Biology subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Pereira, E. C..
Whole-genome analysis of the earliest-detected High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b detected in Hannah Point, Antarctica (January 2024) reveals close relatedness to strains that circulated in pinnipeds and seabirds along the Atlantic coast of South America during the second half of 2023.
Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), namely Globodera pallida, pose a significant threat to potato production worldwide. Accurately quantifying nematode population densities is crucial for effective management strategies. However, traditional detection methods are time-consuming and often imprecise. X-ray computed tomography (CT) offers high-resolution, non-destructive and three-dimensional (3D) imaging frequently used to visualise internal structures of objects, materials or biological tissues, allowing for detailed analysis of their composition, defects, and morphology. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of X-ray CT in detecting and quantifying PCN cysts in different soil types. The ability to achieve 3D imaging and volume quantification of PCN cysts from soils allows accurate enumeration of their egg content. To explore future potential, we propose that when integrated with AI-led quantification of X-ray CT-generated cyst counts, this method could evolve into a next-generation technology to accurately and rapidly quantify these damaging pests in agricultural soils. Combined with the potential to co-analyse other organisms within the same sample, we propose X-ray CT as a fundamental tool for comprehensive soil health assessments and sustainable pest management in agriculture. Author SummaryPotato cyst nematodes are a major threat causing significant crop losses worldwide. Traditionally, detecting this pathogen in soil is challenging, often requiring time-consuming and imprecise. Our study explores a new approach using X-ray computed tomography (CT), a powerful imaging tool that creates detailed 3D images in situ. We observed that X-ray CT can effectively detect and measure the cysts nematodes, even within different soil types. This detailed analysis allows us to determine the cyst structures and estimate the eggs contained. In the future, combining X-ray CT with artificial intelligence could make detecting and quantifying these nematodes even faster and more accurate. This method could also be expanded to study other soil organisms, making it a valuable tool for monitoring soil health and improving agricultural pest management.
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil was characterized by the sequential circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.33, and variants Zeta (P.2), Gamma (P.1/P.1.*), Delta (B.1.617.2/AY.*), and Omicron (BA.*). Our research aimed to compare the biological traits of these lineages and variants by analyzing aspects of viral replication including binding, entry, RNA replication, and viral protein production. We demonstrated that the replication capacity of these variants varies depending on the cell type, with Omicron BA.1 exhibiting the lowest replication in the human pulmonary cells. Additionally, the nucleocapsid proteoforms generated during infection exhibit distinct patterns across variants. Our findings suggest that factors beyond the initial stages of virus entry influence the efficiency of viral replication among different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Thus, our study underscores the significance of RNA replication and the role of nucleocapsid proteins in shaping the replicative characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Author summaryThe COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by the emergence of different viral variants that presents specific properties such as response to antibodies, pathogenicity and detection by diagnostic tests. The circulation of these variants presented a particular pattern depending on the global geographic regions. Despite the cessation of the pandemic, as officially declared by the World Health Organization in 2023, new viral variants continue to emerge while aspects of the virus-cell interaction that contribute to the replication of these variants have not yet been completely understood. In our study, we compared the biological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants that circulated in Brazil during the pandemic, verifying aspects of entry, viral replication and production of viral RNA and proteins. Our results indicate that Omicron BA.1 variant has reduced replication and protein production in human lung cells. We also observed that the viral nucleocapsid protein presents proteoforms that vary according to the variant. These differences could help to explain the differences observed in viral replication in human pulmonary cells.