Occurrence of persistent organic pollutants at Alqueva's surface water at touristic spots

Freshwater pollution is a huge concern. A study aiming to evaluate water quality and occurence of two groups of persistent environmental pollutants with similar chemical properties (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs and microplastics -MPs) in Alqueva’s surface water was performed during 2021. Samples were collected at three spots related to touristic activities (two beaches and one marina) once by season. In addition, we assessed and compared the presence of biofilms on plastic and natural materials. Water quality was acceptable with a low eutrophication level. PAHs concentration levels were lower than the standard limits established for surface waters. PAHs profiles showed significant differences when comparing the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher number of different compounds detected in Spring. Low molecular weight compounds, usually associated with the atmospheric deposition and petroleum contamination, were more prevalent. MPs were detected in all samples except one during Winter. Eight polymers were detected being polyethylene the most frequent. Plastics were more prone to biofilm colonization than natural materials. In addition, biofilms detected on plastics were more complex with higher microbial diversity and richer in EPS. Among microbiota were identified microorganisms previously linked to plastic and PAHs detoxification suggesting the need for further studies to evaluate the viability of using biofilms as part of a green bioremediation strategy to mitigate water pollution.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreementNo 730872. INSA [2020DSA1756, 2020], Helmholtz- Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (Proposals No 202-10133-ST/ UR, 2020 and 212-10726-ST/UR, 2021).N/

O papel do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge na avaliação e prevenção de riscos para a saúde pública: vigilância e controlo da qualidade da água e areias

O papel do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge na avaliação e prevenção de riscos para a saúde pública (Vigilância e controlo da qualidade da água e areias).N/

Streptococcus pyogenes Causing Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Are Enriched in the Recently Emerged emm89 Clade 3 and Are Not Associated With Abrogation of CovRS

Although skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are the most common focal infections associated with invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Lancefield Group A streptococci - GAS), there is scarce information on the characteristics of isolates recovered from SSTI in temperate-climate regions. In this study, 320 GAS isolated from SSTI in Portugal were characterized by multiple typing methods and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and SpeB activity. The covRS and ropB genes of isolates with no detectable SpeB activity were sequenced. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was similar to that of previously characterized isolates from invasive infections (iGAS), presenting a decreasing trend in macrolide resistance. However, the clonal composition of SSTI between 2005 and 2009 was significantly different from that of contemporary iGAS. Overall, iGAS were associated with emm1 and emm3, while SSTI were associated with emm89, the dominant emm type among SSTI (19%). Within emm89, SSTI were only significantly associated with isolates lacking the hasABC locus, suggesting that the recently emerged emm89 clade 3 may have an increased potential to cause SSTI. Reflecting these associations between emm type and disease presentation, there were also differences in the distribution of emm clusters, sequence types, and superantigen gene profiles between SSTI and iGAS. According to the predicted ability of each emm cluster to interact with host proteins, iGAS were associated with the ability to bind fibrinogen and albumin, whereas SSTI isolates were associated with the ability to bind C4BP, IgA, and IgG. SpeB activity was absent in 79 isolates (25%), in line with the proportion previously observed among iGAS. Null covS and ropB alleles (predicted to eliminate protein function) were detected in 10 (3%) and 12 (4%) isolates, corresponding to an underrepresentation of mutations impairing CovRS function in SSTI relative to iGAS. Overall, these results indicate that the isolates responsible for SSTI are genetically distinct from those recovered from normally sterile sites, supporting a role for mutations impairing CovRS activity specifically in invasive infection and suggesting that this role relies on a differential regulation of other virulence factors besides SpeB

Streptococcus canis Are a Single Population Infecting Multiple Animal Hosts Despite the Diversity of the Universally Present M-Like Protein SCM

Streptococcus canis is an animal pathogen which occasionally causes infections in humans. The S. canis M-like protein (SCM) encoded by the scm gene, is its best characterized virulence factor but previous studies suggested it could be absent in a substantial fraction of isolates. We studied the distribution and variability of the scm gene in 188 S. canis isolates recovered from companion animals (n = 152), wild animal species (n = 20), and humans (n = 14). Multilocus sequence typing, including the first characterization of wildlife isolates, showed that the same lineages are present in all animal hosts, raising the possibility of extensive circulation between species. Whole-genome analysis revealed that emm-like genes found previously in S. canis correspond to divergent scm genes, indicating that what was previously believed to correspond to two genes is in fact the same scm locus. We designed primers allowing for the first time the successful amplification of the scm gene in all isolates. Analysis of the scm sequences identified 12 distinct types, which could be divided into two clusters: group I (76%, n = 142) and group II (24%, n = 46) sharing little sequence similarity. The predicted group I SCM showed extensive similarity with each other outside of the N-terminal hypervariable region and a conserved IgG binding domain. This domain was absent from group II SCM variants found in isolates previously thought to lack the scm gene, which also showed greater amino acid variability. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the possible host interacting partners of the group II SCM variants and their role in virulence

Atividade de proximidade com a comunidade escolar

Palestra interativa sobre os principais parasitas - Cryptosporidium e Giardia - que podem ser veiculados pela água, efeitos na saúde e como evitar a contaminação.No âmbito da comemoração dos 120 anos do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), o Departamento de Saúde Ambiental (DSA) dinamizou um conjunto de sessões de divulgação e formação sobre Saúde Ambiental em duas escolas secundárias próximas do INSA (Lisboa) com o objetivo de sensibilizar a comunidade escolar para a importância de adotar comportamentos sustentáveis para o meio ambiente e para a saúde humana.Ciclo de quatro palestras sobre os contaminantes químicos, incluindo os microplásticos, e microbiológicos do ar e das águas, seguidas de exposições interativas de equipamentos, materiais e amostras. Debates e questionário com a ferramenta Kahoot para avaliar o impacto das palestras na sensibilização dos alunos para os diversos temas.N/

Atividade de proximidade com a comunidade escolar

Palestra interativa de sensibilização à poupança de água. Exemplos de locais onde a água potável escasseia. Importância da reutilização da água. Qualidade da água, a barreira sanitária do cloro, análise bacteriológica.No âmbito da comemoração dos 120 anos do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), o Departamento de Saúde Ambiental (DSA) dinamizou um conjunto de sessões de divulgação e formação sobre Saúde Ambiental em duas escolas secundárias próximas do INSA (Lisboa) com o objetivo de sensibilizar a comunidade escolar para a importância de adotar comportamentos sustentáveis para o meio ambiente e para a saúde humana.Ciclo de quatro palestras sobre os contaminantes químicos, incluindo os microplásticos, e microbiológicos do ar e das águas, seguidas de exposições interativas de equipamentos, materiais e amostras. Debates e questionário com a ferramenta Kahoot para avaliar o impacto das palestras na sensibilização dos alunos para os diversos temas.N/

Quantificação de manganês na água por espectrofotometria de absorção molecular

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Pathogens in Ornamental and Recreational Waters: A Risk Assessment Study

Ornamental and recreational waters of easy access are quite attractive and can hide threats to human health. Here we evaluated, the microbiota of ornamental waters in a Lisbon park (1 year), as well as, the microbiota of two dams with nautical recreational activities and fluvial beach to assess the risk for human health. In the microbiota, we identified faecal indicator bacterium, E.coli, and other potential human pathogens such as A.baumannii, Aeromonas, E.cloacae, K.pneumoniae, Pseudomonas and Raoutella. The identification of known healthcare associated infections agents such as K. pneumoniae, as well as species of Pseudomonas (P.fluorescens, P.putida and P.oryzihabitans) that recently have been identified as etiological agents in immunosuppressed individuals is of particular relevance. The same bacterial species were isolated from biofilm and water suggesting the existence of an equilibrium between planktonic and biofilm organized bacteria. The role played by biofilm assembly on the emergence of antibiotic resistance is still ongoing for the isolated bacteria, as well as the possible interaction between water chemical composition and bacteria isolates. Potential pathogens (biofilm or planktonic) represent a significant cause of acute bacterial infections mainly in specific populations (paediatric and geriatric). These results support periodic control of ornamental water microbiota as a preventive messure.N/

Atividade de proximidade com a comunidade escolar

Ciclo de quatro palestras sobre os contaminantes químicos, incluindo os microplásticos, e microbiológicos do ar e das águas, seguidas de exposições interativas de equipamentos, materiais e amostras. Debates e questionário com a ferramenta Kahoot para avaliar o impacto das palestras na sensibilização dos alunos para os diversos temas.No âmbito da comemoração dos 120 anos do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), o Departamento de Saúde Ambiental (DSA) dinamizou um conjunto de sessões de divulgação e formação sobre Saúde Ambiental em duas escolas secundárias próximas do INSA (Lisboa) com o objetivo de sensibilizar a comunidade escolar para a importância de adotar comportamentos sustentáveis para o meio ambiente e para a saúde humana. A ação desenvolvida teve como público alvo alunos do 3º ciclo do ensino básico (8º e 9º ano de escolaridade) e alunos do ensino secundário (10º e 11º anos de escolaridade). As sessões em cada escola decorreram nos dias 9, 10, 11, e 13 de dezembro de 2019N/