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Brown LC, Zhu J, Mauer E, Thiede SN, Macera L, Stein MM, Taxter T, Raghavan D, Burgess EF. RNA-Based Homologous Recombination Deficiency Signature Detects Homologous Recombination Deficiency-RNA+ Patients With and Without Homologous Recombination Repair Gene Pathogenic Alterations in Men With Prostate Cancer. JCO Precis Oncol 2023; 7:e2300378. [PMID: 38061006 DOI: 10.1200/po.23.00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is a well-described phenotype of some prostate cancers; however, current biomarkers for HRD are imperfect and rely on detection of single gene alterations in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway, which may not capture the complexity of HRD biology. RNA signature-based methods of HRD identification present a potentially dynamic assessment of the HRD phenotype; however, its relationship with HRR gene alterations is not well characterized in prostate cancer. METHODS A HRD assay on the basis of an RNA signature associated with biallelic BRCA1/2 loss was applied to a retrospective cohort study of 985 men with prostate cancer analyzed on the Tempus xT platform. HRD status was defined by a binary threshold on a continuous scale. RESULTS In this cohort, of the 126 (13%) patients found to be HRD+ by RNA signature (HRD-RNA+), 100 (79%) had no coexisting HRR gene alteration. Among samples with biallelic BRCA1/2 loss, 78% (7/9) were classified as HRD-RNA+, while 8% (2/25) of samples with BRCA1/2 monoallelic loss were HRD-RNA+. Biallelic and monoallelic ATM loss exhibited HRD-RNA+ at a lower prevalence: 6.7% (1/15) and 7.1% (1/14), respectively, compared with HRD-RNA+ prevalence among samples without any HRR gene loss (13%; 100/782). HRD-RNA+ was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of TP53 and AR gene alterations relative to HRD-RNA- after correction for multiple comparisons, 59% versus 39% (q = 0.003) and 23% versus 12% (q = 0.024), respectively. CONCLUSION Use of an RNA-based HRD signature significantly expands the fraction of patients with prostate cancer who may derive benefit from poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) compared with using HRR gene mutations alone. Further studies are needed to evaluate functional HRD significance and inform future usage as a predictive biomarker for PARPi selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason Zhu
- Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Derek Raghavan
- Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
- Veterans Administration Health Care Center, Charlotte, NC
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Salem ME, Kopetz S, Tabernero J, Sinicrope FA, Chalabi M, Tie J, Kadakia KC, George TJ, Mauer E, Macera L, Chao CY, Lonardi S, Van Cutsem E, Andre T, Overman MJ. Comprehensive characterization of KRAS mutations and inter-relation with primary tumor location in colorectal cancers. J Clin Oncol 2023. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2023.41.4_suppl.231] [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: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
231 Background: The recent development of KRAS G12C inhibitors underscores the potential to target KRAS mutations. Right-sided and left-sided colon tumors (RT and LT) exhibit different molecular features. We characterize the prevalence of KRAS-variants, interrelation with primary tumor location, and association with immune biomarkers in CRC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CRC tumors of all stages (with known sidedness) that underwent NGS with the Tempus xT assay (DNA-seq of 648 genes at 500x coverage, full transcriptome RNA-seq). Bivariate analyses were performed to compare KRAS alterations, immune biomarkers, and co-mutations by tumor location. P-values comparing individual co-mutations between groups were adjusted for false discovery (FDR). Results: A total of 3,391 CRC were analyzed (RT: n = 442 [13%], transverse: n = 116 [3%], LT; n = 2,833 [84%]) of which 1486 (44%) tumors harbored KRAS mutations. Overall, KRAS mutations were more frequent in RT compared to transverse tumors and LT (52% vs 41% vs 43%, p<0.001, respectively). The most frequent KRAS mutation variants observed were G12D (29 %), G12V (22%), G13D (16%), and G12C (5.7%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of KRAS variant types between LT and RT (p=0.5). Significant differences in genomic co-mutations with various KRAS variants were observed in the following genes: TP53, FBXW7, and NF1 (FDR- P<0.05). RT and transverse tumors were more likely have MSI-H and TMB-H (>10 mut/mb) status than LT (MSI-H: 18% vs 22% vs 2.2% and TMB-H (20% vs 22% vs 3%, P<0.001), respectively. CRC tumors harboring G13D variants were more likely to be associated with and MSI-H and TMB-H status (and 7.7% and 8.5%) compared to G12D (2.8 % and 3.9 %), G12V (1.8 % and 2.1%), and G12C (0% and 2.4%); P = 0.003 and 0.001. Conclusions: The most frequent KRAS mutation variants observed in CRC tumors were G12D, G12V, G13D, and G12C. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of KRAS variant types between tumors of the left vs right colon. CRC tumors that harbored G13D variants were significantly more likely to be associated with MSI-H and TMB-H status. [Table: see text]
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott Kopetz
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Josep Tabernero
- Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus and Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Myriam Chalabi
- Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital/Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jeanne Tie
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Western Health and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kunal C. Kadakia
- Department of Solid Tumor Oncology and Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
| | - Thomas J. George
- NSABP/NRG Oncology, and The University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL
| | | | | | | | - Sara Lonardi
- Medical Oncology 3, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Thierry Andre
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Medical Oncology, Saint-Antoine Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Michael J. Overman
- NSABP/NRG Oncology and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and SWOG, Houston, TX
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Giacconi R, Laffon B, Costa S, Teixeira-Gomes A, Maggi F, Macera L, Spezia PG, Piacenza F, Bürkle A, Moreno-Villanueva M, Bonassi S, Valdiglesias V, Teixeira JP, Dollé ME, Rietman ML, Jansen E, Grune T, Gonos ES, Franceschi C, Capri M, Weinberger B, Sikora E, Stuetz W, Toussaint O, Debacq-Chainiaux F, Hervonen A, Hurme M, Slagboom PE, Schön C, Bernhardt J, Breusing N, Pásaro E, Maseda A, Lorenzo-López L, Millán-Calenti JC, Provinciali M, Malavolta M. Association of Torquetenovirus viremia with physical frailty and cognitive impairment in three independent European cohorts. Gerontology 2022:000528169. [DOI: 10.1159/000528169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Immunosenescence and inflammaging have been implicated in the pathophysiology of frailty. Torquetenovirus (TTV), a single-stranded DNA anellovirus, the major component of the human blood virome, shows an increased replication rate with advancing age. An elevated TTV viremia has been associated with an impaired immune function and an increased risk of mortality in the older population. The objective of this study was to analyze the relation between TTV viremia, physical frailty and cognitive impairment
Methods: TTV viremia was measured in 1131 nonfrail, 45 physically frail, and 113 cognitively impaired older adults recruited in the MARK-AGE study (overall mean age 64.7±5.9 years), then the results were checked in two other independent cohorts from Spain and Portugal, including 126 frail, 252 prefrail and 141 nonfrail individuals (overall mean age: 77.5±8.3 years). Results: TTV viremia ≥4log was associated with physical frailty (OR: 4.69; 95% CI: 2.06-10.67, p<0.0001) and cognitive impairment (OR: 3.49, 95% CI : 2.14-5.69, p<0.0001) in the MARK-AGE population. The association between TTV DNA load and frailty status was confirmed in the Spanish cohort, while a slight association with cognitive impairment was observed (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.000-1.773), only in the unadjusted model.
No association between TTV load and frailty or cognitive impairment was found in the Portuguese sample, although a negative association between TTV viremia and MMSE score was observed in Spanish and Portuguese females. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate an association between TTV viremia and physical frailty, while the association with cognitive impairment was observed only in the younger population from the MARK-AGE study.
Further research is necessary to clarify TTV's clinical relevance in the onset and progression of frailty and cognitive decline in older individuals.
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Niu J, Flannery CA, Hall DW, Hoag JW, Therala N, Kemkes AC, Routh J, De La O JP, Macera L, Thakkar SG. BRAF mutation classes and co-occurring mutations in NSCLC. J Clin Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.9083] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
9083 Background: Targeted therapy against unique molecular drivers has revolutionized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. BRAF mutations, present in 2%-5%, have emerged as therapeutic targets, and can be divided into three classes: kinase-activating monomers (class I, V600) or dimers (class II), or kinase-inactivating dimers (class III). Most studies have focused on BRAF V600E NSCLC. Limited clinical data suggest classes II and III may not respond well to chemo- or targeted therapy and tend to have a poorer prognosis. Little is known about co-occurring mutations. This study examines BRAF classes and co-occurring mutations in NSCLC. Methods: Between October 2018 and October 2021, data from 3009 NSCLC Oncotype MAP test results were analyzed. This test utilizes tumor DNA to identify single nucleotide variants, indels, copy number alterations, and select structural variants/fusions by next generation sequencing with a 257 gene panel. Tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability are also assessed. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations were identified, BRAF mutations assigned to 3 different classes based on current understanding, and associations of other mutated genes with BRAF class examined. Results: Among samples, 133 (4.4%) had BRAF mutations: 30 class I (1%); 42 class II (1.4%); 36 class III (1.2%); and 25 unclassified (0.8%) (Table). Two genes showed associations with BRAF class: STK11 was significantly overrepresented in class II and III, and SETD2 in class I (p<0.05 for both). BRAF class II mutations were further divided into subclasses, IIa (n= 5) and IIb (n= 35); two could not be assigned. The lack of a positive association between KRAS (and NF1) and BRAF class III was unexpected since class III is RAS-dependent while class I and II are RAS-independent. The overrepresentation of STK11 in classes II (with 11/12 events in IIb) and III might explain, at least in part, the poor prognosis relative to class I. By contrast, SETD2 is overrepresented in class I, which might help explain its better response to immunotherapy. Conclusions: For the first time we report the incidence of BRAF mutation classes and associated co-mutations in NSCLC. These associations may help to explain therapeutic outcomes. The impact of coexisting STK11 mutations in class II subclasses warrants further investigation.[Table: see text]
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Biagini D, Franzini M, Oliveri P, Lomonaco T, Ghimenti S, Bonini A, Vivaldi F, Macera L, Balas L, Durand T, Oger C, Galano JM, Maggi F, Celi A, Paolicchi A, Di Francesco F. MS-based targeted profiling of oxylipins in COVID-19: A new insight into inflammation regulation. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 180:236-243. [PMID: 35085774 PMCID: PMC8786407 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The key role of inflammation in COVID-19 induced many authors to study the cytokine storm, whereas the role of other inflammatory mediators such as oxylipins is still poorly understood. IMPRECOVID was a monocentric retrospective observational pilot study with COVID-19 related pneumonia patients (n = 52) admitted to Pisa University Hospital between March and April 2020. Our MS-based analytical platform permitted the simultaneous determination of sixty plasma oxylipins in a single run at ppt levels for a comprehensive characterisation of the inflammatory cascade in COVID-19 patients. The datasets containing oxylipin and cytokine plasma levels were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA), computation of Fisher's canonical variable, and a multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Differently from cytokines, the panel of oxylipins clearly differentiated samples collected in COVID-19 wards (n = 43) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) (n = 27), as shown by the PCA and the multivariate ROC curve with a resulting AUC equal to 0.92. ICU patients showed lower (down to two orders of magnitude) plasma concentrations of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators, suggesting an impaired inflammation response as part of a prolonged and unsolvable pro-inflammatory status. In conclusion, our targeted oxylipidomics platform helped shedding new light in this field. Targeting the lipid mediator class switching is extremely important for a timely picture of a patient's ability to respond to the viral attack. A prediction model exploiting selected lipid mediators as biomarkers seems to have good chances to classify patients at risk of severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Biagini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Maria Franzini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Lomonaco
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Ghimenti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Bonini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Vivaldi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Laurence Balas
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EBNSCM, France
| | - Thierry Durand
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EBNSCM, France
| | - Camille Oger
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EBNSCM, France
| | - Jean-Marie Galano
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EBNSCM, France
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Italy
| | - Alessandro Celi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Aldo Paolicchi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Francesco
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Italy.
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Cardelli E, Calvigioni M, Vecchione A, Macera L, Mazzantini D, Celandroni F, Panattoni A, Pistello M, Maggi F, Ghelardi E, Mannella P. Delivery Mode Shapes the Composition of the Lower Airways Microbiota in Newborns. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:808390. [PMID: 35004360 PMCID: PMC8733567 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.808390] [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: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Radical alterations in the human microbiota composition are well-known to be associated with many pathological conditions. If these aberrations are established at the time of birth, the risk of developing correlated pathologies throughout life is significantly increased. For this reason, all newborns should begin their lives with a proper microbiota in each body district. The present study aimed at demonstrating a correlation between the mode of delivery and the development of a well-balanced microbiota in the lower airways of newborns. 44 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Microbiological comparative analysis was carried out on tracheobronchial secretions of babies born through vaginal delivery (VD) or caesarean section (CS). All samples showed the presence of bacterial DNA, regardless of the mode of delivery. No viable cultivable bacteria were isolated from the CS samples. On the contrary, VD allowed colonization of the lower airways by alive cultivable bacteria. The identification of bacterial species revealed that Lactobacillus spp. and Bacteroides vulgatus were the most common microorganisms in the lower airways of vaginally-delivered newborns. Data obtained from quantitative PCRs showed a significantly higher total bacterial load, as well as Firmicutes and Lactobacillus spp. amount, in VD samples than CS ones, while no statistically significant difference was found in Torque Teno Virus (TTV) load between samples. Taken together, our findings confirm the hypothesis that passage through the maternal vaginal canal determines more beneficial colonization of the lower airways in newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cardelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Calvigioni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Lisa Macera
- Microbiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Diletta Mazzantini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Celandroni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Adelaide Panattoni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Emilia Ghelardi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Mannella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Focosi D, Rosellini A, Spezia PG, Macera L, Lanza M, Paolicchi A, Biagini D, Baj A, Pistello M, Maggi F. Lack of neutralizing activity in nonconvalescent sera, regardless of ABO blood group and anti-A isoagglutinin titer. J Clin Virol Plus 2021; 1:100035. [PMID: 35262018 PMCID: PMC8349435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100035] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several ABO blood groups have been associated with the likelihood of infection, severity, and/or outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized cohorts, raising the hypothesis that anti-A isoagglutinins in non-A-group recipients could act as neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Materials and methods We run live virus neutralization tests using sera from 58 SARS-CoV-2 seronegative blood donors (27 O-group and 31 A-group) negatives for SARS-CoV-2 IgG to investigate what degree of neutralizing activity could be detected in their sera and eventual correlation with anti-A isoagglutinin titers. Results We could not find clinically relevant neutralizing activity in any blood group, regardless of anti-isoagglutinin titer. Discussion Our findings suggest that mechanisms other than neutralization explain the differences in outcomes from COVID19 seen in different ABO blood groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy,Corresponding author
| | | | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Division of Virology, Pisa University Hospital, Italy,Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Lanza
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Aldo Paolicchi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Denise Biagini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andreina Baj
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Division of Virology, Pisa University Hospital, Italy,Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy,Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
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Focosi D, Macera L, Spezia PG, Ceccarelli F, Lanza M, Maggi F. Molecular validation of pathogen-reduction technologies using rolling-circle amplification coupled with real-time PCR for torquetenovirus DNA quantification. Transfus Med 2021; 31:371-376. [PMID: 34390068 DOI: 10.1111/tme.12807] [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: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) based on nucleic-acid damaging chemicals and/or irradiation are increasingly being used to increase safety of blood components against emerging pathogens, such as convalescent plasma in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Current methods for PRT validation are limited by the resources available to the blood component manufacturer, and quality control rely over pathogen spiking and hence invariably require sacrifice of the tested blood units: quantitative real-time PCR is the current pathogen detection method but, due to the high likelihood of detecting nonviable fragments, requires downstream pathogen culture. We propose here a new molecular validation of PRT based on the highly prevalent human symbiont torquetenovirus (TTV) and rolling circle amplification (RCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Serial apheresis plasma donations were tested for TTV before and after inactivation with Intercept® PRT using real-time quantitative PCR (conventional validation), RCA followed by real-time PCR (our validation), and reverse PCR (for cross-validation). RESULTS While only 20% of inactivated units showed significant decrease in TTV viral load using real-time qPCR, all donations tested with RCA followed by real-time PCR showed TTV reductions. As further validation, 2 units were additionally tested with reverse PCR, which confirmed absence of entire circular genomes. DISCUSSION We have described and validated a conservative and easy-to-setup protocol for molecular validation of PRT based on RCA and real-time PCR for TTV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Lanza
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Bloom JA, Sekigami Y, Young R, Macera L, Russell CA, Cao Y, Buchsbaum RJ, Naber SP, Chatterjee A. Discordance in Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score ® Results for Bilateral Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2021; 28:8711-8716. [PMID: 34241750 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-10387-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® assay is a clinically useful tool to determine the benefit of chemotherapy in the treatment of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) is found in ~ 5% of patients with breast cancer, and data regarding discordance of Oncotype DX results between BBC defined by current TAILORx subgroups are limited. Our goals are to study the rate of Oncotype DX discordance between BBC and investigate whether such differences can affect chemotherapy treatment discussions. METHODS Patients with BBC were identified in US samples submitted to Genomic Health for 21-gene testing between January 2019 and July 2020. The risk categories were defined as 0-25 and 26-100 as well as 0-17, 18-30, and 31-100 for all patients. Subgroup analysis was also performed for node-negative women age ≤ 50 years with Recurrence Score results of 0-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-100. RESULTS 944 BBC patients with known nodal status (702 node negative, 242 node positive) were identified and included. Among node-negative patients aged > 50 years, the rate of discordance in Recurrence Score by group (0-25 and 26-100) was 4.2% (n = 598). For node-negative patients aged ≤ 50 years, the risk group was discordant in < 3% when considering the risk grouping of 0-25 and 26-100. However, upon subgroup analysis based on TAILORx analysis, the rate of discordance was 48.1% in these younger patients (n = 104). CONCLUSIONS This study shows that a clinically relevant rate of discordance in Oncotype DX results in patients with BBC may impact medical decision-making regarding chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Bloom
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yurie Sekigami
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Lisa Macera
- Exact Sciences Corporation, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | | | - Yu Cao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel J Buchsbaum
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen P Naber
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Bloom JA, Sekigami Y, Young R, Macera L, Russell CA, Cao Y, Buchsbaum RJ, Naber SP, Chatterjee A. ASO Visual Abstract: Discordance in Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® Results for Bilateral Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2021. [PMID: 34240296 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-10429-9] [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] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Bloom
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yurie Sekigami
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Lisa Macera
- Exact Sciences Corporation, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | | | - Yu Cao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel J Buchsbaum
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen P Naber
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Maggi F, Rosellini A, Spezia PG, Focosi D, Macera L, Lai M, Pistello M, de Iure A, Tomino C, Bonassi S, Russo P. Nicotine upregulates ACE2 expression and increases competence for SARS-CoV-2 in human pneumocytes. ERJ Open Res 2021; 7:00713-2020. [PMID: 33850935 PMCID: PMC7942220 DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00713-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [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: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a variable degree of severity according to underlying comorbidities and life-style. Several research groups have reported an association between cigarette smoking and increased severity of COVID-19. The exact mechanism of action is largely unclear. We exposed low angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 epithelial cells to nicotine and assessed ACE2 expression at different times. We further used the nicotine-exposed cells in a virus neutralisation assay. Nicotine exposure induces rapid and long-lasting increases in gene and protein expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor ACE2, which in turn translates into increased competence for SARS-CoV-2 replication and cytopathic effect. These findings show that nicotine worsens SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary infection and have implications for public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Maggi
- Dept of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, ASST dei Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
- Dept of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Lai
- Dept of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
- Dept of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio de Iure
- Experimental Neurophysiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Tomino
- Scientific Direction, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Bonassi
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
- Dept of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele University, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Russo
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
- Dept of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele University, Rome, Italy
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12
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Giacconi R, Maggi F, Macera L, Spezia PG, Pistello M, Provinciali M, Piacenza F, Basso A, Bürkle A, Moreno-Villanueva M, Dollé MET, Jansen E, Grune T, Stuetz W, Gonos ES, Schön C, Bernhardt J, Grubeck-Loebenstein B, Sikora E, Dudkowska M, Janiszewska D, Toussaint O, Debacq-Chainiaux F, Franceschi C, Capri M, Hervonen A, Hurme M, Slagboom E, Breusing N, Mocchegiani E, Malavolta M. Prevalence and Loads of Torquetenovirus in the European MARK-AGE Study Population. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 75:1838-1845. [PMID: 31838498 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz293] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia has been associated with increased mortality risk in the elderly population. This work aims to investigate TTV viremia as a potential biomarker of immunosenescence. We compared levels of circulating TTV in 1813 participants of the MARK-AGE project, including human models of delayed (offspring of centenarians [GO]) and premature (Down syndrome [DS]) immunosenescence. The TTV load was positively associated with age, cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels, and the Cu/Zn ratio and negatively associated with platelets, total cholesterol, and total IgM. TTV viremia was highest in DS and lowest in GO, with intermediate levels in the SGO (spouses of GO) and RASIG (Randomly Recruited Age-Stratified Individuals From The General Population) populations. In the RASIG population, TTV DNA loads showed a slight negative association with CD3+T-cells and CD4+T-cells. Finally, males with ≥4log TTV copies/mL had a higher risk of having a CD4/CD8 ratio<1 than those with lower viremia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-7.62), as well as reduced CD3+ and CD4+T-cells compared to males with lower replication rates (<4log), even after adjusting for CMV infection. In summary, differences in immune system preservation are reflected in the models of delayed and premature immunosenescence, displaying the best and worst control over TTV replication, respectively. In the general population, TTV loads were negatively associated with CD4+ cell counts, with an increased predisposition for an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio for individuals with TTV loads ≥4log copies/mL, thus promoting an immune risk phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robertina Giacconi
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Provinciali
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Piacenza
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Basso
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alexander Bürkle
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Box 628, University of Konstanz, Germany
| | - María Moreno-Villanueva
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Box 628, University of Konstanz, Germany.,Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, Box 30, University of Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martijn E T Dollé
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Eugène Jansen
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Tilman Grune
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany.,NutriAct-Competence Cluster Nutrition Research Berlin-Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Stuetz
- Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Efstathios S Gonos
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Ewa Sikora
- Laboratory of the Molecular Bases of Ageing, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Dudkowska
- Laboratory of the Molecular Bases of Ageing, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Janiszewska
- Laboratory of the Molecular Bases of Ageing, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Claudio Franceschi
- CIG-Interdepartmental Center "L. Galvani," Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Miriam Capri
- CIG-Interdepartmental Center "L. Galvani," Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Mikko Hurme
- Faculty of Medicine and Biosciences, University of Tampere, Finland
| | - Eline Slagboom
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolle Breusing
- Department of Applied Nutritional Science/Dietetics, Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Marco Malavolta
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
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13
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Neri L, Spezia PG, Suraci S, Macera L, Scribano S, Giusti B, Focosi D, Maggi F, Giannecchini S. Torque teno virus microRNA detection in cerebrospinal fluids of patients with neurological pathologies. J Clin Virol 2020; 133:104687. [PMID: 33176237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torque teno virus (TTV) is a widespread anellovirus that establishes persistent infections in humans and represents the most abundant component of the human virome. TTV encodes microRNAs (miRNA) which are found both in viremic and not viremic subjects being potentially ideal tools for the virus to evade the immune system response and to maintain chronic infection in the host. OBJECTIVE To investigate TTV-DNA loads and TTV-miRNAs expression in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from subjects under analysis for the assessment of neurological diseases. STUDY DESIGN Detection of TTV-DNA and TTV-miRNAs (e. g. miRNA t1a, t3b, and tth8) were carried out from CSF samples of 93 subjects with neurological diseases by using universal real-time PCR, real-time RT-PCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses. RESULTS TTV-DNA was detected in 11 of 93 (12 %) CSFs with a mean TTV load of 155 copies/mL. Conversely, 29 CSF samples (31 %) were positive for at least one TTV-miRNA, while 15 (16 %) CSFs contained all the TTV-miRNAs examined. Overall, TTV-miRNA tth8 was detected in 62 % of samples, followed by TTV miRNA t3b (56 %), and t1a (29 %). Interestingly, TTV-miRNAs were found in CSF samples that were negative for the presence of TTV-DNA. Next-generation sequencing analysis carried out from 4 TTV-DNA negative CSF samples detected reads mapped in TTV-miRNA sequences region. CONCLUSIONS These results shed novel light on the relationship between TTV and the central nervous system and make compelling furthered studies for investigating the potential role of TTV-miRNAs in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Neri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Samuele Suraci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Scribano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Betti Giusti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, and Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, ASST dei Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - Simone Giannecchini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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14
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Galimberti S, Petrini M, Baratè C, Ricci F, Balducci S, Grassi S, Guerrini F, Ciabatti E, Mechelli S, Di Paolo A, Baldini C, Baglietto L, Macera L, Spezia PG, Maggi F. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Play an Antiviral Action in Patients Affected by Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Possible Model Supporting Their Use in the Fight Against SARS-CoV-2. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1428. [PMID: 33014780 PMCID: PMC7493657 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the viral agent responsible for the pandemic that in the first months of 2020 caused about 400,000 deaths. Among compounds proposed to fight the SARS-CoV-2-related disease (COVID-19), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), already effective in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), have been proposed on the basis of their antiviral action already demonstrated against SARS-CoV-1. Very few cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Ph+ ALL and in CML Italian cohorts; authors suggested that this low rate of infections might depend on the use of TKIs, but the biological causes of this phenomenon remain unknown. In this study, the CML model was used to test if TKIs would sustain or not the viral replication and if they could damage patient immunity. Firstly, the infection and replication rate of torquetenovirus (TTV), whose load is inversely proportional to the host immunological control, have been measured in CML patients receiving nilotinib. A very low percentage of subjects were infected at baseline, and TTV did not replicate or at least showed a low replication rate during the follow-up, with a mean load comparable to the measured one in healthy subjects. Then, after gene expression profiling experiments, we found that several “antiviral” genes, such as CD28 and IFN gamma, were upregulated, while genes with “proviral” action, such as ARG-1, CEACAM1, and FUT4, were less expressed during treatment with imatinib, thus demonstrating that TKIs are not detrimental from the immunological point of view. To sum up, our data could offer some biological explanations to the low COVID-19 occurrence in Ph+ ALL and CML patients and sustain the use of TKIs in COVID-19, as already proposed by several international ongoing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Galimberti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Petrini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Federica Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Balducci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Susanna Grassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Guerrini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Ciabatti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Antonello Di Paolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Baldini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Baglietto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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15
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Spezia PG, Macera L, Mazzetti P, Curcio M, Biagini C, Sciandra I, Turriziani O, Lai M, Antonelli G, Pistello M, Maggi F. Redondovirus DNA in human respiratory samples. J Clin Virol 2020; 131:104586. [PMID: 32841923 PMCID: PMC7428698 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Redondovirus (ReDoV) is a recently discovered circular, Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) virus in humans. Its pathogenesis and clinical associations are still completely unknown. METHODS The presence of ReDoV DNA was investigated in biological specimens of 543 Italian subjects by in-house developed PCR assays. RESULTS The overall ReDoV prevalence was about 4% (23 of 543 samples). The virus was detected in 22 of 209 (11 %) respiratory samples. One stool sample was also ReDoV positive. Viral DNA was not found in blood samples from immunocompetent and immunosuppressed subjects and cerebrospinal fluids from patients with neurological diseases. Genomic nucleotide differences were detected among the ReDoV isolates by sequencing a 582-nucleotide fragment of the capsid gene of the viral genome. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that ReDoV is mainly present in the respiratory tract of infected people. Further investigations are needed to reveal possible clinical implications of this new CRESS-DNA virus in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy; Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Mazzetti
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Curcio
- Immunohematology 2, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Biagini
- Immunohematology 2, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Sciandra
- National Institute of Gastrenterology "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital Castellana, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Michele Lai
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy; Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy; Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
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16
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Santoro A, Tomino C, Prinzi G, Cardaci V, Fini M, Macera L, Russo P, Maggi F. Microbiome in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Role of Natural Products Against Microbial Pathogens. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:2931-2948. [PMID: 31838985 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666191213110551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The "microbiome" is the operative term to refer to a collection of all taxa constituting microbial communities, such as bacteria, archaea, fungi and protists (originally microbiota). The microbiome consists of the indigenous microbial communities and of the host environment that they inhabit. Actually, it has been shown that there is a close relationship between the microbiome and human health and disease condition. Although, initially, the lung was considered sterile, actually, the existence of a healthy lung microbiome is usually accepted. Lung microbiome changes are reported in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and in its exacerbation. Viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory system are a major cause of COPD exacerbations (AECOPD) leading to increased local and systemic inflammation. Detection rates of virus in AECOPD are variable between 25-62% according to the detection method. The study of human airway and lung disease virome is quite recent and still very limited. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent findings on the lung microbiome composition with a special emphasis on virome in COPD and in AECOPD. Some drugs of natural origins active against resistant bacteria and virus are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Santoro
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, I-00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Tomino
- Scientific Direction, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana,Via di Val Cannuta, 247, I-00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Prinzi
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, I-00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Cardaci
- Unit of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via della Pisana, 235, I-00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Fini
- Scientific Direction, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana,Via di Val Cannuta, 247, I-00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Via Savi, 10, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Russo
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, I-00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Via Savi, 10, I-56126 Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Via Paradisa, 2, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
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17
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Davis JS, Chu G, Pathinayake P, Jones D, Giffard P, Macera L, Choi P, Bartlett NW. Seroprevalence of Torque Teno Virus in hemodialysis and renal transplant patients in Australia: A cross-sectional study. Transpl Infect Dis 2020; 22:e13400. [PMID: 33462980 DOI: 10.1111/tid.13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Torque teno virus (TTV) is a non-pathogenic anellovirus commonly found in the blood of human beings. Emerging data suggest that TTV viral load is proportional to the degree of immunosuppression, but its seroprevalence is unknown in Australia. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of TTV in an Australian population of renal patients. METHODS We developed a real-time PCR to measure TTV viral load, using the TaqMan platform and previously published primers and probes. Following ethics approval and informed consent, we collected blood from hemodialysis patients not receiving immunosuppression, and renal transplant patients. All patients were recruited from a single teaching hospital in New South Wales. RESULTS We enrolled 50 hemodialysis and 30 renal transplant patients. 56 (70%) were males, and the mean (sd) age was 61 (16) years. TTV was detectable in plasma of 40/50 (80%) of hemodialysis patients and 28/30 (93%) of transplant patients. The mean TTV viral load was higher in transplant patients than in dialysis patients (6.3 log versus 5.0 log copies/ml, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS Torque teno virus is prevalent in Australian renal patients and thus may be a useful novel marker to help tailor immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplant patients. Further work is needed to establish TTV seroprevalence in other regions and patient groups, and to investigate whether there is correlation with clinically important events (infection and rejection episodes) in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Davis
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Ginger Chu
- Department of Nephrology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Prabuddhua Pathinayake
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Denise Jones
- Department of Nephrology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Phil Giffard
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Peter Choi
- Department of Nephrology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Nathan W Bartlett
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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18
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Quaranta P, Lottini G, Chesi G, Contrafatto F, Russotto R, Macera L, Lai M, Spezia PG, Brai A, Botta M, Freer G, Pistello M. DDX3 inhibitors show antiviral activity against positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses but not against negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses: The coxsackie B model. Antiviral Res 2020; 178:104750. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Macera L, Spezia PG, Focosi D, Mazzetti P, Antonelli G, Pistello M, Maggi F. Lack of Marseillevirus DNA in immunocompetent and immunocompromised Italian patients. J Med Virol 2019; 92:187-190. [PMID: 31498443 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Marseilleviridae is a family of viruses which have only been propagated in acanthamoeba. Marseillevirus sequences have been recently detected in different human matrices by viral metagenomics. Single-center studies worldwide have estimated a low prevalence of marseillevirus both in symptomatic patients and in healthy donors but, to date, no informations are available on the prevalence of this giant virus in Italy. By a polymerase chain reaction targeting the ORF152 viral sequence, we tested sera from 197 immunosuppressed patients and 285 healthy donors, and 63 and 30 respiratory and cerebrospinal fluid samples, respectively, of patients with various clinical conditions and referring the Virology Division for diagnostic purposes. We observed no evidence of Marseillevirus DNA in all 575 samples tested. Marseillevirus probably does not cause infection in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Mazzetti
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
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20
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Macera L, Spezia PG, Medici C, Rofi E, Del Re M, Focosi D, Mazzetti P, Navarro D, Antonelli G, Danesi R, Pistello M, Maggi F. Comparative evaluation of molecular methods for the quantitative measure of torquetenovirus viremia, the new surrogate marker of immune competence. J Med Virol 2019; 94:491-498. [PMID: 31002743 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia is emerging as a promising tool to assess functional immune competence, to predict posttransplant immune-related complications, and eventually to customize immunosuppression. METHODS In this study, 327 blood samples were tested using two real-time PCR (rtPCR) assays both targeted to the untranslated region of the TTV genome. The first assay was an in-house rtPCR developed by our group, the second one was the recently marketed TTV R-GENE assay. RESULTS In the validation study, the TTV R-GENE showed good performances in precision and reproducibility, and sensitivity as low as 12 TTV DNA copies/mL, like previously reported for the in-house rtPCR. The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean difference between the two methods was -0.3 log copies/mL. In the comparison study, 69% and 72% of samples were detected positive by rtPCR and TTV R-GENE, respectively (94% concordance, κ = 0.88). Performances did not differ between the two rtPCRs by type of TTV group examined. When a newly-developed in-house digital droplet PCR was applied for TTV quantification and used as an alternative method of comparison on 94 samples, the results strongly correlated with those obtained by the two rtPCR methods (99% concordance). CONCLUSION In summary, all the molecular methods assayed are highly sensitive and accurate in quantitation of TTV DNA in blood samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Medici
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Rofi
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marzia Del Re
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Mazzetti
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - David Navarro
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Romano Danesi
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
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Macera L, Spezia PG, Medici C, Falasca F, Sciandra I, Antonelli G, Focosi D, Pistello M, Maggi F. Low prevalence of Gemycircularvirus DNA in immunocompetent and immunocompromised subjects. New Microbiol 2019; 42:118-120. [PMID: 31034081] [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: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Gemycircularviruses (GemyCV) are a vast array of viruses belonging to the Genomoviridae family. Prevalence and pathogenesis in humans are still poorly understood. Different GemyCV species were investigated in 661 Italian subjects by species-specific PCRs. Only the GemyCV-C1c species was detected, with low prevalence and the highest rate in HIV immunosuppressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Medici
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Falasca
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Sciandra
- National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital Castellana (BA), Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
- Virology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
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Albert E, Solano C, Giménez E, Focosi D, Pérez A, Macera L, Piñana JL, Mateo EM, Boluda JCH, Maggi F, Navarro D. Kinetics of Alphatorquevirus plasma DNAemia at late times after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Med Microbiol Immunol 2019; 208:253-258. [PMID: 30852649 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-019-00586-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Torque teno virus (TTV) plasma DNA load has been consistently shown to be a surrogate biomarker of immunosuppression in solid organ transplant recipients. It is uncertain whether it may behave similarly in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Here, we characterized the dynamics of TTV DNAemia in patients undergoing T-cell replete allo-SCT at late times after transplantation (> day + 100). This retrospective single-center observational study included 33 allo-HSCT patients. Plasma TTV DNA loads were quantified by real-time PCR before initiating the conditioning regimen and at different time points after transplant. Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) were measured by flow cytometry. Overall, TTV DNA load increased steadily after engraftment, reaching a peak by day + 90; afterwards, it remained relatively constant until day + 210. TTV DNA loads measured within days + 120 and + 210 correlated inversely with paired ALC, while both parameters did correlate directly within days + 20 and + 60. The median TTV DNA area under a curve between days + 90 and + 210 [(AUC)90-210] was significantly higher in patients who received corticosteroids within this time frame for treatment of graft versus host disease (either acute, chronic or both) than in controls (P = 0.025). In summary, TTV DNA load may mirror the degree of immunosuppression at late times after allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliseo Albert
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Solano
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Estela Giménez
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ariadna Pérez
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - José Luis Piñana
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eva María Mateo
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - David Navarro
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain. .,Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 17, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
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23
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Maggi F, Focosi D, Statzu M, Bianco G, Costa C, Macera L, Spezia PG, Medici C, Albert E, Navarro D, Scagnolari C, Pistello M, Cavallo R, Antonelli G. Early Post-Transplant Torquetenovirus Viremia Predicts Cytomegalovirus Reactivations In Solid Organ Transplant Recipients. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15490. [PMID: 30341363 PMCID: PMC6195516 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33909-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [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: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the human virome has been recently suggested as a promising and novel area of research for identifying new biomarkers which would help physicians in the management of transplant patients. Imbalance of the immune system in transplant recipients has a significant impact on replication of Torquetenovirus (TTV), the most representative and abundant virus of human virome. TTV kinetic was studied by real-time PCR in 280 liver or kidney transplant recipients who underwent different drug regimens to maintain immunosuppression. During one-year post-transplant follow-up, TTV viremia fluctuated irrespective of transplanted organ type but consistent with the immunosuppression regimen. TTV kinetic in patients who manifested cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation within the first four months post-transplant differed from that observed in patients who did not experience CMV complications. Importantly, plasma TTV load measured between day 0 and 10 post-transplant was significantly higher in CMV DNA positive than in CMV DNA negative patients. TTV viremia above 3.45 log DNA copies/ml within the first 10 days post-transplant correlates with higher propensity to CMV reactivation following transplantation. This study provides further evidence for using early post-transplant TTV viremia to predict CMV reactivation in liver or kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Maggi
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. .,Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maura Statzu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Bianco
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Laboratory of Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Costa
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Laboratory of Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Medici
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eliseo Albert
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - David Navarro
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rossana Cavallo
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Laboratory of Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology and Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Martelli F, Macera L, Spezia PG, Medici C, Pistello M, Guasti D, Romagnoli P, Maggi F, Giannecchini S. Torquetenovirus detection in exosomes enriched vesicles circulating in human plasma samples. Virol J 2018; 15:145. [PMID: 30236130 PMCID: PMC6149034 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-018-1055-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torquetenovirus (TTV) belongs to Anelloviridae family, infects nearly all people indefinitely without causing overt disease establishing a fine and successful interaction with the host. Increasing evidence have shown some human viruses exploit extracellular vesicles thereby helping viral persistence in the host. Here, the presence of TTV in extracellular vesicles circulating in human plasma was investigated. METHODS TTV DNA was quantified in plasma-derived exosomes from 122 samples collected from 97 diseased patients and 25 healthy donors. Exosomes enriched vesicles (EEVs) were extracted from plasma and characterized by Nanoparticle tracking analysis, by western blot for presence of tetraspanin CD63, CD81 and annexin II protein and, finally, by electron microscopy (EM). Presence and quantitation of TTV DNA were assessed with an universal single step real-time TaqMan PCR assay. RESULTS Preliminary investigation showed that the human plasma extracted extracellular vesicles exhibited a main size of 70 nm, had concentration of 2.5 × 109/ml, and scored positive for tetraspanin CD63, CD81 and annexin II, typical characteristic of the exosomes vesicles. EEVs extracted from pooled plasma with TTV DNA viremia of 9.7 × 104 copies/ml showed to contain 6.3 × 102 TTV copies/ml, corresponding to 0.65% of total viral load. Important, TTV yield changed significantly following freezing/thawing, detergents and DNAse treatment of plasma before EEVs extraction. EEVs purified by sucrose-density gradient centrifugation and analysis of gradient fraction positive for exosomes marker CD63 harbored 102 TTV copies/ml. Moreover, EM evidenced the presence of TTV-like particles in EEVs. Successive investigation of plasma EEVs from 122 subjects (37 HIV-positive, 20 HCV infected, 20 HBV infected, 20 kidney transplant recipients, and 25 healthy) reported TTV DNA detection in 42 (34%) of the viremic samples (37 were from diseased patients and 5 from healthy people) at a mean level of 4.8 × 103 copies/ml. The examination of EEVs selected samples reported the presence of TTV genogroup 1, 3, 4 and 5, with genogroup 3 highly observed. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, although these observations should be confirmed by further studies, circulation of TTV particles in EEVs opens new avenues and mechanistic insights on the molecular strategies adopted by anelloviruses to persist in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Martelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, I-50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.,Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.,Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Medici
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.,Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Guasti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, I-50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Romagnoli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, I-50134, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Simone Giannecchini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, I-50134, Florence, Italy.
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25
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Giacconi R, Maggi F, Macera L, Pistello M, Provinciali M, Giannecchini S, Martelli F, Spezia PG, Mariani E, Galeazzi R, Costarelli L, Iovino L, Galimberti S, Nisi L, Piacenza F, Malavolta M. Torquetenovirus (TTV) load is associated with mortality in Italian elderly subjects. Exp Gerontol 2018; 112:103-111. [PMID: 30223047 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An age-related dysregulation of immune response, known as immunosenescence, contributes to increased susceptibility to infections, frailty and high risk of mortality in the elderly. Torquetenovirus (TTV), a circular, single-stranded DNA virus, is highly prevalent in the general population and it may persist in the organism, also in association with other viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), causing chronic viremia. The relationship that TTV establishes with the immune system of infected hosts is not clear. It is known that TTV encodes microRNAs (miRNAs) that might contribute to immune evasion and that the highest viral loads are found in peripheral blood cells. Moreover, it is suspected that TTV infection lead to increased production of inflammatory mediators, thus playing a role in immunosenescence. We investigated the association of TTV load and miRNAs expression with inflammatory and immune markers and the influence of TTV load on mortality within a cohort of 379 elderly subjects who were followed up for 3 years. TTV DNA load in polymorphonuclear leukocytes was slightly positively correlated with age and negatively associated with serum albumin levels and NK cell activity. A marginal positive correlation between TTV DNA load, monocytes and IL-8 plasma levels was found in females and males respectively. TTV DNA copies ≥4.0 log represented a strong predictor of mortality (Hazard ratio = 4.78, 95% CI: 1.70-13.44, after adjusting for age, sex and the main predictors of mortality rate) and this association remained significant even after the CMV IgG antibody titer was included in the model (HR = 9.83; 95% CI: 2.48-38.97; N = 343 subjects). Moreover, multiple linear regression model showed that TTV miRNA-t3b of genogroup 3 was inversely associated with triglycerides, monocytes and C-reactive protein, and directly associated with IL6. Overall these findings suggest a role of TTV in immunesenescence and in the prediction of all-cause mortality risk in Italian elderly subjects. Further studies are needed to fully understand the pathogenic mechanisms of TTV infection during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robertina Giacconi
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific and Technological Pole, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Provinciali
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific and Technological Pole, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy
| | - Simone Giannecchini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Martelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Erminia Mariani
- Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue Regeneration, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Clinical Laboratory & Molecular Diagnostics, INRCA-IRCCS, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Costarelli
- Clinical Laboratory & Molecular Diagnostics, INRCA-IRCCS, Ancona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Iovino
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Galimberti
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nisi
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific and Technological Pole, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Piacenza
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific and Technological Pole, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Malavolta
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific and Technological Pole, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy
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26
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Iovino L, Mazziotta F, Carulli G, Guerrini F, Morganti R, Mazzotti V, Maggi F, Macera L, Orciuolo E, Buda G, Benedetti E, Caracciolo F, Galimberti S, Pistello M, Petrini M. High-dose zinc oral supplementation after stem cell transplantation causes an increase of TRECs and CD4+ naïve lymphocytes and prevents TTV reactivation. Leuk Res 2018; 70:20-24. [PMID: 29747074 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Zinc plays an important role in thymic function and immune homeostasis. We performed a prospective clinical trial using a high-dose zinc oral supplementation to improve the immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS We enrolled 18 patients undergoing autologous HSCT for multiple myeloma. Nine patients were randomized to receive only a standard antimicrobial prophylaxis; whereas, nine patients received in addition 150 mg/day of zinc from day +5 to day +100 after transplant. RESULTS CD4+ naïve lymphocytes and TRECs showed a significant increase from day +30 until day +100 only in the zinc-treated group. Moreover, the load of Torquetenovirus, a harmless virus that replicates in course of immunedepression, increased at day +100 only in the control group. No severe adverse events were reported during the zinc consumption. CONCLUSION First data from the ZENITH trial suggest that high-dose zinc supplementation is safe and may enhance the thymic reconstitution after HSCT. Registered: http://Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03159845); and EUDRACT: 2014-28 004499-47.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Iovino
- Hematology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; Dudakov Lab, Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Riccardo Morganti
- Biostatistical Consulting, Pisa University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Mazzotti
- Biostatistical Consulting, Pisa University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Virology Unit and Retrovirus Centre, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit and Retrovirus Centre, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Buda
- Hematology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Mauro Pistello
- Virology Unit and Retrovirus Centre, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Petrini
- Hematology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
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Albert E, Solano C, Pascual T, Torres I, Macera L, Focosi D, Maggi F, Giménez E, Amat P, Navarro D. Dynamics of Torque Teno virus plasma DNAemia in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. J Clin Virol 2017; 94:22-28. [PMID: 28710997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [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: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torque Teno virus (TTV) plasma DNA load directly correlate with the level of immunosuppresion in different clinical settings. It is uncertain whether this may be the case in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). OBJECTIVES We characterized the dynamics of TTV DNAemia in patients undergoing T-cell replete allo-SCT. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective single-center observational study including 72 allo-HSCT patients. Plasma TTV DNA loads were quantified before initiating the conditioning regimen and at different time-points after transplant by real-time PCR. White blood cells (WBC) and absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS A dramatic drop in plasma TTV DNA load was observed shortly after conditioning. The TTV DNA load increased steadily after engraftment reaching its peak at day +90 after transplant. The increase in TTV DNA load paralleled that of ALC, and was of greater magnitude in patients who developed severe (grades II-IV) acute graft vs. host disease. CONCLUSION Repopulation of lymphocytes early after allo-HSCT correlates with an increase of plasma TTV DNA load. Prospective studies are nevertheless needed to determine whether the kinetics of TTV DNAemia may allow inference of the degree of overall immunocompetence in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliseo Albert
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Solano
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Tania Pascual
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ignacio Torres
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Estela Giménez
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paula Amat
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - David Navarro
- Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute for Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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28
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Macera L, Focosi D, Vatteroni ML, Manzin A, Antonelli G, Pistello M, Maggi F. Cyclovirus Vietnam DNA in immunodeficient patients. J Clin Virol 2016; 81:12-5. [PMID: 27270127 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyclovirus Vietnam (CyCV-VN) is a CyCV detected in 2013 from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with neurological disorders. Information on prevalence, pathogenesis and disease association of CyCV-VN is still very patchy. OBJECTIVES AND STUDY DESIGN In this study, we have used a PCR assay targeting the Rep gene to investigate the prevalence of CyCV-VN infection in blood and CSF samples of 346 Italian subjects. RESULTS Overall, 7% of blood samples were positive for CyCV-VN while the virus was not detected in any of the CSF samples. The prevalence of CyCV-VN was relatively high in HIV positive patients (21%), modest in patients with HBV or HCV infection (6%), and low in transplant recipient patients (2%). Positive patients showed low levels of CyCV-VN viremia. The virus was not detected in serum samples from healthy individuals. Longitudinal analysis of serum samples obtained from selected patients showed a stable or transient presence of circulating CyCV-VN. CONCLUSIONS The present study is the first to demonstrate CyCV-VN DNA circulation in Italy and to cast light on some biological aspects of this novel virus of men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari, Italy; Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- Division of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Biology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
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29
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Vignolini T, Macera L, Antonelli G, Pistello M, Maggi F, Giannecchini S. Investigation on torquetenovirus (TTV) microRNA transcriptome in vivo. Virus Res 2016; 217:18-22. [PMID: 26959653 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Torquetenovirus (TTV) is a widespread anellovirus that establishes persistent infections in human showing an increased viremia in immunosuppressed patients. TTV possesses microRNA (miRNA)-coding sequences that might be involved in viral immune evasion. Here, the presence of TTV DNA and miRNAs expression was investigated in plasma samples of 77 diseased (20 infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 18 infected with hepatitis B (HBV) virus, 18 infected with hepatitis C (HCV) virus, 21 solid organ transplanted) patients, and 25 healthy controls. TTV prevalence was significantly different in healthy controls (60%, 15/25) versus diseased patients (80%, 62/77), showing the highest TTV loads in transplant recipients. Genetic TTV analysis showed the highest prevalence of group 1, followed by groups 3, 4 and 5, and a lack of isolates of group 2. The expression of at least one TTV miRNAs of group 1, 3 and 5 was found in exosomes of plasma of the great majority of individuals (96%, 98/102 subjects) showing the higher prevalence of miRNAs of TTV group 3 (90%, 92/102), followed by miRNAs of group 1 (66%, 67/102), and miRNA of group 5 (49%, 50/102). TTV miRNAs expression and TTV viremia were not always directly correlated, and significant differences appeared in production of some TTV miRNAs between healthy controls and diseased patients. The reported TTV miRNAs status in exosomes encourages further investigation to understand their potential role in the expansion of anelloviruses upon immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Vignolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Simone Giannecchini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Macera L, Focosi D, Manzin A, Ceccherini Nelli L, Pistello M, Maggi F. Lack of KIs virus DNA in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in Italy. New Microbiol 2015; 38:593-594. [PMID: 26485020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Dear Sirs, Satoh et al. recently screened 516 Japanese blood donors with PCR using primers constructed from the consensus domain of the helicase of positive-stranded RNA viruses. They reported a novel enveloped virus with a circular double-stranded DNA genome (tentatively named KIs virus, KIs-V) (Satoh et al., 2011) occurring in 36 out of the 100 hepatitis E (HEV) antibody-positive donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (>60 IU/L). More recently, Biagini et al. failed to find KIs-V in plasma from 576 French blood donors with unknown HEV serostatus and unknown ALT values (Biagini et al., 2012). Based on an HEV seroprevalence of 3-52% in France, the authors suggested an uncommon frequency of KIs-V infection in healthy persons in France. To date, no information has been available on the prevalence of KIs-V DNA in Italy. In the present paper, we analyzed KIs-V in 242 plasma samples of blood donors, transplant recipients, and patients with chronic viral infections, and in 52 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with different neurological disorders. Informed consent was obtained from all patients and the study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its amendments. Viral DNA extraction was carried out on 200 μl of plasma or 200 μl of CSF by using QIAamp DNA blood kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Extracted nucleic acids were amplified for KIs-V DNA with the nested PCR protocol developed by Satoh et al. (2011) and used for screening Japanese blood donors. The first and second PCR rounds were designed on 458 and 304 nt-length fragments, respectively. To validate the amplification process, positive controls obtained from plasma dilutions of a synthetic template corresponding to the target sequence were run in each PCR. PCR sensitivity was less than 5 copies of target sequence. Fourteen liver and 16 kidney and/or pancreas transplant recipients were tested before transplantation and at the time after transplantation when viremia levels of TTV were highest, TTV having been validated by our group and others as a marker of functional immune deficiency (Focosi et al., 2014). None of the samples tested positive for KIs-V. At the same time, we also tested 79 healthy blood donors. Since determination of ALT is a mandatory part of on blood donation according to Italian law we could establish that only 2 donors had ALT values >60 IU/L but in any case <80 IU/L: all of them tested negative for KIs-V. No information on HEV status was available and HEV seroprevalence studies are limited in Italy (Arends et al., 2014). However regional studies show prevalences ranging from 2.9% to 8.8% (Masia et al., 2009). We also tested 50 HIV-positive patients, 41 HCV-positive patients, and 42 HBV-positive patients. None of the samples tested positive for KIs-V. Finally, cerebrospinal fluid from 52 patients with different neurological disorders was also tested. All these samples were negative for KIs-V DNA. Thus, although we cannot rule out the possibility that KIs-V circulates in Italy at a very low level and genetically different from the virus found in Japanese population, the results seem to demonstrate a very low prevalence of this novel virus in the Italian population. While the implication of KIs-V in human health remains under debate, extensive regional surveys will help to elucidate the geographical spread of KIs-V and to understand the natural history of the infection in human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
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Manzin A, Mallus F, Macera L, Maggi F, Blois S. Global impact of Torque teno virus infection in wild and domesticated animals. J Infect Dev Ctries 2015; 9:562-70. [PMID: 26142664 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.6912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Torque teno viruses (TTVs) is not restricted to humans. Different domestic and wild animal species are naturally infected with species-specific TTVs worldwide. Due to the global spread of the infection, it is likely that essentially all animals are naturally infected with species-specific TTVs, and that co-evolution of TTVs with their hosts probably occurred. Although TTVs are potentially related to many diseases, the evidence of the widespread infection in healthy human and nonhuman hosts raised doubts about their pathogenic potential. Nonetheless, their role as superimposed agents of other diseases or as triggers for impairment of immune surveillance is currently under debate. The possible contribution of animal TT viruses to interspecies transmission and their role as zoonotic agents are currently topics of discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Manzin
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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Maggi F, Mazzetti P, Focosi D, Macera L, Scagnolari C, Manzin A, Antonelli G, Nelli LC. Lack of usutu virus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology, Tuscany, Italy. J Med Virol 2015; 87:913-6. [DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lisa Macera
- Virology Unit; Pisa University Hospital; Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit; University of Cagliari Medical School; Cagliari Italy
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation; Department of Molecular Medicine; Laboratory of Virology; Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit; University of Cagliari Medical School; Cagliari Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation; Department of Molecular Medicine; Laboratory of Virology; Sapienza University of Rome
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Blois S, Mallus F, Liciardi M, Pilo C, Camboni T, Macera L, Maggi F, Manzin A. High prevalence of co-infection with multiple Torque teno sus virus species in Italian pig herds. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113720. [PMID: 25411972 PMCID: PMC4239083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Torque teno viruses (TTVs) are a large group of vertebrate-infecting small viruses with circular single-stranded DNA, classified in the Anelloviridae family. In swine, two genetically distinct species, Torque teno sus virus 1a (TTSuV1a) and 1b (TTSuV1b) are currently grouped into the genus Iotatorquevirus. More recently, a novel Torque teno sus virus species, named Torque teno sus virus k2b (TTSuVk2b), has been included with Torque teno sus virus k2a (TTSuVk2a) into the genus Kappatorquevirus. In the present study, TTSuV1 (TTSuV1a and TTSuV1b), TTSuVk2a and TTSuVk2b prevalence was evaluated in 721 serum samples of healthy pigs from Sardinian farms, insular Italy. This is the largest study to date on the presence of TTSuV in healthy pigs in Italy. The global prevalence of infection was 83.2% (600/721), being 62.3% (449/721), 60.6% (437/721), and 11.5% (83/721) the prevalence of TTSuV1, TTSuVk2a and TTSuVk2b, respectively. The rate of co-infection with two and/or three species was also calculated, and data show that co-infections were significantly more frequent than infections with single species, and that TTSuV1+TTSuVk2a double infection was the prevalent combination (35.4%). Quantitative results obtained using species-specific real time-qPCR evidenced the highest mean levels of viremia in the TTSuV1 subgroup, and the lowest in the TTSuVk2b subgroup. Interestingly, multiple infections with distinct TTSuV species seemed to significantly affect the DNA load and specifically, data highlighted that double infection with TTSuVk2a increased the viral titers of TTSuV1, likewise the co-infection with TTSuVk2b increased the titers of TTSuVk2a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Blois
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesca Mallus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Manuele Liciardi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Sardegna, Department of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Cristian Pilo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Sardegna, Department of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Tania Camboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy
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Focosi D, Macera L, Boggi U, Nelli LC, Maggi F. Short-term kinetics of torque teno virus viraemia after induction immunosuppression confirm T lymphocytes as the main replication-competent cells. J Gen Virol 2014; 96:115-117. [PMID: 25304651 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.070094-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Torque teno virus (TTV) is increasingly considered a universal marker of global immune function. The virus is supposed to replicate in lymphocytes, but poor information is available about fluctuations of viraemia after administration of anti-lymphocyte agents. We studied TTV kinetics in a cohort of 70 kidney±pancreas recipients receiving one of two different anti-T-cell induction immunosuppressants. During the first 30 days after anti-T-cell antibody administration, we report kinetics of TTV viraemia compatible with replication in T lymphocytes, and highly dependent on the potency of the anti-T-cell drug administered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Macera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy.,Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo Boggi
- Division of General and Transplant Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Focosi D, Macera L, Pistello M, Maggi F. Torque Teno virus viremia correlates with intensity of maintenance immunosuppression in adult orthotopic liver transplant. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:667-8. [PMID: 24688076 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Focosi
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa
| | - Lisa Macera
- Division of Virology and Retrovirus Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Division of Virology and Retrovirus Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
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Macera L, Focosi D, Giannelli R, Bulleri M, Zucca A, Scatena F, Pistello M, Ceccherini Nelli L, Maggi F. Human gyrovirus is not found in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells from peripheral blood or umbilical cord. J Clin Virol 2013; 57:182-3. [PMID: 23510623 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2013.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
HGyV in blood suggests the infection might be systemic. Human gyrovirus (HGyV) is a recent addition to the list of agents found in humans. Prevalence, biologic properties, and clinical associations of this novel virus are still incompletely understood. We used qualitative PCRs to detect HGyV in blood samples of 301 persons from Italy. HGyV genome was detected in 3 of 100 solid organ transplant recipients and in 1 HIV-infected person. The virus was not detected in plasma samples from healthy persons. Furthermore, during observation, persons for whom longitudinal plasma samples were obtained had transient and scattered presence of circulating HGyV. Sequencing of a 138-bp fragment showed nucleotide identity among all the HGyV isolates. These results show that HGyV can be present in the blood of infected persons. Additional studies are needed to investigate possible clinical implications.
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Maggi F, Bazzichi L, Sernissi F, Mazzetti P, Lanini L, Scarpellini P, Consensi A, Giacomelli C, Macera L, Vatteroni ML, Bombardieri S, Pistello M. Absence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in Italian patients affected by chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2012; 25:523-9. [PMID: 22697086 DOI: 10.1177/039463201202500224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been recently linked to chronic fatigue syndrome in a US cohort in whom the virus was demonstrated in 67% patients vs 3.7% healthy controls. Albeit this finding was not substantiated by subsequent reports and eventually considered a laboratory contamination, the matter is still the object of intense debate and scrutiny in various cohorts of patients. In this work we examined well-clinically characterized Italian patients affected by chronic fatigue syndrome, and also fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, two chronic illnesses of basically unknown etiology which show quite a few symptoms in common with chronic fatigue syndrome. Although we used recently updated procedures and controls, the XMRV was not found in 65 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, 55 with fibromyalgia, 25 with rheumatoid arthritis, nor in 25 healthy controls. These results add to the ever-growing number of surveys reporting the absence of XMRV in chronic fatigue syndrome patients and suggest that the virus is also absent in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Macera L, Cortey M, Maggi F, Segalés J, Kekarainen T. A novel rolling circle amplification assay to detect members of the family Anelloviridae in pigs and humans. Virus Res 2011; 160:424-7. [PMID: 21762734 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2011.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The study describes a novel rolling circle amplification (RCA) assay to detect members of the family Anelloviridae from swine and human serum samples. The RCA was carried out using short anellovirus (AV)-specific primers based on a highly conserved region among available AV full-length genomes. Then, RCA products were used as templates to amplify full-length genomes with an AV-specific PCR. Amplification products were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and full-length genomes were isolated based on the known size. With this novel AV-RCA/PCR approach it was possible to detect Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) and Torque teno sus virus 2 (TTSuV2) in swine and many species of Torque teno virus (TTV) in human sera, which were previously tested negative by conventional PCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Macera
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, UAB-IRTA, Campus de Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Maggi F, Focosi D, Lanini L, Sbranti S, Mazzetti P, Macera L, Davini S, De Donno M, Mariotti ML, Antonelli G, Scatena F, Pistello M. Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus is not found in peripheral blood cells from treatment-naive human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 18:184-8. [PMID: 21672082 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03580.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The human pathogen xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been tentatively associated with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. Unfortunately, subsequent studies failed to identify the virus in various clinical settings. To determine whether XMRV circulates in humans and the relationship with its host, we searched for the virus in 124 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who might have been exposed to XMRV, might be prone to infection as a result of progressive immunodeficiency, and had not yet been treated with antiretroviral drugs. Using nested PCR and single-step TaqMan real-time PCR, both designed on the XMRV gag gene, we could not find any positive samples. These findings add to the growing amount of scepticism regarding XMRV.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Maggi
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
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Cortey M, Macera L, Segalés J, Kekarainen T. Genetic variability and phylogeny of Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) and 2 (TTSuV2) based on complete genomes. Vet Microbiol 2011; 148:125-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Revised: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 08/13/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Rocchi J, Ricci V, Albani M, Lanini L, Andreoli E, Macera L, Pistello M, Ceccherini-Nelli L, Bendinelli M, Maggi F. Torquetenovirus DNA drives proinflammatory cytokines production and secretion by immune cells via toll-like receptor 9. Virology 2009; 394:235-42. [PMID: 19765789 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2009] [Revised: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 08/26/2009] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Active infection with torquetenovirus (TTV) has been associated with an increased severity of diseases in which inflammation plays a particularly important pathogenetic role. Here, we report that cloned DNA of a genogroup 4 TTV (ViPiSAL) is an activator of proinflammatory cytokine production by murine spleen cells and that the effect is mediated via toll-like receptor (TLR)9. The same DNA also increased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines induced by two well-characterized TLR9 stimulants. Finally, in silico analyses of the genomes of ViPiSAL and other TTVs revealed marked differences in the representation of CpG motifs known to be most effective at activating immune cells via TLR9. These findings demonstrate for the first time that at least one TTV isolate has the potential to stimulate and co-stimulate inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jara Rocchi
- Virology Unit and Retrovirus Centre, Pisa University Hospital and Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Constipation is a subjective phenomenon, and as such must be evaluated using patient self-report. Valid and reliable measures of constipation are essential to standardize the diagnosis, assess the severity and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments. AIM To compare and contrast published self-report measures of constipation in terms of development, content, general characteristics, psychometric properties and clinical utility. METHODS MEDLINE (1966-2007), CINAHL (1980-2007), Cochrane (1993-2007) and Web of Science (1995-2007) were searched to identify self-report measures of constipation. Measures of constipation were selected if they: (i) were self-report measures that measured only constipation; (ii) had undergone psychometric testing; (iii) were used in adults and (iv) were written in English. RESULTS Seven self-report measures of constipation were identified. The content areas evaluated by these measures varied. Only two measures had adequate validity and reliability, sensitivity to change, or were tested in more than one sample. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this review suggest that the Chinese Constipation Questionnaire and the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptom Questionnaire demonstrate adequate psychometric properties for a constipation measure. Additional research is warranted to refine or develop a more comprehensive self-report measure to evaluate constipation in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L McCrea
- Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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