Serological detection of Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPa V) by a polyclonal antiserum to recombinant virus coat protein

The coat protein gene of Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) was amplified with primers based on the completely sequenced Californian GRSPaV isolate, The protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used to raise an antiserum in rabbit. This antiserum was successfully used to detect virus coat protein in infected grapevine extracts either spotted on polyvinyl difluoride membranes (dot immunobinding) or blotted on membranes after gel separation (Western blot). The antiserum titre was 1:5,000 in Western blot. GRSPaV was detected in leaf petioles and cortical scrapings from dormant canes during the whole vegetative season. Several accessions of Vitis rupestris, currently used as presumptive virus-free indicators of Rupestris stem pitting, were found to be infected by this virus. While the application of the antiserum in ELISA was ineffective, the availability of similarly simple and effective serological tools, such as dot immunobinding, may allow a wide survey for GRSPaV

Bats, Trypanosomes, and Triatomines in Ecuador: New Insights into the Diversity, Transmission, and Origins of Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas Disease

The generalist parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has two phylogenetic lineages associated almost exclusively with bats—Trypanosoma cruzi Tcbat and the subspecies T. c. marinkellei. We present new information on the genetic variation, geographic distribution, host associations, and potential vectors of these lineages. We conducted field surveys of bats and triatomines in southern Ecuador, a country endemic for Chagas disease, and screened for trypanosomes by microscopy and PCR. We identified parasites at species and genotype levels through phylogenetic approaches based on 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and cytochrome b (cytb) genes and conducted a comparison of nucleotide diversity of the cytb gene. We document for the first time T. cruzi Tcbat and T. c. marinkellei in Ecuador, expanding their distribution in South America to the western side of the Andes. In addition, we found the triatomines Cavernicola pilosa and Triatoma dispar sharing shelters with bats. The comparisons of nucleotide diversity revealed a higher diversity for T. c. marinkellei than any of the T. c. cruzi genotypes associated with Chagas disease. Findings from this study increased both the number of host species and known geographical ranges of both parasites and suggest potential vectors for these two trypanosomes associated with bats in rural areas of southern Ecuador. The higher nucleotide diversity of T. c. marinkellei supports a long evolutionary relationship between T. cruzi and bats, implying that bats are the original hosts of this important parasite

Traduzione e Scrittura Letteraria. Atti del Seminario, Lecce 24 aprile e 8 maggio 2009

Il volume raccoglie le relazioni del Seminario a cui hanno partecipato studiosi tra i più qualificati nel variegato campo delle Scienze dell’Uomo: linguisti, filosofi del linguaggio, semiologi, critici letterari, traduttori e critici della traduzione. Molteplici punti di vista che garantiscono un approccio interdisciplinare tra contigue risposte del sapere, a proposito di un tema esigente le domande di ogni presente: chiedere dell’altro, a partire dall’incontro con la sua cultura e, con la sua parola

Traduzione e scrittura letteraria

Il Convegno (21, 24 aprile 2009; 8 maggio 2009) prevede 18 interventi di autorevoli studiosi italiani e stranieri sui problemi della traduzione letteraria e su altri codici comunicativi. Alla fine di ogni seduta, si aprirà un dibattito che farà il punto sulle più recenti ricerche del settore in Italia e all'estero

Serological detection of Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) by a polyclonal antiserum to recombinant virus coat protein

The coat protein gene of Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) was amplified with primers based on the completely sequenced Californian GRSPaV isolate, The protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used to raise an antiserum in rabbit. This antiserum was successfully used to detect virus coat protein in infected grapevine extracts either spotted on polyvinyl difluoride membranes (dot immunobinding) or blotted on membranes after gel separation (Western blot). The antiserum titre was 1:5,000 in Western blot. GRSPaV was detected in leaf petioles and cortical scrapings from dormant canes during the whole vegetative season. Several accessions of Vitis rupestris, currently used as presumptive virus-free indicators of Rupestris stem pitting, were found to be infected by this virus. While the application of the antiserum in ELISA was ineffective, the availability of similarly simple and effective serological tools, such as dot immunobinding, may allow a wide survey for GRSPaV

Pseudodominance of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency due to a nonsense mutation (Tyr(302) > Term) in exon 6 of LPL gene in an Italian family from Sardinia (LPLOlbia)

We analyzed the molecular defect in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene of a young boy from Sardinia who had primary hyperchylomicronemia, pancreatitis, and a complete LPL deficiency in post-heparin plasma. Analysis of LPL gene was performed by using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing of SSCP-positive region. The proband was homozygous for a C > A transversion in exon 6, which converts the codon for tyrosine at position 302 into a termination codon and eliminates an RsaI restriction site; this allowed the rapid screening of the proband's family members, among whom nine heterozygotes and one additional homozygote were identified. The homozygote was the proband's paternal grandmother who had shown the first clinical manifestation (recurrent pancreatitis) of LPL deficiency at the age of 54 years. LPL mutation carriers showed a mild dyslipidemic phenotype characterized by a reduction of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, HDL-C/total cholesterol ratio, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) size, associated with a variable increase of triglyceride levels. Five of these carriers were also heterozygotes for beta degrees-thalassemia (Q39X mutation). In these double mutation carriers, plasma HDL-C levels were higher and plasma triglycerides tended to be lower than in carriers of LPL mutation alone. The Tyr(302) > Term mutation encodes a truncated protein of 301 amino acids that is probably not secreted by the LPL producing cells. This is the first mutation of LPL gene found in Sardinians