SMART GROUND Project: SMART data collection and integration platform to enhance availability and accessibility of data and information in the EU territory on secondary raw materials

The issue of resource security has come to the forefront of the debate as Critical Materials (CRM) and Raw Materials (RM) supply is fundamental to maintain and develop EU economy. Considering the increasing scarcity and raising prices of RM, their recycling and recovery from anthropogenic deposits is essential. To date there is no homogeneous inventory available of SRM and CRM present in EU landfills, and best management practices to recover SRM from landfill activities are inefficient. In this context, the EU SMART GROUND project intends to foster resource recovery in landfills by improving the availability and the accessibility of data and information on SRM in the EU

Molecular engineering of Ghfp, the gonococcal orthologue of neisseria meningitidis factor H binding protein

Knowledge of the sequences and structures of proteins produced by microbial pathogens is continuously increasing. Besides offering the possibility of unraveling the mechanisms of pathogenesis at the molecular level, structural information provides new tools for vaccine development, such as the opportunity to improve viral and bacterial vaccine candidates by rational design. Structure-based rational design of antigens can optimize the epitope repertoire in terms of accessibility, stability, and variability. In the present study, we used epitope mapping information on the well-characterized antigen of Neisseria meningitidis factor H binding protein (fHbp) to engineer its gonococcal homologue, Ghfp. Meningococcal fHbp is typically classified in three distinct antigenic variants. We introduced epitopes of fHbp variant 1 onto the surface of Ghfp, which is naturally able to protect against meningococcal strains expressing fHbp of variants 2 and 3. Heterologous epitopes were successfully transplanted, as engineered Ghfp induced functional antibodies against all three fHbp variants. These results confirm that structural vaccinology represents a successful strategy for modulating immune responses, and it is a powerful tool for investigating the extension and localization of immunodominant epitopes

Smart ground project: a new approach to data accessibility and collection for raw materials and secondary raw materials in Europe

Steady Raw Materials (RM) supply is essential for the EU economy and increasingly under pressure to sustain the businesses and industries demand. The supply of RM is not only a matter of availability of primary but also of secondary raw materials (SRM). In fact a great amount of waste can be regained as practical and valuable SRM by enhancing the recovery processes from industrial, mining and municipal landfill sites, especially if we consider that Europe is highly dependent on the imports of several RM. Nevertheless, there is to date no inventory of SRM at EU level. Smart Ground project aims to facilitate the availability and accessibility of data and information on SRM in the EU, as well as creating synergy and collaboration between the different stakeholders involved in the SRM value chain. In order to do so, the Smart Ground consortium is carrying out a set of activities to integrate in a single EU database all the data from existing sources and new information retrieving pilot landfills as progress is made. Such database will enable the exchange of contacts and information among the relevant stakeholders, interested in providing or obtaining SRM. Finally, Smart Ground project will also spin out the SRM economy and employment thanks to targeted training activities, organized during congresses and dedicated meeting with stakeholders and end users interested in calculating the potentiality for SRM recovery from selected landfills, contemporary constituting a dedicated network of stakeholders committed to cost-effective research, technology transfer and training

Clinical characteristics of a large cohort of patients with narcolepsy candidate for pitolisant: a cross-sectional study from the Italian PASS Wakix® Cohort

Introduction Narcolepsy is a chronic and rare hypersomnia of central origin characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and a complex array of symptoms as well as by several medical comorbidities. With growing pharmacological options, polytherapy may increase the possibility of a patient-centered management of narcolepsy symptoms. The aims of our study are to describe a large cohort of Italian patients with narcolepsy who were candidates for pitolisant treatment and to compare patients' subgroups based on current drug prescription (drug-naive patients in whom pitolisant was the first-choice treatment, switching to pitolisant from other monotherapy treatments, and adding on in polytherapy). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey based on Italian data from the inclusion visits of the Post Authorization Safety Study of pitolisant, a 5-year observational, multicenter, international study. Results One hundred ninety-one patients were enrolled (76.4% with narcolepsy type 1 and 23.6% with narcolepsy type 2). Most patients (63.4%) presented at least one comorbidity, mainly cardiovascular and psychiatric. Pitolisant was prescribed as an add-on treatment in 120/191 patients (62.8%), as switch from other therapies in 42/191 (22.0%), and as a first-line treatment in 29/191 (15.2%). Drug-naive patients presented more severe sleepiness, lower functional status, and a higher incidence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion Our study presents the picture of a large cohort of Italian patients with narcolepsy who were prescribed with pitolisant, suggesting that polytherapy is highly frequent to tailor a patient-centered approach

Multi-class polar lipid profiling in fresh and roasted hazelnut (Corylus avellana cultivar “Tonda di Giffoni”) by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn

Hazelnuts are a popular tree nut used whole or as an ingredient in a variety of bakery, candy and chocolate products. Based on the nutritional value and nutraceutical properties, mainly due to the lipid content, US Food and Drug Administration has recognized hazelnut as “heart-healthy” food. “Nocciola di Giffoni” is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Italian hazelnut largely consumed but lacking of a comprehensive lipid profile. To acquire a detailed characterization of the polar lipids in fresh and roasted “Nocciola di Giffoni” hazelnut, an extensive analysis based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to multiple-stage linear ion-trap and orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn) was carried out. This analytical approach (statistically validated) allowed for the detection of a wide range of polar lipids from oxylipins and long chain bases to high molecular weight lipids (phospholipids, sphingolipids, and glycolipids). Most of the polar lipids are here described for the first time in hazelnut

Metabolite Profiling of "Green" Extracts of Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus, Cultivar "Carciofo di Paestum" PGI by 1H NMR and HRMS-Based Metabolomics

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L.), is a perennial plant widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area, known for its edible part named capitula or heads. Its functional properties are related to its high levels of polyphenolic compounds and inulin. "Carciofo di Paestum", an Italian traditional cultivar, is a labeled PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) product of the Campania region, representing an important economic resource. So far, a few chemical investigations were performed on this cultivar, mainly focused on the analysis of methanol extracts. Due to the increasing use of food supplements, in this study, a comprehensive analysis of green extracts of "Carciofo di Paestum" PGI heads was performed. EtOH, EtOH: H2O (80:20, 70:30, 60:40) extracts, as well as infusions and decoctions prepared according to Pharmacopeia XII were analyzed by LC-ESI/QExactive/MS/MS. A total of 17 compounds corresponding to caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids were identified. The extracts were further submitted to NMR analysis to highlight the occurrence of primary metabolites. Both LCMS and NMR data were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), showing significant differences among the extraction methods. Moreover, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were quantified in the extracts by LC-ESI/QTrap/MS/MS using the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) method. Furthermore, the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of C. cardunculus var. scolymus "Carciofo di Paestum" extracts were evaluated

LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn analysis reveals diarylheptanoids and flavonol O-glycosides in fresh and roasted hazelnut (Corylus avellana cultivar “Tonda di Giffoni”)

Hazelnut represents one of the most consumed food, containing a large range of bioactive and health-promoting compounds. Investigation of the fatty component of C. avellana nut has been widely carried out, but little is known about its phenolic content. In order to achieve deeper insight into the polar fraction of the n-butanol extracts of both fresh and roasted kernels of C. avellana cultivar, “Tonda di Giffoni” a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) product of Campania region (Italy), a phytochemical investigation was carried out. High performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization, multiple-stage linear ion-trap and orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn) profile of the fresh and roasted hazelnut led to the identification of eleven phenolic compounds corresponding to diarylheptanoid derivatives, flavonoid O-glycosides and ellagic acid. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of isolated compounds was evaluated by TEAC assay which showed that ellagic acid and flavonoid derivatives possessed the highest free-radical-scavenging activity

Giffonins A-I, antioxidant cyclized diarylheptanoids from the leaves of the hazelnut tree (corylus avellana), source of the italian PGI product "nocciola di Giffoni"

Eight new diaryl ether heptanoids, giffonins A-H (1-8), and one diaryl heptanoid, giffonin I (9), were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Corylus avellana. Its hazelnut is the PGI product of the Campania region (Italy) known as "Nocciola di Giffoni". The MeOH extract of C. avellana leaves and giffonins A-I (1-9) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on human plasma lipid peroxidation induced by H2O2 and H2O2/Fe(2+), by measuring the concentration of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Compounds 4 and 8 at 10 μM reduced both H2O2- and H2O2/Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation by more than 60% and 50%, respectively, indicating higher activity than curcumin used as reference compound

In depth LC-ESIMS n -guided phytochemical analysis of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. leaves

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. leaves are receiving a great attention for their ability to improve sleep, exerting beneficial effects for both the heart and the central nervous system. With the aim to obtain a comprehensive analysis of the specialised metabolites occurring in the leaves of Z. jujuba, a LC-ESI/(HR)Orbitrap/MS profile in negative ion mode of the methanol extract was carried out. The LC-MS profile guided the isolation of 42 compounds, of which the structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments. Based on this approach, 2 previously unreported dammarane-type saponins have been characterized along with flavonoid derivatives, dammarane-type saponins and triterpenic acids. Dammarane-type saponins were tested for their cytotoxic activity against A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines. None of the tested compounds, in a range of concentrations between 12.5 and 100 μM, caused a significant reduction of the cell number. This work provides a deep insight on the chemistry of the leaves of Z. jujuba and could be useful for further biological studies aimed at identifying phytochemicals contributing to the health benefits attributed to this herbal drug

Metabolite profiling of “green” extracts of Corylus avellana leaves by 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis

Corylus avellana L. (Betulaceae) leaves, consumed as infusion, are used in traditional medicine, for the treatment of hemorrhoids, varicose veins, phlebitis, and edema due to their astringent, vasoprotective, and antiedema properties. In previous works we reported from the leaves of Corylus avellana cv. “Tonda di Giffoni” diarylheptanoid derivatives, a class of plant secondary metabolites with a wide variety of bioactivities. With the aim to give an interesting and economically feasible opportunity to C. avellana leaves as source of functional ingredients for pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, “green” extracts were prepared by employing “eco-friendly” extraction protocols as maceration, infusion and SLDE-Naviglio extraction. Metabolite profiles of the extracts were obtained by 1H NMR experiments and data were processed by multivariate statistical analysis to highlight differences in the extracts and to evidence the extracts with the highest concentrations of bioactive metabolites. Based on the NMR data, a total of 31 compounds were identified. The metabolite variation among the extracts was evaluated using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). Furthermore, the total phenolic content of the extracts was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assay and the antioxidant activity of extracts was assayed by the spectrophotometric tests DPPH• and ABTS and by an in vitro test based on the evaluation of cellular reactive oxygen species production stimulated by pyocyanin