Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sergio Migliore, Roberto Puleio, Robin A. J. Nicholas, Guido R. Loria
Summary: This article discusses the etiology of contagious agalactia, arguing that Mycoplasma agalactiae infection is the main cause.
Article
Microbiology
Paola Galluzzo, Sergio Migliore, Roberto Puleio, Lucia Galuppo, Francesco La Russa, Valeria Blanda, Serena Tumino, Alessandra Torina, Anne Ridley, Guido R. Loria
Summary: This preliminary study aimed to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma agalactiae or other Contagious Agalactia causative organisms in hard ticks infesting milking sheep and goats in Sicily. The findings suggest a potential role for ticks as a reservoir for the organisms, with potential involvement in the spread and maintenance of Contagious Agalactia. Further research is needed to determine the location of the organisms within ticks and assess transmission potential.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
George Filioussis, Georgios Bramis, Evanthia Petridou, Nektarios D. Giadinis, Laurent-Xavier Nouvel, Christine Citti, Joachim Frey
Summary: In this study, whole genome sequencing and analysis of M. agalactiae strain GrTh01 isolated from an outbreak of contagious agalactia revealed a previously unknown sequence type, ST35, and a particularly small genome size. GrTh01 displayed a reduced accessory genome, lacked variable antigens and Integrative Conjugative Element, suggesting their implication in host specificity, particularly in goats.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Antonio Sanchez, Antonio Contreras, Maria L. Sanchez-Corral, Carmen Martinez-Nista, Soledad Collado, Jose L. Saez, Olga Minguez, Christian de la Fe
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of two commercial ELISA tests (based on M. agalactiae p48 protein) and one using total protein for antibody detection in small ruminants. The results showed that these tests are highly effective for diagnosing contagious agalactia.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Carla Cacciotto, Maria Filippa Addis, Daniela Pagnozzi, Elisabetta Coradduzza, Marco Pittau, Alberto Alberti
Summary: A comprehensive characterization of Mycoplasma agalactiae antigens was conducted, identifying several conserved immunodominant antigens that elicit host humoral response and may play a role in bacterial pathogenicity and metabolism. This study supports the development of effective vaccines and diagnostic tools for natural infection stages.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marion Toquet, Esther Bataller, Jesus Gomis, Antonio Sanchez, Raquel Toledo-Perona, Christian de la Fe, Juan Carlos Corrales, Angel Gomez-Martin
Summary: This study presents the first in vitro report on the antimicrobial potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains against contagious agalactia (CA) caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma). The results suggest that LAB could be potential alternative therapies to antibiotics for the treatment of CA in small ruminants. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of LAB against Ma and to evaluate the safety of using these strains in in vivo studies.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rohini Chopra-Dewasthaly, Andreas Dagn, Christian Lohinger, Rene Brunthaler, Martina Floeck, Munkhtsetseg Kargl, Shrilakshmi Hegde, Joachim Spergser, Renate Rosengarten
Summary: The significance of large multigene families causing high-frequency surface variations in mycoplasmas is not well-understood. In this study, the in vivo infection and disease progression of six expression variants of a lipoprotein family in M. agalactiae were compared. The results showed that except for one variant with defects in host colonization and multiplication, the other variants were able to initiate mastitis infection.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Dmytro Mykolaivych Bohach, Borys Tymofiyovych Stegniy, Mykola Volodymyrovych Bohach, Serhii Leonidovych Pavlov, Vitaliy Igorovych Bolotin
Summary: The study found that the prevalence of contagious agalactia was highest in one-year-old animals in the Odesa region, with no serological evidence in animals aged three to four and a lower infection rate in animals over six years old. Additionally, peaks of the disease occurred during lambing and maximum lactation periods for sheep and goats.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hany A. Hussein, Marco Tolone, Lucia Condorelli, Paola Galluzzo, Roberto Puleio, Irene Vazzana, Maria Luisa Scatassa, Gavino Marogna, Santino Barreca, Guido Ruggero Loria, Lucia Galuppo, Sergio Migliore
Summary: This study found that combining Staphylococcus aureus with the Mycoplasma agalactiae vaccine can induce a higher antibody response. The combined vaccine also improves humoral immune response, hematological parameters, and local glandular immunity. This research is important for addressing the problem of contagious agalactia.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Emilio Fernandez-Varon, Edgar Garcia-Romero, Juan M. Serrano-Rodriguez, Carlos M. Carceles, Ana Garcia-Galan, Carlos Carceles-Garcia, Rocio Fernandez, Cristina Munoz, Christian de la Fe
Summary: Contagious agalactia, caused by Mycoplasma, is a significant issue in small ruminants in many countries. The PK/PD studies suggest that marbofloxacin is effective in treating lactating goats affected by CA, especially when targeting M. agalactiae.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cem Erkmen, Gozde Aydogdu Tig, Bengi Uslu
Summary: In this study, an aptamer-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method was developed for the determination of leptin. The aptasensor showed high sensitivity and stability, making it a promising platform for the detection of leptin in human serum and plasma samples.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mykola Volodymyrovych Bohach, Vitaliy Igorovych Bolotin, Denys Mykolaivych Bohach, Olha Tarasivna Piven, Iryna Victorivna Pyvovarova
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of hydrometeorological conditions on the distribution and forms of contagious agalactia in sheep in Bessarabia, Ukraine. The results showed that the prevalence and course of the disease were significantly influenced by the humidity of the climate.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana C. H. Castro, Italo R. S. Bezerra, Aline M. Pascon, Gabriela H. da Silva, Eric A. Philot, Vivian L. de Oliveira, Rodrigo S. N. Mancini, Gabriel R. Schleder, Carlos E. Castro, Luciani R. S. de Carvalho, Bianca H. V. Fernandes, Eduardo M. Cilli, Paulo R. S. Sanches, Murilo Santhiago, Ives Charlie-Silva, Diego S. T. Martinez, Ana L. Scott, Wendel A. Alves, Renato S. Lima
Summary: In this study, a peptide sequence that can recognize S protein antibodies with higher sensitivity was synthesized by mimicking the molecular recognition of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A label-free biosensor was developed by adsorbing the peptide sequence onto an electrode, enabling fast and simple analysis. The peptide was found to bind to the antibody through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, and exhibited good stability. With the help of machine learning, this sensor achieved accurate differentiation between COVID-19 infected and healthy samples.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rossella Svigelj, Ivan Zuliani, Cristian Grazioli, Nicolo Dossi, Rosanna Toniolo
Summary: Nanomaterials, particularly gold-based nanostructures, can enhance the conductivity and performance of electrochemical sensors. By utilizing gold nanoparticles and truncated aptamers, an impedimetric biosensor was developed for quantifying gluten in hydrolyzed matrices, achieving a low limit of detection and successfully detecting gluten in real food samples.
Article
Agronomy
Dandan Cui, Shanshan Zhai, Yao Yang, Yuhua Wu, Jun Li, Xiaohong Yan, Ping Shen, Hongfei Gao, Gang Wu
Summary: An unmarked electrochemical impedance genosensor using gold carbon dots has been developed for the detection of genetically modified crops. This sensor is portable and easy to use, making it suitable for resource-limited laboratories.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yaron Hillman, Jenia Gershberg, Dan Lustiger, Dan Even, Dor Braverman, Yael Dror, Idan Ashur, Sefi Vernick, Neta Sal-Man, Yariv Wine
Summary: The antibiotic resistance crisis is predicted to lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. To address this impending challenge, the development of novel and rapid diagnostic tools is urgently needed. Through the creation of the monoclonal antibody mAb-EspB-B7, effective and stable differentiation of pathogenic bacteria is possible, showing promise as a key component in future rapid diagnostic tools.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Tali Dotan, Yuval Berg, Lorenzo Migliorini, Sara Moon Villa, Tommaso Santaniello, Paolo Milani, Yosi Shacham-Diamand
Summary: Soft and flexible microelectrodes were fabricated by integrating gold nanoparticles onto PDMS using SCBD and femtosecond laser processing. This method allows for high resolution patterning on soft substrates and is suitable for applications requiring low-current signal transmission.
MICROELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina Ussia, Mario Urso, Kristyna Dolezelikova, Hana Michalkova, Vojtech Adam, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study reports on the preparation of ZnO self-propelled micromotors by programming their morphology and motion properties through Ag doping. These micromotors show excellent light-controlled motion and can effectively remove bacterial biofilms, representing a new approach for the formulation of a new class of light-driven semiconducting self-propelled micromotors with potential environmental applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mario Urso, Martina Ussia, Martin Pumera
Summary: A novel method utilizing self-propelled light-powered magnetic field-navigable microbots for actively moving, capturing, and degrading polymers is proposed in a recent study. These microbots exhibit fuel-free motion capability, and the motion can be controlled by light and directionality by a magnetic field. The efficient degradation of polymers is demonstrated, showing promising potential for degrading polymers and plastics effectively using light.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: The growing use of plastic materials has resulted in the accumulation of waste in marine environments, causing hazardous micro- and nanoplastics. These plastic particles absorb toxic pollutants, support bacterial growth, and spread through the food chain, posing serious risks to human health. Therefore, addressing nano/microplastics pollution is crucial, and self-propelled nano/microrobots have shown promise in their efficient removal. This review critically examines advanced strategies for nano/microplastics capture and degradation by autonomous nano/microrobots, as well as the challenges and future prospects of this research field.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose Munoz, Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: A general procedure for synthesizing multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles with chiral, magnetic, and fluorescent properties, as well as self-propulsion, is reported here. The researchers functionalized self-propelled Ni@Pt superparamagnetic microrockets with fluorescent CdS quantum dots, which carried a chiral host biomolecule. The on-the-fly chiral recognition potential of these nanoparticles was demonstrated by their ability to selectively accommodate different chiral biomolecules. The study opens up possibilities for designing intelligent cargo micromachines with built-in chiral supramolecular recognition capabilities.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xia Peng, Mario Urso, Martina Ussia, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study presents the spontaneous assembly of hematite-based microrobots with different shapes and showcases their fuel-free motion ability under light irradiation. The researchers discovered that microrobots with different shapes exhibit different assembly behavior and synchronized motions. These light-powered self-assembled microchains demonstrate innovative cooperative behavior and hold great potential for multitasking operations at a small scale.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: DNA-functionalized micro/nanorobots have significant applications in various fields, including cancer cell targeting, phototactic biorobots, activity monitoring of microrobots, nucleic acid sensing, gene therapy, and water purification.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina Ussia, Mario Urso, Stepan Kment, Tatiana Fialova, Karel Klima, Kristyna Dolezelikova, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study investigates the use of nanorobots to control oral bacterial biofilm on titanium miniplates. The nanorobots exhibit extended absorption and motion actuation from UV to visible-light range, and can effectively reduce the biomass of bacterial biofilm. This research has significant implications for improving the therapy of infected metallic miniplates by biofilm.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mario Urso, Martina Ussia, Filip Novotny, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study demonstrates the capture and detection of nanoplastics using photogravitactic MXene-derived microrobots. These microrobots are self-propelled and have the ability to magnetically collect nanoplastics, providing a new approach for screening and remediation of nanoplastic pollution in water.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xia Peng, Mario Urso, Jan Balvan, Michal Masarik, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study presents dendrite-shaped light-powered hematite microrobots for PDT of prostate cancer cells. These microrobots can exhibit negative phototactic motion under light irradiation and flexible actuation controlled by an external magnetic field. They enable non-contact transportation of micro-sized cells and induce GSH depletion to enhance PDT performance.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina Ussia, Mario Urso, Monika Kratochvilova, Jiri Navratil, Jan Balvan, Carmen C. C. Mayorga-Martinez, Jan Vyskocil, Michal Masarik, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study reports a new biodegradable magnetically actuated zinc/cystine-based microrobots for in situ treatment of prostate cancer cells. The microrobots are fabricated through metal-ion-mediated self-assembly of cystine encapsulating superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, allowing precise manipulation by a rotating magnetic field. Inside the cells, the enzymatic reducing environment promotes the disassembly of the cystine structure and disrupts non-covalent interactions with metal ions, enabling site-specific delivery of zinc ions for tumor cell killing via a Trojan horse effect.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Cagatay M. M. Oral, Martina Ussia, Mario Urso, Jiri Salat, Adam Novobilsky, Michal Stefanik, Daniel Ruzek, Martin Pumera
Summary: Magnetic nanorobots with radiopaque features and microCT technology enable precise navigation and in vivo imaging in hard-to-reach areas of the human body. The nanorobots can be controlled by rotating magnetic fields and their internal structures can be revealed through X-ray contrast. In vivo experiments demonstrate the localization capability of the nanorobots in the gastrointestinal tract.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xia Peng, Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: Mass transfer plays a crucial role in heterogeneous reactions. Micro/nanomachines, as a promising technology for environmental applications, can greatly improve the performance of purification treatments due to their active motion ability and enhanced diffusion. In this study, we developed Pt-free single-component light-powered WO3 micromotors with enhanced diffusion and effective degradation capability for nitroaromatic contaminants in water.
Article
Electrochemistry
Tali Dotan, Michael Nazarenko, Yuval Atiya, Yosi Shacham-Diamand
Summary: We conducted a study on the transport effects of a microfluidic sensor-chip, where electrochemical sensing is enhanced by redox cycling using an interdigitated electrode array (IDA). We developed a comprehensive three-dimensional simulation model and a simple one-dimensional model to analyze the transition velocity between the two dominant regimes. The results show that one regime is limited by redox cycling diffusion (a unique feature of IDAs), while the other regime is limited by convection and has significant flow effects. The transition velocity between the two regimes is found to be vflow = 0.335 L[mu m] + 0.04, which matches the prediction of the one-dimensional model that vflow is proportional to 1/L.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)