In vitro effect of temperature on the conformational structure and collagen binding of SdrF, a Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesin.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the leading etiologic agent of device-related infections. S. epidermidis is able to bind, by means of the adhesins of its cell wall, the host matrix proteins filming the artificial surfaces.

Quantitative assessment of the relationship between cellular morphodynamics and signaling events by stochastic analysis of fluorescent images.

Cell motility involves a number of strategies that cells use in order to seek nutrients, escape danger, and fulfill morphogenetic roles. Here we present a methodology to quantify morphological changes and their relationship with signaling events from time-lapse imaging microscopy experiments, in order to characterize physiological and pathological processes. To this aim, the stationary spatial pattern of signaling events is determined through an intracellular fluorescent probe, and it is related with the frequency and entity of morphodynamic events, which are in turn quantified through a stochastic approach: two pseudoimages are obtained from a time series of moving cells that describe the probability that a pixel belongs to the cell, and the probability that a pixel is subject to a dynamic event.

Time evolution of noise induced oxidation in outer hair cells: role of NAD(P)H and plasma membrane fluidity.

Background: Noise exposure impairs outer hair cells (OHCs). The common basis for OHC dysfunction and loss by acoustic over-stimulation is represented by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overload that may affect the membrane structural organization through generation of lipid peroxidation.

Methods: Here we investigated in OHC different functional zones the mechanisms linking metabolic functional state (NAD(P)H intracellular distribution) to the generation of lipid peroxides and to the physical state of membranes by two photon fluorescence microscopy.

In vitro interaction between alginate lyase and amphotericin B against Aspergillus fumigatus biofilm determined by different methods.

Aspergillus fumigatus biofilms represent a problematic clinical entity, especially because of their recalcitrance to antifungal drugs, which poses a number of therapeutic implications for invasive aspergillosis, the most difficult-to-treat Aspergillus-related disease. While the antibiofilm activities of amphotericin B (AMB) deoxycholate and its lipid formulations (e.g.

Epithelial-stromal interactions in human breast cancer: effects on adhesion, plasma membrane fluidity and migration speed and directness.

Interactions occurring between malignant cells and the stromal microenvironment heavily influence tumor progression. We investigated whether this cross-talk affects some molecular and functional aspects specifically correlated with the invasive phenotype of breast tumor cells (i.e.