A novel insight on SARS-CoV-2 S-derived fragments in the control of the host immunity.

Despite all efforts to combat the pandemic of COVID-19, we are still living with high numbers of infected persons, an overburdened health care system, and the lack of an effective and definitive treatment. Understanding the pathophysiology of the disease is crucial for the development of new technologies and therapies for the best clinical management of patients. Since the manipulation of the whole virus requires a structure with an adequate level of biosafety, the development of alternative technologies, such as the synthesis of peptides from viral proteins, is a possible solution to circumvent this problem.

Photobiomodulation Reduces the Cytokine Storm Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 in the Zebrafish Model.

Although the exact mechanism of the pathogenesis of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is not fully understood, oxidative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been highlighted as playing a vital role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this sense, alternative treatments are needed to reduce the level of inflammation caused by COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of red photobiomodulation (PBM) as an attractive therapy to downregulate the cytokine storm caused by COVID-19 in a zebrafish model.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model to assess the effects of cocaine as a drug of abuse and its environmental implications.

Cocaine (COC) use concerns are on the increase for both authorities and civil society. Despite this, it is important to investigate COC effects or those of its main metabolite, belzoylecgonine (BE), in consolidated aquatic model organisms, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio). This (mini) review consists in an assessment regarding toxicological studies carried out employing zebrafish (embryos, larvae or adults) exposed to COC and/or BE indexed at the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases.

Toxicity of spike fragments SARS-CoV-2 S protein for zebrafish: A tool to study its hazardous for human health?

Despite the significant increase in the generation of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated domestic and hospital wastewater, little is known about the ecotoxicological effects of the virus or its structural components in freshwater vertebrates. In this context, this study evaluated the deleterious effects caused by SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein on the health of Danio rerio, zebrafish. We demonstrated, for the first time, that zebrafish injected with fragment 16 to 165 (rSpike), which corresponds to the N-terminal portion of the protein, presented mortalities and adverse effects on liver, kidney, ovary and brain tissues.

Comparison of the nutritional and toxicological reference values of trace elements in edible marine fish species consumed by the population in Rio De Janeiro State, Brazil.

The present study estimated the human daily and weekly intake of inorganic elements due to consumption of fish in Rio de Janeiro state and the associated potential health risks posed by some toxic elements. All samples analyzed had values of Cd and Pb below the Maximum Tolerable Limits of 3.0 mg kg for Pb and 1.

Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird.

Molecular sexing revealed an unexpectedly strong female bias in the sex ratio of pre-breeding European Storm Petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus), attracted to playback of conspecific calls during their northwards migration past SW Europe. This bias was consistent across seven years, ranging from 80.8% to 89.