Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the production of live attenuated bacterial strains, suitable as vaccine candidates, comprising the steps of: A. providing a bacterial strain capable of expressing glutamate racemase and possibly D-amino acid transaminase and comprising a peptidoglycan cell wall, and B. inactivating the gene or genes encoding for the glutamate racemase enzyme and, if needed, the gene or genes encoding for the enzyme D-amino acid transaminase in such way that the bacterial strain is no longer capable of expressing a functional glutamate racemase and/or a functional D-amino acid transaminase; wherein the inactivation of said genes causes said bacterial strain to be auxotrophic for D-glutamate.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the production of live attenuated bacterial strains, suitable as vaccine candidates, comprising the steps of: A. providing a bacterial strain capable of expressing glutamate racemase and possibly D-amino acid transaminase and comprising a peptidoglycan cell wail, and B. inactivating the gene or genes encoding for the glutamate racemase enzyme and, if needed, the gene or genes encoding for the enzyme D-amino acid transaminase in such way that the bacterial strain is no longer capable of expressing a functional glutamate racemase and/or a functional D-amino acid transaminase; wherein the inactivation of said genes causes said bacterial strain to be auxotrophic for D-glutamate.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a method for retinal image analysis implemented in a medical system with one or more processors comprising the method steps of: (a) locating an optical disk on the retinal images and establishing a plurality of circumferences centered at the disk; (b) detecting a plurality of vessels within a region defined by said circumferences' radii using a crease-based algorithm; (c) extracting a plurality of vessel segments based on a deformable models (snakes) algorithm; and d) automatically classifying the vessels and computing clinical parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a method for retinal image analysis implemented in a medical system with one or more processors comprising the method steps of: (a) locating an optical disk on the retinal images and establishing a plurality of circumferences centered at the disk; (b) detecting a plurality of vessels within a region defined by said circumferences' radii using a crease-based algorithm; (c) extracting a plurality of vessel segments based on a deformable models (snakes) algorithm; (d) measuring a plurality of vessel calibers; (e) classifying each vessel as a vein and an artery; and (f) computing an arteriolar-to-venular ratio.