Biometals : An International Journal on the Role of Metal Ions in Biology, Biochemistry, and Medicine

This study addresses the limited understanding of chromium-microbial mat interactions in estuarine tidal flats. The aims were to evaluate (1) the efficiency of the microbial consortium in Cr(III) removal from seawater; (2) the elemental and mineralogical composition of the microbial mat as a natural system in the Cr removal, (3) the effects of metal on microphytobenthos, and (4) possible interactions of Cr with other metals present in the consortium. Microbial mats were exposed to Cr(III) solutions at different concentrations (2-30 mg Cr/L)...

Inorganic arsenic is a well-known environmental toxicant, and exposure to this metalloid is strongly linked with severe and extensive toxic effects in various organs including the lungs. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of arsenite exposure on pulmonary tissue in young and adult mice. In brief, young and adult female Balb/C mice were exposed to 3 and 30 ppm arsenite daily via drinking water for 30 and 90 days. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed and various histological and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses were performed using lung tissues...

The processed forms of milk, branded liquid, and power milk available in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh, were investigated for essential and trace metal/metalloids regarding nutritional and human health risk aspects. For this, the potential nutritional contribution, estimated daily intake (EDI) and non-carcinogenic risk for six different life stages with male and female categories, as well as the carcinogenic risk for children and adults of both genders, were addressed. In total, 46 branded liquid and powder milk samples were considered for this analysis employing atomic absorption spectroscopy...

Copper performs an important role in the brain, but in high levels it can be neurotoxic. Further, some authors have described that copper dyshomeostasis could be related with neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, this review was performed to observe whether high copper levels are related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (AD and PD), using the literature published recently. Articles that measured copper levels in AD or PD patients was included, as well as they that measured copper levels in models used to mimic these diseases...

Aluminum is a potent neurotoxin, responsible for memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction. The neurotoxic effect of aluminum on cognitive impairment is well documented, however, exposure to aluminum in a time-dependent manner and post-exposure self-recovery still needs to be elaborated. This research aimed to (1) study the time-dependent effect of aluminum exposure by administering a total dose of 5850 mg/kg of Al over two different time periods: 30 and 45 days (130 and 195 mg/kg of AlCl3 respectively), and (2) study 20 days post-exposure self-recovery effect in both aluminum-exposed groups by giving distilled water...

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Cadmium (Cd+2 ) renders multifarious environmental stresses and highly toxic to nearly all living organisms including plants. Cd causes toxicity by unnecessary augmentation of ROS that targets essential molecules and fundamental processes in plants. In response, plants outfitted a repertory of mechanisms to offset Cd toxicity. The main elements of these are Cd chelation, sequestration into vacuoles, and adjustment of Cd uptake by transporters and escalation of antioxidative mechanism. Signal molecules like phytohormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate the MAPK cascade, the activation of the antioxidant system andsynergistic crosstalk between different signal molecules in order to regulate plant responses to Cd toxicity...

The circulating micronutrient pattern in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may impact glycemic control and insulin resistance; however, there is a scarcity of studies that have evaluated the circulating micronutrient pattern in the T2DM population. Therefore, our objective was to identify circulating micronutrient pattern and their association with markers of glycemic control and insulin resistance in individuals with T2DM. We developed a cross-sectional observational study involving adults with T2DM in Sergipe, Brazil...

There is limited experimental evidence on the biochemical consequences of aluminium (Al) and cadmium (Cd) co-exposures during pregnancy and postnatal life.This study investigated the impacts of perinatal Al chloride (AlCl3 ) and Cd chloride (CdCl2 ) co-exposures on neuroendocrine functions in mice offspring during postnatal life. The study comprised of four pregnant experimental groups. Group 1 received AlCl3 (10 mg/kg), group 2 were administered CdCl2 (1.5 mg/kg), while group 3 received both AlCl3 (10 mg/kg) and CdCl2 (1...

Dietary cadmium (Cd2+ ) intake is implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and anaemia, but there is a paucity of information on the haematological changes in hypertensive conditions. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the effects of Cd2+ on blood pressure (BP) and haematological indices in the Sprague-Dawley rat model. Three cohorts (n = 10 each) of control and Cd2+ -fed male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. Cd2+ -exposed rats received 2.5 or 5 mg/kg b.w. cadmium chloride via gavage thrice-weekly for eight weeks, while control animals received tap water...

Siderophores are small-molecule iron chelators produced by many microorganisms that capture and uptake iron from the natural environment and host. Their biosynthesis in microorganisms is generally performed using non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or NRPS-independent siderophore (NIS) enzymes. Vibrio parahaemolyticus secretes its cognate siderophore vibrioferrin under iron-starvation conditions. Vibrioferrin is a dehydrated condensate composed of α-ketoglutarate, L-alanine, aminoethanol, and citrate, and pvsA (the gene encoding the ATP-grasp enzyme), pvsB (the gene encoding the NIS enzyme), pvsD (the gene encoding the NIS enzyme), and pvsE (the gene encoding decarboxylase) are engaged in its biosynthesis...

Copper has well-documented antibacterial effects but few have evaluated it after prolonged use and against bacteria and viruses. Coupons from three copper formulations (solid, thermal coating, and decal applications) and carbon steel controls were subjected to 200 rounds simulated cleaning using a Wiperator™ and either an accelerated hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium, or artificial sweat products. Antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was then evaluated using a modified Environmental Protection Agency protocol...

Chewing tobacco may play a contributing role in complications during pregnancy as it contains various kinds of toxic metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and can cause alteration in serum metal concentration. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the effects of chewing tobacco consumption on serum metal contents in pregnant women. A total number of 200 chewing tobacco consumer pregnant women and 200 age-matched non-consumer pregnant women were selected for the study from the outpatient department of gynaecology at Rural Health Centre Tandojam, Pakistan...

We are now moving into the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) era where more antibiotic resistant bacteria are now the majority, a problem brought on by both misuse and over use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, the antibiotic development pipeline dwindled away over the past decades as they are not very profitable compounds for companies to develop. Regardless researchers over the past decade have made strides to explore alternative options and out of this we see revisiting historical infection control agents such as toxic metals...

Citric acid plays an ubiquitous role in the complexation of essential metals like iron and thus it has a key function making them biologically available. For this, iron(III) citrate complexes are considered among the most significant coordinated forms of ferric iron that take place in biochemical processes of all living organisms. Although these systems hold great biological relevance, their coordination chemistry has not been fully elucidated yet. The current study aimed to investigate the speciation of iron(III) citrate using Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies...

This study aimed to analyze the serum and salivary levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and the Cu/Zn ratio and investigate the association between LOX gene variants (rs18800449 and rs2288393) and oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF). A total of 250 subjects were included in the study: OSMF patients (n = 50), areca nut chewers without OSMF (n = 100) and controls (n = 100). Trace metals were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while LOX gene variants were genotyped using the tetra primer amplification refractory mutation system (tetra ARMS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method...

The bio-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Joshanda extract, a commercially available herbal formulation derived from a traditional medicinal plant, as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The as-synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) study, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy exhibited a prominent absorption peak at 430 nm, confirming the formation of AgNPs...

After tattoo application, inks remain in the skin, mostly in the dermal layer, and manufacturers use inks that have not been adequately evaluated for safety in tattoo production. In this study, the metal contents (Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cr) of tattoo inks available in the Turkish market were determined and the relationship between cell viability and inflammatory response of the detected metal levels was investigated. Nine tattoo inks (3 colors) from 3 different brands abbreviated as E, I, and W were examined...

The redox reactivity of iron is a double-edged sword for cell functions, being either essential or harmful depending on metal concentration and location. Deregulation of iron homeostasis is associated with several clinical conditions, including viral infections. Clinical studies as well as in silico, in vitro and in vivo models show direct effects of several viruses on iron levels. There is support for the strategy of iron chelation as an alternative therapy to inhibit infection and/or viral replication, on the rationale that iron is required for the synthesis of some viral proteins and genes...

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in numerous physiopathological processes related to human and animal health. In the poultry industry, Cu is used to promote growth as a feed supplement, but excessive use can lead to toxicity on animals. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) are a superfamily of proteins that require heme as a cofactor and are essential for the metabolism of xenobiotic compounds. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of exposure to Cu on CYP450s activity and apoptosis in the jejunum of broilers...