Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
L. L. Fan, Q. Q. Yao, H. M. Wu, F. Wen, J. Q. Wang, H. Y. Li, N. Zheng
Summary: Apo-LF can significantly alleviate enteritis injury caused by LPS through regulating the PPAR-gamma/ PFKFB3/NF-kappa B inflammatory pathway.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Byoung-Hoon Kang, Kyung-Won Jang, Eun-Sil Yu, Hamin Na, Yun-Jae Lee, Woong-Yeol Ko, NamHo Bae, Donggee Rho, Ki -Hun Jeong
Summary: This study presents a rapid and compact real-time RT-PCR system for decentralized molecular diagnostics. It utilizes plasmonic nucleic acid amplification and quantification, and features an ultrafast plasmonic thermocycler, a disposable plastic-on-metal cartridge, and a compact fluorescence microscope. The system successfully enables 10-minute diagnosis of COVID-19 with high amplification efficiency, classification accuracy, and total percent agreement for clinical diagnostic tests.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Byoung-Hoon Kang, Kyung-Won Jang, Eun-Sil Yu, Hamin Na, Yun-Jae Lee, Woong-Yeol Ko, NamHo Bae, Donggee Rho, Ki-Hun Jeong
Summary: This study presents an ultrafast plasmonic nucleic acid amplification and real-time quantification system for decentralized molecular diagnostics. The system features ultrafast photothermal cycling, rapid heat transfer, and efficient PCR quantification, along with high-contrast fluorescence microscopic imaging. It enables decentralized point-of-care molecular diagnostic testing in primary care and developing countries.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bong Kyun Kim, Sang-A Lee, Minju Park, Eui Ju Jeon, Mi Jung Kim, Jung Min Kim, Heesuk Kim, Seungwon Jung, Sang Kyung Kim
Summary: This article introduces a photonic PCR platform using hydrogel microparticles, which utilizes photothermal nanomaterials as heating elements for rapid and portable POCT. The researchers successfully demonstrate the ability to perform multiplex assays by loading multiple encoded pPIN microparticles in a single reaction.
Article
Microbiology
Romain Blaizot, Stephane Simon, Marine Ginouves, Ghislaine Prevot, Denis Blanchet, Christophe Ravel, Pierre Couppie, Magalie Demar, Cecile Nabet
Summary: Recent studies have shown that a new noninvasive sampling and real-time PCR method for Leishmania detection in South America is highly sensitive and accurate, making it suitable for species identification and diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amanda Rainey, Austin Pierce, Xiaoyun Deng, Luis A. Actis, Philip Smith, Andor J. Kiss, Timothy J. Wilson
Summary: The study validated a direct RT-PCR test on pooled saliva samples as an effective method of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, with high accuracy and sensitivity. Preliminary results indicate that detecting viral RNA in saliva can serve as an efficient means for COVID-19 monitoring, especially in asymptomatic individuals.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Monica Pena, Manuel Ampuero, Carlos Garces, Aldo Gaggero, Patricia Garcia, Maria Soledad Velasquez, Ricardo Luza, Pia Alvarez, Fabio Paredes, Johanna Acevedo, Mauricio J. Farfan, Sandra Solari, Ricardo Soto-Rifo, Fernando Valiente-Echeverria
Summary: This study compared a SARS-CoV-2 RAT and RT-PCR in 842 asymptomatic individuals from Tarapaca, Chile, reporting RAT might have a significant impact in some regions, especially in situations lacking laboratory conditions or requiring rapid results.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Triparna Majumdar, Anita Shete, Pragya Yadav, Savita Patil, Deepak Mali, Ashwini Waghmare, Pranita Gawande
Summary: The study evaluated the diagnostic performance of Truenat KFD, a rapid point-of-care test for Kyasanur forest disease, comparing it with conventional RT-PCR testing. Truenat KFD showed high sensitivity and specificity, with detection limit comparable to gold-standard RT-PCR assays, making it useful for rapid diagnosis in remote and field settings.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Walid Hossain, Mohabbat Hossain, Khalid Arafath, Subarna Sayed Ety, Mahade Hasan Shetu, Mazbahul Kabir, Farjana Akther Noor, Kalissar Mannoor
Summary: The study aimed to reduce the run time of multiplex RT-PCR for detecting SARS CoV-2 N1 and N2 sequences and human RNase P (RP) sequence. By optimizing the Fast PCR protocol and comparing it with conventional PCR, the researchers found that Fast PCR significantly shortened the run time while yielding comparable results to conventional PCR.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yuwei Qiu, Kunlun Jiang, Jingrui Wu, Yung-Kang Peng, Jeong-Wook Oh, Jung- Hoon Lee
Summary: A plasmonic photothermal quantitative immuno-PCR (PPT-qiPCR) assay is developed for biomarker detection using multifunctional plasmonic immunomagnetic nanoparticles (PIMNs). This assay has real-time and end-point dual readout and is simple, time-saving, and inexpensive compared to conventional iPCR platforms. It can quickly discriminate target proteins and improve assay sensitivity with in-situ end-point fluorescence or colorimetric detection using only the human eye.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Tu, Yi Qiao, Yuhan Luo, Naiyun Long, Zuhong Lu
Summary: DNA quantification is crucial in life sciences research, and real-time MDA technology can provide template amount information during whole-genome amplification with a very low detection limit, offering a promising tool to quantify entire DNA without sacrificing sample completeness or introducing redundant steps.
Article
Immunology
Zahra Kargarpour, Jila Nasirzade, Layla Panahipour, Richard J. Miron, Reinhard Gruber
Summary: The study indicates that liquid platelet-rich fibrin has potential anti-inflammatory effects and an inhibitory role in osteoclastogenesis, with lysates from platelet-poor plasma and buffy coat showing significant reduction in the expression of inflammatory markers in macrophages.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sascha Dierks, Oliver Bader, Julian Schwanbeck, Uwe Gross, Michael S. Weig, Kemal Mese, Raimond Lugert, Wolfgang Bohne, Andreas Hahn, Nicolas Feltgen, Setare Torkieh, Fenja R. Denker, Peer Lauermann, Marcus W. Storch, Hagen Frickmann, Andreas Erich Zautner
Summary: This study compared the performance characteristics of two SARS-CoV-2-specific rapid antigen assays, as well as a transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) assay and real-time PCR. The results indicated that LumiraDx had higher sensitivity and specificity compared to NADAL antigen assay, and TMA testing was as accurate as PCR in a low prevalence setting.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Leora R. Feldstein, Wesley H. Self, Jill M. Ferdinands, Adrienne G. Randolph, Michael Aboodi, Adrienne H. Baughman, Samuel M. Brown, Matthew C. Exline, D. Clark Files, Kevin Gibbs, Adit A. Ginde, Michelle N. Gong, Carlos G. Grijalva, Natasha Halasa, Akram Khan, Christopher J. Lindsell, Margaret Newhams, Ithan D. Peltan, Matthew E. Prekker, Todd W. Rice, Nathan Shapiro, Jay Steingrub, H. Keipp Talbot, M. Elizabeth Halloran, Manish Patel
Summary: The real-time test-negative design (rtTND) utilizes real-time viral testing and respiratory infection eligibility criteria to identify influenza cases and test-negative controls prior to enrollment, potentially improving study efficiency, accuracy, and power to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness. Key considerations for minimizing biases in the rtTND include comprehensive clinical testing at study sites and accurate influenza tests.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Byoung-Hoon Kang, Youngseop Lee, Eun-Sil Yu, Hamin Na, Minhee Kang, Hee Jae Huh, Ki-Hun Jeong
Summary: The rapid and accurate molecular diagnostics are crucial in the face of pandemic diseases, and the nanoplasmonic PCR provides a new solution for rapid and quantitative molecular diagnostics at point-of-care level.
Article
Microbiology
Marzieh Kashkouli, Michele Castelli, Anna M. Floriano, Claudio Bandi, Sara Epis, Yaghoub Fathipour, Mohammad Mehrabadi, Davide Sassera
Summary: Phytophagous stink bugs carry nutritional symbiotic bacteria in their midgut to balance their diet, with most symbionts in the Pentatomidae affiliated to the genus Pantoea. A novel Pantoea species ('Candidatus Pantoea persica') was discovered in the gut of the pentatomid Acrosternum arabicum, which is important for host development. Comparative analyses showed a convergent pattern of genome reduction in symbionts of pentatomids, following typical models of obligate nutritional symbionts in insects.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Michele Castelli, Olivia Lanzoni, Tiago Nardi, Stefano Lometto, Letizia Modeo, Alexey Potekhin, Davide Sassera, Giulio Petroni
Summary: A newly discovered Rickettsiales bacterium associated with the ciliate Paramecium has a genome encoding lineage-specific features, particularly the mevalonate pathway gene repertoire. Additionally, phylogenetically unrelated mevalonate pathway genes were found in Rickettsiales sequences, suggesting evolutionary convergent effects of independent horizontal gene transfer events. This highlights convergence as an important evolutionary phenomenon in Rickettsiales, potentially contributing to hidden origins of nuanced similarities among sub-lineages.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Merla, Marta Corbella, Gherard Batisti Biffignandi, Stefano Gaiarsa, Michele Castelli, Giuseppina Andreoli, Massimo Fabbi, Bianca Mariani, Davide Sassera, Piero Marone, Patrizia Cambieri
Summary: The study found that there were multiple strains of L. monocytogenes circulating in a small area of northern Italy, but no association was found between clinical isolates and contaminated food samples.
FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Tiago Nardi, Emanuela Olivieri, Edward Kariuki, Davide Sassera, Michele Castelli
Summary: Ticks rely on bacterial symbionts for essential compounds and the most common symbionts belong to the Coxiella genus. These symbionts show partial but incomplete coevolution with their tick hosts, providing important insights into the evolutionary history of these organisms.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elisabetta Pintore, Emanuela Olivieri, Anna Maria Floriano, Davide Sassera, Nino Sanna, Giovanni Garippa
Summary: The first detection of a male Amblyomma variegatum tick infesting a sheep on the island of Sardinia and the presence of Rickettsia africae in DNA extracted from this tick are reported. The authors suggest that the tick's presence is likely due to migrating birds from Africa. This incidental finding highlights the potential risk of establishment of these ticks in the region and the importance of continued monitoring for public health.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Emanuela Olivieri, Edward Kariuki, Anna Maria Floriano, Michele Castelli, Yohannes Mulatu Tafesse, Giulia Magoga, Bersissa Kumsa, Matteo Montagna, Davide Sassera
Summary: Recent studies in various areas of Africa have emphasized the significant impact of ticks on animal and human health. Limited information was found on the bacterial endosymbionts of African ticks and their co-infections with pathogens, despite their crucial role in tick survival and transmission efficiency. The research investigated the distribution of selected pathogens and symbiotic bacteria in hard ticks collected from different ecological zones in Africa, identifying species like Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus. Molecular screening revealed the presence of various pathogens, such as spotted fever group rickettsiae and Babesia spp., while Coxiella was the most prevalent symbiont among different tick species.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Gherard Batisti Biffignandi, Marjorie J. Gibbon, Marta Corbella, Harry A. Thorpe, Cristina Merla, Michele Castelli, Teemu Kallonen, Katie Pegrum, Sylvain Brisse, Jukka Corander, Piero Marone, Edward J. Feil, Davide Sassera
Summary: Through genome sequencing of a bacterial strain isolated from an ATM surface in Pavia, Italy, a new species within the genus Superficieibacter, tentatively named Superficieibacter maynardsmithii, was discovered. This strain showed high divergence from Klebsiella and was more closely related to other Enterobacteriaceae, with an ANI value of 87.51% compared to S. electus, indicating its status as a new species.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Barbieri, Carolina Ferrari, Stefania Mamberti, Paolo Gabrieli, Michele Castelli, Davide Sassera, Emanuela Ursino, Viola Camilla Scoffone, Giacomo Radaelli, Emanuela Clementi, Luciano Sacchi, Eugenio Ferrari, Giuliano Gasperi, Alessandra M. Albertini
Summary: A new highly toxic bacterial strain with larvicidal activity has been identified as a potential candidate for expanding the use of biopesticides and preventing the development of resistance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Romain Daveu, Caroline Hervet, Louane Sigrist, Davide Sassera, Aaron Jex, Karine Labadie, Jean-Marc Aury, Olivier Plantard, Claude Rispe
Summary: The study identified a group of tick-associated viruses with characteristics of the family Iflaviridae, explored RNA-Seq data sets for different tick species, and detected new virus species and genome sequences. Analysis revealed strong positive selection in the evolution of these viruses and recurrent host changes across tick genera. The findings provide insight into the interactions between this family of viruses and ticks.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alessandra Cafiso, Emanuela Olivieri, Anna Maria Floriano, Giulia Chiappa, Valentina Serra, Davide Sassera, Chiara Bazzocchi
Summary: Ticks play a crucial role in the transmission of various pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. This study conducted PCR screening on Ixodes ricinus ticks in a peri-urban recreational park in Ticino Valley, Italy, confirming the presence of endemic tick-borne pathogens and discovering emerging pathogens in the area. Such findings highlight the importance of monitoring these pathogens, especially in vulnerable populations, in order to prevent and manage tick-borne diseases effectively.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Castelli, Olivia Lanzoni, Michele Giovannini, Natalia Lebedeva, Leandro Gammuto, Davide Sassera, Maksim Melekhin, Alexey Potekhin, Sergei Fokin, Giulio Petroni
Summary: This study characterized a novel Holosporales symbiont that inhabits a ciliate host, showing potential lethal effects on host cell division and a heavy dependence on the host. The bacterium's features suggest a mildly parasitic effect on the host, with a trend towards genome reduction and fast evolution. Similar convergent features with other host-associated lineages, such as Rickettsiales among Alphaproteobacteria, were observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Marie Buysse, Anna Maria Floriano, Yuval Gottlieb, Tiago Nardi, Francesco Comandatore, Emanuela Olivieri, Alessia Giannetto, Ana M. Palomar, Benjamin L. Makepeace, Chiara Bazzocchi, Alessandra Cafiso, Davide Sassera, Olivier Duron
Summary: Many animals rely on microbial partners to provide essential nutrients; The invasive tick Hyalomma marginatum harbors a unique dual-partner nutritional system between the ancestral symbiont Francisella and the more recently acquired symbiont Midichloria; Co-symbiosis may be a key mechanism for advanced adaptation of arthropods to specialized diets.
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Cristina Merla, Gherard Batisti Biffignandi, Marta Corbella, Carolina Ferrari, Annapia Di Napoli, Erika Scaltriti, Bianca Mariani, Piero Marone, Davide Sassera, Patrizia Cambieri
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Camilla Carmeno, Aurora Rusconi, Michele Castelli, Paola Prati, Roldano Bragoni, Azzurra Santoro, Umberto Postiglione, Davide Sassera, Emanuela Olivieri
Summary: This study reports the presence of Contracaecum rudolphii (s.l.) specimens from cormorants in the pre-mountain area of the Alps in Northern Italy. The specimens belong to different sibling species, indicating different genetic structure and ecological preference.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Carlotta Giromini, Simona Nonnis, David I. Givens, Julie A. Lovegrove, Raffaella Rebucci, Gabriella Tedeschi, Luciano Pinotti, Serena Reggi, Luciana Rossi, Antonella Baldi
Summary: Plant proteins, such as those from soy, contain bioactive peptides and proteins with antioxidant, ACE-inhibitory, anti-hypertensive, and antimicrobial activities. In this study, peptides and proteins produced during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of soy protein isolate were found to have significant growth inhibitory effects on E. coli, supporting their potential antimicrobial properties. These findings suggest that soy-based supplements may have beneficial effects after human consumption and could potentially be recycled for animal nutrition in line with the circular economy concept.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
