PRESENT POSITION
Full time Researcher
Institute of Biology and Molecular Pathology (IBPM-CNR), National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
c/o Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, "Sapienza" University of Rome
EDUCATION
2023 ASN Associate Professor, 05/E2 – SSD BIO/11 Molecular Biology
2011 Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Research activity: Transcriptome and proteome analysis in superior cervical ganglion of dystrophic mdx mice
2007 Master’s Degree in Genomic Biotechnology with 110/110 cum laude, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
PREVIOUS RESEARCH POSITIONS
2019-2022: Researcher (RTDA) at the Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome.
2016-2018: Post-Doc position at the Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, EPIGEN project. Research activity: Development of computational models for functional genomics applied to the study of tumors.
May 2015-Aug 2016: Post-Doc position at the Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome. Research activity: Dissecting the role of potential inhibitor drug of histone H3 lysine 4 demethylases using genome-wide approaches.
Jan 2011-Sep 2014: Post-Doc position at the Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome.
RESEARCH FUNDING PROJECTS
In the last 10 years, scientific collaborations have been developed and maintained with several Italian and International groups.
2023-2025: Unit PI, PRIN 2022: “Nr2f1-dependent regulation of Mitochondrial Function in Neural Development and Disease”
2023-2025: Unit PI, PRIN 2022 PNRR: “The role of miR-211 in neuronal aging: From Disease Mechanisms to Therapy”
2020-2022: Member of the project founded by Regione Lazio: “Progetto Genoma Trisomia 21 (HGP-T21)”
2019-2022: Member of the project founded by ASI: "MARS-PRE: MARcatori biologici e funzionali per la biomedicina”
2019-2021: PI, project founded by Sapienza University of Rome: “Role of the chromatin remodeller histone demethylase KDM5B and its isoforms in breast cancer and melanoma”
2016: PI, project founded by Sapienza University of Rome. Title of the project: “The Cop9 Signalosome Complex as a therapeutic target in human cancer”
2011-2013: Member of the project PRIN: “Ruolo dei Fattori Regolativi Generali (GRF) di S. cerevisiae nell’organizzazione strutturale e dinamica della cromatina”
ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION
Scientific Supervisor of 1 Ph.D. student. I was Tutor of 2 Ph.D. students and more than 10 M.Sc. and B.Sc. students belonging to the Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Genetic and Molecular Biology courses of the Sapienza University of Rome.
REVIEWER ACTIVITIES
Reviewer for the international journals “Plos One” ISSN 1932-6203, “DATABASE” ISSN 1758-0463
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
2019-present: Holder of the course: "Bioinformatics I" (6 CFU). Degree in "Bioinformatics". Sapienza University of Rome.
2019-2021: Practical training for the course “Statistics for Biologists”, Scuola di Dottorato in Biologia e Medicina Molecolare (BEMM)", Sapienza University of Rome
2014-2018: Practical training in statistics with R for the course “Statistica”, Scuola di Dottorato in Biologia e Medicina Molecolare (BEMM)", Sapienza University of Rome
2012-2014: Lessons and practical training in Microarray data analysis using R/Bioconductor during Trascrittomica course of the postgraduate Master’s course: "Bioinformatica: applicazioni biomediche e farmaceutiche", Sapienza University of Rome.
BIBLIOMETRIC INDEXES
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8172-1437
Total number of publications: 49
Citations: 820
h-index: 17
Source: Scopus
PUBLICATIONS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS
1. Giuliani A, Licursi V, Nisi PS, et al. Dbx2, an Aging-Related Homeobox Gene, Inhibits the Proliferation of Adult Neural Progenitors. Stem Cell Rev and Rep. Published online August 22, 2023. doi:10.1007/s12015-023-10600-7
2. Fragale A, Stellacci E, Romagnoli G, et al. Reversing vemurafenib-resistance in primary melanoma cells by combined romidepsin and type I IFN treatment through blocking of tumorigenic signals and induction of immunogenic effects. Int J Cancer. 2023;153(5):1080-1095. doi:10.1002/ijc.34602
3. Di Nisio E, Licursi V, Mannironi C, et al. A truncated and catalytically inactive isoform of KDM5B histone demethylase accumulates in breast cancer cells and regulates H3K4 tri-methylation and gene expression. Cancer Gene Ther. Published online January 26, 2023. doi:10.1038/s41417-022-00584-w
4. Di Nisio E, Danovska S, Condemi L, et al. H3 Lysine 4 Methylation Is Required for Full Activation of Genes Involved in α-Ketoglutarate Availability in the Nucleus of Yeast Cells after Diauxic Shift. Metabolites. 2023;13(4):507. doi:10.3390/metabo13040507
5. Wang W, Di Nisio E, Licursi V, et al. Simulated Microgravity Modulates Focal Adhesion Gene Expression in Human Neural Stem Progenitor Cells. Life. 2022;12(11):1827. doi:10.3390/life12111827
6. Tiberti S, Catozzi C, Croci O, et al. GZMKhigh CD8+ T effector memory cells are associated with CD15high neutrophil abundance in non-metastatic colorectal tumors and predict poor clinical outcome. Nat Commun. 2022;13:6752. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-34467-3
7. Sibilio P, Belardinilli F, Licursi V, Paci P, Giannini G. An integrative in-silico analysis discloses a novel molecular subset of colorectal cancer possibly eligible for immune checkpoint immunotherapy. Biology Direct. 2022;17(1):10. doi:10.1186/s13062-022-00324-y
8. Gualtieri A, Bianconi V, Renzini A, Pieroni L, Licursi V, Mozzetta C. The RNA helicase DDX5 cooperates with EHMT2 to sustain alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma growth. Cell Reports. 2022;40(9):111267. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111267
9. Mandolesi G, Rizzo FR, Balletta S, et al. The microRNA let-7b-5p Is Negatively Associated with Inflammation and Disease Severity in Multiple Sclerosis. Cells. 2021;10(2). doi:10.3390/cells10020330
10. Mancini M, Grasso M, Muccillo L, et al. DNMT3A epigenetically regulates key microRNAs involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer. Carcinogenesis. 2021;(bgab101). doi:10.1093/carcin/bgab101
11. Licursi V, Wang W, Di Nisio E, et al. Transcriptional modulations induced by proton irradiation in mice skin in function of adsorbed dose and distance. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences. 2021;14(1):260-270. doi:10.1080/16878507.2021.1949675
12. Etna MP, Severa M, Licursi V, et al. Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis of Mtb-Infected DC Highlights the Rapamycin-Driven Modulation of Regulatory Cytokines via the mTOR/GSK-3β Axis. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021;12. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.649475
13. Di Nisio E, Lupo G, Licursi V, Negri R. The Role of Histone Lysine Methylation in the Response of Mammalian Cells to Ionizing Radiation. Frontiers in Genetics. 2021;12. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.639602
14. Di Giulio S, Colicchia V, Pastorino F, et al. A combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors efficiently antagonizes MYCN-driven tumors. Oncogene. Published online September 10, 2021:1-10. doi:10.1038/s41388-021-02003-0
15. Dentici ML, Alesi V, Quinodoz M, et al. Biallelic variants in ZNF526 cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, bilateral cataract, epilepsy and simplified gyration. J Med Genet. Published online January 4, 2021. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2020-107430
16. De Vito F, Musella A, Fresegna D, et al. MiR-142-3p regulates synaptopathy-driven disease progression in multiple sclerosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. Published online September 7, 2021. doi:10.1111/nan.12765
17. Salvi E, Rutten JP, Di Mambro R, et al. A Self-Organized PLT/Auxin/ARR-B Network Controls the Dynamics of Root Zonation Development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Developmental Cell. 2020;53(4):431-443.e23. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2020.04.004
18. Paci P, Fiscon G, Conte F, et al. Integrated transcriptomic correlation network analysis identifies COPD molecular determinants. Sci Rep. 2020;10:3361. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-60228-7
19. Licursi V, Anzellotti S, Favaro J, et al. X-ray irradiated cultures of mouse cortical neural stem/progenitor cells recover cell viability and proliferation with dose-dependent kinetics. Sci Rep. 2020;10:6562. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63348-2
20. Gasparini S, Licursi V, Presutti C, Mannironi C. The Secret Garden of Neuronal circRNAs. Cells. 2020;9(8):1815. doi:10.3390/cells9081815
21. Gasparini S, Del Vecchio G, Gioiosa S, et al. Differential Expression of Hippocampal Circular RNAs in the BTBR Mouse Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Neurobiol. 2020;57(5):2301-2313. doi:10.1007/s12035-020-01878-6
22. Coni S, Serrao SM, Yurtsever ZN, et al. Blockade of EIF5A hypusination limits colorectal cancer growth by inhibiting MYC elongation. Cell Death Dis. 2020;11(12):1045. doi:10.1038/s41419-020-03174-6
23. Antonelli F, Esposito A, Calvo L, et al. Characterization of black patina from the Tiber River embankments using Next-Generation Sequencing. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(1):e0227639. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227639
24. Rossi MN, Pascarella A, Licursi V, et al. NLRP2 Regulates Proinflammatory and Antiapoptotic Responses in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2019;7. doi:10.3389/fcell.2019.00252
25. Pontiggia D, Spinelli F, Fabbri C, et al. Changes in the microsomal proteome of tomato fruit during ripening. Sci Rep. 2019;9. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50575-5
26. Pippa S, Mannironi C, Licursi V, et al. Small Molecule Inhibitors of KDM5 Histone Demethylases Increase the Radiosensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing JARID1B. Molecules. 2019;24(9). doi:10.3390/molecules24091739
27. Morciano P, Di Giorgio ML, Porrazzo A, et al. Depletion of ATP-Citrate Lyase (ATPCL) Affects Chromosome Integrity Without Altering Histone Acetylation in Drosophila Mitotic Cells. Front Physiol. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00383
28. Mocavini I, Pippa S, Licursi V, et al. JARID1B expression and its function in DNA damage repair are tightly regulated by miRNAs in breast cancer. Cancer Sci. 2019;110(4):1232-1243. doi:10.1111/cas.13925
29. Luly FR, Lévêque M, Licursi V, et al. MiR-146a is over-expressed and controls IL-6 production in cystic fibrosis macrophages. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):16259. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52770-w
30. Licursi V, Conte F, Fiscon G, Paci P. MIENTURNET: an interactive web tool for microRNA-target enrichment and network-based analysis. BMC Bioinformatics. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s12859-019-3105-x
31. Conte F, Fiscon G, Licursi V, et al. A paradigm shift in medicine: A comprehensive review of network-based approaches. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms. Published online August 2, 2019:194416. doi:10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194416
32. Fiscon G, Conte F, Licursi V, Nasi S, Paci P. Computational identification of specific genes for glioblastoma stem-like cells identity. Scientific Reports. 2018;8(1):7769. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26081-5
33. Licursi V, Cestelli Guidi M, Del Vecchio G, et al. Leptin induction following irradiation is a conserved feature in mammalian epithelial cells and tissues. Int J Radiat Biol. 2017;93(9):947-957. doi:10.1080/09553002.2017.1339918
34. Guadagno NA, Moriconi C, Licursi V, et al. Neuroserpin polymers cause oxidative stress in a neuronal model of the dementia FENIB. Neurobiol Dis. 2017;103:32-44. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2017.03.010
35. Fragale A, Romagnoli G, Licursi V, et al. Antitumor Effects of Epidrug/IFNα Combination Driven by Modulated Gene Signatures in Both Colorectal Cancer and Dendritic Cells. Cancer Immunol Res. 2017;5(7):604-616. doi:10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-17-0080
36. Carucci N, Cacci E, Nisi PS, et al. Transcriptional response of Hoxb genes to retinoid signalling is regionally restricted along the neural tube rostrocaudal axis. R Soc Open Sci. 2017;4(4):160913. doi:10.1098/rsos.160913
37. Capitano F, Camon J, Licursi V, et al. MicroRNA-335-5p modulates spatial memory and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2017;139:63-68. doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2016.12.019
38. Capitano F, Camon J, Ferretti V, et al. microRNAs Modulate Spatial Memory in the Hippocampus and in the Ventral Striatum in a Region-Specific Manner. Mol Neurobiol. 2016;53(7):4618-4630. doi:10.1007/s12035-015-9398-5
39. Piersanti S, Burla R, Licursi V, et al. Transcriptional Response of Human Neurospheres to Helper-Dependent CAV-2 Vectors Involves the Modulation of DNA Damage Response, Microtubule and Centromere Gene Groups. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0133607. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133607
40. Simão D, Pinto C, Piersanti S, et al. Modeling Human Neural Functionality In Vitro: Three-Dimensional Culture for Dopaminergic Differentiation. Tissue Engineering Part A. 2014;21(3-4):654-668. doi:10.1089/ten.tea.2014.0079
41. Licursi V, Salvi C, De Cesare V, et al. The COP9 signalosome is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and of transition metals uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The FEBS Journal. 2014;281(1):175-190. doi:10.1111/febs.12584
42. Guidi MC, Mirri C, Fratini E, Licursi V, Marcelli A. FT-IR imaging spectroscopy as a complementary analytical technique to monitor lipids as biomarkers to high-LET (linear energy transfer) radiation. Rend Fis Acc Lincei. 2014;25(1):75-79. doi:10.1007/s12210-013-0273-x
43. Giusti N, Bufalieri F, Licursi V, et al. General features of the transcriptional response of mammalian cells to low- and high-LET irradiation. Rendiconti Lincei. 2014;25(S1):69-74. doi:10.1007/s12210-013-0274-9
44. Piersanti S, Astrologo L, Licursi V, et al. Differentiated neuroprogenitor cells incubated with human or canine adenovirus, or lentiviral vectors have distinct transcriptome profiles. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(7):e69808. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069808