Bidimensional spectroelectrochemistry: application of a new device in the study of a o-vanillin-copper(II) complex

A new bidimensional spectroelectrochemistry setup for UV-Vis absorption measurements has been developed. The new device has been used to follow electrochemical reactions using two different arrangements: 1) a near-normal configuration that supplies information about the processes taking place both on the electrode surface and in the solution adjacent to it, and 2) a long-optical-pathway configuration based on a mobile slit that controls the position of a light beam passing parallel and adjacent to the electrode surface providing information only about the processes taking place in solution during the electrochemical reaction. The new setup has been validated using o-tolidine, a typical reference system for spectroelectrochemistry. The electrochemical mechanism of oxidation/reduction of Cu(o-Va)2(H2O)2 complex (o-Va = o-Vanillin = 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) has been studied using bidimensional UV-Vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry. This Cu(II) complex exhibits antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic and superoxide dismutase mimic properties.Junta de Castilla y León (BU033U16), and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2014-55583-R, CTQ2014-61914-EXP, CTQ2015-71955-REDT)CONICET, UNLP, Junta de Castilla y León (BU033U16), and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2014-55583-R, CTQ2014-61914-EXP, CTQ2015-71955-REDT

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited