0000000000402137
AUTHOR
Francesco Salvatore
Fatty acids produced by Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme and N. Parvum, fungi associated with grapevine botryosphaeria dieback
There is evidence that secondary metabolites are involved in the fungal pathogenicity and virulence of Neofusicoccum spp. Fatty acids may also influence the plant&ndash
Complete sequencing of Novosphingobium sp. PP1Y reveals a biotechnologically meaningful metabolic pattern.
Background Novosphingobium sp. strain PP1Y is a marine α-proteobacterium adapted to grow at the water/fuel oil interface. It exploits the aromatic fraction of fuel oils as a carbon and energy source. PP1Y is able to grow on a wide range of mono-, poly- and heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Here, we report the complete functional annotation of the whole Novosphingobium genome. Results PP1Y genome analysis and its comparison with other Sphingomonadal genomes has yielded novel insights into the molecular basis of PP1Y’s phenotypic traits, such as its peculiar ability to encapsulate and degrade the aromatic fraction of fuel oils. In particular, we have identified and dissected several highly …
Multicenter validation study for the certification of a CFTR gene scanning method using next generation sequencing technology.
AbstractBackground:Many European laboratories offer molecular genetic analysis of theCFTRgene using a wide range of methods to identify mutations causative of cystic fibrosis (CF) and CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) strategies are widely used in diagnostic practice, and CE marking is now required for most in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests in Europe. The aim of this multicenter study, which involved three European laboratories specialized in CF molecular analysis, was to evaluate the performance of Multiplicom’s CFTR MASTR Dx kit to obtain CE-IVD certification.Methods:A total of 164 samples, previously analyzed with well-established “reference” methods for t…
Altered expression of inflammation-related genes in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Abstract Objective Inflammation is a pivotal process in atherosclerosis development and progression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely obscure. We have conducted an extensive expression study of atherosclerotic plaques to identify the inflammatory pathways involved in atherosclerosis. Methods We studied 11 human carotid plaques, their respective adjacent regions and 7 control arteries from different subjects. Expression of 92 genes was studied by TaqMan low-density array human inflammation panel. Human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells were used for in vitro experiments. Results The mRNA levels of 44/92 genes (48%) differed significantly between the tissues exa…
Decreased Paraoxonase-2 Expression in Human Carotids During the Progression of Atherosclerosis
Objective— Many gene products involved in oxidation and inflammation are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated paraoxonase 2 (PON2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), and 5-LO activating protein (FLAP) expression and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in carotid lesions to assess their involvement in plaque formation. Methods and Results— We measured gene expression and MDA levels in atherosclerotic plaques from 59 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, and in plaque-adjacent tissue from 41/59 patients. Twenty-three fetal carotids and 6 mammary arteries were also investigated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry revealed decreased PON2 expression i…