Research: Impact of intracellular redox dysregulation in the pathogenesis of RNA virus infections
Title of the research project: Impact of intracellular redox dysregulation in the pathogenesis of RNA virus infections
• Thematic area: Virology
• SSD: MED-07
Brief resume
Education:
2021- bachelor’s degree in Biosciences and Biotechnologies at the University of Camerino, 110 e lode
2023- Master’s degree in Biological Sciences, molecular diagnostic and biotechnology at the University of Camerino, 110 e lode
Research experiences:
Bachelor thesis project in the parasitology laboratory (University of Camerino). Thesis title: Detection of microbial symbionts in an Italian population of Ae. japonicus
Master thesis project in the molecular parasitology laboratory at the Institute of molecular Biology and Biotechnology FORTH (Heraklion, Crete). Thesis title: Validation of proteins expressed during the development of Plasmodium berghei oocysts and generation of a transgenic parasite lacking the expression of an unknown oocyst protein.
Fellowships:
Erasmus Traineeship scholarship
Carlo Urbani Scholarship
Brief description of PhD project:
RNA viruses have the potential to generate pandemics and, given the knowledge gained during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we must devise innovative strategies to quickly address such circumstances in the future. The interplay between specific virus characteristics and the host response to viral replication in different body compartments, determines the course and intensity of the illness. Our research group has previously demonstrated that viral infection alters the intracellular redox homeostasis and all the processes that depend on it, including several redox-sensitive pathways such as the inflammatory response. In particular, the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that controls the expression of a set of genes involved in the antioxidant response and regulates the inflammation by repressing the NF-kβ and IFN signaling. Interestingly, various RNA viruses are able to interfere with the Nrf2 pathway, thus affecting the redox state of the cell.
Our aim is to gain insights into host cell responses and pathways that are altered upon replication of RNA viruses, with a particular interest in the identification of the viral proteins involved in these mechanisms and the strategies that are conserved among different RNA viruses.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, we will use innovative cell culture methods, such as air-liquid interface and co-culture, to study the host response to different RNA viruses. At different time points post-infection, the antioxidant response will be analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western Blot, and In-Cell Western assay. Nuclear and cytoplasmic separation, and immunofluorescence will be used to assess the localization of transcription factors involved in the response to oxidative stress.
A more complete understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms associated with RNA viruses’ infections could pave the way for the development of cell-targeted therapies, thus overcoming the problem of resistance associated with the virus-targeted antiviral strategies available.