Search results for "Amy"

Polyphenols extracted from three apple cultivars grown in Sicily: effect on k-casein aggregation

2016

Antimycotic activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens against fungi of vineyards soil origin

2009

Preliminary investigations on grapevines (cv Catarratto) with symptoms of “esca” allowed the isolation of different bacterial colonies (Alfonzo et al, 2009). A Gram-positive, spore forming isolate, able to inhibit fungal growth, was subjected to identification. On the basis of the whole 16S rRNA gene sequence, it showed a similarity of 99% with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. There are numerous reports on the antagonistic activity of this species towards several phytopathogenic microorganisms. For this reason, the potential of the bacterial strain against the fungi commonly associated to the soil of vineyards (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus carbonarius, Cladosporium cl…

Interactions between Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AG1 and Aspergillus spp. contaminating food and feedstuffs

2022

Aspergillus is a widespread fungal genus contaminating and degrading food and feeds mostly during storage. Some species can also produce carcinogenic mycotoxins harmful for human and animal health. In this study, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AG1 (BaAG1), active against fungal pathogens was evaluated by in vitro tests against seven Aspergillus species belonging to six Aspergillus sections. After 7 days of incubation at 25°C, mycelial growth of all fungal species was reduced from 46.53% to 60.92%, compared to the controls. The inhibitory effect of BaAG1 cell-free culture filtrate was tested by turbidimetric measurements by using ScanReady P-800 that allow the automatic and continuous monitoring…

Flower and fruit structure of the endangered species Petagnaea gussonei (Sprengel) Rauschert (Saniculoideae, Apiaceae) and implications for its repro…

2015

Petagnaea gussonei (Apiaceae) is an endangered species endemic to the Nebrodi mountains (north-eastern Sicily). Although an increasing number of studies have been performed on this species, its reproductive biology remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate in detail the structure of the flower and the fruit of Petagnaea, and the possible implications for its breeding system and seed dispersal mechanism. Results from fieldwork, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy suggest (1) the presence of protandrous hermaphrodite flowers; (2) geitonogamy, autogamy, and allogamy as breeding system mechanisms of P. gussonei, even if asexual reproduction is preferred b…

The recruitment of scallops (and beyond) by two different artificial collectors (Gulf of Taranto, Mediterranean Sea)

2015

This study provides for the first time an evaluation of the natural availability of scallop seeds along the coastal area of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Southern Italy). To select the best artificial collectors to harvest scallop seeds in this area, cylindrical collectors (Cyl) were compared to traditional 'Japanese-style onion bags' (Bag) across three sites. Scallops represented 26.6% of total bivalve recruitment among all collectors (782 ± 331 ind. m-2). The most recruited scallops were Flexopecten glaber and Mimachlamys varia. The white (F. glaber) and black scallops (M. varia) were abundant at all three sites, while the queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis, was only found at one site. …

Digestive Enzymes in Larvae and Juveniles of Farmed Sharpsnout Seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) (Cetti, 1777)

2011

The ontogenetic development and pattern of main digestive enzyme activities (proteases, carbohydrases and lipases) were investigated in farmed sharpsnout seabream Diplodus puntazzo larvae and juveniles, during the passage from the larval stage to adult (from 21 to 277 days after hatching - DAH). Larvae showed exponential growth, thus confirming that Rotifers and Artemia nauplii are suitable preys for early feeding of D. puntazzo larvae. Pepsin activity was low in the larvae, but it increased afterwards in relation with stomach development. In juveniles, levels of specific activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase were lower compared to that recorded in larvae. A decrease in the activit…

The ecological role of Pyrus Spinosa Forssk. in the ecosystem recovery and land restoration of Mediterranean woodlands

2021

In the Mediterranean basin, large areas still call for active reforestation, having a very low woody cover, thus resulting less resistant and resilient to climate change and suffering from a higher risk of soil degradation processes. Knowing the effects on soil fertility and carbon sequestration of single woody species can be of great practical importance, although being rarely tested. We aimed to assess the effect of Pyrus spinosa on soil fertility (soil carbon and nitrogen), microbial biomass and carbon sequestration (in aboveground stems) of Mediterranean pasturelands. The research was carried out in Ficuzza Nature Reserve (NW Sicily), where large areas are composed of extensive pasturel…

Clindamycin-induced restless syndrome

2008

Brief description: We presented a case of severe RLS associated with clindamycin (a lincosamide antibiotic frequently used in clinical practice) which was also a cause of a neurological emergency unit admission

Curcumin-Like Compounds as Neuroprotective Agents: Interactions with HSP60 and Amyloid Beta Peptide

2014

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) represents a fundamental challenge for public health in the 21st century. Current AD therapies largely focus on symptomatic aspects of the clinical pathology, but they have yet to demonstrate any major impact on the disease progression [1]. The most important role of the research aimed at fighting the AD is the development of neuro-protective agents, able to interfere with the protein aggregation process whose clinical signature is represented by the plaques deposition. An important role in AD’s framework could be played by Heat shock proteins (HSPs), highly regulated proteins that mediate the proteins proper folding and promote recovery of their native conformation…

THE ROLE OF HSP60 IN AMYLOID BETA PATHWAY: RELEVANCE TO ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 40 million individuals worldwide. The high number of factors triggering the onset of AD justifies the current absence of disease-modifying therapies. The involved pathological mechanisms are still elusive and, therefore, the finding of effective therapies requires further elucidation of biomolecular mechanisms controlling AD pathogenesis. Particularly, the aberrant amyloidogenic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide misfolding and oligomerization, and the impairment of the protein quality control machinery are key hallmarks characterizing the onset of the disease. Furthe…