Microbial Signatures in COVID-19: Distinguishing Mild and Severe Disease via Gut Microbiota.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has significantly impacted global healthcare, underscoring the importance of exploring the virus's effects on infected individuals beyond treatments and vaccines. Notably, recent findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the gut, thereby altering the gut microbiota. This study aimed to analyze the gut microbiota composition differences between COVID-19 patients experiencing mild and severe symptoms. We conducted 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing on fecal samples from 49 mild and 43 severe COVID-19 cases upon hospital admission. Our analysis identified a differential abundance of specific bacterial species associated with the severity of the disease. Severely affected patients showed an association with Enterococcus faecium, Akkermansia muciniphila, and others, while milder cases were linked to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Alistipes putredinis, Blautia faecis, and additional species. Furthermore, a network analysis using SPIEC-EASI indicated keystone taxa and highlighted structural differences in bacterial connectivity, with a notable disruption in the severe group. Our study highlights the diverse impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the gut microbiome among both mild and severe COVID-19 patients, showcasing a spectrum of microbial responses to the virus. Importantly, these findings align, to some extent, with observations from other studies on COVID-19 gut microbiomes, despite variations in methodologies. The findings from this study, based on retrospective data, establish a foundation for future prospective research to confirm the role of the gut microbiome as a predictive biomarker for the severity of COVID-19.

Magnetic Hyperthermia Nanoarchitectonics via Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Stabilised by Oleic Acid: Anti-Tumour Efficiency and Safety Evaluation in Animals with Transplanted Carcinoma.

In this study, we developed iron oxide nanoparticles stabilised with oleic acid/sodium oleate that could exert therapeutic effects for curing tumours via magnetic hyperthermia. A suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles was produced and characterised. The toxicity of the synthesised composition was examined in vivo and found to be negligible. Histological examination showed a low local irritant effect and no effect on the morphology of the internal organs. The efficiency of magnetic hyperthermia for the treatment of transplanted Walker 256 carcinoma was evaluated. The tumour was infiltrated with the synthesised particles and then treated with an alternating magnetic field. The survival rate was 85% in the studied therapy group of seven animals, while in the control group (without treatment), all animals died. The physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of the synthesised fluid and the therapeutic results, as seen in the in vivo experiments, provide insights into therapeutic hyperthermia using injected magnetite nanoparticles.

Amylase-Sensitive Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on Dextran Sulfate and Doxorubicin with Anticoagulant Activity.

This study looked into the synthesis and study of Dextrane Sulfate-Doxorubicin Nanoparticles (DS-Dox NP) that are sensitive to amylase and show anticoagulant properties. The particles were obtained by the method of solvent replacement. They had a size of 305 ± 58 nm, with a mass ratio of DS:Dox = 3.3:1. On heating to 37 °C, the release of Dox from the particles was equal to 24.2% of the drug contained. In the presence of amylase, this ratio had increased to 42.1%. The study of the biological activity of the particles included an assessment of the cytotoxicity and the effect on hemostasis and antitumor activity. In a study of cytotoxicity on the L929 cell culture, it was found that the synthesized particles had less toxicity, compared to free doxorubicin. However, in the presence of amylase, their cytotoxicity was higher than the traditional forms of the drug. In a study of the effect of DS-Dox NP on hemostasis, it was found that the particles had a heparin-like anticoagulant effect. Antitumor activity was studied on the model of ascitic Zaidel hepatoma in rats. The frequency of complete cure in animals treated with the DS-Dox nanoparticles was higher, compared to animals receiving the traditional form of the drug.