Galdieria sulphuraria: An Extremophilic Alga as a Source of Antiviral Bioactive Compounds.

In the last decades, the interest in bioactive compounds derived from natural sources including bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae has significantly increased. It is well-known that aquatic or terrestrial organisms can produce, in special conditions, secondary metabolites with a wide range of biological properties, such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we focused on the extremophilic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria as a possible producer of bioactive compounds with antiviral activity. The algal culture was subjected to organic extraction with acetone. The cytotoxicity effect of the extract was evaluated by the 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antiviral activity was assessed through a plaque assay against herpesviruses and coronaviruses as enveloped viruses and poliovirus as a naked one. The monolayer was treated with different concentrations of extract, ranging from 1 µg/mL to 200 µg/mL, and infected with viruses. The algal extract displayed strong antiviral activity at non-toxic concentrations against all tested enveloped viruses, in particular in the virus pre-treatment against HSV-2 and HCoV-229E, with IC50 values of 1.7 µg/mL and IC90 of 1.8 µg/mL, respectively. However, no activity against the non-enveloped poliovirus has been detected. The inhibitory effect of the algal extract was confirmed by the quantitative RT-PCR of viral genes. Preliminary chemical profiling of the extract was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), revealing the enrichment in primary fatty acid amides (PFAA), such as oleamide, palmitamide, and pheophorbide A. These promising results pave the way for the further purification of the mixture to explore its potential role as an antiviral agent.

Post-Stroke Detection of Subclinical Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source in the Real World Practice: The Empoli ESUS Atrial Fibrillation (E 2 AF) Study.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the main occult causative mechanisms of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Aim of this study was to identify AF predictors, and to develop a score to predict the probability of AF detection in ESUS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed ESUS patients undergoing 2-week external electrocardiographic monitoring. Patients with and without AF detection were compared. On the basis of multivariate analysis, predictors of AF were identified and used to develop a predictive score, which was then compared with other existing literature scores. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients, 48 females, mean age±SD 72±10 years, were included. In 36 patients (43.9%) AF was detected. The frequency of age 75 years or above and arterial hypertension, and the median CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score were significantly higher in patients with AF compared with those without. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥8 was the only independent variable associated with AF detection. We derived the Empoli ESUS-AF (E 2 AF) score (NIHSS ≥8 5 points, arterial hypertension 3 points, age 75 years or above 2 points, age 65 to 74 years 1 point, history of coronary/peripheral artery disease 1 point, left atrial enlargement 1 point, posterior lesion 1 point, cortical or cortical-subcortical lesion 1 point), whose predictive power in detecting AF was good (area under the curve: 0.746, 95% confidence interval: 0.638-0.836) and higher than that of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc and other scores. CONCLUSIONS: In our study NIHSS score ≥8 was the only independent predictor of post-ESUS-AF detection. The E 2 AF score appears to have a good predictive power for detecting AF. External validations are required.

Predictive Factors for Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke in the REAL-World Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Few data exists on predictive factors of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in real-world acute ischemic stroke patients. The aims of this study were: (i) to identify predictive variables of HT (ii) to develop a score for predicting HT. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data of patients with acute ischemic stroke consecutively admitted to our Stroke Unit along two years. Patients with HT were compared with those without HT. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of HT on CT scan at 24 hours to develop a practical score. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 564 patients with mean age 77.5±11.8 years. Fifty-two patients (9.2%) showed HT on brain CT at 24 hours (4.9% symptomatic). NIHSS score ≥8 at Stroke Unit admission (3 points), cardioembolic etiology (2 points), acute revascularization by systemic thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy (1 point), history of previous TIA/stroke (1 point), and major vessel occlusion (1 point) were found independent risk factors of HT and were included in the score (Hemorrhagic Transformation Empoli score (HTE)). The predictive power of HTE score was good with an AUC of 0.785 (95% CI: 0.749-0.818). Compared with 5 HT predictive scores proposed in the literature (THRIVE, SPAN-100, MSS, GRASPS, SITS-SIC), the HTE score significantly better predicted HT. CONCLUSIONS: NIHSS score ≥8 at Stroke Unit admission, cardioembolism, urgent revascularization, previous TIA/stroke, and major vessel occlusion were independent predictors of HT. The HTE score has a good predictive power for HT. Prospective studies are warranted.

Efficacy and Safety of Edoxaban in Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: A Real World Retrospective Study.

Introduction Few data exist on the use of edoxaban in cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) outside of clinical trials. Aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of these patients in a real world clinical setting. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of patients with cancer-associated VTE who were prescribed edoxaban. Follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months was performed: VTE recurrences, bleedings, mortality, cancer progression and treatment, edoxaban interruption and its reason were assessed. Results Fifty-four patients, 38 females (70.4%), mean age 71 ± 14 years, were enrolled. In 38 patients (70.4%), the episode of VTE was the first one, in 28 (51.8%) it was an isolated deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in 13 (24.1%) a pulmonary embolism (PE) associated with DVT, in 13 (24.1%) an isolated PE. Median time between cancer and VTE diagnosis was 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-47) months. Median time between VTE diagnosis and edoxaban prescription was 36 (IQR 7-117) days. At 3, 6, and 12 months the incidence of all-cause mortality was 16.6, 22.2, and 38.8%, that of VTE recurrence 1.8, 1.8, and 3.7%, and that of major bleeding 7.4, 9.2, and 12.9%, respectively. No bleeding was fatal. Of the 33 patients alive at 12 months, 32 (96.9%) were still on edoxaban therapy, in seven (21.2%) cancer was in progression. Conclusion Our study, conducted on a real world population of patients with cancer-associated VTE, confirms the results of randomized controlled clinical trials, and supports the use of edoxaban as effective and safe treatment in this context.

Predictors of poor outcome in tocilizumab treated patients with Sars-CoV-2 related severe respiratory failure: A multicentre real world study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite Tocilizumab is now recognized as a concrete therapeutic option in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 related respiratory failure, literature lacks about factors influencing the response to it in this context. Therefore, the aim of our study was to provide evidence about predictors of poor outcome in Tocilizumab treated patients in the real-world practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, laboratory and chest computer tomography (CCT) data of patients firstly admitted in non Intensive Care Units (ICU) and suffering from severe respiratory failure, who were treated with the IL-6 antagonist Tocilizumab. We compared patients who died and/or required admission to ICU with oro-tracheal intubation (OTI) with those who did not. RESULTS: Two hundreds and eighty-seven patients (29.9% females) with mean age ± SD 64.1 ± 12.6 years were the study population. In-hospital mortality was 18.8%, while the composite endpoint in-hospital mortality and/or ICU admission with OTI occurred in 23.7%. At univariate analysis, patients who died and/or were admitted to ICU with OTI were significantly older and co-morbid, had significantly higher values of creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin and lower lymphocytes count, PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F) and room air pulsossimetry oxygen saturation (RAO2S) at hospital admission. Computed tomography ground glass opacities (CT-GGO) involving the pulmonary surface ≥ 50% were found in 55.4% of patients who died and/or were admitted to ICU with OTI and in 21.5% of patients who did not (p=0.0001). At multivariate analysis, age ≥ 65 years (OR 17.3, 95% CI: 3.7-81.0), procalcitonin ≥ 0.14 (OR 9.9, 95%CI: 1.7-56.1), RAO2S ≤ 90% (OR 4.6, 95%CI: 1.2-17.0) and CCT-GGO involvement ≥ 50% (OR 5.1, 95%CI: 1.2-21.0) were independent risk factors associated with death and/or ICU admission with OTI. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab has shown to improve outcome in patients with severe respiratory failure associated to SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia. In our multicentre study focusing on Tocilizumab treated severe COVID-19 patients, age ≥ 65 years, procalcitonin ≥ 0.14 ng/mL, RAO2S ≤ 90% and CCT-GGO involvement ≥ 50% were independent factors associated with poor outcome.

Prognostic role of Interleukin-6/lymphocytes ratio in SARS-CoV2 related pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Interleukin-6 to lymphocyte (IL-6/Lym) ratio has been identified as a potential prognostic tool in patients with SARS-CoV2 related pneumonia. The aim of our study was to compare the prognostic power of IL-6/Lym ratio with other biomarkers in patients initially admitted in a non intensive unit and suffering for respiratory failure associated with SARS-CoV2 related pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IL-6/Lym ratio, IL-6, D-Dimer, D-Dimer/fibrinogen ratio, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), lymphocytes count and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio collected at hospital admission were tested as prognosticators of negative outcome, defined as combined endpoint in-hospital mortality and/or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission requiring oro-tracheal intubation (OTI). RESULTS: Study population encompassed two hundreds and twenty-three patients (46% females) with mean age ± DS 69.4 ± 13.3 years. Eighty-nine patients (39.9%) suffered for severe respiratory failure and required non invasive ventilation, helmets and/or high flow nasal cannula. Fourty-one patients (18.3%) died during hospital stay and/or required OTI. In these patients mean values of IL-6/Lym ratio, IL-6, CRP and N/L were significantly higher and lymphocytes count was significantly lower compared with patients discharged alive and/or not requiring OTI, while no difference was found in mean values of D-Dimer, D-Dimer/Fibrinogen ratio and fibrinogen. AUC (0.797, 95% CI: 0.738-0.848) of IL-6/Lym ratio was the highest compared with those of all the other analyzed biomarkers and the difference was significant with the exception of IL-6. At multivariate logistic regression IL-6/Lym ratio > 66.5 resulted the only independent biomarker associated with mortality and/or OTI (OR 5.65; 95% 1.63-19.54). CONCLUSION: IL-6/Lym ratio seems to be an optimal prognosticator in SARS-CoV2 related pneumonia. Its routinary use in COVID-19 patients could be warranted.

Prognostic determinants in patients with non traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage: a real life report.

Background and aim: Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains a devastating disease for high in-hospital and long-term mortality and residual neurological disability. The aim of our study was to analyze the prognostic factors in patients managed for ICH in the real-life clinical practice.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and neuro-radiological data of consecutive patients admitted to our Hospital for ICH along 1 year. In-hospital mortality and 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≥4 were the study outcomes. Moreover, we compared patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with patients admitted in Stroke Unit (SU).Results: Ninety-eight patients with mean age ± SD 78 ± 12 years were enrolled. In-hospital and 90-day mortality were 36.7% and 41.8%, respectively. Patients who died had a significantly higher percentage of ICH volume >30 mL, irregular shape, lobar location, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), midline shift, hydrocephalus, hematoma enlargement, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤9 at hospital admission, early neurological worsening (ENW), higher Hemphill ICH score, and underwent oro-tracheal intubation more frequently compared with patients who survived. Patients admitted to ICU were younger and significantly more critical compared with those who were admitted to SU. In-hospital mortality in patients admitted to ICU was 52.6% compared with 25% in patients admitted to SU (p < 0.01). Median mRS score at hospital discharge was 4 (IQR 3-5) and at 90 days was 4 (IQR 3-4). ENW, hematoma enlargement, Hemphill ICH score ≥3 and midline shift >10 mm were found independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality, while age was found as independent risk factor for 90-day mRS ≥4).Conclusion: In real life, prognosis of ICH is associated with clinical and radiological determinants. In our study ENW, hematoma enlargement, Hemphill ICH score ≥3 and midline shift >10 mm were associated with short-term mortality risk, while age with 90-day mRS ≥4.

Investigation of architecture development and phosphate distribution in Chlorella biofilm by complementary microscopy techniques.

Microalgae biofilms may play an important role in the mitigation and prevention of eutrophication caused by domestic, agricultural and industrial wastewater effluents. Despite their potential, the biofilm development and role in nutrient removal are not well understood. Its clarification requires comprehensive studies of the complex three-dimensional architecture of the biofilm. In this study, we established a multimodal imaging approach to provide key information regarding architecture development and nutrient distribution in the biofilm of two green algae organisms: Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris. Helium ion microscopy (HIM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) were employed for i) elucidation of spatial arrangement, ii) elemental mapping and iii) 3D chemical imaging of the biofilm. The fine structure of the algal biofilm was resolved by HIM, the evidence of the accumulation of phosphate in hot spots was provided by SEM-EDX and the localization of phosphate oxides granules throughout the whole sample was clarified by ToF-SIMS. The reported results shed light on the phosphorus distribution during Chlorella's biofilm formation and highlight the potential of such correlative approach to solve fundamental question in algal biotechnology research.

Nutrient removal efficiency of green algal strains at high phosphate concentrations.

The effects of autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions on microalgae growth and nutrient removal efficiency from synthetic wastewater by different microalgae were investigated. Although several studies have demonstrated the suitability of microalgae technologies for ammonia-rich wastewater treatment, only a few have been used for treatment of phosphate-rich industrial wastewaters. In this work, six microalgae were cultivated in batch mode in a growth medium with a high phosphate concentration (0.74 Mm PO4 3--P) and different carbon sources (ammonium acetate and sodium bicarbonate) without CO2 supplementation or pH adjustment. Their potential for nutrient removal and biomass generation was estimated. The biomass growth in the reactors was modeled and the data aligned to the Verhulst model with R2 > 0.93 in all cases. Chlorella pyrenoidosa ACUF_808 showed the highest final biomass productivity of 106.21 and 75.71 mg·L-1·d-1 in media with inorganic and organic carbon sources, respectively. The highest phosphorus removal efficiency was 32% with Chlorella vulgaris ACUF_809, while the nitrate removal efficiency in all reactors exceeded 93%. The coupled cultivation of the novel isolated strains of C. pyrenoidosa and C. vulgaris under mixotrophic conditions supplemented with ammonium acetate might be a promising solution for simultaneous nitrate and phosphate removal from phosphorus-rich wastewaters.

Biofilm architecture on different substrates of an Oculatella subterranea (Cyanobacteria) strain isolated from Pompeii archaeological site (Italy).

The Cyanobacterium Oculatella subterranea Zammit, Billi, Albertano inhabits hypogea and stone caves and is a pioneer of different stone substrata. In this study, a strain isolated from the House of Marco Castricio (Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Italy) was identified by a polyphasic approach and used for an in vitro colonization test to verify the influence of the substrate on the biofilm architecture. Fine structure of O. subterranea microbial mats was revealed as well as filaments orientation toward light source. This aim has been achieved through confocal laser scanner microscope microscopy and computer image analysis. Moreover, bioreceptivity of five different substrates, commonly retrieved in archaeological sites of Campania, was assessed for O. subterranea. Our results show that the three-dimensional structure of O. subterranea microbial mats is poorly affected by physical and geochemical features of substrates: in fact, the porous architecture of its biofilm was preserved, independently of the materials. On the other hand, the area/perimeter ratio relative to the O. subterranea growth on tuff, brick, and porphyry showed significant differences, indicating dissimilar levels of bioreceptivity of the three substrates.

Cryptic dispersal of Cyanidiophytina (Rhodophyta) in non-acidic environments from Turkey.

Cyanidiophytina are a group of polyextremophilic red algae with a worldwide, but discontinuous colonization. They are restricted to widely dispersed hot springs, geothermal habitats, and also some human-altered environments. Cyanidiophytina are predominant where pH is prohibitive for the majority of eukaryotes (pH 0.5-3). Turkey is characterized by areas rich in volcanic activity separated by non-volcanic areas. Here we show that Cyanidiophycean populations are present in thermal baths located around Turkey on neutral/alkaline soils. All known genera and species within Cyanidiophytina were detected in Turkey, including Galdieria phlegrea, recorded up to now only in Italian Phlegrean Fields. By phylogenetic analyses, Turkish G. sulphuraria strains are monophyletic with Italian and Icelandic strains, and with Russian G. daedala strains. G. maxima from Turkey clustered with Icelandic, Kamchatka, and Japanese populations. The discovery of Cyanidiophytina in non-acidic Turkish soils raises new questions about the ecological boundaries of these extremophilic algae. This aids in the understanding of the dispersal abilities and distribution patterns of this ecologically and evolutionarily interesting group of algae.

Weathering of a Roman Mosaic-A Biological and Quantitative Study on In Vitro Colonization of Calcareous Tesserae by Phototrophic Microorganisms.

The potential impact of cyanobacteria and microalgae on the weathering of calcareous tesserae from a Roman mosaic of the II Century CE has been followed through in vitro experiments. Laboratory tests were carried out by inoculating mosaic tiles with single strains of Cyanobacteria or Chlorophyta to evaluate the roles of pioneer phototrophic microrganism on the resulting architecture of biofilms. The interaction between tesserae and strains was assessed at the whole substratum and micrometer scales, by image analysis and Confocal Laser Scanning (CLS) microscopy, respectively. The biofilm surface coverage on each tessera varied from 19% (Fischerella ambigua) to 97% (Microcoleus autumnalis). Cyanobacteria showed a better growth on calcareous tesserae, whereas the only green alga attaining a superficial coverage higher than 50% was Coelastrella rubescens. CLS microscopy evidenced two different types of spatial arrangement of the phototrophic organisms on the tesserae, that were defined as compact or porous, respectively. In the first one was measured a reduced number of empty spaces between cells or filaments, whereas in the second type, a reticulate texture allowed the presence of numerous empty volumes. The colonization processes observed are an intrinsic characteristic of each strain. We have proposed a colonization index IC as a sensible tool to describe, in a quantitative way, the pioneering attitude of each photosynthetic microorganism to colonize lithic substrates under laboratory conditions.

Alkaline direct transesterification of different species of Stichococcus for bio-oil production.

The cost of bio-oil refining from microalgal biomass can be significantly reduced by combining extraction and transesterification. The characterisation and optimisation of the combined steps have been carried out on strains of Stichococcus bacillaris, focusing on catalyst type and concentration, reaction time and temperature, methanol/biomass ratio, pre-mixing time and water content in the biomass. The bio-oil yield has been referenced as production of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The maximum yield (∼17%) was achieved using dried biomass with alkaline catalyst at 60°C and methanol/biomass weight ratio of 79:1. Alkaline catalyst conditions gave faster reaction rates and higher bio-oil yields than acid catalyst. Yield was also strongly affected by water content in the biomass. A mechanistic interpretation has been proposed to elucidate the effect of the different operating conditions. However, the structural characteristics of the Chlorophyta cell wall can be very different, leading to different bio-oil yields when the same protocol is applied. Therefore, the optimised protocol of direct transesterification for Stichococcus bacillaris strains was tested on other Stichococcus strains and several other Chlorophyta species characterised by a different cell wall structure. It was clearly demonstrated that different results for bio-oil yield were obtained within the same microalgal species and much more within different microalgal genera.

Impact of Sulfur Starvation in Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Cultures of the Extremophilic Microalga Galdieria phlegrea (Cyanidiophyceae).

In plants and algae, sulfate assimilation and cysteine synthesis are regulated by sulfur (S) accessibility from the environment. This study reports the effects of S deprivation in autotrophic and heterotrophic cultures of Galdieria phlegrea (Cyanidiophyceae), a unicellular red alga isolated in the Solfatara crater located in Campi Flegrei (Naples, Italy), where H2S is the prevalent form of gaseous S in the fumarolic fluids and S is widespread in the soils near the fumaroles. This is the first report on the effects of S deprivation on a sulfurous microalga that is also able to grow heterotrophically in the dark. The removal of S from the culture medium of illuminated cells caused a decrease in the soluble protein content and a significant decrease in the intracellular levels of glutathione. Cells from heterotrophic cultures of G. phlegrea exhibited high levels of internal proteins and high glutathione content, which did not diminish during S starvation, but rather glutathione significantly increased. The activity of O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL), the enzyme synthesizing cysteine, was enhanced under S deprivation in a time-dependent manner in autotrophic but not in heterotrophic cells. Analysis of the transcript abundance of the OASTL gene supports the OASTL activity increase in autotrophic cultures under S deprivation.

Polyphenolic Profile and Targeted Bioactivity of Methanolic Extracts from Mediterranean Ethnomedicinal Plants on Human Cancer Cell Lines.

The methanol extracts of the aerial part of four ethnomedicinal plants of Mediterranean region, two non-seed vascular plants, Equisetum hyemale L. and Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman, and two Spermatophyta, Juniperus communis L. (J. communis) and Cotinus coggygria Scop. (C. coggygria), were screened against four human cells lines (A549, MCF7, TK6 and U937). Only the extracts of J. communis and C. coggygria showed marked cytotoxic effects, affecting both cell morphology and growth. A dose-dependent effect of these two extracts was also observed on the cell cycle distribution. Incubation of all the cell lines in a medium containing J. communis extract determined a remarkable accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase, whereas the C. coggygria extract induced a significant increase in the percentage of G1 cells. The novelty of our findings stands on the observation that the two extracts, consistently, elicited coherent effects on the cell cycle in four cell lines, independently from their phenotype, as two of them have epithelial origin and grow adherent and two are lymphoblastoid and grow in suspension. Even the expression profiles of several proteins regulating cell cycle progression and cell death were affected by both extracts. LC-MS investigation of methanol extract of C. coggygria led to the identification of twelve flavonoids (compounds 1-11, 19) and eight polyphenols derivatives (12-18, 20), while in J. communis extract, eight flavonoids (21-28), a α-ionone glycoside (29) and a lignin (30) were found. Although many of these compounds have interesting individual biological activities, their natural blends seem to exert specific effects on the proliferation of cell lines either growing adherent or in suspension, suggesting potential use in fighting cancer.

Dietary supplementation with the microalga Galdieria sulphuraria (Rhodophyta) reduces prolonged exercise-induced oxidative stress in rat tissues.

We studied the effects of ten-day 1% Galdieria sulphuraria dietary supplementation on oxidative damage and metabolic changes elicited by acute exercise (6-hour swimming) determining oxygen consumption, lipid hydroperoxides, protein bound carbonyls in rat tissue (liver, heart, and muscle) homogenates and mitochondria, tissue glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, glutathione content, and rates of H2O2 mitochondrial release. Exercise increased oxidative damage in tissues and mitochondria and decreased tissue content of reduced glutathione. Moreover, it increased State 4 and decreased State 3 respiration in tissues and mitochondria. G. sulphuraria supplementation reduced the above exercise-induced variations. Conversely, alga supplementation was not able to modify the exercise-induced increase in mitochondrial release rate of hydrogen peroxide and in liver and heart antioxidant enzyme activities. The alga capacity to reduce lipid oxidative damage without reducing mitochondrial H2O2 release can be due to its high content of C-phycocyanin and glutathione, which are able to scavenge peroxyl radicals and contribute to phospholipid hydroperoxide metabolism, respectively. In conclusion, G. sulphuraria ability to reduce exercise-linked oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction makes it potentially useful even in other conditions leading to oxidative stress, including hyperthyroidism, chronic inflammation, and ischemia/reperfusion.

Screening and Scoring of Antimicrobial and Biological Activities of Italian Vulnerary Plants against Major Oral Pathogenic Bacteria.

This study aims to evaluate the activity of Italian vulnerary plants against the most important oral pathogenic bacteria. This estimate was accomplished through a fivefold process: (a) a review of ethnobotanical and microbiological data concerning the Italian vulnerary plants; (b) the development of a scoring system to rank the plants; (c) the comparative assessment of microbiological properties; (d) the assessment of potential cytotoxic effects on keratinocyte-like cells and gingival fibroblasts in culture by XTT cell viability assay; (e) clinical evaluation of the most suitable plant extract as antibacterial agent in a home-made mouthwash. The study assays hexane (H), ethanol (E), and water (W) extracts from 72 plants. The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the activity against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus casei, and Actinomyces viscosus. Twenty-two plants showed appreciable activity. The extracts showing the strongest antibacterial power were those from Cotinus coggygria Scop., Equisetum hyemale L., Helichrysum litoreum Guss, Juniperus communis L., and Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman subsp. scolopendrium. The potential cytotoxic effect of these extracts was assessed. On the basis of these observations, a mouth-rinse containing the ethanolic extract of H. litoreum has been tested in vivo, resulting in reduction of the salivary concentration of S. mutans.

Microalgae as human food: chemical and nutritional characteristics of the thermo-acidophilic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria.

The use of microalgae as a food source is still poorly developed because of the technical difficulties related to their cultivation and the limited knowledge about their chemical composition and nutritional value. The unicellular red microalga Galdieria sulphuraria has a very high daily productivity and its cultivation under acidic conditions avoided any bacterial contamination. G. sulphuraria can be cultured under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions: in this study a screening of 43 strains showed that in the latter case a duplication of biomass production was obtained. The proximate composition (protein, carbohydrates, fiber and lipids), the micronutrient content (carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, chlorophylls and vitamins) together with the antioxidant activity of the biomass produced by a selected strain of G. sulphuraria under both cultivation conditions were determined. Results showed that the material is rich in proteins (26-32%) and polysaccharides (63-69%) and poor in lipids. Under heterotrophic cultivation conditions, the lipid moiety mainly contained monounsaturated fatty acids. Among micronutrients, some B group vitamins are present, beta-carotene is the main carotenoid and phycobiliproteins are present under both cultivating conditions. G. sulphuraria proteins are strictly associated with polysaccharide components and therefore not digestible. In the second part of the work, an extraction protocol using Viscozyme L, a commercial enzymatic preparation containing a mixture of polysaccharidases, was developed which made G. sulphuraria proteins a good substrate for human gastrointestinal enzymes. All in all, the data suggested that G. sulphuraria biomass has a potential use as food ingredients both for protein-rich or insoluble dietary fibre-rich applications. The low concentration of lipids and the absence of green color make this microalgae source particularly useful for the addition to many food preparations.

Thermal degradation of Fenitrothion: identification and eco-toxicity of decomposition products.

The thermal decomposition of Fenitrothion [phosphorothioic acid O,O-diethyl O-(3-methyl-4-nitrophenyl) ester] was investigated. Results obtained by different scale calorimetric techniques show that the thermal decomposition of Fenitrothion involves two main steps. Intermediate and final thermal degradation products formed during isothermal and adiabatic thermal decomposition experiments were identified. The eco-toxicological profile of the decomposition products was assessed experimentally and compared to results obtained with a predictive software (ECOSAR). A specific index was defined to assess the change in ecotoxicity profile of decomposition products with respect to the original compound.

Engineered tobacco and microalgae secreting the fungal laccase POXA1b reduce phenol content in olive oil mill wastewater.

Olive oil mill wastewaters (OMWs) are characterised by low pH and a high content of mono- and polyaromatic compounds that exert microbial and phytotoxic activity. The laccase cDNA of the poxA1b gene from Pleurotus ostreatus, carrying a signal peptide sequence for enzyme secretion and driven by the CaMV 35S promoter, was cloned into a plant expression vector. Nuclear genetic transformation was carried out by co-cultivation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with tobacco cv Samsun NN leaves and cells of five different microalgae accessions belonging to the genera Chlamydomonas, Chlorella and Ankistrodesmus. Transgenic plants and microalgae were able to express and secrete the recombinant laccase in the root exudates and the culture medium, respectively. In comparison to untransformed controls, the ability to reduce phenol content in OMW solution was enhanced up to 2.8-fold in transgenic tobacco lines and by up to about 40% in two microalgae accessions. The present work provides new evidence for metabolic improvement of green organisms through the transgenic approach to remediation.