0000000001052486

AUTHOR

P. Ammatuna

Israeli spotted fever Rickettsia in Sicilian Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks [6]

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Neurotropism in newborn hamsters of plaque purified measles virus clones

Three plaque purified measles virus clones displayed a different neurotropism in newborn hamsters.

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Studies on a measles virus variant inducing persistent infections in cultured cells

Attempts were made to characterized by a plaque assay two variants of the Edmonston strain of measles virus and to obtain plaque purified virus populations. The UP non-cytocidal variant, in all the examined cell systems, mainly produced small but also large plaques; the DP cytocidal variant always large plaques. Three clones, UP-SP4, UP-LP4 and DP-LP4, were derived by plaque purfication respectively of the UP small plaque, UP large plaque and DP large plaque forming particles. The virus populations of the clones could be distinguished by some other biological and physical characters: cytopathic effect in roller tube cultures, growth potential in HeLa cells, thermal stability at 45 degrees C…

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Pharmacokinetic Study on Adenomatous Prostate Tissue Concentrations of Cef operazone

Cephalosporins do not reach active therapeutical concentrations in the prostatic tissue in patients suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis. Cefoperazone is an exception. Its efficacy in the trea

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Immune status towards Epstein-Barr virus in a group of Sicilian children.

The prevalence of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus-determined antigens was studied in 17 children with acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) and in 263 children hospitalized for diseases unrelated to EBV infection. Antibodies against Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigens (VCA) were observed in 173 patients of the control group (66%), but 58 of them (33,5%) had not yet developed antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA). IgM-specific antibodies were not found in any of the children of the control group but were present in all of the 17 patients with IM. The rates of positivity for IgA anti-VCA and IgG anti-early antigen (EA) were similar in all age groups. Anti-viral…

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Human papillomavirus infection in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures: impact on reproductive outcome

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Continous alert for rickettsiosis in Sicily: molecular characterization of Rickettsia sp. obtained from ticks and human beings (1986-2001).

Several strains of Rickettsia sp. were isolated from patients in western Sicily with MSF (Mediterranean Spotted Fever) as well as ticks. Strains isolated were examined by PCR and identified as belonging to R. conorii sp. Importantly a strain of Israeli Spotted Fever Rickettsiae, obtained from a tick, was also identified. Our data prove that strains other than the classical R. conorii also circulate in Sicily.

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Latent measles virus infection in Vero cells depending on a temperature-sensitive phenomenon.

A latent infection by measles virus in a line of Vero cells could be maintained only at 37 degrees C. The conditions of temperature nonpermissiveness were associated with some block in virus production and/or release and with the establishment of an autointerference phenomenon. Reduction of the incubation temperature to 33.5 degrees C induced a rather rapid transition from the latent to a lytical infection with a recue of virus. The rescued virus exhibited a restricted capacity to grow at 37 degrees C.

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