Nanogel-antimiR-31 conjugates affect colon cancer cells behaviour

Soft and flexible nanogels, produced by electron beam (e-beam) irradiation of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and acrylic acid, were evaluated as delivery devices of the inhibitor of miR-31, a small RNA molecule with an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. The nanogel carriers developed possess both carboxyl and primary amino groups; the former were activated to react with the primary amino group present in the purposely-functionalised AntimiR-31. Very high conjugation reaction yields were attained, as well as a remarkable colloidal and storage stability of the conjugates. The ability of these nanoconstructs to be internalized by cells and the specific interaction of conjugated …

Metallothionein genes in sea urchin embryos and their induction by cadmium

Metallothioneins (MTs) are proteins that play a major role in metal homeostasis and as a reservoir. The MT gene/protein systems of sea urchins are an invaluable model for the study of gene expression regulation and MT isoform-specific functionality of these proteins. We isolated five paralogous MT isogenes and we studied their expression in the sea urchin embryo Paracentrotus lividus. The Cadmium-dependent transcriptional activation of the five isogenes was assessed using quantitative Real Time PCR. Two of the five P. lividus MT (MT-7 and MT-8) isogenes appeared to be constitutively expressed and upregulated upon cadmium treatment. Three isogenes (MT-4/MT-6) are not transcribed in control e…

Brevi note sulla qualificazione giuridica dei beni costituenti la rete ferroviaria

The paper synthetically describes how Italian courts and scholars interpreted the legal transformations occurred to the railway market, and notably to the rail-network infrastructure components property regulation, since the end of the twentieth century. The authors contest the (prevailing) opinion assuming a substantial continuity between the current stage of regulation and the regime of public property provided by 1942 civil code; they show the reasons why, on the contrary, the rail-network components have to be considered as goods subject to private property law both on the formal and the substantial floor. For this purpose, the paper emphasize how the public interests aimed by the previ…

GENE STRUCTURE, DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE METALLOTHIONEIN GENE FAMILY OF THE SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS

Metallothioneins (MT) are small and cysteine-rich proteins that bind metal ions such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and nickel1. Several functions were proposed for these peptides, ranging from toxic metal protection to physiological metal homeostasis, free radical scavenging, oxidative stress protection, antiapoptotic defense, control of the redox status of the cell and also roles during development. Previously, we reported the identification of five different MT homologues (PlMT4-8) from the Mediterranean sea urchin species P. lividus2. In order to shed some light on MT gene structure and evolution, we cloned seven P. lividus MT genes, comparing them to Echinodermata and Chordata genes3. Moreo…

Indagine tecnica ed economica per lo sfruttamento ai fini energetici dei tralci di potatura della vite

MODULATING ALLERGIC RESPONSE BY UNLOCKING THE STRUCTURE OF THE MAJOR PARIETARIA ALLERGENS

The nucleic acid binding protein PcCNBP is transcriptionally regulated during the immune response in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii

Cellular nucleic acid binding proteins (CNBPs) represent a highly conserved protein family among vertebrates; they harbour seven tandem zinc finger repeats CCHC type and have been described as transcriptional and translational regulators. To date, there is little characterization of CNBP in invertebrates since its structure and function have been analysed solely in Drosophila melanogaster. However, no CNBP has been investigated in other arthropod systems. In an effort to isolate immune-related genes in Procambarus clarkii, a partial mRNA coding a zinc finger containing protein was found to be up-regulated during the response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. The red swamp crayf…

Fine characterization of immunological mechanisms mediated by the major allergens of Parietaria judaica and hypoallergenic hybrid, rPjEDcys

Purpose: Allergy is a hypersensitivity disease IgE-mediated, affecting more than 25% of the population. The symptoms of IgE-mediated allergies reactions can be transiently ameliorated pharmacologically, but the only curative treatment of allergies is Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (SIT). Recombinant hypoallergenic allergen derivatives with reduced allergenic activity have been engineered to reduce side effects during SIT. Parietaria judaica (Pj) pollen contains two major allergens belonging to the family of Lipid Tranfer Proteins (Par j 1 and Par j 2). By means of DNA recombinant technology, a hybrid hypoallergenic (PjEDcys), expressing disulphide bond variants of Par j 1 and Par j 2, was …

The effects of HPV infection on semen: first results from a new approach.

Study question: The effect of HPV infection on semen characteristics was investigated using a new method that allow to evaluate virus localization in the different semen components. Summary answer: Our data indicate a correlation between HPV infection of exfoliated epithelial cells (from spermatic ducts and accessory glands) and reduction of sperm cell motility. What is known already: HPVs are agents of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Both in men and in women, HPVs cause a variety of clinical symptoms ranging from warts to cancer. It has been shown (IARC, 2009) that infection with 12 oncogenic HPVs is the major cause of development of cervical cancer in women and it is also r…

Isolamento e caratterizzazione di un nuovo ceppo di lievito di interesse enologico

Metallothionein family in sea urchin: Genes and their expression during embryo development and following exposure to stressors

Echinoderms represent a very fascinating phylum belonging to deuterostome superphylum, including also hemichordates, tunicates and vertebrates. Among echinoderms, sea urchin species are studied worldwide as excellent model organisms for the study of developmental biology, and are suitable as bioindicators. During a study on the defense strategies activated by Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos in response to CdCl2, we isolated five metallothionein (MT) cDNAs. Two of the five MT genes were constitutively expressed, whereas the other three genes appear to be specifically switched-on in response to cadmium treatment. With the aim of better understanding the evolutionary relationships, fu…

Dubbi sulla pretesa natura pubblica dei beni oggetto di confisca di prevenzione

Il saggio critica la tesi (sostenuta dalla giurisprudenza e da parte della dottrina) secondo cui i beni oggetto di sequestro e di confisca di prevenzione acquisterebbero, già anteriormente alla confisca definitiva, la natura di beni pubblici. Esposte le contraddizioni che questa tesi produce con riferimento alle potestà di c.d. tutela esecutiva, lo scritto dimostra come la qualità pubblica dei predetti beni non possa essere sostenuta mediante l'argomento di una loro comune e necessaria destinazione a funzioni di interesse pubblico.