Expertise

MAIN METHODOLOGIES AND EXPERTISE AVAILABLE AT IFT:

- Morphological and ultrastructural analyses of cells and tissues by confocal, microscopic and ultramicroscopic techniques and by atomic force microscopy
- In vitro ed in vivo morphological-functional analyses and molecular imaging by confocal microscopy, near field microscopy, ultraviolet, infrared, fluorescence
- Immunohistochemical analyses
- Cytofluorimetric analyses and cell sorting
- Analyses of biomarkers expression by basic molecular biology methods and Real Time PCR
- Fluorescence spettroscopy, circular dichroism, static and dynamic light diffusion
- Development of plasmid multicistronic vectors for somatic gene therapy and gene immunization
- In vivo Naked intramuscular and intradermal gene-transfer and electrochemotherapy based on electropermeabilization
- In vitro Gene transfer in primary cell cultures and cell lines
- Molecular diagnostic methods (DHPLC)
- Achievement of supramolecular structures, as liposomes and cationic polymers, for gene transfer
- Qualitative Reverse-Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), and quantitative Real Time RT-PCR
- Macro e Microarrays
- Standard Test of cytitoxicity (Chrome 51, MTT, Rodamine)
- ELISPOT
- Elisa Test (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
- Genotoxicity test using SCGE (Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis) assay
- Use of main algorithms in " in silico" approach for discovery of miRNAs target (Target Scan, PicTar, miRanda)
- Nucleic acid sequencing
- Use and selection of transgenic mice
- In vitro and in vivo DNA binding assays
- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP)
- Purification and analysis of functional proteins
- Isolation and characterization of STEM cells
- Proteomic methods , analysis of expression of genes involved in cell differentiation
- A-magnetic room and tools for generation and exposure to electromagnetic fields. Protocols for exposure to electromagnetic fields at ion cyclotron resonant frequency
- Achievement of retroviral vectors, production of retrovirus and generation of stabilized cell lines expressing specific proteins.
- Tandem affinity purification (TAP) e MudPIT (Multidimensional Protein Identification) methods for in vivo studies of protein-protein complexes
- Design of new chemical entities and methodologies based on molecular and atomic recognition
- Structural studies of bioactive molecules by spectroscopic and NMR techniques
- In vivo microdyalisis
- In vivo microsurgery
- Receptor binding analyses and quantification of serum hormones levels
- Morphometric analyses based on densitometric and stereological principles
- Behavioral tests for the assessment of the efficacy/tolerability profile of new drugs

EXPERIMENTAL MODELS USED

IN VITRO
- Macrophage primary cell cultures
- Dendritic cell cultures (mature and immature)
- Primary cell cultures of hepatic progenitors
- Human and animal tumor cell lines
- Cultures of human and animal stem cells (muscle, cardiac e mesenchymal).
- Cultures of myoblast cells
- Mixed lymphocyte/tumor cultures
- Neuronal and glial primary cell cultures
- Tri-dimensional cultures (bioreactors)of neural cells
- Cell response to modified lipoproteins and to sera of patients suffering for heart attack
- Supramolecular structures, as liposomes and cationic polymers, for gene transfer
- Single lipid bilayer (REV, VET)
- Bioreactors-Biosensors (DIA)
- Lipid system built with membrane receptors (AAO)
- Lipid system built with channel proteins (gap junction)
- Giant vesicle systems (60-90 mm)
- Microbiological cultures

IN VIVO
- Pre-clinical model of primary and metastatic colorectal cancers in singeneic immunocompetent rat (BDIX strain)
- Pre-clinical model of B16 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice
- Pre-clinical model of murine lymphoma in singeneic immunocompetent mouse (C3H/HeN strain).
- Pre-clinical model of atherosclerosis in transgenic mice C57BL/6J-ApoE Knockout
- Murine model of tuberculosis infection
- Murine models for therapeutic cell transplantation
- Indicators of micro-inflammation and of insulin resistance (expression of genes involved in inflammation and adipocyte differentiation related to children's obesity
- Murine model of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Murine models of schizophenia
- Murine models for the evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of new compounds against acute and neuropathic pain
- Murine model of glaucoma
- Murine model for the development of colon carcinoma by chemical carcinogens (ceppo murino inbred Balb/c)

EX VIVO
- Interaction between lipoproteins and vascular tissue
- Spontaneous amyloidogenesis of lipoproteins
- Primary cultures and cell lines obtained from colorectal cancer patients
- Isolated organs