Sea Urchin innate immunity and NanoSafETv (SUNSET) (DSB.AD001.187)
Thematic area
Project area
Oncologia e Immunologia (DSB.AD001)Structure responsible for the research project
Institute of Traslational Pharmacology (IFT)
Other structures collaborating in the research project
Project manager
ANNALISA PINSINO
Phone number: 0916809557
Email: annalisa.pinsino@irib.cnr.it
Abstract
The interaction of a living organism with external foreign agents is a central issue for its survival and adaptation to the environment. Nanosafety should be considered within this perspective, and it should be examined that how organisms interact with NM by either mounting a defensive response or by physiologically adapting to them. The interaction of NM with one of the major biological system deputed to the recognition of and responses to foreign challenges, i.e., the immune system, need to be addressed. However, the NM immune-compatibility remains an open issue, even for ethical reasons. The survey of the sea urchin genome has disclosed strong similarities between sea urchin and human innate immune-related genes, and also provides clues of alternative adaptive or anticipatory immune functions that are shared with humans.For these reasons, the sea urchin can be considered an excellent proxy for human model for investigating the nano-immune interaction in vivo and, more recently, also in vitro.
Goals
SUNSET project aims on the understanding of the biosafety of nanoparticles and nanoplastics in the emergent proxy to human non-mammalian model for in vivo and vitro basic and translational immunology, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, focusing on cell regulation, signalling, and differentiation mechanisms involved in innate immune defence, innate memory and immunological ageing.
Start date of activity
01/01/2021
Keywords
Sea Urchin, Immunity, Nanosafety
Last update: 20/04/2024