Contacts:
Tel: 0502219564
e-mail: rebecca.piccarducci@farm.unipi.it
Supervisors:
Prof. Claudia Martini, Prof. Simona Daniele
PhD project Title:
Signal pathways in brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
Research summary:
My Ph.D. project focuses on signal pathways in brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Particular attention has been given to the misfolded proteins’ structure and accumulation, which characterize these pathologies. Peripheral synuclein hetero-aggregates have been studied in healthy subjects and patients affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Moreover, the project includes the study of amyloid proteins and amyloidosis, in collaboration with the University College of London (Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, Division of Medicine of Royal Free Campus – London, UK), where I spent a research abroad period (February – July 2019). The investigation of the proteasome system, implicated in the degradation of misfolded proteins, and initially investigated in brain cancer cells, is a pivotal point of the project.
Publications:
Oral communications at congress:
Piccarducci, S. Daniele, F. Baldacci, D. Pietrobono, L. Giampietri, M. L. Trincavelli, G. Siciliano, R. Ceravolo, G. Tognoni, U. Bonuccelli, C. Martini. α-synuclein heterocomplexes in red blood cells as potential diagnostic biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease. Riunione nazionale “A. Castellani” dei Dottorandi di Ricerca in Discipline Biochimiche, 2019, 3-7 June, Brallo di Pregola, Italy. Oral comunication.
Piccarducci, S. Daniele, D. Pietrobono, L.L. Trincavelli, J. Fusi, F. Franzoni, C. Martini. Influence of APOE polymorphism and physical activity on the well-being of erythrocytes: antioxidant capability and cellular membrane assessment. XV FISV Congress, 2018, 18-21 September, Rome, Italy. Oral comunication.
Poster communications at congress:
Piccarducci, S. Daniele, J. Fusi, F. Baldacci, U. Bonuccelli, F. Franzoni, C. Martini. Impact of ApoE polymorphism and physical activity on well-being of erythrocytes: antioxidant capability and cellular membrane assessment. SIB 60th Congress, 2019, 18-20 September, Lecce, Italy. Flash talk and poster.
Piccarducci, S. Daniele, D. Pietrobono, C. Pellegrini, M. Fornai, L. Antonioli, C. Blandizzi, M.L. Trincavelli, C. Martini. Inflammation and α-synuclein heterocomplexes as biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease: preliminary study in senescence accelerated mice. Out of the box research on neurodegeneration – Workshop, 2018, 3 December, Pisa, Italy. Flash talk and poster.
Piccarducci, D. Pietrobono, C. Pellegrini, S. Daniele, M. Fornai, C. Blandizzi, M. L. Trincavelli, C. Martini. Inflammation and α-synuclein heterocomplexes in erythrocytes of an animal model of Alzheimer’s Disease. More than neurons, 2018, 30 November-1 December, Torino, Italy. Poster.