Publications by authors named "R G Mazzolini"
Microbes Infect
July 2024
Article Synopsis
- A non-pathogenic Mycoplasma pneumoniae is being used to create live biotherapeutic products for treating respiratory diseases, but there are concerns about its connection to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after infection.
- Research identified galactolipids, particularly galactocerebroside (GalCer), as likely triggers for autoimmune responses linked to GBS, leading scientists to engineer strains without genes for galactolipid biosynthesis.
- Some modified strains showed reduced antibody recognition from GBS patients; however, other glycolipids beyond GalCer were also found to influence this recognition, prompting discussions on selecting safe Mycoplasma strains for potential therapeutic use.
Article Synopsis
- ProTInSeq is a technique for identifying open reading frames (ORFs) in proteins by utilizing transposon insertions that signal when they fall within a protein-coding region.
- In Mycoplasma pneumoniae, ProTInSeq successfully identifies 83% of known proteins and discovers 158 previously unannotated proteins, including small ORF-encoded proteins (SEPs).
- This method enhances the understanding of proteomes by offering insights into translational noise and helps to expand the known SEP count from 27 to 329, with a significant portion predicted to have antimicrobial properties.
Article Synopsis
- * Deleting Snail1 in CAFs reduced their ability to polarize bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMΦs) towards an immunosuppressive phenotype, compared to those exposed to active CAFs, which inhibited macrophage cytotoxicity.
- * Active CAFs also promoted gene expressions related to immunosuppression in macrophages and the activation of regulatory T cells (T-regs), suggesting that CAFs in the tumor microenvironment hinder anti-tumor immunity. *
Nat Biotechnol
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- Engineered live bacteria, specifically a modified version of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, show promise in treating lung infections like ventilator-associated pneumonia, which often has high mortality rates.
- The researchers validated the safety of this modified bacterium in mice and enhanced its function by adding genes that target harmful bacteria and biofilms.
- Results indicate that the engineered strain effectively combats acute lung infections and can break down biofilms in medical devices, possibly improving treatment alongside existing antibiotics.
