Molecular Biotechnology

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

The course “Comunicare in italiano” is meant to welcome the international students and help them feel at ease in the Italian cultural and linguistic context. The course is organized by the University Language Center (CLA-UniTO) and it is composed of 2 yearly levels (Beginner and Intermediate). Students who successfully complete the course will be entitled to ECTS credits and to an “Open Badge”, that is to say, a digital certificate stating the CEFR level and the skills acquired. They will then be able to access the course “ITALIAN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SSD NN” in the subsequent academic year.
Students are expected to:

• develop communication skills in Italian in order to feel at ease with everyday life in Italy
• learn the main vocabulary, morpho-syntactic structures and phonological features of Italian at a pre-intermediate level (CEFR A2)
• acquire basic intercultural skills

Students will be divided into homogeneous groups according to their starting level in Italian, as well as to their area of study (science or humanities). The course will be composed of 2 modules of General Italian. Students will take a mid-term test at the end of the first module and a final exam at the end of the year.

• mid-term test at the end of the first module
• final exam at the end of the year: a written task and an oral task.

Teachers will provide more information during the course

Information will be provided at the beginning of the course

The course “Comunicare in italiano” is meant to welcome the international students and help them feel at ease in the Italian cultural and linguistic context. The course is organized by the University Language Center (CLA-UniTO) and it is composed of 2 yearly levels (Beginner and Intermediate). Students who successfully complete the course will be entitled to ECTS credits and to an “Open Badge”, that is to say, a digital certificate stating the CEFR level and the skills acquired.
Students are expected to:

• develop communication skills in Italian in order to easily manage everyday life in Italy
• learn the main vocabulary, morpho-syntactic structures and phonological features of Italian at an intermediate level (CEFR B1)
• acquire good intercultural skills

Students will be divided into homogeneous groups according to their starting level in Italian, as well as to their area of study (science or humanities). The course will be composed of a module of General Italian and a module of “Italiano Plus” to improve writing and speaking skills in the academic context. Students will take a mid-term test at the end of the first module and a final exam at the end of the year.

• mid-term test at the end of the first module
• final exam at the end of the year: a written task and an oral task.

Teachers will provide more information during the course

Information will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Giudizio Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Giudizio Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Acquisition of competences in the field of mass spectrometry analyses.

The objective of the course is to provide students with the principles for the development and application of methods based on (high resolution) mass spectrometry in the biochemical and biopharmaceutical fields.
Knowledge and Understanding:
Students will understand advanced mass spectrometry techniques and their application to complex biochemical and biopharmaceutical samples.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
Students will be able to select and apply appropriate mass spectrometry methods and sample preparation strategies for different types of complex samples.

Making Judgements:
Students will critically evaluate experimental results, interpret mass spectrometry data, and make informed methodological decisions.

Communication Skills:
Students will effectively communicate experimental designs, procedures, and results using precise scientific terminology.

Learning Skills:
Students will independently deepen their understanding of advanced mass spectrometry, engage with scientific literature, and stay updated on methodological advances.

MS and HRMS applications. Advanced applications and methodologies in biology and biotechnologies.

Metabolomics by Mass Spectrometry. Targeted and Untargeted metabolic profiling, Database Searching, Structural Identification by MS/MS Analysis. High-Definition Mass Spectrometry.

Proteomics and peptidomics by Mass Spectrometry. Targeted and Untargeted analysis. Bioinformatics software research. Comparison of several activation modes (CID, HCD, ETD). Product ions nomenclature and formation. Bottom up and top down analysis. Digestion protocols. Optimization of the chromatographic separation for high selective and sensible HRMS detection.

Written evaluation of a scientific paper including laboratory experiences focused on the use of a high resolution mass spectrometry analyzer

Mass Spectrometry Reviews

Journal of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry

Journal of Mass Spectrometry

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

(Image inspired by Matt Chinworth / Illustration (IG: mattchinworth))

The course aims to provide students with a broad and integrated understanding of the life cycle of a drug and of how a scientific discovery is progressively transformed into a safe and effective therapy. It will introduce the rationale behind the main decisions made throughout drug development and highlight how scientific, technological, regulatory and strategic factors, including innovation, intellectual property and market considerations, influence the journey from discovery to clinical use.
Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Describe the main stages of drug discovery and development, from hit identification and lead optimization to preclinical studies, clinical development and regulatory approval.
• Explain the principles of medicinal chemistry underlying the design and optimization of bioactive compounds, including drug–target interactions and structure–activity relationships.
• Explain how chemical structure, functional groups and molecular properties influence potency, selectivity, solubility, lipophilicity, permeability, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and safety.
• Describe the pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic phases that determine the relationship between drug administration, exposure and biological response.
• Recognize and describe the main drug development challenges and strategies of conventional drugs and advanced therapeutic modalities.
• Describe how scientific, clinical, regulatory and strategic factors, including intellectual-property protection, innovation and market access, influence the progression of a drug toward clinical use.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students should be able to:

• Relate the chemical structure and molecular properties of a drug to its biological activity and pharmacokinetic behaviour.
• Compare structurally related compounds and discuss how changes in functional groups may affect their properties. Create and curate datasets of bioactive compounds using scientific literature and public chemical and pharmaceutical databases.
• Use molecular representations such as SMILES and employ DataWarrior to calculate molecular descriptors, compare compounds, explore chemical space and visualise structure–property relationships.
• Interpret basic concepts, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data in the context of drug development.
• Evaluate drug-target interactions

Independent judgement and reasoning skills

Students should be able to:

• Identify the main strengths and limitations of a drug candidate based on its chemical, physicochemical and pharmacological properties.
• Compare different compounds or drug classes using available experimental and computational data.
• Critically interpret simple structure–property and structure–activity relationships.
• Discuss biotechnological strategies to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of drugs.
• Discuss, through selected case studies, the main factors that may contribute to the success or failure of a drug during development.

Communication skills and learning ability

Students should be able to:

• Retrieve, select, and critically evaluate information from scientific literature and relevant chemical, pharmaceutical, and regulatory databases.
• Organize, analyze, and visually represent chemical and biological data using appropriate digital and cheminformatics tools.
• Communicate and present scientific data clearly and accurately through written reports and oral presentations, using appropriate terminology, figures, tables, and molecular representations.
• Discuss analytical results critically, supporting conclusions with relevant evidence in the context of pharmaceutical sciences.

The drug pipeline

• Introduction to medicinal chemistry, the concept of a drug, and the main stages of the drug discovery and development pipeline: target identification, hit discovery, lead optimization and candidate selection.
• Drug targets and drug–target interactions. Principles of pharmacodynamics, including affinity, potency, efficacy, selectivity and dose–response relationships.
• Molecular and physicochemical properties of drugs: size, shape, stereochemistry, polarity, ionization, lipophilicity, solubility and permeability.
• Relationships between chemical structure, biological activity and developability. Effects of functional groups and structural modifications on activity, selectivity, pharmacokinetics and safety. Isosteres, bioisosteres and principles of lead optimization.
• The pharmaceutical phase and principles of pharmacokinetics: dosage forms, dissolution, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, bioavailability, clearance and half-life.
• Chemical and pharmaceutical space, molecular similarity, drug-likeness and basic principles of virtual screening.
• Data-driven approaches in drug discovery.
• Overview of multitarget drugs, biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutic modalities, including peptides, proteins, antibodies, nucleic-acid-based therapies and cell-based therapies.

Practical chemical-data analysis

• Molecular representations and SMILES notation.
• Retrieval and organization of drug information from scientific literature and public databases.
• Creation and curation of drug datasets.
• Use of DataWarrior to calculate molecular descriptors, compare compounds, explore chemical space and analyse structure–property relationships.
• Visualization, interpretation and presentation of scientific data.

From drug development to clinical applications

• Preclinical development, clinical trial phases, regulatory approval, pharmacovigilance and the bench-to-bedside process.
• Intellectual-property protection, patents, freedom to operate and pharmaceutical innovation.
• Introduction to the pharmaceutical market, market access, pricing and reimbursement.
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful drug-development programmes.

Students will be assessed through a written examination, consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, together with the evaluation of the assigned reports and the final presentation. No additional penalty will be applied on wrong answers given to the multiple-choice questions.

The final grade will be expressed on a scale of thirty (30/30).

Submission of the assigned work is mandatory. Students who do not complete and submit the required assignments will not be eligible to take the written examination.

Reference materials, scientific articles, and suggested textbooks for further study will be indicated at the end of each lecture.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

This teaching course will qualify the student for the knowledge within a number of fields in which new technologies based on biological systems have been or will be developed to support the transition towards an environmentally sustainable future; from the fuel production to the food industries to the monitoring of environmental impacts on health. Students will appreciate the need of alternative to conventional products damaging the environment (e.g. plastics and animal derivatives from intensive farming & fishing), the methods useful in the effectiveness assessment of the impact reductions, and the resulting career opportunities. Students will also understand the hazard of new contaminations (e.g. microplastics and endocrine disruptors), and how biotechnology is involved in all aspects from monitoring and testing to technological solutions. The course will stimulate discussion on innovative technologies and efforts towards reduction and/or mitigation.

• Knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will understand the main gaps in the environmental sustainability of production processes and the methodology to assess their environmental impact;
• Will know the concept technologies based on biological systems for reducing and mitigating environmental and health impacts in relation to their Technology readiness levels (TRLs) for estimating their maturity;
• Will know the main objective of the International, European and Italian regulation on sustainability.
• Applying knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will be able to identify main driver of environmental impact of a process or of an activity
• Will be able to apply preventive strategies under a sustainability point of view and to assess the effectiveness of such strategies in their implementation;
• Will be able to choose technologies based on biological systems among the new applications also referring to the application contest and focussing on the TRLs.
• Making judgments

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will be able to reprocess study material (lecture slides, notes, texts) and identify key concepts;
• Will be able to interpret an environmental impact assessment and an health impact assessment;
• Will be able to read critically and independently the results of scientific literature on such research filed;
• Will be able to interpret sustainable biotechnology research results and assess their relevance
• Communication skills

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will know how to summarize the evidence on sustainability concisely, with emphasis on effectiveness and perspective in the short, medium and long time;
• Will be able to discuss orally the results of scientific research on sustainable biotechnology
• Learning ability

Upon completion of this course, the student will know how to independently consult the scientific literature (including published articles and accredited resources –such as WHO reports, etc.)

• The history and development of the Sustainability reaching the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• European and National Sustainability Regulations and Directives, Environmental Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment, Environmental accountability and management ISO 14000, Life Cycle Assessment;
• Waste bio-refinery towards a sustainable biotechnological production (ex. bioremediation of antibiotics, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants from aqueous and solid phases and bio-based high value molecule production);
• Integrated and Life Cycle Cost Assessment for selection of appropriate wastewater treatment system;
• Environmental microbiota role in the sustainability and human health impact reduction;
• The sixth mass extinction and the "biotech ark: conservation of endangered species through stem cell and assisted reproduction technology
• Alternative proteins: plant based, fermentation, and cultivated meat
• A deep dive into cultivated meat & its challenges
• Beyond cultured meat: from bear bile to snake venom
• Packaging and Plastics. What are the alternatives, advantages and disadvantages; recycling vs. degrading;
• Emerging concerns in environmental contamination (endocrine disruptors and microplastics): their impact of health and how science/technology addresses these;
• The complex relation between stakeholders: industry, consumers, regulatory agencies, scientist.
• Use of microorganisms in agriculture: biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. Fermentation and formulation of microorganisms. Modulation of agricultural microbiomes;
• GMOs in agriculture;
• Microorganisms as a source of high value biomolecule production: secondary metabolite clusters;
• Reduction of food and feed contamination by mycotoxins.

The evaluation will be made thought the combination of written and oral tests based on close and open questions on the program and/or referring to a specific case study published in the literature. The evaluation will be mainly on the integration of all course material, the thoughtful evaluation of a problem, the benefit of a personal opinion, rather than specific notions.

The evaluation of the Biology for Sustainability module will be made in part thought a series of written assignments during the course and an oral exam to critically discuss the assignments.

Libro
Titolo:
Environmental Biotechnology A Biosystems Approach 2nd Edition
Anno pubblicazione:
2015
Editore:
Elsevier
Autore:
Daniel Vallero
ISBN
9780124077768
Obbligatorio:

The course, which contributes to the educational objectives of the Master’s Degree in Molecular Biotechnology, aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the biological, technological, and translational foundations of advanced cellular therapies, with particular emphasis on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies.

The course will provide knowledge of the fundamental principles underlying cellular immunotherapy, including:

• the principles of cancer immunology and the identification of therapeutic targets, including tumor-associated antigens and neoantigens;
• the biology of T cells and the mechanisms regulating T cell activation, differentiation, persistence, and immune-mediated responses;
• the design and engineering strategies of CAR-T cells, including CAR structure, signaling domains, vector systems, and next-generation genetic engineering approaches;
• the mechanisms of action of CAR-T cells in vivo, including immune activation, tumor cell killing, persistence, and mechanisms responsible for therapeutic failure and resistance;
• the biological basis, clinical manifestations, and management strategies of major immune-related toxicities;
• the manufacturing and translational pipeline of CAR-T products, including GMP requirements, quality control, release criteria, regulatory aspects, and challenges associated with large-scale production and clinical implementation.

Particular attention will be dedicated to the transition from basic research to clinical application, highlighting the challenges associated with translating innovative cellular therapies from laboratory models to patient treatment. The course will also address emerging strategies aimed at improving CAR-T efficacy and safety, including combinatorial approaches, armored CAR-T cells, and applications beyond hematological malignancies.

Case studies from successful CAR-T development programs and direct experiences in translational research will be discussed to illustrate the challenges and opportunities of bringing advanced therapies from academic discovery to clinical and commercial applications.

Teaching activities will include frontal lectures delivered in English, interactive discussions, and a final workshop entitled “Design your own CAR-T cell therapy”, during which students will also be encouraged to propose their own CAR-T design strategy.

The knowledge and competencies acquired through this course will provide students with the scientific background and critical thinking skills required to understand, discuss, and contribute to the development of advanced cellular therapies in academic research, biotechnology companies, and translational medicine settings.
At the end of the course, students will acquire an integrated knowledge and understanding of the biological principles, technological platforms, and translational aspects underlying advanced cellular therapies, with particular emphasis on CAR-T cell therapies. Students will understand the mechanisms of T cell activation and function, the principles of CAR design and genetic engineering, the manufacturing process of cellular products, the mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy and resistance, and the biological basis of immune-mediated toxicities.

Students will be able to apply knowledge and understanding to analyze and discuss the development of innovative cellular immunotherapies, from the identification of therapeutic targets to the design of engineered immune cells and their translation into clinical applications. They will be able to critically evaluate different CAR-T strategies, including autologous and allogeneic approaches, gene editing platforms, and combination strategies aimed at improving efficacy and overcoming resistance mechanisms.

Students will acquire the ability to make judgements and critically analyze scientific data from the literature, including preclinical and clinical studies on CAR-T cells and other advanced cellular therapies. They will develop the ability to evaluate advantages, limitations, and potential risks associated with different therapeutic approaches and to formulate scientifically supported hypotheses for the development of novel cellular immunotherapy strategies.

Students will develop communication skills through interactive discussions, presentations, and the final workshop “Design your own CAR-T cell therapy”. During this activity, all the students will be involved in the presentation and discussion of their proposed CAR-T strategy, explaining the biological rationale, engineering design, and potential translational applications using appropriate scientific terminology.

Finally, through the analysis of scientific publications, clinical case studies, and examples of successful translation of cellular therapies from academic research to biotechnology development, students will acquire learning skills that will enable them to critically search, interpret, and apply scientific information from the literature in future research activities and professional contexts as biotechnologists.

The course will cover the biological, technological, clinical, and translational aspects of advanced cellular therapies, with particular focus on CAR-T cell therapy. The main topics include:

• Foundational immunology and principles of cancer immunotherapy
• Overview of adaptive immunity and immune system organization.
• T cell biology, including T cell development, activation, differentiation, memory formation, and exhaustion.
• B cell biology and antibody structure/function.
• Tumor immunology, tumor-associated antigens, neoantigens, immune surveillance, and immune editing.
• Overview of current immunotherapeutic approaches, including monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and adoptive cell therapies.
• CAR-T cell design and genetic engineering
• Structure and functional components of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs).
• Evolution of CAR generations and design principles.
• Antigen recognition domains, hinge/spacer regions, transmembrane domains, and intracellular signaling modules.
• Viral and non-viral gene delivery platforms.
• Gene editing technologies.
• Development of next-generation CAR-T strategies.
• CAR-T cell manufacturing and translational development
• CAR-T manufacturing workflow: leukapheresis, T cell activation, genetic modification, expansion, and cryopreservation.
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
• Quality control, potency assays, release criteria, and regulatory aspects.
• Challenges associated with scalability, manufacturing reproducibility, logistics, and cost of CAR-T therapies.
• Mechanisms of action and resistance to CAR-T therapy
• CAR-T cell activation, mechanisms of tumor cell killing and CAR-T persistence in vivo.
• Mechanisms of resistance, including antigen loss, tumor escape, T cell exhaustion, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
• Clinical application, efficacy, and toxicity management
• Clinical development and approved applications of CAR-T therapies.
• Patient selection and treatment workflow.
• Clinical outcomes, response durability, and mechanisms of relapse.
• Immune-mediated toxicities and current strategies for toxicity monitoring and clinical management.
• Emerging applications and future perspectives
• CAR-T approaches beyond hematological malignancies, including challenges in solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.
• Novel combinatorial and next-generation cellular therapy strategies, including dual-target CARs, combination therapies, checkpoint blockade, and cytokine engineering.
• Innovation, biotechnology, and entrepreneurship
• Translation of cellular therapies from laboratory research to clinical application.
• Biotechnology business models and regulatory pathways.
• Intellectual property protection and technology transfer.
• Case studies of CAR-T biotechnology development, academic spin-offs, and start-up creation.
• Interactive workshop: “Design your own CAR-T cell therapy”
• Selection of a disease indication and therapeutic target.
• Design of a CAR-T strategy and scientific rationale.
• Proposal of innovative approaches to improve efficacy and overcome current limitations.

The final grade will be determined by the evaluation of two main components:

• Student ability to design, present, and critically discuss a CAR-T therapeutic strategy

During the course, students will participate in the interactive workshop “Design your own CAR-T cell therapy”.

Students will present their projects to the class and discuss the biological rationale, potential advantages, limitations, and possible strategies to improve therapeutic efficacy. The evaluation of the presentation will consider:

• scientific accuracy and understanding of the biological principles underlying the proposed strategy;
• ability to integrate concepts related to CAR design, engineering, and clinical translation;
• critical analysis of potential challenges and proposed solutions;
• clarity of scientific communication and active participation during discussion.
• Student learning assessment through written examination

The final examination will take place during the official examination session and will cover the topics addressed throughout the course.

The examination will assess students’ knowledge and understanding of:

• fundamental principles of immunology and cancer immunotherapy;
• CAR-T cell design and genetic engineering strategies;
• manufacturing processes and translational aspects of cellular therapies;
• mechanisms of action, resistance, and toxicity;
• clinical applications and future perspectives of advanced cellular therapies.

The written exam will consist of multiple-choice questions. The final grade will be calculated as the average of the score obtained in the workshop presentation and the written examination. Both components will contribute equally to the final evaluation (50% workshop presentation and 50% written examination).

Active participation during lectures, scientific discussions, and interactive activities will also be considered as part of the overall evaluation of students’ engagement and learning process.

Educational material consisting of power-point presentations and selected pertinent publications from scientific journals will be provided.

The course will contribute to the educational aims of the Biotechnological and Chemical Sciences in Diagnostics programme. It will provide students with the skills to use a selection of in silico tools to address important issues in drug discovery programmes.

The course is organised in two sections both of which are essential in Drug Discovery programs:

• the first illustrates the use of web-based and stand-alone tools to manipulate the 3D structure of proteins;
• the second focuses on in silico methods to model molecular permeability across cell membranes.
  KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Acquisition of theoretical skills concerning the use of advanced in-silico techniques used in the drug discovery process

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Development of the ability to incorporate common in-silico methods and information provided by various internet sources into daily research work

MAKING JUDGEMENTS

Critical evaluation of the information obtained from the use of in-silico techniques

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Acquisition of oral and written communication of results as well as the ability to use graphical language

LEARNING SKILLS

Acquisition of autonomous learning capacity and self-assessment of its preparation

• 3D protein structures
• Visualization of 3D structures
• Retrieving 3D structure from PDB and AlphaFold
• Evaluation of the reliability of the structures
• Dynamics of proteins studied using available web tools
• Building of the 3D structure of mutated proteins and prediction of their effects
• Permeability-related computational tools
• Permeability basic concepts
• 2D molecular descriptors to predict permeability
• PerMM to madel translocation pathways
• The impact of conformational variability on permeability
• 3D molecular descriptors to predict permeability
• Application to cyclic peptides

Students are encouraged to engage actively, ask questions, and maintain direct communication with the professor during lessons. This is especially important because each session involves practical exercises that require the use of various free software on their laptops. The data generated from these exercises must be presented in either infographics or report format, which will be evaluated. The final grade is the average of the grades of the individual infographics/reports. For those who wish, the grade can be improved with an oral test.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

L’obiettivo generale del corso è quello di illustrare l’utilizzo dei modelli animali per lo studio delle patologie umane. In particolare, il corso illustra le principali tecniche per generare modelli murini (transgenesi classica, gene targeting, CRISP/Cas9) e come questi possano essere utilizzati per studiare i meccanismi responsabili di malattia e per valutare nuovi approcci terapeutici. Tra le patologie trattate vi sono malattie cardiovascolari, diabete, disordini del metabolismo del ferro, anomalie dello sviluppo embrionale, fibrosi cistica e cancro.
Lo/a studente/essa impara le principali tecnologie per generare modelli murini di patologie umane. Attraverso l’analisi di alcuni esempi, tratti dalla letteratura scientifica, lo/a studente/essa impara come i modelli animali possano essere utilizzati per studiare i meccanismi responsabili di malattia, per identificare nuovi bersagli terapeutici e per valutare terapie innovative. Inoltre lo/a studente/essa acquisisce la capacità di presentare in pubblico un lavoro scientifico.

• Introduzione ai modelli animali:
• Le mutazioni e i mutanti
• I topi transgenici (trangenici classici, knock-out/knock-in, mutanti condizionali)
• Il gene editing
• L’utilizzo dei modelli animali per lo studio di patologie umane:
• Diabete
• Disordini del metabolismo del ferro
• Malattie cardiovascolari
• Fibrosi cistica
• Cancro
• Anomalie dello sviluppo embrionale
• Malattie infiammatorie

Una parte del corso sarà tenuta dal Visiting Professor Stefano Rivella (Professor of Pediatrics - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA) e sarà focalizzata sull'utilizzo di modelli animali per lo studio di disordini del metabolismo del ferro.

La verifica dell’apprendimento consiste in:

• A)Presentazione di un articolo scientifico che illustri un modello animale di patologia umana. I docenti valutano la capacità dello studente di illustrare chiaramente gli obiettivi del lavoro, presentare i dati e discutere i risultati. Il voto è espresso in una scala da 1 a 30 (minimo: 18/30; massimo: 30/30).
• B) Test scritto a risposta multipla sugli argomenti trattati a lezione e presentati dagli studenti. Il voto è espresso in una scala da 1 a 30 (minimo: 18/30; massimo: 30/30).

Il voto è la media tra A e B.

Articoli scientifici presentati e discussi in classe.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE WILL BE DELIVERED ON OCTOBER 5th - h.11.00 . Aula Adenina (MBC) (for those who missed the presentation of October 2nd..

THE LECTURE WILL ALSO BE STREAMED: https://unito.webex.com/meet/angelo.bifone

This course focuses on imaging techniques, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography, and their application to the study of brain function and structure. The course includes an introduction to Artificial Intelligence as applied to the analysis of neuroimaging data.

The course is thought for a wide audience of Biotechnology students who are curious about novel technology and its disruptive impact on diagnosis and therapy of neurological and psychiatric conditions. The course will provide all the necessary background to make the concepts accessible to non specialists.

Should you need more information about the course, please, do not hesitate to contact me by email ([email protected])
Understanding of the principles of neuroimaging methods, and of the information that they can provide regarding the Central Nervous System and its function in health and disease.

The physical bases of neuroimaging techniques will be reviewed, with an emphasis on advanced methods, like functional MRI (fMRI), MR tractography and resting state fMRI. Their use for the study of brain healthy and pathological states will be described, with specific examples of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism, addiction and neurodegenerative diseases. The translational value of neuroimaging methods for the study of the neural substrates of these disorders will be illustrated, with examples of application in preclinical models. Finally, the use of neuroimaging methods to find markers of response to therapy will be discussed.

The students wil be asked to prepare and deliver a 20 min presentation on an advanced subject within the scope of the course. The subject of the presentation will be agreed upon individually with the participants in the course.

Teaching material will be provided during the course.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Italiano:

Questo corso ha l’obiettivo di fornire agli studenti una comprensione completa di come le abitudini alimentari, specifici nutrienti, il metabolismo dell’ospite, il microbiota intestinale e il metabolismo tumorale influenzino l’insorgenza, la progressione e la risposta al trattamento del cancro. Gli studenti esamineranno i meccanismi molecolari che collegano la nutrizione al rischio oncologico, con particolare attenzione ai circuiti metabolici ed endocrini, quali il metabolismo lipidico, il metabolismo della metionina e l’infiammazione, nonché alla nutrigenomica e ai metaboliti di origine microbica. Attraverso l’analisi della letteratura scientifica più recente, gli studenti impareranno a valutare la rilevanza degli interventi dietetici nella modulazione dei processi biologici normali e maligni e a distinguere le situazioni in cui tali approcci possono essere applicati clinicamente da quelle in cui non vi sono chiare evidenze scientifiche. Il corso collegherà i principi fondamentali della biologia dei tumori alla ricerca traslazionale e alle strategie terapeutiche emergenti dirette contro le vulnerabilità metaboliche.

Al termine del corso, gli studenti saranno in grado di analizzare criticamente la letteratura scientifica corrente, identificare le variabili biologiche e metodologiche che determinano gli effetti dieta-dipendenti nei diversi contesti e progettare strategie terapeutiche di natura nutrizionale. Il corso è pertanto finalizzato non soltanto a consolidare conoscenze specialistiche, ma anche a sviluppare le capacità di ragionamento analitico, comunicazione scientifica e progettazione della ricerca necessarie per intraprendere percorsi professionali nella ricerca biomedica, nelle biotecnologie e nell’oncologia traslazionale.

English:

This course is aimed at providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how dietary habits, specific nutrients, host metabolism, the gut microbiota, and tumor metabolism influence cancer initiation, progression, and response to treatment. Students will examine the molecular mechanisms linking nutrition to cancer risk, with particular emphasis on metabolic and endocrine circuits (e.g., lipid metabolism, methionine metabolism, and inflammation), nutrigenomics, and microbial metabolites. By analyzing the current scientific literature, students will learn to evaluate the relevance of dietary interventions for modulating normal and malignant biological pathways, and to distinguish when these approaches are clinically actionable from when they remain insufficiently supported. This course will connect fundamental cancer biology with translational research and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities.

By the end of the course, students should be able to critically analyze primary scientific literature, identify the biological and methodological variables that determine context-dependent dietary effects, and design precision-nutrition strategies. The course is therefore intended not only to consolidate specialist knowledge, but also to develop the analytical reasoning, scientific communication, and research-design skills required for careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, and translational oncology.
Italiano:

Questo corso ha lo scopo di traslare le più importanti scoperte della ricerca di base in strategie per la prevenzione e il trattamento del cancro.

Al termine del corso, gli studenti saranno in grado di:

• spiegare come le abitudini alimentari, specifici nutrienti, il metabolismo dell’ospite e il microbiota intestinale influenzino l’insorgenza, la progressione e la risposta alla terapia del cancro;
• descrivere in che modo le strategie alimentari possano contribuire alla prevenzione del cancro e valutarne il potenziale ruolo nei pazienti con malattia già diagnosticata;
• analizzare come la disponibilità dei nutrienti influenzi il metabolismo tumorale, con particolare attenzione alla dipendenza dalla metionina, al metabolismo a un carbonio, all’assorbimento, all’ossidazione e alla desaturazione degli acidi grassi, nonché alle conseguenze metaboliche del digiuno, delle diete a basso indice glicemico e delle diete chetogeniche;
• interpretare le interazioni tra dieta, microbiota e ospite, collegando la composizione e la funzione microbica alla produzione di metaboliti, alla regolazione immunitaria, all’omeostasi epiteliale e ai fenotipi associati al cancro;
• applicare i principi della nutrigenomica e della nutrizione di precisione per identificare i determinanti biologici responsabili delle risposte eterogenee agli alimenti/dieta, inclusi i fattori genetici, epigenetici, metabolici e correlati al microbiota.

English:

This course places particular emphasis on translating basic research into strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Explain how dietary patterns, specific nutrients, host metabolism, and the gut microbiota influence cancer initiation, progression, and response to therapy.

Describe how dietary strategies may contribute to cancer prevention and evaluate their potential role in patients with established disease.

Analyze how nutrient availability affects tumor metabolism, with particular emphasis on methionine dependency, one-carbon metabolism, fatty-acid uptake, oxidation and desaturation, and the metabolic consequences of fasting, low-glycemic diets, and ketogenic diets.

Interpret diet-microbiome-host interactions by linking microbial composition and function to metabolite production, immune regulation, epithelial homeostasis, and cancer-associated phenotypes.

Apply principles of nutrigenomics and precision nutrition to identify the biological determinants of heterogeneous dietary responses, including genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and microbiome-related factors.

Italiano:

• Introduzione all’oncologia nutrizionale
• Modelli alimentari sani e prevenzione del cancro
• Bilancio energetico e segnalazione endocrina
• Metabolismo, epigenetica e adattamento ai trattamenti antitumorali
• Interazioni tra dieta e microbiota intestinale nel cancro
• Nutrigenomica e nutrizione di precisione
• Metabolismo della metionina e dipendenza tumorale
• Restrizione alimentare della metionina e oncologia di precisione
• Lipidi alimentari e metabolismo lipidico tumorale
• Restrizione calorica, digiuno e diete mima-digiuno
• Diete chetogeniche e a basso indice glicemico
• Apprendimento basato su progetto: il paradosso della dieta chetogenica

English:

• Introduction to nutritional oncology
• Healthy dietary patterns and cancer prevention
• Energy balance and endocrine signaling
• Metabolism, epigenetics, and treatment adaptation to cancer therapy
• Diet-gut microbiota interactions in cancer
• Nutrigenomics and precision nutrition
• Methionine metabolism and cancer dependency
• Dietary methionine restriction and precision oncology
• Dietary lipids and tumor lipid metabolism
• Caloric restriction, fasting, and fasting-mimicking diets
• Ketogenic and low-glycemic diets
• Project-based learning: the ketogenic-diet paradox

Italiano:

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L’esame consisterà in una prova scritta composta da circa trenta quesiti, comprendenti domande a scelta multipla, esercizi di completamento, quesiti vero/falso o sì/no, domande di associazione, quesiti a risposta breve e domande di interpretazione dei dati. A ciascun quesito sarà attribuito un punteggio compreso tra 0 e 1, in funzione della tipologia e del livello di complessità.

L’apprendimento sarà valutato attraverso una combinazione di prova individuale, attività progettuali e attività formative svolte durante il corso. La prova scritta sarà finalizzata a verificare le conoscenze disciplinari, la capacità di collegare concetti appartenenti ad ambiti diversi e la chiarezza dell’esposizione scientifica. Le presentazioni e le attività di gruppo saranno invece utilizzate per valutare le capacità analitiche, collaborative e comunicative. La valutazione formativa comprenderà la discussione guidata di articoli scientifici originali, l’interpretazione di figure e dati sperimentali e brevi verifiche delle conoscenze. La valutazione finale comprenderà una prova individuale sugli argomenti principali del corso, nella quale gli studenti dovranno integrare i meccanismi molecolari con le applicazioni nell’ambito della prevenzione e del trattamento del cancro, ed eventualmente un progetto di gruppo basato sul confronto critico di due studi riguardanti le diete chetogeniche, comprensivo di una matrice delle evidenze, di un modello meccanicistico e di una proposta sperimentale. Il voto finale sarà espresso in trentesimi e terrà conto dell’accuratezza scientifica, della profondità della comprensione, della capacità di ragionamento critico, dell’integrazione delle evidenze, del rigore metodologico e della chiarezza espositiva.

English:

The exam will consist of

A written examination consisting of approximately thirty questions, including multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank items, true/false or yes/no questions, matching questions, short-answer questions, and data-interpretation questions, with scores ranging from 0 to 1 depending on the question type.

learning will be evaluated through a combination of individual examination, project work, and continuous formative activities. Written examinations will be adopted to assess subject knowledge, the ability to connect concepts across different areas, and clarity of scientific communication, while presentations and group work are used to evaluate analytical, collaborative, and communication skills.

Formative assessment will include guided discussion of primary research articles, interpretation of experimental figures and short knowledge checks. Summative assessment will comprise: an individual examination covering the main topics of the course and requiring students to integrate molecular mechanisms with prevention and therapeutic applications; eventually a group project based on the critical comparison of two studies on ketogenic diets, including an evidence matrix, mechanistic model and experimental proposal .The final grade will be expressed on the Italian thirty-point scale and will reflect scientific accuracy, depth of understanding, critical reasoning, integration of evidence, methodological rigor and clarity of communication/understanding

Registrazione
Aperta

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

L’insegnamento si rivolge a chi e’ intenzionato ad approfondire lo studio di metodi computazionali e quantitativi applicati alla biologia. In particolare verranno affrontati alcuni argomenti tradizionalmente studiati tramite modellizzazione e analisi quantitativa: lo studio dei pathway regolatori con metodi di system biology e network analysis, le basi molecolari della regolazione genica, la genetica delle popolazioni, lo studio del microbioma e l’analisi di specifici approcci di modellizzazione sia statistica sia con tecniche di Machine Learning. Queste tematiche verranno inserite nel contesto del metodo e del processo scientifico e approfondite attraverso l’analisi dei metodi presentati in articoli scientifici. L’obiettivo e’ di formare chi segue il corso su potenzialita’ e applicazioni dei metodi computazionali nella ricerca biologica.
Conoscenza di alcuni dei più importanti metodi computazionali in uso nell’analisi dei pathway di regolazione genica, microbioma, genetica delle popolazioni, trascrittomica, inclusi i modelli più comunemente utilizzati per rappresentare i fenomeni relativi a questi campi. Comprensione di come i concetti e metodi di cui sopra siano stati applicati nella ricerca, prendendo spunto da importanti paper scientifici. Capacità di formare un proprio giudizio indipendente sul potenziale dei metodi computazionali e matematici nella biologia, e sul metodo scientifico in generale. Capacità di leggere ed imparare dalla letteratura scientifica relativa agli argomenti presentati, e presentarne i risultati della ricerca ivi contenuti.

Part I: Methods to analyze genetic variation

• Introduction to genetic variation: allele and genotype frequency, Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, computational representation
• Genetic Drift and its implications: the Wright-Fisher model
• Population structure: isolation by distance, Fst
• Visualizing genetic diversity: Principal Component Analysis
• Recombination, Linkage Disequilibrium and haplotypes
• Quantitative signatures of archaic human introgression and adaptive selection

Part II: Modern approaches to gene regulatory networks

• Interplay of genetics and epigenetics in gene regulation
• Predicting expression from sequence
• Integrating transcriptomics and epigenomics assays in single-cell data
• Mapping the molecular changes during development

Part III: Modeling in science and Scientific method

• Scientific method and its evolution
• Experimental design
• Computational modeling in life sciences
• Mathematical models in biotechnology: e.g. ceRNA cross-talk
• Microbiome analysis
• Machine Learning approaches in biology

Quiz a risposta multipla su tutti i 3 moduli insieme, superato con 50%+1 risposte corrette. Se superato, il quiz e' seguito da una presentazione orale di un articolo su uno dei temi coperti a lezione. Sia il quiz scritto che la parte orale sono valutate.

• Articoli scientifici presentati durante il corso.
• Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics - From Omics Analysis to Deep Learning and Network Mining
• Autori: Mario Cannataro, Pietro Hiram Guzzi, Giuseppe Agapito, Chiara Zucco, Marianna Milano
• Casa editrice: Elsevier
• ISBN: 978-0-12-822952-1

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Le informazioni sul corso "Diventare Imprenditori" sono pubblicate sulla pagina dedicata del Portale di Ateneo
Le informazioni sul corso "Diventare Imprenditori" sono pubblicate sulla pagina dedicata del Portale di Ateneo

Le informazioni sul corso "Diventare Imprenditori" sono pubblicate sulla pagina dedicata del Portale di Ateneo

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Giudizio Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

To provide a general and updated view of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cellular senescence and ageing.
To understand the experimental evidence for the current theories on the signifcance of organismal ageing and on their molecular mechanisms.
To understand and to apply the experimanetal strategies to evaluate the biological age (molecular clocks).

• metabolic strategies to delay ageing and ageing-associated diseaaes
• the link between accumulation of senescent cells, inflammaging and ageing.
• molecular mechanisms and features of cellular senescence
• the role of DNA damage response in senescence and ageing
• the role of epigenetic remodeling in ageing and epigenetic clocks to measure biological age.
• current molecular and evolutionary theories in aging

Presentation and discussion of an ageing-related paper choosen by the student and selected among those published by the most relevant journals.
The choice of the paperm its presentation and discussion will contribute to the evaluation

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Voto Finale.

Tipo di esame: Orale. Valutazione: Giudizio Finale.