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E Olivetti

Publications and source records attributed to E Olivetti.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

A genetic history of Italy.

Statistical techniques for displaying the geographical distribution of many genes in few synthetic images have been used to represent the various patterns of gene frequencies in Europe and in the world (Menozzi et al. 1978; Piazza et al. 1981 a). It has also been shown that such synthetic displays are particularly useful in detecting clines of genetic differentiation associated with movements of populations like those accompanying the Neolithic expansion of farmers from the Near East or, in more recent times, the putative diffusion of Indo-European-speaking populations (Ammerman & Cavalli-Sforza, 1984; Gimbutas, 1973). In this paper we use the same combination of statistical and graphical techniques to study the genetic structure of Italy, a European country whose unity of people and cultures was quite a recent event. The possibility of studying genetic differentiation in a small geographical area is tested and trends of genetic differences are tentatively interpreted in terms of historic and linguistic knowledge. The few demographic pieces of information taken from historical sources and compared with linguistic records support the hypothesis that the genetic structure of Italy still reflects the ethnic stratification of pre-Roman times.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1987

Properdin factor B polymorphism in four Sardinian villages.

A sample of healthy unrelated individuals was typed for properdin factor B (Bf) polymorphism in four Sardinian villages. Two villages, Desulo and Tonara, are located in the highlands; the other two, Orosei and Galtellì, are located in the lowlands. No heterogeneity was found between the highland and the lowland villages, whereas a significant difference was found between the Sardinian villages and continental Italy. The allele Bf-F1 shows the highest gene frequency so far observed. Typically Sardinian is the gametic association (haplotype) HLA-A30, Cw5, B18, BfF1, DR3.

Alleles↗
PubMed1986

The HLA system in Italy.

4,902 Italians were typed for HLA-A antigens, 4,721 for HLA-B and 1,503 for HLA-C. The samples, which were composed of unrelated, healthy individuals born in Italy, were used for estimating HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C gene frequencies with the maximum-likelihood method. Different Italian regions showed significant differences in the HLA alleles, providing further evidence for the genetic heterogeneity of the Italian population. HLA gene frequencies place continental Italy and Sicily in a position which is similar to that of other Mediterranean populations, whereas the genetic isolation of Sardinia is quite evident. The most significant linkage disequilibrium values found in the Italian population (except for Sardinia) were in agreement with those observed in other Caucasian populations. The difference between Northern and Southern Italy and between continental Italy and Sardinia was emphasized by the linkage disequilibrium values and by the principal-component analysis as well.

Gene Frequency↗
PubMed1985

Further antigenic determinants on HLA-A molecules.

Monoclonal antibodies detect a new polymorphic antigenic determinant shared by HLA-A2, 3, 28, 29, 30, 31 and w33. This was demonstrated by population and family studies, including an HLA-A,B recombinant family, and by lysostrip experiments. Competition experiments, measuring the binding of 125I labelled MoAbs to B lymphoblastoid cell lines coated with anti-HLA conventional alloantisera and MoAbs showed that this new epitope is spatially distant from other known epitopes of A3 molecules and from monomorphic and polymorphic determinants of A2 molecules detected by monoclonal antibodies. On the other hand, anti-HLA-A2 polyclonal alloantisera are able to inhibit binding.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1985

Genetic and population structure of four Sardinian villages.

Data on microgeographic population structure on four neighbouring villages of Sardinia island (Italy) are presented and discussed. Two villages are located in the lowlands where malaria from Plasmodium falciparum was endemic until the eradication of paludism. The other two villages are located in the highlands and they were malaria-free because of the altitude. Census data, inbreeding, migration matrices and surname distributions have been collected. The genetic differentiation of the four villages, tested for 31 genetic polymorphisms (106 alleles), is only in part compatible with migration rates inferred from demographic data. The possible adaptive nature of some genetic markers with respect to malarial resistance is discussed. Ambiguous results from population genetics quantitative methods do not support definite answers.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1983

Endemic HBV infection, tissue autoantibodies and HLA. Analysis of a Sardinian population.

Serum samples of 405 HLA-typed individuals from four Sardinian villages were analyzed for HB virus markers and for tissue autoantibodies. Of the 59% individuals who had been exposed to HBV, 10% were healthy carriers; they showed a weak association with the HLA-B40 specificity compared with the immune or non-exposed groups, and a negative association of DR4, limited to females. Tissue autoantibodies were significantly associated with DR1 and more weakly with B14, probably through linkage disequilibrium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Properdin factor B polymorphism in continental Italy and Sardinia.

A sample of healthy unrelated individuals (882 from Continental Italy and Sicily, and 139 from Sardinia) were typed for HLA and Bf polymorphisms. Bf gene frequencies in Continental Italy and Sicily show an intermediate position among European populations, with Lapps on one side and Basques on the other side; while a very peculiar pattern is observed among Sardinians, with an impressive similarity with French Basques and with the highest F1 gene frequency so far observed. The HLA:Bf gametic associations in Italy and Sardinia are also reported, which confirm the different ethnic background of these populations.

Complement Factor B↗
PubMed1979

Two HLA-D and DR alleles are associated with coeliac disease.

A group of 45 children affected with Coeliac Disease (CD) was typed for HLA-A, B, C, D, and DR specificities. The most significant associations were found with two alleles of the D series, with both cellular and serological typing. It is suggested that the susceptibility to CD is determined by two different genes within the HLA region, the first in common with organ-specific autoimmune diseases and associated with DW3, the second possibly specific for CD and associated with Dw7.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The distribution of HLA antigens in Italy.

Human histocompatibility (HLA) gene frequencies were studied in the Italian population. A random sample of healthy individuals born in several Italian regions and provinces was studied to estimate HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR gene frequencies using the maximum likelihood method. The goodness of fit to Hardy-Weinberg proportions was evaluated by the likelihood ratio statistics. Different Italian regions and provinces show significant differences in the HLA alleles, providing further evidence for the genetic heterogeneity in the Italian population. This heterogeneity is also displayed by a synthetic geographical representation which uses colour to map the most informative gene differences. Statistically significant gametic associations between HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR loci are reported. The difference between northern and southern Italy and between continental Italy and Sardegna is clearly shown also by their heterogeneous linkage disequilibria.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The distribution of some polymorphisms in Italy.

A wide data collection on blood group gene frequencies in Italian regions and provinces is presented. This report is the result of a joint collaboration of human geneticists and forensic haematologists started in 1979 and updates a previous work by the same group. The following genetic polymorphisms have been examined: red-cell antigens (ABO, FY, Kell, Kidd, Lewis, Lutheran, MNSs, P, Rhesus), red-cell enzymes (ACP1, ADA, AK1, ESD, GLO1, GPT, PGD, PGM1), plasma proteins (BF, C3, GC, HP, IGK, PI, TF). Data have been classified according to genetic systems, Italian regions and provinces. Gene frequencies were estimated by the maximum likelihood method. The goodness of fit to Hardy-Weinberg proportions has been evaluated by the likelihood ratio statistics. Genetic heterogeneity of provinces and regions is reported.

Blood Group Antigens↗