Screening of Microalgae for Bioactivity with Antiviral, Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Assays.

Marine microalgae are a rich reservoir of natural compounds, including bioactives. Nonetheless, these organisms remain fairly unexplored despite their potential biotechnological applications. Culture collections with diverse taxonomic groups and lifestyles are a good source to unlock this potential and discover new molecules for multiple applications such as the treatment of human pathologies or the production of aquaculture species. In the present work extracts from thirty-three strains (including twenty dinoflagellates, four diatoms and nine strains from seven other algal classes), cultivated under identical conditions, were examined for their antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Among these, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities were detected in a few strains while the antibacterial tests showed positive results in most assays. In turn, most trials did not show any anti-cancer activity. Significant differences were observed between species within the same class, in particular dinoflagellates, which were better represented in this study. These preliminary findings pave the way for an in-depth characterization of the extracts with highest signals in each test, the identification of the compounds responsible for the biological activities found and a further screening of the CCVIEO culture collection.

Microcystin Contamination in Irrigation Water and Health Risk.

Microcystins (MCs), natural hepatotoxic compounds produced by cyanobacteria, pose significant risks to water quality, ecosystem stability, and the well-being of animals, plants, and humans when present in elevated concentrations. The escalating contamination of irrigation water with MCs presents a growing threat to terrestrial plants. The customary practice of irrigating crops from local water sources, including lakes and ponds hosting cyanobacterial blooms, serves as a primary conduit for transferring these toxins. Due to their high chemical stability and low molecular weight, MCs have the potential to accumulate in various parts of plants, thereby increasing health hazards for consumers of agricultural products, which serve as the foundation of the Earth's food chain. MCs can bioaccumulate, migrate, potentially biodegrade, and pose health hazards to humans within terrestrial food systems. This study highlights that MCs from irrigation water reservoirs can bioaccumulate and come into contact with plants, transferring into the food chain. Additionally, it investigates the natural mechanisms that organisms employ for conjugation and the microbial processes involved in MC degradation. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of MCs in the terrestrial food chain and to elucidate the specific health risks associated with consuming crops irrigated with water contaminated with these toxins, further research is necessary.

Presence of the neurotoxin ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine in irrigation water and accumulation in cereal grains with human exposure risk.

The present study demonstrates the presence of the neurotoxin ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine and its cyanobacterial producers in irrigation water and grains of some cereal plants from farmlands irrigated with Nile River water in Egypt. BMAA detected by LC-MS/MS in phytoplankton samples was found at higher concentrations of free form (0.84-11.4 µg L-1) than of protein-bound form (0.16-1.6 µg L-1), in association with the dominance of cyanobacteria in irrigation water canals. Dominant cyanobacterial species isolated from these irrigation waters including Aphanocapsa planctonica, Chroococcus minutus, Dolichospermum lemmermanni, Nostoc commune, and Oscillatoria tenuis were found to produce different concentrations of free (4.8-71.1 µg g-1 dry weight) and protein-bound (0.1-11.4 µg g-1 dry weight) BMAA. In the meantime, BMAA was also detected in a protein-bound form only in grains of corn (3.87-4.51 µg g-1 fresh weight) and sorghum (5.1-7.1 µg g-1 fresh weight) plants, but not in wheat grains. The amounts of BMAA accumulated in these grains correlated with BMAA concentrations detected in relevant irrigation water canals. The presence of BMAA in cereal grains would constitute a risk to human and animal health upon consumption of contaminated grains. The study, therefore, suggests continuous monitoring of BMAA and other cyanotoxins in irrigation waters and edible plants to protect the public against exposure to such potent toxins.

Eco-friendly management of harmful cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lakes through vertical flow multi-soil-layering technology.

Eutrophication has led to the widespread occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms. Toxic cyanobacterial blooms with high concentrations of microcystins (MCs) have been identified in the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir in Morocco. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Multi-Soil-Layering (MSL) ecotechnology in removing natural cyanobacterial blooms from the lake. Two MSL pilots were used in rectangular glass tanks (60 × 10 × 70 cm). They consisted of permeable layers (PLs) made of pozzolan and a soil mixture layer (SML) containing local soil, ferrous metal, charcoal and sawdust. The main difference between the two systems was the type of local soil used: sandy soil for MSL1 and clayey soil for MSL2. Both MSL pilots effectively reduced cyanobacterial cell concentrations in the treated water to very low levels (0.09 and 0.001 cells/mL). MSL1 showed a gradual improvement in MC removal from 52 % to 99 %, while MSL2 started higher at 90 % but dropped to 54% before reaching 86%. Both MSL systems significantly reduced organic matter levels (97.2 % for MSL1 and 95.8 % for MSL2). Both MSLs were shown to be effective in removing cyanobacteria, MCs, and organic matter with comparable performance.

Unlocking the potential of bacterioplankton-mediated microcystin degradation and removal: A bibliometric analysis of sustainable water treatment strategies.

Microcystins (MCs) constitute a significant threat to human and environmental health, urging the development of effective removal methods for these toxins. In this review, we explore the potential of MC-degrading bacteria as a solution for the removal of MCs from water. The review insights into the mechanisms of action employed by these bacteria, elucidating their ability to degrade and thus remove MCs. After, the review points out the influence of the structural conformation of MCs on their removal, particularly their stability at different water depths within different water bodies. Then, we review the crucial role played by the production of MCs in ensuring the survival and safeguarding of the enzymatic activities of Microcystis cells. This justifies the need for developing effective and sustainable methods for removing MCs from aquatic ecosystems, given their critical ecological function and potential toxicity to humans and animals. Thereafter, challenges and limitations associated with using MC-degrading bacteria in water treatment are discussed, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize the selection of bacterial strains used for MCs biodegradation. The interaction of MCs-degrading bacteria with sediment particles is also crucial for their toxin removal potential and its efficiency. By presenting critical information, this review is a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in developing sustainable and practical approaches to remove MCs. Our review highlights the potential of various applications of MC-degrading bacteria, including multi-soil-layering (MSL) technologies. It emphasizes the need for ongoing research to optimize the utilization of MC-degrading bacteria in water treatment, ultimately ensuring the safety and quality of water sources. Moreover, this review highlights the value of bibliometric analyses in revealing research gaps and trends, providing detailed insights for further investigations. Specifically, we discuss the importance of employing advanced genomics, especially combining various OMICS approaches to identify and optimize the potential of MCs-degrading bacteria.

Using Constellation Pharmacology to Characterize a Novel α-Conotoxin from Conus ateralbus.

The venom of cone snails has been proven to be a rich source of bioactive peptides that target a variety of ion channels and receptors. α-Conotoxins (αCtx) interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and are powerful tools for investigating the structure and function of the various nAChR subtypes. By studying how conotoxins interact with nAChRs, we can improve our understanding of these receptors, leading to new insights into neurological diseases associated with nAChRs. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of a novel conotoxin from Conus ateralbus, αCtx-AtIA, which has an amino acid sequence homologous to the well-described αCtx-PeIA, but with a different selectivity profile towards nAChRs. We tested the synthetic αCtx-AtIA using the calcium imaging-based Constellation Pharmacology assay on mouse DRG neurons and found that αCtx-AtIA significantly inhibited ACh-induced calcium influx in the presence of an α7 positive allosteric modulator, PNU-120596 (PNU). However, αCtx-AtIA did not display any activity in the absence of PNU. These findings were further validated using two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology performed on oocytes overexpressing mouse α3ß4, α6/α3ß4 and α7 nAChRs subtypes. We observed that αCtx-AtIA displayed no or low potency in blocking α3ß4 and α6/α3ß4 receptors, respectively, but improved potency and selectivity to block α7 nAChRs when compared with αCtx-PeIA. Through the synthesis of two additional analogs of αCtx-AtIA and subsequent characterization using Constellation Pharmacology, we were able to identify residue Trp18 as a major contributor to the activity of the peptide.

Exploring the Bioactive Potential of Pisolithus (Basidiomycota): Comprehensive Insights into Antimicrobial, Anticancer, and Antioxidant Properties for Innovative Applications.

Addressing pressing health concerns, modern medical research seeks to identify new antimicrobials to combat drug resistance, novel molecules for cancer treatment, and antioxidants for inflammation-related diseases. Pisolithus (Basidiomycota) is a ubiquitous and widely distributed fungal genus in forest ecosystems, known for establishing ectomycorrhizal associations with a range of host plants, enhancing their growth, and conferring protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Beyond ecological applications, Pisolithus yields bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. This comprehensive review explores the transversal biological activity of Pisolithus fungi, aiming to provide a thorough overview of their antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant potential. The focus is on elucidating bioactive compounds within Pisolithus to trigger further research for innovative applications. Compounds from Pisolithus displayed antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The efficacy of Pisolithus-derived compounds matched established medications, emphasizing their therapeutic potential. In anticancer research, the triterpene pisosterol stood out with documented cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, showcasing promise for novel anticancer therapies. Pisolithus was also recognized as a potential source of antioxidants, with basidiocarps exhibiting high antioxidant activity. In vivo validation and comprehensive studies on a broader range of compounds, together with mechanistic insights into the mode of action of Pisolithus-derived compounds, are compelling areas for future research.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cyanobacteria Pigment Extracts: Physiological Free Radical Scavenging and Modulation of iNOS and LOX Activity.

Cyanobacteria are among the oldest organisms colonizing Earth. Their great biodiversity and ability to biosynthesize secondary metabolites through a variety of routes makes them attractive resources for biotechnological applications and drug discovery. In this pioneer study, four filamentous cyanobacteria (Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493, Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486, Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 and Leptothoe sp. LEGE 11479) were explored for their anti-inflammatory potential in cell and cell-free in vitro bioassays, involving different inflammatory mediators and enzymes. Extracts of different polarities were sequentially prepared and chemically characterized for their content of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) and carotenoids. HPLC-PDA analysis of the acetone extracts revealed ß-carotene to be the dominant carotenoid (18.4-44.3 mg/g) and zeaxanthin as the dominant xanthophyll (52.7-192.9 mg/g), with Leptothoe sp. LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104, respectively, being the richest strains. The PBP profile was in accordance with the color presented by the aqueous extracts, with Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 being the richest in phycocyanin (204.5 µg/mg) and Leptothoe sp. LEGE 11479 the richest in phycoerythrin (78.5 µg/mg). Aqueous extracts were more effective in superoxide anion radical scavenging, while acetone ones were more effective in scavenging nitric oxide radical (●NO) and in inhibiting lipoxygenase. Acetone extracts also reduced ●NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, with the mechanistic study suggesting a downregulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 and Leptothoe sp. LEGE 11479 acetone extracts presented the lowest IC50 values for the mentioned assays, pointing them out as promising resources for the development of new multi-target anti-inflammatory therapies.

Microcystin influence on soil-plant microbiota: Unraveling microbiota modulations and assembly processes in the rhizosphere of Vicia faba.

Microcystins (MCs) are frequently detected in cyanobacterial bloom-impacted waterbodies and introduced into agroecosystems via irrigation water. They are widely known as phytotoxic cyanotoxins, which impair the growth and physiological functions of crop plants. However, their impact on the plant-associated microbiota is scarcely tackled and poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of MCs on microbiota-inhabiting bulk soil (BS), root adhering soil (RAS), and root tissue (RT) of Vicia faba when exposed to 100 µg L-1 MCs in a greenhouse pot experiment. Under MC exposure, the structure, co-occurrence network, and assembly processes of the bacterial microbiota were modulated with the greatest impact on RT-inhabiting bacteria, followed by BS and, to a lesser extent, RAS. The analyses revealed a significant decrease in the abundances of several Actinobacteriota-related taxa within the RT microbiota, including the most abundant and known genus of Streptomyces. Furthermore, MCs significantly increased the abundance of methylotrophic bacteria (Methylobacillus, Methylotenera) and other Proteobacteria-affiliated genera (e.g., Paucibacter), which are supposed to degrade MCs. The co-occurrence network of the bacterial community in the presence of MCs was less complex than the control network. In MC-exposed RT, the turnover in community composition was more strongly driven by deterministic processes, as proven by the beta-nearest taxon index. Whereas in MC-treated BS and RAS, both deterministic and stochastic processes can influence community assembly to some extent, with a relative dominance of deterministic processes. Altogether, these results suggest that MCs may reshape the structure of the microbiota in the soil-plant system by reducing bacterial taxa with potential phytobeneficial traits and increasing other taxa with the potential capacity to degrade MCs.

Reduction of neutral lipid reservoirs, bioconversion and untargeted metabolomics reveal distinct roles for vitamin K isoforms on lipid metabolism.

Vitamin K isoforms are known as co-factors for the synthesis of blood-clotting proteins, but several other bioactivities were reported. In this work, we isolated a vitamin K1-analogue (OH-PhQ) from the cyanobacterium Tychonema sp. LEGE 07196 with lipid reducing activity. OH-PhQ reduced neutral lipid reservoirs with an EC50 value of 31 µM after 48 h exposure in zebrafish larvae, while other vitamin K isoforms had EC50 values of 21.1 µM (K2) and 1.2 µM (K3). No lipid reducing activity was observed for K1 up to 50 µM. The presence of vitamin K isoforms was studied in zebrafish after exposure (OH-PhQ, K1, K2 and K3), and a clear preference for bioconversion was observed to retain K1 and OH-PhQ. Untargeted metabolomics revealed different biological effects for vitamin K isoforms on the subclass and metabolite level, but similarities were present on the compound class level, particularly on the regulation of glycerophospholipids. Our data showed for the first time a lipid reducing activity of OH-PhQ and performed a comparative analysis of vitamin K isoforms, which could be important for the development of future nutraceuticals or food supplements.

Spatial analysis of hospital-related mortality due to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil.

The objective was to perform a spatial analysis of the hospital mortality rate (HMR) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) attributed to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil from 2020 to 2021. A cluster method was used to group federal units (FUs) based on HMR. In 2020, clusters with high HMRs were formed by north/northeast FUs. In 2021, there was a reduction in HMR. Clusters with higher rates remained in the N/NE region. Regional differences were observed in the HMR. The findings may reflect social inequalities and access to hospital care, especially in the under 1-year-old age group due to the severity of the disease in this group.

Adaptive foraging of pollinators fosters gradual tipping under resource competition and rapid environmental change.

Plant and pollinator communities are vital for transnational food chains. Like many natural systems, they are affected by global change: rapidly deteriorating conditions threaten their numbers. Previous theoretical studies identified the potential for community-wide collapse above critical levels of environmental stressors-so-called bifurcation-induced tipping points. Fortunately, even as conditions deteriorate, individuals have some adaptive capacity, potentially increasing the boundary for a safe operating space where changes in ecological processes are reversible. Our study considers this adaptive capacity of pollinators to resource availability and identifies a new threat to disturbed pollinator communities. We model the adaptive foraging of pollinators in changing environments. Pollinator's adaptive foraging alters the dynamical responses of species, to the advantage of some-typically generalists-and the disadvantage of others, with systematic non-linear and non-monotonic effects on the abundance of particular species. We show that, in addition to the extent of environmental stress, the pace of change of environmental stress can also lead to the early collapse of both adaptive and nonadaptive pollinator communities. Specifically, perturbed communities exhibit rate-induced tipping points at stress levels within the safe boundary defined for constant stressors. With adaptive foraging, tipping is a more asynchronous collapse of species compared to nonadaptive pollinator communities, meaning that not all pollinator species reach a tipping event simultaneously. These results suggest that it is essential to consider the adaptive capacity of pollinator communities for monitoring and conservation. Both the extent and the rate of stress change relative to the ability of communities to recover are critical environmental boundaries.

Uncovering the biotechnological capacity of marine and brackish water Planctomycetota.

An appealing strategy for finding novel bioactive molecules in Nature consists in exploring underrepresented and -studied microorganisms. Here, we investigated the antimicrobial and tumoral anti-proliferative bioactivities of twenty-three marine and estuarine bacteria of the fascinating phylum Planctomycetota. This was achieved through extraction of compounds produced by the Planctomycetota cultured in oligotrophic medium followed by an antimicrobial screening against ten relevant human pathogens including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts were also evaluated against five tumoral cell lines. Moderate to potent activities were obtained against Enterococcus faecalis, methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-sensitive and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Anti-fungal effects were observed against Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. The highest cytotoxic effects were observed against human breast, pancreas and melanoma tumoral cell lines. Novipirellula caenicola and Rhodopirellula spp. strains displayed the widest spectrum of bioactivities while Rubinisphaera margarita ICM_H10T affected all Gram-positive bacteria tested. LC-HRMS analysis of the extracts did not reveal the presence of any known bioactive natural product, suggesting that the observed activities are most likely caused by novel molecules, that need identification. In summary, we expanded the scope of planctomycetal species investigated for bioactivities and demonstrated that various strains are promising sources of novel bioactive compounds, which reenforces the potential biotechnological prospects offered by Planctomycetota.

Spatial analysis of hospital-related mortality due to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil / Análise espacial da mortalidade hospitalar por COVID-19 em crianças e adolescentes no Brasil

Abstract The objective was to perform a spatial analysis of the hospital mortality rate (HMR) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) attributed to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil from 2020 to 2021. A cluster method was used to group federal units (FUs) based on HMR. In 2020, clusters with high HMRs were formed by north/northeast FUs. In 2021, there was a reduction in HMR. Clusters with higher rates remained in the N/NE region. Regional differences were observed in the HMR. The findings may reflect social inequalities and access to hospital care, especially in the under 1-year-old age group due to the severity of the disease in this group.

Resumo Objetivou-se realizar uma análise espacial da taxa de mortalidade hospitalar (TMH) por síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SRAG) atribuída à COVID-19 em crianças e adolescentes no Brasil no período de 2020 a 2021. Utilizou-se o método de cluster para agrupar as unidades federativas (UFs) com base na TMH. Em 2020, clusters com altas TMHs foram formados por UFs Norte/Nordeste. Em 2021, houve redução na TMH. Os clusters com maiores taxas permaneceram na região N/NE. Diferenças regionais foram observadas nas TMHs. Os achados podem refletir as desigualdades sociais e o acesso à atenção hospitalar, principalmente na faixa etária de menores de 1 ano pela gravidade da doença neste grupo.

Tracing the fate of microcystins from irrigation water to food chains: Studies with Fragaria vulgaris and Meriones shawi.

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanobacterial toxins that can negatively impact human and animal health. This study investigated the bioaccumulation, transfer, depuration, and health risks of MCs in strawberry plants (Fragaria vulgaris) and Meriones shawi animals. The plants were irrigated with 1, 5, 10, and 20 µg/L MCs for 60 days (bioaccumulation phase) and then with clean water for 30 days (depuration phase). The harvested plants (roots and leaves) were then prepared in an aliquot form and used as feed for Meriones shawi. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was used to measure MC concentrations in plant and animal tissues. The bioaccumulation of MCs was found to be highest in the roots, followed by leaves, fruits, liver, stomach, and fecal matter. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was highest in perlite (8.48), followed by roots (5.01), leaves (1.55), stomach (0.87), and fecal matter (1.18), indicating that the parts with high bioaccumulation factor had high translocation of MCs. The transfer of MCs to animal organs was low, and the daily toxin intake of adult consumers of strawberry fruit irrigated with 1, 5, 10, and 20 µg/L MC did not exceed the WHO-recommended limit of 0.04 µg MC-LR/Kg of bw/day. However, fruits from plants irrigated with 10 and 20 µg/L may pose a moderate health risk to children (25 Kg bw), and Meriones' consumption of leaves may pose a significant health risk. After the depuration phase, MC concentration in perlite, roots, leaves, and fruits decreased, indicating that depuration reduced the danger of MC transmission and bioaccumulation. The study also found that glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activity were essential in the depuration of MCs in the tested plants. The findings suggest that legislation regulating the quality of irrigation water in terms of MC concentrations is necessary to prevent detrimental consequences to crops and human exposure.

First Polyphasic Study of Cheffia Reservoir (Algeria) Cyanobacteria Isolates Reveals Toxic Picocyanobacteria Genotype.

Monitoring water supply requires, among other quality indicators, the identification of the cyanobacteria community and taking into account their potential impact in terms of water quality. In this work, cyanobacteria strains were isolated from the Cheffia Reservoir and identified based on morphological features, the 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic analysis, and toxin production by polymerase chain reaction PCR screening of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of cyanotoxins (mcyA, mcyE, sxtA, sxtG, sxtI, cyrJ, and anaC). Thirteen strains representing six different genera: Aphanothece, Microcystis, Geitlerinema, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, and Pseudanabaena were obtained. The results demonstrated the importance of morphological features in determining the genus or the species when incongruence between the morphological and phylogenetic analysis occurs and only the utility of the 16S rRNA gene in determining higher taxonomic levels. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the polyphyly of cyanobacteria for the Microcystis and Oscillatoriales genera. Unexpectedly, Aphanothece sp. CR 11 had the genetic potential to produce microcystins. Our study gives new insight into species with picoplanktonic (or small) cell size and potentially toxic genotypes in this ecosystem. Thus, conventional water treatment methods in this ecosystem have to be adapted, indicating the requirement for pre-treatment methods that can effectively eliminate picocyanobacteria while preserving cell integrity to prevent toxin release.

Using network analysis to identify leverage points based on causal loop diagrams leads to false inference.

Network analysis is gaining momentum as an accepted practice to identify which factors in causal loop diagrams (CLDs)-mental models that graphically represent causal relationships between a system's factors-are most likely to shift system-level behaviour, known as leverage points. This application of network analysis, employed to quantitatively identify leverage points without having to use computational modelling approaches that translate CLDs into sets of mathematical equations, has however not been duly reflected upon. We evaluate whether using commonly applied network analysis metrics to identify leverage points is justified, focusing on betweenness- and closeness centrality. First, we assess whether the metrics identify the same leverage points based on CLDs that represent the same system but differ in inferred causal structure-finding that they provide unreliable results. Second, we consider conflicts between assumptions underlying the metrics and CLDs. We recognise six conflicts suggesting that the metrics are not equipped to take key information captured in CLDs into account. In conclusion, using betweenness- and closeness centrality to identify leverage points based on CLDs is at best premature and at worst incorrect-possibly causing erroneous identification of leverage points. This is problematic as, in current practice, the results can inform policy recommendations. Other quantitative or qualitative approaches that better correspond with the system dynamics perspective must be explored.

Stalling the Course of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Could Cyanobacteria Constitute a New Approach toward Therapy?

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive and irreversible neuronal loss, accompanied by a range of pathological pathways, including aberrant protein aggregation, altered energy metabolism, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Some of the most common NDs include Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's Disease (HD). There are currently no available cures; there are only therapeutic approaches that ameliorate the progression of symptoms, which makes the search for new drugs and therapeutic targets a constant battle. Cyanobacteria are ancient prokaryotic oxygenic phototrophs whose long evolutionary history has resulted in the production of a plethora of biomedically relevant compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties, that can be valuable in this field. This review summarizes the major NDs and their pathophysiology, with a focus on the anti-neurodegenerative properties of cyanobacterial compounds and their main effects.

Description of four new filamentous cyanobacterial taxa from freshwater habitats in the Azores Archipelago.

Simple filamentous cyanobacteria comprise a diverse and polyphyletic group of species, primarily in the orders Leptolyngbyales and Oscillatoriales, that need more sampling to improve their taxonomy. Oceanic islands, such as the Azores archipelago, present unique habitats and biogeographic conditions that harbor an unknown range of diversity of microorganisms. Filamentous cyanobacteria isolated from aquatic habitats in the Azores and maintained in the BACA culture collection were described using morphology, both light and transmission electron microscopy, ecology, and genetic data of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and 16S-23S Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rRNA region secondary structure. Our analyses revealed two new monophyletic genera: Tumidithrix elongata gen. sp. nov. (Pseudanabaenaceae) and Radiculonema aquaticum gen. sp. nov. (Leptolyngbyaceae). In addition, two new species Leptodesmis lacustris sp. nov. (Leptolyngbyaceae) and Pycnacronema lacustrum sp. nov. (Wilmottiaceae) are reported as the first aquatic species for these genera. The description of these new taxa and the genetic study of an isolate of Leptodesmis alaskaensis from the Azores followed the polyphasic approach, identifying diacritical features. Our results reinforce the need for taxonomic studies on cyanobacteria from less-studied habits and geographic regions, which have a potential for new taxa description.

From friends to foes: fungi could be emerging marine sponge pathogens under global change scenarios.

Global change, experienced in the form of ocean warming and pollution by man-made goods and xenobiotics, is rapidly affecting reef ecosystems and could have devastating consequences for marine ecology. Due to their critical role in regulating marine food webs and trophic connections, sponges are an essential model for studying and forecasting the impact of global change on reef ecosystems. Microbes are regarded as major contributors to the health and survival of sponges in marine environments. While most culture-independent studies on sponge microbiome composition to date have focused on prokaryotic diversity, the importance of fungi in holobiont behavior has been largely overlooked. Studies focusing on the biology of sponge fungi are uncommon. Thus, our current understanding is quite limited regarding the interactions and "crosstalk" between sponges and their associated fungi. Anthropogenic activities and climate change may reveal sponge-associated fungi as novel emerging pathogens. Global change scenarios could trigger the expression of fungal virulence genes and unearth new opportunistic pathogens, posing a risk to the health of sponges and severely damaging reef ecosystems. Although ambitious, this hypothesis has not yet been proven. Here we also postulate as a pioneering hypothesis that manipulating sponge-associated fungal communities may be a new strategy to cope with the threats posed to sponge health by pathogens and pollutants. Additionally, we anticipate that sponge-derived fungi might be used as novel sponge health promoters and beneficial members of the resident sponge microbiome in order to increase the sponge's resistance to opportunistic fungal infections under a scenario of global change.