Showing papers by "Salvatore Rubino published in 2013"
TL;DR: This mini-review summarises what is currently known about non-typhoidal Salmonella in sub-Saharan Africa and discusses some of the issues which remain.
Abstract: The publication of studies using next generation sequencing to analyse large numbers of bacterial isolates from global epidemics is transforming microbiology, epidemiology and public health. The emergence of multidrug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 is one example. While the epidemiology in Africa appears to be human-to-human spread and the association with invasive disease almost absolute, more needs to be done to exclude the possibility of animal reservoirs and to transfer the ability to track all Salmonella infections to the laboratories in the front line. In this mini-review we summarise what is currently known about non-typhoidal Salmonella in sub-Saharan Africa and discuss some of the issues which remain.
30 citations
TL;DR: The study indicates the predominant circulation of Western type cagA and vacAs1am1 type H. pylori strains in Pakistan are Western type strains that are rarely observed in South Asia.
Abstract: Introduction: The etiological association of Helicobacter pylori with gastric ulcer (GU), gastric cancer (GC), and duodenal ulcer (DU) is well-known Understanding the epidemiology of H pylori facilitates the estimation of disease burden in a certain population This study presents the diversity of H pylori genotypes and their association with different clinical outcomes among dyspeptic patients in Pakistan over a period of four years Methodology: Gastric biopsy samples from a total of 450 dyspeptic individualswere subjected to PCR, genotypingand histology Results: A total of 201 (45%) cases were found positive for H pylori The detection rate was high in GU (91%), DU (86%) and GC (83%) cases compared with those cases who had intact gastric mucosa (18%) Histology revealed the presence of infection in 68% of cases of mild/chronic nonspecific gastritis with others belonging to the GU sequel cagA gene carriage was observed in 104 (51%) cases or mostly from DU, GU and GC groups, of which 97 were Western type strains while 3 were East-Asian type strains that are rarely observed in South Asia vacA allelic variant s1am1 was most commonly observed, followed by s1am2, and s1bm1, with direct correlation in diseased cases (gastritis, GU, DU and GC) Prevalent genotypic combinations were s1am1/cagA- in gastritis and s1am1/cagA+ in DU, GU, and GC Conclusions: Our study indicates the predominant circulation of Western type cagA and vacAs1am1 type H pylori strains in Pakistan
28 citations
TL;DR: This work infected ferrets with H1N1 strains from 1943, 1947, 1977, 1986, 1999, and 2009 and found significant cross-reactivity between viruses with similar HA sequences, which will facilitate development of future influenza therapeutics and prophylactics such as influenza vaccines.
Abstract: Evolution of H1N1 influenza A outbreaks of the past 100 years is interesting and significantly complex and details of H1N1 genetic drift remains unknown. Here we investigated the clinical characteristics and immune cross-reactivity of significant historical H1N1 strains. We infected ferrets with H1N1 strains from 1943, 1947, 1977, 1986, 1999, and 2009 and showed each produced a unique clinical signature. We found significant cross-reactivity between viruses with similar HA sequences. Interestingly, A/FortMonmouth/1/1947 antisera cross-reacted with A/USSR/90/1977 virus, thought to be a 1947 resurfaced virus. Importantly, our immunological data that didn't show cross-reactivity can be extrapolated to failure of past H1N1 influenza vaccines, ie. 1947, 1986 and 2009. Together, our results help to elucidate H1N1 immuno-genetic alterations that occurred in the past 100 years and immune responses caused by H1N1 evolution. This work will facilitate development of future influenza therapeutics and prophylactics such as influenza vaccines.
22 citations
TL;DR: The presence in Zimbabwe of a multidrug-resistant strain of the serovar Salmonella Isangi is demonstrated and the diversity ofSalmonella circulating in one sub-Saharan African country is demonstrated.
Abstract: Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections are an important public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among children and HIV-seropositive patients in whom they may cause invasive disease.
15 citations
TL;DR: This issue of the Journal of Infection in Developing Countries is a celebration of 50 years of dedicated infectious disease research by Professor Giovanni Fadda, one of the first scientists to help JIDC in its initial steps, and he is a key member of the mentoring committee of the journal.
Abstract: This issue of the Journal of Infection in Developing Countries is a celebration of 50 years of dedicated infectious disease research by Professor Giovanni Fadda. As an internationally renowned microbiologist, Professor Fadda was dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis. Throughout his career, he worked in developing countries establishing laboratories for the identification of mycobacteria. He was one of the first scientists to help JIDC in its initial steps, and he is a key member of the mentoring committee of the journal.
On 31 October 2011, Professor Giovanni Fadda, full professor of microbiology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, retired after 50 years of studies and research in the field of general and clinical microbiology. Professor Fadda was born in Tempio Pausania, Sardinia, Italy, in 1938. He achieved the degree of medical doctor in Parma with distinction in 1963 under the guidance of Professor Antonio Sanna, a pioneer of microbiology in Italy. He then obtained specialties in microbiology (1965) and in Pathology (1967) and since 1971 he has been appointed as professor of microbiology in the Universities of Parma and Sassari. From 1978 to1985 he served as Chief of the Clinical Laboratory of the Regional General Hospital of Sassari. Professor Fadda was subsequently promoted full professor of microbiology at the University of Sassari (1986-1995).
2 citations
TL;DR: Compared with a peruvian mummy given to the University of Sassari in the late ‘800, paleo and microanatomy informations were obtained and morphological characteristics of mummified tissues were described.
Abstract: Following the discovery of two partially mummified corps in a Cathedral of Castelsardo, to better understand the mummification process it was decided to compare them with a peruvian mummy given to the University of Sassari in the late ‘800. The aim of this work is to compare tissue conservation status by a morphological study supported by anthropological analysis. Samples of skin and muscle were taken and rehydrated in Sadison’s solution to be subjected to histological and immunohistochemical procedures. To establish sex, death-age and height we worked following classical methods (Ferembach 1980; Uberlaker 1989; Meindl and Lovejoy 1985). Castelsardo’s mummies conditions are generally fair, although very variable in different points of the body: the former is male, with death-age between 45-55 years. His height is 171 cm. The latter female, with death-age between 60-67 years. Her height is 157 cm. She shows reduction of some intersomatic spaces, spondyloarthropathy and scoliosis. The muscular and cutaneous tissues show a good conservation, in particular the former presents a fibrillar structure well-preserved, boundaries free between cells. The peruvian mummy is male, with death-age older than 25 years. His height is 160 cm. He shows osteophytosis at lumbar area with a collapse of the body at 4th lumbar vertebra; his conditions are overall good however the tissues show a poor conservation where a structural organization cannot be distinguished. This study allowed us to obtain paleo and microanatomy informations and to describe the morphological characteristics of mummified tissues.