Variant esp gene as a marker of a distinct genetic lineage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

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Dodatni podaci o rijetkoj ribi Microichthys sanzoi (Epigonidae) iz središnjeg dijela Sredozemnog mora

The finding of a rare specimen of Microichthys sanzoi (Epigonidae) stranded on the shore on the Sicilian coast of the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea) is reported. Morphometric and meristic characters are given and the first colour photograph of a fresh specimen is provided. Information on its prey items is provided together with additional data on otolith morphologyU ovom radu je prikazan nalaz jedinke rijetke ribe Microichthys sanzoi (Epigonidae) koja je nanesena na obalu u blizini Mesinskog tjesnaca (središnji dio Sredozemnog mora). Iznesene su osnovne morfometrijske i merističke značajke jedinke kao i njena prva fotografija u boji u svježem stanju. Također su prikazani i podaci o plijenu koji je utvrđen u njenom probavnom sustavu zajedno sa dodatnim podacima o morfologiji otolit

Nedavni zapisi napada igluna na ribarske brodice u vodama oko Sicilije (Sredozemno more)

Recent cases of swordfish attacks on harpoon fishing vessels of the Sicilian fleet were examined and the particular behavior adopted by this fish during the approach to fishermen was described. The information was collected in the period between 1999 and 2014 in Sicilian waters (Mediterranean Sea) through interviews with harpoon fishermen and through direct observations during research activities. Additional cases of the attacks from the previous years are also reported. Overall, 29 cases of swordfish aggressive behavior against fishing boats were documented. Swordfish usually attacked when provoked or when wanted to defend its mate and in several cases, it tried to pierce the boat by the bill. Some attacks culminated with a damage to the target, whereas no injuries to humans were recorded.Razmatrani su nedavni napadi igluna na ribarske brodice iz sicilijanske flote te je opisan poseban obrazac ponašanja koji su ove ribe imale kada su se približavale ribarima. Informacije su prikupljane u razdoblju između 1999. i 2014. u vodama oko Sicilije (Sredozemno more) kroz razgovore s ribarima koji love harpunima i kroz izravna promatranja tijekom istraživanja. Također smo izvijestili i o drugim slučajevima napada koji su se dogodili prijašnjih godina. Sveukupno je zabilježeno 29 slučajeva agresivnog ponašanja igluna naspram ribarskih plovila. Igluni su uglavnom napadali kada bi ih se izazvalo ili kad bi htjeli obraniti svog para, te su, u nekoliko slučajeva pokušali probosti brod sabljom. Neki su napadi završili materijalnom štetom na meti dok ozljeđivanja ljudi nisu zabilježena

Mechanical Stress Downregulates MHC Class I Expression on Human Cancer Cell Membrane

In our body, cells are continuously exposed to physical forces that can regulate different cell functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death. In this work, we employed two different strategies to mechanically stress cancer cells. The cancer and healthy cell populations were treated either with mechanical stress delivered by a micropump (fabricated by deep X-ray nanolithography) or by ultrasound wave stimuli. A specific down-regulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules expression on cancer cell membrane compared to different kinds of healthy cells (fibroblasts, macrophages, dendritic and lymphocyte cells) was observed, stimulating the cells with forces in the range of nano-newton, and pressures between 1 and 10 bar (1 bar = 100.000 Pascal), depending on the devices used. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy analysis, after mechanical treatment, in the range between 700-1800 cm(-1), indicated a relative concentration variation of MHC class I. PCA analysis was also performed to distinguish control and stressed cells within different cell lines. These mechanical induced phenotypic changes increase the tumor immunogenicity, as revealed by the related increased susceptibility to Natural Killer (NK) cells cytotoxic recognition

In Vitro Replication of Swine Hepatitis E Virus (HEV): Production of Cell-Adapted Strains

The hepatitis E caused by the virus HEV of genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 is a zoonotic foodborne disease spread worldwide. HEV is currently classified into eight different genotypes (HEV-1–8). Genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 are zoonotic and are further divided into subtypes. Most of the information on HEV replication remains unknown due to the lack of an efficient cell cultivation system. Over the last couple of years, several protocols for HEV cultivation have been developed on different cell lines; even if they were troublesome, long, and scarcely reproducible, they offered the opportunity to study the replicative cycle of the virus. In the present study, we aimed to obtain a protocol ready to use viral stock in serum free medium that can be used with reduced time of growth and without any purification steps. The employed method allowed isolation and cell adaptation of four swine HEV-3 strains, belonging to three different subtypes. Phylogenetic analyses conducted on partial genome sequences of in vitro isolated strains did not reveal any insertion in the hypervariable region (HVR) of the genomes. A limited number of mutations was acquired in the genome during the virus growth in the partial sequences of Methyltransferase (Met) and ORF2 coding genes

Influence of lunar phases, winds and seasonality on the stranding of mesopelagic fish in the Strait of Messina (Central Mediterranean Sea)

The shore stranding of mesopelagic fauna is a recurrent phenomenon in the Strait of Messina (Central Mediterranean Sea). The aim of this paper is to test the influence oflunar phases, winds and seasons upon the frequency of occurrence of strandings of mesopelagic fish. Species abundance in relation to these factors was quantified for the first time. Specimens were collected stranded on the shore along the Sicilian coast of the Strait of Messina between 2008 and 2016. Overall 32 species belonging to seven families (Gonostomatidae, Microstomatidae, Myctophidae, Paralepididae, Phosichthyidae, Sternoptychidae, Stomiidae) were found stranded. Myctophidae was the family including the highest number of species (16), whereas Gonostomatidae was the most abundant in terms of total number of individuals (47.2%), mainly thanks to the species Cyclothone braueri. The moon, which influences the strength of currents (highest during full and new moon phases) and irradiance (higher in some lunar phases, such as the full moon), affected the abundance of stranded mesopelagic fish in the study area. The highest number of stranding events was recorded during the new moon: 34.6% of the total relative abundance of stranded mesopelagic fish. Wind blowing from the sea towards the coastline (southeasterly and easterly winds) created the best conditions for strandings. The highest abundance of stranded specimens was recorded during the winter season

Colonization of floats from submerged derelict fishing gears by four protected species of deep-sea corals and barnacles in the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea)

The distribution of floating litter in marine waters, influenced by currents and wind drag, often determines the dispersal of its encrusting fauna. In the present paper, we observed for the first time the colonization of rafting floats from abandoned, lost or derelict fishing gears (ALDFG) by the four protected deep-sea species: Errina aspera, Desmophyllum pertusum, Madrepora oculata Pachylasma giganteum. Overall, 41 floats, colonized by deep benthic species, were found stranded on the shore of the Sicilian coast of the Strait of Messina, between 2016 and 2019. Species composition, number and occurrence of colonizing organisms were analyzed. On the basis of the species composition (the association between E. aspera, P. giganteum and Megabalanus tulipiformis), the knowledge on their ecology, biogeography, path of local currents, it was possible to define that the area of origin of the most part of these fishing net floats was the Strait of Messina