Article
Environmental Sciences
Kate Samardzic, Joel R. Steele, Jake P. Violi, Anne Colville, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers
Summary: The study showed that the growth of alfalfa roots was significantly inhibited by BMAA and DAB, with higher levels detected in the plant. This suggests a potential pathway for NPAAs to enter the food chain through contaminated irrigation water, posing a risk for human exposure.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, Aleksandar Vojvodic, Jake P. Violi, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study presents a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and major MCs using RP LC-MS/MS. The application of this method on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB and MC-YR. The study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of these cyanotoxins in natural environmental samples.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Zi-Qian Wang, Cheng-Cai Zhang
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that the system responsible for modifying ANN-decoding tRNAs is involved in the sensitivity of cyanobacteria to the environmental neurotoxin BMAA. The study also reveals that both BMAA and inactivation of the t(6)A biosynthesis pathway affect translational fidelity and ribosome assembly. BMAA-resistant mutants screening is an effective method for gaining insight into the toxic mechanisms of BMAA.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jessica Aparecida Moretto, Alexander Ossanes de Souza, Lucas Moraes Berneira, Luiz Gustavo G. Brigagao, Claudio Martin Pereira de Pereira, Attilio Converti, Ernani Pinto
Summary: Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) proved to be a more effective and environmentally friendly method for extracting fatty acids from microalgae and cyanobacteria compared to traditional extraction (TE). The variety of fatty acids extracted by MAE, especially unsaturated ones, showed potential for better quality biodiesel production.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Audrey Courtier, Damien Potheret, Patrizia Giannoni
Summary: This review discusses the role of environmental bacteria in brain diseases, focusing on the impact of environmental bacterial compounds and toxicity related to bacterial infections. Findings reveal that environmental bacteria can cause brain damage through multiple toxicological pathways, emphasizing the need for further research to clarify cocktail effects and potential new intervention targets.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Thaiane Nolasco da Silva, Diego B. Batista, Bernardo Ferreira Braz, Aderval S. Luna, Ricardo Erthal Santelli, Marcos Antonio dos Santos Fernandez, Jefferson S. de Gois
Summary: This work describes the development of microwave-assisted digestion methods for the determination of Cu and Sn in antifouling paints by ICP OES. The optimal conditions were determined by optimizing factors such as sample mass and solutions of HNO3, HF, and HCl. The microwave digestion-assisted ICP-OES method showed better performance compared to dry ashing with a muffle furnace and laser ablation-ICP-MS.
Review
Microbiology
Srdjan Lopicic, Zorica Svircev, Tamara Palanacki Malesevic, Aleksandar Kopitovic, Aleksandra Ivanovska, Jussi Meriluoto
Summary: In this review, we have discussed the occurrence of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its natural isomers, as well as the detection of the toxin(s) in organisms and sample types. We have also examined the general pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and how BMAA fits into those mechanisms. Furthermore, we have presented the biogeography of BMAA occurrence, which can contribute to epidemiological research, and analyzed the potential significance of BMAA as well as identified gaps in our understanding. Overall, this review provides a basis for discussing the potential role of BMAA in neurodegenerative diseases, guiding further research, and outlining possible research directions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siobhan J. Peters, Kenneth J. Rodgers, Simon M. Mitrovic, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study utilized modern analytical techniques to monitor the concentrations of BMAA and its isomers during a cyanobacteria bloom event, revealing a decreasing trend in BMAA concentration as the bloom progressed, while its isomers did not follow the same decreasing pattern.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Matteo Volpi, Camillo Pirola, Gianpaolo Rota, Joaquim A. Nobrega, Diego Carnaroglio
Summary: The lithium-ion industry requires high amounts of high purity lithium, with spodumene and brine being the major sources. Spodumene has multiple forms, with α-spodumene being the natural occurrence and highly resistant to chemical attack. A microwave-assisted chemical analysis procedure was developed to determine lithium and other metals in α-spodumene, using a mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acids and diluted hydrofluoric acid solution. The feasibility of using ammonium fluoride instead of hydrofluoric acid was also demonstrated.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xiaodi Xie, Chao Peng, Xinyu Song, Nana Peng, Chao Gai
Summary: This study investigates a strategy combining microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization (MHTC) pretreatment with subsequent pyrolysis for the treatment of food waste digestate (FWD). The MHTC pretreatment effectively converts FWD to hydrothermal carbons (HCs) and improves their fuel properties. Thermal decomposition experiments reveal that the pyrolysis behavior of FWD-derived HCs is similar to that of platform biomass. Kinetic analysis determines the activation energy and reaction mechanism for the pyrolysis of FWD and HCs.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kaveri Ajravat, Shubham Rajput, Loveleen K. Brar
Summary: Nitrogen doped graphene (N-G) is a promising candidate for various sustainable future applications. In this study, N-G was synthesized using graphene oxide (GO) and urea, and characterized using multiple techniques. The synthesized samples exhibited excellent electrochemical supercapacitance performance, with DC400 sample showing the highest specific capacitance at a scan rate of 2 mV/s.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ghanim Al-Thani, Adel Ehab Ibrahim, Mohammed Alomairi, Baher I. Salman, Mostafa M. Hegazy, Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Sami El Deeb
Summary: The use of weight loss herbal preparations is increasing due to the consumption of high-calorie junk food. However, the regulations governing the quality control of these products may be minimal. This study investigated the elemental contents in these products and found that some macro-elements were present at safe levels, while some micro-elements and other elements showed concerning levels. Stricter surveillance of herbal products is necessary.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cinthia Santo Domingo, Carlos Otalora Gonzalez, Diego Navarro, Carlos Stortz, Ana M. Rojas, Lia N. Gerschenson, Eliana N. Fissore
Summary: A microwave heating procedure is proposed for concentrating polysaccharides in artichoke residues, which is more efficient than the traditionally used convective procedure. Subsequent stages involving buffer/enzymes were able to isolate pectin and inulin enriched fractions. The proposed procedure is important for utilizing vegetable by-products to produce fractions with potential for being used in healthy food formulations in the emerging biorefinery framework.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
R. A. Dunlop, S. A. Banack, S. L. Bishop, J. S. Metcalf, S. J. Murch, D. A. Davis, E. W. Stommel, O. Karlsson, E. B. Brittebo, A. D. Chatziefthimiou, V. X. Tan, G. G. Guillemin, P. A. Cox, D. C. Mash, W. G. Bradley
Summary: Chernoff et al. criticize the hypothesis of BMAA exposure as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, pointing out errors in their critique such as selective citation of literature and misattribution of methods. Although uncertainties exist in the research field of chronic exposure to BMAA causing neurodegenerative diseases, an increasing body of evidence suggests this possibility.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Olga A. Koksharova, Nina A. Safronova
Summary: This review examines the connection between the non-protein amino acid BMAA and neurodegenerative diseases. It provides a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of BMAA and its effects on cyanobacterial cells.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruben Pereira, Sabrina M. Rodrigues, Diogo Silva, Vania Freitas, C. Marisa R. Almeida, Sandra Ramos
Summary: Fish samples collected from the southern Atlantic ocean during the 2020 Circumnavigation Expedition were found to be contaminated with microplastics. The study highlights the importance of understanding microplastic contamination in mesopelagic fishes used for human consumption and emphasizes the need for further research on microplastic contamination in top predatory species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ines Pascoa, Rita Biltes, Joao Sousa, Marco Aurelio Correia Preto, Vitor Vasconcelos, Luis Filipe Castro, Raquel Ruivo, Isabel Cunha
Summary: Cyanobacteria produce secondary metabolites that can act as ligands for PPARs, making them a potential source of bioactive compounds. A cell-based PPAR transactivation activity biosensor was upgraded and used in a screening campaign for drug discovery.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica Baldasso, Neus Bonet-Garcia, Stephanie Sayen, Emmanuel Guillon, Luigi Frunzo, Carlos A. R. Gomes, Maria Joao Alves, Ricardo Castro, Ana Paula Mucha, C. Marisa R. Almeida
Summary: This study investigated the fate of trace metals in anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste (MSW) digestate-amended soil and the influence of pharmaceutical compounds on their behavior. The results showed that trace metals initially present in the digestate were transferred from the amended soil layer to the underlying soil layer over time, but no transfer was detected to deeper soil layers. Trace metals in soil were mostly in immobile and less bioavailable forms, while in the digestate-amended soil they were in more bioavailable forms. The presence of the antidiabetic drug metformin had no influence on trace metal behavior.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Claire Guillet, Ulrik Birgersson, Thomas Engstrand, Jonas aberg, Viviana R. Lopes, Andreas Thor, Hakan Engqvist, Franck Forterre
Summary: This study explores bone neoformation beyond the skeletal envelope using a collagen pouch filled with calcium phosphate granules placed over the frontal bone in sheep. The results show colonization of the implant by newly formed bone and fibrous connective tissue. The use of a collagen sleeve as a container for calcium phosphate granules allows for good neoformation and bridging bone formation between the test article and recipient bone. This method opens new perspectives for bone augmentation and treatment of cranio-maxillofacial defects and malformations.
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ines Rosado Vitorino, Alexandre Lobo-da-Cunha, Vitor Vasconcelos, Olga Maria Lage
Summary: In this study, a novel bacterium, strain ICT_H6.2(T), was isolated from the brackish environment of the Tagus River estuary in Portugal. Through genetic analysis, it was classified as a member of the bacterial phylum Planctomycetota and family Lacipirellulaceae, with a 98.0% similarity to its closest relative Aeoliella mucimassa Pan181(T). The strain has a genome size of 7.8 Mbp and a DNA G+C content of 59.6 mol %. It is heterotrophic, aerobic and capable of microaerobic growth, and can tolerate high salt concentrations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Samuel Cavalcante do Amaral, Luciana Pereira Xavier, Vitor Vasconcelos, Agenor Valadares Santos
Summary: Cyanobacteria are a valuable source of secondary metabolites with diverse chemical and biological properties, including antifungal activity. This review examines the key features of these antifungal compounds, their sources, major targets, and the environmental factors involved in their production. A comprehensive analysis of 642 documents dating from 1980 to 2022, including patents, original research, review articles, and theses, was conducted for this study.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Teodor Stoichev, Ana P. Mucha, Ana Bernabeu, C. Marisa R. Almeida
Summary: This study tested a bioremediation approach with tide stimulation to degrade buried and surface oil contamination, focusing on two, three, and four rings polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Linear models showed degradation constants of individual PAHs as a simple additive function of their initial concentrations (C0), hydrophobicity, sampling layer, and treatment conditions. Oil degradation in buried layers was faster than at the surface for all PAHs and treatment conditions. Naturally-occurring microorganisms were efficient in bioremediating PAHs and were stimulated by fertilizer addition (biostimulation, BS). Bio-augmentation (BA) with a slurry of pre-stimulated native oil-degrading consortium did not enhance PAH degradation compared to BS. Degradation was more rapid for PAHs with low initial concentrations and intermediate hydrophobicity. Bioremediation of beach sand with either surface or buried crude oil is a cost-effective strategy for cleaning up various hydrocarbon families, including persistent ones like PAHs.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biology
Martha Martinez-Garcia, Gloria Garduno-Solorzano, Graciliana Lopes, Begona Astrain Sanchez, Ralph Urbatzka, Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Jorge E. Campos, Vitor Manuel Oliveira Vasconcelos
Summary: Using molecular markers, we confirmed the taxonomic status of Bacopa monnieri from Mexico and analyzed its chemical content and potential bioactivity. The results show that B. monnieri has great potential as a natural source of compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties. This plant's raw material can be effectively used as a nutritional and medicinal supplement.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruben Luz, Rita Cordeiro, Jan Kastovsky, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Elisabete Dias, Amelia Fonseca, Ralph Urbatzka, Vitor Vasconcelos, Vitor Goncalves
Summary: This study described new genera and species of filamentous cyanobacteria isolated from aquatic habitats in the Azores archipelago through morphology, genetic data, and other analyses. It emphasizes the importance of taxonomic studies on cyanobacteria from less-studied habitats and geographical regions.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Margarida Silva, Marco Preto, Clara Grosso, Monica Vieira, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Vitor Vasconcelos, Mariana Reis, Lillian Barros, Rosario Martins
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes a decline in cognitive functions. It is the most common form of dementia and has no well-defined cause. Current treatments only manage to reduce symptoms, and there are only two drugs that can partially halt its progression. Natural compounds from mushrooms have been studied for their potential use in AD treatment due to their beneficial effects on various AD-related mechanisms such as enzyme inhibition, prevention of protein aggregation and neurotoxicity, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. While there have been studies linking mushrooms to neurodegenerative diseases, there is currently no publication summarizing the data specifically focused on AD. This review aims to fill that gap by compiling the potential anti-AD effects of mushroom extracts or compounds that target known AD-related mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniela Flores, C. Marisa R. Almeida, Carlos R. Gomes, Salete S. Balula, Carlos M. Granadeiro
Summary: The adsorption performance of mesoporous silica-based materials for inorganic and organic water pollutants was investigated. Different properties of the materials were tailored and characterized, and their influence on the removal of metal ions and organic dyes from aqueous solutions was explored. The results show that nanosized mesoporous silica nanoparticles with high surface area have a favorable adsorptive capacity for both types of water pollutants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruben Luz, Rita Cordeiro, Jan Kastovsky, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Elisabete Dias, Amelia Fonseca, Ralph Urbatzka, Vitor Vasconcelos, Vitor Goncalves
Summary: The taxonomy of cyanobacteria has been advanced through the use of molecular methods and morphology. In this study, four cyanobacterial strains from the Azores Archipelago were genetically characterized and classified as new species and genera. This research contributes to the understanding of the biogeography of cyanobacteria in remote oceanic islands and new terrestrial habitats.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vitoria Ramos, Mariana Reis, Leonor Ferreira, Ana Margarida Silva, Ricardo Ferraz, Monica Vieira, Vitor Vasconcelos, Rosario Martins
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive and irreversible neuronal loss, and there are currently no available cures. Cyanobacterial compounds have anti-neurodegenerative properties and can be valuable in the field of treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Lamia Benredjem, Joao Morais, Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Akila Abdi, Hajira Berredjem, Vitor Vasconcelos
Summary: This study isolated and identified cyanobacteria strains from the Cheffia Reservoir, revealing the importance of morphological features and the 16S rRNA gene in species determination. The research also discovered potentially toxic genotypes within this ecosystem, highlighting the need for adapted water treatment methods to prevent toxin release from picocyanobacteria.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria Joao Romeu, Joao Morais, Vitor Vasconcelos, Filipe Mergulhao
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of hydrogen peroxide on cyanobacterial biofilms and found that these biofilms were tolerant to hydrogen peroxide treatment, which may even lead to an increase in biomass.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.
