A5028226814- Malaria Research and Control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Osteomyelitis and Bone Disorders Research
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Complement system in diseases
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
- Bone health and treatments
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- PARP inhibition in cancer therapy
- Synthesis of β-Lactam Compounds
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant-based Medicinal Research
- Drug Solubulity and Delivery Systems
- Biopolymer Synthesis and Applications
- Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
- Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Burkholderia infections and melioidosis
- Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
2007-2022
University of Udine
2006
Despite over a century of study malaria parasites, parts the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle remain virtually unknown. One these is early gametocyte stage, round shaped cell morphologically similar to an asexual trophozoite in which major cellular transformations ensure subsequent development elongated gametocyte. We developed protocol obtain for first time highly purified preparations gametocytes using transgenic line expressing green fluorescent protein from onset gametocytogenesis....
Summary Osmiophilic bodies are membrane‐bound vesicles, found predominantly in Plasmodium female gametocytes, that become progressively more abundant as the gametocyte reaches full maturity. These vesicles lie beneath subpellicular membrane of gametocyte, and release their contents into parasitophorous vacuole has been postulated to aid escape gametocytes from erythrocyte after ingestion by mosquito. Currently, only protein known be associated with osmiophilic falciparum is Pfg377, a...
Gametogenesis is the earliest event after uptake of malaria parasites by mosquito vector, with a decisive impact on colonization midgut. This process triggered drop in temperature and contact molecules. In few minutes, male female gametocytes escape from host erythrocyte rupturing parasitophorous vacuole membranes. Electron-dense, oval-shaped organelles, osmiophilic bodies (OB), have been implicated egress gametocytes. By comparative electron microscopy tomography analyses combined...
The malarial life cycle involves repeated rounds of intraerythrocytic replication interspersed by host cell rupture which releases merozoites that rapidly invade fresh erythrocytes. Apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA1) is a merozoite protein plays critical role in invasion. Antibodies against AMA1 prevent invasion and can protect malaria vivo, so interest as vaccine candidate. efficiently shed from the invading parasite surface, predominantly through juxtamembrane cleavage membrane-bound...
Transmission of the malaria parasite depends on specialized gamete precursors (gametocytes) that develop in bloodstream a vertebrate host. Gametocyte/gamete differentiation requires controlled patterns gene expression and regulation not only stage gender-specific genes but also associated with DNA replication mitosis. Once taken up by mosquito, male gametocytes undergo three mitotic cycles within few minutes to produce eight motile gametes. Here we analysed, two Plasmodium species, SET,...
Summary In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum , gametocyte maturation is a process remarkably longer than in other species, accompanied by expression of 2–300 sexual stage‐specific proteins. Disruption several their encoding genes so far showed that only abundant protein Pfg27, produced at onset differentiation, essential for production. contrast with what has been previously described, here we show P. pfg27 disruptant lines are able to undergo all stages maturation, and mature...
The Plasmodium subtilisin-like serine protease SUB1 is expressed in hepatic and both asexual sexual blood parasite stages. required for egress of invasive forms the from erythrocytes hepatocytes, but its subcellular localisation, function, potential substrates stages are unknown. Here, we have characterised expression profile localisation berghei We show that selectively mature male gametocytes localises to secretory organelles known be involved gamete egress, called osmiophilic bodies....
Abstract Malaria long-term elimination depends on parasite transmission control. Plasmodium sexual stage maturation in the mosquito, including egress from host erythrocyte, is one of prime targets for transmission-blocking interventions. This work aims to identify candidate molecules potentially involved gamete emergence as novel blocking targets. We analyzed by quantitative mass spectrometry proteins released/secreted purified falciparum gametocytes upon induction gametogenesis. The...
Abstract The discovery that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be biomarkers for several diseases has led to the conception of their possible application as diagnostic tools. In this study, we aimed at defining signatures presence malaria transmissible stages in infected individuals. To do this, compared VOCs released by asexual and sexual stage cultures Plasmodium falciparum , deadliest species malaria, with those emitted uninfected red blood cells (RBCs). VOC analysis was carried out an...
Membrane microdomains that include lipid rafts, are involved in key physiological and pathological processes participate the entry of endocellular pathogens. These assemblies, enriched cholesterol sphingolipids, form highly dynamic, liquid-ordered phases can be separated from bulk membranes thanks to their resistance solubilization by nonionic detergents. To characterize complexity dynamics detergent-resistant sexual stages rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, here we propose an...
Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, undergoes a complex life cycle alternating between vertebrate host and mosquito vector of genus Anopheles. In red blood cells host, Plasmodium multiplies asexually or differentiates into gamete precursors, male female gametocytes, responsible for parasite transmission. Sexual stage maturation occurs in midgut vector, where gametes egress from erythrocytes to fuse form zygote. Gamete entails successive rupture two membranes surrounding parasitophorous vacuole...
Abstract Malaria is still a devastating disease with 228 million cases globally and 405,000 lethal outcomes in 2018, mainly children under five years of age. The threat emerging malaria strains resistant to currently available drugs has made the search for novel drug targets compelling. process by which Plasmodium falciparum parasites invade host cell been widely studied, but only few erythrocyte proteins involved this have identified so far. protein Rac1 GTPase that plays an important role...
<h3>Streptomycin</h3> The neurotoxic effects of streptomycin (given in the form sulfate or hydrochlorate) on man's cochleovestibular structures, noted first by Brown and Hinshaw<sup>4</sup>in 1946, were confirmed later many other experimental clinical observations. It was thus possible to ascertain that has an elective action structures connected with vestibular branch eighth nerve, while such electivity appears less noticeable cochlear same nerve. Streptomycin causes pathological lesions...
Abstract Background Gametocytes, the blood stages responsible for Plasmodium falciparum transmission, contain electron dense organelles, traditionally named osmiophilic bodies, that are believed to be involved in gamete egress from host cell. In order provide novel tools cellular and molecular studies of body biology, a P. transgenic line which these organelles specifically marked by reporter protein was produced characterized. Methodology A expressing an 80-residue N-terminal fragment...
Malaria accounts for millions of cases and thousands deaths every year. In the absence an effective vaccine, drugs are still most important tool in fight against disease. Plasmodium parasites developed resistance to all classes known antimalarial drugs. Thus, search with novel mechanisms action is compelling. The human GTPase Rac1 plays a role parasite invasion host cell many intracellular pathogens. Also, falciparum, involvement during both process development was suggested. aim this work...
Four sunflower species, Helianthus annuus, H. argophyllus, debilis and tuberosus, were characterized at the molecular level using plastid trnH-psbA intergenic spacer.The sequence was selected with aim of developing a "DNA barcode" system (Kress et al., 2005) as tool for species specimen identification.The region PCR amplified specific primers sequenced an ABI Prism 3730 Automated DNA sequencer.Intraspecific interspecific variation evaluated to assess resolution technique.Sequencing both...
Abstract Cholesterol-rich microdomains are membrane compartments characterized by specific lipid and protein composition. These dynamic assemblies involved in several biological processes, including infection intracellular pathogens. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the composition human erythrocyte microdomains. Based on their floating properties, we also categorized microdomain-associated proteins into clusters. Interestingly, include vast majority known to be invasion...