Can Spike Fragments of Sars-Cov-2 Induce Genomic Instability and DNA Damage in the Guppy, Poecilia Reticulate? An Additional Concern Study of Covid-19

The identification of SARS-CoV-2 particles in wastewater and freshwater ecosystems has raised concerns about its possible impacts on non-target aquatic organisms. In this particular, our knowledge of such impacts is still inadequate and limited attention has been given to this issue. Hence, in our study, we aimed to evaluate the possible induction of mutagenic (via micronucleus test) and genotoxic (via single cell gel electrophoresis assay, comet assay) effects in adults Poecilia reticulata exposed to fragments of the Spike protein of the new coronavirus at the level of 40 µg/L, denominated PSPD-2002. As a result, after 10 days of exposure, we perceived that animals exposed to the peptides demonstrated an increase in the frequency of erythrocytic nuclear alteration (ENA) and in all parameters assessed in the comet assay (length tail, %DNA in tail and Olive tail moment), suggesting that PSPD-2002 peptides were able to cause genomic instability and erythrocyte DNA damage. Besides, these effects were significantly correlated with the increase in lipid peroxidation processes [inferred by the high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA)] reported in the brain and liver of P. reticulata and with the suppression of the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Thus, our study constitutes a new insight and promising investigation into the toxicity associated with the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 peptide fragments in freshwater environments and therefore sheds light on the ecotoxicological risk associated with COVID-19 and how much freshwater fish can be harmful impacts