ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women, influencing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the child's neuropsychomotor development. RESEARCH AIM: To evaluate the influence of COVID-19 on the mental health of postpartum women, on the protein and antioxidant profile of breast milk, on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and on the neuropsychomotor development of their infants. METHODS: Observational study, prospective cohort, with 180 postpartum women. Psychosocial status was assessed by changes in mood and lifestyle; trait and state anxiety, and postpartum depression. Breastfeeding time and neuropsychomotor development were determined at the three-month well-child consultation based on the child's health record and the WHO Anthro software. 5 ml of mature breast milk were collected from the full breast of the lactating women. RESULTS: There was no difference between the prevalence of anxious traits and states and postpartum depression among seropositive and negative postpartum women for COVID-19. There was no difference in the prevalence of time and type of breastfeeding, and of normal and delayed neuropsychomotor development between seropositive and negative postpartum women for COVID-19. The fact that the baby smiles and raises and keeps his head elevated were associated with lower chances of an anxious state among postpartum women (OR: 0.23; OR: 0.28 and OR: 0.20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The need for more studies to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of postpartum women, breastfeeding and the neuropsychomotor development of babies is highlighted, given the importance of breast milk for the growth and development of babies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Plants interact with a variety of microorganisms during their life cycle, among which beneficial bacteria deserve special attention. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a beneficial bacterium able to fix nitrogen and promote plant growth. Despite its biotechnological potential, the mechanisms regulating the interaction between G. diazotrophicus and host plants remain unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the response of G. diazotrophicus to cocultivation with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Bacterial growth in response to cocultivation and plant exudates was analyzed. Through comparative proteomic analysis, G. diazotrophicus proteins regulated during cocultivation were investigated. Finally, the role of some up-accumulated proteins in the response G. diazotrophicus to cocultivation was analyzed by reverse genetics, using insertion mutants. RESULTS: Our results revealed the induction of bacterial growth in response to cocultivation. Comparative proteomic analysis identified 450 bacterial proteins, with 39 up-accumulated, and 12 down-accumulated in response to cocultivation. Among the up-accumulated pathways, the metabolism of pentoses and protein synthesis were highlighted. Proteins potentially relevant to bacterial growth response such as ABC-F-Etta, ClpX, Zwf, MetE, AcnA, IlvC, and AccC were also increased. Reverse genetics analysis, using insertion mutants, revealed that the lack of ABC-F-Etta and AccC proteins severely affects G. diazotrophicus response to cocultivation. Our data demonstrated that specific mechanisms are activated in the bacterial response to plant exudates, indicating the essential role of "ribosomal activity" and "fatty acid biosynthesis" in such a process. This is the first study to demonstrate the participation of EttA and AccC proteins in plant-bacteria interactions, and open new perspectives for understanding the initial steps of such associations.
ABSTRACT
One of the industrial pillars of Espírito Santo state, South East of Brazil, is iron-mining products processing. This activity brings to a high level of coastal pollution due to deposition of iron particulate on fragile ecosystems as mangroves and restinga. Schinus therebinthifolius (aroeira) is a widespread restinga species. This work tested iron toxicity alleviation by vermicompost humic substances (HS) added to aroeira seedlings in hydroponic conditions. Catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase are antioxidant enzymes that work as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers: they increase their activity as an answer to ROS concentration rise that is the consequence of metal accumulation or humic substance stimulation. S. terebinthifolius seedlings treated with HS and Fe augmented their antioxidant enzyme activities significantly less than seedlings treated separately with HS and Fe; their significantly lower Fe accumulation and the slight increase of root and leaf area confirm the biostimulating effect of HS and their role in blocking Fe excess outside the roots. The use of HS can be useful for the recovery of areas contaminated by heavy metals.
