Serum albumins are efficient delivery systems for the photosensitizer hypericin in photosensitization-based treatments against Staphylococcus aureus

The naturally occurring photosensitizer hypericin can be effectively delivered to bacterial cells using serum albumins as biocompatible carriers. Using a combination of spectroscopic methods we demonstrate that the photophysics of hypericin is fully preserved when bound to these proteins. Thanks to the excellent transport capabilities of serum albumins, that deliver hypericin to Gram-positive S. aureus, an efficient antibacterial action was observed, with a reduction of up to 8 log in the number of colony-forming units. The photoactive material is fully compatible with the use in food processing environments, and may be exploited as a viable method for decontamination from S. aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria

Detection of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups O157 and O26 in the cecal content and lymphatic tissue of cattle at slaughter in Italy

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) has emerged as a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and potentially fatal illnesses, such as hemorrhagic colitis or the hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this study, 182 cattle at slaughter (119 dairy cows and 63 feedlot cattle) were randomly selected and tested for the presence of VTEC serogroups O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157 in their cecal content and lymphatic tissue (tonsils or mesenteric lymph nodes). A total of 364 samples were evaluated with an immunomagnetic separation technique followed by slide agglutination. Presumptive VTEC O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157 isolates were tested by Vero cell assay for verocytotoxin production and by multiplex PCR assay for the detection of vtx1, vtx2, eae, and E-hlyA genes. VTEC O157 was detected in 6 (3.3%) of 182 animals, and VTEC O26 was detected in 1 (0.5%) of 182 animals. No VTEC O103, VTEC O111, or VTEC O145 isolates were found in cattle feces, but one VTEC O91:H vtx2 , eae, E-hlyA strain nonspecifically cross-reacted with the VTEC O103 type. The prevalence of VTEC O157 in the lymphatic tissue of cattle was 1.1% in both tonsils (1 of 93 samples) and mesenteric lymph nodes (1 of 89 samples). Lymphatic tissue contamination was observed only in VTEC O157 intestinal carriers; two (33.3%) of six fecal carriers were simultaneously VTEC O157 lymphatic carriers. This finding suggests that VTEC O157 contamination of meat does not necessarily come from feces or the environment. No other VTEC serogroups were detected in the lymphatic tissue of slaughtered cattle

Towards New Catalytic Antioxidants: A Simple and Mild Synthesis of Selenenylsulfides

A new methodology for the synthesis of small molecules containing the S-Se bond is reported. Aryl- and alkyl-selenols react smoothly with N-thiophthalimides to afford the corresponding selenenylsulfides through a clean SN2 path occurring at the sulfur atom. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions in DMF in absence of catalysts for most of the substrates. The scope of the reaction was found to be broad, allowing a wide series of selenols and N-thiophtalimides to be efficiently employed in this procedure. Owing to the instability of the S-Se bond, selenenylsulfides exhibited a remarkable tendency to disproportionate to the corresponding symmetric diselenides and disulfides. Preliminary evaluation of the catalytic antioxidant properties of novel selenenylsulfides showed their behaviour as GPx mimics

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in coastal sediments of Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) through regional geochemical baselines

Assessment of the contamination degree in coastal sediments depends on the choice, sometimes underestimated, of appropriate natural geochemical baselines. Average values (i.e. shale composition, crustal abundance data, etc.) are often used as background but they do not take into account the natural geochemical variability existing among different marine environments. For this purpose, data from pre-industrial deep levels of local sediment cores may be considered the most suitable baselines. However, considering the textural variability of the sediments, more than single baseline levels, regional normalization functions (trace element vs. grain-size proxy), are the best choice. On the basis of these functions, sediment quality can be estimated through easy understandable enrichment factors (EFs) and quantified respect to natural backgrounds. Contaminated sea-bottom sectors, anthropogenic sources and diffusion vectors can be consequently recognized (discovered). The Guanabara Bay, located in the center of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), is subjected to a high anthropogenic impact due to the intense and relatively recent urbanization and industrialization of the territory. High levels of contaminants have been detected in all compartments of the estuarine coastal waters of the bay. The industrial discharges of sewage and process wastes represent the principal source of contamination accounting for 25 % and 90% of the organic and chemical contamination, respectively. Additional contribution is due to the domestic sewage, to the two oil refineries and to the intensive port activities, although large amounts of metals are supplied into the bay by the rivers, accumulating in the bottom sediments. The geological-environmental approach applied to Guanabara Bay addresses to investigate physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the bottom sediments and to determine regional pre-industrial geochemical functions. Evaluation of the enrichment factor distributions allows the identification of single metal enriched sectors that are related to all the potential contamination sources in the coastal area (rivers, waste waters, inert material waste disposals, industrial and urban sites, etc.)

Transmission of β-lactamases in the pork food chain: A public health concern

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a risk for public health that requires management in a One Health perspective, including humans, animals, and the environment. The food production chain has been identified as a possible route of transmission of AMR bacteria to humans. The most critical issue regards resistance to the Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs), such as β-lactams antibiotics. Here, pigs were analysed along the entire food producing chain, including feces, carcasses and pork products (fresh meat, fermented and seasoned products) ensuring treaciability of all samples.Escherichia coli were isolated and their ability to produce ESBL and AmpC β-lactamases was evaluated both phenotypically and genotypically. Strains with the same AMR profile from feces, carcasses, and meat products were selected for phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses to evaluate the possible “farm-to-fork” transmission of β-lactams resistant bacteria. Results showed that the percentage of ESBL strains in fecal E. coli was approximately 7% and increased slightly in the pork food chain: the 10% of ESBL E. coli isolated from carcasses and the 12.5% of isolates from fresh meat products. AmpC E. coli were found only in feces, carcasses, and fresh meat with a low prevalence.Results showed that of the 243 pigs followed along the entire food chain genetic similarities in E. coli isolated from farm-to-fork were found in only one pig (feces, carcasses and fresh meat). Frequent similarities were shown in resistant E. coli isolates from carcasses and fresh meat or fermented product (three pork food chain). Moreover, in one case, bacteria isolated from fresh meat and fermented product were genotypically similar. Concluding, direct transmission of β-lactams resistance from farm-to-fork is possible but not frequent. Further studies are needed to improve risk communication to consumers and access to clear and reliable information and health concerns on food

Serum prealbumin is an independent predictor of mortality in systemic sclerosis outpatients

Serum prealbumin is a recognized marker of malnutrition, but its role in the prognosis of patients with SSc has not yet been investigated. The aim of the present multicentre prospective study was to investigate the association between prealbumin and mortality, independent of clinical features, in a cohort of SSc outpatients

Severe HDL deficiency due to novel defects in the ABCA1 transporter.

none15OBJECTIVES: The objective was the identification and functional characterization of mutations in the ABCA1 gene in four patients with severe HDL deficiency. SUBJECTS: Patients were referred to the clinic because of almost complete HDL deficiency. METHODS: The ABCA1 gene was sequenced directly. The analysis of the ABCA1 protein, ABCA1 mRNA and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux was performed in cultured fibroblasts. Intracellular localization of ABCA1 mutants was investigated in transfected HEK293 cells. RESULTS: Two patients were homozygous for mutations in the coding region of the ABCA1 gene, resulting in an amino acid substitution (p.A1046D) and a truncated protein (p.I74YFsX76). The third patient was homozygous for a splice site mutation in intron 35 (c.4773 + 1g>a), resulting in an in-frame deletion of 25 amino acids (del p.D1567_K1591) in ABCA1. These patients had clinical manifestations of accumulation of cholesterol in the reticulo-endothelial system. The fourth patient, with preclinical atherosclerosis, was a compound heterozygote for two missense mutations (p.R587W/p.W1699C). ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux was abolished in fibroblasts from patients with p.A1046D and del p.D1567_K1591 mutants and in fibroblasts homozygous for p.R587W. A reduced ABCA1 protein content was observed in these cells, suggesting an increased intracellular degradation. The mutant p.W1699C was largely retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, when expressed in HEK293 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The homozygotes for mutations which abolish ABCA1 function showed overt signs of involvement of the reticulo-endothelial system. This was not the case in the compound heterozygote for missense mutations, suggesting that this patient retains some residual ABCA1 function that reduces cholesterol accumulation in the reticulo-endothelial system.Impact Factor 4.901mixedPISCIOTTA L.; BOCCHI L.; CANDINI C.; SALLO R.; ZANOTTI I.; FASANO T.; CHAKRAPANI A.; BATES T.; BONARDI R.; CANTAFORA A.; BALL S.; WATTS G.; BERNINI F.; CALANDRA S.; BERTOLINI S.Pisciotta, Livia; Bocchi, L.; Candini, C.; Sallo, R.; Zanotti, I.; Fasano, T.; Chakrapani, A.; Bates, T.; Bonardi, R.; Cantafora, A.; Ball, S.; Watts, G.; Bernini, F.; Calandra, S.; Bertolini, Stefan