1
|
Di Rocco G, Taunt HN, Berto M, Jackson HO, Piccinini D, Carletti A, Scurani G, Braidi N, Purton S. A PETase enzyme synthesised in the chloroplast of the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is active against post-consumer plastics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10028. [PMID: 37340047 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37227-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate hydrolases (PETases) are a newly discovered and industrially important class of enzymes that catalyze the enzymatic degradation of polyethylene terephatalate (PET), one of the most abundant plastics in the world. The greater enzymatic efficiencies of PETases compared to close relatives from the cutinase and lipase families have resulted in increasing research interest. Despite this, further characterization of PETases is essential, particularly regarding their possible activity against other kinds of plastic. In this study, we exploited for the first time the use of the microalgal chloroplast for more sustainable synthesis of a PETase enzyme. A photosynthetic-restoration strategy was used to generate a marker-free transformant line of the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in which the PETase from Ideonella sakaiensis was constitutively expressed in the chloroplast. Subsequently, the activity of the PETase against both PET and post-consumer plastics was investigated via atomic force microscopy, revealing evidence of degradation of the plastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Di Rocco
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Henry N Taunt
- Algal Research Group, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - Marcello Berto
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Harry O Jackson
- Algal Research Group, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - Daniele Piccinini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Alan Carletti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Scurani
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Niccolò Braidi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Saul Purton
- Algal Research Group, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bongiovanni M, Barda B, Benedetto CD, Piccinini D, Bernasconi E. Worm globalization. Acta Trop 2023; 244:106941. [PMID: 37169218 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
We report the first case of eosinophilic pleural effusion due to Anisakis spp. infection in a 39-years-old European subject hospitalized for worsening dyspnoea and abdominal and thoracic pain. Lung CT scan showed bilateral pleural effusion; thoracentesis revealed significant eosinophilia (45%), with normal eosinophils in the blood. Microbiological tests on pleural effusion were negative for bacteria, SARS-CoV-2, tuberculosis, fungi and parasites. The patient used to eat raw fish; Western blot was positive for Anisakis spp. in blood and pleural effusion. In the era of globalization, unusual parasitic infections should be considered also in nonendemic countries, especially in patients with unexplained eosinophilia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bongiovanni
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
| | - Beatrice Barda
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniele Piccinini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland; University of Geneva and University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Piccinini D, Bernasconi E, Carelli M, Luvini G, Di Benedetto C, Lucchini GM, Barda B, Bongiovanni M. Parvimonas micra a new potential pathogen in hospitalized patients: a case series from 2015-2022. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2023:10.1007/s10096-023-04617-6. [PMID: 37133638 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04617-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Parvimonas micra isolations are usually part of polymicrobial infections and the pathogenic role of this microrganism is still debated. We describe here a large series of hospitalized patients diagnosed with Parvimonas micra infections and discuss the clinical and therapeutic management and the outcome of these infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Piccinini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- University of Geneva and University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Mattia Carelli
- Division of Nephrology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Mendrisio, Switzerland
| | - Giorgia Luvini
- Division of Internal Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Beatrice Barda
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bongiovanni
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Piccinini D, Bernasconi E, Lucchini GM, Benedetto CD, Colombo G, Bongiovanni M. A case of spondylodiscitis by Ureaplasma urealyticum in an immunocompetent adult with spine stabilization. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 131:127-129. [PMID: 36958433 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ureaplasma urealyticum is part of the normal genital flora of many sexually experienced people, thereby it is mostly associated with genitourinary tract infections. Here, we present the first case reported in literature of a spondylodiscitis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum in an immunocompetent 62-years-old subject. Ureaplasma urealyticum was detected through broad-range bacterial polymerase chain reaction in all samples obtained by T11 bone biopsy, whilst cultures were all negative. Due to the technical difficulties in removing the spinal osteo-synthesis devices, no neurosurgical intervention was planned, therefore a suppressive therapy with moxifloxacin was administered. After seven months, the patient underwent to T10-11 partial vertebrectomy, insertion of an expandable cage at that level, substitution of T11 screws and prolongation of stabilization from T6 to ilium due to a fracture of T11 and T12; the remaining spinal osteo-synthesis material was not removed. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the spine did not show features compatible with spondylodiscitis. Moxifloxacin was stopped after 15 months without any recurrence of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection. Our case highlights the importance in considering Ureaplasma urealyticum as a potential etiological germ in culture-negative spondylodiscitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Piccinini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Marco Bongiovanni
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bongiovanni M, Piccinini D, Aschwanden FJ, Bernasconi E. Red herrings in monkeypox. J Infect 2023; 86:66-117. [PMID: 36273643 PMCID: PMC9583689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bongiovanni
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland,Corresponding author: Marco Bongiovanni, MD PhD, Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Piccinini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Enos Bernasconi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Piccinini D, Bernasconi E, Di Benedetto C, Martinetti Lucchini G, Bongiovanni M. Enterococcus hirae infections in the clinical practice. Infect Dis (Lond) 2023; 55:71-73. [PMID: 36121841 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2022.2125066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Piccinini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Marco Bongiovanni
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Piccinini D, Bernasconi E, Di Benedetto C, Cavallo C, Lucchini GM, Robert T, Bongiovanni M. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt-associated Staphylococcus schleiferi infection in an immunocompetent woman: a case report and review of the literature. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 41:1479-1480. [PMID: 36258118 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-022-04511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Piccinini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Claudio Cavallo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Thomas Robert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bongiovanni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Davoudian S, Piovani D, Desai A, Mapelli SN, Leone R, Sironi M, Valentino S, Silva-Gomes R, Stravalaci M, Asgari F, Madera A, Piccinini D, Fedeli C, Comina D, Bonovas S, Voza A, Mantovani A, Bottazzi B. A cytokine/PTX3 prognostic index as a predictor of mortality in sepsis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:979232. [PMID: 36189302 PMCID: PMC9521428 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.979232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundEarly prognostic stratification of patients with sepsis is a difficult clinical challenge. Aim of this study was to evaluate novel molecules in association with clinical parameters as predictors of 90-days mortality in patients admitted with sepsis at Humanitas Research Hospital.MethodsPlasma samples were collected from 178 patients, diagnosed based on Sepsis-3 criteria, at admission to the Emergency Department and after 5 days of hospitalization. Levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), soluble IL-1 type 2 receptor (sIL-1R2), and of a panel of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. Cox proportional-hazard models were used to evaluate predictors of 90-days mortality.ResultsCirculating levels of PTX3, sIL-1R2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IL-1ra, TNF-α increased significantly in sepsis patients on admission, with the highest levels measured in shock patients, and correlated with SOFA score (PTX3: r=0.44, p<0.0001; sIL-1R2: r=0.35, p<0.0001), as well as with 90-days mortality. After 5 days of hospitalization, PTX3 and cytokines, but not sIL-1R2 levels, decreased significantly, in parallel with a general improvement of clinical parameters. The combination of age, blood urea nitrogen, PTX3, IL-6 and IL-18, defined a prognostic index predicting 90-days mortality in Sepsis-3 patients and showing better apparent discrimination capacity than the SOFA score (AUC=0.863, 95% CI: 0.780−0.945 vs. AUC=0.727, 95% CI: 0.613-0.840; p=0.021 respectively).ConclusionThese data suggest that a prognostic index based on selected cytokines, PTX3 and clinical parameters, and hence easily adoptable in clinical practice, performs in predicting 90-days mortality better than SOFA. An independent validation is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Davoudian
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Piovani
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Desai
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Emergency, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah N. Mapelli
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Leone
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Sironi
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Valentino
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Silva-Gomes
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Stravalaci
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Fatemeh Asgari
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Madera
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Piccinini
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Fedeli
- Department of Emergency, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Denise Comina
- Department of Emergency, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefanos Bonovas
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Voza
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Emergency, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Mantovani
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- The William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Barbara Bottazzi, ; Alberto Mantovani,
| | - Barbara Bottazzi
- Department of Research in Inflammation and Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Barbara Bottazzi, ; Alberto Mantovani,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Serra I, Piccinini D, Paradisi A, Ciano L, Bellei M, Bortolotti CA, Battistuzzi G, Sola M, Walton PH, Di Rocco G. Activity and substrate specificity of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases: An ATR FTIR-based sensitive assay tested on a novel species from Pseudomonas putida. Protein Sci 2022; 31:591-601. [PMID: 34897841 PMCID: PMC8862430 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas putida W619 is a soil Gram-negative bacterium commonly used in environmental studies thanks to its ability in degrading many aromatic compounds. Its genome contains several putative carbohydrate-active enzymes such as glycoside hydrolases and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMOs). In this study, we have heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and characterized a new enzyme belonging to the AA10 family, named PpAA10 (Uniprot: B1J2U9), which contains a chitin-binding type-4 module and showed activity toward β-chitin. The active form of the enzyme was produced in E. coli exploiting the addition of a cleavable N-terminal His tag which ensured the presence of the copper-coordinating His as the first residue. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy showed signal signatures similar to those observed for the copper-binding site of chitin-cleaving PMOs. The protein was used to develop a versatile, highly sensitive, cost-effective and easy-to-apply method to detect PMO's activity exploiting attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and able to easily discriminate between different substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Serra
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly,Present address:
BIMEF Laboratory, Department of ChemistryUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Daniele Piccinini
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Alessandro Paradisi
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly,Department of ChemistryUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | - Luisa Ciano
- Department of Chemistry and GeologyUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly,Present address:
School of ChemistryUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Marzia Bellei
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | | | | | - Marco Sola
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | | | - Giulia Di Rocco
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chiaraluce L, Valoroso L, Piccinini D, Di Stefano R, De Gori P. The anatomy of the 2009 L'Aquila normal fault system (central Italy) imaged by high resolution foreshock and aftershock locations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jb008352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
11
|
McBride M, Paridon S, Hanson H, Eilbacher J, Piccinini D, Kreindler J, Goldfarb S. 670 Factors Associated with Short-Term Exercise Capacity Following Lung Transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2011.01.684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
12
|
Chiaraluce L, Chiarabba C, Collettini C, Piccinini D, Cocco M. Architecture and mechanics of an active low-angle normal fault: Alto Tiberina Fault, northern Apennines, Italy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jb005015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
13
|
Zini D, Carani C, Baldini A, Cavicchioli C, Piccinini D, Marrama P. Further acquisitions on gonadal function in bromocriptine treated hyperprolactinemic male patients. Pharmacol Res Commun 1986; 18:601-9. [PMID: 3532137 DOI: 10.1016/0031-6989(86)90102-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The diurnal variation of plasma total and free testosterone (tT and fT) and the gonadotropinemic response to LH-RH were evaluated in a group of hyperprolactinemic impotent males with pituitary microprolactinoma before and during therapy with bromocriptine, a well known dopamine agonist drug. Before treatment, basal levels not only of tT but also of fT were decreased and the diurnal variation of both tT and fT was absent. Moreover, the LH-RH test showed a delay in the LH response peak, together with normal basal levels of LH. Bromocriptine therapy caused normalization of both the secretion response of LH to LH-RH and of the secretion pattern of tT and of fT (basal levels and diurnal variation) besides a significant decrease in PRL levels and an improvement in sexual function. The possible effects of high plasma levels of PRL at various levels of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis are discussed.
Collapse
|
14
|
Carani C, Zini D, Piccinini D, Celani MF, Baraghini GF, Montanini V, Marrama P. The reproductive system in elderly men. J Endocrinol Invest 1985; 8 Suppl 2:71-9. [PMID: 4040938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|