Detection of Sars-Cov-2 in the air of two hospitals in Hermosillo, Sonora, México, utilizing a low-cost environmental monitoring system.

OBJECTIVE: The best way of preventing the dispersion of an infectious disease is decreasing the transmissibility of the pathogen. To achieve such a goal, it is important to have epidemiological surveillance to retrieve data about its routes of transmission and dispersion. This study investigated the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 detection using filtration through 0.22 µm pores. METHODS: A filtration system with vacuum pump was used for sampling, and molecular analysis was performed by RT-PCR for detecting the COVID-19 virus. RESULTS: It was found that SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in particulate matter trapped on 0.22 µm filters 3 h after air sampling, and the only contaminated areas were those near patient zones. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the possibility of finding this virus in floating particulate matter in contaminated zones, with a simple and economic sampling method based on filtration technology through 0.22 µm pores and detection with molecular techniques (RT-PCR). The higher risk zones were those near patients with COVID-19.

Synthesis of Hemolymph High-Density Lipoprotein beta-Glucan Binding Protein by Penaeus vannamei Shrimp Hepatopancreas.

It was recently shown that the shrimp high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the beta-1,3-glucan binding protein (BGBP) are identical, implying dual functions for the same protein: lipid transport and involvement in the defense system. Because this protein is present in plasma, and the hepatopancreas is a major lipid storage gland, we investigated the presence of the HDL/BGBP polypeptide and its messenger RNA in this tissue using a monospecific antibody against HDL/BGBP. Hepatopancreas crude protein extracts, as well as polypeptides produced by poly(A)(+) RNA in vitro translation, were recognized by the anti-HDL/BGBP. Furthermore, a specific pattern was revealed in hepatopancreas thin sections by immunodetection. Strong recognition was seen in the epithelial cells of hepatopancreatic tubules, probably related to the secretion process of this protein.