Photobiomodulation reduces the cytokine storm syndrome associated with Covid-19 in the zebrafish model

Although the exact mechanism of the pathogenesis of 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 inflammation caused by COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of red PBM as an attractive therapy to downregulate the cytokine storm caused by COVID-19 from a zebrafish model. RT-PCR analyses and protein-protein interaction prediction among SARS-CoV-2 and Danio rerio proteins showed that rSpike was responsible for generating systemic inflammatory processes with significantly increased pro-inflammatory (il1b, il6, tnfa, and nfkbiab), oxidative stress (romo1) and energy metabolism (slc2a1a, coa1) mRNA markers, with a pattern like those observed in COVID-19 cases in humans. On the other hand, PBM treatment decreased the mRNA levels of these pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers compared with rSpike in various tissues, promoting an anti-inflammatory response. Conversely, PBM promotes cellular and tissue repair of injured tissues and significantly increases the survival rate of rSpike-inoculated individuals. Additionally, metabolomics analysis showed that the most impacted metabolic pathways between PBM and the rSpike-treated groups were related to steroid metabolism, immune system, and lipids metabolism. Together, our findings suggest that the inflammatory process is an incisive feature of COVID-19, and red PBM can be used as a novel therapeutic agent for COVID-19 by regulating the inflammatory response. Nevertheless, the need for more clinical trials remains, and there is a significant gap to overcome before clinical trials.publishedVersio

À margem do rio e da sociedade: a qualidade da água em uma comunidade quilombola no estado de Mato Grosso

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade da água consumida pelas famílias das comunidades Baixio e Morro Redondo, situadas no Assentamento Vão Grande, inserido no município de Barra do Bugres, a 150 quilômetros da capital do estado, por meio de parâmetros microbiológicos. Inicialmente, foi realizado contato prévio com a comunidade para a realização da apresentação do projeto e seus objetivos. Para a determinação dos pontos de coleta da água, levantou-se os tipos de fontes de recursos hídricos utilizadas pelos moradores para o consumo. Após a coleta da água, as amostras foram destinadas ao Laboratório de Microbiologia da Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus Barra do Bugres, onde se realizou a determinação pelo método rápido-Colilert. A contaminação detectada nas amostras analisadas, em todo o período, foi consideravelmente preocupante. O índice de contaminação predominou em quase 100% das amostras. Fatores como a falta de saneamento básico, que pode ser evidenciada pelo destino inapropriado dos resíduos sólidos e ausência de tratamento da água para o consumo, influenciaram diretamente nos resultados obtidos. Ao final do projeto, a equipe responsável elaborou um relatório dos resultados obtidos com a pesquisa, o qual foi apresentado aos moradores das comunidades Baixio e Morro Redondo, acompanhado de orientações sobre práticas acessíveis para a redução da contaminação microbiológica da água. Observou-se que a contaminação dos recursos hídricos, por falta de saneamento básico e ausência do tratamento da água utilizada pelos moradores para consumo, evidencia riscos à saúde coletiva dessas comunidades. Portanto, a implementação de políticas públicas pelas autoridades locais competentes torna-se primordial para reverter esse quadro. Ações interdisciplinares conjuntas, nos setores de gestão de recursos hídricos, saneamento básico, habitação e saúde são ações necessárias para melhoria da qualidade de vida dessa comunidade quilombola.This study aimed to evaluate the quality of water consumed by families of Baixio and Morro Redondo communities, located in Vão Grande settlement, in Barra do Bugres, 150 km from the state of Mato Grossos’ capital (Brazil) through microbiological parameters. Initially, previous contact was made with the community to present the project and its objectives. For determining what water points we should collect from, a survey was made about the types of water sources used by residents for consumption. After the collection, samples were sent to the laboratory of Microbiology of the State University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Bugres campus, where they were determined by the fast-Colilert method. Contamination detected in analyzed samples, throughout the period, caused considerable concern, filth index predominated in almost 100% of the samples. Factors such as lack of basic sanitation, which can be evidenced by the inappropriate destination of solid waste and the absence of water treatment for consumption, directly influenced the results obtained. In the end of the project, the responsible team prepared a report of the results obtained by the research, which was presented to Baixio and Morro Redondo communities’ residents, along with information on accessible practices for reduction of microbiological contamination of water. We observed that contamination of hydric resources, due to lack of basic sanitation and lack of water treatment for consumption, evidences risks to collective health of these communities. Therefore, the implementation of public policies by the competent local authorities becomes a matter of paramount importance to reverse this framework. Joint interdisciplinary actions in areas of water resources management, basic sanitation, housing, and health are necessary actions to improve the quality of life of this ‘quilombola’ community

Dinâmica vegetacional em pastagem natural submetida a diferentes sistemas de manejo Vegetation dynamics of natural grassland under different management systems

A dinâmica da composição florística de uma pastagem natural foi avaliada para estimar os efeitos de sistemas de pastejo e introdução de espécies hibernais. O experimento foi realizado em São Gabriel, na região da Depressão Central, Rio Grande do Sul. O período de pastejo foi entre 01/11/2004 e 23/12/2004, totalizando 53 dias. Foram realizados dois levantamentos da composição florística, sendo o primeiro antes do início do pastejo (23/09/2004) e o segundo após o término do período experimental (27/01/2005). Os tratamentos testados foram: pastagem natural melhorada com introdução de espécies hibernais sob pastejo rotativo (CNM); pastagem natural sob pastejo contínuo (CNC) e pastagem natural sob pastejo rotativo (CNR), sendo distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com duas repetições. Os animais utilizados no pastejo foram ovelhas com cordeiros da raça Corriedale. Os dados foram submetidos à análise multivariada baseada em ordenação e testes de aleatorização. No primeiro levantamento botânico, o tratamento CNM diferiu (P=0,0001) do CNC e CNR pela elevada participação das espécies introduzidas, enquanto CNC e do CNR foram semelhantes (P=0,6742) na composição de espécies. Os tratamentos CNM e CNC foram diferentes (P=0,0017) no segundo levantamento. O efeito do pastejo rotativo, a introdução de espécies e a adubação são determinantes para mudanças na composição da vegetação. A vegetação sob efeito de pastejo rotativo apresentou trajetórias que convergem para uma situação de semelhança na composição de espécies.<br>Floristic composition's dynamics of a natural grassland was evaluated to estimate the effects of grazing systems and introduction of cool season species. The experiment was held in São Gabriel, in the region of Depressão Central, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The grazing period was from 01/11/2004 to 23/12/2004, totaling 53 days. Floristic composition were evaluated before the beginning of the grazing period (23/09/2004) and after its end (27/01/2005). Tested treatments were: natural grassland improvement with introduction of cool season species under rotative grazing (CNM); natural grassland under continuous grazing (CNC) and natural grassland under rotative grazing (CNR), distributed in an entirely randomized design, with two replicates. Corriedale breed ewes, with their lambs, were tester grazing animals. Data were submitted to multivariate analysis based in ordination and randomization testing. In the first survey, the treatment CNM differed (P=0.0001) from CNC and CNR due to the high contribution of the introduced species, while CNC and CNR were similar (P=0.6742) in species' composition. Treatments CNM and CNC were different (P=0.0017) in the second evaluation. The effect of rotative grazing, introduction of species and fertilization seems to be decisive for changes in floristic composition. Vegetation under rotative grazing presented trajectories that converge to a situation of similarity in the species' composition

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

Abstract 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. In addition, the use and validation of animal models is of extreme importance to screen new drugs and to compress the organism's response to the disease. Peptides derived from recombinant S protein from SARS-CoV-2 were synthesized and validated by in silico, in vitro and in vivo methodologies. Macrophages and neutrophils were challenged with the peptides and the production of inflammatory mediators and activation profile were evaluated. These peptides were also inoculated into the swim bladder of transgenic zebrafish larvae at 6 days post fertilization (dpf) to mimic the inflammatory process triggered by the virus, which was evaluated by confocal microscopy. In addition, toxicity and oxidative stress assays were also developed. In silico and molecular dynamics assays revealed that the peptides bind to the ACE2 receptor stably and interact with receptors and adhesion molecules, such as MHC and TCR, from humans and zebrafish. Macrophages stimulated with one of the peptides showed increased production of NO, TNF-α and CXCL2. Inoculation of the peptides in zebrafish larvae triggered an inflammatory process marked by macrophage recruitment and increased mortality, as well as histopathological changes, similarly to what is observed in individuals with COVID-19. The use of peptides is a valuable alternative for the study of host immune response in the context of COVID-19. The use of zebrafish as an animal model also proved to be appropriate and effective in evaluating the inflammatory process, comparable to humans