BIOMEDICAL
INFORMATION
Address : Via Giovanni de' Calvi, 61- 00151, Rome,
Italy.
Birth Date:
17/4/1962
Nationality: Italian
Marital: Married with two sons: Louis age
18 and Chiara 9y.o.
Present Position: Lab Tech, MolecularNeuroBiology
Lab, Sigma-Tau S.p.a.,Pomezia 00040, Rome, Italy.
Education:
1972-73 Primary school: "G.Mazzini"-Rome.
1977-78 Secondary school: "G.B.Pergolesi"-Rome.
1982-83 High
school: "G.L.Bernini"-Rome- Technical Chemist Degree.
Training:
1982 Training in qualitative, quantitative and
instrumental analysis (gas chromatography), Industrial Technical Institute
"G.L. Bernini", Rome.
1982-83
Training on Solar energy and its application, Industrial Technical Institute
"G.L.Bernini", Rome.
1983 Computers
course and training with practical and technical approach to Cobol and Basic
System, Computer Company S.A.S. (Rome)
Employment:
1986 Employed by Sigma-Tau Biology Research &
Development, Department of Toxicology as Laboratory Technician. I was
interested in studies regarding the reproductive cycle (teratogenesis) and
parassitological diagnosis of laboratory animals.
1990 Moved to
the Pharmacology Department (Neuroendocrinology Laboratory).
1994 Moved to
the Cellular Physiopathology Department.(Laboratories of Molecular Cytology and
Immunocitology).
1997 Moved to
the Dismetabolic Department (Laboratories of Enzimology and Biochemistry of
Protein).
1999 Moved
to Kenton Labs. (Laboratory of Molecular Biology) c/o Sigma-Tau.
Hobbies: I enjoy all sports,
listen music.
Interests:Art, Computers and
Science.
RESEARCH
EXPERIENCE
Methodologies:
- Dispersion and culture of rat pituitary
cells; radioimmunoassay (R.I.A.) for hormones.
- Dispersion and culture of primary rat
foetal brain cells. E.g. cortical, hypothalamic, cerebellar.
- Technique to measure uptake and release of
neurotransmitters, e.g. GABA.
- Immunostaining methods NSE for neuronal or
GFAP for glial, Bcl-2, c-fos, HSP60;
- Perfusion technique to measure
neurotransmitter and hormone release, gel electrophoresis
(SDS Page, Western blot, Northern blot).
- Colturing methods and good maintenance of
different cell line (insects, animal and human).
- Methods of growth, maintenance and
transformation of different bacterial strain(TG1;XL1Blue.)
- Immunoscreening and Immunopurification
techniques (ELISA; Dynabeads).
- Elettroporation and cloning using vectors
(plasmids) for protein expression.
- Methods for protein purification
(Glutathione/Sepharose).
- Use of random libraries displayed on phage
for identification of biological active peptides.
- DNA amplification and sequence analysis (PCR;
Polyacrilamide gel).
Main projects:
1990-present
Neuroprotection - In vitro models have
been set up which will enable the screening of cerebroprotective drugs
especially under various pathological conditions e.g. ischemia and hypoxia.
Methods to quantitative cellular viability include measuring the conversion of
dye MTT to formazen, uptake of neutral red or trypan blue, release of LDH from
damaged cells and the ability to secrete neurotransmitter or hormone after
appropriate insults.
Hypothalamo-pituitary-organ
axis
- A pharmacological and physiological profile of drug action on the
neuroendocrine axis has been undertaken: the effects on estrus cycle, serum
hormone levels, organ and body weight, as well as the in vitro secretory
efficacy of hormones and releasing factors (e.g. GnRH) from pituitary and
hypothalamic slices of treated and untreated rats were studied.
Uptake
and release of neurotransmitters - The possible drug efficacy being
evaluated for effects on neurotransmitter uptake or release using cultured
neurones or brain slices.
Effect of
drugs on differentiation and proliferation of neuronal cells.
Role of
histone and actin acetylation in cellular processes i.e. gene expression:
modulation by drugs.
Role of
coricosterone and NGF in neurodegeneration processes - especially in conditions
of stress and metabolic compromise. The possible toxic action of corticosterone
on was evaluated on primary rat neurones: cellular viability, neurotransmitter
uptake and release, as well as expression of Bcl-2, c-fos and HSP60.
Role of
acetyl carnitine and fatty acid turnover in primary astrocytes and neuron cell
culture.
Diabetes - In vitro models have
been set up which will enable the screening of antidiabetic's drugs. The
efficacy will be evaluated controlling the gluconeogenesys and the reduction of
hyperglycaemia, modulating the beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acid and the
lipolisys.
HCV -Recognition and
identification of human immunodominant epitopes of HCV antigens involved in the
immuno human response against infection.
Toxoplasma - Recognition and identification
of human immunodominant epitopes of T.Gondii antigens involved in the human
b-cells response against parasite infection.
COURSES
ATTENDED AND SEMINARS:
1987:
Adjournment Course of employed in Biology
Research Laboratories organised by Sigma-Tau
(Pomezia, Rome).
1988:
(March-June): Oxford English Course (Pomezia, Rome).
1988/89:
(October-June): Oxford English Course (Pomezia,
Rome).
1989:
(February): Course with practical and technical
approach to the MS-DOS system on IBM Computers organised in collaboration
with the G.E.A. (Pomezia, Rome).
1990:
(May):Seminars on the general procedure of animal
care maintenance and principal pathologic diseases regarding laboratory animals.Charles
River and veterinarian of Sigma-Tau (Pomezia, Rome).
1991:
Practical and technical course on the MS-DOS and
LOTUS-2-3, IBM Computers, organised by Sigma-Tau (Pomezia, Rome).
1993:
Adjournment course on serum free-media in culture
cells, Organised by Sigma-Tau and PBI, Rome.
Seminar on counting of radioactive samples in liquid
scintillation(Sigma-Tau, Rome).
Symposium on Evaluation of Drug Treatment in Cerebral
Ischaemia and Dementia(5° Joint Meeting between the British and Italian Societies
of Pharmacology).
1994:
Computer course and training on the ISIS-Data Base
and its organised by Sigma-Tau and Molecular Design, Rome.
1997:
Technical - practical course on Internet and Biomedicine,
organised by Research Center "Casaccia" - ENEA - (Rome).
1998:
Technical - practical course on Complexity of Living
System, organised By Institute for Complexity Studies - Genazzano (Rome).
1999:
(January): International Conference on "In
Vitro Citotoxicology Mechanism", Organised by National Institute of Health
- Rome.
1999:
(February):Technical - practical course on Microsoft
Word 7 organisedBy Sigma-Tau – Rome.
2000:
(May): Meeting on Monoclonal antibodies: "25
years later",by National Institute of Health - Rome.
2000:
(October):International Conference on Life Sciences
Organized by FISV (Italian Federation of Life Sciences)-Riva del Garda-Italy.
2000:
(December):Workshop on clinical and experimental
approach for nervous system pathology Organized by National Institute of Health
- Rome.
2008:
(September):Course on PCR Real Time Organized by
Biorad/Biogem-Ariano Irpino (AV)September): PCR Real Time Course
Organized by Biorad/Biogem-Ariano Irpino (AV
PUBLICATIONS:
1-Virmani
M.A, Conti R, Spadoni A., Rossi S & E. Arrigoni-Martelli. L-carnitine uptake into
primary rat cortical cultures: Interaction with GABA. Mol. Brain Res. 25
(1-2), 105-112. 1994.
2-Virmani M.A., Conti R.,
Spadoni A., Rossi S. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. L-Carnitine uptake into
primary rat cortical cultures is specifically inhibited by GABA and GABA uptake
blockers. Pharmac. Res. 31 (3:4), 211-215. 1995.
3-Virmani M.A., Biselli
R., Spadoni A., Rossi S., Corsico N., Calvani M., Fattorossi A., De
Simone C. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Protective actions of L-carnitine and
acetyl-L-carnitine on the neurotoxicity evoked by mitochondrial uncoupling or
inhibitors. Pharm Res. 32, 383-389. 1995.
4-Virmani M.A., Rossi S.,
Conti R., Spadoni A., Arrigoni-Martelli E. & Calvani M. Structural,
metabolic and ionic requirements for the uptake of L-carnitine by primary rat
cortical cells. Pharm Res 33, 19-27. 1995.
5-Virmani M.A., Conti R.,
Spadoni A., Rossi S. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Specific inhibition of
L-carnitine uptake into primary rat cortical cultures by GABA and GABA uptake
blockers. Brit J Pharm 111: 333P.
1994.
6- M. A. Virmani, V. Caso, Spadoni A., S.
Rossi, F. Russo, F. Gaetani
The action of acetyl-l-carnitine on the neurotoxicity evoked by amyloid fragments and peroxide on primary rat cortical neurones.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 939:162-178.2001
Identification of a human immunodominant B-cell epitope within the GRA1 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii by phage display of cDNA libraries.
International Journal
for Parasitology 31; 1659-1668.2001.
8- E. Beghetto,Spadoni A., ,W. Buffolano,M.
Del Pezzo,O. Minenkova,E. Pavoni,A. Pucci,R. Cortese, F. Felici and N. Gargano
Molecular dissection of the human B-cell response against Toxoplasma gondii infection by lambda display of cDNA libraries.
International Journal for Parasitology 33; 163-173.2003.
9- E. Beghetto,W. Buffolano, Spadoni A., M.
Del Pezzo, M. Di Cristina,O. Minenkova, Eskild Petersen , F. Felici and N.
Gargano
Use of
an immunoglobulin G avidity assay based on recombinant antigens for diagnosis
of primary Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol.41,No12,Dec 2003, p.5414-5418
10- Wilma Buffolano, Elisa Beghetto, Mariassunta Del Pezzo, Spadoni
A., Manlio Di Cristina, Eskild Petersen and Nicola
Gargano
Use of recombinant antigens for early postnatal diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasmosis
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol.43,No12,Dec 2005, p.5916-5924
11- Nielsen H.V., Di Cristina M., Beghetto E., Spadoni A., Petersen E.,Gargano N. - Toxoplasma gondii: DNA vaccination with bradyzoite antigens induces protective immunity in mice against oral infection with parasite cysts.
Experimental Parasitology, 112 (2006), p.274-279
12- Beghetto E., Spadoni A.,
Bruno L., Wilma Buffolano and Nicola
Gargano
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol.44,No6,June 2006, p.2133-2140
13-Di Cristina M., Minenkova O., Pavoni E., Beghetto E., Spadoni A., Felici F., Gargano N. A novel approach for identification of tumor associated antigens expressed on the surface of tumor cells.
International Journal of Cancer Vol.120,No6,March 15(2007), p.1293-1303.
14-De Paolis F., Beghetto E.,Spadoni A., Montagnani F., Felici F., Oggioni M., Gargano N. Identification of a human immunodominant B-cell epitope within the immunoglobulin A I protease of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
BMC Microbiology, December 18(2007) 7:113.
15-Beghetto E.,De Paolis F.,Spadoni A.,Del Porto P.,Buffolano W.,Gargano N. Molecular dissection of the human B cell response against cytomegalovirus infection by lambda display.
Journal of Virological Methods, 151 (2008), 7-14 .
PATENTS:
Gargano N., Beghetto E., Spadoni A. Chimeric recombinant antigens of Toxoplasma gondii
International Application N° PCT/EP2006/001760 Date: September 14, 2006
Gargano N., Beghetto E., Spadoni A. Recombinant antigens of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
International Application N° PCT/EP2008/000876 Date: August 14, 2008
Virmani M.A,
Conti R., Spadoni A., Corsico N. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Effects of
acetyl-L-carnitine on the secretion of neurotransmitter from brain slices under
acute in vitro conditions. 2nd International Conference, Neuroendocrine and
peripheral disorders of female reproductive system: pathophysiology and
therapies. Capri (Italy), May 22-26, 1992.
Virmani M.A., Spadoni
A. & Arrigoni-Martelli E Effects of L-carnitine and its
derivatives on hormone secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells. The
Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada p193, June 1993.
Virmani M.A.,
Conti R., Spadoni A., Rossi S. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Uptake of
L-carnitine into primary rat cortical cultures: Interaction with GABA.
Neuropsychopharmacology 9, 144S, Abs 322. Rhodes, Greece. Sept 1993.
Virmani M.A., Spadoni
A., Rossi S. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on
serum levels of Growth Hormone and Corticosterone in male and female rats
following acute cold-stress. The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, Anaheim,
California, June 1994.
Virmani M.A., Spadoni
A., Conti R., Rossi S. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Action of L-carnitine and
its L-isobutyrlcarnitine pivaloyl oxymethyl ester derivative (ST 812) on uptake
and release of GABA by rat cortical cells. The Endocrine Society Annual
Meeting, Anaheim, California, June 1994.
Virmani M.A.,
Bisselli R., Spadoni A., Rossi S., Corsico N., Calvani M., Fattorossi
A., De Simone C. & Arrigoni-Martelli E. Protective actions of
acetyl-L-carnitine on neurotoxicity evoked by mitochondrial uncoupling or
inhibitors in primary rat cortical cultures, Abstract. Neurodegenerative
Diseases 95, Molecular and cellular mechanisms and therapeutic advances,
Washington May 15-17, 1995.
Biselli R., Virmani M.A., De Simone C., Spadoni
A., Rossi S., Corsico N., Calvani M., Arrigoni-Martelli E. & Fattorossi
A. Effect of L-carnitine in preventing mitochondrial inhibitor-associated
damage in neuronal cells, Abstract. Neurodegenerative Diseases 95,
Molecular and cellular mechanisms and therapeutic advances, Washington May
15-17, 1995.
Virmani M.A.,
Denisova N., Russo F., Arduini A., Spadoni A., Arrigoni-Martelli
E. & Calvani M. Endogenous carnitine levels and carnitine palmitoyl
transferase (CPT) activity in cultured rat cortical neurones at different ages
of development. 8th European College of Neuropsychopharmcology (ECNP) Congress,
Venezia.Sept 30-Oct 4 1995.
Gargano N.,Minenkova O.,Beghetto E.,Spadoni A.,Buffolano
W.,Monaci P.,Felici F. Identification of specific antigens in Toxoplasma Gondii
infection.
International
Conference on Life Sciences (FISV) Meeting, Riva del Garda.Sept 30-Oct 4 2000.
Ultimo aggiornamento
2/10/2008 ore 22.00.