Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry - Clean Technologies and Processes

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Publications

The Effects of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: A Multi-Biomarker Approach

Publication . Copeto, Sandra; Ganço, Sara; Ferreira, Inês João; Silva, Marco; Motta, Carla; Diniz, Mário

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a fire-retardant containing bromine, produced in large quantities worldwide and extensively used in several industrial products. This compound was identified as a potential contaminant of the environment, causing toxicity to organisms. However, its toxicity remains poorly understood in marine bivalves. The first objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of TBBPA on mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed for 28 days to various concentrations of TBBPA (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg·L−1), by assessing stress biomarkers’ responses (Glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, total ubiquitin, caspase-3 and acetylcholinesterase). The results showed that lower concentrations (1 and 10 µg·L−1) were efficiently detoxified, as suggested by GST activities, which were supported by the responses of the other biomarkers. The most pronounced effects were observed in animals exposed to the highest concentration of TBBPA (100 µg·L−1), suggesting oxidative stress. Additionally, significant strong correlations were found between total antioxidant capacity and some biomarkers (superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation), showing that processes involved in oxidative stress fighting are working to avoid cell injury. In brief, mussels’ defense mechanisms were capable of dealing with exposure to the lower concentrations tested. Despite this, the risk of consuming shellfish or other fishery products contaminated with TBBPA should be a cause for concern.

2024-04-03Journal article

Open access

MRSA CC398 recovered from wild boar harboring new SCCmec type IV J3 variant

Publication . Sousa, Margarida; Silva, Nuno; Borges, Vítor; Gomes, João P.; Vieira, Luís; Caniça, Manuela; Torres, Carmen; Igrejas, Gilberto; Poeta, Patrícia

A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 was recovered from a wild female boar (Sus scrofa) in the north of Portugal, in 2013 (Sousa et al. 2017). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed this strain carries a new variant of a mecA-containing staphylococcal chromosomal gene cassette (SCCmec) type IV with an uncommon J3 region. WGS studies can facilitate surveillance and provide more detailed characterization of bacterial clones circulating in the wild, reinforcing the need for a one health perspective to better understand and control antimicrobial resistance.

2020-06-20Journal article

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Biologically active and health promoting food components of nuts, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and legumes

Publication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Nunes, M.A.; Bessada, S.M.F.; Costa, H.S.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.

The primary role of diet is to provide, in quality and quantity, enough nutrients to meet basic metabolic requirements of consumers. Cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, vegetable oils, and related products are daily consumed by worldwide population as fundamental source of food energy, but also due to its richness in biologically active compounds with potential health promoting properties. There are thousands of bioactive compounds already identified and studied for their health promoting properties, however there still a lot of research to be done. This chapter describes the main food sources, as well as, health promoting properties, of some food components (phytosterols, fatty acids, polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, dietary fiber, isoflavones, and lignans). In fact, these compounds were selected due to its abundance in some of the major consumed food groups. Nuts, oilseeds, and derived products are well known for their richness in phytosterols and unsaturated fatty acids. In the last years, great attention has been given to this group of compounds because they are linked with several health benefits, namely antiinflammatory, antioxidative, anticarcinogenic activities, and cholesterol lowering capacity. On the other hand, fresh fruit and vegetables are the major sources of polyphenols, carotenoids, and glucosinolates. Nutritional guidelines promote the consumption of three to five daily servings of fruits and vegetables for protection against chronic diseases, such as cardio and neurovascular diseases. These foods, besides providing basic nutrition confers other significant health effects mainly due to its content in vitamins (especially vitamins C and A) minerals, polyphenols, and soluble and insoluble fiber. Lastly, cereals and/or legumes are the major sources of dietary fiber, lignans, and isoflavones. Besides their nutritional role, several scientific and epidemiological studies have shown that regular consumption of cereals and/or legumes and their related products are associated with reduced risk of various types of chronic diseases as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, and some types of cancers as colorectal, prostate, breast, and estrogen-related cancers. These evidences can mean that regular consumption of cereals and legumes promote human health and consequent prevention of diseases.

2020-06-26Book part

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Multiomics Substrates of Resistance to Emerging Pathogens? Transcriptome and Proteome Profile of a Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Clinical Strain

Publication . Pinto, Luís; Torres, Carmen; Gil, Concha; Santos, Hugo M.; Capelo, José Luís; Borges, Vítor; Gomes, João Paulo; Silva, Catarina; Vieira, Luís; Poeta, Patrícia; Igrejas, Gilberto

Antibiotic resistance and hospital acquired infections are on the rise worldwide. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci have been reported in clinical settings in recent decades. In this multiomics study, we provide comprehensive proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis clinical isolate from a patient with a urinary tract infection. The previous genotypic profile of the strain C2620 indicated the presence of antibiotic resistance genes characteristic of the vanB cluster. To further investigate the transcriptome of this pathogenic strain, we used whole genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing to detect and quantify the genes expressed. In parallel, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF/MS (Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-Time-of-flight/Mass spectrometry) to identify the proteins in the proteome. We studied the membrane and cytoplasm subproteomes separately. From a total of 207 analysis spots, we identified 118 proteins. The protein list was compared to the results obtained from the full transcriptome assay. Several genes and proteins related to stress and cellular response were identified, as well as some linked to antibiotic and drug responses, which is consistent with the known state of multiresistance. Even though the correlation between transcriptome and proteome data is not yet fully understood, the use of multiomics approaches has proven to be increasingly relevant to achieve deeper insights into the survival ability of pathogenic bacteria found in health care facilities.

2020-02Journal article

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Diversity and genetic lineages of environmental staphylococci: a surface water overview

Publication . Silva, Vanessa; Caniça, Manuela; Capelo, José L.; Igrejas, Gilberto; Poeta, Patrícia

Antimicrobial resistance in the environmental dimension is one of the greatest challenges and emerging threats. The presence of resistant bacteria and resistance genes in the environment, especially in aquatic systems, has been a matter of growing concern in the past decade. Monitoring the presence of antimicrobial resistance species, in this particular case, Staphylococcus spp., in natural water environments could lead to a better understanding of the epidemiology of staphylococci infections. Thus, the investigation of natural waters as a potential reservoir and vehicle for transmission of these bacteria is imperative. Only a few studies have investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genetic lineages of staphylococci in natural waters. Those studies reported a high diversity of staphylococci species and lineages in surface waters. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus were relatively prevalent in surface waters and, as expected, often presented a multidrug-resistant profile. There was a high diversity of S. aureus lineages in surface waters. The presence of S. aureus CC8 and CC5 suggests a human origin. Among the coagulase-negative staphylococci, the most frequently found in natural waters was S. warneri and S. epidermidis. These studies are extremely important to estimate the contribution of the aquatic environment in the spread of pathogenic bacteria.

2020-11-26Journal article

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