Suppressing gain-of-function proteins via CRISPR/Cas9 system in SCA1 cells.

SCAs are autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by a gain-of-function protein with toxic activities, containing an expanded polyQ tract in the coding region. There are no treatments available to delay the onset, stop or slow down the progression of these pathologies. In this work we focus our attention on SCA1 which is one of the most common genotypes circulating in Italy.

Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from food and wild animal carcasses in Italy.

Following the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 in food-producing animals, both livestock and wildlife, and derived products, are considered potential sources of MRSA in humans. There is a paucity of data on MRSA in foods in Italy, and the data regarding wild animals are particularly scarce. A total of 2162 food samples collected during official monitoring activities in 2008 were analyzed for the detection of S.

Molecular characterization of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in a northern Italian hospital.

Clostridium difficile is responsible for more than 90 % of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. The most important virulence factors are two toxins called enterotoxin A and cytotoxin B; some C. difficile strains contain the C.

The effect of inappropriate therapy on bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria.

Objective: To describe the impact of empiric appropriate treatment and the risk factors associated with mortality in patients with bacteremia by E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P.

Use of a T-cell-based test for detection of tuberculosis infection among immunocompromised patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the T-SPOT.TB test, a T-cell-based test, with the tuberculin skin test (TST) in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. The study was carried out in 138 immunosuppressed haematology patients who had been nosocomially exposed to a case of smear-positive TB.