Search results for "pcr"
showing 10 items of 438 documents
mtDNA analysis of the human remains buried in the sarcophagus of Federico II
2005
Abstract The sarcophagus containing the remains of Federico II, located in the Cathedral of Palermo (Sicily, Italy), was opened on 1998 to perform a multidisciplinary survey [1]. Next to the remains of Federico II and in close contact with them were laying two other skeletons belonging, according to historical records, to Pietro II di Aragona and to an anonymous person (“The Third Individual”), probably a woman. The bones appeared severely deteriorated. Chemical analysis performed on bone samples excluded that the bodies underwent some kind of embalming process. The analysis of mtDNA from bone samples taken from the three skeletons was successful in only one of the two labs involved. The HV…
A case-control evaluation of sensory profile among preschool children affected by autism spectrum disorder
2019
Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurobehavioral syndromes caused by a developmental disorder, biologically determined, with a very early onset and deficit mainly related to social communication and interaction.There is a considerable amount of literature on ASD suggesting abnormal sensory experience as a basic symptom, as also reported by the DSM-5 and ICD-10.The current case-control study aimed to investigate the sensory perception skills in preschool children affected by ASD compared with a control group of typical developing children.Materials and methods: The study sample was composed of 42 children, subdivided into two groups: 21 ASD (12 males); 21 typical developing (T…
Disentangling the rhizosphere effect on nitrate reducers and denitrifiers: insight into the role of root exudates.
2008
International audience; To determine to which extent root-derived carbon contributes to the effects of plants on nitrate reducers and denitrifiers, four solutions containing different proportions of sugar, organic acids and amino acids mimicking maize root exudates were added daily to soil microcosms at a concentration of 150 μg C g−1 of soil. Water-amended soils were used as controls. After 1 month, the size and structure of the nitrate reducer and denitrifier communities were analysed using the narG and napA, and the nirK, nirS and nosZ genes as molecular markers respectively. Addition of artificial root exudates (ARE) did not strongly affect the structure or the density of nitrate reduce…
Development of fluorogenic probe-based PCR assays for the detection and quantification of bovine piroplasmids.
2009
This paper reports two new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, developed in an attempt to improve the detection of bovine piroplasmids. The first of these techniques is a duplex TaqMan assay for the simultaneous diagnosis of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. This technique is ideal for use in South America where bovids harbour no theilerids. The second technique, which is suitable for the diagnosis of both babesiosis and theileriosis worldwide, involves fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes. In FRET assays, Babesia bovis, B. divergens, Babesia sp. (B. major or B. bigemina), Theileria annae and Theileria sp. were all identifiable based on the melting temperatures of their amplified f…
Study of two midgut aminopeptidases from Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner
2008
Aminopeptidases N (APNs) have been identified as Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins receptor candidates in several Lepidopteran species. Employing the RACE PCR technique we obtained two complete cDNAs corresponding to two APNs expressed in the midgut of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae. One of the sequences was 3624 bp long, and the predicted protein was composed by 940 aminoacids, whereas the other cDNA was 3226 nucleotides long, leading a putative protein composed by 994 aminoacids. The in silico study of the sequences, showed in both proteins a signal peptide, a GPI-anchor domain, a zinc-binding region HEXXHX18E and a GAMEN motif, characteristic of the gluzincin aminopeptidases. Moreover, severa…
Shifts in size, genetic structure and activity of the soil denitrifier community by nematode grazing
2010
International audience; Bacterial-feeding nematodes represent an important driver of the soil microbial activity and diversity. This study aimed at characterizing the impact of nematode grazing on a model functional bacterial guild involved in N-cycling, the denitrifiers. Bacterial-feeding nematodes (Cephalobus pseudoparvus) were inoculated into soil microcosms whose indigenous nematofauna had previously been removed. The size, genetic structure and activity of the soil denitrifier community were characterized 15 and 45 days after nematodes inoculation using quantitative PCR of the nirK, nirS and nosZ denitrification genes, fingerprinting of the nirK and nirS genes and denitrification enzym…
Evidence for shifts in the structure and abundance of the microbial community in a long-term PCB-contaminated soil under bioremediation.
2011
International audience; Although the impact of bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sites on the indigenous microbial community is a key question for soil restoration, it remains poorly understood. Therefore, a small-scale bioremediation assay made of (a) a biostimulation treatment with carvone, soya lecithin and xylose and (b) two bioaugmentation treatments, one with a TSZ7 mixed culture and another with a Rhodococcus sp. Z6 pure strain was set up. Changes in the structure of the global soil microbial community and in the abundances of different taxonomic phyla were monitored using ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) and real-time PCR. After an 18-month treatment, the structure of th…
An Optimized and Rapid DNA Extraction Method From Leaves of Grapevine Suitable for PCR-DGGE Based Analysis
2010
Molecular techniques and genetic studies require a fair amount of DNA of high quality in order to produce reliable and clear results (Li et al., 2007). In grapevine, the yield and quality of DNA can be significantly affected by secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, polysaccharides and tannins, that may be consistently abundant during the different stages of leaf development (Iandolino et al., 2004). The development of a simple, rapid and reliable method for the extraction of genomic DNA from grape leaves collected at several stages during development, as well as from healthy grape leaves and leaves infected by pathogenic microorganisms, was the main objective of this study. The protoco…
Biogenic amines in fermented foods
2010
Food-fermenting lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally considered to be non-toxic and non-pathogenic. Some species of LAB, however, can produce biogenic amines (BAs). BAs are organic, basic, nitrogenous compounds, mainly formed through decarboxylation of amino acids. BAs are present in a wide range of foods, including dairy products, and can occasionally accumulate in high concentrations. The consumption of food containing large amounts of these amines can have toxicological consequences. Although there is no specific legislation regarding BA content in many fermented products, it is generally assumed that they should not be allowed to accumulate. The ability of microorganisms to decarbox…
Comparison between Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Respiratory Patients: What Is beyond the PCR Test
2022
COVID-19 modified the healthcare system. Nasal-pharyngeal swab (NPS), with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase (PCR), is the gold standard for the diagnosis; however, there are difficulties related to the procedure that may postpone it. The study aims to evaluate whether other elements than the PCR-NPS are reliable and confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19. This is a cross-sectional study on data from the Lung Unit of Pavia (confirmed) and at the Emergency Unit of Palermo (suspected). COVID-19 was confirmed by positive NPS, suspected tested negative. We compared clinical, laboratory and radiological variables and performed Logistic regression to estimate which variables increased the ris…