Skin dysbiosis and Cutibacterium acnes biofilm in inflammatory acne lesions of adolescents

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder affecting more than 80% of young adolescents. Cutibacterium acnes plays a role in the pathogenesis of acne lesions, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. The study aimed to explore the microbiome at different skin sites in adolescent acne and the role of biofilm production in promoting the growth and persistence of C. acnes isolates. Microbiota analysis showed a significantly lower alpha diversity in inflammatory lesions (LA) than in non-inflammatory (NI) lesions of acne patients and healthy subjects (HS). Differences at the species level were driven by the overabundance of C. acnes on LA than NI and HS. The phylotype IA1 was more represented in the skin of acne patients than in HS. Genes involved in lipids transport and metabolism, as well as potential virulence factors associated with host-tissue colonization, were detected in all IA1 strains independently from the site of isolation. Additionally, the IA1 isolates were more efficient in early adhesion and biomass production than other phylotypes showing a significant increase in antibiotic tolerance. Overall, our data indicate that the site-specific dysbiosis in LA and colonization by virulent and highly tolerant C. acnes phylotypes may contribute to acne development in a part of the population, despite the universal carriage of the microorganism. Moreover, new antimicrobial agents, specifically targeting biofilm-forming C. acnes, may represent potential treatments to modulate the skin microbiota in acne

Isolation of flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides from Myrsine africana and their inhibitory activities against mushroom tyrosinase

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of the shoots of Myrsine africana led to the isolation of the new compound myricetin 3-O-(2″,4″-di-O-acetyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (9) and 11 known compounds. The known compounds quercetin 3-O-(3″,4″-di-O-acetyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (8), rutin (10), quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (11), and myricetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (12) are reported for the first time from the methanol extract of the shoots of M. africana. Compounds 10 and 12 showed significant inhibition of tyrosinase with 50% inhibition (IC50 values) of the enzyme at 0.13 ± 0.003 and 0.12 ± 0.002 mM, respectively, which was supported by the docking fitness scores obtained through molecular docking analysis. In addition, compounds 1–12 displayed significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging 1.90 to 3.90 μM.The University of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation.https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jnprdfhj2019Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Association of Variants in the SPTLC1 Gene With Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Importance: Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare form of ALS characterized by age of symptom onset less than 25 years and a variable presentation.Objective: To identify the genetic variants associated with juvenile ALS.Design, Setting, and Participants: In this multicenter family-based genetic study, trio whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify the disease-associated gene in a case series of unrelated patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and severe growth retardation. The patients and their family members were enrolled at academic hospitals and a government research facility between March 1, 2016, and March 13, 2020, and were observed until October 1, 2020. Whole-exome sequencing was also performed in a series of patients with juvenile ALS. A total of 66 patients with juvenile ALS and 6258 adult patients with ALS participated in the study. Patients were selected for the study based on their diagnosis, and all eligible participants were enrolled in the study. None of the participants had a family history of neurological disorders, suggesting de novo variants as the underlying genetic mechanism.Main Outcomes and Measures: De novo variants present only in the index case and not in unaffected family members.Results: Trio whole-exome sequencing was performed in 3 patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and their parents. An additional 63 patients with juvenile ALS and 6258 adult patients with ALS were subsequently screened for variants in the SPTLC1 gene. De novo variants in SPTLC1 (p.Ala20Ser in 2 patients and p.Ser331Tyr in 1 patient) were identified in 3 unrelated patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and failure to thrive. A fourth variant (p.Leu39del) was identified in a patient with juvenile ALS where parental DNA was unavailable. Variants in this gene have been previously shown to be associated with autosomal-dominant hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy, type 1A, by disrupting an essential enzyme complex in the sphingolipid synthesis pathway.Conclusions and Relevance: These data broaden the phenotype associated with SPTLC1 and suggest that patients presenting with juvenile ALS should be screened for variants in this gene.</p

Trasporto intracellulare e maturazione dello human herpesvirus 6

Dottorato di ricerca in medicina sperimentale. 11. ciclo. Coordinatore Maria Rosaria TorrisiConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Shining Light on Autophagy in Skin Pigmentation and Pigmentary Disorders

Autophagy is a vital process for cell survival and it preserves homeostasis by recycling or disassembling unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular constituents. Autophagy ameliorates skin integrity, regulating epidermal differentiation and constitutive pigmentation. It induces melanogenesis and contributes to skin color through melanosome turnover. Autophagy activity is involved in skin phenotypic plasticity and cell function maintenance and, if altered, it concurs to the onset and/or progression of hypopigmentary and hyperpigmentary disorders. Overexpression of autophagy exerts a protective role against the intrinsic metabolic stress occurring in vitiligo skin, while its dysfunction has been linked to the tuberous sclerosis complex hypopigmentation. Again, autophagy impairment reduces melanosome degradation by concurring to pigment accumulation characterizing senile lentigo and melasma. Here we provide an updated review that describes recent findings on the crucial role of autophagy in skin pigmentation, thus revealing the complex interplay among melanocyte biology, skin environment and autophagy. Hence, targeting this process may also represent a promising strategy for treating pigmentary disorders

KGF Promotes Paracrine Activation of the SCF/c-KIT Axis from Human Keratinocytes to Melanoma Cells1

The paracrine networks of the human melanoma microenvironment are able to influence tumor growth and progression. Among the paracrine growth factors involved in skin homeostasis, the KGF/FGF7 secreted by dermal fibroblasts promotes the epidermal proliferation and differentiation as well as the release from keratinocytes of other paracrine mediators. To evaluate the possible role played by KGF in affecting the behavior of different subtypes of melanoma carrying activating mutations or overexpression of the SCF receptor c-KIT, we used human melanoma cell lines, characterized by different expression levels of c-KIT and opposing responsivity to SCF, and HaCaT keratinocytes. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay and ELISA test on KGF-treated keratinocytes showed enhanced expression and secretion of SCF in response to KGF and dependent on functional KGF receptor. Immunofluorescence microscopy and biochemical analysis showed, in one of the selected melanoma cell models, SCF-dependent c-KIT activation induced by stimulation with the culture supernatants collected from KGF-treated keratinocytes. In keratinocyte-melanoma cocultures stained for the Ki67 proliferation marker, incubation with KGF induced enhanced growth not only of the keratinocytes but also of the melanoma cells, which could be blocked by the c-KIT inhibitor imatinib, demonstrating the establishment of a KGF-induced paracrine signaling network owing to the coexpression of biologically active SCF released from keratinocytes and functional c-KIT on melanoma cells

MIG – Military Innovative GreenHouse

La fattoria verticale shelterizzata MIG. Coltivazioni di 'micro-greens' e 'baby-leaf ‘ all’interno di una fattoria verticale. Aspetti nutrizionali e salutistici delle 'micro-greens’. Effetto sorgenti luminose su crescita vegetali. Sistema ausiliario di purificazione delle Acque. Sistemi ausiliari per la generazione di energia green.PROGETTO MIG - MILITARY INNOVATIVE GREENHOUSE Giovedì 16 maggio 2019, presso la Casa dell’aviatore in Roma, si è svolta la presentazione del Progetto di Ricerca “Military Innovative Greenhouse” presenziato dal Direttore Generale Massimo Scala, l'assessora alle Infrastrutture di Roma Margherita Gatta, il Generale Isp. Alberto de RUBEIS, il Generale Raffaele Faggiano, il Generale Alfonso Coscia, l'ing. Giorgia Pontetti, rap. Regione Lazio, rap di Roma, rap INVITALIA e tanti altri presso la Casa dell'aviatore Roma. Il Progetto è stato finanziato oltre che dal Ministero della difesa - Segretariato Generale della Difesa e Direzione Nazionale Armamenti, anche da G&amp;A Engineering, ACTA INVICTA con la partecipazione di ENEA. Evento organizzato con l’Associazione Arma Aeronautica. Il progetto MIG è un progetto di ricerca e di innovazione tecnologica che vede la realizzazione, all’interno di uno shelter chiuso, di una vera e propria fattoria automatizzata in grado di soddisfare le esigenze alimentari quotidiane di verdure e vegetali del personale militare dispiegato, per operazioni di “peace keeping” e/o “peace enforcing”, in aree fortemente disagiate, povere o prive di risorse naturali. La produzione avviene in modo completamente automatico all’interno di uno shelter chiuso, in ambiente controllato e sterile, a contenimento, utilizzando la tecnologia idroponica (ovvero senza suolo), implementando un efficiente sistema di illuminazione artificiale basato su sorgenti LED. La coltivazione deve avvenire in modo computerizzato per garantire, senza l’impiego di personale agronomo specializzato, produzioni controllate di micro-verdure e baby-verdure con elevate rese indipendentemente dal luogo di localizzazione e quindi dalle condizioni ambientali esterne. La soluzione studiata per la realizzazione della Vertical Farm MIG, oggetto del progetto, prevede l’impiego di un container marittimo standard ISO 20’, trasportabile e riposizionabile, attrezzato e computerizzato, in grado di gestire tutte le fasi di coltivazione dalla semina al raccolto di micro e baby verdure per il pronto uso (“ready-to-eat” e “ready-to-cook”). Con le attività svolte, si sono studiate e ricercate le soluzioni necessarie a permettere la coltivazione idroponica in zone campali, in scenari operativi, ottimizzando gli spazi all’interno del container al fine di ottenere produzioni continue, ripetibili, di altissima qualità, “pulite” dalla semina al raccolto e pronte al consumo diretto, senza pesticidi o erbicidi, a Km 0, rispettando l’ambiente e prescindendo dalle condizioni esterne. Lo studio si è basato sull’impiego di colture a ciclo biologico breve (≤10 giorni) ed elevata densità di nutrienti (più elevata concentrazione di metaboliti, acido ascorbico, carotenoidi, antociani, flavonoidi, ecc...) con ridottissimo consumo di acqua. Grazie al sistema a contenimento pensato, si possono realizzare colture senza il reale utilizzo di agrofarmaci per assenza di insetti, batteri e funghi. Questo progetto, ha inoltre un’altissima valenza intrinseca, dato il suo potenziale utilizzo in ambito sociale di sostegno all’inserimento lavorativo delle persone fragili per favorirne la socializzazione. Il Progetto Military Innovative Greenhouse (Factory farm) - Progetto MIG ha una Tecnologia Dual-use difatti oltre all’utilizzo in ambito operativo consente alle persone con disabilità gravi sia di essere avvicinate al verde e sia nello stesso tempo di offrire loro una possibilità di inserimento lavorativo sostenibile e trasformare queste persone da un peso per la Società ad una risorsa per il Paese

Somatosensory-guided tool use modifies arm representation for action

International audienceTool-use changes both peripersonal space and body representations, with several effects being nowadays termed tool embodiment. Since somatosensation was typically accompanied by vision in most previous tool use studies, whether somatosensation alone is sufficient for tool embodiment remains unknown. Here we address this question via a task assessing arm length representation at an implicit level. Namely, we compared movement's kinematics in blindfolded healthy participants when grasping an object before and after tool-use. Results showed longer latencies and smaller peaks in the arm transport component after tool-use, consistent with an increased length of arm representation. No changes were found in the hand grip component and correlations revealed similar kinematic signatures in naturally long-armed participants. Kinematics changes did not interact with target object position, further corroborating the finding that somatosensory-guided tool use may increase the represented size of the participants' arm. Control experiments ruled out alternative interpretations based upon altered hand position sense. In addition, our findings indicate that tool-use effects are specific for the implicit level of arm representation, as no effect was observed on the explicit estimate of the forearm length. These findings demonstrate for the first time that somatosensation is sufficient for incorporating a tool that has never been seen, nor used before

Cheeses curdled with vegetable rennet: high quality dairy productions from Italy and beyond [Formaggi a caglio vegetale: produzioni lattiero-casearie di pregio italiane e non solo]

Cheese is a popular food all over the world, and Italy is one of the major producers in terms of quantity and quality. Rennet is a key ingredient in the manufacturing process because it allows the coagulation of milk, and hence its transformation into curd. Animal rennet is the oldest and most widely employed milk-coagulating agent, but enzymes with milk-clotting activity also occur in some plants. However, the use of vegetable coagulants is mainly restricted to artisan local productions. In recent years, dietary, religious, and even legal factors have driven the research toward the exploitation of animal rennet substitutes thus leading to an increased interest towards vegetable coagulants. The present review describes the current situation on the use of vegetable coagulants in cheesemaking, with a particular focus on Italy, and some typical productions of the Marche Region