During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) were constantly under the scientific spotlight, but most studies evaluated ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of both proteins before, during, and after-infection. For that, nasopharyngeal samples from 26 patients were used to measure ACE2/TMPRSS2 ex-pression via qPCR. Symptomatic patients presented lower ACE2 expression levels before and after the infection than those in asymptomatic patients; however, these levels increased during SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, symptomatic patients presented higher expression levels of TMPRSS2 pre-infection, which decreased in the following periods. In summary, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels are potential risk factors for the development of symptomatic COVID-19, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 potentially modulates those levels.

The Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for causing Hepatitis E, a zoonotic disease that has emerged as a significant global health concern, accounting for about 20 million infections and 70,000 deaths annually. Although it is often recognized as a disease that is acute in low-income countries, HEV has also been recognized as a zoonotic disease in high-income countries. The zoonotic transmission requires flexible approaches to effectively monitor the virus, vectors, and reservoirs. However, the environmental monitoring of HEV presents additional challenges due to limitations in current detection methods, making it difficult to accurately assess the global prevalence of the virus. These challenges hinder efforts to fully understand the scope of the disease and to implement effective control measures. This review will explore these and other critical concerns, addressing gaps in HEV research and highlighting the need for improved strategies in the monitoring, prevention, and management of Hepatitis E using a One Health approach.

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has reached approximately 769 million people, leading to more than 7 million deaths worldwide. Faced with the possibility of other respiratory pathogens co-infecting patients and modifying their clinical response to SARS-CoV-2, some researchers have explored this line of investigation. The relationship between these co-infections remains unclear, underscoring the need to deepen our understanding of interactions among pathogens and between pathogens and the host. Thus, the present study employed RT-qPCR to assess the presence of Human Adenovirus (HAdV), Influenza A (Flu A), Influenza B (Flu B), Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Human Rhinovirus (HRV), and Parainfluenza Virus (PIV). Nasopharyngeal samples (187) from adult patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms were collected between February 2021 and November 2022 at the University Hospital Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. The present findings revealed that 25.16% of samples tested positive for non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses (29.8%—HRV; 5.3%—PIV; 4.3%—RSV; and 1.1%—HMPV). In the 74.84% of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, co-infection was observed in 9.7% of patients, with 7.5% being HRV, 1.1% HAdV, and 1.1% Influenza A. Since co-infections can potentially alter patient prognoses and impact local epidemiological dynamics, this study highlights the significance of ongoing monitoring and epidemiological assessment through genomic surveillance of other clinically relevant respiratory pathogens.

Over the past four years, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) have been extensively studied, given their important role in SARS-CoV-2 replication; however, most studies have failed to compare their behavior in the face of different SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of different variants in ACE2/TMPRSS2 expressional and genomic profiles. To achieve this, 160 nasopharyngeal samples, previously detected with SARS-CoV-2 via RT-qPCR (June 2020–July 2022), were quantified for ACE2/TMPRSS2 expression levels, also using RT-qPCR; SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants, along with polymorphisms in the ACE2/TMPRSS2 coding genes, were identified using nanopore sequencing. In order of appearance, the B.1.1.28, Zeta, Gamma, and Omicron variants were identified in this study. The ACE2 levels were higher when B.1.1.28 was present, possibly due to the ACE2/spike binding affinity; the TMPRSS2 levels were also higher in the presence of B.1.1.28, probably attributable to inefficient usage of the TMPRSS2 pathway by the other variants, as well as to the decrease in protease transcription factors when in the presence of Omicron. The rs2285666 (ACE2) polymorphism was less frequent when B.1.1.28 was present, which is befitting, since rs2285666 increases ACE2/spike binding affinity. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants appear to exhibit varying impacts in regards to ACE2/TMPRSS2 genomic and expressional behavior.

Meat products represent important vehicles for foodborne viral transmission, yet standardized detection methodologies for these complex matrices remain limited. This study systematically compared three viral recovery methods across nine meat products representing chicken, pork, and processed deli meat matrices: polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) precipitation, glycine buffer-chloroform (GBC) phase separation, and β-mercaptoethanol (B-M) chaotropic lysis. Using Murine Norovirus 1 (MNV-1) and Murine Hepatitis Virus 3 (MHV-3) as process controls, recovery efficiency was assessed by RT-qPCR. The B-M method demonstrated the most consistent performance, successfully detecting MNV-1 across all tested matrices and significantly outperforming PEG and GBC for MNV-1 in chicken and pork. Applying the B-M method to 25 commercial retail products revealed the genetic material of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in four samples and Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) in one sample, exclusively within pork products. These findings provide critical comparative performance data for method selection in viral surveillance of meat and document the occurrence of HEV and PCV-2 genetic material in commercial pork products from Santa Catarina, Brazil, highlighting a significant food and agricultural biosafety concern in this major meat-producing and exporting state.

Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen with increasing antimicrobial resistance worldwide. In Brazil, molecular testing for M. genitalium and resistance-associated mutations is not routinely available, and national data remain scarce. We analyzed 118 M. genitalium-positive urethral and vaginal swab samples collected between 2018 and 2023 from sites across all five Brazilian geographic regions. PCR amplification and sequencing of 23S rRNA, parC, and gyrA identified macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance-associated mutations. Among 79 samples successfully sequenced for 23S rRNA, 40.5% harbored macrolide resistance-associated mutations (A2058G, A2059G, or A2058T) detected in samples from all five regions at different frequencies. A total of 6.1% of sequenced samples presented parC mutations, including two with combined 23S rRNA and parC mutations. No resistance-associated mutations were detected in gyrA. While resistance-associated mutations occurred in both symptomatic men and pregnant women, these findings are not representative estimates for the Brazilian population since the study used convenience samples from two distinct surveillance populations. Nonetheless, they provide multicenter molecular data that may inform future surveillance, diagnostic strategies, antimicrobial stewardship, and resistance-guided management of M. genitalium in Brazil.