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149 results on '"Conti, Stefania"'

2. Anti-Herpetic Activity of Killer Peptide (KP): An In Vitro Study.

Author

Sala, Arianna, Ricchi, Francesco, Giovati, Laura, Conti, Stefania, Ciociola, Tecla, and Cermelli, Claudio

Subjects
ANTIMICROBIAL peptides, PEPTIDES, HUMAN herpesvirus 2, DRUG prices, DRUG resistance, ANTIVIRAL agents
Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides represent a promising alternative to traditional drugs in relation to cost, toxicity, and, primarily, the growing problem of drug resistance. Here, we report on the activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 of a previously described wide-spectrum synthetic decapeptide, Killer Peptide (KP). As determined by plaque reduction assays, treatment with KP at 100 μg/mL resulted in a reduction in the viral yield titer of 3.5 Logs for HSV-1 and 4.1 Logs for HSV-2. Further evaluation of KP antiviral activity focused on the early stages of the virus replicative cycle, including the determination of the residual infectivity of viral suspensions treated with KP. A direct effect of the peptide on viral particles impairing virus absorption and penetration was shown. The toxicity profile proved to be extremely good, with a selectivity index of 29.6 for HSV-1 and 156 for HSV-2. KP was also active against acyclovir (ACV)-resistant HSV isolates, while HSV subcultures in the presence of sub-inhibitory doses of KP did not lead to the emergence of resistant strains. Finally, the antiviral action of KP proved to be synergistic with that of ACV. Overall, these results demonstrate that KP could represent an interesting addition/alternative to acyclovir for antiviral treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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3. Activity of Synthetic Peptide KP and Its Derivatives against Biofilm-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Resistant to Cephalosporins.

Author

Artesani, Lorenza, Ciociola, Tecla, Vismarra, Alice, Bacci, Cristina, Conti, Stefania, and Giovati, Laura

Subjects
ESCHERICHIA coli, ANTIMICROBIAL peptides, DRUG resistance in bacteria, PEPTIDES, LASER microscopy, PEPTIDE antibiotics
Abstract

Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, particularly new generation cephalosporins, is a major public health concern. In Escherichia coli, resistance to these antibiotics is mainly mediated by extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), which complicates a range of health-threatening infections. These infections may also be biofilm-related, making them more difficult to treat because of the higher tolerance to conventional antibiotics and the host immune response. In this study, we tested as potential new drug candidates against biofilm-forming ESBL-producing E. coli four antimicrobial peptides previously shown to have antifungal properties. The peptides proved to be active in vitro at micromolar concentrations against both sensitive and ESBL-producing E. coli strains, effectively killing planktonic cells and inhibiting biofilm formation. Quantitative fluorescence intensity analysis of three-dimensional reconstructed confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images of mature biofilm treated with the most active peptide showed significant eradication and a reduction in viable bacteria, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed gross morphological alterations in treated bacteria. The screening of the investigated peptides for antibacterial and antibiofilm activity led to the selection of a leading candidate to be further studied for developing new antimicrobial drugs as an alternative treatment against microbial infections, primarily associated with biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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8. SARS-CoV-2—The Role of Natural Immunity: A Narrative Review

Author

Diani, Sara, primary, Leonardi, Erika, additional, Cavezzi, Attilio, additional, Ferrari, Simona, additional, Iacono, Oriana, additional, Limoli, Alice, additional, Bouslenko, Zoe, additional, Natalini, Daniele, additional, Conti, Stefania, additional, Mantovani, Mauro, additional, Tramonte, Silvano, additional, Donzelli, Alberto, additional, and Serravalle, Eugenio, additional

Published
2022
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11. Perceived sustainability of European green capital: A tourist perspective

Author

Conti, Stefania, Dias, Álvaro, and Jones, Andrew

Subjects
Percepção de sustentabilidade, Monitoring, Monitorização, Satisfaction, Satisfação, Lealdade, Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão [Domínio/Área Científica], Z Other special topics, Loyalty, Perceived sustainability, Comportamento de viagem, Z33, Z32, Travel behaviour, Valor -- Value
Abstract

The concept of perceived sustainability has been scarcely investigated, and the factors influencing its formation even less so. This study proposes a conceptual framework exploring the influence of travel behaviour on sustainability perceptions, in order to understand its potential use in future segmentation studies. Moreover, the construct relates to the variables of perceived value, overall satisfaction, intention to recommend and intention to revisit to analyse their potential in generating a competitive advantage for destinations. A quantitative analysis of 203 international tourists in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, validated the model and expanded the research to the context of European Green Capitals. Findings show a direct relationship between travel behaviour and perceived sustainability, but also between travel behaviour and perceived value, corroborating previous research on green tourists. More and more tourism destinations worldwide are starting to include sustainability in their strategies, and advocate for stakeholder engagement in the process of planning and monitoring. To this aim, the study also proved that perceived sustainability evaluation can help managers and marketers to enhance their sustainability strategies on the basis of tourists’ feedback, and to market the destination to more specific targets via tailored communication. Sustainability perceptions were also found to be a key driver of satisfaction and to have indirect consequences on behavioural intentions of loyalty, representing the ultimate goal for a destination. O conceito de sustentabilidade percebida tem sido pouco investigado, e os fatores que influenciam a sua formação ainda menos. Este estudo propõe um quadro conceptual que explora a influência do comportamento das viagens na perceção de sustentabilidade a fim de compreender a sua potencial utilização em futuros estudos. Além disso, esta perceção relaciona-se com as variáveis de valor percebido, satisfação geral, intenção de recomendar e intenção de revisitar, sendo determinante na geração de uma vantagem competitiva dos destinos. Um estudo quantitativo de 203 turistas internacionais em Lisboa, a capital de Portugal, foi usado para validar o modelo e ampliar a investigação ao contexto das Capitais Verdes Europeias. Os resultados mostram uma relação direta entre o comportamento de viagem e a perceção de sustentabilidade, mas também entre o comportamento de viagem e a perceção de valor, corroborando as pesquisas anteriores sobre turistas verdes. Cada vez mais destinos turísticos em todo o mundo começam a incluir a sustentabilidade nas suas estratégias, e advogam o envolvimento dos interessados no processo de planeamento e monitorização. Para este objetivo, o estudo também provou que a avaliação da sustentabilidade percebida pode ajudar os gestores e marketeers a melhorar as suas estratégias de sustentabilidade com base no feedback dos turistas, e a comercializar o destino para alvos mais específicos através de comunicação personalizada. As perceções de sustentabilidade foram também consideradas como um fator-chave de satisfação e com consequências indiretas nas intenções comportamentais de lealdade, representando o objetivo final para um destino.

Published
2022

12. Guideline for the analysis of the microbial communities of the human upper airways

Author

Mancabelli, Leonardo, primary, Ciociola, Tecla, additional, Lugli, Gabriele Andrea, additional, Tarracchini, Chiara, additional, Fontanta, Federico, additional, Viappiani, Alice, additional, Turroni, Francesca, additional, Ticinesi, Andrea, additional, Meschi, Tiziana, additional, Conti, Stefania, additional, Ventura, Marco, additional, and Milani, Christian, additional

Published
2022
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18. Advertisements of follow-on formula and their perception by pregnant women and mothers in Italy

Author

Cattaneo, Adriano, Pani, Paola, Carletti, Claudia, Guidetti, Margherita, Mutti, Valentina, Guidetti, Cecilia, Knowles, Alessandra, Barbiero, Chiara, Montico, Marcella, Locatelli, Margherita, Conti, Stefania, Pellegrini, Edda, Nespoli, Antonella, Bettinelli, Maria Enrica, De Gioia, Costanza, Lelli, Miriam, Mascheroni, Rita, Cetin, Irene, Pileri, Paola, Gatti, Rita, Pompilio, Grazia, Ortenzi, Valentina, Stronati, Laura, Giusti, Angela, Spadea, Antonietta, Rinaldi, Iolanda, Galluzzo, Laura, Vadacca, Patrizia, Sarta, Simona, Piccione, Emilio, Nibali, Sergio Conti, Crisafulli, Rosamatria, Nibali, Roberto Conti, Corrado, Francesco, Garraffa, Monica, Pasquale, Maria Di, and Gallo, Maria Caterina

Published
2015
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20. Evaluation study of the instruments applicable to State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas

Author

García Azcárate, Tomás, Folkeson Lillo, Carina, Lakner, Sebastian, Luzzi Conti, Stefania, Fraschetti, Luca, Mikk, Merit, Prazan, Jaroslav, Wieliczko, Barbara, Wigier, Marek, García Azcárate, Tomás, Lakner, Sebastian, Luzzi Conti, Stefania, Wieliczko, Barbara, García Azcárate, Tomás [0000-0003-2902-886X], Lakner, Sebastian [0000-0002-5122-8924], Luzzi Conti, Stefania [0000-0002-9015-9570], and Wieliczko, Barbara [0000-0003-3770-0409]

Subjects
Rural region, Aid to agriculture, Agricultural policies, Rural development, EU Member State, Investment, Forestry policy, State aid
Abstract

The objective of this evaluation study is to carry out an assessment of the rules of the agricultural State aid (SA) framework 2014-2020 regarding eight aid measures. They concern aid mitigating risks inherent to the agricultural sector, aid for prevention & restoration of damages to forests and forestry investments and investments in processing agricultural products into non-Annex I products in rural areas. The study examines the choices made by the Member States with regards to State aid clearance and the appropriateness of the rules set forward, their efficiency, effectiveness (in terms of balance of positive effects with the negative effect on competition and trade within the internal market) and coherence. The study finds that for compensatory agricultural risk management measures, State aid responds to needs of the agricultural sector and addresses market failures specific to the different events. The effects of the support go beyond the direct effects on beneficiaries; contributing also to CAP objectives and public health policies. The effects on competition and trade are limited. Aids in the forestry sector and processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I are framed by the rural development regulation (RDR). The limited negative effects are outweighed by the positive effects of the aid in particular on rural development objectives. The rules of the agricultural SA instruments are coherent with other concerned EU policies and overall with the RDR. For forestry measures, the integration into the agricultural block exemption leads to real simplification of SA clearance and reduced administrative burden. For processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I products coherence with RDR needs to be further developed.

Published
2018

22. Evaluation study of the instruments applicable to State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas

Author

García Azcárate, Tomás [0000-0003-2902-886X], Lakner, Sebastian [0000-0002-5122-8924], Luzzi Conti, Stefania [0000-0002-9015-9570], Wieliczko, Barbara [0000-0003-3770-0409], García Azcárate, Tomás, Folkeson Lillo, Carina, Lakner, Sebastian, Luzzi Conti, Stefania, Fraschetti, Luca, Mikk, Merit, Prazan, Jaroslav, Wieliczko, Barbara, Wigier, Marek, García Azcárate, Tomás [0000-0003-2902-886X], Lakner, Sebastian [0000-0002-5122-8924], Luzzi Conti, Stefania [0000-0002-9015-9570], Wieliczko, Barbara [0000-0003-3770-0409], García Azcárate, Tomás, Folkeson Lillo, Carina, Lakner, Sebastian, Luzzi Conti, Stefania, Fraschetti, Luca, Mikk, Merit, Prazan, Jaroslav, Wieliczko, Barbara, and Wigier, Marek

Abstract

The objective of this evaluation study is to carry out an assessment of the rules of the agricultural State aid (SA) framework 2014-2020 regarding eight aid measures. They concern aid mitigating risks inherent to the agricultural sector, aid for prevention & restoration of damages to forests and forestry investments and investments in processing agricultural products into non-Annex I products in rural areas. The study examines the choices made by the Member States with regards to State aid clearance and the appropriateness of the rules set forward, their efficiency, effectiveness (in terms of balance of positive effects with the negative effect on competition and trade within the internal market) and coherence. The study finds that for compensatory agricultural risk management measures, State aid responds to needs of the agricultural sector and addresses market failures specific to the different events. The effects of the support go beyond the direct effects on beneficiaries; contributing also to CAP objectives and public health policies. The effects on competition and trade are limited. Aids in the forestry sector and processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I are framed by the rural development regulation (RDR). The limited negative effects are outweighed by the positive effects of the aid in particular on rural development objectives. The rules of the agricultural SA instruments are coherent with other concerned EU policies and overall with the RDR. For forestry measures, the integration into the agricultural block exemption leads to real simplification of SA clearance and reduced administrative burden. For processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I products coherence with RDR needs to be further developed.

Published
2018

23. Environmental externalities of irrigation in Italy

Author

Massarutto, Antonio, Zucaro, Raffaella, Luzzi Conti Stefania, Marangon, Francesco, and Troiano, Stefania

Subjects
WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY, AGRICULTURAL WATER, PREFERENCES, MULTIFUNCTIONALITY, HETEROGENEITY, EFFICIENCY
Published
2020

32. The activity of a mammalian proline-rich peptide against Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, relies on a nonmembranolytic mode of action

Author

Ciociola,Tecla, Giovati,Laura, Giovannelli,Angela, Conti,Stefania, Castagnola,Massimo, Vitali,Alberto, Ciociola,Tecla, Giovati,Laura, Giovannelli,Angela, Conti,Stefania, Castagnola,Massimo, and Vitali,Alberto

Abstract

Tecla Ciociola,1 Laura Giovati,1 Angela Giovannelli,2 Stefania Conti,1 Massimo Castagnola,2,3 Alberto Vitali3 1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, 2Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, 3Institute for the Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, C.N.R., c/o Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy Background: A peptide of 2,733 Da named SP-E, previously isolated from pig saliva and already described for its antifungal activity and absence of toxicity against mammalian cells, is characterized by a high content of proline residues (70% of entire sequence), that confer structural features probably related to peptide activity. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of SP-E against Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant clinical isolates. Methods: SP-E and shorter fragments of the same peptide were tested in vitro against the selected bacteria by colony forming unit assays. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were also applied. SP-E potential therapeutic activity was evaluated in vivo in a Galleria mellonella model of bacterial infection. Results: SP-E proved to be active against the tested bacteria with EC50 values in the micromolar range. Though maintaining antibacterial properties, the shorter peptides showed lower activity in respect to the parental molecule. Kinetics of killing action and nonmembranolytic internalization within Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells strongly suggested a cytosolic mechanism of action involving one or more intracellular molecular targets. A single injection of SP-E exerted a therapeutic effect in G. mellonella larvae infected with P. aeruginosa. Conclusion: The biological properties of SP-E strongly back this peptide as a new promising multitasking antimicrobial molecule. Keywords: antimicrobial peptide, proline-rich peptides, drug-resistant bacteria, confocal microsco

Published
2018

35. Le esternalità ambientali dell'irrigazione in Italia.

Author

Zucaro, Raffaella, Conti, Stefania Luzzi, Marangon, Francesco, Massarutto, Antonio, and Troiano, Stefania

Subjects
*IRRIGATION water, *WATER use, *WILLINGNESS to pay, *IRRIGATION efficiency, *IRRIGATION
Abstract

The evaluation of the externalities produced by the use of water for irrigation methodology is applied in this Study to highlight how irrigation contributes to the production of eco-system services and to increase the availability of environmental assets for free use, determining a variation in the collective well-being, whose monetary measure can be quantified in the willingness to pay for the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
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40. Novel Activity of a Synthetic Decapeptide Against Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites

Author

Giovati, Laura, primary, Santinoli, Claudia, additional, Mangia, Carlo, additional, Vismarra, Alice, additional, Belletti, Silvana, additional, D’Adda, Tiziana, additional, Fumarola, Claudia, additional, Ciociola, Tecla, additional, Bacci, Cristina, additional, Magliani, Walter, additional, Polonelli, Luciano, additional, Conti, Stefania, additional, and Kramer, Laura H., additional

Published
2018
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43. Discovering a new class of antifungal agents that selectively inhibits microbial carbonic anhydrases

Author

Annunziato, Giannamaria, primary, Giovati, Laura, additional, Angeli, Andrea, additional, Pavone, Marialaura, additional, Del Prete, Sonia, additional, Pieroni, Marco, additional, Capasso, Clemente, additional, Bruno, Agostino, additional, Conti, Stefania, additional, Magliani, Walter, additional, Supuran, Claudiu T., additional, and Costantino, Gabriele, additional

Published
2018
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45. The synthetic killer peptide KP impairs Candida albicans biofilm in vitro

Author

Paulone, Simona, primary, Ardizzoni, Andrea, additional, Tavanti, Arianna, additional, Piccinelli, Serena, additional, Rizzato, Cosmeri, additional, Lupetti, Antonella, additional, Colombari, Bruna, additional, Pericolini, Eva, additional, Polonelli, Luciano, additional, Magliani, Walter, additional, Conti, Stefania, additional, Posteraro, Brunella, additional, Cermelli, Claudio, additional, Blasi, Elisabetta, additional, and Peppoloni, Samuele, additional

Published
2017
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48. A Naturally Occurring Antibody Fragment Neutralizes Infectivity of Diverse Infectious Agents

Author

Polonelli, Luciano, primary, Ciociola, Tecla, additional, Elviri, Lisa, additional, Zanello, Pier Paolo, additional, Giovati, Laura, additional, Arruda, Denise C., additional, Muñoz, Julián E., additional, Mortara, Renato A., additional, Morace, Giulia, additional, Borghi, Elisa, additional, Galati, Serena, additional, Marin, Oriano, additional, Casoli, Claudio, additional, Pilotti, Elisabetta, additional, Ronzi, Paola, additional, Travassos, Luiz R., additional, Magliani, Walter, additional, and Conti, Stefania, additional

Published
2016
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