Toxicity assessment of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides in combination with a mix of pollutants on zebrafish adults: A perspective study of behavioral, biometric, mutagenic, and biochemical toxicity

The dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 in aquatic environments via the discharge of domestic and hospital sewage has been confirmed in different locations. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible impacts of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposure to SARS-CoV-2 peptide fragments (PSPD-2001, 2002, and 2003) alone and combined with a mix of emerging pollutants. Our data did not reveal the induction of behavioral, biometric, or mutagenic changes. But we noticed an organ-dependent biochemical response. While nitric oxide and malondialdehyde production in the brain, gills, and muscle did not differ between groups, superoxide dismutase activity was reduced in the “PSPD”, “Mix”, and “Mix+PSPD” groups. An increase in catalase activity and a reduction in DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in the brains of animals exposed to the treatments. However, the “Mix+PSPD” group had a higher IBRv2 value, with NO levels (brain), the reduction of acetylcholinesterase activity (muscles), and the DPPH radical scavenging activity (brain and muscles), the most discriminant factors for this group. The principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated a clear separation of the “Mix+PSPD” group from the others. Thus, we conclude that exposure to viral fragments, associated with the mix of pollutants, induced more significant toxicity in zebrafish adults than in others.Fil: Freitas, Ítalo Nascimento. Goiano Federal Institute; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; BrasilFil: Dourado, Amanda Vieira. Goiano Federal Institute; BrasilFil: Araújo, Amanda Pereira da Costa. Universidade Federal de Goiás; BrasilFil: Silva de Souza, Sindoval. Universidade Federal de Goiás; BrasilFil: Luz, Thiarlen Marinho da. Goiano Federal Institute; BrasilFil: Guimarães, Abraão Tiago Batista. Goiano Federal Institute; BrasilFil: Gomes, Alex Rodrigues. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Brasil. Goiano Federal Institute; BrasilFil: Islam, Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul. Begum Rokeya University; BangladeshFil: Rahman, Md. Mostafizur. Jahangirnagar University; BangladeshFil: Arias, Andres Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Mubarak Ali, Davoodbasha. Universiti Teknologi Brunei; BrunéiFil: Ragavendran, Chinnasamy. Saveetha Dental College And Hospitals; IndiaFil: Kamaraj, Chinnaperumal. Srm Institute Of Science And Technology; IndiaFil: Malafaia, Guilherme. Universidade Federal de Goiás; Brasil. Goiano Federal Institute; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Brasi