polymorphisms; moreover, very little is known about the impact of genetic variations related to DNA repair system on DNA instability induced by Pb. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the impact of SNPs in enzymes related to DNA repair system on biomarkers related to acute toxicity and DNA damage induced by Pb exposure, in individuals occupationally exposed to the metal.

Selenium Biofortification Enhanced Grain Yield and Alleviated the Risk of Arsenic and Cadmium Toxicity in Rice for Human Consumption.

Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) are toxic to rice plants. However, selenium (Se) has the potential to regulate As and Cd toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the co-exposure to As and Se species in two rice cultivars, BRS Pampa and EPAGRI 108.

Influence of Mushroom on Pb Toxicokinetic in Pregnant Rats.

(Pb) is a toxic metal, responsible for several damages to human health. (Ab) is a mushroom with promising antioxidant properties to be used as an alternative chelator in Pb intoxication. The aim was to understand the Pb toxicokinetic and the potential of Ab as a protective agent.

Cellular prion protein offers neuroprotection in astrocytes submitted to amyloid β oligomer toxicity.

The cellular prion protein (PrP), in its native conformation, performs numerous cellular and cognitive functions in brain tissue. However, despite the cellular prion research in recent years, there are still questions about its participation in oxidative and neurodegenerative processes. This study aims to elucidate the involvement of PrP in the neuroprotection cascade in the presence of oxidative stressors.

Metals in Brazilian family farming grapes and estimated daily intake.

The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of metals in peel, pulp, and seeds of grapes obtained from family farms in Brazil, compare them to the maximum threshold levels and to evaluate the risk by estimating the daily intake (EDI). Grape samples were collected from farms and levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were assessed via ICP-MS. The highest metal levels were found in grape peels, Cu at the highest concentration (107.

Elemental plasma content and urinary excretion in vineyard farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides in southern Brazil.

This is a cross-sectional study with data and biological material collection from vineyard farmers in southern Brazil. An interview was carried out through a questionnaire developed according to the reference guide of the state government. Plasma and urine samples were screened for Aluminum, Chromium, Manganese, Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Cadmium, Antimony, Barium, Mercury, Lead and Uranium, with a technique for fast determination of these elemental contents in biological material utilizing dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled mass spectrometry.

Occupational exposure to potentially toxic elements in the foundry industry: an integrated environmental and biological monitoring.

Industrial foundry processes release metal dust and fumes into the environment. Our study evaluated the exposure to potentially toxic elements in foundry workers. The assessed samples consisted of air particulate matter (n = 42), urine (n = 194), and blood (n = 167).

Gut mucosa alterations and loss of segmented filamentous bacteria in type 1 diabetes are associated with inflammation rather than hyperglycaemia.

Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of pancreatic β-cells producing insulin. Both T1D patients and animal models exhibit gut microbiota and mucosa alterations, although the exact cause for these remains poorly understood. We investigated the production of key cytokines controlling gut integrity, the abundance of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) involved in the production of these cytokines, and the respective role of autoimmune inflammation and hyperglycaemia.

Cellular prion protein activates Caspase 3 for apoptotic defense mechanism in astrocytes.

The cellular prion protein (PrP) is anchored in the plasma membrane of cells, and it is highly present in cells of brain tissue, exerting numerous cellular and cognitive functions. The present study proves the importance of PrP in the cellular defense mechanism and metal homeostasis in astrocytes cells. Through experimental studies using cell lines of immortalized mice astrocytes (wild type and knockout for PrP), we showed that PrPc is involved in the apoptosis cell death process by the activation of Caspase 3, downregulation of p53, and cell cycle maintenance.

Iron Oxide Nanomaterials for the Removal of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from Contaminated River After Mariana Mining Disaster.

If not properly treated, water contaminated with chromium (Cr(VI)) and lead (Pb(II)) can cause severe damage to health due to the accumulation of those toxic metals in the human body. Therefore, in this work, three iron oxides, i.e.

The Spatial Heterogeneity of the Gut Limits Predation and Fosters Coexistence of Bacteria and Bacteriophages.

The ecological dynamics underlying the coexistence between antagonistic populations of bacteria and their viruses, bacteriophages (phages), in the mammalian gut microbiota remain poorly understood. We challenged a murine synthetic bacterial community with phages to study the factors allowing phages-bacteria coexistence. Coexistence was not dependent on the development of phage-resistant clones nor on the ability of phages to extend their host range.

Occupational exposure of foundry workers assessed by the urinary concentrations of 18 elements and arsenic species.

Background: Some raw materials applied in Fe foundry industries may contain potentially toxic elements. Thus, foundry worker's occupational exposure is a constant health concern.

Method: In this study, 194 urine samples from foundry workers were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for biomonitoring of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Se, U and Zn.

Study of the Operon Coding a Two-Component System and a Putative L,D-Carboxypeptidase in .

The cell surface is the primary recognition site between the bacterium and the host. An operon of three genes, LSEI_0219 (), LSEI_0220 (), and LSEI_0221 (), has been previously identified as required for the establishment of in the gut. The genes and encode a predicted two-component system (TCS) and a predicted D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase which is a peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis enzyme.

Determination of 17α-ethinylestradiol and toxic metals in surface waters, and estimation of daily intake.

The presence of substances such as hormones and toxic metal in aquatic ecosystem is interesting to the scientific community due to their adverse effects. We quantified 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and toxic metals in the surface waters from Sorocaba and Pirajibu Rivers, in São Paulo State, and we estimated the daily intake for hormone, based on the amount of water consumed. EE2, Cd, Hg, As, Pb, and Mn were seasonally quantified in six different locations along the rivers.

Isolation and characterization of bacteria from a brazilian gold mining area with a capacity of arsenic bioaccumulation.

In Paracatu, a city in Minas Gerais State (Brazil), the gold mineral extraction produces wastes that contribute to environmental contamination by arsenic. This work describes the evaluation of arsenic concentration from soil of a gold mining area in Paracatu and the selection of arsenic resistant bacteria. In the process of culturing enrichment, 38 bacterial strains were isolated and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in solid medium for each strain.