lipopeptides as vaccine adjuvants: a new role for these versatile carriers.

The design of subunit vaccines requires new adjuvant systems. We designed and synthesized new lipopeptides (cysteine-based) of low molecular weight with different hydrophobic chains that dimerize becoming lipopeptides. They were characterized and their adjuvant capacity was tested in mice by the inoculation of a protein antigen formulated with the lipopeptides, with and without the addition of CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides.

Activity-Structure Study on the Peptide Fraction of AG2: a Potent In Vitro Transfection Agent.

Gemini-based amphiphiles are candidates for biomedical applications. In fact, most of the gemini compounds described in the literature have been prepared to be used as new synthetic vectors in gene transfection. Our group carried out an activity-structure study starting from the structure of the gemini [AG2-C], which is an effective in vitro transfection reagent.

Decomposition Techniques for Multilayer Perceptron Training.

In this paper, we consider the learning problem of multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) formulated as the problem of minimizing a smooth error function. As well known, the learning problem of MLPs can be a difficult nonlinear nonconvex optimization problem. Typical difficulties can be the presence of extensive flat regions and steep sided valleys in the error surface, and the possible large number of training data and of free network parameters.

Convergent on-line algorithms for supervised learning in neural networks.

In this paper we define on-line algorithms for neural-network training, based on the construction of multiple copies of the network, which are trained by employing different data blocks. It is shown that suitable training algorithms can be defined, in a way that the disagreement between the different copies of the network is asymptotically reduced, and convergence toward stationary points of the global error function can be guaranteed. Relevant features of the proposed approach are that the learning rate must be not necessarily forced to zero and that real-time learning is permitted.

Decreased protein tyrosine phosphorylation and membrane fluidity in spermatozoa from infertile men with varicocele.

Varicocele is a prevalent pathology among infertile men. The mechanisms linking this condition to infertility, however, are poorly understood. Our previous work showed a relationship between sperm functional quality and the ability of spermatozoa to respond to capacitating conditions with increased membrane fluidity and protein tyrosine phosphorylation.