IBBC – Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

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Euro Bioimaging

Welcome to the Naples Euro-BioImaging facility located at the IBBC...

Research Applications

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Infrafrontier

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Biochemistry and structure of proteins and lipids

Cell biology

Cellular and molecular biology

European Eurobioimaging infrastructure

Emma European infrastructure

Immunology

Molecular oncology and pathology

Muscle biology and pathology

Neurobiology

Pharmacology

Poverty related

Biochemistry and structure of proteins and lipids

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Cell biology

of intracellular signaling and trafficking

A number of cell biology groups at the IBBC have traditionally worked in two overlapping areas of cell biology, namely, the areas of signal transduction and of intracellular membrane transport. Specifically, the main themes of research of these groups have been, on the one hand, the role of certain metabolic reactions such as the metabolism of the glycerophosphoinositols, the metabolism of phosphatidic acid, and the ADP-ribosylation reaction in cancer-related signaling and, on the other hand, the morpho-functional organization and the regulation of the membrane transport apparatus.

This discussion group represents the convergence between these two lines of interest and has been active and productive already for several years.

Researchers Involved

Alberto Luini
Daniela Corda
Raman Parashuraman
Antonino Colanzi
Stefania Mariggio

Cellular and molecular biology

differentiation, degeneration and regeneration

European Eurobioimaging infrastructure

Advanced morphology, imaging and microscopy, biosensor

The Bioimaging group is interested in developing novel imaging methods to visualize processes of life at the cellular level. Specifically, we are interested in imaging protein-protein interactions and metabolites, especially lipids. The methods for visualization range from classic fluorescence and electron microscopy to modern correlative light-electron microscopy and super-resolution microscopy. Being one of the pioneers in the development of imaging technologies, we are also developing novel ways to visualize metabolites (lipids) by Raman microscopy-based and mass spectrometry-based methods.

Research involved :
Alberto Luini
Anna Chiara De Luca
Daniela Corda
Raman Parashuraman
Stefania Mariggio

Emma European infrastructure

Immunology

evolution, physiology and pathology

The IBBC immunology groups address different aspects of immunity in order to exploit basic information on disease mechanisms for designing innovative tools and strategies for disease prevention and therapy. To this end, IBBC immunology groups tackle the following aspects:
– Evolutionary studies for better understanding the mechanisms at the basis of the adaptive immune response. Design of novel diagnostic/therapeutic tools (engineered high performance antibodies; innate, B- and T-cell receptors)
– Targeted vaccination and immunotherapeutic strategies using novel nano-carriers
– Dissecting the interaction between food proteins, microflora and gastrointestinal immune system in health and disease; devising the immunomodulatory approaches for treatment of chronic intestinal diseases
– Exploiting knowledge of inflammation and innate memory mechanisms in the induction of protective immunity (antigen delivery and adjuvanticity of vaccines), and in the therapeutic approach to tissue-specific diseases (chronic inflammatory, degenerative and autoimmune diseases)

Molecular oncology and pathology

identification of molecular targets and drug development

Tumor cells utilize highly versatile strategies to grow, escape the immune system and invade into surrounding tissues.
At the IBBC-CNR we aim to characterize molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to cell transformation, cancer development and progression, by the integration of multidisciplinary experimental approaches, ranging from gene expression profile-based screening and bioinformatics analysis to phenotypical and biochemical characterization of genetically modified cellular and murine models. Our tumor models are human leukemias, lymphoid, epithelial (breast, lung cancer, thyroid, head and neck cancer, prostate, ovarian), brain and nervous system tumors. Multiple cancer-associated processes are investigated, including gene expression (mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA), genome instability, lipid metabolism, DNA damage response, cell growth, apoptosis, hormone-dependency, differentiation, angiogenesis, cell invasion, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions.

A better understanding of the mechanisms regulating the activation of selected oncogenes and tumor suppressors genes, signaling pathways and mediators are instrumental to identify cellular, biochemical, and molecular pathways involved in cancer biology and mechanisms of resistance to target therapies and valuable targets for the development of innovative anti-cancer drugs and treatments for unmet medical needs.

Striated muscle (skeletal and cardiac) is the most abundant tissue of the body and plays an essential role in systemic metabolism and movement. Skeletal and cardiac muscles can be affected by many severe pathological conditions, including diseases of genetic and traumatic origin, systemic metabolic disorders, neuromuscular and age-associated chronic pathologies. The research projects in this area focus on defining pathogenetic regulatory mechanisms and identifying disease modifiers. To these aims, researchers at IBBC exploit home-generated or existing cellular and animal models of neuromuscular diseases, such as Duchenne, Myotonic and FSHD muscular dystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy.

The ultimate goal of these different research interests converge on the development of novel strategies for tissue regeneration and for treatment of neuromuscular disease, as well as innovative prognostic/diagnostic tools

Neurobiology

molecular, cellular and behavioral aspects, neuropathologies and aging

Researches focus on mechanisms regulating brain functional states under physiological and pathological conditions in cells and mouse models. Main themes include the study of development and plasticity, emotionality, movement disorders, learning and memory, response to acute and chronic stress and pain, central control of energy homeostasis and reward, depression, aging and neurodegeneration, brain tumors. The role played by mouse genetic background, neurogenesis, microbioma, hormonal, neuroimmune systems, LncRNA/miRNA-mediated regulation and neurotrophins are investigated. Genetically manipulated animals and cellular models are used to clarify the role of genes in neural stem cell control and in different pathologies related to CNS and PNS functions. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses are carried out, in order to identify new target molecules involved in physiological and/or pathological processes. Molecular, histological and behavioral characterizations provide tools to detect pathological conditions and evaluate rescuing strategies, in a translational perspective.

Pharmacology

identification and use of natural substances

Poverty related

and neglected infectious diseases

The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) (https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/en/), a group of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infectious diseases, along with AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are collectively referred to as ‘infectious diseases of poverty’. NTDs affect the most poor and vulnerable populations in the world and more than one billion people are treated for control and elimination of NTDs each year. Importantly, these infections are co-endemic and an individual may be infected with more than one pathogen.
In IBBC-CNR we study in particular schistosomiasis, one of the 17 NTDs prioritized by WHO. Schistosomiasis contributes to the global morbidity with 4,026,000 DALYs (disability-adjusted life years), more than 780 million people are at risk and more than 200 million infections occur annually. Among human parasitic diseases, schistosomiasis ranks second behind malaria in socio-economic terms, public health importance and prevalence in the developing world.
Schistosomiasis is caused by some species of blood trematodes (flukes) in the genus Schistosoma. Unlike other trematodes, which are hermaphroditic, Schistosoma spp. are dioecous (individuals of separate sexes). Schistosomes reside in the mesenteric or bladder and survive for many years producing hundreds of fertilized eggs per day. Chronic infections can persist for decades and severe morbidity results from host immune responses to eggs in tissues.