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De Giglio O, D’Ambrosio M, Spagnuolo V, Diella G, Fasano F, Leone CM, Lopuzzo M, Trallo V, Calia C, Oliva M, Pazzani C, Iacumin L, Barigelli S, Petricciuolo M, Federici E, Lisena FP, Minicucci AM, Montagna MT. Legionella anisa or Legionella bozemanii? Traditional and molecular techniques as support in the environmental surveillance of a hospital water network. Environ Monit Assess 2023; 195:496. [PMID: 36947259 PMCID: PMC10033568 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11078-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the actual distribution of different Legionella species in water networks would help prevent outbreaks. Culture investigations followed by serological agglutination tests, with poly/monovalent antisera, still represent the gold standard for isolation and identification of Legionella strains. However, also MALDI-TOF and mip-gene sequencing are currently used. This study was conducted to genetically correlate strains of Legionella non pneumophila (L-np) isolated during environmental surveillance comparing different molecular techniques. Overall, 346 water samples were collected from the water system of four pavilions located in a hospital of the Apulia Region of Italy. Strains isolated from the samples were then identified by serological tests, MALDI-TOF, and mip-gene sequencing. Overall, 24.9% of water samples were positive for Legionella, among which the majority were Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) 1 (52.3%), followed by Lpn2-15 (20.9%), L-np (17.4%), Lpn1 + Lpn2-15 (7.1%), and L-np + Lpn1 (2.3%). Initially, L-np strains were identified as L. bozemanii by monovalent antiserum, while MALDI-TOF and mip-gene sequencing assigned them to L. anisa. More cold water than hot water samples were contaminated by L. anisa (p < 0.001). PFGE, RAPD, Rep-PCR, and SAU-PCR were performed to correlate L. anisa strains. Eleven out of 14 strains identified in all four pavilions showed 100% of similarity upon PFGE analysis. RAPD, Rep-PCR, and SAU-PCR showed greater discriminative power than PFGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvalda De Giglio
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marilena D’Ambrosio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Hygiene, Medical School, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Valentina Spagnuolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Hygiene, Medical School, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giusy Diella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fasano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Carla Maria Leone
- Present Address: Section Hygiene - AOU Policlinico of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Lopuzzo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Hygiene, Medical School, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Valeria Trallo
- Present Address: Section Hygiene - AOU Policlinico of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Carla Calia
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Marta Oliva
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Pazzani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucilla Iacumin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Sofia Barigelli
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy
| | - Maya Petricciuolo
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Minicucci
- Health Management, A.O.U. Policlinico of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Montagna
- Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Abid L, Smiri M, Federici E, Lievens B, Manai M, Yan Y, Sadfi-Zouaoui N. Diversity of rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria isolated from dried fruit of Ficus carica. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:103398. [PMID: 35942165 PMCID: PMC9356298 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.103398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently an increasing demand for the characterization of endophytic bacteria isolated from different parts of plants (rhizosphere, roots, fruit, leaf) in order to improve the organic agriculture practices. The current research was performed to identify both rhizospheric bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Ficus carica in three different sites in the north of Tunisia and endophytic bacteria isolated from dried figs. We then characterized them for a diversity of plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities. A collection of 120 isolates from rhizospheric soil and 9 isolates from dried figs was obtained and purified. 16SrDNA gene amplification of rhizospheric bacteria revealed significant diversity and allowed for the assigning of the isolates to 6 phyla: Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Representative strains of the collection (90 strains) were tested for numerous PGP activities and resistance to abiotic stresses. The most common PGP trait for all bacteria from the three regions was siderophore production (62%), followed by cellulase (38%), then protease activity (37%), then by lipases activity (17%) and lastly by solubilization of phosphates (9%). Twenty -three strains that showed most PGP traits were selected, 8 strains presented 12 or more, and 15 strains displayed between 7 and 11 of 17 PGP activities. The majority of the isolates manifested a possible adaptation to abiotic stress and unfavorable environments. PCR-DGGE analysis of soil rhizosphere of the three sites allowed also for the acquisition of a Cluster analysis of rhizospheric bacterial communities. Our current study identified and characterized for the first time in Tunisia rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria from dried fruit of Ficus carica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Abid
- Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs (LR16ES05), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Marwa Smiri
- Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs (LR16ES05), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bart Lievens
- Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Manai
- Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs (LR16ES05), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Yunjun Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Najla Sadfi-Zouaoui
- Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs (LR16ES05), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
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Riccardi C, Di Filippo P, Pomata D, Simonetti G, Castellani F, Uccelletti D, Bruni E, Federici E, Buiarelli F. Comparison of analytical approaches for identifying airborne microorganisms in a livestock facility. Sci Total Environ 2021; 783:147044. [PMID: 34088133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An intensive study, applied to a site characterized by multiple sources of microorganisms, was aimed at understanding the best approach to study bioaerosol. Culture-based, molecular biological, and chemical methods were applied to Particulate Matter (PM) samples collected in a livestock facility, during spring and autumn seasons, in two different outdoor areas. The first one was close to a place where feed was stored and handled and the second next to an open cowshed. Qualitative analysis of bacteria was performed by sequencing techniques applied to DNA extracted from both isolated culturable bacteria and particulate matter samples. Quantification of microorganisms was achieved through three distinct approaches. Microorganism colonies were counted, after incubation at 28 °C, and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per m3. Chemical method consisted in the identification of individual biomarkers, and their conversion to number of microorganisms per m3, using proper conversion factors. Finally, qPCR was applied to DNA extracted from PM samples, and the results were expressed as total amount of bacteria present in the bioaerosol (UG/m3). The presence of airborne sterols was also studied to broaden the knowledge of bioaerosol components in atmosphere. Small seasonal differences and major sampling site differences occurred. Obviously, culture-dependent method identified less and different bacteria, than culture-independent approach. The chemical approach and the culture independent metagenomic method were in good agreement. As expected, CFU/m3 accounted for not more than 0.3% of bacteria calculated as the average of chemical and culture independent metagenomic methods. The complexity of the obtained results shows that the different approaches are complementary to obtain an exhaustive description of bioaresol in terms of concentration, speciation, viability, pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Giulia Simonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Uccelletti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Bruni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Magara G, Sangsawang A, Pastorino P, Bellezza Oddon S, Caldaroni B, Menconi V, Kovitvadhi U, Gasco L, Meloni D, Dörr AJM, Prearo M, Federici E, Elia AC. First insights into oxidative stress and theoretical environmental risk of Bronopol and Detarox® AP, two biocides claimed to be ecofriendly for a sustainable aquaculture. Sci Total Environ 2021; 778:146375. [PMID: 34030372 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146375] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bronopol and Detarox® AP are broad spectrum antimicrobial biocides of growing interest for the aquaculture sector. While their effectiveness against aquatic pathogens has been demonstrated, toxicity data on wild or farmed species are still lacking, as is information on their potential environmental risk for aquatic ecosystems. With this study, we assessed the acute and sublethal toxicity of Bronopol and Detarox® AP in the freshwater bivalve Sinanodonta woodiana and their theoretical risk for aquatic ecosystem. The 96-h median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined using the acute toxicity test, while for the sublethal toxicity test the bivalves were exposed to two concentrations for 14 days of Bronopol (2.5 and 50 mg/L) and Detarox® AP (1.11 and 22.26 mg/L) followed by a 14-day withdrawal period. Biocide-mediated oxidative processes were investigated via a panel of oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase). Theoretical environmental risk assessment of both biocides, with predicted concentration of no effect (PNEC), expected theoretical concentration (TEC) in the environment, and risk quotient (RQ) was performed. TEC was calculated using a model based on the size of the aquaculture facility and the receiving basin, the estimated quantity of biocide dissolved in water, and published data on biocide stability in water. Although the LC50 was higher for Bronopol (2440 mg/L) than for Detarox® AP (126 mg/L), fluctuations in oxidative stress biomarkers levels indicated that both biocides exert a slight oxidative pressure on S. woodiana. Theoretical environmental risk assessment suggested a muted risk with Detarox® AP and greater eco-sustainability compared to Bronopol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Magara
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Akkarasiri Sangsawang
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University. Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Paolo Pastorino
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, Torino, Italy.
| | - Sara Bellezza Oddon
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
| | - Barbara Caldaroni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Vasco Menconi
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, Torino, Italy
| | - Uthaiwan Kovitvadhi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Laura Gasco
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy; Institute of Science of Food Production, National Research Council, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
| | - Daniela Meloni
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Marino Prearo
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, Torino, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonia Concetta Elia
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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5
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Petroselli C, Montalbani E, La Porta G, Crocchianti S, Moroni B, Casagrande C, Ceci E, Selvaggi R, Sebastiani B, Gandolfi I, Franzetti A, Federici E, Cappelletti D. Characterization of long-range transported bioaerosols in the Central Mediterranean. Sci Total Environ 2021; 763:143010. [PMID: 33131845 PMCID: PMC7571444 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Airborne bacteria were characterized over a 2-y period via high-throughput massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene in aerosol samples collected at a background mountain European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) Network site (Monte Martano, Italy) located in the Central Mediterranean area. The air mass origin of nineteen samples was identified by air mass modelling and a detailed chemical analysis was performed. Four main origins (Saharan, North-western, North-eastern, and Regional) were identified, and distinct microbial communities were associated with these air masses. Samples featured a great bacterial diversity with Protobacteria being the most abundant phylum, and Sphingomonas followed by Acidovorax, Acinetobacter and Stenotrophomonas the most abundant genera of the dataset. Bacterial genera including potential human and animal pathogens were more abundant in European and in Regional samples compared to Saharan samples; this stressed the relevance of anthropic impact on bacterial populations transported by air masses that cross densely populated areas. The principal aerosol chemical characteristics and the airborne bacterial communities were correlated by cluster analysis, similarity tests and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, explaining most of the variability observed. However, the strong correlation between bacterial community structure and air mass origin hampered the possibility to disentangle the effects of variations in bacterial populations and in dust provenance on variations in chemical variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Petroselli
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
| | - Elena Montalbani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianandrea La Porta
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Crocchianti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Beatrice Moroni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Casagrande
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisa Ceci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberta Selvaggi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Sebastiani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; CNR-ISP, Institute of Polar Science, National Research Council, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
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Franzetti A, Gandolfi I, Bestetti G, Padoa Schioppa E, Canedoli C, Brambilla D, Cappelletti D, Sebastiani B, Federici E, Papacchini M, Ambrosini R. Plant-microorganisms interaction promotes removal of air pollutants in Milan (Italy) urban area. J Hazard Mater 2020; 384:121021. [PMID: 31581017 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Plants and phyllosphere microorganisms may effectively contribute to reducing air pollution in cities through the adsorption and biodegradation of pollutants onto leaves. In this work, during all seasons, we sampled atmospheric particulate matter (PM10) and leaves of southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora and deodar cedar Cedrus deodara, two evergreen plant species widespread in the urban area of Milan where the study was carried out. We then quantified Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) both in PM10 and on leaves and used sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, shotgun metagenomics and qPCR analyses to investigate the microbial communities hosted by the sampled leaves. Taxonomic and functional profiles of epiphytic bacterial communities differed between host plant species and seasons and the microbial communities on leaves harboured genes involved in the degradation of hydrocarbons. Evidence collected in this work also suggested that the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms on evergreen leaves increased with the concentration of hydrocarbons when atmospheric pollutants were deposited at high concentration on leaves, and that the biodegradation on the phyllosphere can contribute to the removal of PAHs from the urban air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Franzetti
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Bestetti
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Emilio Padoa Schioppa
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Canedoli
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Diego Brambilla
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maddalena Papacchini
- INAIL, Settore Ricerca, Certificazione e Verifica, Dipartimento di Innovazione Tecnologica (DIT), Laboratorio di Biotecnologie, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Dept. of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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7
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Bruni E, Simonetti G, Bovone B, Casagrande C, Castellani F, Riccardi C, Pomata D, Di Filippo P, Federici E, Buiarelli F, Uccelletti D. Evaluation of Bioaerosol Bacterial Components of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Through an Integrate Approach and In Vivo Assessment. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 17:ijerph17010273. [PMID: 31906026 PMCID: PMC6981557 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater carries different pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms that can be dispersed in the surrounding environment. Workers who frequent sewage treatment plants can therefore be exposed to aerosols that contain a high concentration of potentially dangerous biological agents, or they can come into direct contact with contaminated material. This can lead to allergies, infections and occupational health-associated diseases. A characterization of biological risk assessment of bioaerosol exposure is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of an interdisciplinary method that combines chemical and biological approaches for the analysis of a bioaerosol derived from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) situated in Italy. Sampled filters were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS spectroscopy that searched for different chemical biomarkers of airborne microorganisms. The analytical quantification was compared to the biological cultural method that revealed an underrated microbial concentration. Furthermore, next generation sequencing analysis was used also to identify the uncultivable species that were not detected by the culture dependent-method. Moreover, the simple animal model Caenorhabditis elegans was used to evaluate the pathogenicity of two isolates—Acinetobacter iwoffii and Micrococcus luteus—that showed multidrug-resistance. This work represents a starting point for the development of a multidisciplinary approach for the validation of bioaerosol exposure on WWTP workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Bruni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Giulia Simonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Beatrice Bovone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Chiara Casagrande
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (E.F.)
| | - Federica Castellani
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Carmela Riccardi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Pomata
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Di Filippo
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (E.F.)
| | - Francesca Buiarelli
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Daniela Uccelletti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
- Correspondence:
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8
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Angelini P, Girometta C, Tirillini B, Moretti S, Covino S, Cipriani M, D’Ellena E, Angeles G, Federici E, Savino E, Cruciani G, Venanzoni R. A comparative study of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Inonotus hispidus fruit and their mycelia extracts. International Journal of Food Properties 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2019.1609497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Angelini
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carolina Girometta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science (DSTA), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Bruno Tirillini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Simone Moretti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Covino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Melania Cipriani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eleonora D’Ellena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Angeles
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elena Savino
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science (DSTA), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Venanzoni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Federici E, Petroselli C, Montalbani E, Casagrande C, Ceci E, Moroni B, La Porta G, Castellini S, Selvaggi R, Sebastiani B, Crocchianti S, Gandolfi I, Franzetti A, Cappelletti D. Airborne bacteria and persistent organic pollutants associated with an intense Saharan dust event in the Central Mediterranean. Sci Total Environ 2018; 645:401-410. [PMID: 30029119 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present a comprehensive taxonomic survey of the bacterial community and accurate quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with an intense Saharan dust advection, which impacted Central Mediterranean area in the whole 2014-2015 period. This work is part of an intensive field campaign at the EMEP regional background site of Monte Martano (Central Italy), considered well representative of long-range transport in the Central Mediterranean area. 22 samples have been characterized in their provenance region and have been considered for the chemical and biological characterization. The event described in the present paper was exceptionally intense at the sampling site allowing a detailed evaluation of the dust load on a regional scale, an estimation of the impact of PAH based on the Toxic Equivalency Factor methodology and a thorough characterization of the airborne bacterial fraction performed by High Throughput Sequencing approach. Afterward, we cultured viable bacteria and evaluated several enzymatic activities and conducted UV survival tests. Principal findings include: (i) the striking evidence that, during the Saharan dust event, a highly diverse and abundant bacterial community was associated with PAH concentrations higher than the yearly mean; (ii) the tangible presence of cultivable microbes; (iii) the proof that the isolates recovered from Saharan dust had the potential to be metabolically active and that almost all of them were able to persist following UV radiation exposure. Comparisons of results for the present case study with mean values for the 2014-2015 experimental campaign are presented. The bacterial community and chemical speciation associated with the Saharan dust advection were specific and very different from those associated with other air masses. The particular case of North-Western Atlantic, which represents one of the most typical advection route reaching the sampling site is discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Chiara Petroselli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Elena Montalbani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Chiara Casagrande
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Elisa Ceci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Beatrice Moroni
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Gianandrea La Porta
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Silvia Castellini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Roberta Selvaggi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Stefano Crocchianti
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy.
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Prete R, Tofalo R, Federici E, Ciarrocchi A, Cenci G, Corsetti A. Food-Associated Lactobacillus plantarum and Yeasts Inhibit the Genotoxic Effect of 4-Nitroquinoline-1-Oxide. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2349. [PMID: 29234315 PMCID: PMC5712336 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, representing the prevailing microbiota associated with different foods generally consumed without any cooking, were identified and characterized in vitro for some functional properties, such as acid-bile tolerance and antigenotoxic activity. In particular, 22 Lactobacillus plantarum strains and 14 yeasts were studied. The gastro-intestinal tract tolerance of all the strains was determined by exposing washed cell suspensions at 37°C to a simulated gastric juice (pH 2.0), containing pepsin (0.3% w/v) and to a simulated small intestinal juice (pH 8.0), containing pancreatin (1 mg mL-1) and bile extract (0.5%), thus monitoring changes in total viable count. In general, following a strain-dependent behavior, all the tested strains persisted alive after combined acid-bile challenge. Moreover, many strains showed high in vitro inhibitory activity against a model genotoxin, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), as determined by the short-term method, SOS-Chromotest. Interestingly, the supernatants from bacteria- or yeasts-genotoxin co-incubations exhibited a suppression on SOS-induction produced by 4-NQO on the tester strain Escherichia coli PQ37 (sfiA::lacZ) exceeding, in general, the value of 75%. The results highlight that food associated microorganisms may reach the gut in viable form and prevent genotoxin DNA damage in situ. Our experiments can contribute to elucidate the functional role of food-associated microorganisms general recognized as safe ingested with foods as a part of the diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Prete
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Rosanna Tofalo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Aurora Ciarrocchi
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cenci
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Aldo Corsetti
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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Federici E, Prete R, Lazzi C, Pellegrini N, Moretti M, Corsetti A, Cenci G. Bacterial Composition, Genotoxicity, and Cytotoxicity of Fecal Samples from Individuals Consuming Omnivorous or Vegetarian Diets. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:300. [PMID: 28293225 PMCID: PMC5328950 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study analyzes the composition of viable fecal bacteria and gut toxicology biomarkers of 29 healthy volunteers, who followed omnivorous, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, or vegan diets. In particular, the research was focused on the prevalence of some representative viable bacteria from the four dominant phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria) commonly present in human feces, in order to evaluate the relationship between microorganisms selected by the habitual dietary patterns and the potential risk due to fecal water (FW) genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, considered as biomarkers for cancer risk and protective food activity. The relative differences of viable bacteria among dietary groups were generally not statistically significant. However, compared to omnivores, lacto-ovo-vegetarians showed low levels of total anaerobes. Otherwise, vegans showed total anaerobes counts similar to those of omnivores, but with lower number of bifidobacteria and the highest levels of bacteria from the Bacteroides–Prevotella genera. FW genotoxicity of lacto-ovo-vegetarians resulted significantly lower either in relation to that of omnivores and vegans. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians also showed the lowest levels of cytotoxicity, while the highest were found for vegans. These results highlighted that lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet was particularly effective in a favorable modulation of microbial activity, thus contributing to a significant reduction of the genotoxic and cytotoxic risk in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberta Prete
- Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Teramo, Italy
| | - Camilla Lazzi
- Department of Food Science, University of Parma Parma, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Moretti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia Perugia, Italy
| | - Aldo Corsetti
- Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cenci
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia Perugia, Italy
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Bocci A, Sebastiani B, Trotta F, Federici E, Cenci G. In Vitro Inhibition of 4-Nitroquinoline-1-Oxide Genotoxicity by Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC501. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 25:1680-6. [DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1501.01086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Federici E, Rossi R, Fidati L, Paracucchi R, Scargetta S, Montalbani E, Franzetti A, La Porta G, Fagotti A, Simonceli F, Cenci G, Di Rosa I. Characterization of the Skin Microbiota in Italian Stream Frogs (Rana italica) Infected and Uninfected by a Cutaneous Parasitic Disease. Microbes Environ 2015; 30:262-9. [PMID: 26370166 PMCID: PMC4567565 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me15041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In human and wildlife populations, the natural microbiota plays an important role in health maintenance and the prevention of emerging infectious diseases. In amphibians, infectious diseases have been closely associated with population decline and extinction worldwide. Skin symbiont communities have been suggested as one of the factors driving the different susceptibilities of amphibians to diseases. The activity of the skin microbiota of amphibians against fungal pathogens, such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been examined extensively, whereas its protective role towards the cutaneous infectious diseases caused by Amphibiocystidium parasites has not yet been elucidated in detail. In the present study, we investigated, for the first time, the cutaneous microbiota of the Italian stream frog (Rana italica) and characterized the microbial assemblages of frogs uninfected and infected by Amphibiocystidium using the Illumina next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. A total of 629 different OTUs belonging to 16 different phyla were detected. Bacterial populations shared by all individuals represented only one fifth of all OTUs and were dominated by a small number of OTUs. Statistical analyses based on Bray-Curtis distances showed that uninfected and infected specimens had distinct cutaneous bacterial community structures. Phylotypes belonging to the genera Janthinobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium were more abundant, and sometimes almost exclusively present, in uninfected than in infected specimens. These bacterial populations, known to exhibit antifungal activity in amphibians, may also play a role in protection against cutaneous infectious diseases caused by Amphibiocystidium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia
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Dominici L, Villarini M, Trotta F, Federici E, Cenci G, Moretti M. Protective Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC501 in Mice Treated with PhIP. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 24:371-8. [DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1309.09072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Tocchi C, Federici E, Scargetta S, D’Annibale A, Petruccioli M. Dairy wastewater polluting load and treatment performances of an industrial three-cascade-reactor plant. Process Biochem 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2013.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Poggiogalle E, De Chiara S, Casciani M, Bonanni V, Ienca R, Federici E, Donini L. Malnutrition in elderly: Social and economic determinants. Eur Geriatr Med 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurger.2012.07.179] [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: 11/29/2022]
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Tocchi C, Federici E, Fidati L, Manzi R, Vinciguerra V, Petruccioli M. Aerobic treatment of dairy wastewater in an industrial three-reactor plant: effect of aeration regime on performances and on protozoan and bacterial communities. Water Res 2012; 46:3334-3344. [PMID: 22503428 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Revised: 03/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
An industrial three-reactor plant treating 45 m(3) d(-1) of dairy wastewater was monitored to investigate the effect of different aeration regimes on performance efficiency and to find relationships with bacterial and protozoan communities in the activated sludge. During the study, the plant was maintained at six different "on/off" cycles of the blower (45/15, 15/15, 15/45, 30/30, 30/45 and 30/60 min), providing between 30.2 and 90.6 kg O(2) d(-1), and the main chemical/biochemical parameters (COD, BOD, NH(4)(+), NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3-), etc.) were determined. When at least 45.4 kg O(2) d(-1) (30/45) were provided, COD removal efficiencies were always in the range 88-94% but decreased to about 70% under aeration regimes 15/45 and 30/60. Ammonium ion degradation performance was compromised only in the lowest aeration regime (15/45). Total number of protozoa and their species richness, and bacterial viable counts and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles were used to characterize the microbiota of the activated sludge. Cell abundances and community structures of protozoa and bacteria were very similar in the three aerated reactors but changed with the aeration regimes. In particular, the 15/45 and 30/60 regimes led to low protozoan diversity with prevalence of flagellates of the genus Trepomonas at the expense of the mobile and sessile forms and, thus, to a less efficient activated sludge as indicated by Sludge Biotic Index values (3 and 4.5 for the two regimes, respectively). The structure of the bacterial community strongly changed when the aeration regimes varied, as indicated by the low similarity values between the DGGE profiles. On the contrary, number of viable bacteria and values of the biodiversity index remained stable throughout the whole experimentation. Taken together, the results of the present study clearly indicate that aeration regime variations strongly influence the structure of both protozoan and bacterial communities and, above all, that a high biodiversity among protozoan populations in the activated sludge is prerequisite for high performances in dairy wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Tocchi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Federici E, Giubilei M, Santi G, Zanaroli G, Negroni A, Fava F, Petruccioli M, D'Annibale A. Bioaugmentation of a historically contaminated soil by polychlorinated biphenyls with Lentinus tigrinus. Microb Cell Fact 2012; 11:35. [PMID: 22443185 PMCID: PMC3331830 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several species belonging to the ecological group of white-rot basidiomycetes are able to bring about the remediation of matrices contaminated by a large variety of anthropic organic pollutants. Among them, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are characterized by a high recalcitrance due to both their low bioavailability and the inability of natural microbial communities to degrade them at significant rates and extents. Objective of this study was to assess the impact of a maize stalk-immobilized Lentinus tigrinus CBS 577.79 inoculant combined with soybean oil (SO), as a possible PCB-mobilizing agent, on the bioremediation and resident microbiota of an actual Aroclor 1260 historically contaminated soil under unsaturated solid-phase conditions. RESULTS Best overall PCB depletions (33.6 ± 0.3%) and dechlorination (23.2 ± 1.3%) were found after 60 d incubation in the absence of SO where, however, the fungus appeared to exert adverse effects on both the growth of biphenyl- and chlorobenzoate-degrading bacteria and the abundance of genes coding for both biphenyl dioxygenase (bph) and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. A significant (P < 0.001) linear inverse relationship between depletion yields and degree of chlorination was observed in both augmented and control microcosms in the absence of SO; conversely, this negative correlation was not evident in SO-amended microcosms where the additive inhibited the biodegradation of low chlorinated congeners. The presence of SO, in fact, resulted in lower abundances of both biphenyl-degrading bacteria and bph. CONCLUSIONS The PCB depletion extents obtained in the presence of L. tigrinus are by far higher than those reported in other remediation studies conducted under unsaturated solid phase conditions on actual site soils historically contaminated by Aroclor 1260. These results suggest that the bioaugmentation strategy with the maize stalk-immobilized mycelium of this species might be promising in the reclamation of PCB-contaminated soils. The addition of SO to matrices contaminated by technical PCB mixtures, such as Aroclor 1242 and Delor 103 and characterized by a large preponderance of low chlorinated congeners, might not be advisable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Federici E, Pepi M, Esposito A, Scargetta S, Fidati L, Gasperini S, Cenci G, Altieri R. Two-phase olive mill waste composting: community dynamics and functional role of the resident microbiota. Bioresour Technol 2011; 102:10965-72. [PMID: 21996482 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.09.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2011] [Revised: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In this study, physico-chemical modifications and community dynamics and functional role of the resident microbiota during composting of humid husk from a two-phase extraction system (TPOMW) were investigated. High mineralization and humification of carbon, low loss of nitrogen and complete degradation of polyphenols led to the waste biotransformation into a high-quality compost. Viable cell counts and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling of the 16S rRNA genes showed that the thermophilic phase was characterized by the strongest variations of cell number, the highest biodiversity and the most variable community profiles. The isolation of tannin-degrading bacteria (e.g. Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Kocuria palustris, Tetrathiobacter kashmirensis and Rhodococcus rhodochrous) suggested a role of this enzymatic activity during the process. Taken together, the results indicated that the composting process, particularly the thermophilic phase, was characterized by a rapid succession of specialized bacterial populations with key roles in the organic matter biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Italy.
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Trotta F, Caldini G, Dominici L, Federici E, Tofalo R, Schirone M, Corsetti A, Suzzi G, Cenci G. Food borne yeasts as DNA-bioprotective agents against model genotoxins. Int J Food Microbiol 2011; 153:275-80. [PMID: 22177230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 11/09/2011] [Accepted: 11/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Yeasts isolated from Italian beverages and foods (wine and cheeses) were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Debaryomyces hansenii by sequencing the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene and differentiated, at strain level, by microsatellite PCR fingerprinting and RAPD-PCR. All the strains showed antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by their ability to scavenge the free radical diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Furthermore, tested strains revealed high in vitro inhibitory activity against two model genotoxins, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), as showed by short-term methods with different target cells: SOS-Chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37 and Comet assay with HT-29 enterocytes. High inhibitory activity towards 4-NQO was associated with cell viability, while heat-inactivated cells showed a reduced antigenotoxic capability. Surprisingly, high inhibition of MNNG genotoxicity was observed even with heat-treated cells. Moreover, the strains able to inhibit the genotoxins induced some changes in the spectroscopic properties of the original compound. This result perfectly agrees with the information obtained by the two bioassays. Interestingly, strains characterized for antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties, also presented acid-bile tolerance, indicating that food autochthonous yeasts could be expected to reach gut in viable form and thus prevent genotoxin DNA damage in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Trotta
- Dipartimento Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, Università di Perugia, Via del Giochetto, I-06122 Perugia, Italy
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Federici E, Giubilei MA, Cajthaml T, Petruccioli M, D'Annibale A. Lentinus (Panus) tigrinus augmentation of a historically contaminated soil: matrix decontamination and structure and function of the resident bacterial community. J Hazard Mater 2011; 186:1263-1270. [PMID: 21177025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2010] [Revised: 11/29/2010] [Accepted: 11/30/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The ability of Lentinus tigrinus to grow and to degrade persistent aromatic hydrocarbons in aged contaminated soil was assessed in this study. L. tigrinus extensively colonized the soil; its degradation activity after 60 d incubation at 28°C, however, was mostly limited to dichloroaniline isomers, polychlorinated benzenes and diphenyl ether while the fungus was unable to deplete 9,10-anthracenedione and 7-H-benz[DE]anthracene-7-one which were the major soil contaminants. Although clean-up levels were limited, both density of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria and richness of the resident bacterial community in L. tigrinus microcosms (LtM) increased over time to a significantly larger extent than the respective amended incubation controls (1.9×10(9) CFU g(-1) vs. 1.0×10(9) CFU g(-1) and 37 vs. 16, respectively). Naphthalene- and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene copy numbers, however, decreased over time at a higher rate in LtM than in incubation controls likely due to a higher stimulation on heterotrophs than xenobiotics-degrading community members.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Federici
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto 06100 Perugia, Italy
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Federici E, Pepi M, Esposito A, Focardi S, Cenci G, Altieri A. Phylogenetic and functional characterization of tannin-degrading bacteria isolated during composting of olive mill waste. J Biotechnol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.09.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Sampedro I, Giubilei M, Cajthaml T, Federici E, Federici F, Petruccioli M, D'annibale A. Short-term impact of dry olive mill residue addition to soil on the resident microbiota. Bioresour Technol 2009; 100:6098-6106. [PMID: 19577466 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2009] [Revised: 06/08/2009] [Accepted: 06/09/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The short-term response of the resident soil bacterial and fungal communities to the addition of 5% (w/w) of either dry olive mill residue (DOR), DOR treated with Phlebia sp. (PTDOR) or DOR previously extracted with water (WEDOR) was investigated. As opposed to bacteria, the diversity of fungi increased upon the amendments as assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 18S rDNA. Over the first 30 days, phospholipid fatty acids analyses indicated a gradual decrease in the relative abundances of gram(+) bacteria (from 44.8% to 37.9%) and a concomitant increase of gram(-) bacteria (from 37.3% to 51.2%) in DOR-amended soil. A considerable increase in the fungal/bacterial ratio was observed after 7 days in DOR, WEDOR and PTDOR-amended soils with respect to the control (0.316, 0.165 and 0.265, respectively, vs. 0.011). The overall microbial activity was stimulated by the amendments as indicated by the higher activity levels of both dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolase. These results indicate that DOR at the application level examined is not toxic on soil microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Sampedro
- Dipartimento di Agrobiologia e Agrochimica, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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Leonardi V, Giubilei M, Federici E, Spaccapelo R, Šašek V, Novotny C, Petruccioli M, D'Annibale A. Mobilizing agents enhance fungal degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and affect diversity of indigenous bacteria in soil. Biotechnol Bioeng 2008; 101:273-85. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.21909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Quaratino D, Ciaffi M, Federici E, D’annibale A. Response surface methodology study of laccase production in Panus tigrinus liquid cultures. Biochem Eng J 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2007.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [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: 11/27/2022]
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26
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Locklin RM, Federici E, Espina B, Hulley PA, Russell RGG, Edwards CM. Selective targeting of death receptor 5 circumvents resistance of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:3219-28. [PMID: 18065493 PMCID: PMC2816033 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-07-0275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a tumor necrosis factor superfamily member, targets death receptors and selectively kills malignant cells while leaving normal cells unaffected. However, unlike most cancers, many osteosarcomas are resistant to TRAIL. To investigate this resistance, we characterized the response of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and hPOB-tert osteoblast-like cells to TRAIL and agonist antibodies to death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5). We found that MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and hPOB-tert osteoblast-like cells show no or very little response to TRAIL or a DR4 agonist, but MG-63 cells undergo apoptosis in response to a DR5 agonist. Analysis of TRAIL receptor expression showed that normal osteoblastic and osteosarcoma cells express a variety of TRAIL receptors but this does not correlate to TRAIL responsiveness. Production of the soluble decoy receptor osteoprotegerin also could not explain TRAIL resistance. We show that TRAIL activates the canonical caspase-dependent pathway, whereas treatment with cycloheximide increases the sensitivity of MG-63 cells to TRAIL and anti-DR5 and can also sensitize hPOB-tert cells to both agents. Proapoptotic and antiapoptotic protein expression does not significantly differ between MG-63 and hPOB-tert cells or change following treatment with TRAIL or anti-DR5. However, sequencing the death domain of DR4 in several osteoblast-like cells showed that MG-63 osteosarcoma cells are heterozygous for a dominant-negative mutation, which can confer TRAIL resistance. These results suggest that although the dominant-negative form of the receptor may block TRAIL-induced death, an agonist antibody to the active death receptor can override cellular defenses and thus provide a tailored approach to treat resistant osteosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Locklin
- Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, United Kingdom.
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27
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Federici E, Leonardi V, Giubilei MA, Quaratino D, Spaccapelo R, D'Annibale A, Petruccioli M. Addition of allochthonous fungi to a historically contaminated soil affects both remediation efficiency and bacterial diversity. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 77:203-11. [PMID: 17823794 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-007-1143-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 03/27/2007] [Revised: 06/06/2007] [Accepted: 07/26/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Botryosphaeria rhodina DABAC P82 and Pleurotus pulmonarius CBS 664.97 were tested for their ability to grow and to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons in an aged contaminated soil. To evaluate the impact of indigenous microflora on the overall process, incubations were performed on both fumigated and nonfumigated soils. Fungal colonization by B. rhodina was unexpectedly lower in the fumigated than in the nonfumigated soil while the growth of P. pulmonarius showed an opposite response. Degradation performances and detoxification by both fungi in the nonfumigated soil were markedly higher than those observed in the fumigated one. Heterotrophic bacterial counts in nonfumigated soil augmented with either B. rhodina or P. pulmonarius were significantly higher than those of the corresponding incubation control (6.7 +/- 0.3 x 10(8) and 8.35 +/- 0.6 x 10(8), respectively, vs 9.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(7)). Bacterial communities of both incubation controls and fungal-augmented soil were compared by numerical analysis of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and cloning and sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. Besides increasing overall diversity, fungal augmentation led to considerable qualitative differences with respect to the pristine soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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28
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D'Annibale A, Leonardi V, Federici E, Baldi F, Zecchini F, Petruccioli M. Leaching and microbial treatment of a soil contaminated by sulphide ore ashes and aromatic hydrocarbons. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 74:1135-44. [PMID: 17136366 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-006-0749-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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] [Received: 07/27/2006] [Revised: 10/23/2006] [Accepted: 11/05/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Contaminated soil from a historical industrial site and containing sulfide ore ashes and aromatic hydrocarbons underwent sequential leaching by 0.5 M citrate and microbial treatments. Heavy metals leaching was with the following efficiency scale: Cu (58.7%) > Pb (55.1%) > Zn (44.5%) > Cd (42.9%) > Cr (26.4%) > Ni (17.7%) > Co (14.0%) > As (12.4%) > Fe (5.3%) > Hg (1.1%) and was accompanied by concomitant removal of organic contaminants (about 13%). Leached metals were concentrated into an iron gel, produced during ferric citrate fermentation by the metal-resistant strain BAS-10 of Klebsiella oxytoca. Concomitantly, the acidic leached soil was bioaugmented with Allescheriella sp. DABAC 1, Stachybotrys sp. DABAC 3, Phlebia sp. DABAC 9, Pleurotus pulmonarius CBS 664.97, and Botryosphaeria rhodina DABAC P82. B. rhodina was most effective, leading to a significant depletion of the most abundant contaminants, including 7-H-benz[DE]anthracene-7-one, 9,10-anthracene dione and dichloroaniline isomers, and to a marked detoxification as assessed by the mortality test with the Collembola Folsomia candida Willem. The overall degradation activities of B. rhodina and P. pulmonarius appeared to be significantly enhanced by the preliminary metal removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro D'Annibale
- Dipartimento di Agrobiologia e Agrochimica, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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29
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Meschini S, Condello M, Marra M, Formisano G, Federici E, Arancia G. Autophagy-mediated chemosensitizing effect of the plant alkaloid voacamine on multidrug resistant cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2007; 21:197-203. [PMID: 17070665 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2006.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 04/02/2006] [Revised: 07/28/2006] [Accepted: 09/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In our previous studies, voacamine, a bisindolic alkaloid extracted from Peschiera fuchsiaefolia, was examined for its possible capability of enhancing the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on multidrug resistant (MDR) human osteosarcoma cells (U-2 OS-R). Voacamine induced in resistant cells a significant increase of drug retention and intranuclear location which became comparable to those observed in the parental sensitive counterparts (U-2 OS-WT). In the present study, the cell survival analysis and the electron microscopic observations confirmed the evident cytotoxicity of DOX on MDR cells after pre-treatment with the plant extract. Moreover, an increase of the reactivity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) with the monoclonal antibody UIC2, which recognizes an epitope of the drug transporter in its functional conformation, was revealed, demonstrating that voacamine is a substrate of P-gp, thus acting as a competitive antagonist of the cytotoxic agent. Moreover, to investigate if the enhancement of the cytotoxic effect induced by voacamine could be due to an apoptotic process, we carried out the analysis of cell morphology after Hoechst staining and the quantification of apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC assay. These evaluations showed a very low rate of apoptosis in U-2 OS-R cells treated with voacamine and DOX given in association. In addition, the combined treatment induced ultrastructural modifications suggestive of autophagic cell death. In particular, transmission electron microscopy observations revealed the presence of numerous lysosomes and the formation of a large number of autophagosomes containing residual digested material. In conclusion, these findings seem to indicate that voacamine is capable of enhancing the cytotoxic effect of DOX on MDR cells by favouring a lethal autophagic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Meschini
- Department of Technology and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
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30
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Meschini S, Marra M, Condello M, Calcabrini A, Federici E, Dupuis ML, Cianfriglia M, Arancia G. Voacamine, an alkaloid extracted from Peschiera fuchsiaefolia, inhibits P-glycoprotein action in multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Int J Oncol 2005; 27:1597-603. [PMID: 16273216] [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: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumor cells is generally associated with increased efflux of the cytotoxic compounds, due to the activation of mechanisms of intracellular transport and to the overexpression of surface proteins, such as P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which act as ATP-dependent molecular pumps. In a previous study, voacamine, a bisindolic alkaloid from Peschiera fuchsiaefolia, was examined for its possible capability of enhancing the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on resistant human osteosarcoma cells. The effects of voacamine on the cell survival and on accumulation of DOX were investigated on both the parental cell line, U-2 OS-WT, and its resistant counterpart, U-2 OS-R. A differential effect between sensitive and resistant cells on the intracellular DOX concentration and distribution was revealed. In particular, voacamine induced a significant increase of drug retention and intranuclear location in resistant cells. Moreover, the cell survival analysis and the electron microscopic observations revealed an enhancement of the cytotoxic effect of DOX induced by the plant extract. In the present study, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), recognizing different and specific structural and functional state of Pgp, was used. By flow cytometry and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, a dose-dependent increase of the reactivity of Pgp with MAb UIC2, which specifically recognizes an epitope of the drug transporter in its functional conformation, was detected in voacamine-treated U-2 OS-R cells. Conversely, the expression of the epitope recognized by MAb MC57 was downregulated while MAb MM4.17 did not change its binding level to treated and untreated MDR cells. These data suggest that the plant extract reacts with Pgp producing conformational changes with consequent epitope modulation. Taken together, our observations seem to demonstrate that voacamine is a substrate for Pgp and, therefore, interferes with the Pgp-mediated drug export, acting as a competitive antagonist of cytotoxic agents.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B/immunology
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B/metabolism
- Alkaloids/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/analysis
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cyclosporine/pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Doxorubicin/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Multiple/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Ibogaine/analogs & derivatives
- Ibogaine/pharmacology
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
- Osteosarcoma/metabolism
- Osteosarcoma/pathology
- Osteosarcoma/ultrastructure
- Plant Bark/chemistry
- Plant Extracts/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- S Meschini
- Department of Technology and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, I-00161 Rome, Italy
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31
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Montjovent MO, Burri N, Mark S, Federici E, Scaletta C, Zambelli PY, Hohlfeld P, Leyvraz PF, Applegate LL, Pioletti DP. Fetal bone cells for tissue engineering. Bone 2004; 35:1323-33. [PMID: 15589213 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2004.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2004] [Revised: 06/04/2004] [Accepted: 07/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We envision the use of human fetal bone cells for engineered regeneration of adult skeletal tissue. A description of their cellular function is then necessary. To our knowledge, there is no description of human primary fetal bone cells treated with differentiation factors. The characterization of fetal bone cells is particularly important as the pattern of secreted proteins from osteoblasts has been shown to change during aging. In the first part of this work, human primary fetal bone cells were compared to adult bone cells and mesenchymal stem cells for their ability to proliferate and to differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro. Cell proliferation, gene expression of bone markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization were analyzed during a time-course study. In the second part of this paper, bone fetal cells behavior exposed to osteogenic factors is further detailed. The doubling time of fetal bone cells was comparable to mesenchymal stem cells but significantly shorter than for adult bone cells. Gene expression of cbfa-1, ALP, alpha1 chain of type I collagen, and osteocalcin were upregulated in fetal bone cells after 12 days of treatment, with higher inductions than for adult and mesenchymal stem cells. The increase of ALP enzymatic activity was stronger for fetal than for adult bone cells reaching a maximum at day 10, but lower than for mesenchymal stem cells. Importantly, the mineralization process of bone fetal cells started earlier than adult bone and mesenchymal stem cells. Proliferation of fetal and adult bone cells was increased by dexamethasone, whereas 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 did not show any proliferative effect. Mineralization studies clearly demonstrated the presence of calcium deposits in the extracellular matrix of fetal bone cells. Nodule formation and calcification were strongly increased by the differentiation treatment, especially by dexamethasone. This study shows for the first time that human primary fetal bone cells could be of great interest for bone research, due to their fast growth rate and their ability to differentiate into mature osteoblasts. They represent an interesting and promising potential for therapeutic use in bone tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Olivier Montjovent
- Bone Bioengineering Group, Orthopedic Research Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland
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32
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Meschini S, Marra M, Calcabrini A, Federici E, Galeffi C, Arancia G. Voacamine, a bisindolic alkaloid from Peschiera fuchsiaefolia, enhances the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin on multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Int J Oncol 2004; 23:1505-13. [PMID: 14612920 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.23.6.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistance (MDR) is largely caused by the efflux of therapeutics from the tumor cell by means of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), resulting in reduced efficacy of the chemotherapy. In order to overcome MDR, substances, such as verapamil and cyclosporin A (CsA), were employed. As these P-gp modulating agents did not seem promising in clinical practice, new compounds with a low degree of undesirable side effects, were introduced. In this study, bisindolic alkaloid voacamine was examined for its possible capability of enhancing the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on drug resistant cells. Two different pairs of tumor cell lines were analyzed: the parental lymphoblastoid cell line CEM-WT and its MDR derivative CEM-R, the parental osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS-WT and its resistant counterpart U-2 OS-R. These cell lines were characterized for their morphological features by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and for the expression of the main drug transporters by flow cytometric analysis. The effects of voacamine on the cell survival and on both accumulation and efflux of DOX were then investigated. The intracellular distribution of DOX, given alone or in association with CsA or voacamine, was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. A differential effect of voacamine between sensitive and resistant cells on the intracellular DOX concentration and distribution was shown. In particular, voacamine induced a significant increase of drug retention and intranuclear location in resistant cells. The results of cell survival experiments revealed an enhancement of the cytotoxic effect of DOX induced by voacamine, confirmed by evident morphological changes observed by SEM. These findings suggest promising applications of this natural substance against MDR tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Meschini
- Laboratory of Ultrastructures, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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33
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Federici E, Touché A, Choquart S, Avanti O, Fay L, Offord E, Courtois D. High isoflavone content and estrogenic activity of 25 year-old Glycine max tissue cultures. Phytochemistry 2003; 64:717-24. [PMID: 13679094 DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9422(03)00379-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens which have been associated with several health benefits. In the present study, we report the production of isoflavones in a collection of 40 strains of soya cell cultures established in 1975. A large variability in the isoflavone composition was observed and high-producing strains, with an isoflavone content of up to 46.3 mg g(-1) dry wt., were found. In comparison with soybeans, many callus strains had a higher isoflavone concentration (10-40 times) and a different ratio of genistin to daidzin forms. The highest producing strain was transferred to liquid medium in an Erlenmeyer flask and in a 10 l stirred-tank bioreactor where high isoflavone content (7% dry wt.), concentration (880 mg l(-1)) and a maximum productivity estimated to 60 mg l(-1) d(-1) were obtained. We further studied the estrogenic activity of pure compounds compared to plant cell culture extracts in the estrogen-responsive human endometrial Ishikawa cell line. Estrogen was confirmed to be 1000-10,000 times more active than isoflavones. The estrogenic activity of the extracts correlated to their isoflavone content. The activity of the malonyl isoflavones, assessed here for the first time, was lower than the aglycones. Taken together, these results suggest that soya cell cultures can be used as an alternative source to soybeans to provide high concentrations of bioactive isoflavones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermanno Federici
- Department of Nutrition, Nestlé Research Center, P.O. Box 44, CH-1000, Lausanne, Switzerland
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34
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Abstract
The isolation, (13)C-NMR and CD data of two 7-epimer oxindole alkaloids, 10,11-dimethoxyisomitraphylline (1) and 10,11-dimethoxymitraphylline (2) from Cabucala cryptophlebia are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rasoanaivo
- Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées, Lab. de Phytochimie et de Pharmacologie Cellulaire et Parassitaire, B.P. 3833, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar
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35
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Ramanitrahasimbola D, Rasoanaivo P, Ratsimamanga-Urverg S, Federici E, Palazzino G, Galeffi C, Nicoletti M. Biological activities of the plant-derived bisindole voacamine with reference to malaria. Phytother Res 2001; 15:30-3. [PMID: 11180519 DOI: 10.1002/1099-1573(200102)15:1<30::aid-ptr680>3.0.co;2-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of voacamine was assessed in a 4-day test. It was shown to exhibit in vivo activity with 25.4% and 43.4% inhibition of parasitaemia with 2.5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. In synchronized cultures, it was found to act on trophozoite and schizont stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Using the FMC29 strain of Plasmodium falciparum as parasite and the isobologram curve as a method to assess interaction in drug combination, it was shown to lack any chloroquine-enhancing activity and its in vitro antiplasmodial effect was not potentiated by the chemosensitizer malagashanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ramanitrahasimbola
- Laboratoire de Phytochimie et de Pharmacologie Cellulaire et Parasitaire, Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées, B. P. 3833, 101-Antananarivo, Madagascar
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36
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Palazzino G, Galeffi C, Federici E, Delle Monache F, Cometa MF, Palmery M. Benzylbenzoate and norlignan glucosides from Curculigo pilosa: structural analysis and in vitro vascular activity. Phytochemistry 2000; 55:411-417. [PMID: 11140602 DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9422(00)00256-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
From the rhizomes of Curculigo pilosa, two benzylbenzoate diglucosides, piloside A and piloside B, and a glucosyl-fused norlignan, pilosidine, previously obtained only as the tetra-O-methyl derivative, were isolated. Pilosidine showed facilitating effect on adrenaline evoked contractions in rabbit aorta isolated preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Palazzino
- Laboratorio di Chimica del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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37
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Abstract
The tertiary and quaternary alkaloids isolated from the stem bark, root bark and seeds of Peschiera fuchsiaefolia are reported. The tertiary alkaloid crude extract from the stem bark was tested in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum on the basis of the antimalarial use of the plant. It showed good activity against both the D6 strain (IC50 = 495 ng/ml) and chloroquine-resistant W2 strain (IC50 = 817 ng/ml) and voacamine was the most active of the tested alkaloids (IC50 = 238 ng/ml for D6 and 290 ng/ml for W2). The tertiary alkaloid crude extract from the root bark of the same plant is more active than voacamine (IC50 = 179 ng/ml for D6 and 282 ng/ml for W2 strain), and is particularly rich in dimeric alkaloids (0.22% of the vegetable material).
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38
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39
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Bianchi S, Abdelwahab IF, Zwass A, Rettagliata F, Federici E, Ricci G. Expansile subchondral degenerative bone cyst secondary to osteoarthritis. Can Assoc Radiol J 1995; 46:308-10. [PMID: 7543809] [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: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A 53-year-old man known to have osteoarthritis of the left knee was examined because of a soft-tissue swelling overlying the pes anserinus tendon. Plain radiography and computed tomography revealed an expansile subchondral cyst of the proximal tibia. The cyst was multiloculated, had a sclerotic margin and an extraosseous soft-tissue component, and interrupted the cortex. Proof of a degenerative cyst was obtained by open biopsy. Such presentation in the knee is rare. Awareness of the possible aggressive behaviour of such degenerative cysts should help avoid confusion with neoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bianchi
- Department of Radiology, O.E. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
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40
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Riverso P, Launo C, Bonilauri M, Faraldi C, Federici E, Napoleone M, Palermo S, Alpa E. [Blood levels of cortisol and prolactin. Are they indices of the degree of protection against surgical stress?]. Minerva Anestesiol 1992; 58:1315-7. [PMID: 1294917] [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: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The paper evaluates the level of analgesic protection by assaying cortisol and prolactin levels in two groups of 20 patients each undergoing general anesthesia using two different techniques: TIVA with propofol and fentanyl, and BPN-nitrous oxide. The results showed that TIVA caused a very slight increase in residue cortisol which was, however, within normal limits. With BPN-nitrous oxide anesthesia there was a greater increase in cortisol, reaching a statistically significant level in blood collected one hour after the end of surgery. With regard to prolactin, there was a marked increase in this hormone using both techniques although in percentage terms this increase was lower in TIVA. These results show that plasma prolactin is a more sensitive test than cortisol assay in evaluating antalgic protection and that, of the two anesthetic techniques used, the most protective appears to be TIVA with propofol and fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Riverso
- Ospedale Saint Charles, Bordighera (Imperia), Regione Liguria, USL n. 1
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41
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Santoni N, Fidecicchi S, Settanni R, Santoni LM, Federici E, Gregorini G, Bonarelli R, Cerasoli G, Bologna P. [The heterotopic autograft of spleen fragments following splenectomy for trauma in the healthy subject]. MINERVA CHIR 1991; 46:741-5. [PMID: 1961602] [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: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Authors report their experience on self-grafting of the spleen on 3 patients, among which a 9-year-old child. The surgical method is easy and quick and in their opinion it has given satisfactory results. In fact, basing themselves on the computation of the platelets values close to normality have been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Santoni
- II Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, USL n. 10-Jesi, Ancona
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42
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Launo C, Palermo S, Gobbi GC, Fumagalli C, Federici E, Moroni G. [Methylprednisolone sodium succinate in the profile of respiratory complications after thoracic surgical intervention]. Minerva Anestesiol 1990; 56:219-23. [PMID: 2280848] [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: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) was compared in a randomized double blind study to placebo in the prevention of respiratory complications in 40 patients submitted to thoracic surgery. The results indicate that the patients who received MPSS showed a lower incidence of respiratory complications, adverse reactions, chest pain and metabolic acidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Launo
- Instituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi di Genova
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43
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Federici E, De Nuccio C. [Mandibular dysfunction syndrome: relation to orthodontics]. Mondo Ortod 1989; 14:145-56. [PMID: 2637404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The authors, on the basis of a neuro-muscular and occlusal examination of the mandibular dysfunctional syndrome, take in account the malocclusions which may favour the uprisal of such a syndrome. The authors then describe their own therapeutic approach through the use of an occlusal splint which takes advantage of the periodontium started inhibitory reflexes.
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Federici E. [Mandibular dysfunction syndrome: diagnosis and therapy]. Attual Dent 1988; 4:8-10, 12-8. [PMID: 3250601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Federici E. [Therapy of mandibular dysfunction syndrome in correlation to etiopathogenesis]. Attual Dent 1986; 2:25-7. [PMID: 3471231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Gagliardi L, Amato A, Basili A, Cavazzutti G, Federici E, Chimenti F, Casanova MG, Gattavecchia E, Tonelli D. Determination of preservatives in cosmetic products by ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. III. J Chromatogr A 1985; 348:321-6. [PMID: 4086642 DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9673(01)92470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Federici E. [Mandibular movements]. Mondo Odontostomatol 1979; 21:33-49. [PMID: 297822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Santoni N, Bini PL, Federici E, Fidecicchi S. [Occlusion of multiple jejunal atresia. An emergency case in neonatal surgery]. Minerva Med 1979; 70:3133-6. [PMID: 114892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Santoni N, Federici E, Fidecicchi S, Sabbatini L. [Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in some neoplasms of the colon. Duodeno-colic fistula caused by carcinoma of the right colon]. Minerva Med 1979; 70:1437-42. [PMID: 450280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Santoni N, Federici E, Fidecicchi S. [Diastatic perforation of the cecum caused by neoplasms of the transverse colon]. Minerva Med 1979; 70:1487-92. [PMID: 450287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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