Phd in BIOCHEMISTRY

email: annarita.fiorillo@uniroma1.it
phone: 0649910910
building: CU027
room: T10

Current position
15.02.2022-14.02.2025: Assistant professor (RTDB, SC 05/E1, SSD BIO/10) at University of Rome “Sapienza”, Dept of Biochemical Sciences.

Work Experience
10.2017-02.2022: Research associate (RTDA, SSD BIO/10) at University of Rome “Sapienza”, Dept of Biochemical Sciences. Theme of research activity: “Structural and functional studies of proteins involved in cell metabolism”.
6.2015-5.2016: Post-doctoral fellowship at University of Rome “Sapienza”, Dept of Biochemical Sciences. Title of research project: “Sabotage the enemy: mechanisms of defence against oxidative stress as a target for the identification of new drugs against leishmaniasis”
12.2013-12.2014: Telethon fellowship at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Dept of Biochemical Sciences. Title of Research Project: “Isolated domains of aminoacyl tRNA syntethases as a novel therapeutic tool for mt tRNA mutation associated disease”.
12.2010-11.2013: Post-doctoral fellowship at University of Rome “Sapienza”, Dept. of Biochemical Sciences. Title of research project: “New mechanisms of microbial response to oxidative and nitrosative stress”.

Education
11.2007-10.2010: Ph.D. in Biochemical Sciences and Neurosciences at University of l'Aquila, Dept of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies. Supervisors: Prof. A. Bozzi, Prof. A. Boffi.
Dissertation title: “Flavin-dependent polyamine oxidases: structural studies and biosensing applications”, defended on April 12, 2011.
Research activities mainly carried out at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza University and the Department of Biology of Roma Tre University.
30.5-8.6.2014: Participation in the 47th international crystallographic course “Structural Basis of Pharmacology: Deeper Understanding of Drug Discovery through Crystallography” held in Erice, Italy.
3-13.6.2010: Participation in the 42nd international crystallographic course "Structure and Function from Macromolecular Crystallography: Organization in Space and Time" held in Erice, Italy.
30.8-4.9.2009: Participation in the International AIC School “Scattering Techniques: From Microscopic To Atomic Structures” held in Camerino, Italy.
19.07.07: Five years degree with honours (Laurea cum laude) in Chemistry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, with specialization in Physical-Chemistry.
Title of the thesis: “X-ray structure of N-methyltryptophan oxidase: structural determinants for specificity”. Tutor: Andrea Ilari.



Other qualifications
2021: Member of the Academic Board of the PhD course in Biochemistry at Sapienza University.
31.3.2017: National Academic Qualification (ASN) as Associate Professor in biochemistry (settore concorsuale 05/E1, bando d.d. 1532/2016).

Research interests
Study of structure-function relationships in macromolecules aimed at deep characterization, biotechnological applications, and drug development.
Principal systems studied:
- drug targets of Leishmania parasites: enzymes of the unique thiol-based redox metabolism and of the polyamine pathway;
- new therapeutic opportunities for neurological disorders: the sigma1 receptor and other potential protein targets;
- sorcin, an important regulator of many calcium-dependent cell functions;
- ferritin and Dps (DNA binding proteins from starved cells), cage-like proteins involved in the bacterial-DNA protection from oxidative damage and used as bioreactor to produce metal-based nanoparticles or as drug carriers.

Technical skills
Solid experience in X-ray crystallography and protein structure determination. Excellent knowledge of high throughput crystallization and crystal screening techniques. Extensive experience in data collection at synchrotron radiation sources in Europe (ESRF (FR), BESSY (DE), ELETTRA (IT), Diamond (UK)).
Very good knowledge of the main molecular biology techniques for cloning and protein expression in E. coli and protein purification.
Very good knowledge of spectroscopic techniques for macromolecules characterization (UV-vis, fluorescence, CD).

Awards and prizes
31.3.2017: National Academic Qualification (ASN) as Associate Professor in biochemistry (settore concorsuale 05/E1, bando d.d. 1532/2016).
5.5.2016-today: Affiliation with IBPM-CNR (Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari del CNR) (Reference: provision of association of 5.5.2016, No. 0001001, and renewal).
11.03.2015: best research project prize at XVIII Telethon Meeting at Riva del Garda. Project title: “Isolated domains of aminoacyl tRNA syntethases as a novel therapeutic tool for mitochondrial tRNA mutation associated diseases”
20.10.2010: Poster prize at the 10th Sigma Aldrich Young Chemists Symposium (SAYCS 2010), session “NuovaChimica” (methodological developments). Poster title: “Determinanti strutturali per la sintesi di nanoparticelle di argento in una cavita’ proteica: il caso della ferritina di Pyrococcus furiosus”

Societies membership
Member of the AIC (Associazione Italiana di Cristallografia), Adhering Body of the IUCr (International Union of Crystallography).

Grants
2022: principal investigator for the project “Development of broad-spectrum trypanocidal agents through target-based drug discovery”, internal research funds at Sapienza University (bando di ateneo 2021, Università Sapienza, delibera S.A. n.36/2022 del 15/02/2022).
Grant value 3.000€.
2022: principal investigator of the project “Fragment-based approach targeting the Trypanosomatid redox key enzyme Trypanothione reductase” selected for access to the program “XChem: Crystal-based fragment screening” at Diamond in UK (proposal ID: 30489), founded by the iNEXT consortium in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme.
2017-today: Investigator (co-proposer) in the project “Scouting di nuovi target nel campo delle malattie rare, trascurate e della povertà” funded by the public-private consortium CNCCS (Collezione Nazionale di Composti Chimici e Centro Screening) dedicated to neglected diseases. The project involves CNR, ISS and IRBM Science Park of Pomezia (CUP code of the project: B56G15001140005).
PI: Andrea Ilari. Total grant value: 170.000€.
2020-2021: investigator (co-proposer) of the project “Fragment-based approach targeting the Trypanosomatid redox key enzyme Trypanothione reductase” selected for access to the program “XChem: Crystal-based fragment screening” at Diamond in UK (proposal ID: nolb25167), founded by the iNEXT consortium in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme.
2020: principal investigator (coordinator) for the collaborative project “Structural biology for human health”, data collection beamtime and mission expenses awarded at ELETTRA synchrotron in Basovizza (TS) (proposal number: 20195202). The project involved researchers from Sapienza University, IBPM-CNR, IIT, University of Chieti and University of l’Aquila.
2019: investigator (co-proposer) for the project “Innovative small molecules as inhibitors of ribonuclease H function of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme”, internal research funds at Sapienza University (bando di ateneo 2018, Università Sapienza, delibera S.A. n. 50/19 del 12.02.2019).
PI: prof. R. Costi. Grant value 13.000€.
2018: principal investigator (coordinator) for the collaborative project “Structural characterization of macromolecules related to human health”, data collection beamtime and mission expenses awarded at ELETTRA synchrotron in Basovizza (TS) (proposal number: 20180125). The project involved researchers from Sapienza University, IBPM-CNR, IIT, University of Chieti and University of l’Aquila.
2014: Grant to participate in the 47th School of Crystallography at Ettore Majorana Center.
2010: Grant to participate in the 42nd School of Crystallography at Ettore Majorana Center.
2010: young researchers grant to participate in the national meeting of the Division of Chemistry of Biological Systems of the Italian Society of Chemistry.
2009: young researchers grant to participate in the national meeting of the Italian Society of Chemistry.
2009: Grant to participate in the International AIC School.
2007-2010: scholarship for PhD in Biochemical Sciences.

Participation in national and international projects
2017-today: Investigator (co-proposer) in the project “Scouting di nuovi target nel campo delle malattie rare, trascurate e della povertà” funded by the public-private consortium CNCCS (Collezione Nazionale di Composti Chimici e Centro Screening) dedicated to neglected diseases. The project involves CNR, ISS and IRBM Science Park of Pomezia (CUP code of the project: B56G15001140005).
PI: Andrea Ilari. Total grant value: 170.000€.
11.2018-2020: Collaboration with XoNovo LTD (Israeli company), prof. K. Hensley at ARCOM (Arkansas) and Dr. Travis Danton at Washington State University concerning the characterization of the interaction of antineurodegenerative compounds with their putative target (non-disclosure agreement signed on 23.11.2018).
2020: principal investigator (coordinator) for the collaborative project “Structural biology for human health”, data collection beamtime and mission expenses awarded at ELETTRA synchrotron in Basovizza (TS) (proposal number: 20195202). The project involved researchers from Sapienza University, IBPM-CNR, IIT, University of Chieti and University of l’Aquila.
2019: investigator (co-proposer) for the project “Innovative small molecules as inhibitors of ribonuclease H function of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme”, internal research funds at Sapienza University (bando di ateneo 2018, Università Sapienza, delibera S.A. n. 50/19 del 12.02.2019).
PI: prof. R. Costi. Grant value 13.000€.
2018: principal investigator (coordinator) for the collaborative project “Structural characterization of macromolecules related to human health”, data collection beamtime and mission expenses awarded at ELETTRA synchrotron in Basovizza (TS) (proposal number: 20180125). The project involved researchers from Sapienza University, IBPM-CNR, IIT, University of Chieti and University of l’Aquila.
01.12.2013-30.11.2014: investigator (fellowship) in the project “Isolated domains of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases as a novel therapeutic tool for mt-tRNA mutation associated disease” funded by Telethon Foundation (n. GGP13097 24/6/2013).
PI: prof. Giulia d’Amati. Grant value 218.500 €.
1.12.2010-30.11.2013: investigator (fellowship) in the project FIRB Futuro in Ricerca – 2008 (RBFR08F41U). Project title: “Nuovi meccanismi di risposta microbica allo stress ossidativo e nitrosativo”.
PI: dott. A. Giuffré. Grant value 188.600€.
2009-2012: Participation in an international collaboration concerning the characterization of metal nanoparticles incorporated in protein cages, as suspension or 3D-ordered array. The collaboration included laboratories in Italy, UK, Canada, Germany and Bulgaria and produced a publication on JACS in 2010. The study required sessions of SAXS experiments at Bessy synchrotron in Berlin conducted by Dragomir Tatchev and Annarita Fiorillo. (refs: application ID 2011_2_110160, beamline 7T-MPW-SAXS, period 10-13.10.2011; application ID 2012_1_110928, beamline 7T-MPW-SAXS, period 18-20.5.2012).

Oral communications at conferences
2.2023: Highlighting the Research Activity of the Sapienza Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine (Rome, Italy). Title of the seminar: “Structural and functional studies for structure-based trypanocidal drug discovery”.
5.2022: 3rd AIC-BMM Meeting (Fiesole, FI, Italy). Title of the seminar: “A fragment-based approach to develop trypanocidal drugs targeting trypanothione reductase”.
02.2022: invited speaker at the ESRF User Meeting, UDM2 microsymposium “Ligand and fragment screening: enabling technologies for pressing threats”, Grenoble (France). Title of the seminar: “A fragment-based approach to develop trypanocidal drugs targeting trypanothione reductase”.
02.2020: 1st AI C BMM Group Meeting, Fiesole (FI). Title of the seminar: “Structure of PA4063, a zinc binding protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa”.
06.2018: 3rd Joint AIC-SILS conference, Rome. Title of the seminar: “Unravelling the function of post-translational modifications in 14-3-3 from Giardia duodenalis”.
04.2012: 6th meeting New Perspectives in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (6NPCF), Riccione, Italy. Title of the seminar: “Therapeutic targets in Leishmania: the crystal structures of the couple tryparedoxin/tryparedoxin peroxidase”.
07.2009: XXIII National SCI Conference, Sorrento, Italy. Title of the seminar: “The crystal structure of the endo-β-1,3-glucanase from Pyrococcus furiosus reveals the structural basis of substrate recognition”.

Other research related activities
Member of the Editorial Board of Frontiers journals as Review Editor in Structural Biology (specialty section of Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences and Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology).
Reviewer for international journals (Scientific Report, Chemico-biological interactions, Journal of Parasitology Research).
Staff member of the Biocrystal facility, a platform dedicated to the structural characterization of proteins and protein complexes (https://biocrystalfacility.it/en/biocrystal-facility/), included in the consortium Instruct-Italia.
Member of the Organizing Committee of the conference “Cryo-electron microscopy in structural biology: paving the way towards precision biomedicine and biotechnology” held in Rome, 10th and 11th October 2019.

Teaching experience
2022: course title “Biochimica e Biotecnologie Biochimiche”, biochemistry teaching within the degree course in Biotechnology at Sapienza University (SSD BIO/10).
2021-today: Member of the Academic Board of the PhD degree in Biochemistry at Sapienza University.
2021-today: course title “Basi morfologiche e funzionali della cellula - Biochimica”, biochemistry teaching within the degree course in Nursing (Infermieristica San Camillo) at Sapienza University (SSD BIO/10).
2017-today: course title “Chimica e Propedeutica Biochimica”, chemistry and biochemistry teaching within the degree courses in Medicine and Surgery "A", "B" and "C" at Sapienza University (SSD BIO/10).
2017-2021: course title “one-day Lab Safety course”, good laboratory practices and safety training dedicated to first-year PhD students in Biochemistry at Sapienza University.
2016: video-lectures and exams preparation for distance learning of chemistry at Unitelma Sapienza in the framework of supportive teaching for STEM degrees at Sapienza (Offerta Formativa Aggiuntiva).

Mentoring and tutoring
2022: Supervisor of master’s students: Bianca Alexiev (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, under training), Sabrina Marsella (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, under training).
2012-today: Direct research training and supervision of undergraduate students Francesco di Chiaro (biological chemistry, master degree on January 2013), Alessandra Cipollone (biological chemistry, master degree on December 2016), Stefano Mocci (genetics and molecular biology, master degree on January 2019), Flavio Cennamo (genetics and molecular biology, degree on January 2022); PhD students Gabriella Angiulli (PhD in Biochemistry on December 2015), Theo Battista (PhD in Biochemistry on December 2020), Aasia Bibi (PhD in Biochemistry on February 2021), Lorenzo Antonelli (PhD in Biochemistry, under training).
2016-today: tutoring activity for distance learning of chemistry at Unitelma Sapienza in the framework of supportive teaching for STEM degrees at Sapienza (Offerta Formativa Aggiuntiva).
2004-2006: collaboration contract reserved to undergraduate students (150 hours/year) to support the teaching activity of the course of chemistry for medical degree (assistance in laboratory sessions and stoichiometry exercises) at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza.

Outreaching activities
2020-21: design of the educational path “Quando la forma è sostanza: introduzione allo studio strutturale delle proteine” dedicated to high school students, included in the PCTO catalogue of Sapienza University.
2015-2016: Seminars and workshops for vocational guidance and science education, sponsored by Telethon Foundation, dedicated to high school students in Rome.