Toxicity of an aquatic microcontaminant on microalgae

[Resumen]: La producción de medicamentos y productos para la higiene ha aumentado considerablemente en los últimos años. En consecuencia, los análisis químicos de aguas superficiales detectan cada año concentraciones mayores de estas substancias. La mayoría de productos farmacéuticos llegan a las aguas dulces a través de las EDAR, donde no pueden ser eliminados por completo. Algunos de ellos, como el triclosán, son conocidos por su frecuente uso como antimicrobiano. Cuando este tipo de sustancias son liberadas al medio ambiente suponen un peligro potencial para la estabilidad de los ecosistemas. Uno de los microorganismos más afectados son las microalgas, las cuales son la base de las cadenas tróficas, por lo que estos productos tienen como consecuencia un gran daño a los ecosistemas acuáticos. Además, se ha observado que los factores físicos del ambiente pueden causar cambios en el metabolismo de los microorganismos haciéndolos más susceptibles a los efectos tóxicos de estos contaminantes. En la presente investigación se evaluaron en primer lugar los efectos negativos del triclosán sobre el microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard y finalmente la interacción de estos efectos con el incremento de la temperatura. Para ello se realizaron medidas de tres parámetros distintos: crecimiento, viabilidad y contenido en pigmentos. Se obtuvieron descensos significativos de estos parámetros a las 72 horas de exposición al triclosán que indican su toxicidad contra el microalga y se observaron diferentes tipos de interacciones entre la temperatura y el triclosán.[Resumo]: A produción de medicamentos e produtos para a hixiene aumentou considerablemente nos últimos anos. En consecuencia, os análises químicos de augas superficiais detectan cada ano concentracións maiores de estas sustancias. A maioría de produtos farmacéuticos chegan as augas doces a través das EDAR, onde non poden ser eliminados por completo. Algúns de eles, como o triclosán, son coñecidos polo seu frecuente uso coma antimicrobiano. Cando este tipo de sustancias cando son liberadas ao medio ambiente supoñen un perigo potencial para a estabilidade dos ecosistemas. Un dos microorganismos mais afectado son as microalgas, as cales son a base das cadeas tróficas, causando un gran dano aos ecosistemas acuáticos. Ademais, observouse que os factores físicos do ambiente poden causar cambios no metabolismo dos microorganismos facéndoos mais susceptibles aos efectos tóxicos de estes contaminantes. Na presente investigación avalouse en primeiro lugar os efectos negativos do triclosán sobre o microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard e finalmente a interacción de estes efectos con o incremento da temperatura. Para elo realizáronse medidas de tres parámetros distintos: crecemento, viabilidade e contido en pigmentos. Obtivéronse descensos significativos de estes parámetros ás 72 horas de exposición ao triclosán que indican a súa toxicidade contra o microalga e obtivéronse diferentes tipos de interaccións entre a temperatura e o triclosán.[Abstract]: The production of medicines and hygiene products has increased considerably in the past years. Consequently, chemical analysis of surface waters detect higher concentrations of these substances every year. Most pharmaceutical products reach the fresh water through the WWTP, where they can not be completely eliminated. Some of them, such as triclosan, are known for their frequent use as an antimicrobial. When these types of substances are released into the environment, they pose a potential danger to the stability of ecosystems. One of the most affected microorganisms are microalgae, which are the basis of trophic chains, so these products have a great impact on aquatic ecosystems. In addition, it has been observed that the physical factors of the environment can cause changes in the metabolism of microorganisms making them more susceptible to the toxic effects of these pollutants. In the present investigation, the negative effects of triclosan on the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard were evaluated first. And finally was evaluated the interaction of these effects with the increase in temperature. For this reason, measurements of three different parameters were made: growth, viability and pigment content. Significant decreases in these parameters were obtained after 72 hours of exposure to triclosan, indicating their toxicity against microalgae, and different types of interactions between temperature and triclosan were observed.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.CIE). Bioloxía. Curso 2017/201

Wastewater early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and variants in a Coruña, Spain

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract]: Wastewater-based epidemiology has been widely used as a cost-effective method for tracking the COVID-19 pandemic at the community level. Here we describe COVIDBENS, a wastewater surveillance program running from June 2020 to March 2022 in the wastewater treatment plant of Bens in A Coruña (Spain). The main goal of this work was to provide an effective early warning tool based in wastewater epidemiology to help in decision-making at both the social and public health levels. RT-qPCR procedures and Illumina sequencing were used to weekly monitor the viral load and to detect SARS-CoV-2 mutations in wastewater, respectively. In addition, own statistical models were applied to estimate the real number of infected people and the frequency of each emerging variant circulating in the community, which considerable improved the surveillance strategy. Our analysis detected 6 viral load waves in A Coruña with concentrations between 103 and 106 SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies/L. Our system was able to anticipate community outbreaks during the pandemic with 8-36 days in advance with respect to clinical reports and, to detect the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in A Coruña such as Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529 and BA.2) in wastewater with 42, 30, and 27 days, respectively, before the health system did. Data generated here helped local authorities and health managers to give a faster and more efficient response to the pandemic situation, and also allowed important industrial companies to adapt their production to each situation. The wastewater-based epidemiology program developed in our metropolitan area of A Coruña (Spain) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic served as a powerful early warning system combining statistical models with mutations and viral load monitoring in wastewater over time.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG. This work was supported by EDAR Bens S.A., A Coruña, Spain [grant references INV04020, INV12120, INV05921, and INV148721 to MP], by the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation funded by the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain—General Subdirection of Assessment and Promotion of the Research-European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) “A way of making Europe” [grant references PI15/00860 to GB, PI17/01482, and PI20/00413 to MP], by the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN) (Xunta de Galicia, Spain) [grant references IN607A 2016/22 to GB, ED431C-2016/015 and ED431C-2020/14 to RC, ED431C 2021/53 to SL and ED431G 2019/01 and COV20/00604 to RC and SL, by Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation (MINECO), Spain [grant references MTM2017-82724-R to RC], by the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases [REIPI RD16/0016/0006 to GB], by the “Innova Saúde” Program, (INNOVAMICROLAB project) co-founded by the Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and by the Spanish Network of Research in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), and by the European Virus Archive Global (EVA-GLOBAL) project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 871029. SR-F was financially supported by REIPI RD16/0016/006, KC-P by IN607A 2016/22 and the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC) and JAV by IN607A 2016/22. DP was funded by grant EPICOVIGAL FONDO SUPERA-COVID19 from Banco Santander-CSIC-CRUE, Spain, and grant CT850A-2 from (Health Knowledge Agency) ACIS SERGAS from the Consellería de Sanidade of Xunta de Galicia, Spain.EDAR Bens S.A.; INV04020EDAR Bens S.A.; INV12120EDAR Bens S.A.; INV05921EDAR Bens S.A.; INV148721Xunta de Galicia; IN607A 2016/22Xunta de Galicia; ED431C-2016/015Xunta de Galicia; ED431C-2020/14Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2021/53Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/01Xunta de Galicia; COV20/0060