Responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis in a Multi-Stressor Scenario: Effects of an Invasive Seaweed Exudate and Microplastic Pollution under Ocean Warming.

Microplastic pollution, global warming, and invasive species are known threats to marine biota, but the impact of their simultaneous exposure is still not well understood. This study investigated whether the toxic effects posed by the invasive red seaweed Asparagopsis armata exudate (2%) to the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis are amplified by a 96 h exposure to increased temperature (24 °C) and polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs, 1 mg/L). Biochemical (neurotoxicity, energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and damage) and physiological (byssal thread production) responses were evaluated. The number of produced byssus greatly decreased under concomitant exposure to all stressors. The antioxidant defences were depleted in the gills of mussels exposed to temperature rises and PE-MPs, regardless of exudate exposure, preventing oxidative damage. Moreover, the heat shock protein content tended to decrease in all treatments relative to the control. The increased total glutathione in the mussels' digestive gland exposed to 24 °C, exudate, and PE-MPs avoided oxidative damage. Neurotoxicity was observed in the same treatment. In contrast, the energy metabolism remained unaltered. In conclusion, depending on the endpoint, simultaneous exposure to A. armata exudate, PE-MPs, and warming does not necessarily mean an amplification of their single effects. Studies focusing on the impact of multiple stressors are imperative to better understand the underlying mechanisms of this chronic exposure.

A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine induces a strong T cell and B cell response in healthcare professionals recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A broad understanding on how SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination mobilize the immune system is necessary to find the best predictors of long-term protection and identify individuals that would benefit from additional vaccine doses. This study aims to understand the effect of a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine, in individuals recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection, on circulating CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh)-cells, Spike-specific T-cells and IgG/IgA antibodies. For that, peripheral blood samples from 50 healthcare professionals, recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection, collected immediately before (T1) and 15 days after (T2) vaccine administration, were used to analyze the frequency and numbers of Tfh-cells and their subsets, serum titers of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells. Six months after infection (T1), 96% of recovered participants presented either IgG or T-cells specific for Spike, however, Spike-specific T-cells were missing in 16% of them. These individuals presented lower levels of Spike-specific IgG (T1 and T2), IgA (T1), and Spike-specific T-cells (T2). Vaccination increased the percentage of participants reactive for Spike-specific T-cells (from 64 to 98%), IgG (from 90 to 100%) and IgA (from 48 to 98%). It also mobilized circulating Tfh-cells, increasing their frequency and activation, and promoting Tfh17 polarization, restoring the decreased numbers of Tfh-cells (especially Tfh17) observed in recovered participants. Interestingly, Tfh percentage correlated with Spike-specific IgG levels. Our data showed that a single dose of vaccine efficiently restored Spike-specific T-cells, and IgG and IgA antibodies. Mobilization of Tfh-cells, and their correlation with IgG levels, suggest that vaccination induced a functional Tfh cell response.

Long-term serological SARS-CoV-2 IgG kinetics following mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: real-world data from a large cohort of healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess kinetics and predictive variables of humoral immune response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration. METHODS: We collected blood samples before (T0) and 15, 90, and 180 days after vaccination (T1, T2, and T3, respectively). The Quant SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin (IgG) II Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay was used to determine anti-spike IgG. RESULTS: In almost 3000 healthcare-collected blood samples at the three time points, we found the following: at 15 days postvaccination, 97.6% of subjects presented a robust IgG anti-spike response (>4160 AU/ml); then, at three and six months, it decreased in median 6.5-fold to 35.0% and 3.0-fold to 3.3%, respectively. A linear mixed-effects model supported that female gender, younger age groups, and being seropositive prevaccination maintained higher antibody titers. Curves became tighter with time progression, although titers from seropositive subjects decrease at a slower rate than seronegative ones. CONCLUSION: These findings strengthen the case for a steep decrease of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies up to six months, suggesting that serological evaluation might guide the need for periodic booster vaccinations in specific groups prone to lower antibody titers.

Cross Species Analysis and Comparison of Tumors in Dogs and Cats, by Age, Sex, Topography and Main Morphologies. Data from Vet-OncoNet.

The animal cancer burden is essential for the translational value of companion animals in comparative oncology. The present work aims to describe, analyze, and compare frequencies and associations of tumors in dogs and cats based on the Animal Cancer Registry created by Vet-OncoNet. With 9079 registries, regarding 2019 and 2020, 81% (n = 7355) belonged to dogs. In comparison, cats have a general one-year right advance in the mean age of cancer diagnosis compared to dogs. The multivariate topography group analysis shows a distinct pattern between the two species: dogs have higher odds of cancer in the genito-urinary system, spleen, soft tissue tumors and skin, while cats show higher odds for tumors in the eyes, digestive organs, nasal cavity, lymph nodes, bones and mammary glands. Regarding morphologies, dogs are overrepresented in mast cell tumors (MCT), melanomas, and hemangiosarcomas. While cats are overrepresented in fibrosarcomas, lymphomas (T and B-cell), in malignant mammary tumors, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Females have greater odds only in the mammary gland, with males having greater odds in six of twelve topographies. This study is the first outcome of continuous animal cancer registration studies in Portugal.

Humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine: Real-world data from a large cohort of healthcare workers.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was responsible for the death of millions of people around the world, which accelerated the study of vaccines. The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 is a messenger RNA vaccine that encodes the spike protein of the virus. However, the duration of the protection conferred by this vaccine and factors associated with immune responses require validation in large cohorts. METHODS: Here, we present data of humoral immune response to vaccination in4264 healthcare workers, tested before (T0) and 15 and 90 days (T1 and T2, respectively) following vaccination.Peripheral blood was collected for immunological analysis using the Quant SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) to determine anti-spike IgG, receptor binding domain (RBD), S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2. FINDINGS: At T0, 96·8% (n = 4129) of participants had IgG antibodies non-reactive to anti-SARS-CoV-2. Fifteen days after completing the vaccination, the IgG overall median titer was significantly elevated (21·7x103AU/mL). Both for uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses women presented higher antibody levels than men, independent of age. Titers were significantly altered among age groups, decreasing by each increase in 10-year of age. At 3 months after completing the vaccination, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers were 6·3-fold diminished. This real-world post-vaccination data confirmed production of a frequent and elevated anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, associated with high protection rates. Females and younger participants had higher titer 15 days after vaccination, and despite the significant reduction from 15-to-90 days, those with higher pre-vaccination titers maintained higher levels throughout the remaining timepoints. INTERPRETATION: These findings support the need to track humoral immunity kinetics to uncover viral susceptibility and eventually implement re-vaccination, particularly in groups prone to lower humoral immune response. FUNDING: No external funding was received to conduct this study.

Quality of life in elderly Portuguese war veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Studies show that post-traumatic stress symptoms among Portuguese veterans who participated in Colonial War (1961-75) are high, even though 43 years have gone by since the end of the war. AIMS: This study analyzed the role of family type, personality traits, and social support as predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life in war veterans, and whether satisfaction with social support was a mediator between neuroticism/post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 230 war veterans with a mean age of 60 years (SD=3.82). RESULTS: Results indicated a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as high neuroticism, 16.5 (SD=4.41); 81% of veterans presented high psychological distress, suggesting emotional disturbance and 71% belonged to extreme families (families with cohesion and adaptability problems). Results showed that age (ß=-0.166, p<0.05), social support (ß=-0.184, p<0.01), and neuroticism (ß=0.325, p<0.001) predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms. Age, professional status, social support, post-traumatic stress symptoms, family type, neuroticism, and extroversion predicted different dimensions of quality of life. Finally, a path analysis showed that satisfaction with social support was a mediator in the relationship between neuroticism and quality of life (ß=-0.066; p<0.01) and between post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life (ß=-0.108; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Four decades after the Colonial War have passed, there is still a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Screening elderly veterans who present post-traumatic stress symptoms, for the presence of neuroticism traits, and assessing family type and social support, should be a standard practice in health care services, especially in the oldest and those who are retired. Social support should be promoted in order to enhance quality of life in this population.