Background Dysregulation of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to poor outcomes in COVID-19. Neutrophils are key players in this response, displaying distinct functional profiles associated with disease severity. This study investigates how neutrophil phenotypes, and their mediators are modulated in severe COVID-19 following vaccination. Methods and Results We conducted an observational case-control study...

Microplastics—synthetic particles ranging in size from 1 μm to 5 mm—are now widely recognised as an emerging environmental issue due to their ubiquity across ecosystems. While most research has focused on marine environments, important knowledge gaps remain regarding their occurrence in freshwater systems, particularly in remote and high-altitude ecosystems. Given the increasing human use of these environments, understanding p...

Iron is an essential micronutrient for brain development, participating in mitochondrial respiration, myelination, and neurotransmitter synthesis. However, previous studies have demonstrated that excessive iron during early postnatal life induces oxidative reactions, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and synaptic failure. These alterations compromise energy metabolism and neuronal integrity, contributing to long-lasting cog...

Pathogenic fungi that cause rust adversely affect plants, including crops, affecting them differentially depending on the cultivar. This is the case of blackberry ( Rubus spp.), a member of Rosaceae, introduced in Brazil by Embrapa during the 1980s and 1990s. Given the advantageous nutritional properties of its fruits and the relatively low management costs associated with its cultivation, blackberry production has emerged as...

Purpose Candidaemia is the most common healthcare-associated invasive fungal infection. The evolution of the epidemiology of candidaemia in Italy has not been assessed, except at the local level. The primary objective of this study is monitoring changes in the epidemiology of candidaemia and in the susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates between 2015 and 2023. Methods This retrospective multicentre study (2015–2023), invol...

Urban freshwater ecosystems are increasingly exposed to mixtures of pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, their ecological effects remain poorly understood, especially in tropical regions with limited sanitation infrastructure. This study investigated PFAS contamination, water quality, and microbial community structure in Pampulha Lake, a tropical urban reservoir in southeastern Brazil. Spa...