Metabolites from the Euryhaline Ciliate Pseudokeronopsis erythrina

TThree new secondary metabolites (named erythrolactones A2, B2 and C2), that are characterized by a central 4‐hydroxy‐unsaturated δ lactone ring bearing an alkyl saturated chain at C(2) and a butyl‐benzenoid group at C(5), together with their respective sulfate esters (erythrolactones A1, B1 and C1), have been isolated from cell cultures of Pseudokeronopsis erythrina, clone TL‐1. The structures are assigned on the basis of extensive spectroscopic measurements (1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and HR‐MALDI‐TOF). A plausible biogenetic route for their formation is also suggested. Cold‐shock treatment was performed in order to induce the discharge of the metabolites contained in pigment granules lying on the ciliary organelles of this microorganism. HPLC‐ESI‐MS analysis of this granule discharge reveals that erythrolactones A2–C2 are actually therein contained, strongly suggesting a possible role for these metabolites in the chemical defence strategy of P. erythrina

Congenital Chagas disease in a Bolivian newborn in Bergamo (Italy)

Chagas disease (CD) is an uncommon disease in Europe. Its epidemiology has changed because of mass migration from Latin America to Europe. Herein we describe a congenital case of CD in a Bolivian newborn in Bergamo, the main city of residence for the Bolivian community in Italy. At delivery, serological analyses evidenced IgG antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi both in the child and mother, as expected. Hemoscopic analyses on peripheral blood were repeatedly negative during the first months of life. Eventually, thanks to T. cruzi Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity on peripheral blood and development of progressive anemia in the following weeks, congenital Chagas disease was diagnosed and benznidazole-based therapy started. A progressive antibodies' index decrease was observed till negativity (306 days apart). RT-PCR was negative at the end of treatment. Our case is instructive and management of congenital CD is discussed from the perspective of a non-endemic country

REDIportal: a comprehensive database of A-to-I RNA editing events in humans

RNA editing by A-to-I deamination is the prominent co-/post-transcriptional modification in humans. It is carried out by ADAR enzymes and contributes to both transcriptomic and proteomic expansion. RNA editing has pivotal cellular effects and its deregulation has been linked to a variety of human disorders including neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Despite its biological relevance, many physiological and functional aspects of RNA editing are yet elusive. Here, we present REDIportal, available online at http://srv00.recas.ba.infn.it/atlas/, the largest and comprehensive collection of RNA editing in humans including more than 4.5 millions of A-to-I events detected in 55 body sites from thousands of RNAseq experiments. REDIportal embeds RADAR database and represents the first editing resource designed to answer functional questions, enabling the inspection and browsing of editing levels in a variety of human samples, tissues and body sites. In contrast with previous RNA editing databases, REDIportal comprises its own browser (JBrowse) that allows users to explore A-to-I changes in their genomic context, empathizing repetitive elements in which RNA editing is prominent

Pole-to-Pole Gene Flow in Protozoan Ciliates

Microorganisms represent the smallest but arguably most important component of the ocean life. They are essential to all nutrient cycles because they form the bottom of the marine food chain and outnumber all other marine species by orders of magnitude. Sampling of remote and inaccessible habitats and large-scale genomic analysis have shown how little we know about the microbial life in the oceans, and how our poor knowledge of the marine chemistry and biology is preventing us from foreseeing the detrimental effects that a too rapidly changing world has on the oceans’ ecosystems. In this context, polar microorganisms are attracting particular interest because of their role in global-scale biogeochemical cycles, in particular the carbon dioxide exchange with the atmosphere (Falkowski et al. 2008). Considering this interest, planktonic and benthic microbial communities from Arctic and Antarctic areas have become the focus of more systematic samplingand rigorous analyses for their taxonomic, prokaryotic (bacterial) and eukaryotic (protist), biodiversity. A relevant result of these analyses was the finding of microbial species that, like a diverse range of plant and animal species (Lindberg 1991; Crame 1993), warrant the definition ‘‘bipolar’’ (or ‘‘anti-tropical’’), i.e. species represented by high-latitude populations physically separated in distribution across the tropics (Darling et al. 2000; Montresor et al. 2003; Brandt et al. 2007; Pawlowski et al. 2007). This concept of species bipolarity has inherently raised the intriguing question whether co-specific Antarctic and Arctic populations evolved independently since the effective separation (approximately 10–15 million years ago) between the Arctic and Antarctic cold-water provinces, or whether a trans-tropical gene flow ensures that these polar populations maintain genetic continuity (Darling et al. 2000). Morphological studies alone are clearly insufficient to address this question, due to recurrent phenomena of parallel or convergent morphological evolution that take place under similar environmental forces. Therefore, more solid grounds supporting the concept of species bipolarity have been obtained in some species of foraminifera and dinozoans from analysis of genetic variation in sequences of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA nuclear gene (Darling et al. 2000; Montresor et al. 2003; Brandt et al. 2007; Pawlowski et al. 2007). Nevertheless, unless the calibration of a molecular clock is supported by abundance in fossil records, as is the case in foraminifera (Pawlowski et al. 1997), also this genetic approach is impaired by the fact that the same DNA regions may evolve at different rates among closely related organisms. A solution to overcoming this challenge is provided by the well-defined, monophyletic group of ciliates which are ideal organisms for the analysis of the breeding structure of natural microbial populations and, therefore, for obtaining data which satisfy the interbreeding criterion on which the biological (Darwinian) concept of species is founded. Ciliates govern their gene exchanges through a unique sexual phenomenon, known as conjugation (or mating), in which two functionally hermaphroditic individuals unite temporarily in pairs for a mutual exchange of a ‘‘migratory’’ (‘‘male’’) gametic nucleus destined to fuse into a synkaryon with a ‘‘resident’’ (‘‘female’’) gametic nucleus. In addition, ciliates more than any other group of polar microorganisms can readily provide living laboratory material in virtually unlimited amounts, since every aquatic polar habitat hosts a large variety of ciliate species that are relatively easy to collect and expand into permanent clonal cultures (i.e., descendants from single wild-type specimens). Here we review results that have been obtained from breeding analyses of Antarctic, Fuegian and Arctic populations of the ciliate Euplotes nobilii. These results have provided compelling evidence that these populations are genetically interconnected by gene flow and form a unique interbreeding biological species. The description of these results is preceded by an outline of our current knowledge of ciliate biodiversity in the polar regions, and by a rationalization of the genetic mechanism of the mating types that represents the major driving force of ciliate breeding strategies

Autoptic findings of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomiopathy (AVC) from left ventricle and biventricular involvement.

Objectives: To evaluate autoptic histopathological findings of arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVC) as major cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young adults. Background: According to Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)'s international consensus, histological criteria for AVC diagnosis include a progressive myocardial atrophy of the right ventricle characterized by a transmural fatty or fibrofatty replacement in a segmental or diffuse pattern (residual myocytes <60 % vs 60–75 % by morphometric analysis) explaining the electrical instability with increased risk of SCD. However, there is increasing evidence for atypical patterns of localizations and percentage of fibrofatty replacement suggesting the need to update histopathological features of AVC. Methods: Histology examination of ventricles, atria, and septum was performed on 10 autopsy of SCD due to AVC. Staining with hematoxylin-eosin and PicroSirius Red/Fast Green were performed on the heart samples to identify specific fibrofatty patterns. Results: Our analysis showed that: 1) myocardial replacement by a diffuse segmental fatty or fibro-fatty tissue characterized right and left ventricles as well as atrial walls; 2) the degree of fibrofatty tissue replacement was less than 40 % both in left ventricle (n = 4, 40 %) and biventricular (n = 6, 60 %) localization; 3) perivascular fibrosis, inflammatory infiltrate, areas of hypertrophy and/or areas of coagulative necrosis as signs of hypoxic damage in the first stage. Conclusions: We confirmed prior evidence for fibrofatty replacement both in biventricular and septal localizations. Importantly, we observed a less degree (<40 %) of fibrofatty replacement as compared to current guidelines. This supports the need to further explore the histological patterns of fibrofatty infiltration in a larger study population to improve the histological diagnostic criteria of AVC

The non-proteic extrusive secondary metabolites in ciliated protists

The non-proteic extrusive secondary metabolites in ciliated protists F. Buonanno1, A. Anesi2, G. Guella2, E. Marcantoni3, S. Giorgi3, C. Ortenzi1 1Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy 2Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Trento, 38050 Povo, Trento, Italy 3School of Sciences and Technologies, Section of Chemistry, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Macerata, Italy Extrusomes are membrane-bound ejectable organelles widely distributed in protists. They are usually localized in the cell cortex and attached to the cell membrane, and they are able to discharge their contents to the outside of the cell in response to mechanical or chemical stimuli. Notably, cells that discharge their extrusomes remains intact and functional. The chemical nature of protists\u2019 extrusive compounds characterized to date is extremely variable, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and dozens of additional classes of secondary metabolites. However an increasing set of data are now available for particular group of protists, the ciliated protozoa. Many of non-proteic extrusive secondary metabolites in ciliates function for chemical offense or defense in prey-predator interactions against unicellular or/and multicellular organisms. It is worthy of note that at least some of these secondary metabolites have been demonstrated to show antibiotic, anti-cancer and pro-apoptotic properties in addition to their physiological functions. Among these compounds, euplotin C produced by the ciliate Euplotes crassus, and climacostol produced by Climacostomum virens, have been shown to activate programmed cell death by impairing mitochondrial membrane potential and inducing ROS generation in mammalian tumor cell lines. Interestingly, an antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and fungal pathogens was also demonstrated for climacostol. Overall, in addition to the understanding of their physiological and ecological functions, the study of non-proteic secondary metabolites of ciliated protozoa may set the basis for the development of a novel series of antitumor and antimicrobial agents

Sterols used in chemical defence pf the freshwater heterotrich ciliate Stentor polymorphus

Many species of ciliates belonging to the order Heterotrichida, are able to release toxic secondary metabolites for chemical defence against unicellular or multicellular predators. The chemical diversity of these toxic compounds is quite relevant and, sometimes, ciliate species on the same genus discharge very different kinds of molecules. In this study we analysed the chemical defence strategy of the freshwater heterotrich ciliate Stentor polymorphus against the predatory ciliate Coleps hirtus, and the microturbellarian flatworm Stenostomum sphagnetorum. The results showed that S. polymorphus defends itself discharging a mix of four sterols, ergosterol, 7-dehydroporiferasterol and their two peroxidised analogues. Sterols were isolated in vivo and characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Toxicity tests against other predators and competitors, indicated that at least, ergosterol and ergosterol peroxide, are essential for the efficiency of chemical defence in S. polymorphus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the use of sterols in predator-prey interaction among ciliated protozoa, highlighting the huge chemical diversity in the ciliate secondary metabolites

Efecto de la prolongación de la máscara facial en el desarrollo de los caninos maxilares impactados: un estudio retrospectivo.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate if maxillary protraction with facemask increases the risk of maxillary canine impaction. Materials and method: The records of 76 skeletal Class III subjects with a cervical vertebral maturation stage between CS1 and CS3 and a displaced maxillary canine were retrospectively collected. Intraoral photographs, orthopantomography and lateral cephalograms were collected, and patients were divided into three groups depending on the type of treatment received – a Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE), a RPE in conjunction with a facemask (RPE-FM), or a Class III functional appliance (FA). The patient’s records were used to determine if the maxillary canines were correctly erupted after that phase of treatment. A binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of treatment modality and skeletal maturation stage on the chance of maxillary canine impaction. Results: No effect of the three different treatment modalities and of the skeletal maturation stage on the risk of canine impaction was observed. Conclusions: The protraction facemask can be used in growing skeletal Class III subjects without increasing the risks of maxillary canine displacement.El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar si la protracción maxilar con mascarilla aumenta el riesgo de impactación canina maxilar. Materiales y método: se recogieron retrospectivamente los registros de 76 sujetos esqueléticos de Clase III con una etapa de maduración vertebral cervical entre CS1 y CS3 y un canino maxilar desplazado. Se recogieron fotografías intraorales, ortopantomografía y cefalogramas laterales, y los pacientes se dividieron en tres grupos según el tipo de tratamiento recibido: un expansor palatino rápido (RPE), un RPE junto con una máscara facial (RPE-FM) o un aparato funcional (FA) clase III. Los registros del paciente se usaron para determinar si los caninos maxilares entraron en erupción correctamente después de esa fase del tratamiento. Se utilizó una regresión logística binaria para evaluar el efecto de la modalidad de tratamiento y la etapa de maduración esquelética sobre la posibilidad de impactación canina maxilar. Resultados: no se observó ningún efecto de las tres modalidades de tratamiento diferentes y de la etapa de maduración esquelética sobre el riesgo de impactación canina. Conclusiones: la mascarilla de protracción se puede usar en sujetos esqueléticos clase III en crecimiento sin aumentar los riesgos de desplazamiento canino maxilar

Mid-Term Estimates of Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness against the A(H1N1)pdm09 Prevalent Circulating Subtype in the 2023/24 Season: Data from the Sicilian RespiVirNet Surveillance System

The current influenza season started in Italy in October 2023, approaching the epidemic peak in late December (52nd week of the year). We aimed to explore the mid-term virologic surveillance data of the 2023/2024 influenza season (from 16 October 2023 to 7 January 2024) in Sicily, the fourth most populous Italian region. A test-negative design was used to estimate the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine (VE) against A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, the predominant subtype in Sicily (96.2% of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases). Overall, 29.2% (n = 359/1230) of oropharyngeal swabs collected from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) were positive for influenza. Among the laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, 12.5% (n = 45/359) were vaccinated against influenza, with higher prevalence of laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of influenza A among subjects vaccinated with quadrivalent inactivated standard dose (29.4%), live attenuated intranasal (25.1%), and quadrivalent inactivated high-dose (23.8%) influenza vaccines. Comparing influenza vaccination status for the 2023/2024 season among laboratory-confirmed influenza-positive and -negative samples, higher vaccination rates in influenza-negative samples (vs. positive) were observed in all age groups, except for 45-64 years old, regardless of sex and comorbidities. The overall adjusted VE (adj-VE) was 41.4% [95%CI: 10.5-61.6%], whereas the adj-VE was 37.9% [95%CI: -0.7-61.7%] among children 7 months-14 years old and 52.7% [95%CI: -38.0-83.8%] among the elderly (&gt;= 65 years old)

Long-term effect on adenoid dimensions and craniocervical angulation after maxillary expansion with fixed or functional appliances

Maxillary expansion is a common orthodontic procedure that could have a positive effect also on airway patency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on nasopharyngeal area and cranio-cervic