Polyomaviruses shedding in stool of patients with hematological disorders: detection analysis and study of the non-coding control region's genetic variability.

Fragmented data are available on the human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) prevalence in the gastrointestinal tract. Rearrangements in the non-coding control region (NCCR) of JCPyV and BKPyV have been extensively studied and correlated to clinical outcome; instead, little information is available for KIPyV, WUPyV and MCPyV NCCRs. To get insights into the role of HPyVs in the gastrointestinal tract, we investigated JCPyV, BKPyV, KIPyV, WUPyV and MCPyV distribution among hematological patients in concomitance with gastrointestinal symptoms. In addition, NCCRs and VP1 sequences were examined to characterize the strains circulating among the enrolled patients. DNA was extracted from 62 stool samples and qPCR was carried out to detect and quantify JCPyV, BKPyV, KIPyV, WUPyV and MCPyV genomes. Positive samples were subsequently amplified and sequenced for NCCR and VP1 regions. A phylogenetic tree was constructed aligning the obtained VP1 sequences to a set of reference sequences. qPCR revealed low viral loads for all HPyVs searched. Mono and co-infections were detected. A significant correlation was found between gastrointestinal complications and KIPyV infection. Archetype-like NCCRs were found for JCPyV and BKPyV, and a high degree of NCCRs stability was observed for KIPyV, WUPyV and MCPyV. Analysis of the VP1 sequences revealed a 99% identity with the VP1 reference sequences. The study adds important information on HPyVs prevalence and persistence in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal signs were correlated with the presence of KIPyV, although definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. HPyVs NCCRs showed a high degree of sequence stability, suggesting that sequence rearrangements are rare in this anatomical site.

NMR Metabolomics of Arctium lappa L., Taraxacum officinale and Melissa officinalis: A Comparison of Spontaneous and Organic Ecotypes.

Officinal plants are a source of metabolites whose chemical composition depends on pedoclimatic conditions. In this study, the NMR-based approach was applied to investigate the impacts of different altitudes and agronomical practices (Land, Mountain Spontaneous, and Organically Grown Ecotypes, namely LSE, MSE, and OE, respectively) on the metabolite profiles of Burdock root, Dandelion root and aerial part, and Lemon balm aerial part. Sugars, amino acids, organic acids, polyphenols, fatty acids, and other metabolites were identified and quantified in all samples. Some metabolites turned out to be tissue-specific markers. Arginine was found in roots, whereas myo-inositol, galactose, glyceroyldigalactose moiety, pheophytin, and chlorophyll were identified in aerial parts. Caftaric and chicoric acids, 3,5 di-caffeoylquinic acid, and chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids were detected in Dandelion, Burdock and Lemon balm, respectively. The metabolite amount changed significantly according to crop, tissue type, and ecotype. All ecotypes of Burdock had the highest contents of amino acids and the lowest contents of organic acids, whereas an opposite trend was observed in Lemon balm. Dandelion parts contained high levels of carbohydrates, except for the MSE aerial part, which showed the highest content of organic acids. The results provided insights into the chemistry of officinal plants, thus supporting nutraceutical-phytopharmaceutical research.

New Advances in Metabolic Syndrome, from Prevention to Treatment: The Role of Diet and Food.

The definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has undergone several changes over the years due to the difficulty in establishing universal criteria for it. Underlying the disorders related to MetS is almost invariably a pro-inflammatory state related to altered glucose metabolism, which could lead to elevated cardiovascular risk. Indeed, the complications closely related to MetS are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been observed that the predisposition to metabolic syndrome is modulated by complex interactions between human microbiota, genetic factors, and diet. This review provides a summary of the last decade of literature related to three principal aspects of MetS: (i) the syndrome's definition and classification, pathophysiology, and treatment approaches; (ii) prediction and diagnosis underlying the biomarkers identified by means of advanced methodologies (NMR, LC/GC-MS, and LC, LC-MS); and (iii) the role of foods and food components in prevention and/or treatment of MetS, demonstrating a possible role of specific foods intake in the development of MetS.

Modulatory Properties of Food and Nutraceutical Components Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

Inflammasomes are key intracellular multimeric proteins able to initiate the cellular inflammatory signaling pathway. NLRP3 inflammasome represents one of the main protein complexes involved in the development of inflammatory events, and its activity has been largely demonstrated to be connected with inflammatory or autoinflammatory disorders, including diabetes, gouty arthritis, liver fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, respiratory syndromes, atherosclerosis, and cancer initiation. In recent years, it has been demonstrated how dietary intake and nutritional status represent important environmental elements that can modulate metabolic inflammation, since food matrices are an important source of several bioactive compounds. In this review, an updated status of knowledge regarding food bioactive compounds as NLRP3 inflammasome modulators is discussed. Several chemical classes, namely polyphenols, organosulfurs, terpenes, fatty acids, proteins, amino acids, saponins, sterols, polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins, and probiotics, have been shown to possess NLRP3 inflammasome-modulating activity through in vitro and in vivo assays, mainly demonstrating an anti-NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Plant foods are particularly rich in important bioactive compounds, each of them can have different effects on the pathway of inflammatory response, confirming the importance of the nutritional pattern (food model) as a whole rather than any single nutrient or functional compound.

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) in the Context of Immunosuppression: Genetic Analysis of Noncoding Control Region (NCCR) Variability among a HIV-1-Positive Population.

BACKGROUND: Since limited data are available about the prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and the genetic variability of its noncoding control region (NCCR) in the context of immunosuppression, this study aimed to investigate the distribution of MCPyV in anatomical sites other than the skin and the behavior of NCCR among an HIV-1-positive population. METHODS: Urine, plasma, and rectal swabs specimens from a cohort of 66 HIV-1-positive patients were collected and subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for MCPyV DNA detection. MCPyV-positive samples were amplified by nested PCR targeting the NCCR, and NCCRs alignment was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of mutations and to identify putative binding sites for cellular factors. RESULTS: MCPyV DNA was detected in 10/66 urine, in 7/66 plasma, and in 23/66 rectal samples, with a median value of 5 × 102 copies/mL, 1.5 × 102 copies/mL, and 2.3 × 103 copies/mL, respectively. NCCR sequence analysis revealed a high degree of homology with the MCC350 reference strain in urine, whereas transitions, transversions, and single or double deletions were observed in plasma and rectal swabs. In these latter samples, representative GTT and GTTGA insertions were also observed. Search for putative binding sites of cellular transcription factors showed that in several strains, deletions, insertions, or single base substitutions altered the NCCR canonical configuration. CONCLUSIONS: Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of numerous mutations in the NCCR, including insertions and deletions. Whether these mutations may have an impact on the pathogenic features of the virus remains to be determined. qPCR measured on average a low viral load in the specimens analyzed, with the exception of those with the GTTGA insertion.