About the Authors

Cristina Cunha

Affiliation Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Gloria Giovannini

Affiliation Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Antonio Pierini

Affiliation Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Alain S. Bell

Affiliation Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Guglielmo Sorci

Affiliation Anatomy Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Francesca Riuzzi

Affiliation Anatomy Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Rosario Donato

Affiliation Anatomy Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Fernando Rodrigues

Affiliations Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal

Andrea Velardi

Affiliation Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Franco Aversa

Affiliation Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Luigina Romani

Affiliation Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Agostinho Carvalho

aacarvalho2008@gmail.com

Affiliations Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: CC GS RD F.Rodrigues AV FA LR AC. Performed the experiments: CC GG AB GS F.Riuzzi. Analyzed the data: CC GG AP LR AC. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: GS RD AV FA LR. Wrote the paper: CC LR AC.