Three years of wastewater surveillance for new psychoactive substances from 16 countries

The proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) over recent years has made their surveillance complex. The analysis of raw municipal influent wastewater can allow a broader insight into community consumption patterns of NPS. This study examines data from an international wastewater surveillance program that collected and analysed influent wastewater samples from up to 47 sites in 16 countries between 2019 and 2022. Influent wastewater samples were collected over the New Year period and analysed using validated liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry methods. Over the three years, a total of 18 NPS were found in at least one site. Synthetic cathinones were the most found class followed by phenethylamines and designer benzodiazepines. Furthermore, two ketamine analogues, one plant based NPS (mitragynine) and methiopropamine were also quantified across the three years. This work demonstrates that NPS are used across different continents and countries with the use of some more evident in particular regions. For example, mitragynine has highest mass loads in sites in the United States, while eutylone and 3-methylmethcathinone increased considerably in New Zealand and in several European countries, respectively. Moreover, 2F-deschloroketamine, an analogue of ketamine, has emerged more recently and could be quantified in several sites, including one in China, where it is considered as one of the drugs of most concern. Finally, some NPS were detected in specific regions during the initial sampling campaigns and spread to additional sites by the third campaign. Hence, wastewater surveillance can provide an insight into temporal and spatial trends of NPS use

SEGUINDO OS PASSOS DE SHERLOCK HOLMES: EXPERIÊNCIA INTERDISCIPLINAR EM ENCONTRO DE DIVULGAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA

Um dos aspectos da inclusão social é a possibilidade de o cidadão ter a oportunidade de adquirir conhecimento básico sobre a ciência e seu funcionamento. Nesse sentido, a realização de eventos de divulgação científica é estratégia importante na perspectiva da alfabetização científica. O presente trabalho pretende analisar uma atividade na qual os participantes foram convidados a desvendar a dinâmica de um crime fictício a partir da investigação do local do crime montado por peritos criminais. Apesar de não ter sido concebida como tal, pode-se afirmar que a atividade utilizou a metodologia de ilha interdisciplinar de racionalidade de Fourez. Os distanciamentos metodológicos detectados foram consequências da inserção dessa atividade em evento de divulgação científica

SEGUINDO OS PASSOS DE SHERLOCK HOLMES: EXPERIÊNCIA INTERDISCIPLINAR EM ENCONTRO DE DIVULGAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA

Um dos aspectos da inclusão social é a possibilidade de o cidadão ter a oportunidade de adquirir conhecimento básico sobre a ciência e seu funcionamento. Nesse sentido, a realização de eventos de divulgação científica é estratégia importante na perspectiva da alfabetização científica. O presente trabalho pretende analisar uma atividade na qual os participantes foram convidados a desvendar a dinâmica de um crime fictício a partir da investigação do local do crime montado por peritos criminais. Apesar de não ter sido concebida como tal, pode-se afirmar que a atividade utilizou a metodologia de ilha interdisciplinar de racionalidade de Fourez. Os distanciamentos metodológicos detectados foram consequências da inserção dessa atividade em evento de divulgação científica

Ayahuasca and Kambo intoxication after alternative natural therapy for depression, confirmed by mass spectrometry

CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOWe present a case report about an acute intoxication episode after an oral administration of Ayahuasca and dermal exposure of Kambo for treatment of depression. The clinical features observed were hallucination, agitation, tremors of extremities, oral par36212221CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO23038.006844/2014-46830525/1999-82015/10650-82016/23157-

Bioprospecting Fluorescent <i>Pseudomonas</i> from the Brazilian Amazon for the Biocontrol of Signal Grass Foliar Blight

Biological control is considered the only viable integrated disease management practice for controlling the widely distributed and destructive foliar blight and sudden death disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA on signal grass (Urochloa brizantha) pastures. Since major signal grass varieties are highly susceptible and fungicide sprays are not labeled for grass pasture cropping systems, biological control is sought as an alternative for managing this fungal disease. In this study, 24 fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates obtained from naturally suppressive soils from the Amazon biome were bio-prospected for their role as biocontrol agents against R. solani AG-1 IA. Based on in vitro antagonism, three isolates (Amana, Poti, and Yara) were selected for further in vivo assays. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis indicated that Amana and Yara were grouped into the Pseudomonas putida group while Poti was grouped into the Pseudomonas asplenii group, and could well constitute a new Pseudomonas species. For in vivo biocontrol assays, the biocontrol agents were applied either via seed-treatment or via foliar spray. All three isolates produced siderophores and solubilized phosphate, while Amana and Poti showed protease and chitinase in vitro activity. Foliar application of P. putida Amana from Amazonian suppressive soils resulted in a significant reduction of the foliar blight disease severity on signal grass. We discuss further steps for the development and labeling of Pseudomonas-based biofungicides for managing the foliar blight disease on signal grass pastures in Brazil

An Accurate, Affordable, and Precise Resazurin-Based Digital Imaging Colorimetric Assay for the Assessment of Fungicide Sensitivity Status of Fungal Populations

This study aimed at the development and validation of an accurate, more affordable, and precise digital imaging resazurin-based fungicide sensitivity colorimetric assay (COL-assay) for fungal plant pathogens from the genera Mycosphaerella and Pyricularia. This proposed digital imaging assay was based on colorimetric estimates of resazurin reduction, which was used as a metabolic indicator of fungal respiration activity on microplate cultures. As fungal model systems, we used the yellow and black Sigatoka pathogens [Mycosphaerella musicola (Mm) and M. fijiensis (Mf), respectively] and the wheat blast pathogen, Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl), which were previously characterized for QoI, DMI, and SDHI fungicide sensitivity. We then compared the classical spectrophotometry detection assay (SPEC-assay) with the proposed COL-assay based on the analyses of digital images of the microplates’ cultures captured with mobile phone cameras on a handmade trans-illuminator built for poorly equipped labs. Qualitatively, in terms of accuracy, there was full correspondence between the SPEC-assay and the COL-assay according to the fungal EC50 or the relative growth classes on QoI, SDHI, and DMI fungicides for both Mycosphaerella and Pyricularia pathogens. We also observed a strong to very strong correlation coefficient between the COL-assay and the SPEC-assay fungicide sensitivity values for the QoI azoxystrobin, the SDHI fluxapyroxad, and the DMI tebuconazole. Our conclusion was that the COL-assay had a similar accuracy as the SPEC-assay (i.e., resulted in similar fungicide-sensitivity categories for both resistant or sensitive fungal isolates) and high precision. By openly sharing here the COL-assay’s full methodology, and the blueprints of the handmade trans-illuminator, we foresee its adoption by poorly equipped labs throughout the country as an affordable venue for monitoring the fungicide resistance status of populations of important fungal plant pathogens such as M. fijiensis, M. musicola, and P. oryzae Triticum and Oryza lineages

Efflux Pumps and Multidrug-Resistance in Pyricularia oryzae&nbsp;Triticum Lineage

Widespread resistance to QoIs, DMI and SDHIs fungicides has been reported for Brazilian populations of the wheat blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl). A pre-existing resistance mechanism not associated with target site mutations has been indicated for resistance to DMIs and SDHIs, with strong indication that PoTl has multidrugresistance (MDR). Therefore, the main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that resistance to DMI and SDHI fungicides detected in PoTl was due to efflux pump mediated MDR mechanism(s) by characterizing the sensitivity to antifungal efflux pump substrates. Four antifungal substrates were tested: tolnaftate (TOL), cycloheximide (CHX), rhodamine 6G (RH6G) and triphenyltin chloride (TPCL). TPCL and RH6G were considered the most relevant indicators for enhanced MDR activity. Among the 16 PoTl isolates tested, 9 were insensitive to TPCL, 1 to TOL, 16 to RH6G and 1 to CHX. The PoTl isolates were grouped into four distinct multidrug resistance phenotypes (MDRPs) based on resistance to combinations of fungicides and antifungal efflux pump substrates. Insensitivity to TPCL, RH6G and or TOL correlated well with DMI insensitivity, but MDR was not associated with SDHI resistance. The identification of multiple MDRP phenotypes associated with DMI resistance in our study warrants further research aimed at revealing the exact mechanisms of multidrug resistance in the wheat blast pathogen, including efflux pumps overexpression via transcriptomic analyses of differentially expressed genes; identification and discovery of mutations associated with changes in promoter regions or transcription factors of efflux transporters associated with multidrug resistance

Efflux Pumps and Multidrug-Resistance in Pyricularia oryzae Triticum Lineage

Widespread resistance to QoIs, DMI and SDHIs fungicides has been reported for Brazilian populations of the wheat blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl). A pre-existing resistance mechanism not associated with target site mutations has been indicated for resistance to DMIs and SDHIs, with strong indication that PoTl has multidrugresistance (MDR). Therefore, the main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that resistance to DMI and SDHI fungicides detected in PoTl was due to efflux pump mediated MDR mechanism(s) by characterizing the sensitivity to antifungal efflux pump substrates. Four antifungal substrates were tested: tolnaftate (TOL), cycloheximide (CHX), rhodamine 6G (RH6G) and triphenyltin chloride (TPCL). TPCL and RH6G were considered the most relevant indicators for enhanced MDR activity. Among the 16 PoTl isolates tested, 9 were insensitive to TPCL, 1 to TOL, 16 to RH6G and 1 to CHX. The PoTl isolates were grouped into four distinct multidrug resistance phenotypes (MDRPs) based on resistance to combinations of fungicides and antifungal efflux pump substrates. Insensitivity to TPCL, RH6G and or TOL correlated well with DMI insensitivity, but MDR was not associated with SDHI resistance. The identification of multiple MDRP phenotypes associated with DMI resistance in our study warrants further research aimed at revealing the exact mechanisms of multidrug resistance in the wheat blast pathogen, including efflux pumps overexpression via transcriptomic analyses of differentially expressed genes; identification and discovery of mutations associated with changes in promoter regions or transcription factors of efflux transporters associated with multidrug resistance

Potential of Pseudomonas and Trichoderma from the Brazilian Amazon as Biocontrol Agents against the Wheat Blast Disease

Blast is one of the most significant wheat diseases, causing high yield losses in susceptible varieties under favorable conditions in Latin America, Southeastern Asia and Eastern Africa. The disease is caused by the ascomycetous fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl). Chemical control with fungicides has been used as a management strategy; however, the effectiveness of the major classes of high-risk site-specific systemic fungicides has been reduced due to the widespread prevalence of resistance, especially in Brazil. Biological control is seen as a highly important and sustainable strategy to minimize the impact of yield losses associated with wheat blast in areas where fungicides are ineffective. In our study, we specifically aimed to determine the biological control potential of the three isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas and three of Trichoderma as the antagonists of PoTl, both in in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, we aimed to describe the ultrastructural interactions among the biocontrol agents and the pathogen in vitro by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluorescent P. wayambapalatensis &lsquo;Amana&rsquo; or Pseudomonas sp. nov. &lsquo;Yara&rsquo;, both from the P. putida group, and Trichoderma koningiopsis &lsquo;Cachara&rsquo; significantly reduced PoTl in vitro mycelial growth and the blast disease severity on wheat plants. The SEM analyses revealed ultrastructural antagonistic mechanisms: biofilm formation, direct antagonism and mycoparasitism. Further research on the topic should include the development of stable formulations of the Pseudomonas- and Trichoderma-based biocontrol agents selected in our study for managing the wheat blast disease and the field tests of the biofungicide formulations obtained thereafter

Potential of <i>Pseudomonas</i> and <i>Trichoderma</i> from the Brazilian Amazon as Biocontrol Agents against the Wheat Blast Disease

Blast is one of the most significant wheat diseases, causing high yield losses in susceptible varieties under favorable conditions in Latin America, Southeastern Asia and Eastern Africa. The disease is caused by the ascomycetous fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl). Chemical control with fungicides has been used as a management strategy; however, the effectiveness of the major classes of high-risk site-specific systemic fungicides has been reduced due to the widespread prevalence of resistance, especially in Brazil. Biological control is seen as a highly important and sustainable strategy to minimize the impact of yield losses associated with wheat blast in areas where fungicides are ineffective. In our study, we specifically aimed to determine the biological control potential of the three isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas and three of Trichoderma as the antagonists of PoTl, both in in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, we aimed to describe the ultrastructural interactions among the biocontrol agents and the pathogen in vitro by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluorescent P. wayambapalatensis ‘Amana’ or Pseudomonas sp. nov. ‘Yara’, both from the P. putida group, and Trichoderma koningiopsis ‘Cachara’ significantly reduced PoTl in vitro mycelial growth and the blast disease severity on wheat plants. The SEM analyses revealed ultrastructural antagonistic mechanisms: biofilm formation, direct antagonism and mycoparasitism. Further research on the topic should include the development of stable formulations of the Pseudomonas- and Trichoderma-based biocontrol agents selected in our study for managing the wheat blast disease and the field tests of the biofungicide formulations obtained thereafter