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11 pages, 1111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers: A Critical Sentinel Group for Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Shift

by Dayane Azevedo Padilha, Doris Sobral Marques Souza, Eric Kazuo Kawagoe, Vilmar Benetti Filho, Ariane Nicaretta Amorim, Fernando Hartmann Barazzetti, Marcos André Schörner, Sandra Bianchini Fernandes, Bruna Kellet Coelho, Darcita Buerger Rovaris, Marlei Pickler Debiase Dos Anjos, Juliana Righetto Moser, Fernanda Rosene Melo, Bianca Bittencourt De Souza, Dimitri da Costa Bessa, Fernando Henrique de Paula e Silva Mendes, Alexandra Crispim Boing, Antonio Fernando Boing, Josimari Telino de Lacerda, Guilherme Valle Moura, Daniela Carolina De Bastiani, Milene Höehr de Moraes, Luiz Felipe Valter De Oliveira, Renato Simões Moreira, Patricia Hermes Stoco, Maria Luiza Bazzo, Gislaine Fongaro and Glauber Wagner Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2023, 15(4), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15040984 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2434

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 genome surveillance is important for monitoring risk groups and health workers as well as data on new cases and mortality rate due to COVID-19. We characterized the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants from May 2021 to April 2022 in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and evaluated the similarity between variants present in the population and healthcare workers (HCW). A total of 5291 sequenced genomes demonstrated the circulation of 55 strains and four variants of concern (Alpha, Delta, Gamma and Omicron—sublineages BA.1 and BA.2). The number of cases was relatively low in May 2021, but the number of deaths was higher with the Gamma variant. There was a significant increase in both numbers between December 2021 and February 2022, peaking in mid-January 2022, when the Omicron variant dominated. After May 2021, two distinct variant groups (Delta and Omicron) were observed, equally distributed among the five Santa Catarina mesoregions. Moreover, from November 2021 to February 2022, similar variant profiles between HCW and the general population were observed, and a quicker shift from Delta to Omicron in HCW than in the general population. This demonstrates the importance of HCW as a sentinel group for monitoring disease trends in the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SARS-CoV-2 Research in Brazil)

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22 pages, 4600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cell Uptake of Steroid-BODIPY Conjugates and Their Internalization Mechanisms: Cancer Theranostic Dyes

by Ana F. Amendoeira, André Luz, Ruben Valente, Catarina Roma-Rodrigues, Hasrat Ali, Johan E. van Lier, Fernanda Marques, Pedro V. Baptista and Alexandra R. Fernandes

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043600 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3164

Abstract

Estradiol-BODIPY linked via an 8-carbon spacer chain and 19-nortestosterone- and testosterone-BODIPY linked via an ethynyl spacer group were evaluated for cell uptake in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP, as well as in normal dermal fibroblasts, using fluorescence microscopy. The highest level of internalization was observed with 11β-OMe-estradiol-BODIPY 2 and 7α-Me-19-nortestosterone-BODIPY 4 towards cells expressing their specific receptors. Blocking experiments showed changes in non-specific cell uptake in the cancer and normal cells, which likely reflect differences in the lipophilicity of the conjugates. The internalization of the conjugates was shown to be an energy-dependent process that is likely mediated by clathrin- and caveolae-endocytosis. Studies using 2D co-cultures of cancer cells and normal fibroblasts showed that the conjugates are more selective towards cancer cells. Cell viability assays showed that the conjugates are non-toxic for cancer and/or normal cells. Visible light irradiation of cells incubated with estradiol-BODIPYs 1 and 2 and 7α-Me-19-nortestosterone-BODIPY 4 induced cell death, suggesting their potential for use as PDT agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hormone Receptors and Signaling in Breast Cancer)

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27 pages, 9770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola

by Alexandra E. Fernandes, Octávio Mateus, Brian Andres, Michael J. Polcyn, Anne S. Schulp, António Olímpio Gonçalves and Louis L. Jacobs

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090741 - 9 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 8911

Abstract

Here, we describe the first pterosaur remains from Angola, an assemblage of fourteen bones from the Lower Maastrichtian marine deposits of Bentiaba, Namibe Province. One new species is introduced, Epapatelo otyikokolo, gen. et sp. nov., which comprises an articulated partial left humerus and ulna as well as an articulated left ulna and radius (from a second individual). Phylogenetic analysis confirms a non-nyctosaurid pteranodontian attribution for this new taxon and supports a new apomorphy-based clade, Aponyctosauria, which is here defined. Late Cretaceous pteranodontians are rare in Sub-Saharan Africa and throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Preliminary histological analysis also reveals a likely sub-adult age for one of the specimens. This fossil assemblage provides a first glimpse of Angolan pterosaur paleobiodiversity providing further insight into the Gondwanan ecosystems of the Upper Cretaceous. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phylogeny and Evolution)

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23 pages, 3386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vanadium(IV) Complexes with Methyl-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinolines: Catalytic Potential in the Oxidation of Hydrocarbons and Alcohols with Peroxides and Biological Activity

by Joanna Palion-Gazda, André Luz, Luis R. Raposo, Katarzyna Choroba, Jacek E. Nycz, Alina Bieńko, Agnieszka Lewińska, Karol Erfurt, Pedro V. Baptista, Barbara Machura, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Lidia S. Shul’pina, Nikolay S. Ikonnikov and Georgiy B. Shul’pin

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6364; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216364 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3637

Abstract

Methyl-substituted 8-hydroxyquinolines (Hquin) were successfully used to synthetize five-coordinated oxovanadium(IV) complexes: [VO(2,6-(Me)₂-quin)₂] (1), [VO(2,5-(Me)₂-quin)₂] (2) and [VO(2-Me-quin)₂] (3). Complexes 1–3 demonstrated high catalytic activity in the oxidation of hydrocarbons with H₂O₂ in acetonitrile at 50 °C, in the presence of 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (PCA) as a cocatalyst. The maximum yield of cyclohexane oxidation products attained was 48%, which is high in the case of the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons. The reaction leads to the formation of a mixture of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. When triphenylphosphine is added, cyclohexyl hydroperoxide is completely converted to cyclohexanol. Consideration of the regio- and bond-selectivity in the oxidation of n-heptane and methylcyclohexane, respectively, indicates that the oxidation proceeds with the participation of free hydroxyl radicals. The complexes show moderate activity in the oxidation of alcohols. Complexes 1 and 2 reduce the viability of colorectal (HCT116) and ovarian (A2780) carcinoma cell lines and of normal dermal fibroblasts without showing a specific selectivity for cancer cell lines. Complex 3 on the other hand, shows a higher cytotoxicity in a colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), a lower cytotoxicity towards normal dermal fibroblasts and no effect in an ovarian carcinoma cell line (order of magnitude HCT116 > fibroblasts > A2780). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Synthesis via Transition Metal-Catalysis)

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16 pages, 5953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multidisciplinary Fingerprinting Approach for Authenticity and Geographical Traceability of Portuguese Wines

by Rui J. S. Teixeira, Sónia Gomes, Vitorino Malheiro, Leonor Pereira, José R. Fernandes, Alexandra Mendes-Ferreira, Maria E. P. Gomes and Paula Martins-Lopes

Foods 2021, 10(5), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10051044 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3236

Abstract

The interest in developing reliable wine authenticity schemes is a hot-topic, especially for wines with recognized added-value. In order to accomplish this goal, two dimensions need to be considered: the grapevine variety determination and the geographical provenance. The aim of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary approach applicable to wines from the sub region Melgaço and Monção of the demarcated Vinho Verde region and from the demarcated Douro region. The proposed scheme consists on the use of DNA-based assays to detect Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) on three genes of the anthocyanin pathway (UFGT, F3H and LDOX) coupled with High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis aiming the varietal identification. The Alvarinho wines revealed to have the same haplotype using this marker set, demonstrating its applicability for genetic identification. In addition, to assess their geographical provenance, a multi-elemental approach using Sr and Pb isotopic ratios of wine, soil and bedrock samples was used. The isotopic data suggest a relation between Sr and Pb uptake by vine roots and soil’s texture and clay content, rather than with the whole rock’s isotopic ratios, but also highlights the potential of a discriminating method based on the combination of selected isotopic signatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Authentication of Food and Beverages Products: Where We Stand)

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