ESS - SA - Posters apresentados em eventos científicos
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- Analysis of the impact of work shift on Burnout syndrome, anxiety, depression and stressPublication . Seixas, Andrea; Rodrigues, MatildeWork shift and night work have been associated with health disorders, as well as with the decrease of workers’ safety and productivity, and poor family and social relationships. However, the effects of this type of work in the incidence of psychosocial risks are still little known. This study aims to analyze the impact of the work shift in the prevalence of Burnout syndrome, anxiety, depression and stress.
- Anticancer potential of spores of the soil fungus Pisolithus tinctoriusPublication . Oliveira, Rui S.; Alves, Ricardo; Preto, Marco; Martins, RosárioCancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide being the search for new anticancer drugs essential for the treatment of this disease. The sporocarps of the soil fungus Pisolithus tinctorius contain pisosterol, a triterpene that has been shown to have antitumor activity against some cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, no studies have focused on the anticancer potential of other structures such as spores, and so the anticancer potential of P. tinctorius, remains largely unknown. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of P. tinctorius spores as a source of anticancer compounds.
- Assess of acid tolerance of non-typhoidal Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium from different epidemiological and genetic backgroundsPublication . Rebelo, Andreia; Mourão, Joana; Freitas, Ana R.; Campos, Joana; Peixe, Luísa; Antunes, Patrícia; Novais, CarlaAcid stress is one of the most frequently encountered hostile conditions that bacteria have to face (e.g. foodproduction-chain/feed/disinfectants/human and animal hosts). Nevertheless, acid tolerance profile of bacteria from diverse epidemiological and genetic backgrounds, including multidrug- resistant (MDR), is still poorly explored. The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility to acidic-pH of non-typhoidal Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium (Efm) from diverse origins. We included Salmonella (n=66; 23 serotypes) and Efm (n=74; clades A1/A2/B) recovered from human-n=54, food-animal production setting-n=20, food- n=56) and environment-n=10 (1997-2018; 6-countries). The minimum-growth-pH (growth-pHmin) was assessed by broth-microdilution using Mueller-Hinton-II adjusted with HCl (pH=2.0-6.5/16h-20h ±2h/37ºC) and the minimum-survival-pH (survival-pHmin) by plating the microdilution wells without visible growth in Brain-HeartInfusion-agar (BHI) (24h-48h±2h/37ºC). An Acid-Tolerance-Response (ATR) assay was performed in 3 isolates of each genera (different growth/survival-pHmin), exposing bacteria in log-phase to an acid-shockchallenge (pH=3.0/15’-Salmonella/60’-Efm) or to a pre- adaptation to acidic-pH (pH=4.5/60’ - for both bacteria) followed by an acid-shock-challenge (pH=3.0/15’-Salmonella/60’-Efm). After that a growth-pHmin and survival-pHmin assays were performed. Most Salmonella showed a growth-pHmin of 4.0 (98%- n=65/66) and a survival-pHmin between 4.0 (52%- n=34/66) and 3.5 (48%-n=32/66). In Efm, the growth-pHmin ranged between 4.5 (65%-n=48/74) and 5.0 (35%-n=26/74) and the survival-pHmin between 3.0 (15%-n=11/74), 3.5 (43%- n=32/74) and 4.0 (42%n=31/74). Only Efm isolates from food (39%-n=11/28), mostly from a poultry-processing-plant using peracetic acid as disinfectant (73%-n=8/11), presented the lowest survival-pHmin 3.0 (73%- MDR/82%-clade A2). Similar survival-pHmin=3.5-4.0 were observed for different Salmonella serotypes and Efm clades. However, a higher percentage of MDR-Salmonella (61%-n=27/44) were able to survive at pH=3.5 contrasting with nonMDR-Salmonella (23%-n=5/22) (p<0,05; Fisher-exact test). The ATR-assay (pre-adaptation acidic pH+acid shock challenge) enhanced survival-pHmin from 3 to 2.5 in 1-Efm (clade A2/MDR/from a poultry processing plant) and from 4 to 3.5 in 1-S. 4,[5],12:i:- (MDR/with mcr-1 gene/from pork meat). Our data suggest that MDR-Salmonella and Efm with diverse epidemiological and genetic backgrounds can survive to low-pH values, although differences among clades/serotypes were not detected. MDR- Salmonella showed a better ability to survive to more acidic pH than non-MDR isolates. ATR-assays revealed strainspecific ability to survive under more acidic-pH after a pre-adaptation to middle acidic- pH.
- Assessment of antimicrobial resistance spread in surface aquatic systems: a study of four rivers in north PortugalPublication . Matos, Cátia; Duarte, Bárbara; Rebelo, Andreia; Lopes, Diana; Freitas, Ana R.; Valente, Margarida; Tavares, Carolina; Rodrigues, Juliana; Peixe, Luísa; Antunes, Patrícia; Novais, CarlaAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) spread in surface water systems, providing water for drinking or for recreational activities, can have serious implications to human, animal and environmental health. The standard criteria to assess water quality are based in the absence of specific bacteria, and do not include AMR study. Here we evaluate the spread of AMR bacteria in rivers of North Portugal under diverse anthropogenic activities.
- Assessment of cyanobacterial biomass as sustainable agricultural fertilizer: soil experiment with plants in Pot †Publication . Massa, Anabella; Azevedo, Joana; Azevedo, Rui; Pinto, Edgar; Costa, Anabela; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Campos, Alexandre; Freitas, MarisaProviding food to the growing human population in a sustainable way is one of the greatest challenges of modern society. In this context, cyanobacterial biomass (CB) can function as a source of macronutrients to increase soil productivity. These organisms can be collected from the environment in considerable amounts, since they tend to grow in large blooms. However, some of these cyanobacterial strains produce toxins that need to be carefully monitored to avoid food accumulation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the possible use of toxic and non-toxic strains of CB as fertilizer supplement in the growth of economically relevant vegetables. One-month old Raphanus sativus (radish) and Spinacia oleracea (spinach) plants were grown in pots in indoor controlled conditions. Six experimental conditions were set: (1) a control with no nutrient addition, (2) a recommended dose of a NK commercial fertilizer (CF), 0.6g of lyophilized CB of (3) a non-toxic strain of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, (4) a toxin-producing strain of C. raciborskii, (5) Microcystis aeruginosa, and (6) Anabaena sp. Several variables were estimated: in CB, this included the NPK dose addition, and in plants, the height, dry weight (dw) of the shoot and root, and the mineral content of plant edible parts. The mineral content in CB was estimated and compared with the recommended dose of CF, according to the information given by the fabricant label. We found no significative differences in N composition; nevertheless, there was a significative higher content in P and significative lower content in K in the CB. In the plants, we found no significative statistical differences between the treatments for the dw of radish root and spinach height. In spinach, the dw of the shoot in the M. aeruginosa treatment was significantly lower than the control, CF, and both the toxic and non-toxic C. raciborskii biomass. Additionally, in radish, the plant height and dw of the shoot M. aeruginosa treatment were significantly lower than in the toxic strain of C. raciborskii treatment. When analyzing mineral content in edible parts, we found that spinach treated with control and CF showed a higher content of Ca, Mo, N, P, and K, while in radish, the same two treatments plus the C. raciborskii toxic had higher Co and Fe content. M. aeruginosa amendment seems to impair shoot growth in both plant species. On the contrary, the toxic C. raciborskii CB seems to have a beneficial effect on growth and in mineral uptake on radish plants.
- Association between aluminium levels and cognitive decline in environmentally exposed eldersPublication . Gerardo, Bianca; Pinto, Marina Cabral; Nogueira, Joana; Almeida, Agostinho; Pinto, Edgar; Simões, Mário Rodrigues; Freitas, SandraNormal brain functioning depends on metals homeostasis, as imbalances may increase oxidative stress and cause other detrimental intracellular events that lead to cell loss. Furthermore, environmental exposure to toxic metals is hypothesized to induce neuroinflammation and neuropathology, paving the way to neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to examine whether such Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) are associated with cognitive performance over time in a sample of elderly individuals of environmentally contaminated regions. A total of 146 elders permanently residing in environmental risk areas were recruited. Participants completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive assessment and were biomonitored for several PTE through hair and urine analysis. After 5 years, the cognitive assessment was repeated. Cognitive performance significantly declined from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.001), with participants scoring on average 4.41 less points on MMSE (Baseline: M = 25.79, SD = 3.520, Md = 27.00; Follow-up: M = 21.38, SD = 5.343, Md = 21.00). Regression analysis on the relationship between PTE and cognitive performance revealed that Aluminium (β = -0.322, p = 0.32) and Zinc (β = -0.372, p = 0.15) in hair and Aluminium in urine (β = -0.368, p = 0.010) significantly predicted MMSE scores past 5 years of biomonitoring (p = 0.002). Higher contents of these PTE were associated with worse cognitive performance at follow-up, after controlling the effects of age, education and supplement intake. Higher levels of Aluminium significantly predict worse general cognitive performance 5 years after biomonitoring across different biological samples. Environmental exposure to this metal may constitute a risk factor for cognitive decline.
- Avaliação de riscos psicossociais em profissionais de saúde: o caso dos Técnicos Superiores de RadiologiaPublication . Pereira, Patrícia; Carvalhais, Carlos; Santos, Joana; Saúde, MiguelOs atuais contextos organizacionais, económicos e sociais levaram a que os riscos psicossociais fossem considerados riscos emergentes na sociedade. As queixas relacionadas com a saúde mental, nomeadamente, o stress, a depressão ou a ansiedade são o segundo problema de saúde mais relatado pelos europeus, depois das lesões musculosqueléticas. A exposição a acontecimentos traumáticos, o confronto frequente com situações de sofrimento, elevadas expectativas tendo em conta o tempo disponível, as urgências e ainda o apoio por parte da organização são considerados os fatores de risco mais frequentes no setor da saúde.
- Bioaccessibility and changes on cylindrospermopsin concentration in edible mussels over storage and processing time.Publication . Freitas, Marisa; Azevedo, Joana; Carvalho, António Paulo; Mendes, Vera; Manadas, Bruno; Campos, Alexandre; Vasconcelos, VítorThe cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin has been recognized of increased concern due to the global expansion of its main producer, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Previous studies have shown that aquatic organisms, especially bivalves, can accumulate high levels of cylindrospermopsin. Based on the potential for human health risks, a provisional tolerable daily intake of 0.03 µg/kg body-weight has been recommended. However, human exposure assessment has been based on the cylindrospermopsin concentration in raw food items. This study aimed to assess the changes on cylindrospermopsin concentration in edible mussels over storage and processing time as well as cylindrospermopsin bioaccessibility. Mussels, (Mytilus galloprovincialis) fed cylindrospermopsin-producing C. raciborskii, were subjected to the treatments and then analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Mussels stored frozen allowed a significantly higher recovery of cylindrospermopsin (52.5%/48 h and 57.7%/one week). The cooking treatments did not produce significant differences in cylindrospermopsin concentration in mussel matrices (flesh), however, cylindrospermopsin was found in the cooking water, suggesting that heat processing can be used to reduce the availability of cylindrospermopsin in this food item. The in vitro digestion with salivary and gastrointestinal juices considerably decreased the cylindrospermopsin availability in uncooked and steamed mussels, highlighting the importance in integrating the bioaccessibility in the human health risk assessment.
- Bioprospecting for cellulose-degrading microorganismsPublication . Almeida, Liliana; Alexandrino, Diogo; Oliveira, Rui S.; Carvalho, M. Fátima; Freitas, Marisa; Freitas, MarisaCellulose, a complex polysaccharide, is one of the main components of plant and algae biomass and therefore the most abundant polymer found in nature, serving as a significant carbon source in various ecosystems. Bioprospecting for cellulolytic microbes is a promising strategy for discovering potential biocatalysts for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials, including residues. This work aims to assess the cellulolytic potential of microbial isolates (bacteria and fungi) sourced from diverse environments and to establish a synthetic microbial consortium capable to enhance the management of cellulosic waste. The experimental approach encompasses biodegradation assays coupled with optimized colorimetric methods, to estimate cellulose consumption (Congo Red assay) and the concomitant production of oligomeric/monomeric sugars (Dinitrosalicylic acid assay). For bacterial strains, these biodegradation assays involve batch incubations in minimal liquid medium supplied with cellulose as the sole carbon source, while solid medium is being used for fungi. Both assays are being run under mesophilic temperatures (28-30 ºC) and aerobic conditions. Upon achieving a final selection, strains exhibiting the best cellulose degradation performances will be assembled into a synthetic consortium that will be evaluated for their cellulose degradation capability. Future steps will also include phylogenetic identification of the cellulose degrading isolates through 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequence analysis. This study has the potential to identify novel cellulolytic microbes, highlighting the substantial role microorganisms play in ecosystem processes and their diverse applications in biotechnology.
- Boas práticas para a promoção da sustentabilidade no ensino e curricula nas instituições de ensino superiorPublication . Duarte, Marina; Farinha, Carla Sofia; Caeiro, Sandra; Reis, Margarida Santos; Simão, João; Rigueiro, Constança; Galacho, Cristina; Câmara, Patrícia; Pedro, Josélia; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Araújo, Marisa Almeida; Vieira da Silva, ManuelaReconhece-se que a sustentabilidade é um conceito interdisciplinar vital (Siller et al., 2022) e um dos maiores desafios que se colocam, não só atualmente, mas também às sociedades futuras (Suárez-López & Eugenio-Gozalbo, 2022). Por esse motivo, é necessária uma maior ênfase e enquadramento no ensino e curricula das Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), motivando definir estratégias de aprendizagem que possibilitem preparar os e as estudantes para uma melhor consciencialização dos temas da sustentabilidade nas suas várias dimensões. Incluir a sustentabilidade nas políticas da educação é imperioso e reflete o reconhecimento dos particulares desafios, bem como das oportunidades que o novo século apresenta, impondo-se que os curricula permitam transmissão de conhecimento, valores e competências, de forma multidimensional, alinhada com a cidadania global. Num estudo realizado com Universidades públicas em Portugal, Farinha et. al (2020) concluíram que existem várias iniciativas relacionadas com a educação para a sustentabilidade, resultando principalmente da proatividade das IES, avançando cada uma a seu ritmo e de forma isolada, apesar de haver redes de colaboração entre docentes e investigadores. É neste espírito colaborativo que a Rede Campus Sustentável (RCS) desenvolve a sua atividade e realizou, em 2021, um inquérito no qual foi possível recolher informação sobre boas práticas para a promoção da sustentabilidade no ensino e curricula das IES portuguesas (Madeira et. al, 2022). Neste levantamento (N=30), alguns dos tópicos abordados foram a/o: i) promoção da revisão e melhoria dos curricula dos ciclos de estudos para integração da sustentabilidade; ii) promoção do desenvolvimento de competências em sustentabilidade na oferta formativa; iii) apoio dado aos e às docentes na promoção de competências em sustentabilidade nas unidades curriculares (UCs) que lecionam; iv) existência de outros espaços/ instalações, que não salas de aulas, onde decorram atividades letivas ou extracurriculares sobre sustentabilidade