Finding novel genes coding for eco-friendly surfactants from hypersaline Iberian locations using metagenomic approaches

Surfactants are tensioactive chemical compounds extensively used worldwide in a myriad of industrial sectors and in our daily lives, being present in numerous products including cosmetics, detergents, fabric softeners, toothpaste, among many others. Millions of tonnes of surfactants are thus manufactured every year. Most commercially available surfactants are non-renewable petroleum-based compounds that can have a profound environmental impact. This has prompted the search for new eco-friendly alternatives, including the so-called biosurfactants, which are surfactants produced by microorganisms that are sustainable alternatives to their chemical counterparts. Hypersaline environments are an attractive source of microbial communities that, due to their adaptation to extreme abiotic conditions, produce special secondary metabolites being hotspots for the discovery of new biosurfactants. Sampling campaigns were conducted at strategic hypersaline locations holding distinct features, namely Peña Hueca lagoon (hypersaline sulphated lagoon, Spain), and salinas of Aveiro (solar coastal salina, Portugal) and Rio Maior (terrestrial inland salina, Portugal). DNA was extracted from collected water samples and two different metagenomic approaches were carried out, sequence- and function-based, both aiming to identify new biosurfactant-producing genes. The latter used a robotic screening system to screen more than 500 clones for biosurfactant production. Physicochemical characterization of samples showed an interesting variability in terms of salinity, pH and ionic content. Analysis of shotgun metagenomic sequencing data revealed that the isolated metagenomes are enriched in genes involved in biosurfactant biosynthesis, and that the microbial community is shaped by the physicochemical features. The screening tests showed an interesting number of clones with biosurfactant activity. Therefore, the bioprospection of hypersaline locations of the Iberian Peninsula allowed the identification of biosurfactant-producing clones, which can have promising industrial applications and contribute to the quest for more sustainable alternatives to chemical surfactants.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Image processing tool for the detection and quantification of xylanase activity in a metagenomic study

The vast diversity of unexplored microbial communities inhabiting the planet drives the continuous screening for promising biocatalysts. Until recently, the strategies to find new microorganisms and their enzymes were mainly focused on laboratory studies of pure microbial cultures. However, a great amount of environmental microorganisms cannot be cultivated under laboratorial conditions [1]. Metagenomics has emerged as an innovative approach to explore these uncultivable microorganisms through the analysis of DNA extracted from environmental samples [2]. It is considered a powerful tool for the discovery of novel biocatalysts and two different approaches have been proposed. Sequence-based studies recognize candidate genes but do not provide direct conclusions about the functionality of the encoded enzymes. On the other hand, the function-based approach allows the identification of new enzymes and also leads to preliminary information about their activities and physicochemical parameters. Indeed, function-based screenings have been successfully used in different environments to find genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, such as xylanases [2]. These enzymes are considered important catalysts in the biological decomposition of lignocellulosic residues. In this study, a fosmid library previously prepared in Escherichia coli with genomic DNA extracted from a compost sample collected in a national composting unit (Lipor) [3] was evaluated through a functional screening. To assess the xylanase activity of all the clones, a fast and simple chromogenic screening test using AZCL-xylan was performed in 96-well microplates at room temperature. Afterwards, the positive clones were selected and incubated at different temperatures (25, 37, 45 and 60 ºC) with the same substrate in Petri plates, for three days, to identify the most fast and promising clones. The presence of blue color was assumed as positive responses correlated with areas size. Area boundaries were extracted automatically by analyzing color images of the samples using MATLABs in-house functions. At 60 ºC, no positive clones were detected. Two positive clones simultaneously exhibited enzymatic activity under 25, 37 and 45 ºC. In general, 37 ºC proved to be the most suitable temperature for the detection of xylanase activity. The method herein reported can be further optimized for the automatic detection of different enzymatic activities in high throughput screenings.The study received financial support from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and the project LIGNOZYMES-Metagenomics approach to unravel the potential of lignocellulosic residues towards the discovery of novel enzymes (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029773). J.S. and A.M.A.C. acknowledge their research grants UMINHO/BIM/2020/28 and UMINHO/BPD/37/2018, respectively, under the scope of the project LIGNOZYMES. The authors also acknowledge the Portuguese composting unit Lipor for kindly supplying the compost sample.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

nutrition and performance in football

Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football?s physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.D915-7373-ED16 | Cesar LeaoN/

Seasonality of mortality under climate change: a multicountry projection study

A warming climate can substantially change the seasonality of mortality in the future. Our projections suggest that health-care systems should consider preparing for a potentially increased demand during warm seasons and sustained high demand during cold seasons, particularly in regions characterised by arid, temperate, and continental climates

The microbiota-gut-brain axis

The importance of the gut-brain axis in maintaining homeostasis has long been appreciated. However, the past 15 yr have seen the emergence of the microbiota (the trillions of microorganisms within and on our bodies) as one of the key regulators of gut-brain function and has led to the appreciation of the importance of a distinct microbiota-gut-brain axis. This axis is gaining ever more traction in fields investigating the biological and physiological basis of psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, age-related, and neurodegenerative disorders. The microbiota and the brain communicate with each other via various routes including the immune system, tryptophan metabolism, the vagus nerve and the enteric nervous system, involving microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, branched chain amino acids, and peptidoglycans. Many factors can influence microbiota composition in early life, including infection, mode of birth delivery, use of antibiotic medications, the nature of nutritional provision, environmental stressors, and host genetics. At the other extreme of life, microbial diversity diminishes with aging. Stress, in particular, can significantly impact the microbiota-gut-brain axis at all stages of life. Much recent work has implicated the gut microbiota in many conditions including autism, anxiety, obesity, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Animal models have been paramount in linking the regulation of fundamental neural processes, such as neurogenesis and myelination, to microbiome activation of microglia. Moreover, translational human studies are ongoing and will greatly enhance the field. Future studies will focus on understanding the mechanisms underlying the microbiota-gut-brain axis and attempt to elucidate microbial-based intervention and therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders

Global, regional, and national burden of mortality associated with cold spells during 2000–19: a three-stage modelling study

Cold spells are associated with substantial mortality burden around the world with geographically varying patterns. Although the number of cold spells has on average been decreasing since year 2000, the public health threat of cold spells remains substantial. The findings indicate an urgency of taking local and regional measures to protect the public from the mortality burdens of cold spells

Management of anaphylaxis due to COVID-19 vaccines in the elderly

Older adults, especially men and/or those with diabetes, hypertension, and/or obesity, are prone to severe COVID-19. In some countries, older adults, particularly those residing in nursing homes, have been prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccines due to high risk of death. In very rare instances, the COVID-19 vaccines can induce anaphylaxis, and the management of anaphylaxis in older people should be considered carefully. An ARIA-EAACI-EuGMS (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and European Geriatric Medicine Society) Working Group has proposed some recommendations for older adults receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. Anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines is extremely rare (from 1 per 100,000 to 5 per million injections). Symptoms are similar in younger and older adults but they tend to be more severe in the older patients. Adrenaline is the mainstay treatment and should be readily available. A flowchart is proposed to manage anaphylaxis in the older patients.Peer reviewe

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

The state of health in the European Union (EU-27) in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019

Background: The European Union (EU) faces many health-related challenges. Burden of diseases information and the resulting trends over time are essential for health planning. This paper reports estimates of disease burden in the EU and individual 27 EU countries in 2019, and compares them with those in 2010.Methods: We used the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study estimates and 95% uncertainty intervals for the whole EU and each country to evaluate age-standardised death, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates for Level 2 causes, as well as life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE).Results:In 2019, the age-standardised death and DALY rates in the EU were 465.8 deaths and 20,251.0 DALYs per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Between 2010 and 2019, there were significant decreases in age-standardised death and YLL rates across EU countries. However, YLD rates remained mainly unchanged. The largest decreases in age-standardised DALY rates were observed for "HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases" and "transport injuries" (each -19%). "Diabetes and kidney diseases" showed a significant increase for age-standardised DALY rates across the EU (3.5%). In addition, "mental disorders" showed an increasing age-standardised YLL rate (14.5%).Conclusions: There was a clear trend towards improvement in the overall health status of the EU but with differences between countries. EU health policymakers need to address the burden of diseases, paying specific attention to causes such as mental disorders. There are many opportunities for mutual learning among otherwise similar countries with different patterns of disease

Coarse particulate air pollution and daily mortality a global study in 205 cities

Please read abstract in the article.The National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan; the Medical Research Council-UK; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; the Australian Research Council the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Project Exhaustion ; the Natural Environment Research Council UK; the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council; and an Emerging Leader Fellowship of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.http://www.atsjournals.org/journal/ajrccm2023-06-07hj2023Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorolog