149 research outputs found
Costruire dispositivi con un nanoLEGO bio-inorganico
No full textIl workshop tenuto il 26 gennaio 2016 presso il Centro della Casaccia ha affrontato la tematica dell'autoassemblaggio di dispositivi ibridi bio-inorganici di tipo sensoristico, elettronico e informatico, basati sulle proprietà di autoassemblaggio del DNA in forme programmabili. Queste nanostrutture di DNA possono poi essere utilizzate come basi di montaggio automatico e programmato per mezzo di connettori specifico quali peptidi, aptameri e anticorpi, di componentistica funzionale proteica, di quantum dota inorganici e nanoparticelle conduttrici di interesse fotonico, di singole catene di polimeri conduttori, e perfino di ulteriori nanostrutture prefabbricate come particelle virali.The workshop held at the Casaccia Research Center on Jan 26, 2016 addressed the issue of self assembly of hybrid bio-inorganic electronic, sensing and information devices, exploiting the DNA property of self assembling into programmable shapes. Such nano sized DNA structures can be used as breadboards to self-organize specific connectors, such as peptides, aptamers and antibodies, functional protein components, inorganic nanostructure such as quantum dots or metal nanoparticles, single conducting polymer chains, and even natural prefabricated structures such as viral particles. The relevant skills available in the ENEA laboratories have been reviewed and are reported here together with an introductory note and the abstracts of the short presentations
Plant-Produced Viral Nanoparticles as a Functionalized Catalytic Support for Metabolic Engineering
No full textSubstrate channeling could be very useful for plant metabolic engineering; hence, we propose that functionalized supramolecular self-assembly scaffolds can act as enzymatic hubs able to perform reactions in close contiguity. Virus nanoparticles (VNPs) offer an opportunity in this context, and we present a functionalization strategy to display different enzymes on the outer surface of three different VNPs produced in plants. Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and Potato virus X (PVX) plant viruses were functionalized by the genetic fusion of the E-coil peptide coding sequence to their respective coat proteins genes, while the enzyme lichenase was tagged with the K-coil peptide. Immobilized E-coil VNPs were able to interact in vitro with the plant-produced functionalized lichenase, and catalysis was demonstrated by employing a lichenase assay. To prove this concept in planta, the Hepatitis B core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLPs) were similarly functionalized by genetic fusion with the E-coil sequence, while acyl-activating enzyme 1, olivetolic acid synthase, and olivetolic acid cyclase enzymes were tagged with the K-coil. The transient co-expression of the K-coil-enzymes together with E-coil-VLPs allowed the establishment of the heterologous cannabinoid precursor biosynthetic pathway. Noteworthy, a significantly higher yield of olivetolic acid glucoside was achieved when the scaffold E-coil-VLPs were employed
In vitro and in vivo toxicity evaluation of plant virus nanocarriers
No full textThe use of biological self-assembling materials, plant virus nanoparticles in particular, appears very intriguing as it allows a great choice of symmetries and dimensions, easy chemical and biological engineering of both surface and/or internal cavity as well as safe and rapid production in plants. In this perspective, we present an initial evaluation of the safety profile of two structurally different plant viruses produced in Nicotiana benthamiana L. plants: the filamentous Potato virus X and the icosahedral Tomato bushy stunt virus. In vitro haemolysis assay was used to test the cytotoxic effects, which could arise by pVNPs interaction with cellular membranes, while early embryo assay was used to evaluate toxicity and teratogenicity in vivo. Data indicates that these structurally robust particles, still able to infect plants after incubation in serum up to 24h, have neither toxic nor teratogenic effects in vitro and in vivo. This work represents the first safety-focused characterization of pVNPs in view of their possible use as drug delivery carriers
A biodistribution study of two differently shaped plant virus nanoparticles reveals new peculiar traits
No full textSelf-assembling plant virus nanoparticles (pVNPs) have started to be explored as nanometre-sized objects for biomedical applications, such as vaccine or drug delivery and imaging. Plant VNPs may be ideal tools in terms of biocompatibility and biodegradability endowed with a wide diversity of symmetries and dimensions, easy chemical/biological engineering, and rapid production in plants. Recently, we defined that icosahedral Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and filamentous Potato virus X (PVX) are neither toxic nor teratogenic. We report here the results of an interdisciplinary study aimed to define for the first time the biodistribution of unlabelled, unpegylated, underivatized TBSV and PVX by proved detecting antibodies. These data add new insights on the in vivo behaviour of these nano-objects and demonstrate that the pVNPs under scrutiny are each intrinsically endowed with peculiar properties foreshadowing different applications in molecular medicine
Targeting of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus with a Genetically Fused C-End Rule Peptide
No full textHoming peptides are widely used to improve the delivery of drugs, imaging agents, and nanoparticles (NPs) to their target sites. Plant virus-based particles represent an emerging class of structurally diverse nanocarriers that are biocompatible, biodegradable, safe, and cost-effective. Similar to synthetic NPs, these particles can be loaded with imaging agents and/or drugs and functionalized with affinity ligands for targeted delivery. Here we report the development of a peptide-guided Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV)-based nanocarrier platform for affinity targeting with the C-terminal C-end rule (CendR) peptide, RPARPAR (RPAR). Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the TBSV-RPAR NPs bind specifically to and internalize in cells positive for the peptide receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP-1). TBSV-RPAR particles loaded with a widely used anticancer anthracycline, doxorubicin, showed selective cytotoxicity on NRP-1-expressing cells. Following systemic administration in mice, RPAR functionalization conferred TBSV particles the ability to accumulate in the lung tissue. Collectively, these studies show the feasibility of the CendR-targeted TBSV platform for the precision delivery of payloads
Ignorant Cognition. A Philosophical Investigation of the Cognitive Features of Not-Knowing
No full textThis book offers a comprehensive philosophical investigation of ignorance. Using a set of cognitive tools and models, it discusses features that can describe a state of ignorance if linked to a particular type of cognition affecting the agent’s social behavior, belief system, and inferential capacity. The author defines ignorance as a cognitive condition that can be either passively (and unconsciously) borne by an agent or actively nurtured by him or her, and a condition that entails epistemic limitations (which can be any lack of knowledge, belief, information or data) that affect the agent’s behavior, belief system, and inferential capacity.
The author subsequently describes the ephemeral nature of ignorance, its tenacity in the development of human inferential and cognitive performance, and the possibility of sharing ignorance among human agents within the social dimension. By combining previous frameworks such as the naturalization of logic, the eco-cognitive perspective in philosophy and concepts from Peircean epistemology, and adding original ideas derived from the author’s own research and reflections, the book develops a new cognitive framework to help understand the nature of ignorance and its influence on the human condition
The two-faced Potato Virus X: from plant pathogen to smart nanoparticle
No full textPotato virus X (PVX) is a single-stranded RNA plant virus, historically investigated in light of the detrimental effects on potato, the world's fourth most important food commodity. The study of the interactions with cells, and more generally with the plant, both locally and systemically, significantly contributed to unveil the mechanisms underlying gene silencing, fundamental not only in plant virology but also in the study of gene expression regulation. Unraveling the molecular events of PVX infection paved the way for the development of different viral expression vectors and consequential applications in functional genomics and in the biosynthesis of heterologous proteins in plants. Apart from that, the ease of manipulation and the knowledge of the virus structure (particle dimensions, shape and physicochemical features) are inspiring novel applications, mainly focused on nanobiotechnology. This review will lead the reader in this area, spanning from fundamental to applied research, embracing fields from plant pathology to vaccine and drug-targeted delivery, imaging and material sciences. Due to the versatile moods, PVX holds promise to become an interesting nanomaterial, in view to create the widest possible arsenal of new bio-inspired devices to face evolving issues in biomedicine and beyond
Greek Goddness of the Moon in Light of the Orphic Hymn to Selene
No full textHymn to Selene is one of 87 so-called Orphic hymns. Its addressee is goddess of the Moon, who is defined in the hymn both by the name Selene and Mene. Conducting the literary analysis of the above-mentioned hymn, we can notice that it consists of the invocation addressed to the goddess, many epithets revealing the greatness of the divinity and the prayer ending which in its contents resembles the invocation. It is worth mentioning that the basic part of the hymn includes some kind of litany catalogue of epithets by means of which the Hymn’s Author defines and describes the goddess Selene.
The literary analysis of the respective epithets which are present in the Hymn to Selene, allows to state that the picture of the goddess of the Moon included in it possesses very classic, known to us from mythology, features and also clearly seen orphic features. Undoubtedly, dual sexuality that the goddess Selene was attributed with in verse 4 is such a feature. The phrase ϑῆλυς τε καὶ ἄρσην is to be found in this verse. In this context we have the direct reference to the primeval orphic godhead, Fanes, who was a two-gender god. Thus, Selene is perceived as one of hypostasis of one and the only one divine creature which can be defined as “One”.
Basing on the results of the literary analysis, we can notice that the goddess Selene, who was not particularly popular with the ancient Greeks, was somehow re-discovered by Orphics, who saw her beauty through the person of the Hymn’s Author. Due to the fact that Selene was the goddess of the Moon by the light of which the orphic usually practiced their own rituals, certainly occupied much space in the orphic cult
Educación y salud reproductiva en la biosfera de Calakmul, Campeche. Antropología. Boletín Oficial del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia: Grupos sociales y diversidad cultural. Num. 66 Nueva Época (2002) abril-junio
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Production and Functional Characterization of a Recombinant Predicted Pore-Forming Protein (TVSAPLIP12) of Trichomonas vaginalis in Nicotiana benthamiana Plants
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