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Innovative Strategies for Preventing Escherichia Coli Contamination: Challenges and Recent Advances in Food Safety
No full textEscherichia coli (E. coli) is a major foodborne pathogen, contributing to widespread health concerns and numerous foodborne illness incidents globally. This review examines the emergence and impact of pathogenic E. coli strains, particularly Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which is responsible for severe gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal cramps, and vomiting. In some cases, particularly with strains like E. coli O157:H7, infections can escalate into Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition characterized by acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia. Key sources of contamination, such as meat, dairy, and fresh produce, are analyzed, considering how improper handling, cross-contamination, and inadequate temperature control contribute to the spread of this pathogen. Prevention strategies, including thermal and non-thermal treatments, antibiotics, bacteriocins, essential oils, and bacteriophages, are discussed. Additionally, the growing challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in E. coli strains is considered, as well as the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Finally, this review explores advancements in food safety regulations and surveillance systems, emphasizing the importance of harmonized testing methods to minimize risks. Based on the evidence given by the scientific literature, food safety practices need to be innovated to mitigate E. coli contamination, particularly to prevent severe health outcomes such as HUS
Data Security in the Age of Marketing: Safeguarding Customer Information and Compliance
No full textThis chapter introduces the specifics and intricacies of data security in marketing applications, more specifically aiming towards an organization's responsibility and need to project their own and their customer's data. From identifying and understanding vulnerabilities to finding effective and robust ways to mitigate them, this chapter analyses all the variables and components when it comes to data security. With concepts such as data integrity, data confidentiality, and data availability, this chapter explains the scope and gist of data security. These concepts are also called the pillars of data security. Additionally, vulnerabilities originating from both, internal and external attacks, are mentioned and discussed in this chapter. Mitigation and prevention strategies are discussed as well in this chapter to give a clear base for making a secure and robust data security system. By using advanced technologies for protecting the data, various methods of data storage, authorization, and authentication, an organization can combat the issue of data security. Furthermore, this chapter discusses the legality and legal areas of digital security in India, the United States, and the European Union (EU), which helps in understanding the regulations and laws all over the world. Additionally, for an organization, methods of gaining their customers' trust and providing them with a transparent picture of the data security measures are explained along with appropriate examples. Finally, details about maintenance and updates are also given. To conclude, this chapter helps the reader navigate through the murky waters of the complicated world of data security in today's new and upcoming digital age
Development of a human RPE In vitro model with AMD-like features reveals blue light-induced modulation of the endocannabinoid system
No full text: Blue light (BL) is a known risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a retinal pathology where damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is one of the earliest events. While the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is implicated in various physio-pathological conditions of the retina, its role in BL-injured RPE has not yet been addressed. To fill this gap, we developed an in vitro model of BL-induced human RPE damage showing key features of AMD: cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular senescence. Notably, our model demonstrates modulation of gene and protein expression of specific ECS elements, particularly cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), thus providing unprecedented evidence of ECS dysregulation in RPE cells upon BL exposure
Come in un campo di battaglia. Il terremoto della Marsica (1915): un’emergenza inattesa
No full textThe Marsica earthquake of January 13, 1915, is one of the most disastrous in Italy’s history. It occurred in a particularly unique context, namely while Europe was engulfed in war and Italy was on the brink of joining it. This led to a situation where one emergency was layered on top of another, necessitating a series of measures to maintain public order. This paper examines the organization and decisions made by the state apparatus in response to the earthquake and to preserve national spirit
Sodium content of plant-based meat and cheese analogues: comparison with benchmarks proposed by the World Health Organization
No full text: Although plant-based analogues of animal products have become increasingly common, their sodium content has not been adequately investigated. The main aims of this study were to: (i) compare sodium content of cheese analogues, meat analogues, and tofu and tempeh sold in Italy with the relative WHO benchmarks (720, 250 and 280 mg/100 g, respectively); and (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of Nutri-Score in identifying products exceeding these benchmarks. Food labels from 430 meat analogues, 49 cheese analogues and 42 tofu and tempeh products were collected and analysed. Meat analogues (93%) and tofu and tempeh (57%) had the highest percentage of products exceeding the benchmark while cheese analogues had the lowest (20%). All subcategories in the meat analogues category showed a higher median sodium content than the benchmark, with cured meats having the highest level. Among cheese analogues, the grated cheese subcategory showed the highest median sodium content with all products exceeding the benchmark, while tofu and tempeh had the lowest median sodium content. The Nutri-Score algorithm did not consistently identify products with sodium levels exceeding the established benchmarks. This study highlights the need to reduce sodium content of such products and emphasises the importance of improving consumers' nutritional awareness
MEDITERRANEAN DIET: WHY A NEW PYRAMID? An updated representation of the traditional Mediterranean diet by the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU)
No full textFrancesco Ruschi (1600-1661) e l’abundantia barocca: spazi del sacro e collezionismo tra Roma e la Serenissima
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Tackling redox pathways in eukaryotic parasites by a structural biology approach
No full textAll aerobic organisms are exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated as byproducts of their metabolism during their lifetime. To prevent and repair ROS-derived damage and maintain cell homeostasis, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms have evolved enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Among them, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and glutathione reductase (GR), belonging to the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family, play key roles in the regulation of redox pathways across all organisms. In particular, parasites are repeatedly exposed to the host defense machinery in their invasive stages and have to cope with oxidative stress generated both by their metabolic reactions and by the host immune system. On the global scale of public health impact, infectious diseases still deserve attention, and new therapies are urgently needed to combat devastating parasitic infections worldwide. Given their involvement in parasite survival, redox pathways represent an outstanding source of druggable target for novel antiparasitic drug discovery.
The present thesis work undertakes the investigation by a structural biology approach of key thiol-dependent enzymes from two human eucaryotic parasites: Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase from Schistosoma mansoni (SmTGR) and Thioredoxin Reductase from Cryptosporidium parvum (CpTrxR). The two studies are at different stages of research but are both grounded in a thorough characterization of the structure-function relationship of the identified drug targets, with the goal of exploiting them in a structure-based drug design approach.
SmTGR is a validated and well-characterized drug target against Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting 280 million people and resulting in 200 000 deaths annually. To date, only praziquantel is available for the treatment of schistosomiasis and, due to massive drug administration, less sensitive parasite strains are emerging, making the identification of new therapies urgent. However, selective drug development for this class of enzyme is challenging, mainly due to the reliance on irreversible and/or covalent inhibition strategies, which are associated with unacceptable off-targets effects. This challenge was further exacerbated, until a few years ago, by the lack of structural data.
Recently, a breakthrough by means of an X-ray crystallography fragment screening allowed us to identify the so-called "doorstop pocket", a novel regulatory and druggable site of TGR. The initial molecular fragments identified were ligated and partially optimized, but further attempts to determine the binding mode of these inhibitors by X-ray crystallography were unsuccessful. Thus, we settle on an integrative structural biology approach by switching to the cutting-edge cryo-EM technique that enables us to solve the first structure of TGR-inhibitor complex by this method, validating the doorstop pocket as a druggable site. Since this allosteric site is present in the whole protein family, this breakthrough offers opportunities for selectively inhibiting other pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases essential for various pathogens and holds implications for combating cancer.
The experimental work carried out on this project has been supported by grants of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIH/NIAID).
On the other hand, TrxR from the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum has attracted increasing attention as a promising drug target against cryptosporidiosis, the leading cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. Despite the established association with pediatric morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and with a chronic and life-threatening enteric disease in HIV-AIDS patients, there are no vaccines and treatments options are severely limited. Drug development is further hindered by the lack of many conventional target exploited for other parasitic diseases and limited ex vivo Cryptosporidium models. Compared to the related and most known malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, too little is known about antioxidant defense systems in Cryptosporidium. While P. falciparum relies on both thioredoxin (Trx) and glutathione (GSH) systems, no GR is encoded in the genome of C. parvum, and TrxR is the cornerstone of the antioxidant defense, supplying electrons to both the Trx and the GSH pathways. Given its role in parasite's redox homeostasis, we focus on functional and structural characterization of CpTrxR, illustrating the unique C-terminal -CGGGKCG motif, exclusive to apicomplexan parasites. Our study reports crystal structures of the enzyme with the C-terminal tail captured in different competent catalytic position, unveiling new aspects of the apicomplexan TrxR's mechanism of action. Moreover, has been shown that Auranofin (AF), a gold-containing compound and FDA-orphan drug, kills parasites in culture and here we validate the inhibition mechanism by enzymatic assays and providing the crystal structure of CpTrxR in complex with AF. These results offer crucial insights for the design of selective inhibitors, being the apicomplexan C-terminal motif notably distinct from the -GCU/CG one found in mammalian and insect TrxRs and emphasize CpTrxR as a critical target for anti-parasitic drug development
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING EATING BEHAVIOURS
No full textThis thesis examines the molecular, epigenetic, and metabolic foundations of binge eating behaviour, with a particular focus on the complex interplay between genetic, epigenetic, microbial, and dietary factors. The overarching objective is to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying binge eating episodes, while exploring novel therapeutic approaches involving bioactive compounds and nutritional interventions. Using preclinical models and human samples we aim to:
1. Investigate Molecular Mechanisms in an animal model of BED: explore the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of key genes in animal models subjected to binge-like eating behaviours, focusing on the endocannabinoid, dopaminergic, and adenosinergic systems (Chapters 2 and 3).
2. Identify Biomarkers in Human BED and BN: assess the role of the salivary microbiome, exosomal miRNAs, and DNA methylation patterns in BED and bulimia nervosa (BN), with the aim of discovering biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment (Chapter 4).
3. Evaluate the potential role of local nutraceuticals in the regulation of the molecular mechanisms accounting for BED: examine the effects of bioactive compounds in Nero Antico di Pretalucente and Brassica rapa from Lama dei Peligni, for their potential contributions in the context of BED (Chapter 5).
4. Investigate the effects of local varieties of Brassica on Gut Microbiota Modulation in BED: evaluate if and how Brassica rapa can influence gut microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, affecting appetite regulation and metabolic health (Chapter 6)