Dr. D’ Apice main scientific interest is focused on the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the immune system and the development of innovative strategies to enhance the immune response against pathogens or cancer antigens.

By mutation of the transmembrane region of the T cell receptor she is trying to improve the T cell immune response, while exploiting innovative antigen delivery systems she is trying to enhance the immune response in vitro and in vivo in order to design innovative vaccination approaches.

Two major projects are carried out in the lab:

1) Development of new antigen delivery systems.

Using the phage display platform as a vehicle able to induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells we perform analysis of the in vitro and in vivo immune response to delivered antigens, in wild type and transgenic mouse models. Administration of recombinant bacteriophage displaying tumor-associated antigens is able to generate protective immune response inhibiting tumor growth in animal models.

fd vectors, engeneered by us for targeting dendritic cells confer adjuvanticity and activate both innate and adaptive immune responses. 

2) TCR transmembrane modifications.

Cellular therapy using T cells transduced with TCR genes specific for relevant pathogens is an appealing therapeutic strategy. We have described  transmembrane modifications of alpha and beta TCR chains that improve TCR functions that can be useful for translational application in adoptive T cell therapy.

Education:

• 1995 Degree in Biology at the “Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II” Naples, Italy
• 2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D at the “Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico
  II” Naples, Italy
  

Positions:

Researcher (permanent position) at Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Council of Research, since 2008.

Joirnal Topics Board | Journal Editor

• An Ig Transmembrane Domain Motif Improves the Function of TCRs Transduced in Human T Cells: Implications for Immunotherapy.D’Apice L, Cuccaro F, Varriale S, Cipria D, Sartorius R, Circosta P, Cignetti A, Salerno M, Coscia MR, Oreste U, Marzullo VM, Martini G, Acuto O, De Berardinis P. J Immunother. 2019 May;42(4):97-109. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000259.
• Vectorized Delivery of Alpha-GalactosylCeramide and Tumor Antigen on Filamentous Bacteriophage fd Induces Protective Immunity by Enhancing Tumor-Specific T Cell Response.Sartorius R, D’Apice L, Barba P, Cipria D, Grauso L, Cutignano A, De Berardinis P.
  Front Immunol. 2018 Jun 28;9:1496. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01496. eCollection 2018.
• HIV Vaccination: A Roadmap among Advancements and Concerns. Trovato M, D’Apice L, Prisco A, De Berardinis P.
  Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Apr 19;19(4). pii: E1241. doi: 10.3390/ijms19041241. Review.
• Arming Filamentous Bacteriophage, a Nature-Made Nanoparticle, for New Vaccine and Immunotherapeutic Strategies. Sartorius R, D’Apice L, Prisco A, De Berardinis P. Pharmaceutics. 2019 Sep 1;11(9):437. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11090437.PMID: 31480551 

Researchers:
Piergiuseppe De Berardinis
Rossella Sartorius

PhD student:
Roberta Manco roberta.manco@ibbc.cnr.it

Post-doctoral
Maria Trovato maria.trovato@ibbc.cnr.it

PRIN Tackling biological barriers to antigen delivery by nanotechnological vaccines (NanoTechVax)

Joint laboratory Italy -Brazil: New vaccines against poverty related and neglected tropical diseases

NextGenerationEU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Project no. PE00000007, INF-ACT) 

PRIN 2022E7FZEJ JANUS- The double face of hypoxia in health and disease