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De Santis R, Luca V, Näslund J, Ehmann RK, De Angelis M, Lundmark E, Nencioni L, Faggioni G, Fillo S, Amatore D, Regalbuto E, Molinari F, Petralito G, Wölfel R, Stefanelli P, Rezza G, Palamara AT, Antwerpen M, Forsman M, Lista F. Rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 with LED irradiation of visible spectrum wavelengths. J Photochem Photobiol 2021; 8:100082. [PMID: 34729540 PMCID: PMC8552801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpap.2021.100082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Difficulty in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission made the ability to inactivate viruses in aerosols and fomites to be an important and attractive risk reduction measure. Evidence that light frequencies have the ability to inhibit microorganisms has already been reported by many studies which, however, focused on ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, which are known to induce potential injury in humans. In the present study, the effect on suspensions of SARS-CoV-2 of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) device capable of radiating frequencies in the non-hazardous visible light spectrum (VIS) was investigated. In order to evaluate the efficiency of viral inactivation, plaque assay and western blot of viral proteins were performed. The observed results showed a significant reduction in infectious particles that had been exposed to the LED irradiation of visible light. Furthermore, the analysis of the intracellular expression of viral proteins confirmed the inactivating effect of this irradiation technology. This in vitro study revealed for the first time the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 through LED irradiation with multiple wavelengths of the visible spectrum. However additional and more in-depth studies can aim to demonstrate the data obtained during these experiments in different matrices, in mutable environmental conditions and on other respiratory viruses such as the influenza virus. The type of LED technology can decisively contribute on reducing virus transmission through the continuous sanitation of common environments without risks for humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy.,7th CBRN Defence Regiment "Cremona", Civitavecchia, Italy
| | - Jonas Näslund
- Department of CBRN Protection and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rosina K Ehmann
- Section Viral and Intracellular Pathogens, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Marta De Angelis
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Eva Lundmark
- Department of CBRN Protection and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lucia Nencioni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Fillo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Roman Wölfel
- Section Viral and Intracellular Pathogens, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Disease, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianni Rezza
- Department of Infectious Disease, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Teresa Palamara
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Markus Antwerpen
- Section Viral and Intracellular Pathogens, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Mats Forsman
- Department of CBRN Protection and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Umeå, Sweden
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Fabiani L, Saroglia M, Galatà G, De Santis R, Fillo S, Luca V, Faggioni G, D'Amore N, Regalbuto E, Salvatori P, Terova G, Moscone D, Lista F, Arduini F. Magnetic beads combined with carbon black-based screen-printed electrodes for COVID-19: A reliable and miniaturized electrochemical immunosensor for SARS-CoV-2 detection in saliva. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 171:112686. [PMID: 33086175 PMCID: PMC7833515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The diffusion of novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus over the world generated COVID-19 pandemic event as reported by World Health Organization on March 2020. The huge issue is the high infectivity and the absence of vaccine and customised drugs allowing for hard management of this outbreak, thus a rapid and on site analysis is a need to contain the spread of COVID-19. Herein, we developed an electrochemical immunoassay for rapid and smart detection of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in saliva. The electrochemical assay was conceived for Spike (S) protein or Nucleocapsid (N) protein detection using magnetic beads as support of immunological chain and secondary antibody with alkaline phosphatase as immunological label. The enzymatic by-product 1-naphtol was detected using screen-printed electrodes modified with carbon black nanomaterial. The analytical features of the electrochemical immunoassay were evaluated using the standard solution of S and N protein in buffer solution and untreated saliva with a detection limit equal to 19 ng/mL and 8 ng/mL in untreated saliva, respectively for S and N protein. Its effectiveness was assessed using cultured virus in biosafety level 3 and in saliva clinical samples comparing the data using the nasopharyngeal swab specimens tested with Real-Time PCR. The agreement of the data, the low detection limit achieved, the rapid analysis (30 min), the miniaturization, and portability of the instrument combined with the easiness to use and no-invasive sampling, confer to this analytical tool high potentiality for market entry as the first highly sensitive electrochemical immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 detection in untreated saliva.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fabiani
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Saroglia
- University of Insubria, Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, Varese, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galatà
- GTS Consulting S.r.l., Via Consolare Pompea 1, 98168, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Fillo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nino D'Amore
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Genciana Terova
- University of Insubria, Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, Varese, Italy
| | - Danila Moscone
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabiana Arduini
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy; SENSE4MED, Via Renato Rascel 30, 00128, Rome, Italy.
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Vaezi Z, Bortolotti A, Luca V, Perilli G, Mangoni ML, Khosravi-Far R, Bobone S, Stella L. Aggregation determines the selectivity of membrane-active anticancer and antimicrobial peptides: The case of killerFLIP. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr 2019; 1862:183107. [PMID: 31678022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Host defense peptides selectively kill bacterial and cancer cells (including those that are drug-resistant) by perturbing the permeability of their membranes, without being significantly toxic to the host. Coulombic interactions between these cationic and amphipathic peptides and the negatively charged membranes of pathogenic cells contribute to the selective toxicity. However, a positive charge is not sufficient for selectivity, which can be achieved only by a finely tuned balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic driving forces. A common property of amphipathic peptides is the formation of aggregated structures in solution, but the role of this phenomenon in peptide activity and selectivity has received limited attention. Our data on the anticancer peptide killerFLIP demonstrate that aggregation strongly increases peptide selectivity, by reducing the effective peptide hydrophobicity and thus the affinity towards membranes composed of neutral lipids (like the outer layer of healthy eukaryotic cell membranes). Aggregation is therefore a useful tool to modulate the selectivity of membrane active peptides and peptidomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Vaezi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Perilli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- BiomaRx Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Casciaro B, Loffredo MR, Luca V, Verrusio W, Cacciafesta M, Mangoni ML. Esculentin-1a Derived Antipseudomonal Peptides: Limited Induction of Resistance and Synergy with Aztreonam. Protein Pept Lett 2019; 25:1155-1162. [PMID: 30381056 DOI: 10.2174/0929866525666181101104649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The massive use of antibiotics has led to the selection of resistant bacterial strains that are difficult to eradicate. Among these, Pseudomonas aeruginosa most frequently colonizes and infects the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) represent interesting molecules for the development of new antimicrobial agents. Thanks to their mechanism of action that involves the permeabilization of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, the induction of resistance is quite limited. OBJECTIVE The evaluation of the capability of two frog-skin derived AMPs, i.e. Esc(1-21) and its diastereomer Esc(1-21)-1c, to induce resistance in P. aeruginosa and synergize with aztreonam. METHOD The induction of resistance was evaluated after 15 cycles of exposure to non-inhibitory growth concentrations of antibiotics and peptides. Subsequently, the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was calculated and compared to that obtained before drug exposure. Furthermore, MICs of AMPs and antibiotics were evaluated in Artificial Sputum Medium (ASM). Finally, the ability of the two peptides to synergize with aztreonam was determined by the checkerboard titration method. RESULTS Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquired resistance to antibiotics, as evidenced by the increased MICs compared to the initial ones (from 8 to 128-fold higher), while no change in MICs was observed after multiple treatments with the Esc-peptides. In addition, both peptides showed significantly lower MICs than aztreonam in ASM. Finally, the diastereomer Esc(1-21)-1c had the ability to synergize with aztreonam in inhibiting growth and in killing Pseudomonas cells. CONCLUSION Both peptides represent promising candidates for the development of new antipseudomonal compounds, which do not induce resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Casciaro
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli, 9, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli, 9, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli, 9, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Verrusio
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, Anesthesiological and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Cacciafesta
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, Anesthesiological and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli, 9, 00185, Rome, Italy
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5
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Loffredo MR, Ghosh A, Harmouche N, Casciaro B, Luca V, Bortolotti A, Cappiello F, Stella L, Bhunia A, Bechinger B, Mangoni ML. Membrane perturbing activities and structural properties of the frog-skin derived peptide Esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 and its Diastereomer Esc(1-21)-1c: Correlation with their antipseudomonal and cytotoxic activity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes 2017; 1859:2327-2339. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Savini F, Luca V, Bocedi A, Massoud R, Park Y, Mangoni ML, Stella L. Cell-Density Dependence of Host-Defense Peptide Activity and Selectivity in the Presence of Host Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:52-56. [PMID: 27935673 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Host-defense peptides (HDPs) are promising compounds against multidrug-resistant microbes. In vitro, their bactericidal and toxic concentrations are significantly different, but this might be due to the use of separate assays, with different cell densities. For experiments with a single cell type, the cell-density dependence of the active concentration of the DNS-PMAP23 HDP could be predicted based on the water/cell-membrane partition equilibrium and exhibited a lower bound at low cell counts. On the basis of these data, in the simultaneous presence of both bacteria and an excess of human cells, one would expect no significant toxicity, but also inhibition of the bactericidal activity due to peptide sequestration by host cells. However, this inhibition did not take place in assays with mixed cell populations, showing that for the HDP esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2, a range of bactericidal, nontoxic concentrations exists and confirming the effective selectivity of HDPs. Mixed-cell assays might be necessary to effectively asses HDP selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto
Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chosun University, 501−759 Gwangju, Korea
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto
Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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7
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Tabbene O, Azaiez S, Di Grazia A, Karkouch I, Ben Slimene I, Elkahoui S, Alfeddy MN, Casciaro B, Luca V, Limam F, Mangoni ML. Bacillomycin D and its combination with amphotericin B: promising antifungal compounds with powerful antibiofilm activity and wound-healing potency. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 120:289-300. [PMID: 26669801 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS In this study, we evaluated the ability of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D and the antifungal drug amphotericin B as well as their combination, to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm formation and to accelerate keratinocyte cell migration. METHODS AND RESULTS The antibiofilm activity of bacillomycin D and its combination with amphotericin B was carried out by crystal violet colorimetric method. Our results have shown that, when combined together at low concentrations nontoxic to mammalian cells, corresponding to 1/32 MIC (0·39 μg ml(-1) ) and 1/4 MIC (0·06 μg ml(-1) ) for bacillomycin D and amphotericin B, respectively, a clear antibiofilm activity is manifested (95% inhibition of biofilm formation) along with a clear inhibition of germ tube formation. Moreover, the effect of both drugs on preformed biofilm of C. albicans strain was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. The combination of the two antifungal compounds at 0·39 and 1 μg ml(-1) for bacillomycin D and amphotericin B, respectively, resulted in a clear enhancement of biofilm eradication compared to the results obtained with each drug alone. Furthermore, this combination was found to promote the closure of a gap produced in a monolayer of human keratinocytes. CONCLUSIONS Bacillomycin D and its combination with amphotericin B display impressive anti-biofilm and wound-healing activities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Application of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D and the antifungal drug amphotericin B in medical devices may offer a promising alternative for topical treatment of Candida-associated infections in the setting of a wound.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Tabbene
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - S Azaiez
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - A Di Grazia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Universita' La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - I Karkouch
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - I Ben Slimene
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - S Elkahoui
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - M N Alfeddy
- Laboratoire de Phytobactériologie, UR Agrobiotechnologie, Institut National de Recherches Agronomiques, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - B Casciaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Universita' La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - V Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Universita' La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - F Limam
- Laboratoire des Substances Bioactives, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - M L Mangoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Universita' La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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8
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Mangoni ML, Grazia AD, Cappiello F, Casciaro B, Luca V. Naturally Occurring Peptides from Rana temporaria: Antimicrobial Properties and More. Curr Top Med Chem 2016; 16:54-64. [PMID: 26139114 DOI: 10.2174/1568026615666150703121403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The extensive search for alternative therapeutics against microbial pathogens has led to the discovery of cationic peptides as new anti-infectives with a novel mode of action. Particular interest has been devoted to small linear peptides that can be efficiently made by chemical synthesis at competitive costs. The most promising originate from a large family of short, naturally occurring peptides found in the skin of amphibia of Rana genus, i.e. the temporins. This review is mainly focused on the recent structure-function studies of the earliest known temporin isoforms (TA, TB and TL) and their potential clinical role as novel antimicrobial agents. The development of novel antibiotics is an urgent public health concern due to the increased resistance of microorganisms to conventional antibiotics, particularly in the hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 9-00185 Rome, Italy.
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9
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Stella L, Roversi D, Savini F, Vaezi Z, Luca V, Bobone S, Farrotti A, Bocedi A, Bocchinfuso G, Park Y, Palleschi A, Luisa Mangoni M. The Role of Thermodynamics in the Activity and Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptides. Biophys J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.11.473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Batoni G, Casu M, Giuliani A, Luca V, Maisetta G, Mangoni ML, Manzo G, Pintus M, Pirri G, Rinaldi AC, Scorciapino MA, Serra I, Ulrich AS, Wadhwani P. Rational modification of a dendrimeric peptide with antimicrobial activity: consequences on membrane-binding and biological properties. Amino Acids 2015; 48:887-900. [PMID: 26614437 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-015-2136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Peptide-based antibiotics might help containing the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance. We developed SB056, a semi-synthetic peptide with a dimeric dendrimer scaffold, active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Being the mechanism of SB056 attributed to disruption of bacterial membranes, we enhanced the amphiphilic profile of the original, empirically derived sequence [WKKIRVRLSA-NH2] by interchanging the first two residues [KWKIRVRLSA-NH2], and explored the effects of this modification on the interaction of peptide, both in linear and dimeric forms, with model membranes and on antimicrobial activity. Results obtained against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus planktonic strains, with or without salts at physiological concentrations, confirmed the added value of dendrimeric structure over the linear one, especially at physiological ionic strength, and the impact of the higher amphipathicity obtained through sequence modification on enhancing peptide performances. SB056 peptides also displayed intriguing antibiofilm properties. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most susceptible strain in sessile form, notably to optimized linear analog lin-SB056-1 and the wild-type dendrimer den-SB056. Membrane affinity of all peptides increased with the percentage of negatively charged lipids and was less influenced by the presence of salt in the case of dendrimeric peptides. The analog lin-SB056-1 displayed the highest overall affinity, even for zwitterionic PC bilayers. Thus, in addition to electrostatics, distribution of charged/polar and hydrophobic residues along the sequence might have a significant role in driving peptide-lipid interaction. Supporting this view, dendrimeric analog den-SB056-1 retained greater membrane affinity in the presence of salt than den-SB056, despite the fact that they bear exactly the same net positive charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Batoni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mariano Casu
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Giuliani
- Research and Development Unit, Spider Biotech S.r.l., Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, "A. Rossi Fanelli", Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppantonio Maisetta
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, "A. Rossi Fanelli", Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Manuela Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giovanna Pirri
- Research and Development Unit, Spider Biotech S.r.l., Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Andrea C Rinaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
| | - Mariano A Scorciapino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Ilaria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Anne S Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Parvesh Wadhwani
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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11
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Mangoni ML, Luca V, McDermott AM. Fighting microbial infections: A lesson from amphibian skin-derived esculentin-1 peptides. Peptides 2015; 71:286-95. [PMID: 25959536 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Due to the growing emergence of resistance to commercially available antibiotics/antimycotics in virtually all clinical microbial pathogens, the discovery of alternative anti-infective agents, is greatly needed. Gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold promise as novel therapeutics. In particular, amphibian skin is one of the richest storehouses of AMPs, especially that of the genus Rana, with esculentins-1 being among the longest (46 amino acids) AMPs found in nature to date. Here, we report on the recently discovered in vitro and in vivo activities and mechanism of action of two derivatives of the N-terminal part of esculentin-1a and -1b peptides, primarily against two relevant opportunistic microorganisms causing a large number of life-threatening infections worldwide; i.e. the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the yeast Candida albicans. Because of distinct advantages compared to several mammalian AMPs, the two selected frog skin AMP-derivatives represent attractive candidates for the development of new antimicrobial compounds with expanded properties, for both human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5-00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alison M McDermott
- The Ocular Surface Institute, College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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12
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Tabbene O, Di Grazia A, Azaiez S, Ben Slimene I, Elkahoui S, Alfeddy MN, Casciaro B, Luca V, Limam F, Mangoni ML. Synergistic fungicidal activity of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D with amphotericin B against pathogenic Candida species. FEMS Yeast Res 2015; 15:fov022. [PMID: 25956541 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fov022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the synergism of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D in combination with the polyene amphotericin B against pathogenic Candida species is described along with their potential cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Bacillomycin D inhibited the growth of various Candida species at minimal concentrations from 12.5 to 25 μg ml(-1). Furthermore, it showed a synergistic effect with the antifungal drug amphotericin B in inhibiting the growth of Candida strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration indices ranging from 0.28 to 0.5. Time killing studies revealed a >2-log reduction in the viability of Candida albicans ATCC 10231 cells after 3 h incubation with the combination amphotericin B plus bacillomycin D, at their subinhibitory concentration. Interestingly, when the two drugs were used together at those dosages displaying a synergism in the anti-Candida activity, no cytotoxic effect was observed against mammalian cells. Therefore, the combination bacillomycin D/amphotericin B may represent a valid alternative to conventional antifungals for topical treatment of C. albicans infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the in vitro interaction between the antifungal drug amphotericin B and bacillomycin D against pathogenic Candida species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olfa Tabbene
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology, Ecopark of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Antonio Di Grazia
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Sana Azaiez
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology, Ecopark of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Imen Ben Slimene
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology, Ecopark of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Salem Elkahoui
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology, Ecopark of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Najib Alfeddy
- Laboratory of Phytobacteriology, National Institute for Agricultural Research, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Ferid Limam
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology, Ecopark of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
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13
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Manzo G, Scorciapino MA, Wadhwani P, Bürck J, Montaldo NP, Pintus M, Sanna R, Casu M, Giuliani A, Pirri G, Luca V, Ulrich AS, Rinaldi AC. Enhanced amphiphilic profile of a short β-stranded peptide improves its antimicrobial activity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116379. [PMID: 25617899 PMCID: PMC4305290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SB056 is a novel semi-synthetic antimicrobial peptide with a dimeric dendrimer scaffold. Active against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, its mechanism has been attributed to a disruption of bacterial membranes. The branched peptide was shown to assume a β-stranded conformation in a lipidic environment. Here, we report on a rational modification of the original, empirically derived linear peptide sequence [WKKIRVRLSA-NH2, SB056-lin]. We interchanged the first two residues [KWKIRVRLSA-NH2, β-SB056-lin] to enhance the amphipathic profile, in the hope that a more regular β-strand would lead to a better antimicrobial performance. MIC values confirmed that an enhanced amphiphilic profile indeed significantly increases activity against both Gram-positive and -negative strains. The membrane binding affinity of both peptides, measured by tryptophan fluorescence, increased with an increasing ratio of negatively charged/zwitterionic lipids. Remarkably, β-SB056-lin showed considerable binding even to purely zwitterionic membranes, unlike the original sequence, indicating that besides electrostatic attraction also the amphipathicity of the peptide structure plays a fundamental role in binding, by stabilizing the bound state. Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism and solid-state 19F-NMR were used to characterize and compare the conformation and mobility of the membrane bound peptides. Both SB056-lin and β-SB056-lin adopt a β-stranded conformation upon binding POPC vesicles, but the former maintains an intrinsic structural disorder that also affects its aggregation tendency. Upon introducing some anionic POPG into the POPC matrix, the sequence-optimized β-SB056-lin forms well-ordered β-strands once electro-neutrality is approached, and it aggregates into more extended β-sheets as the concentration of anionic lipids in the bilayer is raised. The enhanced antimicrobial activity of the analogue correlates with the formation of these extended β-sheets, which also leads to a dramatic alteration of membrane integrity as shown by 31P-NMR. These findings are generally relevant for the design and optimization of other membrane-active antimicrobial peptides that can fold into amphipathic β-strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Manzo
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mariano A. Scorciapino
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Parvesh Wadhwani
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), POB 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jochen Bürck
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), POB 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nicola Pietro Montaldo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Manuela Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Roberta Sanna
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mariano Casu
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Giuliani
- Research & Development Unit, Spider Biotech S.r.l., I-10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Giovanna Pirri
- Research & Development Unit, Spider Biotech S.r.l., I-10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Anne S. Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), POB 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Andrea C. Rinaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
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14
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Roversi D, Luca V, Aureli S, Park Y, Mangoni ML, Stella L. How many antimicrobial peptide molecules kill a bacterium? The case of PMAP-23. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:2003-7. [PMID: 25058470 DOI: 10.1021/cb500426r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) kill bacteria mainly through the perturbation of their membranes and are promising compounds to fight drug resistance. Models of the mechanism of AMPs-induced membrane perturbation were developed based on experiments in liposomes, but their relevance for bacterial killing is debated. We determined the association of an analogue of the AMP PMAP-23 to Escherichia coli cells, under the same experimental conditions used to measure bactericidal activity. Killing took place only when bound peptides completely saturated bacterial membranes (10(6)-10(7) bound peptides per cell), indicating that the "carpet" model for the perturbation of artificial bilayers is representative of what happens in real bacteria. This finding supports the view that, at least for this peptide, a microbicidal mechanism is possible in vivo only at micromolar total peptide concentrations. We also showed that, notwithstanding their simplicity, liposomes represent a reliable model to characterize AMPs partition in bacterial membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Roversi
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto
Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Rome University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Aureli
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chosun University, 501-759 Gwangju, Korea
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Istituto
Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Rome University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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15
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Kolar SSN, Luca V, Baidouri H, Mannino G, McDermott AM, Mangoni ML. Esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2: a frog skin-derived peptide for microbial keratitis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 72:617-627. [PMID: 25086859 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1694-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the primary bacterial pathogen causing contact lens related keratitis. Available ophthalmic agents have reduced efficacy and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold promise as future antibiotics. Here we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-Pseudomonal activity of esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2, derived from a frog skin AMP. The data revealed a minimum inhibitory concentration between 2 and 16 μM against reference strains or drug-resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa without showing toxicity to human corneal epithelial cells up to 50 μM. At 1 μM the peptide rapidly killed bacterial cells and this activity was fully retained in 150 mM sodium chloride and 70 % (v/v) human basal tears, particularly against the virulent ATCC 19660 strain. Furthermore, its dropwise administration at 40 μM to the ocular surface in a murine model of P. aeruginosa keratitis (three times daily, for 5 days post-infection) resulted in a significant reduction of infection. The mean clinical score was 2.89 ± 0.26 compared to 3.92 ± 0.08 for the vehicle control. In addition, the corneal level of viable bacteria in the peptide treated animals was significantly lower with a difference of 4 log10 colony counts, compared to 7.7 log10 cells recovered in the control. In parallel, recruitment of inflammatory cells was reduced by half compared to that found in the untreated eyes. Similar results were obtained when esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 was applied prior to induction of keratitis. Overall, our findings highlight esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 as an attractive candidate for the development of novel topical pharmaceuticals against Pseudomonas keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satya Sree N Kolar
- College of Optometry, The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 9, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Hasna Baidouri
- College of Optometry, The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Giuseppe Mannino
- Ophthalmology Unit, NESMOS Department, S. Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alison M McDermott
- College of Optometry, The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 9, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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16
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Di Grazia A, Luca V, Segev-Zarko LAT, Shai Y, Mangoni ML. Temporins A and B stimulate migration of HaCaT keratinocytes and kill intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:2520-7. [PMID: 24514087 PMCID: PMC3993219 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02801-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing number of microbial pathogens resistant to available antibiotics is a serious threat to human life. Among them is the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which colonizes keratinocytes, the most abundant cell type in the epidermis. Its intracellular accumulation complicates treatments against resulting infections, mainly due to the limited diffusion of conventional drugs into the cells. Temporins A (Ta) and B (Tb) are short frog skin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Despite extensive studies regarding their antimicrobial activity, very little is known about their activity on infected cells or involvement in various immunomodulatory functions. Here we show that Tb kills both ATCC-derived and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of S. aureus within infected HaCaT keratinocytes (80% and 40% bacterial mortality, respectively) at a nontoxic concentration, i.e., 16 μM, whereas a weaker effect is displayed by Ta. Furthermore, the peptides prevent killing of keratinocytes by the invading bacteria. Further studies revealed that both temporins promote wound healing in a monolayer of HaCaT cells, with front speed migrations of 19 μm/h and 12 μm/h for Ta and Tb, respectively. Migration is inhibited by mitomycin C and involves the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. Finally, confocal fluorescence microscopy indicated that the peptides diffuse into the cells. By combining antibacterial and wound-healing activities, Ta and Tb may act as multifunctional mediators of innate immunity in humans. Particularly, their nonendogenous origin may reduce microbial resistance to them as well as the risk of autoimmune diseases in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Grazia
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli,” Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli,” Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Yechiel Shai
- The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli,” Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
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17
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Granato F, Blackhall V, Alessandra R, Spina D, Luca V, Piero P, Mohiyaddin S, Asif M, Kirk AJB, Giuseppe G. Outcome in excised thymomas: role of prognostic factors and impact of additional malignancies on survival. Scott Med J 2014; 59:22-9. [DOI: 10.1177/0036933013518147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims: Although the management of thymomas has been extensively evaluated, the value of prognostic factors in the outcome of these patients remains unclear. Methods and results: The medical records of all patients who underwent resection of thymoma between January 1985 and September 2010 at a single thoracic unit were reviewed. Patients were followed up with reference to disease recurrence and development of additional malignancies (AM). Total thymectomy was performed in all 68 cases. Mean follow-up time was four years. Mean survival was 63.9 months. Mean disease-free interval was 13 months. Factors affecting prognosis were Masaoka staging and WHO histological sub-type. Patients with thymomas had a higher risk of developing AM when compared with a control population of individuals with other tumours ( p = 0.0002). Among thymomas, the cortical subtype was associated with a higher risk of AM ( p = 0.047) and mortality ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: This data confirms that Masaoka staging and WHO histologic sub-type are the most important prognostic factors in patients with thymoma. Moreover, thymomas predominantly arising from the thymic cortex are associated with a higher risk of developing other malignancies and with poorer survival. The cortical origin of thymoma could therefore be considered as a significant prognostic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Granato
- Professor of Genetics, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Scotland
- Professor of Genetics, Doctorate School of Oncology and Genetic, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
| | - V Blackhall
- Professor of Genetics, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Scotland
| | - R Alessandra
- Professor of Genetics, Doctorate School of Oncology and Genetic, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
| | - D Spina
- Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
| | - V Luca
- Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
| | - P Piero
- Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
| | - S Mohiyaddin
- Professor of Genetics, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Scotland
| | - M Asif
- Professor of Genetics, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Scotland
| | - A JB Kirk
- Professor of Genetics, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Scotland
| | - Gotti Giuseppe
- Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Siena, Italy
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18
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Roversi D, Luca V, Aureli S, Park Y, Mangoni ML, Stella L. How Many AMP Molecules Kill a Bacterium? Spectroscopic Determination of PMAP-23 Binding to E. Coli. Biophys J 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.1704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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19
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Luca V, Olivi M, Di Grazia A, Palleschi C, Uccelletti D, Mangoni ML. Anti-Candida activity of 1-18 fragment of the frog skin peptide esculentin-1b: in vitro and in vivo studies in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 71:2535-46. [PMID: 24221134 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1500-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans represents one of the most prevalent species causing life-threatening fungal infections. Current treatments to defeat Candida albicans have become quite difficult, due to their toxic side effects and the emergence of resistant strains. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are fascinating molecules with a potential role as novel anti-infective agents. However, only a few studies have been performed on their efficacy towards the most virulent hyphal phenotype of this pathogen. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the anti-Candida activity of the N-terminal 1-18 fragment of the frog skin AMP esculentin-1b, Esc(1-18), under both in vitro and in vivo conditions using Caenorhabditis elegans as a simple host model for microbial infections. Our results demonstrate that Esc(1-18) caused a rapid reduction in the number of viable yeast cells and killing of the hyphal population. Esc(1-18) revealed a membrane perturbing effect which is likely the basis of its mode of action. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the ability of a frog skin AMP-derived peptide (1) to kill both growing stages of Candida; (2) to promote survival of Candida-infected living organisms and (3) to inhibit transition of these fungal cells from the roundish yeast shape to the more dangerous hyphal form at sub-inhibitory concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche "A. Rossi Fanelli", Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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20
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Grieco P, Carotenuto A, Auriemma L, Limatola A, Di Maro S, Merlino F, Mangoni ML, Luca V, Di Grazia A, Gatti S, Campiglia P, Gomez-Monterrey I, Novellino E, Catania A. Novel α-MSH peptide analogues with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61614. [PMID: 23626703 PMCID: PMC3634028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous investigations indicate that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and certain synthetic analogues of it exert antimicrobial effects against bacteria and yeasts. However, these molecules have weak activity in standard microbiology conditions and this hampers a realistic clinical use. The aim in the present study was to identify novel peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in growth medium. To this purpose, the Gly10 residue in the [DNal(2′)-7, Phe-12]-MSH(6–13) sequence was replaced with conventional and unconventional amino acids with different degrees of conformational rigidity. Two derivatives in which Gly10 was replaced by the residues Aic and Cha, respectively, had substantial activity against Candida strains, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei and against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Conformational analysis indicated that the helical structure along residues 8–13 is a key factor in antimicrobial activity. Synthetic analogues of α-MSH can be valuable agents to treat infections in humans. The structural preferences associated with antimicrobial activity identified in this research can help further development of synthetic melanocortins with enhanced biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Luigia Auriemma
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Limatola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Science, ‘A. Rossi Fanelli’, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Science, ‘A. Rossi Fanelli’, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Grazia
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Science, ‘A. Rossi Fanelli’, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Gatti
- Center for Preclinical Investigation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Catania
- Center for Preclinical Investigation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
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21
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Grieco P, Carotenuto A, Auriemma L, Saviello MR, Campiglia P, Gomez-Monterrey IM, Marcellini L, Luca V, Barra D, Novellino E, Mangoni ML. The effect of d-amino acid substitution on the selectivity of temporin L towards target cells: Identification of a potent anti-Candida peptide. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes 2013; 1828:652-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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22
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Falciani C, Lozzi L, Pollini S, Luca V, Carnicelli V, Brunetti J, Lelli B, Bindi S, Scali S, Di Giulio A, Rossolini GM, Mangoni ML, Bracci L, Pini A. Isomerization of an antimicrobial peptide broadens antimicrobial spectrum to gram-positive bacterial pathogens. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46259. [PMID: 23056272 PMCID: PMC3462775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The branched M33 antimicrobial peptide was previously shown to be very active against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant strains. In an attempt to produce back-up molecules, we synthesized an M33 peptide isomer consisting of D-aminoacids (M33-D). This isomeric version showed 4 to 16-fold higher activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, than the original peptide, while retaining strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of both peptides was influenced by their differential sensitivity to bacterial proteases. The better activity shown by M33-D against S. aureus compared to M33-L was confirmed in biofilm eradication experiments where M33-L showed 12% activity with respect to M33-D, and in vivo models where Balb-c mice infected with S. aureus showed 100% and 0% survival when treated with M33-D and M33-L, respectively. M33-D appears to be an interesting candidate for the development of novel broad-spectrum antimicrobials active against bacterial pathogens of clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falciani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Luisa Lozzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Pollini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Fanelli, Università di Roma, La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - Veronica Carnicelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Lelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Bindi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Scali
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Giulio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Fanelli, Università di Roma, La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Petrovici CG, Dorobăt C, Bejan C, Juganariu G, Simiraş E, Filip O, Luca V, Miftode E. [Epidemiology and clinical features in diabetic patients with invasive infections treated at the Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Iaşi, Romania, between 2008-2010]. REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALA A SOCIETATII DE MEDICI SI NATURALISTI DIN IASI 2011; 115:1035-1041. [PMID: 22276442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Infections in the diabetic population can be severe and life threatning at least for two reasons: clinical signs are often torpid, masqued by chronical complications of diabetes leading to late recognition and medical adresability and also because of the inability to control established infection due to complex cell-mediated and humoral immunity deffects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the etiology, clinical features and outcome in diabetic patients with invazive disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2010 at The Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases Iaşi among 75 diabetic patients with sepsis of microbiologically confirmed etiology (positive cultures from normally sterile sites) and sepsis with clinically suspected etiology (positive cultures from pus). Cases with positive urocultures and coprocultures only, were excluded. RESULTS From 75 diabetics, 56% were males, 90,7% being over 50 years. Severe cases of sepsis (33/75, 44%) were associated more often with insulin-treated diabetes than non-insulin treated group (40% vs. 4%, p<0,005) probably because of multiple comorbidities associated as suggested by a high Charlson score (6,09 vs. 4,09, p<0,05). There were 64 cases with confirmed etiology and 11 cases with clinically suspected etiology. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most common agents isolated, being involved in 16 (21,3%) cases each, followed by coagulase negative Staphylococci (14/18,66%), Enterococcus spp.(6/8%), group B Streptococcus (3/4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp. (2/2,66% each), Aerococcus viridans, Streptococcus equi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Sphyngomonas paucimobilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis (1/1,33%). Multiple septic disseminations occured in 17(22,6%) cases and meningeal involvment was doccumented in 10(15,6%) cases. Meticillin resistance was noted in 53,3% for invasive isolates of S. aureus. Among 16 invazive strains of E. coli, 25% were resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins, 17% to ciprofloxacin and 6,6% to aminoglycosides and colimycin. There were no E. coli strains resistant to imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam and aztreonam. The mean mortality rate was 14,66%. CONCLUSIONS The high level of resistance of S. aureus and E. coli to commonly used antibiotics and meningeal involvement imposes a multidisciplinary approach of the diabetic patient. Proper knowledge of the pathogers involved in the potential invazive diseases is an important tool for successful treatment with appropriate empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.
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Petrovici CG, Dorobăţ C, Matei M, Teodor A, Luca V, Miftode E. [Aspects of the antimicrobial resistence profile in infections with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in diabetic patients]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2011; 115:769-775. [PMID: 22046785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Infections in diabetic patient remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, triggering and maintaining a prolonged metabolic imbalance. Emergence of extented spectrum beta-lactmase (ESBL) in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major concern, because of the atypical manner infection acts in this group of imunodepressed patients and also for the limited therapeutic solutions. For this reason we have evaluated the profile of antimicrobial resistance of these pathogens in both diabetic and non diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a retrospective case control study, the antibiotic susceptibility pattern in isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. from different biological products in 49 diabetics and 150 non-diabetics admitted in The Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases Iaşi over a period of two years. RESULTS Most of strains of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. ESBL positive were found in uroculture. Significant differences in E. coli resistance rate between diabetics and nondiabetics were noted for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin (31,4% vs.13,98%, p=0,04, respectively 52,9% vs. 24,46%, p=0,004). More isolates of ESBL positive K. pneumoniae were found in diabetic patients (50% vs. 24%). Ciprofloxacin resistance of K. pneumoniae was significantly higher in diabetics (75% vs 39%; p=0,05). There was no resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates to imipenem in the diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS The high resistance rate to quinolones and 3rd generation cefalosporins limits their use for the treatment of Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae infections. Other alternatives for empiric therapy in community and nosocomial-acquired infections in diabetic patient remains carbapenems, aminoglycosides and colimycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina G Petrovici
- Universităţii de Medicină şi Farmacie "Gr. T. Popa" Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină
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25
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Grieco P, Luca V, Auriemma L, Carotenuto A, Saviello MR, Campiglia P, Barra D, Novellino E, Mangoni ML. Alanine scanning analysis and structure-function relationships of the frog-skin antimicrobial peptide temporin-1Ta. J Pept Sci 2011; 17:358-65. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.1350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 12/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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26
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Coccia C, Rinaldi AC, Luca V, Barra D, Bozzi A, Di Giulio A, Veerman ECI, Mangoni ML. Membrane interaction and antibacterial properties of two mildly cationic peptide diastereomers, bombinins H2 and H4, isolated from Bombina skin. Eur Biophys J 2011; 40:577-88. [PMID: 21327963 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-011-0681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Bombinins H are mildly cationic antimicrobial peptides isolated from the skin of the anuran genus Bombina, the fire-bellied toad. Some members of this peptide family coexist in skin secretions as diastereomers in which a single D: -amino acid (alloisoleucine or leucine) is incorporated as a result of the post-translational modification of the respective gene-encoded L-amino acid. Here we report on the antimicrobial properties and membrane interactions of bombinins H2 and H4. The latter differs from H2 by the presence of a D-alloisoleucine at the second N-terminal position. Specifically, we have evaluated the antimicrobial activity of H2 and H4 against a large panel of reference and clinical isolates of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria; performed membrane permeation assays on both intact cells and model membranes (lipid monolayers and liposomes) mimicking the composition of the plasma membrane of Gram-negative/positive bacteria; used biochemical tools, such as trypsin-encapsulated liposomes and capillary electrophoresis, to monitor the peptides' ability to translocate through the membrane of liposomes mimicking Escherichia coli inner membrane. The results revealed interesting relationships between the presence of a single D: -amino acid in the sequence of an antimicrobial peptide and its target microbial cell selectivity/membrane-perturbing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Coccia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università de L'Aquila, 67010 L'Aquila, Italy
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Antoniu E, Luca V. [Clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients with acute viral hepatitis in Bacau county, from 1996 TO 2005]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2010; 114:376-380. [PMID: 20700971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The purpose of the study is to emphasize the clinical and epidemiological peculiarities of acute viral hepatitis in the last decade. MATERIAL AND METHOD We studied retrospectively the files of 2014 patients, hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis in the Bacău County Hospital, from 1996 to 2005. RESULTS We saw that the only type the incidence of which lowered in time was the B-type hepatitis. The A acute hepatitis witnessed two epidemic peaks. The clinical cases of the male young patients prevailed. In 91.6% of cases, the infection source could not be established. The average incubation period was 21 days for viral hepatitis A, 65 for B and 80 for C. Hospitalized anicteric forms represented 2.8% of total. Extended forms were recorded with 3.6% patients (50.9% of them with B virus) and severe forms with 10.3% (among these, 66.7% with B virus). A fulminate evolution was noticed with 0.65% of cases. The global mortality was 0.4% and 0.95% for B type. CONCLUSIONS We noticed several peculiarities and changes regarding the clinical and epidemiological aspects of acute viral hepatitis in the last
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Antoniu
- Universităţii de Medicina şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi Spitalul Judeţean Bacău, Secţia de Boli Infecţioase
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28
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Antoniu E, Luca V. [Features of clinical evolution of severe acute viral hepatitis. Series of 72 cases]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2010; 114:95-100. [PMID: 20509283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The fulminant hepatic failure is a dramatic complication of acute viral hepatitis. Despite therapeutical efforts, the mortality of these forms of acute hepatitis is rated in most studies from 60 to 90%. MATERIAL AND METHOD We made a retrospective study that included 2014 patients hospitalized at the Bacau County Hospital from January 1996 to December 2005 with the diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis. Among these, 72 patients presented severe forms of hepatitis. RESULTS 13 patients presented fulminant hepatic failure. In most cases, etiology was represented by the B-type virus (66.7%). Defining for the fulminant form of hepatitis are the Quick index under 50%, the increase of total serum bilirubine and the leucocitosis associated with neutrophilia. CONCLUSIONS Mortality in fulminant forms of hepatitis was of 61.5%, respectively 75% in the case of the B-type viral hepatitis. Key words: SEVERE
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Antoniu
- Universităţii de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Spitalul Judeţean Bacău Secţia Boli Infecţioase adulţi
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Miftode E, Vâţă A, Leca D, Hurmuzache M, Dorneanu O, Manciuc C, Luca V, Dorobăţ C. [Community acquired acute bacterial meningitis--a 10 year review]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2009; 113:402-409. [PMID: 21495344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bacterial meningitis is still an important topic for the infectious diseases specialist, due to it's high incidence, severity and it's high mortality rate. MATERIAL AND METHOD We retrospectively studied 679 patients diagnosed with community acquired bacterial meningitis in the Infectious Diseases Hospital Iaşi, Romania between 1998 and 2007. RESULTS The annual number of admissions slightly decreased in the last years. Most patients were males (62.1%). Predisposing factors were present in 34.9% of cases. Seizures were described in 19.6% of cases, more frequent in children. The CSF was purulent only in 69.4% of patients, 29.6% of them receiving antibiotics prior to admission; the albumin level in the CSF of pneumococcal meningitis was higher than in other meningitis. The etiology was established in 51.6% of cases, more frequent in sucklings (68.1%). N. meningitidis was the most common cause of community acquired acute bacterial meningitis (CABM) (28.5%) followed by S. pneumoniae (14%). S. pneumoniae was susceptible to penicillin in 79% of cases. The mean mortality rate was 13.1%. CONCLUSION Factors associated with a poor prognosis were: pneumococcal etiology, age over 60, and the presence of seizures or coma at admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egidia Miftode
- Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi
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Petrache SM, Miftode E, Vâţă A, Petrovici CM, Dorneanu O, Luca V. [Sepsis with Staphylococcus aureus in immunocompromised patients]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2009; 113:410-415. [PMID: 21495345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The aim of our study was to analyze clinical and biological characteristics of immunocompromised patients with staphylococcal sepsis and to compare with the same data in non-immunocompromised patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD The diagnosis of sepsis was made based on Bone criteria. MiniAPI system ID 32 STAPH was used for identification and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by ATB STAPH method and by E-test for oxacillin and vancomycin. RESULTS Among the 147 patients with Staphylococcus aureus sepsis--66.67% had concomitant immunosuppressive conditions (diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, renal failure, corticotherapy, etc). We have found a significant correlation between the immunosuppressed status and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) involvement (p = 0.0018) and also, between this group of patients and treatment failure (p = 0.0012). CONCLUSION Because of the high rate of MRSA involvement in systemic infections in the Eastern region of Romania first intention treatment of patients with staphylococcal infections and conditions of immunosuppression must include antibiotics effective against methicillin-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Magdalena Petrache
- Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi
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Petrache SM, Miftode E, Leca D, Dorneanu O, Luca V. [Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus infections in infectious diseases hospital Iaşi]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2009; 113:192-196. [PMID: 21495317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We assessed clinical and microbiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections in hospitalized patients during a period of three years (October 2005 - October 2008) in the Clinic Hospital of Infectious Diseases Iaşi. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 169 patients with SA infections (sepsis, meningitis, skin infections and urinary tract infections). MiniAPI system ID 32 STAPH was used for identification and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by ATB STAPH method and by E-test for oxacillin and vancomycin. RESULTS The rate of methicillin resistance (MR) was 48%, all strains being susceptible to linezolid, vancomycin, teicoplanin. In our study MRSA was susceptible in approximately 94% of cases to clindamycin and cotrimoxazole. Infections were defined as nosocomial in 51% of patients with a rate of MR of 52% and community-acquired in 49% with a rate of MR of 23% (p = 0.001). Clinical profile was: localized infection in 41% of patients with MRSA and systemic infection (sepsis with at least one organ involvement or bacteremia) in 59% of patients with MRSA infections (p = 0.53). Initial treatment was inadequate in 46% of MRSA infections. One third of strains had MIC of vancomycin 2 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS The high level of methicillin resistance of S. aureus straints isolated from infections (48 %) justifies a particular approach of initial antistaphylococcal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Magdalena Petrache
- Universitatea de Medicina şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicina, Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase
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Luca MC, Mihalache D, Dorobăţ C, Petrovici CM, Varlan M, Luca V. [Cross-sectional study of leptospirosis cases admitted to the Iaşi Clinic of Infectious Diseases over a 5-years period]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2008; 112:612-615. [PMID: 20201240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Leptospirosis is a zooantroponosis manifested as an infection with a severe evolution, with liver and renal failure and haemoragic manifestation. The aim of the study was to present the epidemiologic, clinic and therapeutical aspects of 100 cases of leptospirosis admitted in the clinic of Infectious Diseases of Iaşi, during 5 years (2002-2006). MATERIAL AND METHOD The diagnostic was based on the clinical-biologic study and risk factors with febrile syndrome, mialgic syndrome, headache, meningial, liver and renal failure and hematological syndromes, with the serologic evidence of serotypes of leptospirosis. RESULTS All the patients were serologic confirmed with leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is an emergent disease with the possibility of severe evolution in some forms, with lever and renal failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Cătălina Luca
- Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infectioase, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi
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Miftode E, Leca D, Luca V. [A severe case of infectious mononucleosis associated with ciprofloxacin and salazopyrin administration]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2008; 112:652-655. [PMID: 20201247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We report a case of rash probably induced by ciprofloxacin and/or salazopyrin administration in a patient with infectious mononucleosis. A 22 year woman developed a maculopapular and petechial eruption in the 3-rd day of ciprofloxacin (given for a genital tract infection) and the 32-nd day of salazopyrin (for a spondylodiscitis). Subsequently she developed a severe hepatitis, shock, and very severe leucocytosis (88 000/mmc) that occasioned haematological investigations for a lymphoproliferative syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egidia Miftode
- Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi
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Miftode E, Dorneanu O, Leca D, Teodor A, Mihalache D, Filip O, Luca V. [Antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. from urine in the Infectious Diseases Hospital Iaşi]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2008; 112:478-482. [PMID: 19295023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The increasing frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae among nosocomial and community-acquired infections is an important problem for both microbiologists and clinicians, because of the difficulty in correctly detecting, reporting and treating such infections. RESULTS In the Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases Iaşi the most frequent etiological agents of urinary tract infections were: E. coli - 64%, Klebsiella spp. 11% and Enterococcus spp - 5%. The resistance rate of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. was 41% and 60%, respectively to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 29.6% and 72.5%, respectively to third generation cephalosporins, 26% and 24%, respectively to ciprofloxacin. The most active antimicrobial agents against cephalosporins resistant strains of E. coli and Klebsiella spp were carbapenems (susceptibility rate 99% and 94%, respectively) and colimycin (susceptibility rate 89% and 83%, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Egidia Miftode
- Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi
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Dorneanu O, Filip O, Miftode E, Radu I, Nicolau C, Damian I, Luca V. [Cryptococcus meningitis, five years of experience and literature review]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2008; 112:100-103. [PMID: 18677910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and antifungal susceptibility profile of Cryptococcus spp. isolated from patients in northeast Romania. MATERIAL AND METHOD Fungi isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures were identified by ID32C strips (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility testing was performed using ATB FUNGUS2 strips (bioMerieux, France). RESULTS A total of 20 significant strains have been isolated. Overall, Cryptococcus neoformans was the most frequent isolate (95%). We mention the first Cryptococcus albidus meningitis in Romania (strain with multiple resistance). All cryptococci tested were susceptible to amphotericin B with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) =1 microg/mL; 90% strains were susceptible to flucytosine. Resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole was observed in 2 and 1 case, respectively. Most of the patients had an associated infection, tuberculosis in 37.5% cases. Despite appropriate therapy 4 patients died (21%). CONCLUSION First choice induction therapy with amphotericin B plus flucytosine followed by fluconazole is highly recommended since resistance to antifungal agents is still very low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Dorneanu
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Microbiologie
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Luca MC, Petrovici CM, Vâţă A, Dorobăţ C, Năstase E, Luca V, Teodor A, Luca A. [Gamma interferon testing in blood and cerebrospinal fluid--rapid method for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2008; 112:108-110. [PMID: 18677912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the benefit of this early method of diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, gamma-interferon levels comparatively in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). MATERIAL AND METHOD We have studied 50 patients with tuberculous meningitis admitted in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases Iaşi between 2006-2007, from the epidemiological, clinical, diagnosis and therapeutical points of view. RESULTS Tuberculous meningitis was more frequent in males, with a mean ration of 2.5. The age of patients varied between 2 and 78 years of age, with a mean value of 30.5 years. 35.6% of patients were children. In 32 cases the meningeal infection was secondary, disseminated from a primary site, most frequently from the lungs (68,7%). The bacteriologic confirmation was through culture in 13.3%, with an average of 23.4 days of incubation. In whole blood the sensitivity Quantiferon TB Gold assay (QTF) was 78.57%. In CSF the specificity was higher than in blood (96.1 vs. 88.4%), having a positive prediction value over 90%. Antituberculous therapy prior to QTF testing had a negative impact, 50 to 6 cases having negative QTF results. CONCLUSION The performance indicators of TB Gold Quantiferon Test in serum or CSF are high, being more sensitive and rapid than the direct exam of CSF or BK culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Catălina Luca
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infecţioase Iaşi
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Lindsay M, Blackford M, Attard D, Luca V, Skyllas-Kazacos M, Griffith C. Anodic titania films as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Electrochim Acta 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2007.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Manciuc C, Dorobăţ C, Hurmuzache M, Luca V, Mihalache D, Grigorescu O. [Leptospirosis in children. Clinico-biological and therapeutic aspects for the cases hospitalised between 1992-2005]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2007; 111:383-385. [PMID: 17983172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The aim of the study is that of showing the prevalence of the disease in childhood in our county. MATERIAL AND METHOD We studied the observation files of the patients admitted in our unit in between 1992 and 2005 comprised in the 0-15 year old age bracket, noticing all the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects. RESULTS In the above mentioned period, 16 patients from the 0-15 year old group (3.12% of all the patients suffering from leptospirosis) were admitted in our clinic. Male (93.75%) and suburban area (60%) were dominant; 11-15 year old group was represented in 87.5% cases; the prevalence was observed during the summer (11 cases) and during 1999 (6 cases); the meningeal signs were noticed in 5 cases and jaundice for 3 children; the most frequent agent was L. icterohaemorrhagiae--7 cases. The etiological treatment was performed for 14 cases with betalactamines for 7.4 days in average; no lethal cases were noticed. CONCLUSIONS In the case of Iaşi County, leptospirosis is a clinico-biological entity considered in the diagnosis of the jaundice, meningeal and febrile syndromes in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Manciuc
- Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica Boli Infecţioase, Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi
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Dorneanu O, Miftode E, Vremera T, Filip O, Nastasa E, Luca V. R2138 Resistance to antibiotics in coagulase-negative staphylococci in an infectious diseases hospital, Iasi, Romania. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/s0924-8579(07)71977-5] [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: 12/01/2022]
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40
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Vâţa A, Hurmuzache M, Duca E, Scripcariu D, Florea D, Petrovici C, Butur D, Luca V. [The co-infection with hepatitis virus B and D--cases admitted in the infectious diseases hospital from Iaşi, Romania (2003-2005)]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2006; 110:856-60. [PMID: 17438888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite the major medical advance, over 350 million people worldwide still have chronic infection with hepatitis B virus and HBV-associated liver disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. 15-50% of patient VHB infected have serological markers for VHD co-infection. We retrospectively studied 252 cases of acute hepatitis B (AHB) admitted in our hospital between 2003-2005; 12 of them (4.76%) had a co-infection with hepatitis D virus. Most of the patients were young males with an urban origin. The route of transmission was unknown in 8/12 cases. Abdominal pain was more frequent during the onset of the disease than in AHB (p < 0.05). A cholestatic pattern was noted in 9 cases. The frequency of severe/ fulminant cases was greater then in AHB. The HBsAg was absent in 3 patients, and the HBV-DNA was present at low levels in 3/12 patients tested. Two patients had HBsAg present 6 month later.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vâţa
- Spitalul Clinic de Boli infectioase, Iaşi
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41
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Maniciuc C, Dorobaţ C, Hurmuzache M, Mihalache D, Luca V. [Varicella-zoster infection--extreme clinical aspects]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2006; 110:852-5. [PMID: 17438887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Infections with the varicella-zoster (VZ) virus are a constant of our everyday practice. The aim of the present study is that of underlining unusual aspects of the infection with the VZ virus--primary infection in adults and herpes zoster in children. If varicella, or chickenpox, has been traditionally considered a childhood disease, nowadays, an increased number of adults are affected by primary infections. On the contrary, more and more children present the secondary form of the infection, which appears as herpes zoster, a disease usually diagnosed in adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied the observation papers of adult patients with varicella, hospitalized in our clinic during 2004-2005 and we analyzed the herpes zoster manifestations in non-HIV children, diagnosed with the disease during the same period of time. RESULTS During 2004-2005, 34 adult patients were diagnosed with varicella, while 10 children presented herpes zoster. 16 of the adults with varicella were 25-34 years old. One of the children with herpes zoster was less than one year old. All the adults with varicella were treated with acyclovir; in 14 cases, the therapy was supplemented with rifampicin. All the children with herpes zoster came from rural areas. The pathology that determined the decrease of general immunity was represented by neoplasia (3 cases), malnutrition and rickets (2 cases), associated infectious pathologies--bronchopneumonia (3 cases). CONCLUSIONS Varicella in adults has an increased incidence, which is underestimated, in our opinion. Its loud clinical manifestations impose the therapy with acyclovir. Herpes zoster in children reveals significant subsidiary pathologies and a depressed immune system that impose special medical care and many days of hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Maniciuc
- Facultatea de Medicina, Universitatea de Medicina "Gr.T. Popa", Iaşi
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Grecu F, Bulgariu T, Blanaru O, Dragomir C, Lunca C, Stratan I, Manciuc C, Luca V. Invasive amebiasis. Chirurgia (Bucur) 2006; 101:539-42. [PMID: 17278650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Digestive amoebiasis with his invasive form is an unusual pathology encountered in the temperate zone. This could lead to a life threatening complication: systemic amoebiasis. A 55-year-old male was treated successfully of systemic amoebiasis in a third referral hospital. The diagnosis was established based on epidemiology data and microscopical identification of trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica. The amoebicidal, antibiotic and supportive treatments was firstly administrated. The clinical picture of intestinal amoebiasis raised from dysenteric syndrome to necrotizing enteritis. The bowel perforation with localized peritonitis was followed by chronic enteric fistula. Amoebic liver abscess, as the most frequent extraintestinal complication, was concomitantly diagnosed and treated. Urinary amoebiasis was considered as complication in the context of systemic dissemination: any other location could become a site of an amoebic abscess. Multidisciplinary approach was the successful key in the management of the patient, including antiparasitic therapy and antibiotic prophylaxis, intensive care and multiple surgical approaches. The diagnosis of digestive amoebiasis and systemic complication may be delayed in nonendemic areas, leading to advanced and complicated stages of the disease. The surgical approach is most efficiently to treat a large liver amoebic abscess and intraperitoneal collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Grecu
- Third Surgical Unit, St. Spiridon Hospital of Iasi.
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Poiată A, Tuchiluş C, Ambăruş A, Teodor A, Teodorescu I, Luca V, Buiuc D. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from colonized hospital personnel. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2006; 110:723-6. [PMID: 17571573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study was performed to investigate the in vitro activity of oxacillin and other antimicrobial agents against S. aureus strains obtained from nursing personnel. We tested 127 S. aureus colonizing nasal mucous and hand skin and isolated from nursing personnel of University Hospital Department of Infectious Diseases, Iaşi, during June 2005 period. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Most of the S. aureus strains were susceptible to tested agents excepted erythromycin and azithromycin. Erythromycin and azithromycin resistance was observed among 29.1% respectively 22% of S. aureus strains. Vancomycin was active against all isolates. Teicoplanin was active against against all MRSA excepted one of the strain, with an reduced susceptibility. Linezolid has very good in vitro activity against staphylococci, with an MIC 90 of 2 mcg/ml and only 0.8% resistance. The MIC values range was between 0.5-2 mcg/ml. In conclusion, the usually hygienic methods (disposable gowns, hygienic hand disinfection after each patients contact, masks use when is a risk of aerosolization of MRSA) are indicate for significantly reducing of these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Poiată
- Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi School of Medicine
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Luca MC, Dorneanu O, Sabadîş L, Dorobăţ C, Fîntînaru R, Luca V. [Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae--rare etiology of persistent febrile syndrome]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2005; 109:62-5. [PMID: 16607829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive rod, carried by many domestic and pet animals and very resistant in the environmental habitat, causing an anthropo-zoonosis infection in humans. It can determine, most frequently, a skin infection and may cause also septic arthritis or systemic infection, usually associated with aortic endocarditis. Bacteremia without endocarditis is a very rare presentation, generally seen in immunocompromised patients. We report such an unexpected diagnosis in a 75-years old woman, with mitral regurgitation, who was investigated for a persistent febrile syndrome, with no evidence of vegetation on repeated echo examinations and no evidence of the entry portal and who recovered successfully from an E. rhusiopathiae bacteremia with Ampicillin iv. therapy for 14 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Cătălina Luca
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr T Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina Boli Infecţioase
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Luca V, Gessner BD, Luca C, Turcu T, Rugina S, Rugina C, Ilie M, Novakova E, Vlasich C. Incidence and etiological agents of bacterial meningitis among children <5 years of age in two districts of Romania. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2004; 23:523-8. [PMID: 15257444 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-004-1169-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
To expand upon the limited comprehensive population-based data for childhood bacterial meningitis in Eastern Europe, the present study was conducted in the Iasi and Constanta districts of Romania. From March 2000 through March 2002, children <5 years of age hospitalized for bacterial meningitis were enrolled in a prospective surveillance study. A total of 56 cases of bacterial meningitis were identified, including 37 due to Neisseria meningitidis (22 per 100,000 per year), 13 due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (7.6 per 100,000 per year), and six due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.5 per 100,000 per year). Of the 31 meningococcal isolates that were serotyped, 12 were serogroup A, eight were serogroup B, and 11 were serogroup C. Among all cases of bacterial meningitis, 25 occurred in children <1 year of age, including those due to meningococci (n=14), H. influenzae type b (n=7), pneumococci (n=3), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=1). In Romania the incidence of H. influenzae type b meningitis is similar to that found in other areas of Southern and Eastern Europe during the pre-vaccination era, and the incidence of meningococcal meningitis is one of the highest yet found in Europe. An unexpectedly high proportion of these meningococcal meningitis cases is due to serogroup A. Disease burden could be substantially reduced through the introduction of H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine and, when available, meningococcal conjugate vaccine protective against serogroups A, B and C.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Luca
- Infectious Disease Hospital, University Hospital, Octav Botez Street no. 2, Iasi, Romania
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46
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Manciuc C, Luca V, Duca E, Dorobăţ C, Nicolau C, Vâţă A. [Tetanus in childhood--experience at the Infectious Disease Hospital Iaşi, January 1980-October 2003]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2004; 108:296-8. [PMID: 15688802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of our study is to present the tetanus pediatric cases for almost 24 year period. We analyzed epidemiologically, clinico-biologically and the treatment from the patients' files. In above mentioned period were admitted 8 children with tetanus, 4 cases in 1980-1990; 5 patients were female, mainly came from suburban area; 12-15 year old group of age was mainly involved-3 cases. A point of entry was certified in 7 cases, the mean incubation period was 9.2 days, all the cases had a typical form of the disease. The complications were: bronchopneumonia, ileus (1 case). The performed treatment--antitetanic serum, antibiotics, sedatives, curare for 3 patients; no patient died. A rare disease for the pediatric age, tetanus could be a severe disease, with severe complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Manciuc
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase
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Manciuc C, Vâţă A, Dorobăţ C, Scurtu R, Petrovici C, Luca V. [Lamivudine and alpha-IFN treatment of a severe case of acute hepatitis B]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2004; 108:207-9. [PMID: 15688787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
In order to enhance the viral clearance we used a combined antiviral therapy in an 18 year old patient, hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Hospital-Iaşi, in June 2002. The evolution under standard therapy was unsatisfactory, with the aggravation of the icteric syndrome and a constant cytolytic syndrome. At this point we used the combination of Lamivudine (Zeffix) 100 mg/24 h + alpha-IFN 3 milUI x 3/week for the duration of 8 weeks. The improvement in both clinical and biochemical condition of the patient was obvious. At the end of the treatment (8 weeks) none of the signs or symptoms were present, the patient became AgHBs negative, AgHBe negative and anti-HBe positive. The combined antiviral therapy was useful (with the clearance of the HBs antigen) in a severe case of acute hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Manciuc
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infecţioase
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Teodor A, Teodor D, Luca V. [Side effects of antiretroviral therapy]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2004; 108:23-6. [PMID: 15688751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the natural history of HIV infection, but the presence of adverse events may limit its efficacy. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors can cause mitochondrial toxicity and anemia, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are associated with rash and central nervous system disturbance; protease inhibitors elicit gastrointestinal adverse effects and metabolic abnormalities including lipodystrophy syndrome, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. These complications have the potential to increase morbidity and mortality significantly in those requiring long-term treatment of HIV-infection. The presence of such abnormalities also has an impact on adherence to treatment. Besides providing health benefits, HAART may have a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Identifying and treating these complications has important implications for patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andra Teodor
- Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infecţioase
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Manciuc C, Vâţă A, Duca E, Dorobăţ C, Scurtu R, Luca V. [Acute viral encephalitis. Experience of the Iaşi Infectious Disease Clinic between January 2000 and March 2003]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2003; 107:763-6. [PMID: 14756016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the patients files suffered from acute viral encephalitis in 39 months period: January 2000-march 2003. According to our data there was a total of 33 patients; one of them died. The most involved patients were male and of the 8-14 year group of age; for the first three month in 2003 were admitted 11 patients. Coma and seizures were the most frequent clinical signs. LCR had the usual abnormalities for the above mentioned disease; the treatment was mainly performed with corticosteroids; 28 cases were admitted more than 8 days period. The evolution of the clinical status was satisfactory for all 32 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Manciuc
- Clinica de Boli Infecţioase, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitate de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi
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50
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Mihalache D, Luca V, Nicolau C, Teodorescu I, Prisăcariu LJ, Macovei S. [Cutaneous and oral manifestations in HIV-infected children and adults--169 cases]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2003; 107:565-9. [PMID: 14756063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to evaluate cutaneous and oral manifestations in infected HIV patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 169 cases admitted in Infectiouse Disease Department of Iaşi in 2001-2002 period. RESULTS Cutaneous and oral manifestations were: candidiasis (99 cases), herpes virus infectious (36 cases), scabies and straphylococcal/streptococcal skin disease (26 cases), prurigo nodularis, psoriasis and verruca vulgaris (9 cases). Children of 0-13 year old group was 75.73 percent. Classification of HIV infection was related with CD4 count for 166 cases. Twelve cases with oral pharyngitis candidiasis, scabies and streptococcal skin diseases was 2-3 recurrent episodes of manifestations. Etiotrop treatment was associated with HAART therapy. CONCLUSIONS Cutaneous and oral manifestations are occurred frequently in HIV infected patients, with a various etiology, but the severity, persistence and its evolution did not evaluate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doina Mihalache
- Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infecţioase, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi
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