Biochemistry of inflammatory diseases induced by pathogenic microorganisms - Giampiero Pietrocola & Simona Viglio

Infection is a process caused by the entry and multiplication of microorganisms into the host tissues. Microorganisms can enter the body by different routes and modes. If they are not immediately neutralized by the host's defenses (immune system), some microorganisms can survive without causing harm in a so-called latent state (subclinical infection) or, after an incubation period in which they settle and multiply, they can cause an infection that either develops rapidly (acute) or, if it does not heal completely, becomes long-lasting (chronic).

 

The research in our laboratory is focused on determining the molecular pathogenesis of infections and inflammatory diseases. In particular, our interests are focused on studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for tissue degeneration and immune evasion in inflammatory diseases in which proteins expressed by pathogenic microorganisms are involved. Through characterization of the interactions between proteins expressed by these microorganisms and human proteins, we seek to formulate hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of infection and subsequent tissue suffering in order to identify/improve the treatment of inflammatory diseases of infectious origin. The main methodologies in use at our laboratory involve high-resolution biochemical analytical techniques for the characterization of proteins involved in inflammatory mechanisms in in vitro disease models. Specifically, molecular biology methods; conventional spectroscopic methods; NMR; mass spectrometry (for proteomics, metabolomics studies); microscopy at various degrees of resolution; HPLC and FPLC; BIAcore are used.