Understanding the contagiousness of Covid-19 strains: A geometric approach.

Protein-protein interaction occurs on surface patches with some degree of complementary geometric and chemical features. Building on this understanding, this study endeavors to characterize the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the morphological and geometrical levels in its Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. In particular, the affinity between different SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and the ACE2 receptor present on the membrane of the human respiratory system cells is investigated.

A new method for protein characterization and classification using geometrical features for 3D face analysis: An example of tubulin structures.

This article reports on the results of research aimed to translate biometric 3D face recognition concepts and algorithms into the field of protein biophysics in order to precisely and rapidly classify morphological features of protein surfaces. Both human faces and protein surfaces are free-forms and some descriptors used in differential geometry can be used to describe them applying the principles of feature extraction developed for computer vision and pattern recognition. The first part of this study focused on building the protein dataset using a simulation tool and performing feature extraction using novel geometrical descriptors.

Effect of Fermentation with Different Lactic Acid Bacteria Starter Cultures on Biogenic Amine Content and Ripening Patterns in Dry Fermented Sausages.

In the present study, two different diameter (small and large) Milano-type dry fermented sausages were industrially produced to evaluate the effect of two different LAB starter cultures ( and ) on biogenic amines (BAs) content, proteolysis, and lipolysis taking place during both fermentation and ripening. With regard to BAs, putrescine and tyramine were mostly found in fermented sausages having large diameter and those inoculated with / exhibited significantly higher accumulation of these compounds. Overall, the small size sausages showed a more pronounced proteolysis taking place during processing.

Phenotypic Diversity of Strains.

is a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species highly adapted to the meat environment. For this reason, selected strains are often used as starter culture in the production of fermented sausages, especially in Mediterranean countries. It often represents the dominant species in these products and can maintain its viability during all the ripening period, which can take also some months.

Does the dry cow treatment with monensin controlled release capsule affect Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production?

We investigated the effects of monensin controlled-release capsule (CRC; Kexxtone, Eli Lilly and Company Ltd., Indianapolis, IN) preventative ketosis treatment on the traditional cheesemaking process as well as the final characteristics of Parmigiano Reggiano (PR) cheese. The use of this prevention product to reduce the incidence of ketosis in transition dairy cows was approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2013.

Development and implementation of multilocus sequence typing to study the diversity of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus in Italian cheeses.

The yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus possesses advantageous traits like rapid growth, GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status and thermotolerance that make it very suitable for diverse biotechnological applications. Although physiological studies demonstrate wide phenotypic variation within the species, there is only limited information available on the genetic diversity of K. marxianus.

Survival of Spoilage and Pathogenic Microorganisms on Cardboard and Plastic Packaging Materials.

The aim of this work was to study the interaction of corrugated and plastic materials with pathogenic and spoiling microorganisms frequently associated to fresh produce. The effect of the two packaging materials on the survival during the storage of microorganisms belonging to the species , , , , , , and was studied through traditional plate counting and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained showed that cardboard materials, if correctly stored, reduced the potential of packaging to cross-contaminate food due to a faster viability loss by spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms compared to the plastic ones.

Chromosome arrangement, differentiation of growth kinetics and volatile molecule profiles in Kluyveromyces marxianus strains from Italian cheeses.

Thirty-nine strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus from Pecorino di Farindola cheese in comparison with 3 strains from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, 1 from fermented milk, 3 from cow whey and two type strains K. marxianus CBS 834(T) and Kluyveromyces lactis CBS 683(T) were tested for genetic and metabolic characteristics. Intraspecific diversity of chromosome arrangements was evaluated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis.

Exploiting light chains for the scalable generation and platform purification of native human bispecific IgG.

Bispecific antibodies enable unique therapeutic approaches but it remains a challenge to produce them at the industrial scale, and the modifications introduced to achieve bispecificity often have an impact on stability and risk of immunogenicity. Here we describe a fully human bispecific IgG devoid of any modification, which can be produced at the industrial scale, using a platform process. This format, referred to as a κλ-body, is assembled by co-expressing one heavy chain and two different light chains, one κ and one λ.

CT, MRI and DWI Features of a Solid Organizing Hepatic Abscess.

Solid organizing hepatic abscess is a rare form of focal infection, which needs differentiation from benign and malignant solid masses. We report a case of a 30-year-old man with a solid organizing hepatic abscess, diagnosed by imaging and ex juvantibus criteria. CT and MRI findings are presented and role of DWI is outlined.

A procedure for the sensory evaluation of Salama da sugo, a typical fermented sausage produced in the Emilia Romagna Region, Italy.

Background: Salama da sugo is a fermented sausage from the Ferrara tradition (Italy, Emilia-Romagna region), subjected to a long ripening period (4-6 months) and characterised by a high content of wine and spices in the mixture. It can be consumed after cooking and it is served with its sugo, i.e.

Prognostic significance of AMPK activation in advanced stage colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab.

Background: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a central role in cellular energy sensing and is activated in preclinical tumour models following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. The possible predictive or prognostic role of AMPK status in cancer patients treated with anti-VEGF drugs has not been investigated so far.

Methods: Expression of components of the AMPK pathway including phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK), phosphorylated acetyl-Coa carboxylase (pACC) and liver kinase B1 (LKB1) was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 48 colorectal cancers treated with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab.

Effect of wine addition on microbiological characteristics, volatile molecule profiles and biogenic amine contents in fermented sausages.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of wine addition during manufacturing of dry fermented sausages, in terms of safety aspects (biogenic amine accumulation), aroma profile and sensory characteristics. Three batches of salami were produced: without wine addition and with 7.5% or 15% (v/w) of white wine.

Long-term results of excimer laser procedure to correct astigmatic refractive errors.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term efficacy, safety, stability, and predictability of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) as treatment of astigmatism.

Material/methods: Ninety-four eyes of 52 patients, treated with PRK for compound myopic astigmatism, compound hyperopic astigmatism, and mixed astigmatism were studied during a 36-month period. Main outcome measures were uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity (UCVA, BCVA), refraction, and corneal transparency.

Effect of a sublethal high-pressure homogenization treatment on the fatty acid membrane composition of probiotic lactobacilli.

Unlabelled: High-pressure homogenization (HPH) has been proposed to be applied directly to lactic acid bacterial cells at sublethal levels to enhance some functional properties. As the principal target of HPH are the cell surface envelope structures, the aim of this work was to study the effect of a HPH treatment, applied at 50 MPa, on cell membrane stress responses of already-known functional strains, isolated from Argentinean products. Specifically, the membrane fatty acid composition of cells before and after the sublethal treatment was investigated, and the results showed that plasma membranes, their level of unsaturation and their composition are involved in response mechanisms adopted by microbial cells when subjected to a sublethal HPH stress.

Effects of a(w) packaging time and atmosphere composition on aroma profile, biogenic amine content and microbiological features of dry fermented sausages.

The aim was to evaluate the effects of different water contents (corresponding to a(w) 0.940, 0.914, 0.

Contact lens wearing and chronic cigarette smoking positively correlate with TGF-β1 and VEGF tear levels and impaired corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: To study the correlation of gender, contact lens (CL) wearing, chronic drinking and chronic smoking with wound healing cytokine levels and corneal recovery after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight age-matched patients (180 eyes) undergoing PRK were enrolled. PDGF, EGF, VEGF, HGF and TGF-β(1) protein levels were measured in tears by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay either preoperatively or 2, 7 and 15 days after PRK.

One year outcome of manual alcohol-assisted removal of Salzmann's nodular degeneration.

Background: To analyze visual and refractive modifications and corneal topography changes in a patient treated for bilateral advanced Salzmann's nodular degeneration (SND).

Methods: A forty-three-year-old man with bilateral advanced SND underwent manual, alcohol-assisted removal of the altered layer. Visual acuity, refraction, corneal topography and corneal aberrations were examined before and after the treatment after 7 days and 1, 6 and 12 months.

Comparison of Goldmann applanation tonometry and dynamic contour tonometry in the measurement of intraocular pressure in eyes with different corneal thicknesses.

Purpose: To compare Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) in the evaluation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with different corneal thicknesses.

Methods: GAT and DCT were performed in 70 eyes of 35 subjects aged between 21 and 59 years. Thirty eyes had normal, nonoperated corneas and 40 eyes had reduced central corneal thickness (CCT) following myopic photorefractive keratectomy.

Antifungal activity of lactobacilli isolated from salami.

Sixty-five strains of lactobacilli isolated from salami were tested for their antifungal activity in early and late phases of growth. Ten strains showed inhibitory activity in the early phase of growth towards moulds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. The active compounds identified were phenyl-lactate and hydroxy-phenyl-lactate.

Scaling-up in industrial winemaking using low electric current as an alternative to sulfur dioxide addition.

Aims: To better understand the outcome of employing low electric current (LEC) technology as a new preservation and alternative in wine technology, and to contribute to its development. It is used in industrial-scale winemaking with commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) during the grape must fermentation.

Methods And Results: LEC (200 mA, time 16 days) was applied to fresh grape must as an alternative method to the usual sulfur dioxide addition used in the industrial process; two tanks, each 30,000 l, were employed for parallel fermentations.

One-year clinical results of photorefractive keratectomy with a solid-state laser for refractive surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the safety, efficacy, and stability of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) performed with a newly developed solid-state laser after 1-year follow-up.

Methods: The all-solid-state, Q-switched, frequency-shifted laser (LaserSoft; Katana Technologies, Berlin, Germany) with a Gaussian spot diameter of 0.2 mm and repetition rate of 1 kHz was used.

Bile salt and acid tolerance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

This study aimed to compare phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains isolated at the end of the ripening of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and to investigate an important prerequisite of probiotic interest, such as the capability to survive at low pH and in presence of bile salts. The use of API 50 CH, RAPD-PCR analysis and species-specific PCR allowed to ascertain the identity of 63 L. rhamnosus strains.