A5024394249- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Complement system in diseases
- Herbal Medicine Research Studies
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
University of Perugia
2015-2024
Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie
2021-2024
Leiden University Medical Center
2012
Imperial College London
1999-2002
Institute of Molecular Medicine
1997
To define the role of interleukin (IL)6 in Candida albicans infection, IL-6 deficient mice were assessed for susceptibility to systemic or gastrointestinal as well parameters elicited T helper cell (Th) immunity. IL-6-deficient more susceptible than wild-type either type infection caused by virulent C. albicans. In response challenge with a live vaccine strain yeast, failed mount Th1-associated protective immunity, but resulting Th2-biased could be redirected Th1 phenotype IL-10...
Abstract Mouse peritoneal and splenic macrophages treated with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) infected the yeast Candida albicans expressed high fungicidal activity in vitro that correlated increased nitrite concentrations culture supernatants. Both effects were reduced by an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis which, vivo , impaired animals' ability to mount a footpad reaction clear fungus from organs. Because T helper type‐2 (Th2) cytokines candidiasis are known limit expression protective Th1...
Abstract In contrast to several inbred strains of mice that develop Th1-associated anticandidal protection, DBA/2 are highly susceptible systemic infection with Candida albicans cells the attenuated variant PCA-2, and fatal outcome is observed in concurrence sustained CD4+ cell production vitro IL-4 IL-10. These Th2 cytokines were previously shown inhibit nitric oxide (NO) yeast killing by activated macrophage cultures. We now show macrophages from mice, either intact or infected have lower...
Background The worldwide burden of malaria remains a major public health problem due, in part, to the lack an effective vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum parasite. An will most likely require induction antigen specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells as well long-lasting antibody responses all working concert eliminate infection. We report here modification self-assembling protein nanoparticle (SAPN) previously proven control P. berghei infection rodent model now present B- T-cell epitopes human...
Symbiosis in insects is accumulating significant amount of studies: the description a wide array mutualistic associations across evolutionary history suggests that resident microbiota acts as driving force by affecting several aspects hosts biology. Among arthropods, mosquito midgut has been largely investigated, providing crucial insights on role and implications host-symbiont relationships. However, limited studies addressed their efforts investigation colonizing salivary glands...
Sulforaphane is a multi-action drug and its anticancer activity the reason for continuous growth of attention being paid to this drug. shows an in vitro antiproliferative against melanoma other skin cancer diseases. Unfortunately, natural compound cannot be applied free form on due poor percutaneous permeation determined by physico-chemical characteristics. The aim investigation was evaluate ethosomes® transfersomes® as ultradeformable vesicular carriers delivery sulforaphane used treatment...
By beating their wings faster around sunset, male Anopheles mosquitoes sensitize auditory system to female flight tones.
Abstract Neutrophil defects predispose to severe fungal infections, yet the immunomodulatory role of these cells is poorly defined. The contribution neutrophils early cytokine balance governing Th1 and Th2 cell development was examined in mice with candidiasis. Neutrophils secreted IL-12 IL-10, correlating respective self-limiting (Th1-associated) progressive (Th2-associated) disease. Exogenous effective protecting neutropenic hosts susceptible infection. These results suggest that 1)...
Abstract Previous work has shown that in hybrid (BALB/cCr x DBA/2Cr)F1 mice the development of a fatal disseminated disease by systemic infection with virulent Candida albicans is associated detection strong Th2-like responses. However, predominant Th1-like response and long-lived antifungal protection are induced vaccinating these live blastospores attenuated C. strains. When injected into DBA/2Cr mice, one such vaccine strain was found present study to result progressive characterized Th2...
Abstract In murine models of systemic candidiasis, healing and nonhealing patterns disease are associated with preferential expansion Th1 Th2 cells, respectively. As previous studies have shown IL-12 to be expressed transcriptionally in healer mice required for development vitro, this cytokine might play a role Candida-driven cell differentiation vivo. the present study, IL-12-neutralizing Abs or recombinant were administered progressive respectively, animals monitored mortality, resistance...
The relative contributions of local T helper cell type 1 (Th1)- and Th2-like responses to the course primary secondary gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis were examined in adult immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Both Th1 cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), Th2 interleukin (IL)-4 IL-5, produced by CD4+ cells from Peyer's patches (PP) mesenteric lymph nodes at a time when fungus was cleared stomach intestine. Augmentation antigen-specific treatment with cholera toxin did not modify...
Abstract Neutralization of endogenous interleukin (IL)‐4 or IL‐10 in mice with Candida albicans infection initiates accelerates development a T helper (Th)1‐associated protective response. Here, we report the effect IL‐4 and administration on course systemic gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis Th immunity using yeast/host combinations that result either Th1‐associated self‐limiting (healer mice) Th2‐associated progressive disease (nonhealer mice). Treatment greatly exacerbated nonhealer...
Real-time monitoring of the spatial and temporal progression infection/gene expression in animals will contribute greatly to our understanding host-pathogen interactions while reducing number required generate statistically significant data sets. Sensitive vivo imaging technologies can detect low levels light emitted from luciferase reporters vivo, but existing are not optimal for fungal infections. Therefore, aim was develop a novel reporter system Candida albicans infections that overcomes...
Malaria still remains a serious health burden in developing countries, causing more than 1 million deaths annually. Given the lack of an effective vaccine against its major etiological agent, Plasmodium falciparum, and growing resistance this parasite to currently available drugs repertoire Anopheles mosquitoes insecticides, development innovative control measures is imperative reduce malaria transmission. Paratransgenesis, modification symbiotic organisms deliver anti-pathogen effector...
Most studies on malaria-parasite digestion of hemoglobin (Hb) have been performed using P. falciparum maintained in mature erythrocytes, vitro. In this study, we examine Plasmodium Hb degradation vivo mice, the parasite berghei, and show that it is possible to create mutant parasites lacking enzymes involved initial steps proteolysis. These mutants only complete development reticulocytes into both schizonts gametocytes. severely impaired large amounts undigested remains reticulocyte...
Many variant proteins encoded by Plasmodium-specific multigene families are exported into red blood cells (RBC). P. falciparum-specific the var, stevor and rifin onto surface of infected (iRBC) mediate interactions between iRBC host resulting in tissue sequestration rosetting. However, precise function most other Plasmodium encoding is unknown. To understand role RBC-exported rodent malaria parasites (RMP) we analysed expression cellular location fluorescent-tagging members pir, fam-a fam-b...
The availability of a highly purified and well characterized circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is essential to improve upon the partial success recombinant CSP-based malaria vaccine candidates. Soluble, near full-length, Plasmodium falciparum CSP antigen (CS/D) was produced in E. coli under bio-production conditions that comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). A mouse immunogenicity study conducted using stable oil-in-water emulsion (SE) CS/D combination Toll-Like Receptor 4...
The circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum contains two conserved motifs (regions I and II) that have been proposed to interact with mosquito vertebrate host molecules in the process sporozoite invasion salivary glands hepatocytes, respectively. To study function this we replaced endogenous gene berghei P. versions lacking either region or II. We show here functions rodent parasite sporozoites carrying CS develop normally, are motile, invade glands, infect host. Region I-deficient...
Journal Article Cure of Murine Candidiasis by Recombinant Soluble Interleukin-4 Receptor Get access Paolo Puccetti, Puccetti Search for other works this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Antonella Mencacci, Mencacci Elio Cenci, Cenci Roberta Spaccapelo, Spaccapelo Mosci, Mosci Karl-Heinz Enssle, Enssle Luigina Romani, Romani Francesco Bistoni Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Bistoni, Dept. Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Microbiology Section, University Perugia,...
During Toxoplasma gondii infection, a fraction of the multiplying parasites, tachyzoites, converts into bradyzoites, dormant stage, which form tissue cysts localized mainly in brain, heart, and skeletal muscles that persist for several years after infection. At this stage parasite is protected from immune system, it believed to be inaccessible drugs. While long persistence does not represent medical problem healthy individuals, condition represents major risk patients with compromised who...
Malaria parasites actively remodel the infected red blood cell (irbc) by exporting proteins into host cytoplasm. The human parasite Plasmodium falciparum exports particularly large numbers of proteins, including that establish a vesicular network allowing trafficking onto surface irbcs are responsible for tissue sequestration. Like P. falciparum, rodent berghei ANKA sequesters via irbc interactions with receptor CD36. We have applied proteomic, genomic, and reverse-genetic approaches to...
The activation of immune responses in mucosal tissues is a key factor for the development and sustainment several pathologies including infectious diseases autoimmune diseases. However, translational research personalised medicine struggle to advance because lack suitable preclinical models that successfully mimic complexity human without relying on vivo mouse models. Here, we propose two vitro 3D tissue models, deprived any resident leucocytes, model inflammatory processes.We developed lung...
Mosquito copulation is a crucial determinant of its capacity to transmit malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites as well underpinning several highly-anticipated vector control methodologies such gene drive and sterile insect technique. For the anopheline mosquitoes responsible for African malaria transmission, mating takes place within crepuscular male swarms which females enter solely mate. However, mechanisms that regulate swarm structure or govern mate choice remain opaque. We used 3D-video...