Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2020-09-21"
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- The anti-apoptotic Coxiella burnetii effector protein AnkG is a strain specific virulence factorPublication . Schäfer, Walter; Schmidt, Teresa; Cordsmeier, Arne; Borges, Vítor; Beare, Paul A.; Pechstein, Julian; Schulze-Luehrmann, Jan; Holzinger, Jonas; Wagner, Nicole; Berens, Christian; Heydel, Carsten; Gomes, João Paulo; Lührmann, AnjaThe ability to inhibit host cell apoptosis is important for the intracellular replication of the obligate intracellular pathogen Coxiella burnetii, as it allows the completion of the lengthy bacterial replication cycle. Effector proteins injected into the host cell by the C. burnetii type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) are required for the inhibition of host cell apoptosis. AnkG is one of these anti-apoptotic effector proteins. The inhibitory effect of AnkG requires its nuclear localization, which depends on p32-dependent intracellular trafficking and importin-α1-mediated nuclear entry of AnkG. Here, we compared the sequences of ankG from 37 C. burnetii isolates and classified them in three groups based on the predicted protein size. The comparison of the three different groups allowed us to identify the first 28 amino acids as essential and sufficient for the anti-apoptotic activity of AnkG. Importantly, only the full-length protein from the first group is a bona fide effector protein injected into host cells during infection and has anti-apoptotic activity. Finally, using the Galleria mellonella infection model, we observed that AnkG from the first group has the ability to attenuate pathology during in vivo infection, as it allows survival of the larvae despite bacterial replication.
- Barómetro COVID-19 e Paralisia Cerebral, Boletim N4Publication . Virella, Daniel; Folha, Teresa; Alvarelhão, Joaquim; Dias, CarlosBarómetro COVID-19 e Paralisia Cerebral é um projecto do Programa de Vigilância Nacional da Paralisia Cerebral (Federação das Associações Portuguesas de Paralisia Cerebral, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge e os seus parceiros) em associação com o projecto Barómetro COVID-19 da Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública.
- Prevalence of anemia in the Portuguese adult population: results from the first National Health Examination Survey (INSEF 2015)Publication . Samões, Catarina; Kislaya, Irina; Sousa-Uva, Mafalda; Gaio, Vania; Faustino, Paula; Nunes, Baltazar; Matias-Dias, Carlos; Barreto, MartaAims: Anemia is a global public health problemwith relevant adverse health, social and economic consequences. The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of the prevalence of anemia in the Portuguese population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study, based on the first Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (INSEF), which included 4812 participants aged 25 to 74 years, with data on hemoglobin levels and self-reported diagnosis of anemia. The socioeconomic status of participants was assessed by education level, employment status and material deprivation. The association between socioeconomic factors and anemia was estimated by adjusted prevalence ratios. Results: The prevalence of anemia overall was 5.8%, 3.1% in men and 8.4% in women. The overall prevalence of moderate–severe anemia was 1.1%. Previously undiagnosed cases represented 92.5%. In men, anemia was associated with age, education, occupation and material deprivation, and in women, with age group and urban typology. Conclusion: Anemia represents a relevant public health issue in Portugal. In women, it is more prevalent among those of childbearing age and older, and in men among older individuals of low socioeconomic status. This information is relevant for developing targeted strategies aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of anemia.
- Human biomonitoring in occupational setting – Cr VIPublication . Santonen, Tiina; Alimonti, A.; Bocca, B.; Duca, R.C.; Galea, K.S.; Godderis, L.; Göen, T.; Gomes, B.; Hanser, O.; Iavicoli, I.; Janasik, B.; Jones, K.; Leese, E.; Sparkie, S.; Leso, V.; Louro, Henriqueta; Ndaw, S.; Bousoumah, R.; Porras, S. P.; Robert, A.; Ruggieri, F.; Scheepers, P.T.J.; van Dael, M.; Silva, Maria João; Viegas, S.; Wasowicz, W.; Sepai, O.As for environmental studies, occupational studies performed by different researchers in individual countries are usually not aligned with respect to sampling, analytical methodologies or data collection, which hampers the comparison of the findings and the use of the data e.g. in regulatory risk assessment at European level. In addition, many national human biomonitoring (HBM) studies can recruit only limited numbers of workers. Therefore, combining national surveys using harmonized study designs and methodologies can potentially greatly improve the information collected and bring added value for the global data interpretation. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an important occupational carcinogen. Although Cr(VI) compounds are authorized in Europe under the European regulation (EC 1907/2006) concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), these compounds are still widely used in different applications. In addition, workers may be exposed to Cr(VI) formed during hot processes, like welding. These exposures are regulated in Europe by a binding occupational limit value (BOELV) recently set under EU Directive 2004/37/EC. It is, however, unclear how well workplaces comply with levels stated in legislation. The current study has been conducted in eight European countries using harmonized procedures. Up to 400 workers performing Cr(VI) surface treatment or welding activities were recruited. In addition to the collection of urinary chromium data, new methods for Cr biomonitoring were included, specifically the analysis of Cr(VI) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and Cr in red blood cells (RBC). Exposure biomarkers were complemented with early biological effect biomarkers and dermal and air monitoring data. According to preliminary results, chrome platers showed the highest urinary chromium levels, in some cases more than 10-times higher than levels measured in the control population. In the control population urinary chromium levels remained usually below 1 µg/g creatinine, in surface treatment workers the levels varied from these background levels up to 10 µg/g creatinine. In some cases, pre-shift chromium levels were also higher than in controls. Although welders showed elevated levels, their levels were lower than chrome platers. EBC samples exhibited the same trend as seen in urinary chromium: chrome platers showed higher levels than welders, although welders also had elevated levels compared to the controls. Analysis of the results from the air samples and wipe samples (collected from the hands of workers) provided information on the exposure routes, which will be used to give recommendations for the minimization of the exposure at workplaces.