Browsing by Author "Botelho, Ana"
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- CORONAVIRUS ANIMAUX ET HUMAINS: Évolution and pathogénicité du virus prévention des maladiesPublication . Duarte, Margarida; Nogueira, Teresa; Botelho, Ana; Cavaco, Sandra; Duarte, Ana; Santos, Patricia; Sousa, Rita; Portela, SaraThe most recently discovered Human coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is certainly the best-known coronavirus of all, as it is considered a successful invader. First identified in late 2019, it generated the current pandemic of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) when it spread across the planet in only a few months. Like some other members of the same family of viruses, SARS-CoV-2 can infect different types of human cells, however, the epithelia of the lungs and larynx are the main targets thus preferentially causing respiratory infections. Mortality associated with COVID-19 alongside the impacts on health, education, the economy and individual and social well-being are currently a concern for the whole world. These are not only due to the effects of the disease, but also the pandemic control measures imposed by governments across the world, namely mandatory isolation, and we are still looking to adapt to this new way of life alongside a virus that was previously unknown. However, humans and other animal species have long lived side by side with other coronaviruses, many of which unknown to most people, some quite harmless whilst other potentially lethal. In that sense, this is no different. This book aims to assemble and disseminate information about the origin, evolution and pathogenesis of animal and human coronaviruses in a simple and accessible way, and through this clarify readers’ doubts and fears as well as the rationale underlying transmission prevention actions. The main text of the manuscript is accompanied by two types of additional information for optional consultation; more in-depth information about some of the mentioned concepts (know more) and a set of questions & answers, providing the reader with the opportunity to clarify doubts relating to the content of each section. For the preparation of this book, we counted on the collaboration of technicians, researchers and academics in the areas of microbiology, epidemiology, animal health and public health. During the production and editing process, a board game and cards (Beat Corona) were also produced. These further explored some of the concepts mentioned in this book, including behaviours related to life in society and their implications in the transmission of diseases caused by coronaviruses, including COVID-19. This game can be used as a pedagogical resource in the classroom context, or as a mere leisure and learning activity.
- Os coronavírus dos animais e do HomemPublication . Duarte, Margarida; Nogueira, Teresa; Botelho, Ana; Cavaco, Sandra; Duarte, Ana; Santos, Patricia; Sousa, Rita; Portela, Sara
- COVID-19 lockdowns may reduce resistance genes diversity in the human microbiome and the need for antibioticsPublication . Rebelo, João S.; Domingues, Célia P. F.; Dionisio, Francisco; Gomes, Manuel C.; Botelho, Ana; Nogueira, TeresaRecently, much attention has been paid to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet bacterial resistance to antibiotics remains a serious and unsolved public health problem, which kills thousands of people annually, being an insidious and silent pandemic. In this study, we explored the idea of confinement and the tightening of the hygiene measures to contain the spreading of coronavirus, to simulate the effect that it has on lowering the spreading of pathogenic bacteria in a human network, and on the need to use antibiotics. For that, we used computational biology to generate simulations
- Database of Metagenomes of Sediments from Estuarine Aquaculture Farms in Portugal—AquaRAM Project CollectionPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Silva, Daniel G.; Lopes, Susana; Botelho, AnaAquaculture farms and estuarine environments close to human activities play a critical role in the interaction between aquatic and terrestrial surroundings and animal and human health. The AquaRAM project aimed to study estuarine aquaculture farms in Portugal as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes and the potential of its spread due to mobile genetic elements. We have assembled a collection of metagenomic data from 30 sediment samples from oysters, mussels, and gilt-head sea bream aquaculture farms. This collection includes samples of the estuarine environment of three rivers and one lagoon located from the north to the south of Portugal, namely, the Lima River in Viana do Castelo, Aveiro Lagoon in Aveiro, Tagus River in Alcochete, and Sado River in Setúbal. Statistical data from the raw metagenome files, as well as the file sizes of the assembled nucleotide and protein sequences, are also presented. The link to the statistics and the download page for all the metagenomes is also listed below.
- Documento de consenso sobre codificação de exames de ressonância magnética cardíaca em PortugalPublication . Ferreira, António Miguel; Almeida, Ana G.; Oliveira, Luís; Bettencourt, Nuno; Marques, Hugo; Matos, Pedro; Abecasis, João; Abreu, João; Alpendurada, Francisco; Botelho, Ana; Campos, Paula; Castela, Susana; Cunha, Damião; Donato, Paulo; Ferreira, Maria João; Lopes, Luís Rocha; Pinho, Teresa; Sá, Isabel; Saraiva, Carla; Tavares, Nuno Jalles; Themudo, RaquelOne of the obstacles to more frequent and appropriate use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in Portugal has been the lack of specific codes that accurately describe these examinations as they are currently performed. In this consensus document, recommendations are made for updating and standardizing CMR codes in Portugal. Guidance on which techniques and codes should be used in the most common clinical scenarios is also provided.
- Ecological drivers of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis detection in mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) using IS900 as proxyPublication . Cunha, Mónica V.; Rosalino, L. M.; Leão, Célia; Bandeira, Victor; Fonseca, Carlos; Botelho, Ana; Reis, Ana C.Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, a chronic infection affecting domestic ruminants worldwide. Despite sporadic reports of MAP occurrence in non-ruminants, information on the risk factors predisposing for infection is still scarce and evidence of transmission paths linking the livestock-wildlife-environment interfaces also remains lacking. In this study, we predicted that environmental, host-related, land use and human driven disturbance factors would modulate carnivore exposure to MAP. To test these hypotheses, we performed a retrospective survey, based on microbiological and molecular methods, in mainland Portugal including five sympatric species from the Herpestidae, Canidae, Viverridae, and Mustelidae families (n = 202) and examined 16 variables as putative predictors of MAP occurrence. Molecular evidence of MAP using IS900 as proxy was demonstrated in 7.43% (95%CI: 4.55-11.9) of surveyed carnivores, the highest proportions being registered for red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (10%; 95%CI: 4.0-23) and Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) (6.0%; 95%CI: 3.2-11). We demonstrate that important species of the Mediterranean carnivore guild, such as stone marten (Martes foina) and common genet (Genetta genetta), may also be exposed to MAP, being this the first time that occurrence in genet is reported. The high proportion of DNA-positive specimens, concurrent with the apparent lack of gastro-enteric lesions and molecular confirmation of IS900 in feces, argue for the presence of subclinical carriers that occasionally shed bacteria, potentially aiding as source of infection to susceptible species and possibly contributing for environmental contamination. Achievement of MAP isolation would prove beyond any doubt that MAP is present in this wildlife population. Ecological modelling results suggested that the probability of MAP infection using IS900 as proxy in mongoose is positively associated with higher altitude and temperature stability, as well as with lower annual rainfall. Density of livestock farms was found not to be a significant predictor, which may indicate that the livestock-wildlife interface is probably not important as an infection route for mongoose.
- Editorial: Evolution of Animal Microbial Communities in Response to Environmental StressPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Botelho, Ana; Bowler, Lucas; Inácio, João
- Estuarine Aquacultures at the Crossroads of Animal Production and Antibacterial Resistance: A Metagenomic Approach to the ResistomePublication . Silva, Daniel G.; Domingues, Célia P. F.; Figueiredo, João F.; Dionisio, Francisco; Botelho, Ana; Nogueira, TeresaIt is recognized that the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes among aquatic environments, including aquaculture and the human environment, can have detrimental effects on human and animal health and the ecosystem. Thus, when transmitted to the human microbiome or pathogens, resistance genes risk human health by compromising the eventual treatment of infections with antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to define the resistance profile of aquaculture farms and their potential risk for spreading. Twenty-four sediments from oyster and gilthead sea bream aquaculture farms located in three Portuguese river estuaries (17 sediments from Sado, 4 from Aveiro, and 3 from Lima) were studied by comparative metagenomic analysis. The computation of the diversity of genes conferring resistance per antibiotic class revealed a significant increase in aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, disinfectants, quinolones, and tetracyclines counts. In all geographic locations under study, the most diverse AR genes confer resistance to the macrolides, tetracyclines and oxazolidinones classes, all of which are medically important for human and animal therapies, as well as resistance to disinfectants. The diversity of mobile genetic elements correlated with the number of AR genes such as tetracyclines, suggesting that AR could be easily mobilized among bacterial genomes and microbiomes.
- Evolution of Animal Microbial Communities in Response to Environmental StressPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Botelho, Ana; Bowler, Lucas; Inácio, João
- Long-term molecular surveillance provides clues on a cattle origin for Mycobacterium bovis in PortugalPublication . Reis, Ana C.; Tenreiro, Rogério; Albuquerque, Teresa; Botelho, Ana; Cunha, Mónica V.Animal tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is maintained in Portugal in a multi-host system, with cattle, red deer and wild boar, playing a central role. However, the ecological processes driving transmission are not understood. The main aim of this study was thus to contribute to the reconstruction of the spatiotemporal history of animal TB and to refine knowledge on M. bovis population structure in order to inform novel intervention strategies. A collection of 948 M. bovis isolates obtained during long-term surveillance (2002-2016, 15 years) of cattle (n = 384), red deer (n = 303) and wild boar (n = 261), from the main TB hotspot areas, was characterized by spoligotyping and 8 to 12-loci MIRU-VNTR. Spoligotyping identified 64 profiles and MIRU-VNTR distinguished 2 to 36 subtypes within each spoligotype, enabling differentiation of mixed or clonal populations. Common genotypic profiles within and among livestock and wildlife in the same spatiotemporal context highlighted epidemiological links across hosts and regions, as for example the SB0119-M205 genotype shared by cattle in Beja district or SB0121-M34 shared by the three hosts in Castelo Branco and Beja districts. These genomic data, together with metadata, were integrated in a Bayesian inference framework, identifying five ancestral M. bovis populations. The phylogeographic segregation of M. bovis in specific areas of Portugal where the disease persists locally is postulated. Concurrently, robust statistics indicates an association of the most probable ancient population with cattle and Beja, providing a clue on the origin of animal TB epidemics. This relationship was further confirmed through a multinomial probability model that assessed the influence of host species on spatiotemporal clustering. Two significant clusters were identified, one that persisted between 2004 and 2010, in Beja district, with Barrancos county at the centre, overlapping the central TB core area of the Iberian Peninsula, and highlighting a significant higher risk associated to cattle. The second cluster was predominant in the 2012-2016 period, holding the county Rosmaninhal at the centre, in Castelo Branco district, for which wild boar contributed the most in relative risk. These results provide novel quantitative insights beyond empirical perceptions, that may inform adaptive TB control choices in different regions.