Occult HBV infection occurred in a high percentage of patients but was not clinically significant.

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Recently, a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was discovered in China. Due to its high level of contagion, it has already reached most countries, quickly becoming a pandemic. Although the most common symptoms are related to breathing problems, SARS-CoV-2 infections also affect the gastrointestinal tract culminating in inflammation and diarrhea. However, the mechanisms related to these enteric manifestations are still not well understood. Evidence shows that the SARS-CoV-2 binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor 2 (ACE2) in host cells as a viral invasion mechanism and can infect the lungs and the gut. Other viruses have already been linked to intestinal symptoms through binding to ACE2. In turn, this medical hypothesis article conjectures that the ACE2 downregulation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 internalization could lead to decreased activation of the mechanistic target of mTOR with increased autophagy and lead to intestinal dysbiosis, resulting in diarrhea. Besides that, dysbiosis can directly affect the respiratory system through the lungs. Although there are clues to other viruses that modulate the ACE2/gut/lungs axis, including the participation of autophagy and dysbiosis in the development of gastrointestinal symptoms, there is still no evidence of the ACE2/mTOR/autophagy pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Thus, we propose that the new coronavirus causes a change in the intestinal microbiota, which culminates in a diarrheal process through the ACE2/mTOR/autophagy pathway into enterocytes. Our assumption is supported by premises that unregulated intestinal microbiota increases the susceptibility to other diseases and extra-intestinal manifestations, which can even cause remote damage in lungs. These putative connections lead us to suggest and encourage future studies aiming at assessing the aforementioned hypothesis and regulating dysbiosis caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to confirm the decrease in lung injuries and the improvement in the prognosis of the disease.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (DSM) on ethanol-induced gastric injury, and if its possible mechanism of action is related to inhibiting the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1). We evaluated the effect of supplementing 108 CFU•g body wt−1•day−1 of DSM on ethanol-induced gastric injury. DSM significantly reduced the ulcer area (1.940 ± 1.121 mm2) with 3 days of pretreatment. The effects of DSM supplementation were reversed by Resiniferatoxin (RTX), TRPV1 agonist (3 nmol/kg p.o.). Substance P (SP) (1 μmol/L per 20 g) plus 50% ethanol resulted in hemorrhagic lesions, and DSM supplementation did not reverse the lesion area induced by administering SP. TRPV1 staining intensity was lower, SP, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels were reduced, and restored normal levels of antioxidant parameters (glutathione and superoxide dismutase) in the gastric mucosa in mice treated with DSM. In conclusion, DSM exhibited gastroprotective activity through decreased expression of TRPV1 receptor and decreasing SP levels, with a consequent reduction of oxidative stress.

cutaneous secretions of amphibians have bioactive compounds, such as peptides, with potential for biotechnological applications. therefore, this study aimed to determine the primary structure and investigate peptides obtained from the cutaneous secretions of the amphibian, Leptodactylus vastus, as a source of bioactive molecules. the peptides obtained possessed the amino acid sequences, GVVDiLKGAAKDLAGH and GVVDiLKGAAKDLAGHLASKV, with monoisotopic masses of [M + H] ± = 1563.8 Da and [M + H] ± = 2062.4 Da, respectively. The molecules were characterized as peptides of the class of ocellatins and were named as Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21). Functional analysis revealed that Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) showed weak antibacterial activity. However, treatment of mice with these ocellatins reduced the nitrite and malondialdehyde content. Moreover, superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity and glutathione concentration were increased in the hippocampus of mice. In addition, Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) were effective in impairing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and nf-kB activation in living microglia. We incubated hippocampal neurons with microglial conditioned media treated with LPS and LPS in the presence of Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) and observed that both peptides reduced the oxidative stress in hippocampal neurons. furthermore, these ocellatins demonstrated low cytotoxicity towards erythrocytes. these functional properties suggest possible to neuromodulatory therapeutic applications.The skin of amphibians has been the subject of interest and study of several research groups as well as pharmaceutical industries, due to the abundance and diversity of bioactive molecules with potential biotechnological applications, especially for the production of new drugs 1 . The characteristic way of living of amphibians is divided between aquatic and the terrestrial environment 2 . They possess a highly sensitive skin that is essential to its respiration and is highly vulnerable to environmental aggressions, such as desiccation, attack of microorganisms, ultraviolet radiation, and injuries 3 . This vulnerability has culminated in the development of an innate defense system as a survival strategy based on the expression, production, accumulation, and secretion of bioactive www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ against E. coli with MIC of 125 μg/mL (Fig. 4) and inhibition percentage corresponding to 34.17 ± 11.66%. The optical density (630 nm) of E. coli decreased in a dose-dependent manner, showing significant reduction on viability for both the ocellatins at concentrations between 125 and 1000 μg/mL. The value 125 μg/mL of MIC is too high to be characterized as having significant antibacterial potential. Moreover, only Ocellatin-K1(1-16) showed any significant activity against S. aureus featuring MICs of 31.25 μg/mL and inhibition percentage corresponding to 30.79 ± 10.27%. This activity was not seen to be conc...