15 results on '"Zaccaroni M"'
Search Results
2. Genetic insights into an Apennine population of the Italian red deer
- Author
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Giovannelli F., Mori E., Zaccaroni M., Dessì-Fulgheri F., and Baratti M.
- Subjects
Reintroductions ,mtDNA ,Cervus elaphus Cervidae ,D-loop ,Italian red deer - Abstract
The red deer Cervus elephus has been a common species in Italy until the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when its distribu- tion range started to considerably decrease, due to gradual deforestation and hunting pressure. Afterwards, the red deer has been reintroduced to many regions of the world, including Italy. In the Italian Apennines, the Acquerino-Cantagallo Natural Reserve (ACQUERINO) hosts one of the largest peninsular red deer populations, originated from a series of successful reintroductions. In this study, we meant to detect the level of genetic variability of Acquerino-Cantagallo Natural Reserve deer population and to investigate the genetic relationships with the other Italian and European populations. We identified five mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) haplotypes, four falling in lineage A and one falling in lineage C, derived from at least two maternal lineages, confirming that ACQUERINO population should be the result of multiple reintroductions. Haplotype diversity (H = 0.50) and nucleotide (? = 0.004) diversity were low, but included into the deer range values. ACQUERINO population showed low levels of genetic diversity when compared to other European and Mediterranean populations, confirming that this expanding population may have been generated from a low number of founders.
- Published
- 2022
3. CO2 biogeochemical investigation and microbial characterization of red wood ant mounds in a Southern Europe montane forest
- Author
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Balzani P.[1, Masoni A.[1], Venturi S.[3, Frizzi F.[1], Bambi M.[1], Fani R.[1], Nisi B.[4], Tassi F.[3, Vaselli O.[3, Zaccaroni M.[1], and Santini G.[1]
- Subjects
fungi ,carbon dioxide ,carbon stable isotopes ,greenhouse gases ,coniferous forest ,introduced ants ,microbiome ,Soil Science ,Microbiology - Abstract
Red wood ants are ecologically important species in Europe that form large colonies. Their nest mounds are characterized by stable microclimatic conditions, that are favourable to the development of rich invertebrate and microbial communities. Through their respiration processes, all these inhabitants contribute to the total gas emissions of the mounds. Quantifications of red wood ant mounds CO2 production are only available from Northern and Central Europe, and the Alps, where these ants are common. During the second half of the last century some species were transplanted from the Alps to southernmost sites, where they were not present, to be employed as biocontrol agents. No information on the contribution of these low-latitudes populations to the local forest CO2 production is available. The microbial communities living within red wood ant mounds are also poorly known. In this study, we investigated the CO2 gas emissions and the microbiome of the mounds of an introduced population of the red wood ant Formica paralugubris in a Southern Europe montane forest. We found that ant mounds produced more CO2 than the forest soil, and that their CO2 efflux as well as internal concentration were higher during summer than winter, with a lighter CO2 carbon isotopic signature in summer than winter, likely due to an increased ant activity. Moreover, the top part of the mound was characterised by higher CO2 efflux and lower CO2 internal concentration compared to the bottom, probably due to its internal structure and conditions. The isotopic signature of the mound material was similar between summer and winter, suggesting a metabolic similarity of the microbial communities. Also, we estimated the ants' relative contribution to the total mound CO2 production to be 83%, whereas the microbiota CO2 contribution was estimated at 17%. Finally, the mound microbiome composition varied between summer and winter, though no seasonal difference in the diversity indexes or beta-diversity was found. Our results demonstrate the impacts of the introduced red wood ants on the carbon dynamics of the recipient ecosystem.
- Published
- 2022
4. Echinococcus multilocularis infection affects risk-taking behaviours in Microtus arvalis : adaptive manipulation?
- Author
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Martini M, Cioli T, Romig T, Gagliardo A, Giunchi D, Zaccaroni M, and Massolo A
- Published
- 2024
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5. Antibacterial activity of Arthrobacter strains isolated from Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia.
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Bernacchi A, Semenzato G, di Mascolo M, Amata S, Bechini A, Berti F, Calonico C, Catania V, Emiliani G, Esposito A, Greco C, Mocali S, Mucci N, Padula A, Piccionello AP, Nasanbat B, Davaakhuu G, Bazarragchaa M, Riga F, Augugliaro C, Puglia AM, Zaccaroni M, and Renato F
- Abstract
Desert soil hosts many microorganisms, whose activities are essential from an ecological viewpoint. Moreover, they are of great anthropic interest. The knowledge of extreme environments microbiomes may be beneficial for agriculture, technology, and human health. In this study, 11 Arthrobacter strains from topsoil samples collected from the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area in the Gobi Desert, were characterized by a combination of different techniques. The phylogenetic analysis, performed using their 16S rDNA sequences and the most similar Arthrobacter sequences found in databases, revealed that most of them were close to A. crystallopoietes , while others joined a sister group to the clade formed by A. humicola, A. pascens , and A. oryzae . The resistance of each strain to different antibiotics, heavy-metals, and NaCl was also tested as well as the inhibitory potential against human pathogens (i.e., Burkholderia ssp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus ssp.) via cross-streaking, to check the production of metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Data obtained revealed that all strains were resistant to heavy metals and were able to strongly interfere with the growth of many of the human pathogens tested. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile of the 11 Arthrobacter strains was also analyzed. A total of 16 different metabolites were found, some of which were already known for having an inhibitory action against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Isolate MS-3A13, producing the highest quantity of VOCs, is the most efficient against Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), K. pneumoniae , and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) strains. This work highlights the importance of understanding microbial populations' phenotypical characteristics and dynamics in extreme environments to uncover the antimicrobial potential of new species and strains., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Renato Fani is an editorial board member for AIMS Microbiology and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare that there are no competing interests., (© 2024 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.)
- Published
- 2024
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6. The Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area: Characterization of Soil Bacterial Communities from Four Oases.
- Author
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Esposito A, Del Duca S, Vitali F, Bigiotti G, Mocali S, Semenzato G, Papini A, Santini G, Mucci N, Padula A, Greco C, Nasanbat B, Davaakhuu G, Bazarragchaa M, Riga F, Augugliaro C, Cecchi L, Fani R, and Zaccaroni M
- Abstract
Understanding how microbial communities survive in extreme environmental pressure is critical for interpreting ecological patterns and microbial diversity. Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area represents an intriguing model for studying the bacterial community since it is a protected and intact wild area of the Mongolian desert. In this work, the composition of a bacterial community of the soil from four oases was characterized by extracting total DNA and sequencing through the Illumina NovaSeq platform. In addition, the soil's chemical and physical properties were determined, and their influence on shaping the microbial communities was evaluated. The results showed a high variability of bacterial composition among oases. Moreover, combining specific chemical and physical parameters significantly shapes the bacterial community among oases. Data obtained suggested that the oases were highly variable in physiochemical parameters and bacterial communities despite the similar extreme climate conditions. Moreover, core functional microbiome were constituted by aerobic chemoheterotrophy and chemoheterotrophy, mainly contributed by the most abundant bacteria, such as Actinobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, and Firmicutes. This result supposes a metabolic flexibility for sustaining life in deserts. Furthermore, as the inhabitants of the extreme regions are likely to produce new chemical compounds, isolation of key taxa is thus encouraged.
- Published
- 2024
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7. Novel Sources of Biodiversity and Biomolecules from Bacteria Isolated from a High Middle Ages Soil Sample in Palermo (Sicily, Italy).
- Author
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Vassallo A, Modi A, Quagliariello A, Bacci G, Faddetta T, Gallo M, Provenzano A, La Barbera A, Lombardo G, Maggini V, Firenzuoli F, Zaccaroni M, Gallo G, Caramelli D, Aleo Nero C, Baldi F, Fani R, Palumbo Piccionello A, Pucciarelli S, Puglia AM, and Sineo L
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Sicily, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Soil chemistry, Bacteria, Biodiversity
- Abstract
The urban plan of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) has evolved throughout Punic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman ages until it stabilized within the borders that correspond to the current historic center. During the 2012 to 2013 excavation campaign, new remains of the Arab settlement, directly implanted above the structures of the Roman age, were found. The materials investigated in this study derived from the so-called Survey No 3, which consists of a rock cavity of subcylindrical shape covered with calcarenite blocks: it was probably used to dispose of garbage during the Arabic age and its content, derived from daily activities, included grape seeds, scales and bones of fish, small animal bones, and charcoals. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the medieval origin of this site. The composition of the bacterial community was characterized through a culture-dependent and a culture-independent approach. Culturable bacteria were isolated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and the total bacterial community was characterized through metagenomic sequencing. Bacterial isolates were tested for the production of compounds with antibiotic activity: a Streptomyces strain, whose genome was sequenced, was of particular interest because of its inhibitory activity, which was due to the Type I polyketide aureothin. Moreover, all strains were tested for the production of secreted proteases, with those belonging to the genus Nocardioides having the most active enzymes. Finally, protocols commonly used for ancient DNA studies were applied to evaluate the antiquity of isolated bacterial strains. Altogether these results show how paleomicrobiology might represent an innovative and unexplored source of novel biodiversity and new biotechnological tools. IMPORTANCE One of the goals of paleomicrobiology is the characterization of the microbial community present in archaeological sites. These analyses can usually provide valuable information about past events, such as occurrence of human and animal infectious diseases, ancient human activities, and environmental changes. However, in this work, investigations about the composition of the bacterial community of an ancient soil sample (harvested in Palermo, Italy) were carried out aiming to screen ancient culturable strains with biotechnological potential, such as the ability to produce bioactive molecules and secreted hydrolytic enzymes. Besides showing the biotechnological relevance of paleomicrobiology, this work reports a case of germination of putatively ancient bacterial spores recovered from soil rather than extreme environments. Moreover, in the case of spore-forming species, these results raise questions about the accuracy of techniques usually applied to estimate antiquity of DNA, as they could lead to its underestimation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2023
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8. Adaptation of Commensal Escherichia coli in Tomato Fruits: Motility, Stress, Virulence.
- Author
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Vassallo A, Amoriello R, Guri P, Casbarra L, Ramazzotti M, Zaccaroni M, Ballerini C, Cavalieri D, and Marvasi M
- Abstract
Food contamination can be a serious concern for public health because it can be related to the severe spreading of pathogens. This is a main issue, especially in the case of fresh fruits and vegetables; indeed, they have often been associated with gastrointestinal outbreak events, due to contamination with pathogenic bacteria. However, little is known about the physiological adaptation and bacterial response to stresses encountered in the host plant. Thus, this work aimed to investigate the adaptation of a commensal E. coli strain while growing in tomato pericarp. Pre-adapted and non-adapted cells were compared and used to contaminate tomatoes, demonstrating that pre-adaptation boosted cell proliferation. DNA extracted from pre-adapted and non-adapted cells was sequenced, and their methylation profiles were compared. Hence, genes involved in cell adhesion and resistance against toxic compounds were identified as genes involved in adaptation, and their expression was compared in these two experimental conditions. Finally, pre-adapted and non-adapted E. coli were tested for their ability to resist the presence of toxic compounds, demonstrating that adaptation exerted a protective effect. In conclusion, this work provides new information about the physiological adaptation of bacteria colonizing the tomato fruit pericarp.
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- 2023
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9. Application of Cloning-Free Genome Engineering to Escherichia coli .
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Romeo L, Esposito A, Bernacchi A, Colazzo D, Vassallo A, Zaccaroni M, Fani R, and Del Duca S
- Abstract
The propagation of foreign DNA in Escherichia coli is central to molecular biology. Recent advances have dramatically expanded the ability to engineer (bacterial) cells; however, most of these techniques remain time-consuming. The aim of the present work was to explore the possibility to use the cloning-free genome editing (CFGE) approach, proposed by Döhlemann and coworkers (2016), for E. coli genetics, and to deepen the knowledge about the homologous recombination mechanism. The E. coli auxotrophic mutant strains FB182 ( hisF892 ) and FB181 ( hisI903 ) were transformed with the circularized wild-type E. coli (i) hisF gene and hisF gene fragments of decreasing length, and (ii) hisIE gene, respectively. His
+ clones were selected based on their ability to grow in the absence of histidine, and their hisF / hisIE gene sequences were characterized. CFGE method allowed the recombination of wild-type his genes (or fragments of them) within the mutated chromosomal copy, with a different recombination frequency based on the fragment length, and the generation of clones with a variable number of in tandem his genes copies. Data obtained pave the way to further evolutionary studies concerning the homologous recombination mechanism and the fate of in tandem duplicated genes.- Published
- 2023
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10. Does the Wolf ( Canis lupus ) Exhibit Human Habituation Behaviours after Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild? A Case Report from Central Italy.
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Viola P, Girotti P, Adriani S, Ronchi B, Zaccaroni M, and Primi R
- Abstract
The knowledge of how wolves’ movement patterns and habitat selection are affected by habituation to persons after a period of veterinary isolation, treatment and non-agonistic experience with humans is scarce. Unnatural behaviours could be transferred by imitation to members of the pack and to subsequent generations, increasing direct interaction risks. We used GPS data from a rescued radio-collared female wolf after an 11-day rehabilitation to estimate home range, movement patterns, circadian rhythms, and habitat selection, searching for signals of eventual behavioural distortions. In the period 1 August−26 November 2013, 870 valid locations were acquired. The wolf moved within a minimum convex polygon (95%) of 6541.1 ha (79% wooded), avoiding anthropized areas. Nocturnal and diurnal displacements were significantly different (p < 0.01). Nocturnal displacements were 4409.4 ± 617.5 m during summer and 3684.8 ± 468.1 m during autumn, without differences between seasons. Diurnal movements were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the summer (2239.0 ± 329.0 m) than in the autumn (595.9 ± 110.3 m), when the hunting season was running. As for a wild wolf, clear complementarity concerning human activities was recorded and no habituation signals were detected, but this is only a first case study that aims to be a stimulus for further research and a call for widespread data sharing.
- Published
- 2022
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11. Assessing Molecular Diversity in Native and Introduced Populations of Red Wood Ant Formica paralugubris .
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Masoni A, Coppi A, Balzani P, Frizzi F, Fani R, Zaccaroni M, and Santini G
- Abstract
The Formica rufa group comprises several ant species which are collectively referred to as "red wood ants" and play key roles in boreal forest ecosystems, where they are ecologically dominant and greatly influence habitat dynamics. Owing to their intense predatory activity, some of these species are used as biocontrol agents against several forest insect pests and for this aim in Italy, nearly 6000 ant nests were introduced from their native areas in the Alps to several Appeninic sites during the last century. In this work, we assessed and compared the genetic variability and structure of native and introduced populations of F. paralugubris , thus evaluating the extent of genetic drift that may have occurred since the time of introduction, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. PCR amplification with a fam_EcoRI-TAC/MseI-ATG primers combination produced a total of 147 scorable bands, with 17 identified as outlier loci. The genetic variation was higher in the introduced population compared to the native ones that, on the other hand, showed a higher diversity between nests. AMOVA results clearly pointed out that the overall genetic structure was dominated by among-worker variation, considering all populations, the Alpine vs. Apennine groups and the comparison among native and related introduced populations (all ranging between 77.84% and 79.84%). Genetic analyses unveiled the existence of six main different groups that do not entirely mirror their geographic subdivision, pointing towards a wide admixture between populations, but, at the same time, rapid diversification of some Apennine populations. Future studies based on high-throughput genomic methods are needed to obtain a thorough understanding of the effects of environmental pressure on the genetic structure and mating system of these populations.
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- 2022
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12. Endophytic Bacteria Associated with Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Seeds
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Semenzato G, Faddetta T, Falsini S, Del Duca S, Esposito A, Padula A, Greco C, Mucci N, Zaccaroni M, Puglia AM, Papini A, and Fani R
- Abstract
Seed-associated microbiota are believed to play a crucial role in seed germination, seedling establishment, and plant growth and fitness stimulation, due to the vertical transmission of a core microbiota from seeds to the next generations. It might be hypothesized that medicinal and aromatic plants could use the seeds as vectors to vertically transfer beneficial endophytes, providing plants with metabolic pathways that could influence phytochemicals production. Here, we investigated the localization, the structure and the composition of the bacterial endophytic population that resides in Origanum heracleoticum L. seeds. Endocellular bacteria, surrounded by a wall, were localized close to the aleurone layer when using light and transmission electron microscopy. From surface-sterilized seeds, cultivable endophytes were isolated and characterized through RAPD analysis and 16S RNA gene sequencing, which revealed the existence of a high degree of biodiversity at the strain level and the predominance of the genus Pseudomonas . Most of the isolates grew in the presence of six selected antibiotics and were able to inhibit the growth of clinical and environmental strains that belong to the Burkholderia cepacia complex. The endophytes production of antimicrobial compounds could suggest their involvement in plant secondary metabolites production and might pave the way to endophytes exploitation in the pharmaceutical field.
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- 2022
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13. Aliens Coming by Ships: Distribution and Origins of the Ocellated Skink Populations in Peninsular Italy.
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Mori E, Andreone F, Viviano A, Faraone FP, Di Nicola MR, Borri B, Bruni G, Mazza G, Banchi R, Zaccaroni M, Mezzadri S, and Baratti M
- Abstract
The ocellated skink ( Chalcides ocellatus ) is a widespread lizard, naturally distributed between the Maghreb and coastal Pakistan, with few insular populations in the Mediterranean coastal area. Some populations of this species have also been recorded in peninsular Italy, Campania and Southern Tuscany due to accidental introductions via touristic and commercial routes. In this work, we conducted genetic analyses on mitochondrial DNA COXI, cytb and 16S mtDNA genes on a sample of Italian insular and peninsular populations. Differently from what previously suggested, the nucleus in Portici (Southern Italy) may have originated from Sardinia. The intense trade and touristic traffic between Sardinia and Southern Tuscany may have been responsible for the introduction of this lizard also to Central Italy.
- Published
- 2022
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14. Genomic Analysis of Endophytic Bacillus -Related Strains Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Origanum vulgare L. Revealed the Presence of Metabolic Pathways Involved in the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds.
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Semenzato G, Alonso-Vásquez T, Del Duca S, Vassallo A, Riccardi C, Zaccaroni M, Mucci N, Padula A, Emiliani G, Palumbo Piccionello A, Puglia AM, and Fani R
- Abstract
Multidrug-resistant pathogens represent a serious threat to human health. The inefficacy of traditional antibiotic drugs could be surmounted through the exploitation of natural bioactive compounds of which medicinal plants are a great reservoir. The finding that bacteria living inside plant tissues, (i.e., the endophytic bacterial microbiome) can influence the synthesis of the aforementioned compounds leads to the necessity of unraveling the mechanisms involved in the determination of this symbiotic relationship. Here, we report the genome sequence of four endophytic bacterial strains isolated from the medicinal plant Origanum vulgare L. and able to antagonize the growth of opportunistic pathogens of cystic fibrosis patients. The in silico analysis revealed the presence of gene clusters involved in the production of antimicrobial compounds, such as paeninodin, paenilarvins, polymyxin, and paenicidin A. Endophytes' adaptation to the plant microenvironment was evaluated through the analysis of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the four genomes. The diesel fuel degrading potential was also tested. Strains grew in minimum media supplemented with diesel fuel, but no n -alkanes degradation genes were found in their genomes, suggesting that diesel fuel degradation might occur through other steps involving enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of aromatic compounds.
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- 2022
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15. Cross-Amplification in Strigiformes: A New STR Panel for Forensic Purposes.
- Author
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Giangregorio P, Naldi L, Mengoni C, Greco C, Padula A, Zaccaroni M, Fani R, Argenti G, and Mucci N
- Subjects
- Animals, Animals, Wild classification, Animals, Wild genetics, Biodiversity, Conservation of Natural Resources, Species Specificity, Strigiformes genetics, Forensic Genetics methods, Microsatellite Repeats, Strigiformes classification
- Abstract
Strigiformes are affected by a substantial decline mainly caused by habitat loss and destruction, poaching, and trapping. Moreover, the increasing trend in bird trade and the growing interest in wild-caught rather than captive-bred birds are expected to encourage illegal trade. The biomolecular investigation represents a valuable tool to track illegal trade and to explore the genetic variability to preserving biodiversity. Microsatellite loci (STRs) are the most used markers to study genetic variability. Despite the availability of species-specific microsatellite loci in Strigiformes, a unique panel permitting the description of the genetic variability across species has not been identified yet. We tested 32 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate the reliability of a unique microsatellite panel in different species of Strigiformes and its use for conservation and forensic purposes. We included in the study 84 individuals belonging to 28 parental groups and 11 species of Strigiformes. After screening polymorphic microsatellite loci, the description of genetic variability, and the kinship assessment, we characterized a final panel of 12 microsatellite loci able to identify individuals in 9 Strigiformes species. This STR panel might support the authorities in the forensic investigation for suspected smugglers and false parental claims; moreover, it can be useful to evaluate relatedness among individuals in captive-bred populations and to implement research projects finalized to the description of the genetic variability in wild populations.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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