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Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae isolated from milk of the bovine udder as emerging pathogens: In vitro and in vivo infection of human cells and zebrafish as biological models
Publication . Alves-Barroco, Cinthia; Roma-Rodrigues, Catarina; Raposo, Luís R.; Brás, Catarina; Diniz, Mário; Caço, João; Costa, Pedro M.; Santos-Sanches, Ilda; Fernandes, Alexandra R.; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida; DQ - Departamento de Química; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (SDSD) is a major cause of bovine mastitis and has been regarded as an animal-restricted pathogen, although rare infections have been described in humans. Previous studies revealed the presence of virulence genes encoded by phages of the human pathogen Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) in SDSD isolated from the milk of bovine udder with mastitis. The isolates SDSD VSD5 and VSD13 could adhere and internalize human primary keratinocyte cells, suggesting a possible human infection potential of bovine isolates. In this work, the in vitro and in vivo potential of SDSD to internalize/adhere human cells of the respiratory track and zebrafish as biological models was evaluated. Our results showed that, in vitro, bovine SDSD strains could interact and internalize human respiratory cell lines and that this internalization was dependent on an active transport mechanism and that, in vivo, SDSD are able to cause invasive infections producing zebrafish morbidity and mortality. The infectious potential of these isolates showed to be isolate-specific and appeared to be independent of the presence or absence of GAS phage-encoded virulence genes. Although the infection ability of the bovine SDSD strains was not as strong as the human pathogenic S. pyogenes in the zebrafish model, results suggested that these SDSD isolates are able to interact with human cells and infect zebrafish, a vertebrate infectious model, emerging as pathogens with zoonotic capability.
Co-exposure to environmental carcinogens in vivo induces neoplasia-related hallmarks in low-genotoxicity events, even after removal of insult
Publication . Martins, Marta; Silva, Ana; Costa, Maria H.; Miguel, Célia; Costa, Pedro M.; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente; Bioresources 4 Sustainability (GREEN-IT); Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB); DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida; Nature Publishing Group
Addressing the risk of mixed carcinogens in vivo under environmentally-realistic scenarios is still a challenge. Searching for adequate biomarkers of exposure requires understanding molecular pathways and their connection with neoplasia-related benchmark pathologies. Subjecting the zebrafish model to realistic concentrations of two genotoxicants and carcinogens, cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene, isolated and combined, yielded low levels of DNA damage. Altogether, the organisms' mechanisms of DNA repair, oxidative stress and phases I and II were not overwhelmed after two weeks of treatment. Still, transcriptional responses related to detoxification (epoxide hydrolase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase) were higher in animals subjected to the combination treatment, inclusively following depuration. Nonetheless, inflammation and formation of hyperplasic foci in fish epithelia were more severe in animals exposed to the combined substances, showing slower recovery during depuration. Additionally, the combination treatment yielded unexpected increased expression of a ras-family oncogene homologue after depuration, with evidence for increased tp53 counter-response in the same period. The findings indicate that oncogene expression, cell proliferation and inflammation, may not require noticeable DNA damage to occur. Furthermore, albeit absent proof for neoplasic growth, the removal of chemical insult may promote tissue recovery but does not entirely clear molecular and histopathological endpoints that are commonly associated to neoplasia.
Integrative transcriptome and proteome analysis of the tube foot and adhesive secretions of the sea urchin paracentrotus lividus
Publication . Pjeta, Robert; Lindner, Herbert; Kremser, Leopold; Salvenmoser, Willi; Sobral, Daniel; Ladurner, Peter; Santos, Romana; DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Echinoderms, such as the rock-boring sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, attach temporarily to surfaces during locomotion using their tube feet. They can attach firmly to any substrate and release from it within seconds through the secretion of unknown molecules. The composition of the adhesive, as well as the releasing secretion, remains largely unknown. This study re-analyzed a differential proteome dataset from Lebesgue et al. by mapping mass spectrometry-derived peptides to a P. lividus de novo transcriptome generated in this study. This resulted in a drastic increase in mapped proteins in comparison to the previous publication. The data were subsequently combined with a differential RNAseq approach to identify potential adhesion candidate genes. A gene expression analysis of 59 transcripts using whole mount in situ hybridization led to the identification of 16 transcripts potentially involved in bioadhesion. In the future these data could be useful for the production of synthetic reversible adhesives for industrial and medical purposes.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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5876
Número da atribuição
UID/MAR/04292/2013