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Biomedical subjects

E Banfi

Publications and source records attributed to E Banfi.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Studies on the interaction between macrophages and leptospires.

Guinea-pig macrophages exerted no bactericidal activity against either a virulent or a saprophytic strain of leptospira during a 120 min period of contact at 37 degrees C. However, the same macrophages exhibited weak phagocytic powers towards these two strains of leptospira over a similar period of time.

Animals↗

Cytotoxic activity of supernatant extracts of virulent and saprophytic leptospires.

Extracts from supernatants, obtained from culture of virulent strain PB-3 and saprophytic strain Isola Sacra 1, were assayed for cytotoxicity. A cytotoxic factor produced by the pathogenic strain was found to affect specifically the tested cells, at determined concentrations; on the other side a not clear and scarce cytotoxicity was shown for the extract from the saprophytic strain Isola Sacra 1. Cytotoxic factor produced by strain PB-3 was heat resistant and trypsin sensitive, suggesting to be a thermostable protein. An inhibitory doses it induced a typical, cytopathic effect on the treated cells.

Animals↗

Mutagenic activity of anthraquinone derivatives used as dyes in a textile factory.

Some anthraquinone derivatives used as dyes in a textile factory have been tested for their mutagenic activity on the Ames' strains of Salmonella typhimurium. 1-amino-4-hydroxy-anthraquinone proved to be a mutagen of the frameshift type. It is active without need of metabolic activation. Studies are in progress in order to clarify if the mutagenic activity of other substituted anthraquinones, which do not act as direct mutagens, can become evident after metabolic activation. Further tests are needed to decide if substituted anthraquinones are hazardous for exposed people.

Anthraquinones↗

Mutagenic activity of platinum and ruthenium complexes.

cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) [cis-PtCl2(NH3)2] and dichlorotetrakis (dis-methylsulfoxide) ruthenium(II) [RuCl2(DMSO)4] have been tested as mutagens for strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying the hisG46 missense mutation. Their activity, which has been compared with the activity of mitomycin C, depends on the presence in the test bacteria of the pKM101 plasmid and is affected in various ways by the function of the excision repair system. More precisely, mitomycin C is mutagenic only for strains with an intact uvr system. cis-PtCl2(NH3)2 and RuCl2(DMSO)4 are mutagens both for uvrB and uvr+ strains, but cis-PtCl2(NH3)2 is more active on the latter, while the converse is true for RuCl2(DMSO)4. It seems, therefore, that each drug interacts with DNA by a different mechanism.

Cisplatin↗

Chemical and biological properties of a phenol-water extract from Leptospira interrogans. Evidence for the absence of lipopolysaccharide.

Leptospira interrogans, serovar copenhageni was extracted by the phenol-water method and the resulting preparation examined for chemical composition and endotoxic activity. Chemical analysis revealed that a number of sugars were present, however, the amount of lipid content was very low. Further, the preparation was devoid of characteristic endotoxic properties, like lethal toxicity, pyrogenicity and the property to induce the local Shwartzman reaction. The extract, however, was active in the limulus lysate gelation test and in the induction of monocyte activation. It is concluded that the leptospira preparation is devoid of endotoxin properties, both from the chemical and from the biological point of view.

Animals↗