Who Is the Intermediate Host of RNA Viruses? A Study Focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and Poliovirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a surge in research on microbiology and virology, shedding light on overlooked aspects such as the infection of bacteria by RNA virions in the animal microbiome. Studies reveal a decrease in beneficial gut bacteria during COVID-19, indicating a significant interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human microbiome. However, determining the origins of the virus remains complex, with observed phenomena such as species jumps adding layers to the narrative. Prokaryotic cells play a crucial role in the disease's pathogenesis and transmission. Analyzing previous studies highlights intricate interactions from clinical manifestations to the use of the nitrogen isotope test. Drawing parallels with the history of the Poliovirus underscores the need to prioritize investigations into prokaryotic cells hosting RNA viruses.

A retrospective cohort study on early antibiotic use in vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.

The bacteriophage behavior of SARS-CoV-2 during the acute and post-COVID-19 phases appears to be an important factor in the development of the disease. The early use of antibiotics seems to be crucial to inhibit disease progression-to prevent viral replication in the gut microbiome, and control toxicological production from the human microbiome. To study the impact of specific antibiotics on recovery from COVID-19 and long COVID (LC) taking into account: vaccination status, comorbidities, SARS-CoV-2 wave, time of initiation of antibiotic therapy and concomitant use of corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A total of 211 COVID-19 patients were included in the study: of which 59 were vaccinated with mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 while 152 were unvaccinated. Patients were enrolled in three waves: from September 2020 to October 2022, corresponding to the emergence of the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The three criteria for enrolling patients were: oropharyngeal swab positivity or fecal findings; moderate symptoms with antibiotic intake; and measurement of blood oxygen saturation during the period of illness. The use of antibiotic combinations, such as amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (875 + 125 mg tablets, every 12 h) plus rifaximin (400 mg tablets every 12 h), as first choice, as suggested from the previous data, or azithromycin (500 mg tablets every 24 h), plus rifaximin as above, allows healthcare professionals to focus on the gut microbiome and its implications in COVID-19 disease during patient care. The primary outcome measured in this study was the estimated average treatment effect, which quantified the difference in mean recovery between patients receiving antibiotics and those not receiving antibiotics at 3 and 9 days after the start of treatment. In the analysis, both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups had a median illness duration of 7 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6-9 days for each; recovery crude hazard ratio [HR] = 0.94, p = 0.700). The median illness duration for the pre-Delta and Delta waves was 8 days (IQR 7-10 days), while it was shorter, 6.5 days, for Omicron (IQR 6-8 days; recovery crude HR = 1.71, p < 0.001). These results were confirmed by multivariate analysis. Patients with comorbidities had a significantly longer disease duration: median 8 days (IQR 7-10 days) compared to 7 days (IQR 6-8 days) for those without comorbidities (crude HR = 0.75, p = 0.038), but this result was not confirmed in multivariate analysis as statistical significance was lost. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy resulted in a significantly shorter recovery time (crude HR = 4.74, p < 0.001). Concomitant use of NSAIDs did not reduce disease duration and in multivariate analysis prolonged the disease (p = 0.041). A subgroup of 42 patients receiving corticosteroids for a median of 3 days (IQR 3-6 days) had a longer recovery time (median 9 days, IQR 8-10 days) compared to others (median 7 days, IQR 6-8 days; crude HR = 0.542, p < 0.001), as confirmed also by the adjusted HR. In this study, a statistically significant reduction in recovery time was observed among patients who received early antibiotic treatment. Early initiation of antibiotics played a crucial role in maintaining higher levels of blood oxygen saturation. In addition, it is worth noting that a significant number of patients who received antibiotics in the first 3 days and for a duration of 7 days, during the acute phase did not develop LC.

Small noncoding RNAs and sperm nuclear basic proteins reflect the environmental impact on germ cells.

BACKGROUND: Molecular techniques can complement conventional spermiogram analyses to provide new information on the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa and to identify early alterations due to environmental pollution. METHODS: Here, we present a multilevel molecular profiling by small RNA sequencing and sperm nuclear basic protein analysis of male germ cells from 33 healthy young subjects residing in low and high-polluted areas. RESULTS: Although sperm motility and sperm concentration were comparable between samples from the two sites, those from the high-pollution area had a higher concentration of immature/immune cells, a lower protamine/histone ratio, a reduced ability of sperm nuclear basic proteins to protect DNA from oxidative damage, and an altered copper/zinc ratio in sperm. Sperm levels of 32 microRNAs involved in intraflagellar transport, oxidative stress response, and spermatogenesis were different between the two areas. In parallel, a decrease of Piwi-interacting RNA levels was observed in samples from the high-polluted area. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive analysis provides new insights into pollution-driven epigenetic alterations in sperm not detectable by spermiogram.

Spirulina platensis ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by aflatoxin B1 in rats.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a widely distributed mycotoxin, causing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. One of the most famous unicellular cyanobacteria is Spirulina platensis (SP) which is well known for its antioxidant characteristics against many toxicants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant potential and hepatoprotective ability of SP against oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats intraperitoneally injected with AFB1. Rats were separated into five groups as follows: negative control administered with saline; SP (1000 mg/kg BW) for two weeks; AFB1 (2.5 mg/kg BW) twice on days 12 and 14; AFB1 (twice) + 500 mg SP/kg BW (for two weeks) and AFB1 (twice) + 1000 mg SP/kg BW (for two weeks). Liver and blood samples were assembled for histological and biochemical analyses. AFB1 intoxicated rats showed a marked elevation in serum biochemical parameters (ALP, ALT, and AST), hepatic lipid peroxidation (MDA and NO), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicating DNA damage. Moreover, AFB1 caused suppression of antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GHS, GSH-Px, and CAT). However, the elevated serum levels of biochemical parameters and PCNA expression were reduced by SP. Moreover, SP lowered oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation markers in a dose-dependent manner. To sum up, SP supplementation is capable of decreasing AFB1 toxicity through its powerful antioxidant activity.

A Metabolomic Analysis to Assess the Responses of the Male Gonads of Mytilus galloprovincialis after Heavy Metal Exposure.

In recent years, metabolomics has become a valuable new resource in environmental monitoring programs based on the use of bio-indicators such as Mytilus galloprovincialis. The reproductive system is extremely susceptible to the effects of environmental pollutants, and in a previous paper, we showed metabolomic alterations in mussel spermatozoa exposed to metal chlorides of copper, nickel, and cadmium, and the mixture with these metals. In order to obtain a better overview, in the present work, we evaluated the metabolic changes in the male gonad under the same experimental conditions used in the previous work, using a metabolomic approach based on GC-MS analysis. A total of 248 endogenous metabolites were identified in the male gonads of mussels. Statistical analyses of the data, including partial least squares discriminant analysis, enabled the identification of key metabolites through the use of variable importance in projection scores. Furthermore, a metabolite enrichment analysis revealed complex and significant interactions within different metabolic pathways and between different metabolites. Particularly significant were the results on pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, which highlighted the complex and interconnected nature of these biochemical processes in mussel gonads. Overall, these results add new information to the understanding of how certain pollutants may affect specific physiological functions of mussel gonads.

Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis Spermatozoa: A Metabolomic Investigation.

Metabolomics is a method that provides an overview of the physiological and cellular state of a specific organism or tissue. This method is particularly useful for studying the influence the environment can have on organisms, especially those used as bio-indicators, e.g., Mytilus galloprovincialis. Nevertheless, a scarcity of data on the complete metabolic baseline of mussel tissues still exists, but more importantly, the effect of mussel exposure to certain heavy metals on spermatozoa is unknown, also considering that, in recent years, the reproductive system has proved to be very sensitive to the effects of environmental pollutants. In order to fill this knowledge gap, the similarities and differences in the metabolic profile of spermatozoa of mussels exposed to metallic chlorides of copper, nickel, and cadmium, and to the mixture to these metals, were studied using a metabolomics approach based on GC-MS analysis, and their physiological role was discussed. A total of 237 endogenous metabolites were identified in the spermatozoa of these mussel. The data underwent preprocessing steps and were analyzed using statistical methods such as PLS-DA. The results showed effective class separation and identified key metabolites through the VIP scores. Heatmaps and cluster analysis further evaluated the metabolites. The metabolite-set enrichment analysis revealed complex interactions within metabolic pathways and metabolites, especially involving glucose and central carbon metabolism and oxidative stress metabolism. Overall, the results of this study are useful to better understand how some pollutants can affect the specific physiological functions of the spermatozoa of this mussel, as well as for further GC-MS-based metabolomic health and safety studies of marine bivalves.

Raman Microspectroscopy evidence of microplastics in human semen.

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in human fluids and organs is a great concern, since, as highlighted by recent studies on animal models, they could cause alterations of several physiological functions, including reproduction. In this study, semen samples collected from men living in a polluted area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy), were analyzed to assess the presence of MPs. N. 16 pigmented microplastic fragments (ranging from 2 to 6 µm in size) with spheric or irregular shapes were found in six out of ten samples. All the detected MPs were characterized in terms of morphology (size, colour, and shape) and chemical composition by Raman Microspectroscopy. Chemical composition showed the presence of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM) and acrylic, suggesting ingestion and/or inhalation as a route of exposure to environmental MPs. In this work, we propose for the first time a mechanism by which MPs pass into the semen most likely through the epididymis and seminal vesicles, which are the most susceptible to inflammation.

The importance of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Zhou et al. study nicely traces a significant topic in COVID-19 infection: the persistence of the virus within the intestinal tract. Many pathological mechanisms have been noted in the current literature about the mode of infection and propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body. Nevertheless, there are still many concerns about this: only some things seem well understood. We present a different point of view by illustrating the importance of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disorders.

Detection of recombinant Spike protein in the blood of individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2: Possible molecular mechanisms.

PURPOSE: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic prompted the development and use of next-generation vaccines. Among these, mRNA-based vaccines consist of injectable solutions of mRNA encoding for a recombinant Spike, which is distinguishable from the wild-type protein due to specific amino acid variations introduced to maintain the protein in a prefused state. This work presents a proteomic approach to reveal the presence of recombinant Spike protein in vaccinated subjects regardless of antibody titer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Mass spectrometry examination of biological samples was used to detect the presence of specific fragments of recombinant Spike protein in subjects who received mRNA-based vaccines. RESULTS: The specific PP-Spike fragment was found in 50% of the biological samples analyzed, and its presence was independent of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titer. The minimum and maximum time at which PP-Spike was detected after vaccination was 69 and 187 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presented method allows to evaluate the half-life of the Spike protein molecule "PP" and to consider the risks or benefits in continuing to administer additional booster doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. This approach is of valuable support to complement antibody level monitoring and represents the first proteomic detection of recombinant Spike in vaccinated subjects.

Possible Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Decrease in the Antibacterial Activity of Protamine-like Proteins after Exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Chromium and Mercury.

Natural bioactive compounds represent a new frontier of antimicrobial molecules, and the marine ecosystem represents a new challenge in this regard. In the present work, we evaluated the possibility of changes in the antibacterial activity of protamine-like (PL) proteins, the major nuclear basic protein components of Mytilus galloprovincialis sperm chromatin, after the exposure of mussels to subtoxic doses of chromium (VI) (1, 10, and 100 nM) and mercury (1, 10, and 100 pM) HgCl2, since these metals affect some properties of PL. After exposure, we analyzed the electrophoretic pattern of PLs by both acetic acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (AU-PAGE) and SDS-PAGE and determined the MIC and MBC of these proteins on different gram+ and gram- bacteria. PLs, particularly after mussels were exposed to the highest doses of chromium and mercury, showed significantly reduced antibacterial activity. Just at the highest doses of exposure to the two metals, changes were found in the electrophoretic pattern of PLs, suggesting that there were conformational changes in these proteins, which were confirmed by the fluorescence measurements of PLs. These results provide the first evidence of a reduction in the antibacterial activity of these proteins following the exposure of mussels to these metals. Based on the results, hypothetical molecular mechanisms that could explain the decrease in the antibacterial activity of PLs are discussed.

A Molecular Mechanism to Explain the Nickel-Induced Changes in Protamine-like Proteins and Their DNA Binding Affecting Sperm Chromatin in Mytilus galloprovincialis: An In Vitro Study.

Nickel is associated with reproductive toxicity, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms of nickel-induced effects on sperm chromatin and protamine-like proteins (PLs). In the present work, we analyzed PLs from Mytilus galloprovincialis by urea-acetic acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (AU-PAGE) and SDS-PAGE and assessed their binding to DNA by Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) after exposing mussels to 5, 15, and 35 µM NiCl2 for 24 h. In addition, a time course of digestion with MNase and release of PLs from sperm nuclei by the NaCl gradient was performed. For all exposure doses, in AU-PAGE, there was an additional migrating band between PL-III and PL-IV, corresponding to a fraction of PLs in the form of peptides detected by SDS-PAGE. Alterations in DNA binding of PLs were observed by EMSA after exposure to 5 and 15 µM NiCl2, while, at all NiCl2 doses, increased accessibility of MNase to sperm chromatin was found. The latter was particularly relevant at 15 µM NiCl2, a dose at which increased release of PLII and PLIII from sperm nuclei and the highest value of nickel accumulated in the gonads were also found. Finally, at all exposure doses, there was also an increase in PARP expression, but especially at 5 µM NiCl2. A possible molecular mechanism for the toxic reproductive effects of nickel in Mytilus galloprovincialis is discussed.

Analysis of Bacteriophage Behavior of a Human RNA Virus, SARS-CoV-2, through the Integrated Approach of Immunofluorescence Microscopy, Proteomics and D-Amino Acid Quantification.

SARS-CoV-2, one of the human RNA viruses, is widely studied around the world. Significant efforts have been made to understand its molecular mechanisms of action and how it interacts with epithelial cells and the human microbiome since it has also been observed in gut microbiome bacteria. Many studies emphasize the importance of surface immunity and also that the mucosal system is critical in the interaction of the pathogen with the cells of the oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and intestinal epithelium. Recent studies have shown how bacteria in the human gut microbiome produce toxins capable of altering the classical mechanisms of interaction of viruses with surface cells. This paper presents a simple approach to highlight the initial behavior of a novel pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, on the human microbiome. The immunofluorescence microscopy technique can be combined with spectral counting performed at mass spectrometry of viral peptides in bacterial cultures, along with identification of the presence of D-amino acids within viral peptides in bacterial cultures and in patients' blood. This approach makes it possible to establish the possible expression or increase of viral RNA viruses in general and SARS-CoV-2, as discussed in this study, and to determine whether or not the microbiome is involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the viruses. This novel combined approach can provide information more rapidly, avoiding the biases of virological diagnosis and identifying whether a virus can interact with, bind to, and infect bacteria and epithelial cells. Understanding whether some viruses have bacteriophagic behavior allows vaccine therapies to be focused either toward certain toxins produced by bacteria in the microbiome or toward finding inert or symbiotic viral mutations with the human microbiome. This new knowledge opens a scenario on a possible future vaccine: the probiotics vaccine, engineered with the right resistance to viruses that attach to both the epithelium human surface and gut microbiome bacteria.

Future regenerative medicine developments and their therapeutic applications.

Although the currently available pharmacological assays can cure most pathological disorders, they have limited therapeutic value in relieving certain disorders like myocardial infarct, peripheral vascular disease, amputated limbs, or organ failure (e.g. renal failure). Pilot studies to overcome such problems using regenerative medicine (RM) delivered promising data. Comprehensive investigations of RM in zebrafish or reptilians are necessary for better understanding. However, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood despite the tremendous amount of data obtained using the zebrafish model investigating the exact mechanisms behind their regenerative capability. Indeed, understanding such mechanisms and their application to humans can save millions of lives from dying due to potentially life-threatening events. Recent studies have launched a revolution in replacing damaged human organs via different approaches in the last few decades. The newly established branch of medicine (known as Regenerative Medicine aims to enhance natural repair mechanisms. This can be done through the application of several advanced broad-spectrum technologies such as organ transplantation, tissue engineering, and application of Scaffolds technology (support vascularization using an extracellular matrix), stem cell therapy, miRNA treatment, development of 3D mini-organs (organoids), and the construction of artificial tissues using nanomedicine and 3D bio-printers. Moreover, in the next few decades, revolutionary approaches in regenerative medicine will be applied based on artificial intelligence and wireless data exchange, soft intelligence biomaterials, nanorobotics, and even living robotics capable of self-repair. The present work presents a comprehensive overview that summarizes the new and future advances in the field of RM.

Molecular Alterations and Severe Abnormalities in Spermatozoa of Young Men Living in the "Valley of Sacco River" (Latium, Italy): A Preliminary Study.

The Valley of Sacco River (VSR) (Latium, Italy) is an area with large-scale industrial chemical production that has led over time to significant contamination of soil and groundwater with various industrial pollutants, such as organic pesticides, dioxins, organic solvents, heavy metals, and particularly, volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the present study, we investigated the potential impact of VOCs on the spermatozoa of healthy young males living in the VSR, given the prevalent presence of several VOCs in the semen of these individuals. To accomplish this, spermiograms were conducted followed by molecular analyses to assess the content of sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) in addition to the protamine-histone ratio and DNA binding of these proteins. We found drastic alterations in the spermatozoa of these young males living in the VSR. Alterations were seen in sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm count, and protamine/histone ratios, and included significant reductions in SNBP-DNA binding capacity. Our results provide preliminary indications of a possible correlation between the observed alterations and the presence of specific VOCs.

Comparison between Macro and Trace Element Concentrations in Human Semen and Blood Serum in Highly Polluted Areas in Italy.

Macro and trace elements are important regulators of biological processes, including those ones linked to reproduction. Among them, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Se, and Zn ensure normal spermatic functions. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of 26 macro and trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, U, V, and Zn) in blood serum and also in semen of healthy young men, homogeneous for age, anthropometric characteristics, and lifestyle, living in three highly polluted areas in Italy. Furthermore, a comparison among three geographical areas was performed to highlight any difference in the investigated parameters and, overall, to speculate any correlations between chemical elements and semen quality. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) among the three areas were found for each investigated element, in both semen and serum samples, where inter-area differences were more evident in semen than in blood serum, suggesting human semen as an early environmental marker. Considering the homogeneity of three cohorts, these differences could be due more to environmental conditions in the recruiting areas, suggesting that variations in those involved in reproductive-associated pathways can have an impact on male fertility. Nevertheless, more research is needed to evaluate threshold values for sperm dysfunction and male infertility. Actually, the role of different dietary intake and environmental exposure underlying the observed differences in the recruiting areas is under further investigation for the same cohort.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility.

In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.

The diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen section biopsy for diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) sampling is important for evaluating the nodal stage of breast cancer when the axillary nodes are clinically free of metastasis. The intraoperative frozen section (IFS) of SLN is used for lymph node assessment. This meta-analysis aims to provide evidence about the diagnostic accuracy and the applicability of IFS of SLN in breast cancer patients. Data were collected by searching PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases for trials matching our eligibility criteria. The statistical analysis included the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and pooled studies' diagnostic odds ratio outcomes. The analyses were conducted using the Open Meta-analyst software. This meta-analysis pooled the results of 110 studies. The overall sensitivity of IFS for SLN metastasis was 74.7%; 95% CI [72.0, 77.2], P < 0.001. It was 31.4% 95% CI [25.2, 38.3], P < 0.001 for the micro-metastasis, and 90.2%; 95% CI [86.5, 93.0], P < 0.001 for the macro-metastasis. The overall specificity was 99.4%; 95% CI [99.2, 99.6], P < 0.001. The overall positive likelihood ratio was 121.4; 95% CI [87.9, 167.6], P < 0.001, and the overall negative likelihood ratio was 0.226; 95% CI [0.186, 0.274], P < 0.001. The overall diagnostic odds ratio of IFS for diagnosing SLN metastasis was 569.5; 95% CI [404.2, 802.4], P < 0.001. The intraoperative frozen section of SLN has good sensitivity for diagnosing breast cancer macro-metastasis. However, the sensitivity is low for micro-metastasis. The specificity is very satisfactory.

Altered Expression of Protamine-like and Their DNA Binding Induced by Cr(VI): A Possible Risk to Spermatogenesis?

Chromium (VI) is the most dangerous oxidation state among the stable forms of chromium. In this work, we evaluated the effect of exposing Mytilus galloprovincialis for 24 h to 1, 10, and 100 nM chromium (VI) on the properties of Protamine-like (PLs) and their gene levels in the gonads. Specifically, we analyzed, by AU-PAGE and SDS-PAGE, PLs extracted from unexposed and exposed mussels. In addition, via EMSA, we evaluated the ability of PLs to bind DNA and also verified their potential to protect DNA from oxidative damage. Finally, we assessed possible alterations in gonadal expression of mt10, hsp70, and genes encoding for PLs-II/PL-IV and PL-III. We found that for all experimental approaches the most relevant alterations occurred after exposure to 1 nM Cr(VI). In particular, a comigration of PL-II with PL-III was observed by SDS-PAGE; and a reduced ability of PLs to bind and protect DNA from oxidative damage was recorded. This dose of chromium (VI) exposure was also the one that produced the greatest alterations in the expression of both mt10 and PL-II/PL-IV encoding genes. All of these changes suggest that this dose of chromium (VI) exposure could affect the reproductive health of Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Could SARS-CoV-2 Have Bacteriophage Behavior or Induce the Activity of Other Bacteriophages?

SARS-CoV-2 has become one of the most studied viruses of the last century. It was assumed that the only possible host for these types of viruses was mammalian eukaryotic cells. Our recent studies show that microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract affect the severity of COVID-19 and for the first time provide indications that the virus might replicate in gut bacteria. In order to further support these findings, in the present work, cultures of bacteria from the human microbiome and SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed by electron and fluorescence microscopy. The images presented in this article, in association with the nitrogen (15N) isotope-labeled culture medium experiment, suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could also infect bacteria in the gut microbiota, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 could act as a bacteriophage. Our results add new knowledge to the understanding of the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and fill gaps in the study of the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and non-mammalian cells. These findings could be useful in suggesting specific new pharmacological solutions to support the vaccination campaign.

Olive Oil Phenols Prevent Mercury-Induced Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Morphological Changes in Human Erythrocytes Regardless of Their Different Scavenging Activity.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation to the external membrane leaflet represents a key mechanism in the pathophysiology of human erythrocytes (RBC) acting as an "eat me" signal for the removal of aged/stressed cells. Loss of physiological membrane asymmetry, however, can lead to adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, activating a prothrombotic activity. The data presented indicate that structurally related olive oil phenols prevent cell alterations induced in intact human RBC exposed to HgCl2 (5-40 µM) or Ca2+ ionophore (5 µM), as measured by hallmarks including PS exposure, reactive oxygen species generation, glutathione depletion and microvesicles formation. The protective effect is observed in a concentration range of 1-30 µM, hydroxytyrosol being the most effective; its in vivo metabolite homovanillic alcohol still retains the biological activity of its dietary precursor. Significant protection is also exerted by tyrosol, in spite of its weak scavenging activity, indicating that additional mechanisms are involved in the protective effect. When RBC alterations are mediated by an increase in intracellular calcium, the protective effect is observed at higher concentrations, indicating that the selected phenols mainly act on Ca2+-independent mechanisms, identified as protection of glutathione depletion. Our findings strengthen the nutritional relevance of olive oil bioactive compounds in the claimed health-promoting effects of the Mediterranean Diet.