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- Comparative analysis of the nutritional quality of plant-based processed foods and animal-origin counterparts in the Portuguese and UK marketsPublication . Brazão, Roberto; Batista, Rita; Fernandes, Paulo; Lopes, Andreia; Dias, Maria da GraçaThe increasing demand for healthier and more sustainable foods has led to the rise of plant-based processed foods that serve as alternatives to animal-origin products. While plant-based diets are often considered healthful, these products frequently present nutritional limitations. This study aimed to compare the nutritional composition and quality of plant-based and animal-origin processed foods available in the Portuguese and UK markets. A total of 1170 plant-based and 2452 animal-origin counterparts were analysed, using two reference frameworks: the Portuguese Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (EIPAS) and the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) Label Decoder reference values. Findings indicated that 92.9 % of plant-based foods in Portugal, and 95.4 % in UK, exceeded EIPAS sugar and salt limits (evaluated together), suggesting that the perceived health benefits may not be aligned with their nutritional content. Compliance with EIPAS varied significantly by food type, for each country. Plant-based alternatives often had higher energy, carbohydrates, and fibre, but lower levels of saturates and protein compared to their counterparts. According to the DGS Label Decoder, 17.7 %, 18.1 %, and 29.0 % of plant-based alternatives in PT market, and 18.4 %, 22.6 %, and 26.7 % in UK market, had high levels of fat, saturates, and salt, respectively. These findings underscores that, despite the perceived health benefits of plant-based foods, not all present a balanced and healthy nutritional profile. Additionally, this study highlights significant nutritional variability across plant-based alternatives and markets. This reinforces the need for informed consumer choices, better product formulations, and public health actions to improve their nutritional quality.
- Food Choice, Nutrition, and Public HealthPublication . Santos, Mariana; Assunção, RicardoMaintaining a healthy diet throughout life helps prevent all forms of malnutrition, thereby reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related conditions . Dietary habits, lifestyle choices, and social factors significantly influence our health. Recently, we have seen shifts in food consumption patterns driven by various factors. These include the increased availability of processed foods, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyles. The types, amounts, and frequency of consumed foods and beverages define dietary patterns, which have been evolving in recent decades due to the emergence of new or adapted eating habits. Common examples of dietary patterns include the ‘Western dietary pattern’ and the ‘Mediterranean dietary pattern’. Other significant patterns are the ‘prudent dietary pattern’, which emphasizes a high intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish, and seafood, and the ‘vegetarian/plant-based dietary pattern’, which entirely omits meat and animal products. Understanding the individual motives that drive certain food choices is crucial for changing consumption habits, promoting healthier behaviors, and fostering sustainability. This Editorial introduces the Special Issue “Food Choice, Nutrition, and Public Health” and highlights key topics on this subject.
- Surveying genetic markers of antibiotic resistance and genomic background in Chlamydia trachomatis: insights from a multiplex NGS-based approach in clinical strains from PortugalPublication . Lodhia, Zohra; da Silva, Jorge Costa; Correia, Cristina; Cordeiro, Dora; João, Inês; Carreira, Teresa; Schäfer, Sandra; Aliyeva, Elzara; Portugal, Clara; Monge, Isabel; Gonçalves, Elsa; Matos, Susana; Dias, Ana Paula; Côrte-Real, Rita; Carpinteiro, Dina; Duarte, Sílvia; Vieira, Luís; Gomes, João Paulo; Borges, Vítor; Borrego, Maria JoséObjectives: To survey genetic markers of potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to macrolides and fluoroquinolones among Chlamydia trachomatis–positive samples from the collection of the Portuguese National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and explore a multiplex PCR approach coupled with NGS to provide complementary information regarding a strain’s genomic backbone. Methods: A total of 502 C. trachomatis–positive samples, mostly anorectal exudates, were subjected to PCR and sequencing of five targets, including loci potentially driving AMR (23S rRNA, gyrA and parC) and loci potentially informative about a strain’s genomic backbone with emphasis on differentiation of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)/non-LGV and L2/L2b (a 9 bp insertion in pmpH, a 74 bp insertion upstream from CT105 and the polymorphic CT442). Results: No samples evidenced 23S rRNA mutations recognizably linked to macrolide resistance. Three samples harboured the Ser83Ile mutation in GyrA putatively driving fluoroquinolone resistance: two recombinant L2-L2b/D-Da (0.4%) and one L2 (0.2%). The screened regions in pmpH, upstream CT105 and CT442 were fully concordant with LGV/non-LGV differentiation. As expected, the pmpH L2b-specific genetic trait locus was detected in all L2b and recombinant L2-L2b/D-Da ompA genotypes, but also in 96.0% of L2 specimens, which also likely possess an L2b genomic backbone. The insertion upstream from CT105 exhibited full LGV specificity, constituting a promising target for the development of rapid LGV diagnostic assays. Conclusions: This study contributes to enhancing the knowledge of C. trachomatis molecular epidemiology, suggesting that the known genetic determinants of AMR are not disseminated in clinical C. trachomatis strains, and presents an exploratory approach that can be suitable for LGV/non-LGV and L2/L2b genomic background differentiation.
- Occupational exposure to wildland firefighting and its effects on systemic DNA damagePublication . Esteves, Filipa; Madureira, Joana; Costa, Carla; Pires, Joana; Barros, Bela; Alves, Sara; Vaz, Josiana; Oliveira, Marta; Slezakova, Klara; Fernandes, Adília; Pereira, Maria do Carmo; Morais, Simone; Valdiglesias, Vanessa; Bonassi, Stefano; Teixeira, João Paulo; Costa, SolangeBackground: Portugal is among the European Union countries more devastated by forest fires. Wildland firefighters are at the forefront of this battle, facing exposure to a wide range of harmful pollutants. Epidemiological studies have highlighted a potential link between occupational firefighting exposure and several diseases, including cancer. To date, very few studies have explored the biological mechanisms associated with such exposure. The present longitudinal study aims to assess changes in early effect biomarkers following wildland firefighters’ occupational exposure to a real wildfire event. Methods: Paired blood samples from 59 healthy Portuguese wildland firefighters were collected at two different time points: before wildfire season and after a fire event during wildfire season. Sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, sex) and work-related factors (e.g., years of service) were assessed via a self-reported questionnaire. Levels of early effect biomarkers, such as primary DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage (oxidised purines) were assessed via comet assay. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were evaluated by phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX). Moreover, hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (OHPAHs) and metal(loid)s were quantified in urine samples. The influence of urinary OHPAHs, urinary metal(loid)s, and other exposure-related factors (e.g., firefighting duration) on changes (Δ) in early effect biomarkers (post-vs. baseline levels) was investigated. Results: Firefighting activities led to a significant increase in both primary DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage by 22 % (95 % CI: 1.11–1.35; p < 0.05) and 23 % (95 % CI: 1.04–1.45; p < 0.05), respectively. Results from linear regression revealed that per each unit increase of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFlu) (μmol/mol creatinine), the risk of ⧍ oxidative DNA damage increased by 20 % [FR: 1.20 (1.09–1.32); p < 0.01]. Additionally, each unit increase in urinary cesium (Cs) (μg/L) resulted in a significant 4 % increase in Δ primary DNA damage [FR: 1.04 (1.01–1.06); p < 0.05] and a 3 % increase in Δ oxidative DNA damage [FR: 1.03 (1.01–1.05); p < 0.05]. Post-exposure levels of γH2AX were significantly correlated with urinary 2-OHFlu levels assessed after firefighting (r = 0.30; p < 0.05). Furthermore, exposure duration and reported breathing difficulties during firefighting were significantly associated with increased levels of primary DNA damage. Conclusion: Results obtained provide insights into the potential human health effects of wildland firefighting occupational exposure at the genetic and molecular levels, offering new and important mechanistic data. These findings are crucial for implementing health and safety measures, recommendations, and best practices to mitigate occupational risks and protect the health of wildland firefighters.
- Wolbachia Screening in Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens Mosquitoes from Madeira Island, PortugalPublication . Fernandes, Rita; Melo, Tiago; Marques Zé-Zé, Líbia Maria; Campos Freitas, Inês; Silva, Manuel; Dias, Eva; Santos, Nuno C.; Gouveia, Bruna R.; Seixas, Gonçalo; Costa Osório, HugoSimple Summary: Mosquitoes can spread serious diseases like dengue and West Nile virus. On Madeira Island, two mosquito species—Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens—are present and may pose a risk to public health. Scientists are exploring new ways to control these mosquitoes using a natural bacterium called Wolbachia, which can reduce a mosquito’s ability to transmit viruses and even lower mosquito populations. However, for these methods to work, it is important to know first if the mosquitoes in the area already carry this bacterium. In this study, we tested Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens from Madeira for Wolbachia. Wolbachia was absent in all 100 Ae. aegypti tested but present in all 40 Cx. pipiens. We also found that the Wolbachia in Cx. pipiens belonged to a group commonly seen in other parts of the world. These results are important because they help us understand which mosquito control strategies might work in Madeira. Specifically, if scientists want to use Wolbachia to control Ae. aegypti on the island, they would need to introduce it artificially. This information can help improve public health efforts and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in the region.
- The current stage of Italy in the implementation of genomics into the National Healthcare System: an application of the B1MG maturity level modelPublication . Baccolini, Valentina; Pitini, Erica; Galeone, Daniela; Marzuillo, Carolina; Cicchetti, Americo; Arca, Marcello; Vicente, Astrid M.; Boccia, Stefania; Villari, PaoloIntroduction: Genomics holds significant promise for prevention and clinical care yet integrating it into the national healthcare system (NHS) requires considerable system-wide changes. This study assessed the current stage of Italy in the use of genomics, to map critical areas for improvement and contribute to a strategic plan. Methods: A total of 18 experts rated individually the level of maturity of the Italian NHS on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) using the B1MG Maturity Level Model tool. This instrument is an European matrix of 49 indicators grouped into eight domains: governance, economic aspects, ethics and legislation, public awareness, workforce skills, clinical organization, clinical guidelines, and data infrastructure. Consensus procedures were performed within each domain to finally agree on one maturity level per indicator. Results: Despite a few national initiatives, Italy shows a local level of implementation in most indicators. Genomic medicine is considered a priority, but still lacks an updated strategy and investment plans. A higher maturity is reached for ethical and legal aspects, but there is a strong need to invest in workforce training, citizen engagement and literacy, and large-scale adoption of tools and novel technologies. Infrastructures and guidelines to improve data storage, management, analysis, interpretation, and sharing are not yet widespread available. Discussion: Italy is at the beginning of its journey towards a sustainable implementation of genomics. An updated national strategy with coordinated actions and investment plans is needed to make progress in key areas, including personnel education, public engagement, technical infrastructure, and clinical organization.
- Follow‐up of the re‐evaluation of silver (E 174) as a food additive (EFSA‐Q‐2023‐00169)Publication . EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF); Andreassen, Monica; Aquilina, Gabriele; Bastos, Maria Lourdes; Boon, Polly; Castle, Laurence; Fallico, Biagio; FitzGerald, Reginald; Frutos Fernandez, Maria Jose; Grasl‐Kraupp, Bettina; Gundert‐Remy, Ursula; Gürtler, Rainer; Kurek, Marcin Andrzej; Louro, Henriqueta; Morales, Patricia; Passamonti, Sabina; Oomen, Agnes; Corsini, Emanuela; Wright, Matthew; Furst, Peter; Gaffet, Eric; Loeschner, Katrin; Mast, Jan; Undas, Anna; Mech, Agnieszka; Rincon, Ana Maria; Ruggeri, Laura; Smeraldi, CamillaSilver (E 174) is a food colour that was re‐evaluated by the EFSA ANS Panel (2016). The ANS Panel concluded that the information available then, was insufficient to assess the safety of silver as food additive. The major issues included limited characterisation of silver E 174 (e.g. quantity of nanoparticles) and release of ionic silver. Following a European Commission call for further data to fill the data gap, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of silver (E 174). One interested business operator (IBO) submitted limited data on particle size distribution and morphology, two genotoxicity studies and one subchronic study. The Panel concluded that the technical data submitted on physicochemical characterisation of all types of silver used as food additive E 174 were not adequate. As a result, the Panel was unable to propose changes to the EU specifications of E174 on particle size and morphology. As the additional information requested was not provided, the assessment was based solely on the submitted data. Nonetheless, given the data provided and silver insolubility in water, the Panel concluded that E174 requires risk assessment at the nanoscale following the EFSA Guidance on Risk assessment of nanomaterials to be applied in the food and feed chain, to complement the conventional risk assessment. The Panel considered that the genotoxicity data and sub‐chronic toxicity data were inadequate. Consequently, the Panel could not conclude on the safety of the food additive silver E 174.
- Lactate-coated polyurea-siRNA dendriplex: a gene therapy-directed and metabolism-based strategy to impair glioblastoma (GBM)Publication . Martins, Filipa; Arada, Renata; Barros, Hélio; Matos, Paulo; Ramalho, José; Ceña, Valentín; Bonifácio, Vasco D.B.; Gonçalves, Luís G.; Serpa, JacintaGlioblastoma (GBM) is a highly lethal disease with limited treatment options due to its infiltrative nature and the lack of efficient therapy able to cross the protective blood-brain barrier (BBB). GBMs are metabolically characterized by increased glycolysis and glutamine dependence. This study explores a novel metabolism-based therapeutic approach using a polyurea generation 4 dendrimer (PURE) surface functionalized with lactate (LA) (PURE-LA), to take advantage of glucose-dependent monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) overexpression, loaded with selenium-chrysin (SeChry) and temozolomide (TMZ) or complexed with anti-glutaminase (GLS1) siRNAs to abrogate glutamine dependence. The nanoparticles (PURE-LA) were efficient vehicles for cytotoxic compounds delivery, since SeChry@PURE-LA and TMZ@PURE-LA induced significant cell death in GBM cell lines, particularly in U251, which exhibits higher MCT1 expression. The anti-GLS1 siRNA-dendriplex with PURE-LA (PURE-LA-anti-GLS1-siRNA) knocked down GLS1 in the GBM cell lines. In two in vitro BBB models, these dendriplexes successfully crossed the BBB, decreased GLS1 expression and altered the exometabolome of GBM cell lines, concomitantly with autophagy activation. Our findings highlight the potential of targeting glucose and glutamine pathways in GBM using dendrimer-based nanocarriers, overcoming the BBB and disrupting key metabolic processes in GBM cells. PURE-LA-anti-GLS1-siRNA dendriplexes cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and impair glioblastoma (GBM) metabolism. The BBB is formed by a thin monolayer of specialized brain microvascular endothelial cells joined together by tight junctions that selectively control the passage of substances from the blood to the brain. It is a major obstacle in the treatment of GBM, since many chemotherapeutic drugs are unable to penetrate the brain. Therefore, we developed a strategy to overcome this obstacle: a lactate-coated polyurea dendrimer generation 4 (PURE) able to cross the BBB in vitro, that act as a nanocarrier of drugs and siRNA to the GBM cells. PURE-LA are nanoparticles functionalized with lactate (LA) to target MCT1, a lactate transporter highly expressed by GBM cells. Moreover, a complex of this nanoparticle with anti-GLS1 (glutaminase) siRNA (PURE-LA-anti-GLS1-siRNA) was made, to target glutamine metabolism. It efficiently knocked down GLS1. Moreover, PURE-LA loaded with SeChry led to BBB disruption.
- Multi-country and intersectoral assessment of cluster congruence between pipelines for genomics surveillance of foodborne pathogensPublication . Mixão, Verónica; Pinto, Miguel; Brendebach, Holger; Sobral, Daniel; Santos, João Dourado; Radomski, Nicolas; Uldall, Anne Sophie Majgaard; Bomba, Arkadiusz; Pietsch, Michael; Bucciacchio, Andrea; de Ruvo, Andrea; Castelli, Pierluigi; Iwan, Ewelina; Simon, Sandra; Coipan, Claudia E.; Linde, Jörg; Petrovska, Liljana; Kaas, Rolf Sommer; Joensen, Katrine Grimstrup; Nielsen, Sofie Holtsmark; Kiil, Kristoffer; Lagesen, Karin; Di Pasquale, Adriano; Gomes, João Paulo; Deneke, Carlus; Tausch, Simon H.; Borges, VítorDifferent laboratories employ different Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) pipelines for Food and Waterborne disease (FWD) surveillance, casting doubt on the comparability of their results and hindering optimal communication at intersectoral and international levels. Through a collaborative effort involving eleven European institutes spanning the food, animal, and human health sectors, we aimed to assess the inter-pipeline clustering congruence across all resolution levels and perform an in-depth comparative analysis of cluster composition at outbreak level for four important foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni. We found a general concordance between allele-based pipelines for all species, except for C. jejuni, where the different resolution power of allele-based schemas led to marked discrepancies. Still, we identified non-negligible differences in outbreak detection and demonstrated how a threshold flexibilization favors the detection of similar outbreak signals by different laboratories. These results, together with the observation that different traditional typing groups (e.g., serotypes) exhibit a remarkably different genetic diversity, represent valuable information for future outbreak case-definitions and WGS-based nomenclature design. This study reinforces the need, while demonstrating the feasibility, of conducting continuous pipeline comparability assessments, and opens good perspectives for a smoother international and intersectoral cooperation towards an efficient One Health FWD surveillance.
- Re‐evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additivePublication . EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF); Castle, Laurence; Andreassen, Monica; Aquilina, Gabriele; Bastos, Maria Lourdes; Boon, Polly; Fallico, Biagio; FitzGerald, Reginald; Frutos-Fernandez, Maria Jose; Grasl-Kraupp, Bettina; Gundert-Remy, Ursula; Gürtler, Rainer; Houdeau, Eric; Kurek, Marcin; Louro, Henriqueta; Morales, Patricia; Passamonti, Sabina; Batke, Monika; Bruzell, Ellen; Chipman, James; Cheyns, Karlien; Crebelli, Riccardo; Fortes, Cristina; Fürst, Peter; Halldorsson, Thorhallur; Leblanc, Jean-Charles; Mirat, Manuela; Lindtner, Oliver; Mortensen, Alicja; Barmaz, Stefania; Wright, Matthew; Civitella, Consuelo; Le Gall, Pauline; Mazzoli, Elena; Rasinger, Josef Daniel; Rincon, Ana; Tard, Alexandra; Lodi, FedericaThe present opinion deals with the re‐evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as a food additive. Acesulfame K (E 950) is the chemically manufactured compound 6‐methyl‐1,2,3‐oxathiazin‐4(3H)‐one‐2,2‐dioxide potassium salt. It is authorised for use in the European Union (EU) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The assessment involved a comprehensive review of existing authorisations, evaluations and new scientific data. Acesulfame K (E 950) was found to be stable under various conditions; at pH lower than 3 with increasing temperatures, it is degraded to a certain amount. Based on the available data, no safety concerns arise for genotoxicity of acesulfame K (E 950) and its degradation products. For the potential impurities, based on in silico data, a concern for genotoxicity was identified for 5‐chloro‐acesulfame; a maximum limit of 0.1 mg/kg, or alternatively, a request for appropriate genotoxicity data was recommended. Based on the synthesis of systematically appraised evidence of human and animal studies, the Panel concluded that there are no new studies suitable for identification of a reference point (RP) on adverse effects. Consequently, the Panel established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day based on the highest dose tested without adverse effects in a chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity study in rats; a study considered of moderate risk of bias and one of two key studies from the previous evaluations by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). This revised ADI replaces the ADI of 9 mg/kg bw per day established by the SCF. The Panel noted that the highest estimate of exposure to acesulfame K (E 950) was generally below the ADI in all population groups. The Panel recommended the European Commission to consider the revision of the EU specifications of acesulfame K (E 950).