Biologia e Genetica
Temi e progetti di ricerca
BioMolecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine (BMGS) Unit
(Coordinator: Michele Purrello)
- Expression profiles and molecular functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the following pathological models
- Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): GBM Tumor Biopsies and Serum from GBM patients - In vitro GBM cell models
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Serum and saliva from ASD patients • Arnold-Chiari Syndrome (ACS): Serum and saliva from Arnold-Chiari patients
- Connectome, microbiome and related molecular profiles in ASD and TS
- Human Reproduction
- Female Reproductive Health (Oocytes, Somatic Follicular Cells, Follicular Fluid)
- Embryo Implantation (Blastocoel Fluid, Blastocyst, Endometrium)
- Colorectal Cancer (CRC): CRC Tumor biopsies, Serum, exosomes from serum and in vitro cell models from CRC patients
- Vitreous humor, Vitreal exosomes and serum from patients with ocular diseases
- Saliva ncRNAs and microbiome profiles in ASD patients • Senile Dementias including AD
Microscopy Unit (MI-1)
- Bacterial infections in in vitro models of Blood–brain (BBB) and blood- retina (BRB) barriers
- Fusogenic action of nanoparticles containing antibiotics (liposomes) against Gram (-) bacteria
- Isolation and chracterization of Outside Membrane Vescicles (OMVs) from different bacterial strains
- Isolation and chracterization of exosomes from different cell types (hematopoietic tissues, tumour cells, follicular fluid)
- Analysis of the expression of PARP genes involved in tumors and diabetes through Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM)
Microscopy Unit (MI-2)
Fulvia Sinatra
• Cell adhesion and mesenchimal stem cell differentiation,
• Effects of natural biomolecules on neoplastic cells
• Biomaterials: biosensors, nanomaterials, microscopy technologies
Molecular Biology Unit (MB-1)
Vito De Pinto
- VDAC1 as pharmacological target in cancer and neurodegeneration: focus on its role in apoptosis
- Functional roles of VDAC1 in physiological conditions
- Structure and electrophysiological features of human VDAC1
Francesca Guarino
- Bioinformatic and molecular analysis of the promoter interactions of VDAC
- Molecular characterization and analysis of cellular and mitochondrial damage induced by cigarettes smoke extract from conventional and electronic cigarettes
- Modification of the functional features of VDAC1 in hypoxia and starvation
Molecular Biology Unit (MB-2)
Nunzio Iraci
- Parkinson’s disease and molecular mechanisms of CNS protection and repair
- Cell-to-cell communication via extracellular vesicles, including exosomes
- Horizontal RNA transfer (coding and non-coding)
- Immunometabolism
- Nanotechnologies and Synthetic Biology
Awarded Grants / Achievements of Junior Researchers
BioMolecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine
PON-Hyppocrates 2012
Fir 2014 (UniCT)
Research Plan 2016-2018 (UniCT)
I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria SS. ONLUS – TROINA Post- Doctoral Fellowship granted to Davide Barbagallo by Fondazione Umberto Veronesi
Grant for Fertility Innovation (GFI) 2018 by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Microscopy-2 Unit
Project PON R&C 2007-2013, project “Hyppocrates” (PON0200355) Finanziamento annuale dell’attività base di ricerca (2018) ANVUR FIR 2014 PE AA71DE, (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche-Università degli Studi Catania)
University Research Project Grant (Triennial Research Plan 2016-2018)
Molecular Biology-1 Unit
PRIN 2010-2013, PRIN 2015, CHANCE, FIR ARISLA 2015 Post-Doctoral Fellowship granted to Andrea Magrì by Fondazione Umberto Veronesi
Molecular Biology-2 Unit
“Brains2South” grant (Fondazione con il Sud - Bando Capitale Umano ad Alta Qualificazione 2015)
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
BMGS Unit
- Antonio Belli (University of Birmingham, Great Britain)
- Valentina Di Pietro (University of Birmingham, Great Britain)
- Thomas Birkballe Hansen (University of Aarhus, Denmark)
- Jorge Hoheisel (German Cancer Research Center, Germany)
- Hadi Valadi (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
MB-1 Unit
- Salvatore Oddo (University of Arizona, USA)
- Mathias Winterhalter (Biotechnologie, Jacobs Universität Bremen, Germany)
- R. Mahalakshmi (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, India
- Varda Shoshan-Barmatz (Ben Gurion Univ. & Negev Institute of Technology, Beer Sheva, Israel
MB-2 Unit
- Jose Manuel Garcia Verdugo (University of Valencia, Spain)
- Stefano Pluchino (University of Cambridge, UK)
- Nuno Faria (University of Cambridge, UK)
- Anton Enright (University of Cambridge, UK)