A5083351909- Glass properties and applications
- Material Dynamics and Properties
- Phase-change materials and chalcogenides
- Solid-state spectroscopy and crystallography
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Chemical and Physical Properties in Aqueous Solutions
- Thermography and Photoacoustic Techniques
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Chemical Reactions and Isotopes
- Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
- Thermodynamic properties of mixtures
- Semiconductor materials and interfaces
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Metalloenzymes and iron-sulfur proteins
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Metallic Glasses and Amorphous Alloys
University of Parma
2023
Eni (Italy)
1991-2019
Novartis (Italy)
2008-2013
Newron Pharmaceuticals (Italy)
1998-2013
University of Messina
1988-2009
Brigham and Women's Hospital
2002-2005
Harvard University
2002-2005
Johns Hopkins University
2002
Chiron (Norway)
2000-2002
University of Genoa
2002
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection occurs in about 3 percent of the world's population and is a major cause liver disease. HCV also associated with cryoglobulinemia, B lymphocyte proliferative disorder. Virus tropism controversial, mechanisms cell entry remain unknown. The envelope protein E2 binds human CD81, tetraspanin expressed on various types including hepatocytes lymphocytes. Binding was mapped to extracellular loop CD81. Recombinant molecules containing this bound antibodies...
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a multiserotype bacterial pathogen representing major cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. To develop broadly protective vaccine, we analyzed the genome sequences eight GBS isolates and cloned tested 312 surface proteins as vaccines. Four elicited protection mice, their combination proved highly against large panel strains, including all circulating serotypes. Protection also correlated with antigen accessibility on induction opsonophagocytic...
The 2,160,267 bp genome sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae , the leading cause bacterial sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in neonates U.S. Europe, is predicted to encode 2,175 genes. Genome comparisons among S. pneumoniae pyogenes other completely sequenced genomes identified genes specific streptococci . These silico analyses, combined with comparative hybridization experiments between serotype V strain 2603 V/R 19 strains from several serotypes using whole-genome microarrays, revealed...
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen causing chronic liver disease. We have recently found that the large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD81 binds HCV. This finding prompted us to assess structure-function features HCV-CD81 interaction by using recombinant E2 protein and soluble form LEL. HCV-E2 LEL with K d 1.8 nM; can mediate attachment on hepatocytes; engagement mediates internalization only 30% molecules even after 12 h; four cysteines two disulfide bridges, integrity which...
ABSTRACT Chlamydia pneumoniae , a human pathogen causing respiratory infections and probably contributing to the development of atherosclerosis heart disease, is an obligate intracellular parasite which for replication needs productively interact with enter cells. Because intrinsic difficulty in working C. absence reliable tools its genetic manipulation, molecular definition chlamydial cell surface still limited, thus leaving mechanisms entry largely unknown. In effort define protein...
Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spheroid particles released by all Gram-negative bacteria as a result of the budding out outer membrane. Since they carry many bacterial surface-associated proteins and feature potent built-in adjuvanticity, OMVs being utilized vaccines, some which commercially available. Recently, methods for manipulating protein content have been proposed, thus making promising platform recombinant, multivalent vaccines development.Chlamydia muridarum DO serine protease...
Natural immunity against obligate and/or facultative intracellular pathogens is usually mediated by both humoral and cellular immunity. The identification of those antigens stimulating arms the immune system instrumental for vaccine discovery. Although high-throughput technologies have been applied discovery antibody-inducing antigens, few examples their application T-cell reported. We describe how compilation immunome, here defined as pool immunogenic inducing T- B-cell responses in vivo,...
An ultrasonic study of the loss characteristics and sound velocity was carried out in AgI-${\mathrm{Ag}}_{2}$O-${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ glasses as a function temperature silver-compound concentration. From behavior ${({\mathrm{Ag}}_{2}\mathrm{O})}_{y}{({\mathrm{B}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3})}_{1\ensuremath{-}y}$, formation fourfold-coordinated boron ions is suggested. This increases rapidly, $y$, until $y\ensuremath{\simeq}0.25$; for larger strong production singly bonded oxygen...
There is evidence that increased availability of taurine enhances the proportion taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile.To explore possibility treatment could also influence hepatic cholesterol and acid metabolism, we fed female hamsters for 1 week measured both biliary lipid content microsomal level rate-limiting enzymes synthesis.In these animals 7a-hydroxylase activity was significantly greater respect to controls (P < 0.05).The total HMG-CoA reductase activity, as well active form,...
SUMMARY: The hydBGDA genes, which encode the four subunits β, γ, δ and α of [Ni-Fe] hydrogenase from archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus , have been isolated sequenced using a PCR/IPCR-based strategy. From sequence analysis it appears that structural genes are tightly linked organized in single transcription unit. hydD hydA gene products related to small large several archaeal eubacterial hydrogenases with an overall degree relatedness ranging 35% 50% (identity + similarity). In particular, amino...
Summary While it is generally accepted that anaerobic metabolism required during infection, supporting experimental data have only been described in a limited number of studies. To provide additional evidence on the role bacterial pathogens while invading mammalian hosts, we analysed effect inactivation FNR, major regulatory protein involved adaptation to oxygen restrictive conditions, and two FNR‐regulated genes survival Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B ( MenB ) vivo . We found fnr...
The N-carbamyl-D-amino-acid amidohydrolase from Agrobacterium radiobacter NRRL B11291, the enzyme used for industrial production of D-amino acids, was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. protein, a dimer constituted by two identical subunits 34,000 Da with five cysteines each, susceptible to aggregation under oxidizing conditions highly sensitive hydrogen peroxide. To investigate role stability activity, mutant proteins were constructed site-directed mutagenesis which...
The large extracellular loop of human CD81, a tetraspanin mediating hepatitis C virus envelope protein E2 binding to cells, has been crystallized in hexagonal form. threedimensional structure, solved and refined at 2.6 å resolution (Rfactor = 22.8%), shows that the adopts dimeric assembly, based on an association interface built up by tetraspaninconserved residues. Structural comparisons with tertiary structure CD81 loop, previously determined different crystal form, show marked...
Summary srfA is a locus required for the production of lipopeptide antibiotic surfactin. This also necessary efficient sporulation and competence development. Mutations in 5′ portion operon affect all three these processes, whereas mutations 3′ only surfactin production. Analysis proteins encoded by revealed seven large domains which are likely to be responsible activation binding amino acids Identification acid that activated was determined acid‐dependent pyrophosphate exchange reactions on...
Summary We have previously shown that in the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis group B ( MenB ) more than 200 genes are regulated response to growth with iron. Among Fur‐dependent, upregulated identified by microarray analysis was a putative operon constituted three genes, annotated as NMB1436, NMB1437 and NMB1438 encoding proteins so far unknown function. The remarkably presence of iron and, on basis gel retardation analysis, its regulation Fur dependent. In this study, we further...
Neutron-diffraction experiments have been carried out on amorphous iron powder prepared from the ultrasonic irradiation of Fe(CO${)}_{5}$. The structural information shape radial distribution function is consistent with random-packing-model (RPD) calculations previously made for films iron. atomic magnetic moment in bulk phase has obtained and its value close to that liquid A comparison between present ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{Fe}}$ those extracted by extrapolation concentration...