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Morello E, Roversi S, Brambilla G, Signorini L, Lorenzoni M, Andreoli M, Bernardi S, Malagola M, Farina M, Radici V, Magliano G, Fiorentini S, Caruso A, Russo D. Nutritional Strategies To Improve VRE Control. Transplant Cell Ther 2024; 30:548.e1-548.e4. [PMID: 38460728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2024.03.007] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
The rise of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains among cellular therapy recipients raises concerns due to increased morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs, particularly impacting transplanted patients with diminished survival expectations. Recent research linking lactose to Enterococcus growth and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) emphasizes the need for data on reducing lactose in the diets of VRE-carrying patients, especially in cellular therapy contexts like CAR-T or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Responding to elevated VRE positivity rates in rectal swabs among patients in our BMT Unit, a unique nutritional strategy was implemented, introducing lactose-free milk and strictly enforcing lactose-free diets. This approach resulted in a significant reduction in VRE carriers, with a 16% positivity rate in the Lactose Group versus 3.6% in the Lactose-Free Group, as of June 2023. These results indicate the potential efficacy of this innovative nutritional strategy in high-risk departments, such as BMT Units and Intensive Care Units, with implications for reducing isolation strategies and inappropriate antibiotic use in cases of VRE colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Morello
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sara Roversi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Brambilla
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marianna Lorenzoni
- Medical Direction of the Civil Hospitals of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Andreoli
- Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Bernardi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michele Malagola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mirko Farina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vera Radici
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Magliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Domenico Russo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Zani A, Messali S, Bugatti A, Uggeri M, Rondina A, Sclavi L, Caccuri F, Caruso A. Molecular mechanisms behind the generation of pro-oncogenic HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38687324 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001982] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s), characterized by amino acid insertions at the COOH-terminal region of the viral protein, have been recently identified and studied for their biological activity. Different from their wild-type counterpart (refp17), vp17s display a potent B cell growth and clonogenic activity. Recent data have highlighted the higher prevalence of vp17s in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) with lymphoma compared with those without lymphoma, suggesting that vp17s may play a key role in lymphomagenesis. Molecular mechanisms involved in vp17 development are still unknown. Here we assessed the efficiency of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase (RT) in processing this genomic region and highlighted the existence of hot spots of mutation in Gag, at the end of the matrix protein and close to the matrix-capsid junction. This is possibly due to the presence of inverted repeats and palindromic sequences together with a high content of Adenine in the 322-342 nucleotide portion, which constrain HIV-1 RT to pause on the template. To define the recombinogenic properties of hot spots of mutation in the matrix gene, we developed plasmid vectors expressing Gag and a minimally modified Gag variant, and measured homologous recombination following cell co-nucleofection by next-generation sequencing. Data obtained allowed us to show that a wide range of recombination events occur in concomitance with the identified hot spots of mutation and that imperfect events may account for vp17s generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rondina
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sclavi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (CCAMF), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mures, Romania
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (CCAMF), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mures, Romania
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Donato F, Pilotto A, Focà E, Tresoldi M, Tonoli A, Perani C, Minisci D, Salvetti M, Filippini M, Bezzi M, Em Boari G, Gipponi S, Stegher C, Nardin M, Caruso A, Metra M, Padovani A, Rossi C, Castelli F. The impact of time since SARS-Cov-2 vaccination, age, sex and comorbidities on COVID-19 outcome in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccine 2024; 42:1863-1867. [PMID: 38355322 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.003] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on disease outcome in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with a prospective study. 745 vaccinated and 451 unvaccinated patients consecutively admitted to a COVID-19 Hospital from 1st September 2021 to 1st September 2022 were included. Compared with unvaccinated cases, vaccinated patients were older, had more comorbidities, but had a lower risk of O2 need (odds ratio, OR, 0.46; 95 % CI 0.32-0.65) by logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity and WHO COVID-19 Clinical Progression Scale at admission. The ORs for O2 need were 0.38 (0.24-0.61), 0.50 (0.30-0.83) and 0.57 (0.34-0.96) in patients vaccinated 14-120, 121-180 and > 180 days prior to hospitalization, respectively. An anti-spike Ig titer higher than 5000 U/ml was associated with a reduced risk of O2 need (OR 0.52; 95 % CI 0.30-0.92). This study shows that COVID-19 vaccination has a significant impact on COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Donato
- University Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pilotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Focà
- University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Tresoldi
- University Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessio Tonoli
- Emergency Department and Bed Management, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristiano Perani
- Emergency Department and Bed Management, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide Minisci
- University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Salvetti
- Emergency Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Filippini
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Bezzi
- Division of Pneumology, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gianluca Em Boari
- COVID_19 Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, Montichiari Hospital, Montichiari, Italy
| | - Stefano Gipponi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudia Stegher
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Nardin
- Medicine III, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Metra
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Camillo Rossi
- Chief Medical Officer of ASST Spedali Civili Hospital Health Directorate, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
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4
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Zani A, Messali S, Uggeri M, Bonfanti C, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Detection of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 in sera of viremic and aviremic patients. J Virol Methods 2024; 324:114858. [PMID: 38029970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114858] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
People living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), even if successfully treated with a combined antiretroviral therapy, display a persistent inflammation and chronic immune activation, and an increasing risk of developing cardiovascular and thrombotic events, cancers, and neurologic disorders. Accumulating evidence reveals that biologically active HIV-1 proteins may play a role in the development of these HIV-1-associated conditions. The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) is released and accumulates in different organs and tissue where it may exert multiple biological activities on different target cells. To assess a role of p17 in different HIV-1-related pathological processes, it is central to definitively ascertain and quantitate its expression in a large number of sera obtained from HIV-1-infected (HIV-1+) patients. To this aim, we developed a specific and highly sensitive p17 capture immunoenzymatic assay. Data obtained highlight a heterogeneous expression of p17 in blood of tested patients, with patients who were negative or displayed from low to relatively high p17 blood concentrations (range from 0.05 to 7.29 nM). Moreover, we found that blood p17 concentration was totally independent from the viremic status of the patient. This finding calls for monitoring HIV-1+ patients in order to evaluate a possible correlation between p17 amount in blood and the likelihood of developing HIV-1-related pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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Malagola M, Radici V, Farina M, Pellizzeri S, Spoldi F, Morello E, Polverelli N, Buttini EA, Bernardi S, Re F, Leoni A, Signorini L, Caruso A, Russo D. Correction: CMV prophylaxis with letermovir significantly improves graft and relapse free survival following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2024; 59:293. [PMID: 38030882 PMCID: PMC10849950 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-023-02158-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Malagola
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Vera Radici
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mirko Farina
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Pellizzeri
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Filippo Spoldi
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Morello
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Polverelli
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Accorsi Buttini
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Bernardi
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Re
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Leoni
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Domenico Russo
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Cambianica A, Marchese V, Pennati F, Faustinelli A, Migliorati M, Roda F, Spinetti A, Zaltron S, Fiorentini S, Caruso A, Quiros-Roldan E, Castelli F, Focà E. Chronic Hepatitis C Cascade of Care in Prisoners-Is There Still Some Work to Do? Analysis of Two Large Penitentiaries in Northern Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2024; 21:104. [PMID: 38248566 PMCID: PMC10815604 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010104] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Penitentiaries have a higher burden of communicable diseases compared to the general population. Prisoners should be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and have direct access to treatment. We analysed the HCV cascade of care in two penitentiaries in Brescia, Northern Italy. At admission, prisoners are offered a voluntary screening for HCV, while patients with known infections are tested with an HCVRNA measurement. We performed an observational retrospective study including all the subjects admitted to the penitentiaries from 1 January 2015 to 31 October 2021. We conducted a descriptive analysis. During the study period, 5378 admissions were registered, and 2932 (54.5%) screenings were performed. Hepatitis C virus antibody positivity was found in 269 tests (9.2%). Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in 169 people. During the study period, 77 treatments with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were administered. Follow-up was available in 45 patients, and sustained virological response (SVR) was documented in 44 of them. Retention in care occurred in less than half of the prisoners after release. Our data demonstrate poor screening adherence that could benefit from educational programs. Treatment rates could be improved with test-and-treat programs. More efforts are needed to eliminate HCV as a public threat by 2030. Dedicated local networks, including infectious diseases (ID) departments, substance abuse services and prisons, could mitigate these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cambianica
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Valentina Marchese
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Francesca Pennati
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Alessandro Faustinelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Manuela Migliorati
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Fabio Roda
- Unit of Prison Health, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Angiola Spinetti
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Serena Zaltron
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (S.F.); (A.C.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (S.F.); (A.C.)
| | - Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Emanuele Focà
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.P.); (A.F.); (M.M.); (E.Q.-R.); (F.C.); (E.F.)
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (V.M.); (A.S.); (S.Z.)
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7
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Malagola M, Radici V, Farina M, Pellizzeri S, Spoldi F, Morello E, Polverelli N, Buttini EA, Bernardi S, Re F, Leoni A, Signorini L, Caruso A, Russo D. CMV prophylaxis with letermovir significantly improves graft and relapse free survival following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2024; 59:138-140. [PMID: 37857841 PMCID: PMC10781629 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-023-02124-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Malagola
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Vera Radici
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mirko Farina
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Pellizzeri
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Filippo Spoldi
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Morello
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Polverelli
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Accorsi Buttini
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Bernardi
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Re
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Leoni
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Emato-oncologico AIL (CREA), "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Domenico Russo
- Blood Diseases and Cell Therapies Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "ASST-Spedali Civili" Hospital of Brescia; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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8
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Gregori N, Renzetti S, Izzo I, Faletti G, Fumarola B, Degli Antoni M, Arsuffi S, Storti S, Tiecco G, Calza S, Caruso A, Castelli F, Quiros-Roldan E, Focà E. Does the rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy at HIV diagnosis impact virological response in a real-life setting? A single-centre experience in Northern Italy. AIDS Care 2023; 35:1938-1947. [PMID: 36795128 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2176425] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been proven efficacious and safe, but more investigations are needed to define feasibility of rapid ART approach in real-life settings.We conducted a retrospective, observational study on newly HIVdiagnosed patients referred to our Infectious Diseases Department from September 1st, 2015, to July 31st, 2019. According to the timing of ART initiation, we distinguished 3 groups of patients (rapid, intermediate and late group) and represented the trend of virological response during a 400-days-period. The hazard ratios of each predictor on viral suppression were estimated through the Cox proportional hazard model.The median time from HIV diagnosis to the first medical referral was 15 days and the median time from the first care access to therapy start was 24 days. Among patients, 37.6% started ART within 7 days, 20.6% between 8 and 30 days, and 41.8% after 30 days. Longer time to ART start and higher baseline viral load were associated with a lower probability of viral suppression. After one year, all groups showed a high viral suppression rate (99%). In a high-income setting the rapid ART approach seems useful to accelerate viral suppression which is great over time regardless of ART initiation timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gregori
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Unit of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Izzo
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulio Faletti
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fumarola
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Melania Degli Antoni
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Arsuffi
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Samuele Storti
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tiecco
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Calza
- Unit of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Focà
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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9
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Magri C, Marchina E, Sansone E, D'Adamo AP, Cappellani S, Bonfanti C, Terlenghi L, Biasiotto G, Zanella I, Sala E, Caruso A, Lombardo M, Gasparini P, De Palma G, Gennarelli M. Genome-wide association studies of response and side effects to the BNT162b2 vaccine in Italian healthcare workers: Increased antibody levels and side effects in carriers of the HLA-A*03:01 allele. HLA 2023; 102:707-719. [PMID: 37469131 DOI: 10.1111/tan.15157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable variability of response to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is apparent. The present study aims to estimate the extent to which the host genetic background contributes to this variability in terms of immune response and side effects following the administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine. We carried out a genome wide association study (GWAS) by genotyping 873 Italian healthcare workers who underwent anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine and for whom information about anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies titers and vaccine side effects were available. The GWAS revealed a significant association between the HLA locus and the anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies level at 2 months following the first dose of vaccine (SNP: rs1737060; p = 9.80 × 10-11 ). In particular, we observed a positive association between the antibody levels and the presence of the HLA-A*03:01 allele. The same allele was found associated with a 2-2.4-fold increased risk of experiencing specific side effects such as fever, chills and myalgia and a 1.5-1.8-fold increased risk of joint pain, nausea, fatigue, headache and asthenia, independently of age and sex. This study confirms that the heterogeneity in the immune response to the BNT162b2 vaccine and in its side effects are at least partially influenced by genetic variants. This information, integrated with individual biological and lifestyle-related correlates, could be of use in the definition of algorithms aimed at the identification of subjects in which the administration of additional vaccine doses would be particularly beneficial to maintain immunity against the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Magri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Marchina
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Sansone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Adamo Pio D'Adamo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefania Cappellani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Laboratory of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Biasiotto
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Highly Specialized Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Isabella Zanella
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Section of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emma Sala
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Laboratory of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Lombardo
- Chief Executive Office, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Gasparini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Palma
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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10
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Alberti A, Stocker G, Lordick F, Hacker UT, Kobitzsch B, Haffner I, Baiocchi GL, Zamparini M, Tiberio GAM, Baronchelli C, Caruso A, Bossi P, Berruti A. Plasma EBV DNA as a prognostic factor in EBV associated gastric cancer: a multicenter, prospective study (EBV PRESAGE study). Front Oncol 2023; 13:1276138. [PMID: 37941551 PMCID: PMC10629611 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1276138] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network identified Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV)-positive gastric cancer as a distinct molecular subtype. The prevalence is 8-9% and the histological examination shows pronounced lymphocytic infiltration, elevated levels of IFN-γ and consequently overexpression of PD-L1. The role of plasma EBV DNA load as a prognostic factor in patients with this cancer subtype is still to be defined. Methods and analysis The present multicenter prospective observational study "EBV PRESAGE", involving German and Italian cancer centers, aims to evaluate the prognostic role of plasma EBV DNA in EBV-related gastric cancer (GC). The objective is to study the association between plasma EBV DNA load at different consecutive time points and the patient's prognosis. Every patient with a new diagnosis of gastric cancer (including gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma) will be screened for Epstein-Barr encoded small Region (EBER) on tissue biopsies using in situ hybridization (ISH). If EBER ISH is positive, blood analysis for plasma EBV DNA will be conducted. The plasma EBV quantitative analysis will be centralized, and extraction, detection, and quantification of EBV DNA in plasma samples will be performed using real-time PCR. Discussion We hypothesized that plasma EBV DNA represents a non-invasive tool for monitoring EBV-related GC and might be valuable as a prognostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Alberti
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST)-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gertraud Stocker
- Department of Medicine II (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pulmonology), University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Florian Lordick
- Department of Medicine II (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pulmonology), University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrich T. Hacker
- Department of Medicine II (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pulmonology), University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Benjamin Kobitzsch
- Department of Medicine II (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pulmonology), University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivonne Haffner
- Department of Medicine II (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pulmonology), University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gian Luca Baiocchi
- Surgical Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST), Cremona, Italy
| | - Manuel Zamparini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST)-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guido A. M. Tiberio
- Surgical Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST)-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carla Baronchelli
- Pathology Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST)-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-Spedali Civili at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) – Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Bossi
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas University, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berruti
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST)-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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11
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Caccuri F, Messali S, Scarpa F, Giovanetti M, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A. First detection of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86.1 in Italy. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29175. [PMID: 37843079 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29175] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabio Scarpa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy
- Climate Amplified Diseases And Epidemics (CLIMADE), Americas, Brazil
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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12
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Morelli L, Fancello V, Gaino F, Cagliero G, Caruso A, Sanna M. Cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness: a single-center experience of 138 cases. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023; 280:4427-4432. [PMID: 37029803 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-07959-1] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Assess the outcomes in patients who underwent cochlear implant (CI) for single-sided deafness (SSD). METHODS All patients affected by SSD who underwent CI at Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, from October 2012 to May 2022 with at least 6 months of follow-up were selected in the study group. The analysis included subjective and objective measures performed pre-operative and up to 24 months after surgery. Hearing threshold on both sides was evaluated with a weighted four-frequency average (PTA [0.5 kHz + 1 kHz + 2 kHz + 4 kHz]/4) on pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry (Speech Discrimination Score, SDS). The Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ Questionnaire) for binaural hearing benefits and sound localization, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Questionnaire (THI) and Dizziness Handicap Inventory Questionnaire (DHI) were used for subjective assessment. RESULTS Data from 138 patients, 69 males and 69 females, (mean age 49 years, range 17-77 years) underwent CI for SSD were examined. Single-sided hearing deprivation average before undergoing CI surgery was 2.5 years (range 3 months-35 years). There was a significant reduction of THI and DHI scores compared to pre-operative scores alongside a referred improvement in social, physical, and emotional well-being through the SSQ questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this paper descried the largest cohort of SSD who underwent CI in a single institution. According to our findings CI in patients affected by SSD represents a valuable tool for an overall improvement of tinnitus and dizziness but also quality of life, after at least 6 months of follow-up. Further studies are desirable to improve rehabilitation pathways and possibly set new standards of care of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Morelli
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
- Audiology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, State University of Milano and Department of Specialistic Surgical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginia Fancello
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy.
- ENT and Audiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - F Gaino
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Alessandro Manzoni 56, 20089, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
| | - G Cagliero
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - A Caruso
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - M Sanna
- Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
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13
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De Francesco MA, Piva S, Pellizzeri S, Signorini L, Fumarola B, Corbellini S, Piccinelli G, Simonetti F, Carta V, Mangeri L, Padovani M, Vecchiati D, Latronico N, Castelli F, Caruso A. Response to the Letter to the Editor on "Bacterial and fungal superinfections are detected at higher frequency in critically ill patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection than negative patients and are associated to a worse outcome". J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29192. [PMID: 37855669 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29192] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Piva
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Universita degli Studi di Brescia Dipartimento Specialita Medico-Chirurgiche Scienze Radiologiche e Sanita Pubblica, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Pellizzeri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fumarola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Piccinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Carta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Mangeri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Padovani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Vecchiati
- First Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Latronico
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Universita degli Studi di Brescia Dipartimento Specialita Medico-Chirurgiche Scienze Radiologiche e Sanita Pubblica, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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14
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Colangelo C, Tiecco G, Di Gregorio M, Capone S, Allegri RL, De Francesco M, Caccuri F, Caruso A, Castelli F, Focà E. A Rare Case of Multidrug-resistant Leclercia adecarboxylata Catheter-related Bloodstream Infection and an Updated Brief Literature Review. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2023; 15:e2023052. [PMID: 37705522 PMCID: PMC10497311 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2023.052] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leclercia adecarboxylata is a gram-negative bacillus, a ubiquitous microorganism, which may be found in both aquatic environments and soil, it was first described by H. Leclerc in 1962 and was reclassified thanks to more sensitive testing methods. L. adecarboxylata has been recently recognized as an emerging pathogen that causes several clinical syndromes not only in immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Colangelo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tiecco
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Di Gregorio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Susanna Capone
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Maria De Francesco
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Focà
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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15
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Giovanetti M, Branda F, Cella E, Scarpa F, Bazzani L, Ciccozzi A, Slavov SN, Benvenuto D, Sanna D, Casu M, Santos LA, Lai A, Zehender G, Caccuri F, Ianni A, Caruso A, Maroutti A, Pascarella S, Borsetti A, Ciccozzi M. Epidemic history and evolution of an emerging threat of international concern, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29012. [PMID: 37548148 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
This comprehensive review focuses on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its impact as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its objective is to provide a cohesive overview of the epidemic history and evolutionary aspects of the virus, with a particular emphasis on its emergence, global spread, and implications for public health. The review delves into the timelines and key milestones of SARS-CoV-2's epidemiological progression, shedding light on the challenges encountered during early containment efforts and subsequent waves of transmission. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of the virus is crucial in monitoring its potential for adaptation and future outbreaks. Genetic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 is discussed, with a focus on the emergence of new variants and their implications for transmissibility, severity, and immune evasion. The review highlights the important role of genomic surveillance in tracking viral mutations linked to establishing public health interventions. By analyzing the origins, global spread, and genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2, valuable insights can be gained for the development of effective control measures, improvement of pandemic preparedness, and addressing future emerging infectious diseases of international concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Giovanetti
- Instituto Rene Rachou Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Branda
- Department of Computer Science, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cella
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Fabio Scarpa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Liliana Bazzani
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
- Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Domenico Benvenuto
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daria Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Casu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Luciane Amorim Santos
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Praça Ramos de Queirós, s/n, Largo do Terreiro de Jesus, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alessia Lai
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giangluglielmo Zehender
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Ianni
- M.G. Vannini Hospital IFSC Rome, Research Unit in Hygiene UCBM Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Pascarella
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
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16
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De Francesco MA, Signorini L, Piva S, Pellizzeri S, Fumarola B, Corbellini S, Piccinelli G, Simonetti F, Carta V, Mangeri L, Padovani M, Vecchiati D, Latronico N, Castelli F, Caruso A. Bacterial and fungal superinfections are detected at higher frequency in critically ill patients affected by SARS CoV-2 infection than negative patients and are associated to a worse outcome. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28892. [PMID: 37394790 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Patients with viral infections are at higher risk to acquire bacterial and fungal superinfections associated with a worse prognosis. We explored this critical point in the setting of patients with severe COVID-19 disease. The study included 1911 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) during a 2-year study period (March 2020-March 2022). Of them, 713 (37.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 1198 were negative (62.7%). Regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with the presence of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections in SARS-CoV-2 patients and to evaluate predictors of ICU mortality. Of the 713 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 473 (66.3%) had respiratory and/or bloodstream bacterial and/or fungal superinfections, while of the 1198 COVID-19-negative patients, only 369 (30%) showed respiratory and/or bloodstream bacterial and/or fungal superinfections (p < 0.0001). Baseline characteristics of COVID-19 patients included a median age of 66 (interquartile range [IQR], 58-73), a predominance of males (72.7%), and the presence of a BMI higher than 24 (median 26; IQR, 24.5-30.4). Seventy-four percent (527, 73.9%) had one or more comorbidities and 135 (18.9%) of them had received previous antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, most of them (473, 66.3%) exhibited severe radiological pictures and needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 1 unit increment in BMI rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections acquisition by 3% and 1-day increment in ICU stays rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections acquisition by 11%. Furthermore, 1-day increment in mechanical ventilation rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfection acquisition by 2.7 times. Furthermore, patients with both bacterial and fungal infections had a significantly higher mortality rate than patients without superinfections (45.8% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.0001). Therefore, bacterial and fungal superinfections are frequent in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU and their presence is associated with a worse outcome. This is an important consideration for targeted therapies in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 infected patients to improve their clinical course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Piva
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Spedali Civili University Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Pellizzeri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fumarola
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Piccinelli
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Carta
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Mangeri
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Padovani
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Vecchiati
- First Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Nicola Latronico
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Spedali Civili University Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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17
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Filippini F, Giacomelli M, Bazzani C, Fredi M, Semeraro P, Tomasi C, Franceschini F, Caruso A, Cavazzana I, Giagulli C. Efficacy of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in patients with autoimmune disorders: humoral and cellular immune response. BMC Med 2023; 21:210. [PMID: 37316832 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02868-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of immunosuppressive therapies on the efficacy of vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 is not completely clarified. We analyzed humoral and T cell-mediated response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in immunosuppressed patients and patients with common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID). PATIENTS We enrolled 38 patients and 11 healthy sex- and age-matched controls (HC). Four patients were affected by CVID and 34 by chronic rheumatic diseases (RDs). All patients with RDs were treated by corticosteroid therapy and/or immunosuppressive treatment and/or biological drugs: 14 patients were treated with abatacept, 10 with rituximab, and 10 with tocilizumab. METHODS Total antibody titer to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, CD4 and CD4-CD8 T cell-mediated immune response was analyzed by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay, the production of IFN-γ-inducible (CXCL9 and CXCL10) and innate-immunity chemokines (MCP-1, CXCL8, and CCL5) by cytometric bead array after stimulation with different spike peptides. The expression of CD40L, CD137, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-17 on CD4 and CD8 T cells, evaluating their activation status, after SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides stimulation, was analyzed by intracellular flow cytometry staining. Cluster analysis identified cluster 1, namely the "high immunosuppression" cluster, and cluster 2, namely the "low immunosuppression" cluster. RESULTS After the second dose of vaccine, only abatacept-treated patients, compared to HC, showed a reduced anti-spike antibody response (mean: 432 IU/ml ± 562 vs mean: 1479 IU/ml ± 1051: p = 0.0034), and an impaired T cell response, compared with HC. In particular, we found a significantly reduced release of IFN-γ from CD4 and CD4-CD8 stimulated T cells, compared with HC (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0078, respectively), reduced production of CXCL10 and CXCL9 from stimulated CD4 (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.001) and CD4-CD8 T cells (p = 0.0079 and p = 0.0006). Multivariable General Linear Model analysis confirmed a relationship between abatacept exposure and impaired production of CXCL9, CXCL10, and IFN-γ from stimulated T cells. Cluster analysis confirms that cluster 1 (including abatacept and half of rituximab treated cases) showed a reduced IFN-γ response, as well as reduced monocyte-derived chemokines All groups of patients demonstrated the ability to generate specific CD4 T activated cells after spike proteins stimulation. After the third dose of vaccine, abatacept-treated patients acquired the ability to produce a strong antibody response, showing an anti-S titer significantly higher compared to that obtained after the second dose (p = 0.0047), and comparable with the anti-S titer of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients treated with abatacept showed an impaired humoral immune response to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The third vaccine dose has been demonstrated to be useful to induce a more robust antibody response to balance an impaired T cell-mediated one. All patients, exposed to different immunosuppressive drugs, were able to produce specific CD4-activated T cells, after spike proteins stimulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION Local Ethical Committee NP4187.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Giacomelli
- Section of Microbiology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Bazzani
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Micaela Fredi
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia and Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Semeraro
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia and Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cesare Tomasi
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia and Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Franceschini
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia and Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cavazzana
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
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18
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Messali S, Rondina A, Giovanetti M, Bonfanti C, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Traceability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through quasispecies analysis. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28848. [PMID: 37294038 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
During COVID-19 pandemic, consensus genomic sequences were used for rapidly monitor the spread of the virus worldwide. However, less attention was paid to intrahost genetic diversity. In fact, in the infected host, SARS-CoV-2 consists in an ensemble of replicating and closely related viral variants so-called quasispecies. Here we show that intrahost single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) represent a target for contact tracing analysis. Our data indicate that in the acute phase of infection, in highly likely transmission links, the number of viral particles transmitted from one host to another (bottleneck size) is large enough to propagate iSNVs among individuals. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks when the consensus sequences are identical, it is possible to reconstruct the transmission chains by genomic investigations of iSNVs. Specifically, we found that it is possible to identify transmission chains by limiting the analysis of iSNVs to only three well-conserved genes, namely nsp2, ORF3, and ORF7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rondina
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, University of Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Hospital Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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19
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Arsuffi S, Sansone E, Focà E, Storti S, Diaferia T, Bonfanti C, Terlenghi L, Caruso A, Sala E, Castelli F, De Palma G, Quiros-Roldan E. Timing and implications for immune response to vaccine in SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections. iScience 2023; 26:106716. [PMID: 37152764 PMCID: PMC10122568 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106716] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccines elicit a strong anti-S antibodies response. We aim to describe antibody titers in peri-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections. This is a retrospective longitudinal single-cohort study. Serological tests were performed at the time of the first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose (T0) and 60 (T1), 120 (T2), and 240 (T3) days after. The study included 4,682 subjects. Group A had the infection without an anti-S Ig response. Group B and C seroconverted for anti-N Ig between T0 and T1 and between T1 and T2, respectively. Group D was persistently anti-N Ig negative. Group B showed an initial sub-optimal response, reaching the highest titer at T3. Those who received the second dose 120 days after the infection had higher titers compared to those who received it 21 days after the first dose. The immune response depends on the number and the timing of vaccine doses, highlighting the need for a more personalized approach to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Arsuffi
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Sansone
- Department of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Focà
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Samuele Storti
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Teresa Diaferia
- Department of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Microbiology Department, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigina Terlenghi
- Microbiology Department, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Microbiology Department, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emma Sala
- Department of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Palma
- Department of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
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20
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Iaconis D, Caccuri F, Manelfi C, Talarico C, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Zani A, Novelli R, Kuzikov M, Ellinger B, Gribbon P, Riecken K, Esposito F, Corona A, Tramontano E, Beccari AR, Caruso A, Allegretti M. DHFR Inhibitors Display a Pleiotropic Anti-Viral Activity against SARS-CoV-2: Insights into the Mechanisms of Action. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051128. [PMID: 37243214 DOI: 10.3390/v15051128] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, drug repurposing represented an effective strategy to obtain quick answers to medical emergencies. Based on previous data on methotrexate (MTX), we evaluated the anti-viral activity of several DHFR inhibitors in two cell lines. We observed that this class of compounds showed a significant influence on the virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) partly attributed to the intrinsic anti-metabolic activity of these drugs, but also to a specific anti-viral function. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, we took advantage of our EXSCALATE platform for in-silico molecular modelling and further validated the influence of these inhibitors on nsp13 and viral entry. Interestingly, pralatrexate and trimetrexate showed superior effects in counteracting the viral infection compared to other DHFR inhibitors. Our results indicate that their higher activity is due to their polypharmacological and pleiotropic profile. These compounds can thus potentially give a clinical advantage in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients already treated with this class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Iaconis
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carmine Talarico
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Rubina Novelli
- Dompè Famaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile snc, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ellinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kristoffer Riecken
- Research Department Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Esposito
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Angela Corona
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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21
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Scarpa F, Imperia E, Azzena I, Giovanetti M, Benvenuto D, Locci C, Casu M, Fiori PL, Maruotti A, Ceccarelli G, Borsetti A, Caruso A, Cauda R, Cassone A, Via A, Pascarella S, Sanna D, Ciccozzi M. Genetic and structural genome-based survey reveals the low potential for epidemiological expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 sublineage. J Infect 2023; 86:596-598. [PMID: 36863537 PMCID: PMC9974203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Scarpa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Elena Imperia
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy; Unit of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Azzena
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Benvenuto
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Locci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Casu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Fiori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Azienza Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Giancarlo Ceccarelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borsetti
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Cauda
- UOC Malattie Infettive, Infectious Disease Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Allegra Via
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Pascarella
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Daria Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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22
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De Francesco MA, Bertelli A, Corbellini S, Scaltriti E, Risso F, Allegri R, Tiecco G, Castelli F, Caruso A. Emergence of Pandemic Clonal Lineage Sequence Types 131 and 69 of Extraintestinal Escherichia coli as a Cause of Meningitis: Is It Time To Revise Molecular Assays? Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0327422. [PMID: 36786647 PMCID: PMC10100906 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03274-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Two Escherichia coli strains, respectively responsible for neonatal and adult meningitis, were isolated and their phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility and genomic features characterized by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Multiplex real-time PCR targeting the principal microorganisms involved in meningitis etiology failed to identify either isolate. Afterwards, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was used to identify the isolates as E. coli strains. Genomic analysis showed that they belonged to sequence types 131 and 69 (ST131 and ST69). Neither of the isolates harbored the K1 capsular antigen or belonged to other capsular serotypes, but they shared different virulence factors, including ibe genes, responsible for invasion of brain endothelial cells. IMPORTANCE The extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli group is characterized by the presence of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), sepsis-associated E. coli (SEPEC), and neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC). All of these members exhibit many virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharides, toxins, iron acquisition factors, invasins, fimbriae, and capsules. Urinary infections are the most common infections caused by this group, followed by globally increasing numbers of both community- and nosocomially acquired bloodstream infections, associated with considerable patient morbidity and mortality. Some lineages tend to become dominant; in addition to enhanced fitness, this epidemiological success stems from increased virulence, antibiotic resistance, gut colonization, and greater host-to-host transmission. Our results underline the importance of continuous surveillance of these new emerging lineages and the need to develop new meningitis molecular assay panels able to identify them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Bertelli
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Risso
- Neonatalogy and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Allegri
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tiecco
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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23
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Bugatti A, Filippini F, Messali S, Giovanetti M, Ravelli C, Zani A, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. The D405N Mutation in the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 Inhibits Spike/Integrins Interaction and Viral Infection of Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020332. [PMID: 36851546 PMCID: PMC9962894 DOI: 10.3390/v15020332] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 is characterized by angiogenic features, such as intussusceptive angiogenesis, endothelialitis, and activation of procoagulant pathways. This pathological state can be ascribed to a direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of human lung ECs. Recently, we showed the capability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect ACE2-negative primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-mECs). This occurred through the interaction of an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, endowed on the Spike protein at position 403-405, with αvβ3 integrin expressed on HL-mECs. HL-mEC infection promoted the remodeling of cells toward a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic phenotype. The RGD motif is distinctive of SARS-CoV-2 Spike proteins up to the Omicron BA.1 subvariant. Suddenly, a dominant D405N mutation was expressed on the Spike of the most recently emerged Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants. Here we demonstrate that the D405N mutation inhibits Omicron BA.5 infection of HL-mECs and their dysfunction because of the lack of Spike/integrins interaction. The key role of ECs in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis has been definitively proven. Evidence of mutations retrieving the capability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect HL-mECs highlights a new scenario for patients infected with the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, suggesting that they may display less severe disease manifestations than those observed with previous variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivirus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Section of General Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-030-3995650
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Messali S, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Emergence of S gene-based quasispecies explains an optimal adaptation of Omicron BA.5 subvariant in the immunocompetent vaccinated human host. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28167. [PMID: 36147029 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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25
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De Francesco MA, Tiecco G, Scaltriti E, Piccinelli G, Corbellini S, Gurrieri F, Crosato V, Moioli G, Marchese V, Focà E, Bertelli DA, Castelli F, Caruso A. First Italian report of a liver abscess and metastatic endogenous endophthalmitis caused by ST-23 hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in an immunocompetent individual. Infection 2023; 51:271-276. [PMID: 35802342 PMCID: PMC9879799 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01879-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common species in the gut of mammals and is widely distributed in the environment. However, the environmental source of hvKp that precedes gut colonization is unclear, but once that it reaches the gut there is a possible generalized spread y fecal-oral transmission especially in endemic areas. Liver abscess might develop when the bacteria, using its virulence factors, cross the intestinal barrier and invade the liver by the portal circulation. This syndrome, prevalent mostly in Asian countries, is increasingly reported in Western Countries and leaves open questions about the source of infection. CASE Here we describe for the first time in Italy, a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by a hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKp) complicated by endophthalmitis and other metastatic infections in lung and prostate in an immunocompetent Chinese healthy individual with no recent travel in Asia. CONCLUSION This case underlines the need for increased awareness of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, even in settings where it occurs infrequently and where there are not evident epidemiological links.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tiecco
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy ,Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia E Dell’Emilia Romagna, Parma, Italy
| | - Giorgio Piccinelli
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Gurrieri
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Verena Crosato
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Moioli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Marchese
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Focà
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide A. Bertelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, P. Le Spedali Civili, 1, 125123 Brescia, Italy
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26
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Sansone E, Bonfanti C, Sala E, Renzetti S, Terlenghi L, Matteelli A, Tiraboschi MM, Pedrazzi T, Lombardo M, Rossi C, Indelicato AM, Caruso A, De Palma G. Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccine in a Big Italian COVID-19 Hospital: An 18-Month Follow-Up. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 11:vaccines11010008. [PMID: 36679853 PMCID: PMC9864433 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010008] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This is a longitudinal prospective study which was designed to assess the trend of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies targeting the Spike (anti-S) and Nucleocapside protein (anti-N) viral antigens over a 9-month period after the administration of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a big COVID-19 hospital located in Northern Italy. PARTICIPANTS 7411 vaccinated workers were included in a linear mixed-effect model analysis performed to model the anti-S decay over the 9 months following the vaccination, during serological screening performed approximately 2, 4, and 9 months following the first jab administration. Serological tests performed in the 9 months preceding vaccine administration were retrospectively analysed to identify the burden of infections occurring before vaccination. RESULTS The serological assays were used for monitoring the antibody titres during the observational period. Vaccination significantly reduced the rate of infection and elicited a specific humoral response, which lasted during the whole observational period (9 months). A decay was observed in all considered subgroups. At 35 weeks, workers with no history of pre-vaccine infection showed a significantly lower anti-S titre (-2522 U/mL on average (-2589.7 to -2445.7)); younger workers showed significantly higher anti-S titres (140.2 U/mL on average (82.4 to 201.3)). Only seven immunocompromised workers did not show significant levels of anti-S antibodies; three of them, all females, showed a specific T-cell response. CONCLUSIONS Comparing the 9-month periods before and after the first vaccine dose, a significant reduction in infection rate was observed (1708 cases vs. 156). Pre-vaccine infection, especially if contracted during the first pandemic wave, greatly enhanced the response to vaccination, which was significantly affected also by age both in extent and duration (inversely related). A gender effect on the T-cell immune response was observed in a small group of workers who did not produce antibodies after vaccine administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Sansone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia—ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Emma Sala
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigina Terlenghi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia—ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Matteelli
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mara Maria Tiraboschi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Tatiana Pedrazzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Lombardo
- Chief Executive Office, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Camillo Rossi
- Chief Executive Office, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia—ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Palma
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Correspondence:
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27
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Scarpa F, Sanna D, Benvenuto D, Borsetti A, Azzena I, Casu M, Fiori PL, Giovanetti M, Maruotti A, Ceccarelli G, Caruso A, Caccuri F, Cauda R, Cassone A, Pascarella S, Ciccozzi M. Genetic and Structural Data on the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BQ.1 Variant Reveal Its Low Potential for Epidemiological Expansion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15264. [PMID: 36499592 PMCID: PMC9739521 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315264] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The BQ.1 SARS-CoV-2 variant, also known as Cerberus, is one of the most recent Omicron descendant lineages. Compared to its direct progenitor BA.5, BQ.1 has some additional spike mutations in some key antigenic sites, which confer further immune escape ability over other circulating lineages. In such a context, here, we perform a genome-based survey aimed at obtaining a complete-as-possible nuance of this rapidly evolving Omicron subvariant. Genetic data suggest that BQ.1 represents an evolutionary blind background, lacking the rapid diversification that is typical of a dangerous lineage. Indeed, the evolutionary rate of BQ.1 is very similar to that of BA.5 (7.6 × 10-4 and 7 × 10-4 subs/site/year, respectively), which has been circulating for several months. The Bayesian Skyline Plot reconstruction indicates a low level of genetic variability, suggesting that the peak was reached around 3 September 2022. Concerning the affinity for ACE2, structure analyses (also performed by comparing the properties of BQ.1 and BA.5 RBD) indicate that the impact of the BQ.1 mutations may be modest. Likewise, immunoinformatic analyses showed moderate differences between the BQ.1 and BA5 potential B-cell epitopes. In conclusion, genetic and structural analyses on SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1 suggest no evidence of a particularly dangerous or high expansion capability. Genome-based monitoring must continue uninterrupted for a better understanding of its descendants and all other lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Scarpa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Daria Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Domenico Benvenuto
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borsetti
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Azzena
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Casu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Fiori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Flavivirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giancarlo Ceccarelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Cauda
- UOC Malattie Infettive, Infectious Disease Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Pascarella
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
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28
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Messali S, Giovanetti M, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in a severely immunocompromised HIV-1-infected patient in the omicron era. New Microbiol 2022; 45:355-357. [PMID: 36066212] [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] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Persistence of detectable viral RNA does not depend on the symptomatic status of the patients. Here we describe the case of a strongly immunocompromised patient living with a prolonged SARSCoV-2 Alpha variant infection without showing any symptoms. The importance of our findings is that the persistent infection with an old SARS-CoV-2 strain, in an immunocompromised host, may allow recombination events generating new viral variants whose pathogenicity cannot be predicted. Our observation calls for the urgent need for continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 genomic evolution in immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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29
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Caccuri F, Caruso A. Endothelial cells are major players in SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. EBioMedicine 2022; 86:104328. [PMID: 36335670 PMCID: PMC9633040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Corresponding author. Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, Brescia 25123, Italy.
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30
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De Francesco MA, Gargiulo F, Zaltron S, Spinetti A, Castelli F, Caruso A. DAA Treatment Failure in a HIV/HBV/HCV Co-Infected Patient Carrying a Chimeric HCV Genotype 4/1b. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:11655. [PMID: 36141921 PMCID: PMC9517502 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811655] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Approved direct antiviral agent (DAA) combinations are associated with high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and the absence of a detectable hepatitis C viral load 12-24 weeks after treatment discontinuation. However, a low percentage of individuals fail DAA therapy. Here, we report the case of a HIV/HBV/HCV co-infected patient who failed to respond to DAA pangenotypic combination therapy. The sequencing of NS5a, NS5b, NS3 and core regions evidenced a recombinant intergenotypic strain 4/1b with a recombination crossover point located inside the NS3 region. The identification of this natural recombinant virus underlines the concept that HCV recombination, even if it occurs rarely, may play a key role in the virus fitness and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Gargiulo
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Zaltron
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Angiola Spinetti
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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31
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Labriola JM, Miersch S, Chen G, Chen C, Pavlenco A, Saberianfar R, Caccuri F, Zani A, Sharma N, Feng A, Leung DW, Caruso A, Novelli G, Amarasinghe GK, Sidhu SS. Peptide-Antibody Fusions Engineered by Phage Display Exhibit an Ultrapotent and Broad Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:1978-1988. [PMID: 35731947 PMCID: PMC9236212 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The spread of COVID-19 has been exacerbated by the emergence of variants of concern (VoC). Many VoC contain mutations in the spike protein (S-protein) and are implicated in infection and response to therapeutics. Bivalent neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) targeting the S-protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) are promising therapeutics for COVID-19, but they are limited by low potency and vulnerability to RBD mutations in VoC. To address these issues, we used naïve phage-displayed peptide libraries to isolate and optimize 16-residue peptides that bind to the RBD or the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S-protein. We fused these peptides to the N-terminus of a moderate-affinity nAb to generate tetravalent peptide-IgG fusions, and we showed that both classes of peptides were able to improve affinities for the S-protein trimer by >100-fold (apparent KD < 1 pM). Critically, cell-based infection assays with a panel of six SARS-CoV-2 variants demonstrated that an RBD-binding peptide was able to enhance the neutralization potency of a high-affinity nAb >100-fold. Moreover, this peptide-IgG was able to neutralize variants that were resistant to the same nAb in the bivalent IgG format, including the dominant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant that is resistant to most clinically approved therapeutic nAbs. To show that this approach is general, we fused the same peptide to a clinically approved nAb drug and showed that it enabled the neutralization of a resistant variant. Taken together, these results establish minimal peptide fusions as a modular means to greatly enhance affinities, potencies, and breadth of coverage of nAbs as therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Labriola
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Shane Miersch
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Alevtina Pavlenco
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Reza Saberianfar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Nitin Sharma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Annie Feng
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken
Department of Medicine, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United
States
| | - Daisy W. Leung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken
Department of Medicine, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United
States
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and
Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School,
25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention,
University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133
Rome, Italy
- Italy 6 IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli
(IS) 86077, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine,
University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United
States
| | - Gaya K. Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St
Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Sachdev S. Sidhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The
Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College St., M5S 3E1 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
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32
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Romano V, Bignotti S, Forbice E, Piccinelli G, Caruso A, Semeraro F. What empiric treatment should be given for suspected bacterial keratitis in Northern Italy? Eur J Ophthalmol 2022; 32:NP95-NP97. [DOI: 10.1177/11206721221112519] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is a lack of epidemiological studies reporting bacteria profiles, susceptibility, and suggested empiric (first line) treatment in Northern Italy. Our internal audit of corneal scraping for microbial keratitis at University of Brescia reports 116 bacterial strains isolated between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020. All cases had at least an epithelial defect of 1 mm in diameter. 36.2% (42) were Gram-positive, while 63.7% (74) Gram negative. In our results Gram-negatives are sensitive to ciprofloxacin in 94.5% and Pseudomonas in 95%. Grampositives are sensitive to teicoplanin in 91,1%. Those data may help to establish empiric treatment in case of bacterial keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Romano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Bignotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eliana Forbice
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Piccinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Semeraro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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33
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Malagola M, Turra A, Signorini L, Corbellini S, Polverelli N, Masina L, Del Fabro G, Lorenzotti S, Fumarola B, Farina M, Morello E, Radici V, Buttini EA, Colnaghi F, Bernardi S, Re F, Caruso A, Castelli F, Russo D. Results of an Innovative Program for Surveillance, Prophylaxis, and Treatment of Infectious Complications Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Hematological Malignancies (BATMO Protocol). Front Oncol 2022; 12:874117. [PMID: 35785189 PMCID: PMC9247274 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.874117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infectious complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT). The BATMO (Best-Antimicrobial-Therapy-TMO) is an innovative program for infection prevention and management and has been used in our centre since 2019. The specific features of the BATMO protocol regard both prophylaxis during neutropenia (abandonment of fluoroquinolone, posaconazole use in high-risk patients, aerosolized liposomal amphotericin B use until engraftment or a need for antifungal treatment, and letermovir use in CMV-positive recipients from day 0 to day +100) and therapy (empirical antibiotics based on patient clinical history and colonization, new antibiotics used in second-line according to antibiogram with the exception of carbapenemase-producing K pneumoniae for which the use in first-line therapy is chosen). Methods Data on the infectious complications of 116 transplant patients before BATMO protocol (Cohort A; 2016 - 2018) were compared to those of 84 transplant patients following the introduction of the BATMO protocol (Cohort B; 2019 - 2021). The clinical and transplant characteristics of the 2 Cohorts were comparable, even though patients in Cohort B were at a higher risk of developing bacterial, fungal, and CMV infections, due to a significantly higher proportion of myeloablative regimens and haploidentical donors. Results No change in the incidence of infections with organ localization was observed between the two Cohorts. A significant reduction in Clostridioides difficile infections by day +100 was observed in Cohort B (47% vs. 15%; p=0.04). At day +30, a higher incidence of Gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSIs) was observed in Cohort B (12% vs. 23%; p=0.05). By day +100 and between days +100 and +180, the incidence of BSIs and of the various etiological agents, the mortality from Gram-negative bacteria, and the incidence of invasive fungal infections were not different in the two Cohorts. The incidence of CMV reactivations by day +100 dropped drastically in patients of Cohort B, following letermovir registration (51% vs. 15%; p=0.00001). Discussion The results of this study suggest that the BATMO program is safe. In particular, the choice to avoid prophylaxis with fluoroquinolone was associated with an increase in Gram-negative BSIs by day +30, but this did not translate into higher levels of mortality. Moreover, this strategy was associated with a significant reduction of Clostridiodes difficile infections. The efficacy of anti-CMV prophylaxis with letermovir was confirmed by a significant reduction in CMV reactivations. Even though patients in Cohort B were at higher risk of developing fungal infections (more haploidentical transplants with more myeloablative regimens), the extensive use of posaconazole for prophylaxis balanced this risk, and no increase in the incidence of fungal-associated complications was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Malagola
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Michele Malagola,
| | - Alessandro Turra
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Liana Signorini
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Polverelli
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Masina
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Del Fabro
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Lorenzotti
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fumarola
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mirko Farina
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Morello
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vera Radici
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Accorsi Buttini
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Colnaghi
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Bernardi
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Ematologico – Associazione Italiana per la Lotta alle Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma (AIL), Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili di Brecia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Re
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Ematologico – Associazione Italiana per la Lotta alle Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma (AIL), Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili di Brecia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Domenico Russo
- Chair of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Depatment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Miersch S, Sharma N, Saberianfar R, Chen C, Caccuri F, Zani A, Caruso A, Case JB, Diamond MS, Amarasinghe GK, Novelli G, Sidhu SS. Ultrapotent and broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants by modular, tetravalent, bi-paratopic antibodies. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110905. [PMID: 35617963 PMCID: PMC9108025 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have received emergency use approval for treatment of COVID-19. However, with the emergence of variants of concern, there is a need for new treatment options. We report a format that enables modular assembly of bi-paratopic tetravalent nAbs with antigen-binding sites from two distinct nAbs. The tetravalent nAb purifies in high yield and exhibits biophysical characteristics that are comparable to those of clinically used therapeutic antibodies. The tetravalent nAb binds to the spike protein trimer at least 100-fold more tightly than bivalent IgGs (apparent KD < 1 pM) and neutralizes a broad array of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses, chimeric viruses, and authentic viral variants with high potency. Together, these results establish the tetravalent diabody-Fc-Fab as a robust, modular platform for rapid production of drug-grade nAbs with potencies and breadth of coverage that greatly exceed those of conventional bivalent IgGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Miersch
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Nitin Sharma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Chao Chen
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - James Brett Case
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gaya K Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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35
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Iaconis D, Bordi L, Matusali G, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Cesta MC, Zippoli M, Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Zani A, Filippini F, Scorzolini L, Gobbi M, Beeg M, Piotti A, Montopoli M, Cocetta V, Bressan S, Bucci EM, Caruso A, Nicastri E, Allegretti M, Beccari AR. Characterization of raloxifene as a potential pharmacological agent against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:498. [PMID: 35614039 PMCID: PMC9130985 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04961-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which so far has caused over 6 million deaths in 2 years, despite new vaccines and antiviral medications. Drug repurposing, an approach for the potential application of existing pharmaceutical products to new therapeutic indications, could be an effective strategy to obtain quick answers to medical emergencies. Following a virtual screening campaign on the most relevant viral proteins, we identified the drug raloxifene, a known Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), as a new potential agent to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients. In this paper we report a comprehensive pharmacological characterization of raloxifene in relevant in vitro models of COVID-19, specifically in Vero E6 and Calu-3 cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2. A large panel of the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants isolated in Europe, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India was tested to demonstrate the drug's ability in contrasting the viral cytopathic effect (CPE). Literature data support a beneficial effect by raloxifene against the viral infection due to its ability to interact with viral proteins and activate protective estrogen receptor-mediated mechanisms in the host cells. Mechanistic studies here reported confirm the significant affinity of raloxifene for the Spike protein, as predicted by in silico studies, and show that the drug treatment does not directly affect Spike/ACE2 interaction or viral internalization in infected cell lines. Interestingly, raloxifene can counteract Spike-mediated ADAM17 activation in human pulmonary cells, thus providing new insights on its mechanism of action. A clinical study in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients (NCT05172050) has been recently completed. Our contribution to evaluate raloxifene results on SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the interpretation of the mechanisms of action will be key elements to better understand the trial results, and to design new clinical studies aiming to evaluate the potential development of raloxifene in this indication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Licia Bordi
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Francesca Caccuri
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Scorzolini
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Marten Beeg
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Piotti
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Montopoli
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Bressan
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico M. Bucci
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Health Research Organization, Biology Department CFT, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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36
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Brandolini L, d'Angelo M, Novelli R, Castelli V, Giorgio C, Sirico A, Cocchiaro P, D'Egidio F, Benedetti E, Cristiano C, Bugatti A, Ruocco A, Amendola PG, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Iaconis D, Beccari A, Quadros AU, Cunha TM, Caruso A, Russo R, Cimini A, Aramini A, Allegretti M. Paclitaxel binds and activates C5aR1: A new potential therapeutic target for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and hypersensitivity reactions. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:500. [PMID: 35614037 PMCID: PMC9130998 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04964-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) are among the most frequent and impairing side effects of the antineoplastic agent paclitaxel. Here, we demonstrated that paclitaxel can bind and activate complement component 5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) and that this binding is crucial in the etiology of paclitaxel-induced CIPN and anaphylaxis. Starting from our previous data demonstrating the role of interleukin (IL)-8 in paclitaxel-induced neuronal toxicity, we searched for proteins that activate IL-8 expression and, by using the Exscalate platform for molecular docking simulations, we predicted the high affinity of C5aR1 with paclitaxel. By in vitro studies, we confirmed the specific and competitive nature of the C5aR1-paclitaxel binding and found that it triggers intracellularly the NFkB/P38 pathway and c-Fos. In F11 neuronal cells and rat dorsal root ganglia, C5aR1 inhibition protected from paclitaxel-induced neuropathological effects, while in paclitaxel-treated mice, the absence (knock-out mice) or the inhibition of C5aR1 significantly ameliorated CIPN symptoms-in terms of cold and mechanical allodynia-and reduced the chronic pathological state in the paw. Finally, we found that C5aR1 inhibition can counteract paclitaxel-induced anaphylactic cytokine release in macrophages in vitro, as well as the onset of HSRs in mice. Altogether these data identified C5aR1 as a key mediator and a new potential pharmacological target for the prevention and treatment of CIPN and HSRs induced by paclitaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Brandolini
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rubina Novelli
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via S. Lucia, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cristina Giorgio
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Sirico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Francesco D'Egidio
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Claudia Cristiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Traslational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Ruocco
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Carmine Talarico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Iaconis
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Beccari
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Andreza U Quadros
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Thiago M Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Traslational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Andrea Aramini
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
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37
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Manocha E, Consonni A, Baggi F, Ciusani E, Cocce V, Paino F, Tremolada C, Caruso A, Alessandri G. CD146+ Pericytes Subset Isolated from Human Micro-Fragmented Fat Tissue Display a Strong Interaction with Endothelial Cells: A Potential Cell Target for Therapeutic Angiogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105806. [PMID: 35628617 PMCID: PMC9144360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pericytes (PCs) are mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that function as support cells and play a role in tissue regeneration and, in particular, vascular homeostasis. PCs promote endothelial cells (ECs) survival which is critical for vessel stabilization, maturation, and remodeling. In this study, PCs were isolated from human micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) obtained from fat lipoaspirate and were characterized as NG2+/PDGFRβ+/CD105+ cells. Here, we tested the fat-derived PCs for the dispensability of the CD146 marker with the aim of better understanding the role of these PC subpopulations on angiogenesis. Cells from both CD146-positive (CD146+) and negative (CD146−) populations were observed to interact with human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). In addition, fat-derived PCs were able to induce angiogenesis of ECs in spheroids assay; and conditioned medium (CM) from both PCs and fat tissue itself led to the proliferation of ECs, thereby marking their role in angiogenesis stimulation. However, we found that CD146+ cells were more responsive to PDGF-BB-stimulated migration, adhesion, and angiogenic interaction with ECs, possibly owing to their higher expression of NCAM/CD56 than the corresponding CD146− subpopulation. We conclude that in fat tissue, CD146-expressing cells may represent a more mature pericyte subpopulation that may have higher efficacy in controlling and stimulating vascular regeneration and stabilization than their CD146-negative counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Manocha
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Alessandra Consonni
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Fulvio Baggi
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Emilio Ciusani
- Laboratory of Neurological Biochemistry and Neuropharmacology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Valentina Cocce
- CRC StaMeTec, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesca Paino
- CRC StaMeTec, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (F.P.)
| | - Carlo Tremolada
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Image Institute, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Giulio Alessandri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.)
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Image Institute, 20122 Milan, Italy;
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Caccuri F, Messali S, Bortolotti D, Di Silvestre D, De Palma A, Cattaneo C, Bertelli A, Zani A, Milanesi M, Giovanetti M, Campisi G, Gentili V, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Scaltriti E, Pongolini S, Tucci A, Fiorentini S, d’Ursi P, Ciccozzi M, Mauri P, Rizzo R, Caruso A. Competition for Dominance Within Replicating Quasispecies During Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Immunocompromised Host. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac042. [PMID: 35706980 PMCID: PMC9129230 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) emerge for their capability to better adapt to the human host aimed and enhance human-to-human transmission. Mutations in spike largely contributed to adaptation. Viral persistence is a prerequisite for intra-host virus evolution, and this likely occurred in immunocompromised patients who allow intra-host long-term viral replication. The underlying mechanism leading to the emergence of variants during viral persistence in the immunocompromised host is still unknown. Here, we show the existence of an ensemble of minor mutants in the early biological samples obtained from an immunocompromised patient and their dynamic interplay with the master mutant during a persistent and productive long-term infection. In particular, after 222 days of active viral replication, the original master mutant, named MB610, was replaced by a minor quasispecies (MB61222) expressing two critical mutations in spike, namely Q493K and N501T. Isolation of the two viruses allowed us to show that MB61222 entry into target cells occurred mainly by the fusion at the plasma membrane (PM), whereas endocytosis characterized the entry mechanism used by MB610. Interestingly, coinfection of two human cell lines of different origin with the SARS-CoV-2 isolates highlighted the early and dramatic predominance of MB61222 over MB610 replication. This finding may be explained by a faster replicative activity of MB61222 as compared to MB610 as well as by the capability of MB61222 to induce peculiar viral RNA-sensing mechanisms leading to an increased production of interferons (IFNs) and, in particular, of IFN-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) and IFITM2. Indeed, it has been recently shown that IFITM2 is able to restrict SARS-CoV-2 entry occurring by endocytosis. In this regard, MB61222 may escape the antiviral activity of IFITMs by using the PM fusion pathway for entry into the target cell, whereas MB610 cannot escape this host antiviral response during MB61222 coinfection, since it has endocytosis as the main pathway of entry. Altogether, our data support the evidence of quasispecies fighting for host dominance by taking benefit from the cell machinery to restrict the productive infection of competitors in the viral ensemble. This finding may explain, at least in part, the extraordinary rapid worldwide turnover of VOCs that use the PM fusion pathway to enter into target cells over the original pandemic strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Daria Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Dario Di Silvestre
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Antonella De Palma
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Chiara Cattaneo
- Department of Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Bertelli
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Milanesi
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Gentili
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Pongolini
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Tucci
- Department of Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Pasqualina d’Ursi
- Institute of Technologies in Biomedicine, National Research Council, 20090 Segrate, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Mauri
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Bugatti A, Filippini F, Bardelli M, Zani A, Chiodelli P, Messali S, Caruso A, Caccuri F. SARS-CoV-2 Infects Human ACE2-Negative Endothelial Cells through an αvβ3 Integrin-Mediated Endocytosis Even in the Presence of Vaccine-Elicited Neutralizing Antibodies. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040705. [PMID: 35458435 PMCID: PMC9032829 DOI: 10.3390/v14040705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrins represent a gateway of entry for many viruses and the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif is the smallest sequence necessary for proteins to bind integrins. All Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineages own an RGD motif (aa 403–405) in their receptor binding domain (RBD). We recently showed that SARS-CoV-2 gains access into primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-mECs) lacking Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression through this conserved RGD motif. Following its entry, SARS-CoV-2 remodels cell phenotype and promotes angiogenesis in the absence of productive viral replication. Here, we highlight the αvβ3 integrin as the main molecule responsible for SARS-CoV-2 infection of HL-mECs via a clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Indeed, pretreatment of virus with αvβ3 integrin or pretreatment of cells with a monoclonal antibody against αvβ3 integrin was found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry into HL-mECs. Surprisingly, the anti-Spike antibodies evoked by vaccination were neither able to impair Spike/integrin interaction nor to prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry into HL-mECs. Our data highlight the RGD motif in the Spike protein as a functional constraint aimed to maintain the interaction of the viral envelope with integrins. At the same time, our evidences call for the need of intervention strategies aimed to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 integrin-mediated infection of ACE2-negative cells in the vaccine era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Marta Bardelli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Section of General Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence:
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De Francesco MA, Caruso A. The Gut Microbiome in Psoriasis and Crohn’s Disease: Is Its Perturbation a Common Denominator for Their Pathogenesis? Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020244. [PMID: 35214702 PMCID: PMC8877283 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), are interlinked. In fact, the prevalence of IBD is higher in patients with psoriasis, with a risk of ulcerative colitis of 1.6-times higher than in the general population. Analogously, patients with psoriasis have a greater risk of developing IBD. Furthermore, they share some clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms. Both are chronic inflammatory diseases with a relapsing-remitting condition that persists for the patient’s whole life and exhibit increased permeability of the mucosal barrier of skin and gut, allowing an increased interaction of pathogens with inflammatory receptors of the immune cells. A key element in the pathogenesis of these diseases is represented by the microbiota; in particular, the gut microbiota is an important driver of CD pathogenesis, while in psoriasis changes in gut and skin microbiota have been described without a defined pathogenic function. Furthermore, genetic predispositions or environmental factors contribute to disease manifestation, with a central role attributed to the immune responses and, in particular, to a dysregulated role played by T helper 17 cells both in psoriasis and IBD. The purpose of this review was to summarize present information about the links between psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, in particular Crohn’s disease, and changes in gut and/or skin microbiome.
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Corbellini S, Scaltriti E, Piccinelli G, Gurrieri F, Mascherpa M, Boroni G, AmoliniC, Caruso A, De Francesco MA. Genomic characterization of Escherichia coli isolates co-producing NDM-5 and OXA-1 from hospitalized patients with invasive infections. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2021; 28:136-139. [PMID: 34965471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2021.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Carbapenems are one of the latest therapeutic choices to treat infections due to multi-drug resistant microorganisms. For this reason, the spread of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae represents a serious health public problem. In this study, we describe isolates co-producing blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-1 METHODS: Three Escherichia coli isolates obtained from patients with invasive infection were analysed by phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility and whole genome sequencing (WGS). RESULTS All the isolates were resistant to carbapenems, most beta-lactam antibiotics, piperacillin-tazobactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin, remaining susceptible to amikacin, fosfomycin, colistin and tigecycline. The isolates belonged to ST-44, ST-405 and ST-167 and co-harboured the blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-1 genes. Two of them harboured also some ESBL genes (blaCTX-M-15 and blaTEM-1b). blaNDM5 gene was probably carried chromosomally even if different plasmids were identified. Different virulence genes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight that continuous surveillance is essential to monitor the spread of clinically important multidrug resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Corbellini
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - E Scaltriti
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy; Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Parma, Italy
| | - G Piccinelli
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - F Gurrieri
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - M Mascherpa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - G Boroni
- Pediatric Surgery Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - AmoliniC
- Medicine 1 Unit Geriatric section, Montichiari Hospital, ASST- Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - A Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - M A De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
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Angeletti S, Giovanetti M, Fogolari M, Cella E, De Florio L, Lintas C, Veralli R, Francesconi M, Caccuri F, De Cesaris M, De Flora C, Ceccarelli G, Spoto S, Caruso A, Pascarella S, Riva E, Ciccozzi M. SARS-CoV-2 AY.4.2 variant circulating in Italy: Genomic preliminary insight. J Med Virol 2021; 94:1689-1692. [PMID: 34766651 PMCID: PMC8661725 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The appearance of emerging variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 carrying mutations into the spike protein has recently raised concern with respect to tracking their transmission and mitigating the impact in the evolving pandemic across countries. AY.4.2, a recently detected Delta variant sublineage, is considered a new variant under investigation (VUI) as it carries specific genetic signatures present in the spike protein, called Y145H and A222V. Here, using genomic epidemiology, we provide the first preliminary insight regarding the circulation of this emerging VUI in Italy. Genomic epidemiology suggests that multiple independent introductions have occurred trough time likely‐mediated by European countries. Virus migration generally followed patterns of national and international human mobility, illustrating how the easing of restriction measures might facilitate the spread of those emerging variants worldwide. Our data reveal how crucial appear to be the implementation of a widespread genomic monitoring to detect variants previously not yet identified across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Angeletti
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marta Fogolari
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cella
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Lucia De Florio
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Veralli
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Francesconi
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marina De Cesaris
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia De Flora
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ceccarelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I Università 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Spoto
- Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medicine Division, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Pascarella
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Riva
- Unit of Virology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Gurrieri F, Corbellini S, Piccinelli G, Turra A, Morello E, Malagola M, Russo D, Caruso A, De Francesco MA. Management of Invasive Infections due to a Rare Arthroconidial Yeast, Saprochaete capitata, in Two Patients with Acute Hematological Malignancies. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111289. [PMID: 34835220 PMCID: PMC8619284 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Saprochaete capitata is an arthroconidial yeast, found principally in the environment, even if it belongs also to the normal microbial flora that colonize human subjects. This yeast is increasingly associated with invasive infections in hematological patients, in particular in those affected by acute leukemia. An important risk factor that predisposes to this infection is the profound neutropenia present in such immunocompromised patients. Saprochaete spp. were found resistant to both echinocandins and fluconazole so the treatment is often difficult. Here, we report two cases of sepsis in two patients with acute leukemia. All of them had fatal events, due to the worsening of their clinical condition. An early diagnosis and appropriate management of these pathogens is important in consideration of the poor prognosis associated to these fungal invasive infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gurrieri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.G.); (S.C.); (G.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.G.); (S.C.); (G.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Giorgio Piccinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.G.); (S.C.); (G.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Turra
- Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.T.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Enrico Morello
- Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.T.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Michele Malagola
- Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.T.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Domenico Russo
- Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.T.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.G.); (S.C.); (G.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.G.); (S.C.); (G.P.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Pilotto A, Masciocchi S, Del Zotto E, Volonghi I, Magni E, De Giuli V, Censori B, Rifino N, Sessa M, Gennuso M, Mariotto S, Ferrari S, Tesolin L, Teatini F, Cotelli MS, Turla M, Balducci U, Bernard-Valnet R, Ciccone A, Fiacco F, Imarisio A, Risi B, Foca E, Caruso A, Leonardi M, Gasparotti R, Castelli F, Zanusso G, Romagnolo A, Lopiano L, Lochner P, Fassbender K, Padovani A. Encephalitis during first year of SARS-COV-2 pandemic– first results of the European ENCOVID registry. J Neurol Sci 2021. [PMCID: PMC8498356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Messali S, Campisi G, Giovanetti M, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. The first Italian outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage in Corzano, Lombardy. J Med Virol 2021; 94:413-416. [PMID: 34515998 PMCID: PMC8661962 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In December 2020, Italy experienced the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.7 lineage. In January 2021, we identified 21 cases of this variant in Corzano, defining the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage in Italy. The high transmissibility of the B.1.1.7 variant represented an important benefit for the virus, which became rapidly dominant on the territory. Containment measures induced the epidemic curve onto a decreasing trajectory underlining the importance of appropriate control and surveillance for restraint of virus spread. Highlights The first Italian outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage occurred in Lombardy in January 2021. The outbreak originated by a single introduction of the B.1.1.7 lineage. The genomic sequencing revealed, for the first time, the presence of the V551F mutation in the B.1.1.7 lineage in Italy. Surveillance, prompt sequencing and tracing efforts were fundamental to identify and to quickly contain the outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo, Cruz, Brazil.,Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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De Francesco MA, Pollara C, Gargiulo F, Giacomelli M, Caruso A. Circulation of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brescia, Italy: A Retrospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph18189525. [PMID: 34574450 PMCID: PMC8469422 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Different preventive public health measures were adopted globally to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as hand hygiene and the use of masks, travel restrictions, social distance actions such as the closure of schools and workplaces, case and contact tracing, quarantine and lockdown. These measures, in particular physical distancing and the use of masks, might have contributed to containing the spread of other respiratory viruses that occurs principally by contact and droplet routes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of different respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3 and 4, rhinovirus, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses) after one year of the pandemic. Furthermore, another aim was to evaluate the possible impact of these non-pharmaceutical measures on the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses. This single center study was conducted between January 2017-February 2020 (pre-pandemic period) and March 2020-May 2021 (pandemic period). All adults >18 years with respiratory symptoms and tested for respiratory pathogens were included in the study. Nucleic acid detection of all respiratory viruses was performed by multiplex real time PCR. Our results show that the test positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human coronaviruses decreased with statistical significance during the pandemic. Contrary to this, for adenovirus the decrease was not statistically significant. Conversely, a statistically significant increase was detected for rhinovirus. Coinfections between different respiratory viruses were observed during the pre-pandemic period, while the only coinfection detected during pandemic was between SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus. To understand how the preventive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 might alter the transmission dynamics and epidemic patterns of respiratory viruses is fundamental to guide future preventive recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-030-3995860
| | - Caterina Pollara
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Franco Gargiulo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Mauro Giacomelli
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
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De Francesco MA, Lorenzin G, Meini A, Schumacher RF, Caruso A. Nonenteric Adenoviruses Associated with Gastroenteritis in Hospitalized Children. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0030021. [PMID: 34319131 PMCID: PMC8552676 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00300-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The object of this study was to investigate the frequency of human adenovirus (HAdV) infections in hospitalized pediatric patients. Stool samples were collected during a 1-year period (February 2018 to January 2019). HAdV was detected by a broad-range PCR and genotyped by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Demographic characteristics and detailed clinical information were analyzed for each patient. HAdV was detected in 7.1% of stool samples (34/476). Among these patients, 23.5% were coinfected with other enteric viral or bacterial pathogens. The majority (85.2%) of HAdV positives were detected in children of <5 years of age. Two HAdV species (B and C) with three types were identified in this study population. HAdV species F was not detected. Genetic analysis shows that the isolates circulating in our region present high diversity and do not exhibit clonal expansion. The presence of nonenteric HAdV in subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms and in immunocompromised patients has already been reported by different studies and underlines the need to develop routine molecular assays that have wide reactivity for most types of adenovirus in order to obtain an optimal tool for their rapid and accurate diagnosis. IMPORTANCE Gastroenteritis is the second leading cause of death among infants and children worldwide. Our study shows that adenovirus types other than 40 and 41 might be related to acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, a novel approach using diagnostic methods able to detect all adenovirus types is desirable in order to overcome the limitations of the current techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia–Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lorenzin
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia–Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Meini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Children’s Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Richard Fabian Schumacher
- Pediatrics Clinic, Children’s Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Haemato-Oncology and BMT Unit, Children’s Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia–Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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Bortolotti D, Gentili V, Rizzo S, Schiuma G, Beltrami S, Strazzabosco G, Fernandez M, Caccuri F, Caruso A, Rizzo R. TLR3 and TLR7 RNA Sensor Activation during SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1820. [PMID: 34576716 PMCID: PMC8465566 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has led to a pandemic that began in March 2020. The role of the SARS-CoV-2 components on innate and adaptive immunity is still unknown. We investigated the possible implication of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) interaction. (2) Methods: We infected Calu-3/MRC-5 multicellular spheroids (MTCSs) with a SARS-CoV-2 clinical strain and evaluated the activation of RNA sensors, transcription factors, and cytokines/interferons (IFN) secretion, by quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, and ELISA. (3) Results: Our results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection of Calu-3/MRC-5 multicellular spheroids induced the activation of the TLR3 and TLR7 RNA sensor pathways. In particular, TLR3 might act via IRF3, producing interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-α and IFN-β, during the first 24 h post-infection. Then, TLR3 activates the NFκB transduction pathway, leading to pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Conversely, TLR7 seems to mainly act via NFκB, inducing type 1 IFN, IFN-γ, and IFN-λ3, starting from the 48 h post-infection. (4) Conclusion: We showed that both TLR3 and TLR7 are involved in the control of innate immunity during lung SARS-CoV-2 infection. The activation of TLRs induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-6, as well as interferons. TLRs could be a potential target in controlling the infection in the early stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Valentina Gentili
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Sabrina Rizzo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Giovanna Schiuma
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Silvia Beltrami
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Giovanni Strazzabosco
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Mercedes Fernandez
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, “Spedali Civili,” 25126 Brescia, Italy; (F.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, “Spedali Civili,” 25126 Brescia, Italy; (F.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.B.); (V.G.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (S.B.); (G.S.); (M.F.)
- LTTA, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Messali S, Bertelli A, Campisi G, Zani A, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. A cluster of the new SARS-CoV-2 B.1.621 lineage in Italy and sensitivity of the viral isolate to the BNT162b2 vaccine. J Med Virol 2021; 93:6468-6470. [PMID: 34329486 PMCID: PMC8426698 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Bertelli
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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50
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Scaturro M, Rota MC, Caporali MG, Girolamo A, Magoni M, Barberis D, Romano C, Cereda D, Gramegna M, Piro A, Corbellini S, Giagulli C, Rezza G, Caruso A, Ricci ML. A community-acquired Legionnaires' disease outbreak caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2: an uncommon event, Italy, August to October 2018. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 26. [PMID: 34169820 PMCID: PMC8229375 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.25.2001961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In September 2018 in Brescia province, northern Italy, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (LD) caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2 (Lp2) occurred. The 33 cases (two fatal) resided in seven municipalities along the Chiese river. All cases were negative by urinary antigen test (UAT) and most were diagnosed by real-time PCR and serology. In only three cases, respiratory sample cultures were positive, and Lp2 was identified and typed as sequence type (ST)1455. In another three cases, nested sequence-based typing was directly applied to respiratory samples, which provided allelic profiles highly similar to ST1455. An environmental investigation was undertaken immediately and water samples were collected from private homes, municipal water systems, cooling towers and the river. Overall, 533 environmental water samples were analysed and 34 were positive for Lp. Of these, only three samples, all collected from the Chiese river, were Lp2 ST1455. If and how the river water could have been aerosolised causing the LD cases remains unexplained. This outbreak, the first to our knowledge caused by Lp2, highlights the limits of UAT for LD diagnosis, underlining the importance of adopting multiple tests to ensure that serogroups other than serogroup 1, as well as other Legionella species, are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scaturro
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Michele Magoni
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Barberis
- Public Health Laboratory, Agency for Health Protection of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Romano
- Public Health Laboratory, Agency for Health Protection of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Danilo Cereda
- Public Health Managment of Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Gramegna
- Public Health Managment of Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Piro
- Agency for Health Protection of Valpadana, Mantova, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Microbiology and Virology unit, Spedali Civili Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Microbiology unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rezza
- Department of Health Prevention, Ministery of Health, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Section of Microbiology, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Ricci
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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