A5065508868- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
Toscana Life Sciences
2006-2024
GlaxoSmithKline (India)
2021
Novartis (Switzerland)
2007-2015
Novartis (Italy)
2006-2013
Newron Pharmaceuticals (Italy)
2013
Brigham and Women's Hospital
2002-2005
Harvard University
2002-2005
University of Messina
2005
Johns Hopkins University
2002
University of Siena
1999
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...
We have recently reported the presence of covalently linked pilus-like structures in human pathogen, Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The pilus operon codes for three proteins which contain conserved amino acid motif, LPXTG, associated with cell wall-anchored together two genes coding sortase enzymes. Analysis eight sequenced genomes GBS has led to identification a second, related genomic island there are variants, each containing LPXTG motifs and sortases. Here we show that both variant islands...
Both active and passive immunization strategies against Staphylococcus aureus have thus far failed to show efficacy in humans. With the attempt develop an effective S. vaccine, we selected five conserved antigens known different roles pathogenesis. They include secreted factors α-hemolysin (Hla), ess extracellular A (EsxA), B (EsxB) two surface proteins ferric hydroxamate uptake D2 staphylococcal antigen 1A. The combined vaccine formulated with aluminum hydroxide induced antibodies...
ABSTRACT To identify factors involved in the response of group B streptococci (GBS) to environmental pH, we performed a comparative global gene expression analysis GBS at acidic and neutral pHs. We found that transcription 317 genes was increased pH 5.5 relative 7.0, while 61 were downregulated. The acid stress included differential transport, metabolism, response, virulence. Known vaccine candidates, such as BibA pilus components, also regulated by pH. observed many are known be controlled...
Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming bacterium that can reside in animals and humans. C. infection causes variety of clinical symptoms, ranging from diarrhea to fulminant colitis. Disease mediated by TcdA TcdB, two large enterotoxins released during colonization the gut. In this study, we evaluated ability recombinant toxin fragments induce neutralizing antibodies mice. The protective efficacies most promising candidates were then hamster model disease. While limited protection was...
Abstract Background The display of recombinant proteins on cell surfaces has a plethora applications including vaccine development, screening peptide libraries, whole-cell biocatalysts and biosensor development for diagnostic, industrial or environmental purposes. In the last decades, wide variety surface systems have been developed exposure Escherichia coli , such as autotransporters outer membrane proteins. Results this study, we assess three approaches panel heterologous homologous mature...
Abstract A maternal vaccine to protect neonates against Group B Streptococcus invasive infection is an unmet medical need. Such a should ideally be offered during the third trimester of pregnancy and induce strong immune responses after single dose maximize time for placental transfer protective antibodies. key target antigen capsular polysaccharide, anti-phagocytic virulence factor that elicits antibodies when conjugated carrier proteins. The most prevalent polysaccharide serotypes tetanus...
Although the contribution of carbohydrate catabolism to bacterial colonization and infection is well recognized, transcriptional changes during these processes are still unknown. In this study, we have performed comparative global gene expression analysis GBS in sugar-free versus high glucose milieu. The revealed a differential genes involved metabolism, transport host-pathogen interaction. Many them appeared be among previously reported controlled by CovRS two-component system. Indeed,...
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic organism that can harmlessly colonize the human gut, vagina, and rectum but also cause pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis in neonates born to colonized mothers. We have shown previously growth rate oxygen level regulate ability of GBS invade eukaryotic cells vitro. Herein we extend expand on these observations show type V, emergent serotype, grown a chemostat at cell mass-doubling time (t(d)) 1.8 h with invaded ME-180 cervical epithelial large...
In past years research has focused on the development of alternative Gram positive bacterial expression systems to produce industrially relevant proteins. Brevibacillus choshinensis is an easy handle non-sporulating bacterium, lacking extracellular proteases, that been already shown provide a high level recombinant protein expression. One major drawback, limiting applicability system, absence vectors based inducible promoters. Here we used PxylA promoter, commonly employed in other Bacillae...
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen, commensal of the human skin and nares, but also responsible for invasive nosocomial as well community acquired infections. adheres to host tissues by means surface adhesins, such SdrC, SdrD, SdrE proteins. The Sdr family proteins together with a functional A domain, contain respectively two, three or five repeated sequences called B motifs which comprise CnaB domains. SdrD were reported be protective in animal models against diseases lethal...
Abstract Serogroup B meningococcus (MenB) is a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis across the world vaccination most effective way to protect against this disease. 4CMenB multi-component vaccine MenB, which now licensed for use in subjects >2 months age several countries. In study, we describe development an ad hoc protein microarray study immune response induced by three major antigenic components (fHbp, NHBA NadA) individual sera from vaccinated infants, adolescents adults. The...
Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung characterised by airflow-limiting inflammation and mucus production. Acute exacerbations are major cause of COPD-related morbidity mortality mostly associated with bacterial or viral infections. A vaccine targeting non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) Moraxella catarrhalis (Mcat), the main bacteria exacerbations, was tested in Phase 2 trial. We assessed “ex-vivo” expression candidate housekeeping genes pd , pe...
Abstract Background: The display of recombinant proteins on cell surfaces has a plethora applications including vaccine development, screening peptide libraries, whole-cell biocatalysts and biosensor development for diagnostic, industrial or environmental purposes. In the last decades, wide variety surface systems have been developed exposure Escherichia coli , such as autotransporters outer membrane proteins. Results: this study, we assess three approaches panel heterologous homologous...
Moraxella catarrhalis and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are pathogenic bacteria frequently associated with exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), whose hallmark is inflammatory oxidative stress. Neutrophils produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can boost the antimicrobial response by promoting neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) autophagy. Here, we showed that M. induces ROS NET production in differentiated HL-60 cells to a lesser extent compared...