Browsing by Author "Amaral, Olga"
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- Field study on the accumulation of trace elements by vegetables produced in the vicinity of abandoned pyrite minesPublication . Alvarenga, Paula; Simoes, Isabel; Palma, Patrícia; Amaral, Olga; Matos, Joao XavierTo evaluate the accumulation of trace elements (TE) by vegetables produced in the vicinity of abandoned pyrite mines, eighteen different small farms were selected near three mines from the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Sao Domingos, Aljustrel and Lousal). Total and bioavailable As, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were analyzed in the soils, and the same TE were analyzed in three different vegetables, lettuce (Lactuca sativa), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea), collected at the same locations. The soils were contaminated with As, Cu, Pb, and Zn, since their total concentrations exceeded the considered soil quality guideline values for plant production in the majority of the sampling sites. The maximum total concentrations for those TE were extremely high in some of the sampling sites (e.g. 1851 mg As kg(-1) in Sao Domingos, 1126 mg Cu kg(-1) in Aljustrel, 4946 mg Pb kg(-1) in Sao Domingos, and 1224 mg Zn kg(-1) in Aljustrel). However, the soils were mainly circumneutral, a factor that contributes to their low bioavailable fractions. As a result, generally, the plants contained levels of these elements characteristic of uncontaminated plants, and accumulation factors for all elements <1, typical of excluder plants. Furthermore, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for Cu and Zn, through the consumption of these vegetables, falls below the recommended upper limit for daily intake of these elements. The sampling site that stood out from the others was located at Sao Joao de Negrilhos (Aljustrel), where bioavailable Zn levels were higher, a consequence of the slight acidity of the soil. Therefore, the Zn content in vegetables was also higher, characteristic of contaminated plants, emphasizing the risk of Zn entering the human food chain via the consumption of crops produced on those soils. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Induced pluripotent stem cell line (INSAi001-A) from a Gaucher disease type 3 patient compound heterozygote for mutations in the GBA1 genePublication . Duarte, Ana Joana; Ribeiro, Diogo; Santos, Renato; Moreira, Luciana; Bragança, José; Amaral, OlgaGaucher Disease (GD) type 3 is a neurological form of a multisystemic autosomal recessive disorder belonging to the group of lysosomal storage diseases. Causal mutations in the glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) commonly lead to abnormal protein and GD, heterozygosity is a genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. This work describes the use of a non-integrative approach using Sendai Virus delivery to establish induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts from a GD type 3 patient. Differentiation of iPSCs can be employed to generate a variety of complex cell types with a high degree of genetic complexity that would otherwise be unattainable.
- Induced pluripotent stem cell line (INSAi002-A) from a Fabry Disease patient hemizygote for the rare p.W287X mutationPublication . Duarte, Ana Joana; Ribeiro, Diogo; Santos, Renato; Moreira, Luciana; Bragança, José; Amaral, OlgaFabry Disease (FD) is a multisystemic X-linked disorder that belongs to the group of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Causal mutations on alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) commonly lead to abnormal protein and consequently to FD. Since it is an X-linked disease, males are primarily affected. This work describes the generation of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from skin fibroblasts from a FD patient, using non-integrative episomal vectors. Differentiation of iPSCs can be applied to generate a variety of cell types with high degree of genetic complexity that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.