Beneficial effects of recombinant CER-001 high-density lipoprotein infusion in sepsis: results from a bench to bedside translational research project.

Background: Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated immune response and metabolic alterations, including decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. HDL exhibits beneficial properties, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) scavenging, exerting anti-inflammatory effects and providing endothelial protection. We investigated the effects of CER-001, an engineered HDL-mimetic, in a swine model of LPS-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and a Phase 2a clinical trial, aiming to better understand its molecular basis in systemic inflammation and renal function.

Elevated levels of IL-6 in IgA nephropathy patients are induced by an epigenetically driven mechanism modulated by viral and bacterial RNA.

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most frequent primary glomerulonephritis and the role of IL-6 in pathogenesis is becoming increasingly important. A recent whole genome DNA methylation screening in IgAN patients identified a hypermethylated region comprising the non-coding RNA Vault RNA 2-1 (VTRNA2-1) that could explain the high IL-6 levels.

Methods: The pathway leading to IL-6 secretion controlled by VTRNA2-1, PKR, and CREB was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy subjects (HS), IgAN patients, transplanted patients with or without IgAN.

The Human Virome and Its Crosslink with Glomerulonephritis and IgA Nephropathy.

The prokaryotic, viral, fungal, and parasitic microbiome exists in a highly intricate connection with the human host. In addition to eukaryotic viruses, due to the existence of various host bacteria, phages are widely spread throughout the human body. However, it is now evident that some viral community states, as opposed to others, are indicative of health and might be linked to undesirable outcomes for the human host.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Reducing Uremic Toxins Accumulation in Kidney Disease: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives.

During the past decades, the gut microbiome emerged as a key player in kidney disease. Dysbiosis-related uremic toxins together with pro-inflammatory mediators are the main factors in a deteriorating kidney function. The toxicity of uremic compounds has been well-documented in a plethora of pathophysiological mechanisms in kidney disease, such as cardiovascular injury (CVI), metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation.

Deoxynivalenol and T-2 Toxin as Major Concerns in Durum Wheat from Italy.

Fusarium Head Blight is a devastating disease of wheat caused by a complex of species producing a wide range of mycotoxins. species occurrence is variable in different geographical areas and subjected to a continuous evolution in their distribution. A total of 141 durum wheat field samples were collected in different regions of Italy in three years, and analyzed for species and related mycotoxin occurrence.

Obesity-Related Chronic Kidney Disease: Principal Mechanisms and New Approaches in Nutritional Management.

Obesity is the epidemic of our era and its incidence is supposed to increase by more than 30% by 2030. It is commonly defined as a chronic and metabolic disease with an excessive accumulation of body fat in relation to fat-free mass, both in terms of quantity and distribution at specific points on the body. The effects of obesity have an important impact on different clinical areas, particularly endocrinology, cardiology, and nephrology.

Fumonisin and Beauvericin Chemotypes and Genotypes of the Sister Species and .

and are common maize pathogens that produce mycotoxins and cause plant disease. The ability of these species to produce beauvericin and fumonisin mycotoxins is not settled, as reports of toxin production are not concordant. Our objective was to clarify this situation by determining both the chemotypes and genotypes for strains from both species.

Aflatoxin B-Adsorbing Capability of Mycelium: Efficiency and Modeling of the Process.

Aflatoxin B (AfB) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that contaminates food and feed worldwide. We determined the AfB-adsorption capability of non-viable mycelium, an edible fungus, as a potential means for removal of AfB from contaminated solutions. Lyophilized mycelium was produced and made enzymatically inert by sterilization at high temperatures.

Fungal mycobiota and mycotoxin risk for traditional artisan Italian cave cheese.

Cave cheese is a surface mold-ripened variety of cheese produced also in South of Italy, exploiting fungal population naturally occurring on cave walls, as part of secondary microbiota for ripening. In this study, 148 fungal strains were isolated from 22 independent cave cheese samples, collected in 13 Italian geographical locations, mostly in Apulian area. DNA-based identification showed the presence of twenty-four fungal species in the outer part of the cheese ripened in caves.

Bioremediation of aflatoxin B1-contaminated maize by king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii).

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most harmful mycotoxin that occurs as natural contaminant of agricultural commodities, particularly maize. Practical solutions for detoxification of contaminated staples and reduction of agricultural wastes are scarce. We investigated the capability of the white-rot and edible fungus Plerotus eryngii (king oyster mushroom) to degrade AFB1 both in vitro and in a laboratory-scale mushroom cultivation, using a substrate similar to that routinely used in mushroom farms.

Liposome-modified titanium surface: A strategy to locally deliver bioactive molecules.

Titanium and its alloys are widely employed materials for implants in orthopedic or dental surgery due to their mechanical properties, resistance to corrosion and osseointegration capability. However adverse reactions at the tissue/implant interface may occur, which limit the success of the osseointegration process. Therefore, different strategies have to be used to overcome these drawbacks.

Enniatin and Beauvericin Biosynthesis in Fusarium Species: Production Profiles and Structural Determinant Prediction.

Members of the fungal genus can produce numerous secondary metabolites, including the nonribosomal mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENNs). Both mycotoxins are synthesized by the multifunctional enzyme enniatin synthetase (ESYN1) that contains both peptide synthetase and S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent -methyltransferase activities. Several species can produce ENNs, BEA or both, but the mechanism(s) enabling these differential metabolic profiles is unknown.

Aflatoxin B₁ and M₁ Degradation by Lac2 from Pleurotus pulmonarius and Redox Mediators.

Laccases (LCs) are multicopper oxidases that find application as versatile biocatalysts for the green bioremediation of environmental pollutants and xenobiotics. In this study we elucidate the degrading activity of Lac2 pure enzyme form Pleurotus pulmonarius towards aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and M₁ (AFM₁). LC enzyme was purified using three chromatographic steps and identified as Lac2 through zymogram and LC-MS/MS.