Efficacy and Microbiota Modulation Induced by LimpiAL 2.5%, a New Medical Device for the Inverse Psoriasis Treatment.

(1) Inverse psoriasis (IP), also known as intertriginous, typically affects the groin, armpits, navel, intergluteal fissure, and external genitalia. Skin lesions are erythematous plaques of inflammatory nature, smooth, well-delimited, non-scaly, and non-infiltrated. Lesions may be accompanied by itching, pain, or burning sensation. The aim of this study is both to investigate the modulation of the skin microbiota induced by IP and, on the other hand, to test the effectiveness of the new biotechnological product LimpiAL 2.5%. (2) Patients affected by IP were recruited in a private practice and treated for 4 weeks with LimpiAL 2.5% exclusively. The clinical effects on the lesion skin were evaluated, and the skin microbiotas before and after treatment were compared. (3) The clinical outcomes reveled a significant beneficial effect of the tested product. At the same time, LimpiAL increased the biological diversity of the skin microbiota and exerted a significant decrease of some Corynebacterium species, and the increase of some Staphylococcus species. (4) Together, the clinical outcomes and the microbiota analysis suggest that LimpiAL treatment improves the skin condition of affected patients, basically restoring the eubiosis conditions of the affected sites and modulating the bacterial composition of the resident microbiota.

The Lepidoptera Galleria mellonella "in vivo" model: a preliminary pilot study on oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum (now Lactiplantibacillus plantarum).

This work aims to assess the in vitro adhesion of two type strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC 14917 and ATCC BAA-793) (now Lactiplantibacillus plantarum). The experiments were conducted both in vitro on colon cells lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) and in vivo by adopting Galleria mellonella, a well-known alternative preclinical model. Data comparison obtained from in vitro and in vivo assays showed that adhesion performance is comparable in both models. Moreover, the type strain BAA-793, originally isolated from human saliva, showed enhanced adhesion performance, either in vitro to the low mucus-producing cell line (HT-29) or in vivo into the G mellonella gut. These results suggest a possible adaptation of this strain to its ecological niche compared to ATCC 14917. This preliminary pilot study, once again, showed the reliability of G. mellonella oral administration model as a first-line screening tool for in vitro to in vivo translation. Also, for the first time, the permanence of Lactobacillus strains into G. mellonella gut has been reported, reinforcing the claim that this preclinical model can be used, together with standardised in vitro and in vivo procedures already accepted across the scientific community, for the evaluation and investigation of new potential probiotic strains.

Iron Support in Erythropoietin Treatment in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients Affected by Low-Risk Refractory Anaemia: Real-Life Evidence from an Italian Setting.

Refractory anaemia (RA) among myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a partial functional iron deficit and may require transfusions. In low-risk lymphoma and solid tumour patients, iron support improves erythropoietin (EPO) cost-effectiveness in treating anaemia. The aim of this study is to see if oral sucrosomial iron support improves the cost-effectiveness of EPO treatment in MDS patients affected by low-risk RA. We treated patients with EPO only or with EPO plus oral sucrosomial iron or intravenous (i.v.) iron. The need for transfusions was lowest in the group taking oral iron (p = 0.016) or not receiving supplementation at all (p = 0.022). We compared costs of EPO with i.v. ferric gluconate or oral sucrosomial iron supplementation or no iron supplementation. The oral iron group had fewer side effects, fewer patient medical visits in the out-patient setting, and fewer transfusions; this led to higher savings on direct hospital costs and indirect patient costs (lost days at work) and translated into a 50% abatement of overall expenditures. EPO treatment-related expenditures in MDS-RA patients were lowest with oral sucrosomial iron supplementation (Sideral®), with a longer interval between EPO administration in maintenance treatment, quicker hemoglobin recovery, lower ferritin increase and fewer blood transfusions.

In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Activity of Berberine Chloride against Uropathogenic E. coli Strains Using Galleria mellonella as a Host Model.

Berberine is an alkaloid of the protoberberine type used in traditional oriental medicine. Its biological activities include documented antibacterial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms; nonetheless, its use against Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary infections has not yet been widely investigated in vivo. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance requires new therapeutic approaches to ensure the continued effectiveness of antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of urinary infections. Moreover, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) has developed several virulence factors and resistance to routine antibiotic therapy. To this end, several in vitro and in vivo tests were conducted to assess the activity of berberine on uropathogenic E. coli strains. Galleria mellonella as an infection model was employed to confirm the in vivo translatability of in vitro data on berberine activity and its influence on adhesion and invasion proprieties of E. coli on human bladder cells. In vitro pre-treatment with berberine was able to decrease the adhesive and invasive UPEC ability. In vivo treatment increased the larvae survival infected with UPEC strains and reduced the number of circulating pathogens in larvae hemolymph. These preliminary findings demonstrated the efficacy and reliability of G. mellonella as in vivo model for pre-clinical studies of natural substances.

Targeting S. aureus Extracellular Vesicles: A New Putative Strategy to Counteract Their Pathogenic Potential.

Long-term inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis is characterized by dry skin, itching, and eczematous lesions. During inflammation skin barrier protein impairment promotes S. aureus colonisation in the inflamed skin, worsening AD patient's clinical condition. Proteomic analysis revealed the presence of several immune evasion proteins and virulence factors in S. aureus extracellular vesicles (EVs), suggesting a possible role for these proteins in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a wall fragment obtained from a patented strain of C. acnes DSM28251 (c40) and its combination with a mucopolysaccharide carrier (HAc40) in counteract the pathogenic potential of EVs produced by S. aureus ATCC 14458. Results obtained from in vitro studies on HaCaT keratinocyte cells showed that HAc40 and c40 treatment significantly altered the size and pathogenicity of S. aureus EVs. Specifically, EVs grew larger, potentially reducing their ability to interact with the target cells and decreasing cytotoxicity. Additionally, the overexpression of the tight junctions mRNA zona occludens 1 (ZO1) and claudin 1 (CLDN1) following EVs exposure was decreased by HAc40 and c40 treatment, indicating a protective effect on the epidermal barrier's function. These findings demonstrate how Hac40 and c40 may mitigate the harmful effects of S. aureus EVs. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying this interaction and explore the potential clinical utility of c40 and its mucopolysaccharide carrier conjugate HAc40 in managing atopic dermatitis.

Symbiotic Wolbachia in mosquitoes and its role in reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases: updates and prospects.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, Zika fever, and filariasis have the greatest health and economic impact. These mosquito-borne diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Due to the lack of effective vector containment strategies, the prevalence and severity of these diseases are increasing in endemic regions. Nowadays, mosquito infection by the endosymbiotic Wolbachia represents a promising new bio-control strategy. Wild-infected mosquitoes had been developing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), phenotypic alterations, and nutrition competition with pathogens. These reduce adult vector lifespan, interfere with reproduction, inhibit other pathogen growth in the vector, and increase insecticide susceptibility of the vector. Wild, uninfected mosquitoes can also establish stable infections through trans-infection and have the advantage of adaptability through pathogen defense, thereby selectively infecting uninfected mosquitoes and spreading to the entire population. This review aimed to evaluate the role of the Wolbachia symbiont with the mosquitoes (Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex) in reducing mosquito-borne diseases. Global databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and pro-Quest were accessed to search for potentially relevant articles. We used keywords: Wolbachia, Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and mosquito were used alone or in combination during the literature search. Data were extracted from 56 articles' texts, figures, and tables of the included article.

Self-isolation of an Italian long-term care facility during COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison study on care-related infectious episodes.

The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to understand if and how much the preventive self-isolation approach might have been a valid model to avoid care-related infection, not only from COVID-19 but also from other non-viral infectious diseases. From March to May 2020, the healthcare and management staff of the Villa Santa Maria long-term care facilities, located in the village of Montenero di Bisaccia (Campobasso, Molise, Italy), decided to carry out a preventive self-isolation plan to safeguard the residents from SARS-CoV-2. The impact on other infectious diseases was evaluated by analyzing the antibiotic therapies prescription trend among the inpatients. Our data showed that although self-isolation protected residents and caregivers from SARS-CoV-2, it can also be associated with mobility reduction, leading to an increase in bedridden pathologies, namely, pressure ulcers and pressure sores. The simultaneous isolation of residents and caregivers in the same location significantly reduced any outside influence as a cause of possible infections.

A Wall Fragment of Cutibacterium acnes Preserves Junctional Integrity Altered by Staphylococcus aureus in an Ex Vivo Porcine Skin Model.

(1) Background alteration of the skin microbiota, dysbiosis, causes skin barrier impairment resulting in disease development. Staphylococcus aureus, the main pathogen associated with dysbiosis, secretes several virulence factors, including α-toxin that damages tight junctions and compromises the integrity of the skin barrier. The use of members of the resident microbiota to restore the skin barrier, bacteriotherapy, represents a safe treatment for skin conditions among innovative options. The aim of this study is the evaluation of a wall fragment derived from a patented strain of Cutibacterium acnes DSM28251 (c40) alone and conjugated to a mucopolysaccharide carrier (HAc40) in counteracting S. aureus pathogenic action on two tight junction proteins (Claudin-1 and ZO-1) in an ex vivo porcine skin infection model. Methods: skin biopsies were infected with live S. aureus strains ATCC29213 and DSM20491. Tissue was pre-incubated or co-incubated with c40 and HAc40. (3) Results: c40 and HAc40 prevent and counteract Claudin-1 and Zo-1 damage (4) Conclusions: c40 and the functional ingredient HAc40 represent a potential non-pharmacological treatment of skin diseases associated with cutaneous dysbiosis of S. aureus. These findings offer numerous avenues for new research.

Emerging Evidence on Tenebrio molitor Immunity: A Focus on Gene Expression Involved in Microbial Infection for Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies.

In recent years, the scientific community's interest in T. molitor as an insect model to investigate immunity and host-pathogen interactions has considerably increased. The reasons for this growing interest could be explained by the peculiar features of this beetle, which offers various advantages compared to other invertebrates models commonly used in laboratory studies. Thus, this review aimed at providing a broad view of the T. molitor immune system in light of the new scientific evidence on the developmental/tissue-specific gene expression studies related to microbial infection. In addition to the well-known cellular component and humoral response process, several studies investigating the factors associated with T. molitor immune response or deepening of those already known have been reported. However, various aspects remain still less understood, namely the possible crosstalk between the immune deficiency protein and Toll pathways and the role exerted by T. molitor apolipoprotein III in the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. Therefore, further research is required for T. molitor to be recommended as an alternative insect model for pathogen-host interaction and immunity studies.

LimpiAD foam and the potential control of the pressure ulcers onset.

Pressure ulcers development is an undesirable event that often worsens the clinical condition of patients already affected by severe pathologies. Since the aetiology of this clinical complication is unclear yet, at current the primary approach to treat the problem is the adoption of suitable patients' assistance procedures. At the same time, the research focuses on finding medicaments or treatment strategies that could prevent the lesions and/or accelerate their healing. The international market's wide range of cosmetic/pharmaceuticals products is mainly topical preparations based on emollient agents to preserve or restore skin homeostasis. On the other hand, the skin microbiome's implication in the pressure ulcers occurrence is mainly unknown. Based on these assumptions, here we tested an innovative preparation, the LimpiAD foam, as a potential preventive strategy of pressure ulcers onset. The active component of this product is composed of hyaluronic acid conjugated with a bacterial cell wall fragment of C. acnes DSM 28251. For LimpiAD foam, we hypothesised a combined action of the two components on the skin tissue, an emollient effect due to the hyaluronic acid properties together with a modulatory effect on the skin microbiota carried out by the component of bacterial derivation. Our results supported the hypothesis and suggested a potential role of LimpiAD foam in pressure ulcers prevention.

Potential Mucosal Irritation Discrimination of Surface Disinfectants Employed against SARS-CoV-2 by Limacus flavus Slug Mucosal Irritation Assay.

Preventive measures have proven to be the most effective strategy to counteract the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Among these, disinfection is strongly suggested by international health organizations' official guidelines. As a consequence, the increase of disinfectants handling is going to expose people to the risk of eyes, mouth, nose, and mucous membranes accidental irritation. To assess mucosal irritation, previous studies employed the snail Arion lusitanicus as the mucosal model in Slug Mucosal Irritation (SMI) assay. The obtained results confirmed snails as a suitable experimental model for their anatomical characteristics superimposable to the human mucosae and the different easily observed readouts. Another terrestrial gastropod, Limacus flavus, also known as " Yellow slug ", due to its larger size and greater longevity, has already been proposed as an SMI assay alternative model. In this study, for the first time, in addition to the standard parameters recorded in the SMI test, the production of yellow pigment in response to irritants, unique to the snail L. flavus, was evaluated. Our results showed that this species would be a promising model for mucosal irritation studies. The study conducted testing among all those chemical solutions most commonly recommended against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Atopic Dermatitis as a Multifactorial Skin Disorder. Can the Analysis of Pathophysiological Targets Represent the Winning Therapeutic Strategy?

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pathological skin condition with complex aetiological mechanisms that are difficult to fully understand. Scientific evidence suggests that of all the causes, the impairment of the skin barrier and cutaneous dysbiosis together with immunological dysfunction can be considered as the two main factors involved in this pathological skin condition. The loss of the skin barrier function is often linked to dysbiosis and immunological dysfunction, with an imbalance in the ratio between the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and/or other microorganisms residing in the skin. The bibliographic research was conducted on PubMed, using the following keywords: 'atopic dermatitis', 'bacterial therapy', 'drug delivery system' and 'alternative therapy'. The main studies concerning microbial therapy, such as the use of bacteria and/or part thereof with microbiota transplantation, and drug delivery systems to recover skin barrier function have been summarized. The studies examined show great potential in the development of effective therapeutic strategies for AD and AD-like symptoms. Despite this promise, however, future investigative efforts should focus both on the replication of some of these studies on a larger scale, with clinical and demographic characteristics that reflect the general AD population, and on the process of standardisation, in order to produce reliable data.

Galleria mellonella as a consolidated in vivo model hosts: New developments in antibacterial strategies and novel drug testing.

A greater ethical conscience, new global rules and a modified perception of ethical consciousness entail a more rigorous control on utilizations of vertebrates for in vivo studies. To cope with this new scenario, numerous alternatives to rodents have been proposed. Among these, the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella had a preponderant role, especially in the microbiological field, as demonstrated by the growing number of recent scientific publications. The reasons for its success must be sought in its peculiar characteristics such as the innate immune response mechanisms and the ability to grow at a temperature of 37°C. This review aims to describe the most relevant features of G. mellonella in microbiology, highlighting the most recent and relevant research on antibacterial strategies, novel drug tests and toxicological studies. Although solutions for some limitations are required, G. mellonella has all the necessary host features to be a consolidated in vivo model host.

Vitamin E for Prevention of Biofilm-caused Healthcare-associated Infections.

The healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) occur in patients both in nosocomial environments and in community. More often HCAIs are associated to the use of medical devices and bacterial biofilm development on these equipments. Due to the clinical and economic relevance of this topic, new strategies for the treatment of infections caused by biofilm proliferation are unceasingly searched by scientists. The present study investigated the role of vitamin E to reduce the biofilm formation for a larger panel of human pathogens, including strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida. This potential activity was tested by placing a preparation of vitamin E (α-Tocopheryl acetate) as interface between the bacterial culture and the polystyrene walls of a 96 well plate at different concentrations of glucose, used as a biofilm enhancer. The Staphylococcus genus was further investigated by spreading the vitamin E on a silicone catheter lumen and evaluating its influence on the bacterial colonization. From our results, vitamin E has been able to interfere with bacterial biofilm and prevent in vitro biofilm formation. Furthermore, the ability of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis to colonize the catheter surface decreased as a result of vitamin E application.