0000000000005187

AUTHOR

N Parrinello

Molecular and physiological characterization of in vivo Sulfamethoxazole response in Procambarus clarkii

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Mollusk antimicrobial peptides A review from activity-based evidences to computer-assisted sequences

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent the most universal immune effectors. Molluscs constitute the second largest animal phylum, after Arthropods, in term of number of species. Only a negligible number has been investigated regarding AMPs. The choice of the species to be studied relied on their economical importance and availability. First studies on molluscan AMPs dated from 1996 and were based on biological activities of biochemical-purified fractions. Such approach released all the original structures we know, with biological activity sometimes different from one isoform to another. Then, molecular biology techniques were applied to molluscan AMPs starting in 1999. Complete screening o…

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ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTISTAPHYLOCOCCAL BIOFILM ACTIVITY FROM THE SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS

Aims: Staphylococcal biofilm-associated infections are resistant to conventional antibiotics. Consequently, new agents are needed to treat them. With this aim, we focused on the effector cells (coelomocytes) of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immune system. Methods and Results: We tested the activity of the 5-kDa peptide fraction of the cytosol from coelomocytes (5-CC) against a group of Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. We determined minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 253.7 to 15.8 mg ml(-1). We observed an inhibitory activity and antibiofilm properties of 5-CC against staphylococcal biofilms of reference strains Staphylococcus epidermidis DSM 3269 an…

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Isolation and characterization of a LPS induced MD2-like protein in Ciona intestinalis

The MD2 (Myeloid Differentiation factor-2) protein belongs to the ML superfamily. This group of proteins contain a specific lipid binding domain (ML domain) that plays an important role in lipid recognition and metabolism. In vertebrates, MD-2 is involved in innate immune response as co-receptor in the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway; MD2 recognizes and binds the bacterial lipid A and drives the TLR4 activation. Two TLR isoforms, CiTLR-1 and CiTLR-2, were identified in Ciona intestinalis with a TIR domain most similar to human TLR4 and TLR 6 respectively. Using a PCR-based subtractive hybridization strategy for isolation of differentially expressed genes between LPS-challenged and naïve C. intes…

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Comparative WSSV infection routes in the shrimp genera Marsupenaeus and Palaemon.

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Interleukin 17 genes as mediators of inflammatory responses in Ciona intestinalis.

Inflammation is a complex reaction of host defence mechanisms aiming at neutralization of an insult and restoring normal tissue structure and function. In human IL-17 is T-cell derived cytokine plays a key role in the clearance of extracellular bacteria promoting cell infiltration and production of several cytokines and chemokines. Here, we report on three Ciona intestinalis IL-17 homologues (CiIL17-1, CiIL17-2, CiIL17-3). The gene organization, phylogenetic tree and modeling supported the close relationship with the mammalian IL-17A and IL-17F suggesting that the C. intestinalis IL-17 genes share a common ancestor in the chordate lineages. Real time PCR analysis showed a prompt expression …

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Characterization of a novel LPS-induced peptide from Ciona intestinalis with immune modulatory activities

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LXXI Congresso Nazionale dell'Unione Zoologica Italiana

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II Scientific meeting of the Italian Ascidiologists, 30 june-1 july 2008, Department of Animal Biology, University of Palermo.

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