Comparison of Two RNA Extraction Methods for the Molecular Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 is essential in order to restrict the spread of the pandemic, and different approaches for SARS-CoV-2 testing have been proposed as cost-effective and less time-consuming alternatives. For virus detection, the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique is still the "gold standard" for accuracy and reliability, but its performance is affected by the efficiency of nucleic acid extraction methods.

Objective: In order to improve the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic workflow, we compared a "standard" commercially available kit, based on viral RNA extraction from human swab samples by magnetic beads, with its technological evolution.

Lymphoblastoid cell lines as a model to understand amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease mechanisms.

In the past, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been considered a 'neurocentric' disease; however, new evidence suggests that it should instead be looked at from a 'multisystemic' or 'non-neurocentric' point of view. From 2006, we focused on the study of non-neural cells: ALS patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Here, we characterize LCLs of sporadic ALS (sALS) and patients carrying , and mutations to identify an ALS biologically relevant molecular signature, and determine whether and how mutations differentially affect ALS-linked pathways.