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Saavedra JL, Crisanti A, Lardier DT, Tohen M, Lenroot R, Bustillo J, Halperin D, Friedman B, Loewy R, Murray-Krezan C, McIver S. The Cascade of Care for Early Psychosis Detection in a College Counseling Center. Psychiatr Serv 2024; 75:161-166. [PMID: 37554003 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Programs for early detection of psychosis help identify individuals experiencing emerging psychosis and link them with appropriate services, thereby reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). The authors used the cascade-of-care framework to identify various care stages between screening and enrollment in coordinated specialty care (CSC) and to determine attrition at each stage, with the goal of identifying points in the referral process that may affect DUP. METHODS Project partners included a college counseling center and CSC program. All college students seeking mental health services at a counseling center between 2020 and 2022 (N=1,945) completed the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B) at intake. Students who met the distress cutoff score were referred for a phone screening. Those who met criteria on the basis of this screening were referred for assessment and possible enrollment into CSC. RESULTS Six stages in the cascade of care for early detection were identified. Of the students who completed the PQ-B as part of intake (stage 1), 547 (28%) met the PQ-B cutoff score (stage 2). Counselors referred 428 (78%) students who met the PQ-B cutoff score (stage 3), and 212 (50%) of these students completed the phone screening (stage 4). Seventy-two (34%) students completed a CSC eligibility assessment (stage 5), 21 (29%) of whom were enrolled in CSC (stage 6). CONCLUSIONS The cascade-of-care framework helped conceptualize the flow within a program for early psychosis detection in order to identify stages that may contribute to lengthier DUP. Future research is warranted to better understand the factors that contribute to DUP at these stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine L Saavedra
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Annette Crisanti
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - David T Lardier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Mauricio Tohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Rhoshel Lenroot
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Juan Bustillo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Dawn Halperin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Bess Friedman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Rachel Loewy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Cristina Murray-Krezan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
| | - Stephanie McIver
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Saavedra, Crisanti, Lardier, Tohen, Lenroot, Bustillo, Halperin, Friedman) and Student Health and Counseling (McIver), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Loewy); Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh (Murray-Krezan)
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Angelini F, Rossi L, Taccogna S, Crisanti A, Borra G, Gozzi E. First report of Central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLAB- SI) due to Enterococcus raffinosus (ER) in a cancer patient. Clin Ter 2023; 174:469-472. [PMID: 38048106 DOI: 10.7417/ct.2023.5010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Despite the advances made by therapeutic technologies, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are currently still a worldwide problem. Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are one of the most common causes of HAIs. The cost of CLABSIs is considerable, both for the increase in morbidity and financial resources expenses. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are the common pathogens responsible for CLABSIs, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, and Candida spp. The Enterococcus genus comprises of more than 50 species but E. faecalis and E. faecium are the most common causes of infections in humans. Enterococcus Raffinosus (ER) is a non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcus even if ER has rarely been proven to be a human pathogen, recent reports of infections caused by enterococci that are relatively resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics by non-p-lactamase mechanisms have included strains of ER. Here we describe a first report of CLABSI due to Enterococcus Raffinosus in a cancer patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Angelini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - L Rossi
- UOC of Oncology, ASL Latina, Distretto 1, University of Rome "Sapienza" , Aprilia (LT), Italy
| | - S Taccogna
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale Regina Apostolorum, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - A Crisanti
- Medical Laboratory, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - G Borra
- Medical Laboratory, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - E Gozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, ASL RM6, Polo Ospedaliero di Anzio, Rome, Italy
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Killough C, Ortegon ER, Vasireddy R, Kincaid T, Silverblatt H, Crisanti A, Page K. Training Psychiatrists in New Mexico: Reflections from Psychiatry Residents Who Participated in a Rural Track Versus a Traditional Program Alone over the Past Decade. Acad Psychiatry 2022; 46:470-474. [PMID: 34988922 PMCID: PMC8731206 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-021-01572-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE With over 60% of rural Americans living in mental health professional shortage areas, there is a need for providing psychiatry residents training experiences in rural communities with the goal of increasing the likelihood that they will end up practicing in those same communities following graduation. The purpose of this study was to survey previous and current psychiatry residents, with the goal of describing the impact of the program on rural track residents compared to those in the traditional residency track. METHODS Psychiatry residents 2010-2020 completed an online survey. For those who participated in the rural residency track, the survey asked additional questions regarding barriers experienced practicing in rural areas (e.g., professional isolation) and whether the goals of the rural track were met. RESULTS Seventy-four residents completed surveys, with 26% in the "Rural Track Group" (RTG) and 74% in the "Non-rural Track Group" (NTG). More RTG reported they were more likely to practice in rural, frontier, or underserved areas after residency compared to NTG (74% versus 60%). Most RTG (72%) strongly agreed the rural program helped meet goals. Distance from family was a top barrier for current RTG (63%), followed by concerns about local schools, social isolation, and reduced career opportunities for partners (45%). CONCLUSIONS Residents of the RTG were more likely to consider a career in a rural area than those of the traditional program alone. Psychiatry residency requirements should be reviewed to address top rural training barriers to promote retention in rural areas.
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Abstract
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common disease caused by the leaking beck of gastric material out of the esophagus. The main symptoms are dysphonia, dysphagia, and cough. There is an established use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in patients with suspected LPR in common practice. This habit is translated by the standard strategy to use PPI in treating patients with gastroesophageal reflux. However, PPI can not wholly inhibit all types of reflux and are burden by adverse effects. Alginate, a derivative from algae, is devoid of side effects and effectively counteracts gastric material reflux forming a foaming gel in the stomach. The current study enrolled 100 outpatients with LPR. Alginate treatment was administered for two months. Patients underwent four visits (at baseline and 15, 30, and 60 days after treatment). A visual analog scale assessed the perception of dysphonia, dysphagia, and cough. Alginate significantly (p<0.0001) reduced all parameters. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that magnesium alginate was effective and safe in LPR treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ciprandi
- Consultant allergist, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy
| | - V Damiani
- Medical Department, D.M.G. Italia, Pomezia, Italy
| | - F M Passali
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - A Crisanti
- Clinical Medicine Department, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy
| | - G Motta
- ENT Clinic, University Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - D Passali
- International Federation ORL Societies (IFOS) Executive Board members Rome Italy
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Sharma S, Crisanti A, Kesler D, Shore XW, Vlahovich K, Sood A. Association Between Self-Reported Dyspnea and Depressive Symptoms in New Mexico Uranium Workers. J Public Health Manag Pract 2021; 27:S191-S195. [PMID: 33785695 PMCID: PMC8018503 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
New Mexico has the largest number of former uranium workers, mostly racial/ethnic minorities. Uranium workers are at risk for dyspnea secondary to mine dust exposure. The association between dyspnea and depressive symptoms has not been well examined in occupational minority cohorts. This study evaluated the associations between dyspnea (measured by the modified Medical Research Council Questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2) in former uranium workers screened by the New Mexico Radiation Exposure Screening & Education Program. The subjects were mostly elderly, rural-residing, minority males. Dyspnea was commonly reported; however, depressive symptoms were uncommon. At baseline, former workers experiencing higher levels of dyspnea were more than 3 times likely to endorse depressive symptoms than those with no or mild dyspnea. Longitudinal analysis failed to determine an association between change in dyspnea and concomitant change in depressive symptoms. Dyspnea and depressive symptoms were associated cross-sectionally in former uranium workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Sharma
- Section of Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (Drs Sharma, Kesler, and Vlahovich); Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences (Dr Crisanti) and Family and Community Medicine (Ms Shore); and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (Dr Sood), University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Altschul DB, Bonham CA, Faulkner MJ, Farnbach Pearson AW, Reno J, Lindstrom W, Alonso-Marsden SM, Crisanti A, Salvador JG, Larson R. State Legislative Approach to Enumerating Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages: Lessons Learned in New Mexico. Am J Prev Med 2018; 54:S220-S229. [PMID: 29779546 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nationally, the behavioral health workforce is in crisis because of a lack of resources, culturally responsive services, quality clinical supervision, sufficient training in evidence-based practices, and targeted recruitment and retention. Disparities in access to behavioral health care are particularly significant in New Mexico, where 25% of the population live in rural areas, and behavioral health shortages are among the highest in the nation. Additionally, as a Medicaid expansion state, New Mexico providers experience increased demand for services at a time when the state is challenged with limited workforce capacity. To address this issue, the Health Care Work Force Data Collection, Analysis and Policy Act was legislatively enacted in 2011 to systematically survey all state licensed health professionals to determine reasons for the healthcare shortage and address the shortage through policy. The Act was amended in 2012 to transfer all data to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. In 2015, a total of 4,488 behavioral health providers completed a survey as a mandatory part of their license renewal. Findings from the survey indicate a dearth of licensed behavioral health providers representative of the populations served, limited access to services via Medicaid and Medicare payer sources, limited access to providers working in public health settings, and limited access to Health Information Technology. This paper describes the workforce context in New Mexico, the purpose of the legislation, the analytic findings from the survey, the policies implemented as a result of these efforts, lessons learned, and a discussion of the relevancy of the New Mexico model for other states. SUPPLEMENT INFORMATION This article is part of a supplement entitled The Behavioral Health Workforce: Planning, Practice, and Preparation, which is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah B Altschul
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
| | - Caroline A Bonham
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Martha J Faulkner
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Amy W Farnbach Pearson
- Office of Research, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Jessica Reno
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Wayne Lindstrom
- New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division, New Mexico Human Services Department, Santa Fe, New Mexico
| | - Shelley M Alonso-Marsden
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Annette Crisanti
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Julie G Salvador
- Division of Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Richard Larson
- Office of Research, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Crisanti A, Picco M, Ritort F. Derivation of the spin-glass order parameter from stochastic thermodynamics. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:052103. [PMID: 29906861 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.052103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A fluctuation relation is derived to extract the order parameter function q(x) in weakly ergodic systems. The relation is based on measuring and classifying entropy production fluctuations according to the value of the overlap q between configurations. For a fixed value of q, entropy production fluctuations are Gaussian distributed allowing us to derive the quasi-FDT so characteristic of aging systems. The theory is validated by extracting the q(x) in various types of glassy models. It might be generally applicable to other nonequilibrium systems and experimental small systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", and Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi ISC-CNR, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - M Picco
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, LPTHE, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - F Ritort
- Small Biosystems Lab, Condensed Matter Physics Department, Universitat de Barcelona, C/ Martí i Franquès, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER-BBN Center for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Crisanti A, Sarracino A, Zannetti M. Heat fluctuations of Brownian oscillators in nonstationary processes: Fluctuation theorem and condensation transition. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:052138. [PMID: 28618537 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.052138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We study analytically the probability distribution of the heat released by an ensemble of harmonic oscillators to the thermal bath, in the nonequilibrium relaxation process following a temperature quench. We focus on the asymmetry properties of the heat distribution in the nonstationary dynamics, in order to study the forms taken by the fluctuation theorem as the number of degrees of freedom is varied. After analyzing in great detail the cases of one and two oscillators, we consider the limit of a large number of oscillators, where the behavior of fluctuations is enriched by a condensation transition with a nontrivial phase diagram, characterized by reentrant behavior. Numerical simulations confirm our analytical findings. We also discuss and highlight how concepts borrowed from the study of fluctuations in equilibrium under symmetry-breaking conditions [Gaspard, J. Stat. Mech. (2012) P0802110.1088/1742-5468/2012/08/P08021] turn out to be quite useful in understanding the deviations from the standard fluctuation theorem.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi-CNR, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - A Sarracino
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi-CNR, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - M Zannetti
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E. R. Caianiello", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
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Alfieri A, Animati F, Arcamone F, Bailly C, Crisanti A, Dentini M, Felicetti P, lafrate E, Lombardi P, Manzini S, Rossi C, Waring MJ. Biological activity and DNA Sequence Specificity of Synthetic Carbamoyl Analogues of Distamycin. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/095632029700800308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A new penta(N-methylpyrrole carboxamide) analogue of the antibiotic distamycin has been synthesized in which the N-terminal formylamino group was replaced by a carbamoyl moiety. It was substantially more stable than distamycin in aqueous solution and bound to DNA with about the same affinity constant. It had an exemplary margin of selectivity against herpes simplex virus type 1-infected HEp-2 cells in culture compared to uninfected control cells, and was equipotent with distamycin. For comparison, data for analogues containing fewer N-methylpyrrole carboxamide units and/or lacking the carbamoyl replacement are presented. Extensive DNase I footprinting experiments were conducted and revealed that all the distamycin analogues bound to AT-rich nucleotide sequences in three different restriction fragments, irrespective of how many pyrrole rings or which terminal moiety they contained. However, the relative strength of footprints differed significantly among the various compounds, though the apparent size of the binding site did not. With semi-synthetic DNA containing inosine and 2,6-diaminopurine residues in place of guanosine and adenine, respectively, the compounds recognized new binding sites composed of IC-rich clusters and were excluded from binding to their canonical sites. This showed that the process of specific sequence recognition was critically dominated by the placement of the purine 2-amino group in the minor groove of the double helix.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alfieri
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Animati
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Arcamone
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - C Bailly
- INSERM U124 and Centre Oscar Lambret, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France
| | - A Crisanti
- Istituto di Parassitologia, Università degli studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - M Dentini
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - P Felicetti
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - E lafrate
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - P Lombardi
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - S Manzini
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - C Rossi
- Menarini Ricerche, Via Tito Speri 10, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - MJ Waring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QJ, UK
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Passali GC, Politi L, Crisanti A, Loglisci M, Anzivino R, Passali D. Tau Protein Detection in Anosmic Alzheimer’s Disease Patient’s Nasal Secretions. CHEMOSENS PERCEPT 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12078-015-9198-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Simoni A, Siniscalchi C, Chan YS, Huen DS, Russell S, Windbichler N, Crisanti A. Development of synthetic selfish elements based on modular nucleases in Drosophila melanogaster. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:2991. [PMID: 25675957 PMCID: PMC4357718 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Antenucci F, Conti C, Crisanti A, Leuzzi L. General phase diagram of multimodal ordered and disordered lasers in closed and open cavities. Phys Rev Lett 2015; 114:043901. [PMID: 25679894 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.114.043901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We present a unified approach to the theory of multimodal laser cavities including a variable amount of structural disorder. A general mean-field theory is studied for waves in media with variable nonlinearity and randomness. Phase diagrams are reported in terms of optical power, degree of disorder, and degree of nonlinearity, tuning between closed and open cavity scenarios. In the thermodynamic limit of infinitely many modes, the theory predicts four distinct regimes: a continuous wave behavior for low power, a standard mode-locking laser regime for high power and weak disorder, a random laser for high pumped power and large disorder, and a novel intermediate regime of phase locking occurring in the presence of disorder but below the lasing threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Antenucci
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma "Sapienza," Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy and IPCF-CNR, UOS Kerberos Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - C Conti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma "Sapienza," Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy and ISC-CNR, UOS Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma "Sapienza," Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy and ISC-CNR, UOS Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - L Leuzzi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma "Sapienza," Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy and IPCF-CNR, UOS Kerberos Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
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Antenucci F, Crisanti A, Leuzzi L. Small-cluster renormalization group in Ising and Blume-Emery-Griffiths models with ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and quenched disordered magnetic interactions. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2014; 90:012112. [PMID: 25122256 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.012112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The Ising and Blume-Emery-Griffiths (BEG) models' critical behavior is analyzed in two dimensions and three dimensions by means of a renormalization group scheme on small clusters made of a few lattice cells. Different kinds of cells are proposed for both ordered and disordered model cases. In particular, cells preserving a possible antiferromagnetic ordering under renormalization allow for the determination of the Néel critical point and its scaling indices. These also provide more reliable estimates of the Curie fixed point than those obtained using cells preserving only the ferromagnetic ordering. In all studied dimensions, the present procedure does not yield a strong-disorder critical point corresponding to the transition to the spin-glass phase. This limitation is thoroughly analyzed and motivated.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Antenucci
- IPCF-CNR, UOS Roma Kerberos, P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy and ISC-CNR, UOS Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - L Leuzzi
- IPCF-CNR, UOS Roma Kerberos, P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy
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Proietti C, Verra F, Bretscher MT, Stone W, Kanoi BN, Balikagala B, Egwang TG, Corran P, Ronca R, Arcà B, Riley EM, Crisanti A, Drakeley C, Bousema T. Influence of infection on malaria-specific antibody dynamics in a cohort exposed to intense malaria transmission in northern Uganda. Parasite Immunol 2014; 35:164-73. [PMID: 23473542 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The role of submicroscopic infections in modulating malaria antibody responses is poorly understood and requires longitudinal studies. A cohort of 249 children ≤5 years of age, 126 children between 6 and 10 years and 134 adults ≥20 years was recruited in an area of intense malaria transmission in Apac, Uganda and treated with artemether/lumefantrine at enrolment. Parasite carriage was determined at enrolment and after 6 and 16 weeks using microscopy and PCR. Antibody prevalence and titres to circumsporozoite protein, apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1), merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-119 ), merozoite surface protein-2 (MSP-2) and Anopheles gambiae salivary gland protein 6 (gSG6) were determined by ELISA. Plasmodium falciparum infections were detected in 38·1% (194/509) of the individuals by microscopy and in 57·1% (284/493) of the individuals by PCR at enrolment. Antibody prevalence and titre against AMA-1, MSP-119 , MSP-2 and gSG6 were related to concurrent (sub-)microscopic parasitaemia. Responses were stable in children who were continuously infected with malaria parasites but declined in children who were never parasitaemic during the study or were not re-infected after treatment. These findings indicate that continued malaria infections are required to maintain antibody titres in an area of intense malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Proietti
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Abstract
A fluctuation relation for aging systems is introduced and verified by extensive numerical simulations. It is based on the hypothesis of partial equilibration over phase-space regions in a scenario of entropy-driven relaxation. The relation provides a simple alternative method, amenable of experimental implementation, to measure replica symmetry breaking parameters in aging systems. The connection with the effective temperatures obtained from the fluctuation-dissipation theorem is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
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Crisanti A, Puglisi A, Villamaina D. Nonequilibrium and information: the role of cross correlations. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2012; 85:061127. [PMID: 23005071 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.85.061127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We discuss the relevance of information contained in cross correlations among different degrees of freedom, which is crucial in nonequilibrium systems. In particular we consider a stochastic system where two degrees of freedom X{1} and X{2}-in contact with two different thermostats-are coupled together. The production of entropy and the violation of equilibrium fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT) are both related to the cross correlation between X{1} and X{2}. Information about such cross correlation may be lost when single-variable reduced models for X_{1} are considered. Two different procedures are typically applied: (a) one totally ignores the coupling with X{2}; and (b) one models the effect of X{2} as an average memory effect, obtaining a generalized Langevin equation. In case (a) discrepancies between the system and the model appear both in entropy production and linear response; the latter can be exploited to define effective temperatures, but those are meaningful only when time scales are well separated. In case (b) linear response of the model well reproduces that of the system; however the loss of information is reflected in a loss of entropy production. When only linear forces are present, such a reduction is dramatic and makes the average entropy production vanish, posing problems in interpreting FDT violations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- CNR-ISC and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Sapienza - p.le A. Moro 2, Roma 00185, Italy
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Donvito A, Crisanti A, Bellisai F, Galeazzi M. Combined interferon a2b and cyclosporin A in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: controlled trial - Reply. Reumatismo 2011. [DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2005.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Crisanti A, Leuzzi L, Paoluzzi M. Statistical mechanical approach to secondary processes and structural relaxation in glasses and glass formers: a leading model to describe the onset of Johari-Goldstein processes and their relationship with fully cooperative processes. Eur Phys J E Soft Matter 2011; 34:98. [PMID: 21947889 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2011-11098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 07/26/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The interrelation of dynamic processes active on separated time-scales in glasses and viscous liquids is investigated using a model displaying two time-scale bifurcations both between fast and secondary relaxation and between secondary and structural relaxation. The study of the dynamics allows for predictions on the system relaxation above the temperature of dynamic arrest in the mean-field approximation, that are compared with the outcomes of the equations of motion directly derived within the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT) for under-cooled viscous liquids. By varying the external thermodynamic parameters, a wide range of phenomenology can be represented, from a very clear separation of structural and secondary peak in the susceptibility loss to excess wing structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 - 00185 - Rome, Italy
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Paoluzzi M, Leuzzi L, Crisanti A. Thermodynamic first order transition and inverse freezing in a 3D spin glass. Phys Rev Lett 2010; 104:120602. [PMID: 20366522 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.104.120602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2009] [Revised: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We present a numerical study of the random Blume-Capel model in three dimensions. The phase diagram is characterized by spin-glass-paramagnet phase transitions of both first and second order in the thermodynamic sense. Numerical simulations are performed using the exchange Monte Carlo algorithm, providing clear evidence for inverse freezing. The main features at criticality and in the phase coexistence region are investigated. We are not privy to other 3D short-range systems with quenched disorder undergoing inverse freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Paoluzzi
- IPCF-CNR, UOS Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
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Ardizzoni A, Capuccini B, Baschieri MC, Orsi CF, Rumpianesi F, Peppoloni S, Cermelli C, Meacci M, Crisanti A, Steensgaard P, Blasi E. A protein microarray immunoassay for the serological evaluation of the antibody response in vertically transmitted infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2009; 28:1067-75. [PMID: 19415353 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-009-0748-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2009] [Accepted: 04/15/2009] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The detection of specific serum antibodies is mainly achieved by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Here, we describe the setting up of a microarray-based serological assay to screen for IgG and IgM against vertically transmitted pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, Chlamydia trachomatis). The test, accommodated onto a restricted area of a microscope slide, consists of: (a) the immobilization of antigens and human IgG and IgM antibody dilution curves, laid down in an orderly manner; (b) addition of serum samples; (c) detection of antigen-serum antibodies complexes by indirect immunofluorescence. The IgG and IgM curves provide an internal calibration system for the interpolation of the signals from the single antigens. The test was optimized in terms of spotting conditions and processing protocol. The detection limit was 400 fg for the IgG assay and 40 fg for the IgM assay; the analytical specificity was >98%. The clinical sensitivity returned an average value of 78%, the clinical specificity was >96%, the predictive values were >73%, and the efficiency was >88%. The results obtained make this test a promising tool, suitable for introduction in the clinical diagnostic routine of vertically transmitted infections, in parallel (and in future as an alternative) to ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ardizzoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi, 287, Modena 41100, Italy
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Passali FM, Crisanti A, Passali GC, Cianfrone F, Bocchi M, Messineo G, Bellussi L, Passali D. [Efficacy of inhalation therapy with water of Salsomaggiore (Italy) in chronic and recurrent nasosinusal inflammation treatment]. Clin Ter 2008; 159:175-180. [PMID: 18594748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Aim of the research was the demonstration of the efficacy of thermal water vs saline in the recurrent and chronic nasosinusal pathologies treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS 120 patients randomized into 2 groups of 60 subjects each, all affected by recurrent or chronic rhinosinusitis with/without I degree nasal polyposis. At the beginning and at the end of the study, in all the subjects the clinical history, objective examination and the instrumental analysis of nasal functions by active anterior rhinometry, acustic rhinometry, nasal mucociliary transport time determination and nasal mucosa scraping were performed. Patients of the study group underwent crenotherapy treatment (vapour inhalation, aerosol and nasal douching) with thermal water for 14 days at Salsomaggiore Thermal baths. Other patients underwent nasal douching and aerosol with saline twice a day for 14 days at the Rhinologic Centre of the ENT Clinic of Siena University. RESULTS At the end of the study, only the patients undergone to crenothrapic treatment with salt-bromine-iodic water showed a significant improvement of nasal obstruction, rinorrea and number of nocturnal arousals. The improvement, even if present, was not significant in the control group. Same positive variations were observed concerning nasal mucosa congestion, nasal secretion and mucociliary transport time reaching the significance in the study group. CONCLUSIONS Crenotherapy with salt-bromine-iodic water should be considered as efficacious therapeutic tool in the management of chronic and recurrent rhinosinusitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- F M Passali
- Università degli Studi Siena Dottorando di Ricerca.
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Passali D, Fiorella R, Camaioni A, Villari G, Mora E, Passali GC, Passali FM, Crisanti A, Bellussi L. [Glucan solution nasal spray vs saline in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a multi-centric double blind randomised clinical trial]. Clin Ter 2007; 158:139-45. [PMID: 17566515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of 30 days treatment with glucan solution nasal spray vs. saline in the treatment of signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS 100 patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis were enrolled. At the beginning and at the end of the study were evaluated: nasal congestion, headache, rhinorrea, facial pain, rhinopharyngeal exudate, inferior turbinate hypertrophy; a complete instrumental analysis of nasal functions by Active Anterior Rhinomanometry, nasal Muco-Ciliary Transport time and scraping of nasal mucosa was also performed. The patients were randomized 1:1 for receiving intranasal saline or intranasal glucan solution spray. Treatment was administered as follows: 2 puffs/nostril 3 times a day for 30 days. RESULTS The patients in therapy with the glucan solution showed a significant improvement concerning rhinorrea facial pain, intensity of headache, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, rhinopharyngeal exudates, inspiratory/expiratory nasal resistences, Muco-ciliary transport time, normalization of nasal mucosas and rhinocytogram; saline lavage didn't show this effects. Both treatment improved rhinorrea, instead both treatment didn't affect nasal congestion. CONCLUSIONS According to the results of our multicentric double blind randomized study, we suggest the use of glucan solution nasal spray as an efficacious therapeutic tool in the management of nasal symptoms in patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Passali
- Istituto di Otorinolaringoiatria, Università di Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italia.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Some believe serious mental illness has been "criminalized." Effects of serious mental illness and substance abuse on criminal offenses were studied for 113 postbooking jail diversion participants and their nondiverted counterparts. METHODS Raters read participants' and police report descriptions of criminal offenses and participants' explanations for them. Using 5-point scales, raters independently estimated whether an offense resulted directly or indirectly from serious mental illness or substance abuse. RESULTS Serious mental illness and substance abuse had little effect on offenses. However, substance abuse led to a sizable minority of offenses and was more likely than mental illness to cause an offense. CONCLUSIONS Unless factors unique to serious mental illness can be specifically associated with behavior leading to incarceration, the criminalization hypothesis should be reconsidered in favor of more powerful risk factors for crime that are widespread in social settings of persons with serious mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Junginger
- Mental Health Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 North Greene Street, Suite 6A, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
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Crisanti A, Leuzzi L. Spherical 2 + p spin-glass model: an exactly solvable model for glass to spin-glass transition. Phys Rev Lett 2004; 93:217203. [PMID: 15601058 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.93.217203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We present the full phase diagram of the spherical 2 + p spin-glass model with p > or = 4. The main outcome is the presence of a phase with both properties of full replica symmetry breaking phases of discrete models, e.g., the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model, and those of one replica symmetry breaking. This phase has a finite complexity which leads to different dynamic and static properties. The phase diagram is rich enough to allow the study of different kinds of glass to spin glass and spin glass to spin glass phase transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Istituto Nazionale Fisica della Materia, Unità di Roma, SMC, P.le Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
We study the quenched complexity in spin-glass mean-field models satisfying the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin supersymmetry. The outcome of such study, consistent with recent numerical results, allows, in principle, to conjecture the absence of any supersymmetric contribution to the complexity in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. The same analysis can be applied to any model with a full replica symmetry breaking phase, e.g., the Ising p-spin model below the Gardner temperature. The existence of different solutions, breaking the supersymmetry, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, SMC and INFM, Università di Roma "La Sapienza," Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
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Abstract
AIMS To generate protein microarrays by printing microbial antigens on slides to enable the simultaneous determination in human sera of antibodies directed against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2. METHODS AND RESULTS Antigens were printed on activated glass slides using high-speed robotics. The slides were incubated with serum samples and subsequently with fluorescently labelled secondary antibodies. Human IgG and IgM bound to the printed antigens were detected using confocal scanning microscopy and quantified with internal calibration curves. The microarray assay could detect as little as 0.5 pg of both IgG and IgM bound onto the glass surface. Precision profiles ranged from 1.7 to 18.5% for all the antigens. Microarrays and commercial ELISAs were utilized to detect serum antibodies against the ToRCH antigens in a panel of characterized human sera. Overall >80% concordance was obtained between microarray and ELISA kits in the classification of sera. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the microarray is a suitable assay format for the serodiagnosis of infectious diseases. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY Antigen microarrays can be optimized for clinical use, their performance is equivalent to ELISA but they offer significant advantages in throughput, convenience and cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bacarese-Hamilton
- Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK
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Dolo A, Poudiougo B, Modiano D, Camara F, Kouriba B, Diallo M, Bosman A, Crisanti A, Robson K, Doumbo O. [Epidemiology of malaria in a village of Sudanese savannah in Mali (Bancoumana). Anti-TRAP and anti-CS humoral immunity response]. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 2003; 96:287-90. [PMID: 14717043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Vaccine development research is an important component of malaria control strategies. Thrombospondin related anonymous protein (TRAP) and the circumsporozoite (CS) protein are two antigens of sporozoite surface. Immune response to these two antigens may contribute to the development of anti-sporozoite vaccine. Recent studies suggest that antibodies anti-TRAP may partially block sporozoites penetration in hepatocyte, and thereby reducing malaria morbidity. We carried out a study to assess the seroprevalence of anti-TRAP and anti-CS antibodies and to identify a possible role of these antibodies on malaria morbidity in children 1-9 years old living in a rural hyperendemic village. We performed 5 cross sectional surveys and a longitudinal follow up in 1993 and 1994. During each cross sectional study, children were examined for fever and splenomegaly; all febrile children received thick film examination, and serologic analysis was performed in one third of these, randomly selected. The results show that the seroprevalence of anti-TRAP and anti-CS varied with age and season (p < 0.05). Association between the prevalence of anti-TRAP and splenomegaly was observed during two cross sectional surveys (June and October 1993). The presence of anti-TRAP antibody was associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection at the beginning of the transmission season (June 1993 and July 1994). A negative association between the level of anti-TRAP title and parasitemia was observed (March and October 1994). These findings suggest no clear evidence of the protective role of anti-TRAP antibodies in uncomplicated malaria, possibly due to the limited persistence of these antibodies under natural situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dolo
- Département d'épidémiologie des affections parasitaires, Faculté de médecine, de pharmacie et d'odonto-stomalogie, BP 1805, Bamako, Mali.
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Fioravanti A, Valenti M, Altobelli E, Di Orio F, Nappi G, Crisanti A, Cantarini L, Marcolongo R. Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence of spa therapy in osteoarthritis. The results of "Naiade" Italian Project. Panminerva Med 2003; 45:211-7. [PMID: 14618120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
AIM The "Naiade" Project was carried out in execution of the Decree of December 1994 by the Italian Ministry of Health, with the objective of defining the therapeutic role of spa therapy in the various sectors of medicine. In this study the authors refer to the results obtained in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS The OA study included the observation of patients for 2 consecutive years, with the compilation of a series of clinical and socio-economic data. The initial sample was of 11437 patients suffering from primary and secondary OA, and in the 2(nd) year the total number of assessable patients was 6111 (53.4%). All patients underwent 1 annual cycle of balneotherapy and mud packs therapy for 2 consecutive years. The thermal treatments were carried out in 98 Italian spas with sulphurous water, sodium chloride-bromide-iodide water, sulphate water, and bicarbonate water. Analysis of the data collected confirmed the clinical efficacy of spa treatments for OA, particularly for localisations in the cervical and lumbar spine. The benefits of these treatments and the persistence of the therapeutic effects over time were clearly demonstrated by the collection of some socio-economic indicators relative to the year before each cycle of thermal therapy. RESULTS In fact, the analysis of these indicators showed a significant reduction in recourse to additional treatments (hospital admissions, physical and pharmacological therapies) and absence from work. CONCLUSION The obtained data was particularly interesting for the number of samples examined, the follow-up over a period of 2 years, and the collection of clinical and, especially, socio-economic parameters. The results of the Naiade Project confirmed the value of spa therapies in the treatment of OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fioravanti
- Institute of Rheumatology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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Crisanti A, Ritort F. Violation of the fluctuation–dissipation theorem in glassy systems: basic notions and the numerical evidence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1088/0305-4470/36/21/201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Abstract
We prove the existence of chaos in temperature in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. The effect is exceedingly small, namely, of the ninth order in perturbation theory. The equations describing two systems at different temperatures constrained to have a fixed overlap are studied analytically and numerically, yielding information about the behavior of the overlap distribution function PT1(,T2)(q) in finite-size systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Rizzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Università "Federico II," Complesso Monte S. Angelo, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
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Abstract
We study the mean-field static solution of the Blume-Emery-Griffiths-Capel model with quenched disorder, an Ising-spin lattice gas with random magnetic interaction. The thermodynamics is worked out in the full replica symmetry breaking scheme. The model exhibits a high temperature/low density paramagnetic phase. As temperature decreases or density increases, a phase transition to a full replica symmetry breaking spin-glass phase occurs. The nature of the transition can be either of the second order or, at temperature below a given critical value, of the first order in the Ehrenfest sense, with a discontinuous jump of the order parameter, a latent heat, and coexistence of phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma, La Sapienza and INFM unità di Roma I, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00186, Rome, Italy
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Crisanti A, Rizzo T. Analysis of the infinity-replica symmetry breaking solution of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2002; 65:046137. [PMID: 12005956 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.65.046137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In this work we analyze the Parisi infinity-replica symmetry breaking solution of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model without external field using high order perturbative expansions. The predictions are compared with those obtained from the numerical solution of the infinity-replica symmetry breaking equations, which are solved using a pseudospectral code that allows for very accurate results. With these methods we are able to get more insight into the analytical properties of the solutions. We are also able to determine numerically the end point x(max) of the plateau of q(x) and find that lim(T-->0)x(max)(T)>0.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Crisanti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, and Istituto Nazionale Fisica della Materia, Unità di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy.
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Morgan-Ryan UM, Monis P, Possenti A, Crisanti A, Spano F. Cloning and phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) of Cryptosporidium wrairi and its relationship to C. parvum genotypes. Parassitologia 2001; 43:159-63. [PMID: 12402523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
We have cloned and sequenced the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) of Cryptosporidium wrairi. Phylogenetic analysis of this region provided further support to the validity of C. wrairi as a distinct species and also to the concept that many of the genotypes recently identified within C. parvum are in fact separate species. Analysis placed the "cattle" and "mouse" genotypes of C. parvum as each other's closest relatives and C. wrairi as a sister group to these two genotypes, followed by the "human" genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- U M Morgan-Ryan
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
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Schneider J, Langermans JA, Gilbert SC, Blanchard TJ, Twigg S, Naitza S, Hannan CM, Aidoo M, Crisanti A, Robson KJ, Smith GL, Hill AV, Thomas AW. A prime-boost immunisation regimen using DNA followed by recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara induces strong cellular immune responses against the Plasmodium falciparum TRAP antigen in chimpanzees. Vaccine 2001; 19:4595-602. [PMID: 11535306 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00260-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Two chimpanzees were vaccinated intramuscularly against malaria using plasmid DNA expressing the pre-erythrocytic antigens thrombospondin related adhesion protein (PfTRAP) and liver stage specific antigen-1 (PfLSA-1) of Plasmodium falciparum together with GM-CSF protein. A recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing PfTRAP was injected intramuscularly 6 weeks later to boost the immune response. This sequence of antigen delivery induced a specific and long-lasting T cell and antibody response to PfTRAP as detected by ELISPOT assay and ELISA. Antibody responses were detected after four DNA injections, and were boosted by injection of recombinant MVA expressing PfTRAP. Interferon-gamma secreting antigen-specific T cells were detected in both animals, but only after boosting with recombinant MVA. By screening a panel of PfTRAP-derived peptides, an epitope was identified that was recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes in one of the chimpanzees studied. T cells specific for this epitope were present in PBMCs and liver-infiltrating lymphocytes at a frequency of between 1 in 200 and 1 in 500. The high immunogenicity of this prime-boost regimen in chimpanzees supports further assessment of this delivery strategy for the induction of protection against P. falciparum malaria in humans.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Protozoan/genetics
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- COS Cells
- Chick Embryo
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- DNA, Protozoan/genetics
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Epitopes/immunology
- Fibroblasts/virology
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/pharmacology
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunization Schedule
- Immunization, Secondary
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Malaria Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Malaria Vaccines/immunology
- Male
- Pan troglodytes
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Transfection
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccinia virus/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schneider
- Molecular Immunology Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK.
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36
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Giannoni F, Müller HM, Vizioli J, Catteruccia F, Kafatos FC, Crisanti A. Nuclear factors bind to a conserved DNA element that modulates transcription of Anopheles gambiae trypsin genes. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:700-7. [PMID: 11016929 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m005540200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Anopheles gambiae trypsin family consists of seven genes that are transcribed in the gut of female mosquitoes in a temporal coordinated and mutually exclusive manner, suggesting the involvement of a complex transcription regulatory mechanism. We identified a highly conserved 12-nucleotide motif present in all A. gambiae and Anopheles stephensi trypsin promoters. We investigated the role of this putative trypsin regulatory element (PTRE) in controlling the transcription of the trypsin genes. Gel shift experiments demonstrated that nuclear proteins of A. gambiae cell lines formed two distinct complexes with probes encompassing the PTRE sequence. Mapping of the binding sites revealed that one of the complex has the specificity of a GATA transcription factor. Promoter constructs containing mutations in the PTRE sequence that selectively abolished the binding of either one or both complexes exerted opposite effects on the transcriptional activity of trypsin promoters in A. gambiae and Aedes aegypti cell lines. In addition, the expression of a novel GATA gene was highly enriched in A. gambiae guts. Taken together our data prove that factors binding to the PTRE region are key regulatory elements possibly involved in the blood meal-induced repression and activation of transcription in early and late trypsin genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Giannoni
- Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Imperial College Road, London SW7 9AX, United Kingdom
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37
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Crisanti A, Ritort F, Rocco A, Sellitto M. Inherent structures and nonequilibrium dynamics of one-dimensional constrained kinetic models: A comparison study. J Chem Phys 2000. [DOI: 10.1063/1.1324994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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38
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Di Cristina M, Spaccapelo R, Soldati D, Bistoni F, Crisanti A. Two conserved amino acid motifs mediate protein targeting to the micronemes of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:7332-41. [PMID: 10982850 PMCID: PMC86287 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.19.7332-7341.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The micronemal protein 2 (MIC2) of Toxoplasma gondii shares sequence and structural similarities with a series of adhesive molecules of different apicomplexan parasites. These molecules accumulate, through a yet unknown mechanism, in secretory vesicles (micronemes), which together with tubular and membrane structures form the locomotion and invasion machinery of apicomplexan parasites. Our findings indicated that two conserved motifs placed within the cytoplasmic domain of MIC2 are both necessary and sufficient for targeting proteins to T. gondii micronemes. The first motif is based around the amino acid sequence SYHYY. Database analysis revealed that a similar sequence is present in the cytoplasmic tail of all transmembrane micronemal proteins identified so far in different apicomplexan species. The second signal consists of a stretch of acidic residues, EIEYE. The creation of an artificial tail containing only the two motifs SYHYY and EIEYE in a preserved spacing configuration is sufficient to target the surface protein SAG1 to the micronemes of T. gondii. These findings shed new light on the molecular mechanisms that control the formation of the microneme content and the functional relationship that links these organelles with the endoplasmic reticulum of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Cristina
- Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, Department of Biology, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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39
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Spano F, Crisanti A. The initiation translation factor eIF-4A of Cryptosporidium parvum is encoded by two distinct mRNA forms and shows DNA sequence polymorphism distinguishing genotype 1 and 2 isolates. J Parasitol 2000; 86:777-82. [PMID: 10958456 DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0777:titfeo]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-4A is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase involved in ribosome attachment to the 5' end of mRNAs. Employing as a probe a Cryptosporidium parvum genomic amplicon encoding a partial polypeptide related to eIF-4A, we screened a C. parvum sporozoite cDNA library to clone the full length of the gene. Two complete cDNAs were characterized, Cp.F6 and Cp.F10, which consisted of 1,900 and 1,418 bp, respectively. The overlapping portions of the sequences shared 100% identity and encoded a polypeptide of 405 amino acids whose identity to known eIF-4A molecules ranged between 77 and 39%. The 2 cDNAs differed in the length of their respective 3' untranslated regions, of 577 bp in Cp.F6 and 72 bp in Cp.F10, in both of which a putative polyadenylation signal was identified. The structure of the cloned cDNAs, along with genomic Southern blot data indicating that eIF-4A is encoded by a single copy gene, strongly suggested that Cp.F6 and Cp.F10 reflect a differential 3' end processing of mRNA precursors, not observed so far in C. parvum. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the sporozoites express 2 eIF-4A mRNAs and showed that the lower molecular weight transcript is 10- to 20-fold more abundant. We also investigated the polymorphism of the eIF-4A gene and defined a novel polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism marker discriminating between C. parvum isolates of genotypes 1 and 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Spano
- Istituto di Parassitologia, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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40
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Catteruccia F, Nolan T, Loukeris TG, Blass C, Savakis C, Kafatos FC, Crisanti A. Stable germline transformation of the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Nature 2000; 405:959-62. [PMID: 10879538 DOI: 10.1038/35016096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 295] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anopheline mosquito species are obligatory vectors for human malaria, an infectious disease that affects hundreds of millions of people living in tropical and subtropical countries. The lack of a suitable gene transfer technology for these mosquitoes has hampered the molecular genetic analysis of their physiology, including the molecular interactions between the vector and the malaria parasite. Here we show that a transposon, based on the Minos element and bearing exogenous DNA, can integrate efficiently and stably into the germ line of the human malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, through a transposase-mediated process.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Catteruccia
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK
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41
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Wengelnik K, Spaccapelo R, Naitza S, Crisanti A. Structure-function analysis of malaria proteins by gene targeting--a response. Parasitol Today 2000; 16:224-5. [PMID: 10827425 DOI: 10.1016/s0169-4758(00)01680-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- K Wengelnik
- Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, Department of Biology, London, UK SW7 2AZ
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42
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Abstract
The coccidium Cryptosporidium parvum is an obligate intracellular parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa. It infects the gastrointestinal tract of humans and livestock, and represents the third major cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide. Scarcely considered for decades due to its apparently non-pathogenic nature, C. parvum has been studied very actively over the last 15 years, after its medical relevance as a dangerous opportunistic parasite and widespread water contaminant was fully recognised. Despite the lack of an efficient in vitro culture system and appropriate animal models, significant advances have been made in this relatively short period of time towards understanding C. parvum biology, immunology, genetics and epidemiology. Until recently, very little was known about the genome of C. parvum, with even basic issues, such as the number and size of chromosomes, being the object of a certain controversy. With the advent of pulsed field gradient electrophoresis and the introduction of molecular biology techniques, the overall structure and fine organisation of the genome of C. parvum have started to be disclosed. Organised into eight chromosomes distributed in a very narrow range of molecular masses, the genome of C. parvum is one of the smallest so far described among unicellular eukaryotic organisms. Although fewer than 30 C. parvum genes have been cloned so far, information about the overall structure of the parasite genome has increased exponentially over the last 2 years. From the first karyotypic analyses to the recent development of physical maps for individual chromosomes, this review will try to describe the state-of-the-art of our knowledge on the nuclear genome of C. parvum and will discuss the available experimental evidence concerning the presence of extra-chromosomal elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Spano
- Istituto di Parassitologia, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P. le A. Moro, 5, Box 6 Roma 62, 00185, Rome, Italy
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43
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Catteruccia F, Nolan T, Blass C, Muller HM, Crisanti A, Kafatos FC, Loukeris TG. Toward Anopheles transformation: Minos element activity in anopheline cells and embryos. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:2157-62. [PMID: 10681436 PMCID: PMC15770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.040568397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of the Minos transposable element to function as a transformation vector in anopheline mosquitoes was assessed. Two recently established Anopheles gambiae cell lines were stably transformed by using marked Minos transposons in the presence of a helper plasmid expressing transposase. The markers were either the green fluorescent protein or the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene driven by the Drosophila Hsp70 promoter. Cloning and sequencing of the integration sites demonstrated that insertions in the cell genome occurred through the action of Minos transposase. Furthermore, an interplasmid transposition assay established that Minos transposase is active in the cytoplasmic environment of Anopheles stephensi embryos: interplasmid transposition events isolated from injected preblastoderm embryos were identified as Minos transposase-mediated integrations, and no events were recorded in the absence of an active transposase. These results demonstrate that Minos vectors are suitable candidates for germ-line transformation of anopheline mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Catteruccia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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44
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Boffetta G, Celani A, Crisanti A, Vulpiani A. Pair dispersion in synthetic fully developed turbulence. Phys Rev E Stat Phys Plasmas Fluids Relat Interdiscip Topics 1999; 60:6734-41. [PMID: 11970593 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.60.6734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/1999] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The Lagrangian statistics of relative dispersion in fully developed turbulence is numerically investigated. A scaling range spanning many decades is achieved by generating a two-dimensional velocity field by means of a stochastic process with prescribed statistics and of a dynamical model (shell model) with fluctuating characteristic times. When the velocity field obeys Kolmogorov similarity, the Lagrangian statistics is self similar and agrees with Richardson's predictions [Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 110, 709 (1926)]. For intermittent velocity fields the scaling laws for the Lagrangian statistics are found to depend on the Eulerian intermittency in agreement with the multifractal description. As a consequence of the Kolmogorov law the Richardson law for the variance of pair separation is, however, not affected by intermittency corrections. Moreover, Lagrangian exponents do not depend on the particular Eulerian dynamics. A method of data analysis, based on fixed scale statistics rather than usual fixed time statistics, is shown to give much wider scaling range, and should be preferred for the analysis of experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Boffetta
- Dipartimento di Fisica Generale, Università di Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy
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45
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Abstract
The malaria parasite suffers severe population losses as it passes through its mosquito vector. Contributing factors are the essential but highly constrained developmental transitions that the parasite undergoes in the mosquito midgut, combined with the invasion of the midgut epithelium by the malaria ookinete (recently described as a principal elicitor of the innate immune response in the Plasmodium-infected insect). Little is known about the molecular organization of these midgut-stage parasites and their critical interactions with the blood meal and the mosquito vector. Elucidation of these molecules and interactions will open up new avenues for chemotherapeutic and immunological attack of parasite development. Here, using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, we identify and characterize the first microneme protein of the ookinete: circumsporozoite- and TRAP-related protein (CTRP). We show that transgenic parasites in which the CTRP gene is disrupted form ookinetes that have reduced motility, fail to invade the midgut epithelium, do not trigger the mosquito immune response, and do not develop further into oocysts. Thus, CTRP is the first molecule shown to be essential for ookinete infectivity and, consequently, mosquito transmission of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Dessens
- Infection and Immunity Section, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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46
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Wengelnik K, Spaccapelo R, Naitza S, Robson KJ, Janse CJ, Bistoni F, Waters AP, Crisanti A. The A-domain and the thrombospondin-related motif of Plasmodium falciparum TRAP are implicated in the invasion process of mosquito salivary glands. EMBO J 1999; 18:5195-204. [PMID: 10508153 PMCID: PMC1171590 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/18.19.5195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporozoites from all Plasmodium species analysed so far express the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP), which contains two distinct adhesive domains. These domains share sequence and structural homology with von Willebrand factor type A-domain and the type I repeat of human thrombospondin (TSP). Increasing experimental evidence indicates that the adhesive domains bind to vertebrate host ligands and that TRAP is involved, through an as yet unknown mechanism, in the process of sporozoite motility and invasion of both mosquito salivary gland and host hepatocytes. We have generated transgenic P.berghei parasites in which the endogenous TRAP gene has been replaced by either P.falciparum TRAP (PfTRAP) or mutated versions of PfTRAP carrying amino acid substitutions or deletions in the adhesive domains. Plasmodium berghei sporozoites carrying the PfTRAP gene develop normally, are motile, invade mosquito salivary glands and infect the vertebrate host. A substitution in a conserved residue of the A-domain or a deletion in the TSP motif of PfTRAP impairs the sporozoites' ability to invade mosquito salivary glands. Notably, midgut sporozoites from these transgenic parasites are still able to infect mice. Midgut sporozoites carrying a mutation in the A-domain of PfTRAP are motile, while no gliding motility could be detected in sporozoites with a TSP motif deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Wengelnik
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Biology, Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ
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47
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Dolo A, Modiano D, Doumbo O, Bosman A, Sidibé T, Keita MM, Naitza S, Robson KJ, Crisanti A. Thrombospondin related adhesive protein (TRAP), a potential malaria vaccine candidate. Parassitologia 1999; 41:425-8. [PMID: 10697897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated whether naturally induced immunity to Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin related adhesive protein contributes to protection against malaria in humans. We have carried out a case control study in children living in an endemic region of West Africa to reveal associations between PfTRAP seroprevalence and the risk of cerebral malaria. Sera collected from the case and control groups were analysed by ELISA to compare their serum reactivity against PfTRAP, the circumsporozoite protein and the merozoite surface protein 1. Children with uncomplicated malaria had a significantly higher PfTRAP seroprevalence when compared to children with cerebral malaria. The risk of developing cerebral malaria appeared to depend on the reciprocal relationship between sporozoite inoculation rates and humoral immunity against PfTRAP. Our results suggest that naturally induced humoral immunity against PfTRAP contributes to the development of protection against severe malaria. Experimentally induced immunity against TRAP in different rodent models has consistently proven to elicit a high degree of protection against malaria. This together with the functional properties of TRAP and data describing CD4 and CD8 epitopes for PfTRAP indicate that this molecule could increase the protective efficiency of available sporozoite malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dolo
- Départment d'Epidémiologie des Affections Parasitaires, Ecole Nationale de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d'Odonto-Stomatologie, Bamako, Mali
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48
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Putignani L, Sallicandro P, Alano P, Abrahamsen MS, Crisanti A, Spano F. Chromosome mapping in Cryptosporidium parvum and establishment of a long-range restriction map for chromosome VI. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999; 175:231-8. [PMID: 10386373 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13625.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We used contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization to analyze the molecular karyotype of Cryptosporidium parvum and establish the chromosomal location of 12 single copy genes. In agreement with previous studies, the molecular karyotype of C. parvum was found to consist of partially co-migrating chromosomes ranging in size from 0.97 to 1.55 Mb and segregating into five distinct electrophoretic bands. Hybridization results allowed the definition of a linkage group comprised of five distinct loci located on chromosome VI. Southern hybridization and restriction analysis of total C. parvum chromosomes or isolated chromosome VI using gene-specific probes and an oligonucleotide specific for C. parvum telomeres allowed the development of a long-range restriction map of chromosome VI.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Putignani
- Istituto di Parassitologia, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
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49
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McCormick CJ, Tuckwell DS, Crisanti A, Humphries MJ, Hollingdale MR. Identification of heparin as a ligand for the A-domain of Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related adhesion protein. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1999; 100:111-24. [PMID: 10376999 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(99)00052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Thrombospondin-related adhesion protein (TRAP) is a Plasmodium falciparum transmembrane protein that is expressed within the micronemes of sporozoites, and is implicated in host cell invasion and motility. Contained within the extracellular region of TRAP is an A-domain, a module found in a number of membrane, plasma and matrix proteins, that is often involved in ligand recognition. In order to determine the role of the TRAP A-domain, it has been expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and its ligand binding compared with that of other characterised glutathione S-transferase A-domain fusion proteins. Using a solid phase assay to screen for binding to known A-domain ligands, the TRAP A-domain was found to bind heparin. Binding to heparin appeared to be specific as it was saturable, and was inhibited by soluble heparin, fucoidan and dextran sulfate, but not by other negatively charged sulfated glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin sulfates. Furthermore, unlike some A-domain ligand interactions, the A-domain of both TRAP and the leukocyte integrin, Mac-1, bound to heparin in the absence of divalent cations. It has been shown previously that another domain within TRAP, which is homologous to region II-plus of circumsporozoite protein, binds to sulfatide and to heparan sulfate on the immortalised hepatocyte line HepG2. The TRAP A-domain also bound to sulfatide and to HepG2 cells. Thus the A-domain shares certain binding properties already attributed to the region II-plus-like domain of TRAP, and may contribute to the binding of TRAP to heparan sulfate on hepatocytes.
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50
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Di Cristina M, Ghouze F, Kocken CH, Naitza S, Cellini P, Soldati D, Thomas AW, Crisanti A. Transformed Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites expressing the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium knowlesi elicit a specific immune response in rhesus monkeys. Infect Immun 1999; 67:1677-82. [PMID: 10085003 PMCID: PMC96513 DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.4.1677-1682.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were transformed with the coding sequence of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the primate malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. A single inoculation of live transformed tachyzoites elicited an antibody response directed against the immunodominant repeat epitope (EQPAAGAGG)2 of the P. knowlesi CS protein in rhesus monkeys. Notably, these animals failed to show a positive serum conversion against T. gondii. Antibodies against Toxoplasma antigens were detected only after a second inoculation with a higher number of transformed tachyzoites. This boost induced an increased antibody response against the P. knowlesi CS protein associated with immunoglobulin class switching, thus demonstrating the establishment of immunological memory. These results indicate that the Toxoplasma-derived CS protein is efficiently recognized by the monkey immune system and represents an immunodominant antigen in transformed parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Cristina
- Department of Biology, Imperial College, SW7 2BB London, United Kingdom
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