Publications (11)63.72 Total impact
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Article: Pneumonia associated with a dental unit waterline.
The Lancet 02/2012; 379(9816):684. · 38.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Use of nested polymerase chain reaction based on sequence-based typing of clinical samples to determine the source of infection for hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease.
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ABSTRACT: The source of infection of a hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease case was determined for the first time by nested polymerase chain reaction based on sequence-based typing. The typing was performed directly on DNA extracted from tissue samples, allowing a rapid epidemiological correlation with environmental isolates.Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 05/2011; 32(5):510-2. · 3.67 Impact Factor -
Article: A preliminary assessment of the occupational risk of acquiring Legionnaires' disease for people working in telephone manholes, a new workplace environment for Legionella growth.
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ABSTRACT: Telephone manholes (TMs) are underground wells, used in Italy by the telecommunication companies to locate telephone networks. Following a fatal case of Legionnaires' disease (LD), acquired during working activity in a TM, we investigated whether Legionella was present in TMs and could be a risk for manhole workers (MWs). Three hundred fifty-three environmental samples were collected from 100 TMs, and serum antibody titer against Legionella pneumophila and Legionella species non-pneumophila was determined from both MWs and control non-manhole workers. L pneumophila and Legionella species non-pneumophila were detected in 28% of water samples, in 8% of the biofilm, and in 6% of sediment matrices taken in TMs, in a concentration range of 10(2) to 10(4) colony-forming units/L. No Legionella was found in TM air samples. Although there was a statistically significant difference (P = .027) in antibody titer to L pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) between MWs and non-manhole workers, a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between antibody against Lp1 and both age group and the practice of aquatic sports. Although further investigations will be performed to quantify the risk of acquiring legionellosis, this preliminary study demonstrates for the first time the presence of Legionella, including human pathogenic species, in a working environment such as TM.American journal of infection control 09/2010; 38(7):540-5. · 3.01 Impact Factor -
Article: Characterization of a spontaneous avirulent mutant of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 6: evidence of DotA and flagellin involvement in the loss of virulence.
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ABSTRACT: The pathogenesis of Legionella pneumophila mainly resides in its ability to inhibit the phagosome-lysosome fusion, which normally prevents the killing of the host cells. In order to characterize the molecular alterations that occurred in a spontaneous avirulent mutant of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6, named Vir-, we investigated the ability of the mutant to adhere to and multiply in the WI26VA4 alveolar epithelial cell line and in human macrophages, when compared to its parental strain, Vir+. We also determined the colocalization of bacteria with LAMP-1 to gain an insight into the phagosome-lysosome fusion process. Additionally, we determined the flagellin expression and dotA nucleotide sequencing. We observed a lack of expression of flagellin and an in-frame mutation in the dotA. gene. The data obtained strongly suggest the loss of virulence of the mutant could probably be due to the absence of flagellin and the dysfunctional type IV secretion System, resulting from the DotA protein being severely compromised.The Journal of Microbiology 12/2009; 47(6):768-73. · 1.10 Impact Factor -
Article: Determination of Legionella pneumophila susceptibility to Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (tea tree) oil by an improved broth micro-dilution method under vapour controlled conditions.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro activity of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (tea tree) oil (TTO) against 22 strains of Legionella pneumophila of different serogroup and source of isolation. Both a standard broth micro-dilution method, with slight modifications, and a micro-atmosphere diffusion method were used. Furthermore, we have established a simple sealing procedure in the micro-dilution method to determine the antibacterial activity of TTO against Legionella in aqueous phase. The results showed that L. pneumophila, quite irrespective of serogroup and source of isolation, is exquisitely sensitive to TTO, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.125 to 0.5% v/v, and a bactericidal activity at 0.5% v/v. In addition, we show here that TTO vapours exert critical activity, that must be controlled for reproducible MIC determinations. Overall, our data suggest that TTO could be active as anti-Legionella disinfectant, for control of water system contamination, especially in spas, in small waterlines or in particular respiratory medical devices.Journal of microbiological methods 04/2009; 77(2):243-8. · 2.43 Impact Factor -
Article: Cloning of a rat-specific long PCP4/PEP19 isoform.
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ABSTRACT: We report the identification of a cDNA that encodes a putative protein of 94 amino acids and expected molecular weight of 10.7 kDa, the C-terminal half of which is identical to that of PEP19, a small, brain-specific protein involved in Ca++/calmodulin signaling. The novel rat-specific protein, tentatively named long PEP19 isoform (LPI), is the product of alternative splicing of the rat PCP4 gene encoding PEP19. We found that antibodies raised against the first 13 N-terminal amino acids of LPI, not present in PEP19, recognize a protein enriched in the developing rat brain.International Journal of Molecular Medicine 04/2007; 19(3):501-9. · 1.98 Impact Factor -
Article: Induction of protective immunity by Legionella pneumophila flagellum in an A/J mouse model.
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ABSTRACT: The capacity of a purified preparation of Legionella pneumophila flagella (FLA) to induce protective immune responses was studied in an A/J mouse model. Animals immunized with FLA promptly mounted an anti-FLA antibody response and also developed a strong activation of both innate and adaptive cell-mediated immunity, as shown by an early release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the peritoneal cavity, and by a positive cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and in vitro splenic lymphocyte proliferation in response to FLA antigens. Mice treated with FLA either i.v. or i.p. also survived (100% rate) a lethal i.p. challenge with L. pneumophila. Protection induced by FLA lasted for at least 30 days after treatment, but less than 60, and was effective against the challenge with different serogroups of L. pneumophila. Resistance conferred by FLA immunization could be partially transferred to naïve animals by the adoptive transfer of immune splenocytes but not by passive immunization with anti-FLA iperimmune sera. The capacity to induce protective immunity was specifically attributable to flagellar components, as demonstrated by the lack of protection in mice immunized with a sham flagella preparation from a non-flagellated bacterial strain or with protease-digested FLA. In addition, heat-denatured FLA was inactive, suggesting loss of immunogenicity following denaturation. The present study provides evidence that L. pneumophila flagellum is strongly immunogenic and capable to stimulate, without adjuvants, early natural and acquired, T-cell-mediated immune responses and to induce significant protection against a lethal bacterial challenge in A/J mice. Antigenic characterization of this bacterial organelle and elucidation of mechanisms underlying flagella-induced protection would be of great value in understanding the immunopathogenesis of the disease and in developing possible therapeutic strategies for human legionellosis.Vaccine 10/2005; 23(40):4811-20. · 3.77 Impact Factor -
Article: A missense mutation (G1506E) in the adhesion G domain of laminin-5 causes mild junctional epidermolysis bullosa.
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ABSTRACT: Laminin-5 is the major adhesion ligand for epithelial cells. Mutations in the genes encoding laminin-5 cause junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), a recessive inherited disease characterized by extensive epithelial-mesenchymal disadhesion. We describe a JEB patient compound heterozygote for two novel mutations in the gene (LAMA3) encoding the laminin alpha3 chain. The maternal mutation (1644delG) generates mRNA transcripts that undergo nonsense-mediated decay. The paternal mutation results in the Gly1506-->Glu substitution (G1506E) within the C-terminal globular region of the alpha3 chain (G domain). Mutation G1506E affects the proper folding of the fourth module of the G domain and results in the retention of most of the mutated polypeptide within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, scant amounts of the mutated laminin-5 are secreted, undergo physiologic extracellular maturation, and correctly localize within the cutaneous basement membrane zone in patient's skin. Our findings represent the first demonstration of an ER-retained mutant laminin-5 leading to a mild JEB phenotype.Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 09/2003; 309(1):96-103. · 2.48 Impact Factor -
Article: PIPPin Is a Brain-specific Protein That Contains a Cold-shock Domain and Binds Specifically to H1° and H3.3 mRNAs
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ABSTRACT: During maturation of mammalian brain, variants of both linker (i.e. H1°) and core (i.e. H3.3) histone proteins accumulate in nerve cells. As the concentration of the corresponding transcripts decreases, in postmitotic cells, even if the genes are actively transcribed, it is likely that regulation of variant histone expression has relevant post-transcriptional components and that cellular factors affect histone mRNA stability and/or translation. Here we report that PIPPin, a protein that is highly enriched in the rat brain and contains a cold-shock domain, binds with high specificity to the transcripts that encode H1° and H3.3 histone variants. Both mRNAs are bound through the very end of their 3′-untranslated region that encompasses the polyadenylation signal. Although PIPPin is present both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of nerve cells, PIPPin-RNA complexes can be obtained only from nuclear extracts. The results of two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis suggest that a relevant proportion of nuclear PIPPin is more acidic than expected, thus suggesting that its RNA binding activity might be modulated by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation.Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/1999; 274(34):24087-24093. · 4.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Posttranscriptional regulation of H1° and H3.3B histone genes in differentiating rat cortical neurons
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ABSTRACT: Accumulation of mRNAs encoding H1 and H3.3, two histone replacement variants, was studied in differentiating cortical neurons, cultured in a serum-free medium, with or without triiodothyronine (T3) supplementation. We found that the levels of both H1 and H3.3B mRNAs decrease inisolated neurons between the 2nd and 5th day of culture to the same extent as in vivo. At the same time, an active synthesis of the corresponding proteins was evidenced. The effects of transcription inhibition by actinomycin D and the results of nuclear run-on experiments suggest that H1 and H3.3 expression is regulated mainly at the posttranscriptional level. Concerning T3, only marginal effects were noticed, apart from up-regulation of both histone mRNAs at 2 days in culture. We propose one model for posttranscriptional regulation of the analyzed genes and discuss potential relationships to remodelling of chromatin.Neurochemical Research 07/1995; 20(8):969-976. · 2.24 Impact Factor -
Article: Cloning and analysis of cDNA for rat histone H1{degrees}
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2009–2012
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Istituto Superiore di Sanità
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases
Roma, Latium, Italy
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2007
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Università degli studi di Palermo
Palermo, Sicily, Italy
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