Search results for " Complement"

Pensiero aritmetico e pensiero algebrico in ambienti multiculturali: il caso cinese

2009

Isolation and expression of a novel MBL-like collectin cDNA enhanced by LPS injection in the body wall of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

2009

Collectins are a family of calcium-dependent lectins that are characterized by their collagen-like domains. Considerable interest has been focused on this class of proteins because of their ability to interact with components of the complement system activating a cascade of events responsible for the activation of the innate immune system. A differential screening between LPS-challenged and naïve Ciona intestinalis has been performed allowing the isolation of a full length cDNA encoding for a 221 AA protein. In silico analysis has shown that this polypeptide displays protein domains with similarities to mannose-binding lectins. A phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. intestinalis MBL has …

LPS challenge regulates gene expression and tissue localization of a Ciona intestinalis gene through an alternative polyadenylation mechanism.

2013

A subtractive hybridization strategy for the identification of differentially expressed genes was performed between LPS-challenged and naive Ciona intestinalis. This strategy allowed the characterization of two transcripts (Ci8short and Ci8long) generated by the use of two Alternative Polyadenylation sites. The Ci8long transcript contains a protein domain with relevant homology to several components of the Receptor Transporting Protein (RTP) family not present in the Ci8short mRNA. By means of Real Time PCR and Northern Blot, the Ci8short and Ci8long transcripts showed a different pattern of gene expression with the Ci8short mRNA being strongly activated after LPS injection in the pharynx. …

The lipopolysaccharide O side chain of Vibrio vulnificus serogroup E is a virulence determinant for eels

1997

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium capable of producing septicemic infections in eels and immunocompromised humans. Two biotypes are classically recognized, with the virulence for eels being specific to strains belonging to biotype 2, which constitutes a homogeneous lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-based O serogroup (which we have designated serogroup E). In the present study we demonstrated that the O side chain of this LPS determines the selective virulence of biotype 2 for eels: (i) biotype 1 strains (which do not belong to serogroup E) are destroyed by the bactericidal action of nonimmune eel serum (NIS) through activation of the alternative pathway of complement, (ii) biotype 2 str…

I sistemi indeterminati nei "Nove Capitoli" di Liu Hui. Il ruolo del "contesto" per determinare l'"algoritmo fondamentale" come strumento argomentati…

2009

Soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) in chronic liver diseases: serum levels at different stages of liver diseases.

1998

SUMMARYComplement receptor type 1 (CR1) is an integral membrane protein of many haematopoietic cells and plays an important role in the clearance of complement-associated immune complexes, favouring their transport to liver and spleen macrophages. A small amount of soluble CR1 (sCR1) is also found in plasma and might originate directly from release of leucocytes and other circulating cells. In previous studies, an increase in serum sCR1 level has been observed in liver cirrhosis and end-stage renal failure. High levels have also been found in patients with some haematologic malignancies. sCR1 serum levels were measured using a specific double sandwich ELISA assay. The present study demonstr…

Luigi Cremona's Years in Bologna: From Research to Social Commitment

2012

Luigi Cremona (1830-1903), unanimously considered to be the man who laid the foundations of the prestigious Italian school of Algebraic Geometry, was active at the University of Bologna from October 1860,when assigned by the Minister Terenzio Mamiani (1799-1885) to cover the Chair of Higher Geometry, until September 1867 when Francesco Brioschi (1824-1897) called it to the Politecnico di Milano. The "Bolognese years" were Cremona's richest and most significant in terms of scientific production,and, at the same time, were the years when he puts the basis for its most important interventions in the social and political life of the "newborn" kingdom of Italy. In this article we present these d…

Involvement of complement pathways in patients with bacterial septicemia.

2007

The complement system is a major humoral portion of the innate immune system, playing a significant role in host defence against microorganisms. The biological importance of this system is underlined by the fact that at least three different pathways for its activation exist, the classical, the MBL and the alternative pathway. To elucidate the involvement of the classical and/or the MBL pathway during bacterial septicemia, 32 patients with gram-positive and 30 patients with gram-negative bacterial infections were investigated. In patients with gram-positive bacteria, a significant consumption of C1q (p=0.005) but not of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) (p=0.2) was found during the acute phase o…

Neoclassical growth, manufacturing agglomeration, and terms of trade

2007

This paper presents an integrated view of economic growth, development traps, and economic geography. We explain why there is income convergence among some countries (neoclassical regime) and income divergence among others (poverty trap regime). Income convergence (divergence) and manufacturing industry diffusion (agglomeration) are re-enforcing each other in a cumulative process. Moreover, trade openness may trigger a catch-up process of an economy that is stuck in a \"poverty trap\". This catch-up is characterized by an increase in the investment-to-GDP ratio and an improvement of the terms of trade. A new dynamic welfare gain of trade liberalization is identified, which is likely to be l…

Aminopropyltransferases involved in polyamine biosynthesis localize preferentially in the nucleus of plant cells

2012

Plant aminopropyltransferases consist of a group of enzymes that transfer aminopropyl groups derived from decarboxylated S-adenosyl-methionine (dcAdoMet or dcSAM) to propylamine acceptors to produce polyamines, ubiquitous metabolites with positive charge at physiological pH. Spermidine synthase (SPDS) uses putrescine as amino acceptor to form spermidine, whereas spermine synthase (SPMS) and thermospermine synthase (TSPMS) use spermidine as acceptor to synthesize the isomers spermine and thermospermine respectively. In previous work it was shown that both SPDS1 and SPDS2 can physically interact with SPMS although no data concerning the subcellular localization was reported. Here we study the…