Search results for " biotechnology"

Immunology of dermatophytosis

1983

By causing experimental lesions of dermatophytosis in rabbits inoculated and reinoculated with T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum and T. rubrum a study was carried out of the state of cellular immunity response, during infection, and also of the antigens responsible for the sensitization. Cellular immunity response was detected using the leucocyte migration test (L.M.T.) in the presence of antigenic compounds of the 'Keratinase' of Eleuterio et al.

A methodological framework to enhance the clinical success of cancer immunotherapy.

2011

Toxicity effects of the organic UV-filter 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor in zebrafish embryos

2019

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in personal care products and due to their lipophilicity these chemicals tend to bioaccumulate in the aquatic biota. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is one of the most used UV-filters, and it is commonly detected in freshwater fish tissues. This substance is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor due to its interaction with Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) and HP-Thyroid (HPT)-axis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4-MBC on apical endpoints, biochemical markers and on genes involved in endocrine pathways in Danio rerio. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 4-MBC (0.083–0.77 mg/l) from 0 to 96 h post-fertil…

Microbial technologies for the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites

2002

Soil microbes represent an important source of biologically active compounds. These molecules present original and unexpected structure and are selective inhibitors of their molecular targets. At Biosearch Italia, discovery of new bioactive molecules is mostly carried out through the exploitation of a proprietary strain collection of over 50000 strains, mostly unusual genera of actinomycetes and uncommon filamentous fungi. A critical element in a drug discovery based on microbial extracts is the isolation of unexploited groups of microorganisms that are at the same time good producers of secondary metabolites. Molecular genetics can assist in these efforts. We will review the development an…

Wastewater-based epidemiology, a tool to bridge biomarkers of exposure, contaminants, and human health

2021

The concept of wastewater-based epidemiology also known as sewage epidemiology was proposed by Daughton in 2001. Wastewater-based epidemiology has become now a reality that makes it possible to determine consumption or exposure to chemical substances or pathogens in a population by measuring certain compounds (drugs of abuse, metabolites, or biomarkers) or microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) in wastewater. The first and most developed application is the estimation of illicit drug consumption in communities or populations, but it can be used to measure both consumption and exposure to a wide range of substances and pathogens. Its recent application to measure the severe acute r…

Effect of the Alterations in Contractility and Morphology Produced by Atrial Fibrillation on the Thrombosis Potential of the Left Atrial Appendage

2021

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia mainly affecting the elderly population, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke, ischaemic attack and vascular dementia. These problems are caused by thrombi which mostly originate in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small muscular sac protruding from left atrium. The abnormal heart rhythm associated with AF results in alterations in the heart muscle contractions and in some reshaping of the cardiac chambers. This study aims to verify if and how these physiological changes can establish hemodynamic conditions in the LAA promoting thrombus formation, by means of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. In particular, sinus …

Japanese, Mediterranean and Argentinean diets and their potential roles in neurodegenerative diseases

2019

Environmental factors are responsible of cellular senescence and processes found in the development of cognitive disorders. The aim of this paper is to compare benefits of the Japanese, Mediterranean, and Argentinian Diet on the onset or prevention of senile dementia (SD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Special focus was on the effects of specific compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), antioxidants, and saturated and trans fatty acids. A high adherence to diets rich in PUFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and antioxidants may decrease the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases ; while the predominance of saturated and trans fatty acids possibly rises it.

Molecular typing of Candida albicans isolates from patients and health care workers in a neonatal intensive care unit

2011

Aims:  The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relatedness between Candida albicans isolates and to assess their nosocomial origin and the likeliness of cross-transmission between health care workers (HCWs) and hospitalized neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods:  We retrospectively analysed 82 isolates obtained from 40 neonates and seven isolates from onychomycosis of the fingers of five HCWs in a Tunisian NICU by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with CA1 and CA2 as primers. Results:  In RAPD analysis, the discriminatory power (DP) of CA1 and CA2 primers was 0·86 and 0·81, respectively. A h…

Selected peptides targeted to the NMDA receptor channel protect neurons from excitotoxic death

1998

Excitotoxic neuronal death, associated with neurodegeneration and stroke, is triggered primarily by massive Ca2+ influx arising from overactivation of glutamate receptor channels of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype. To search for channel blockers, synthetic combinatorial libraries were assayed for block of agonist-evoked currents by the human NR1-NR2A NMDA receptor subunits expressed in amphibian oocytes. A set of arginine-rich hexapeptides selectively blocked the NMDA receptor channel with IC50 approximately 100 nM, a potency similar to clinically tolerated blockers such as memantine, and only marginally blocked on non-NMDA glutamate receptors. These peptides prevent neuronal cell d…

The LDL receptor in the retina: the missing link in aging, the new target in dietary prevention

2012

National audience; Purpose: The discovery of the LDL receptor (LDLR) in 1985 by Brown and Goldstein was awarded by a Nobel Prize. The LDLR has initially been identified for its role in mediating the endocytosis of LDL particles in the vascular endothelium. The deposition of lipids, including cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in Bruch’s Membrane in the one hand, and in the vessel intima in the other hand, is one of the common features of age related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary habits with high intakes of omega 3 long chain fatty acids (LCFA) have been associated with AMD prevention. Similar effects have been demonstrated in CVD prevention. The mechan…