The research group led by Prof. Annalisa Santucci has a long-standing experience in proteomics, post-genomic biochemistry and study of structure-function relationships in proteins. The most relevant research fields can be summarized as follows:

  • Proteomics of biological samples, human fluids and cells, or microbial pathogens (Neisseria meningitidis, Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia trachomatis) to understand molecular mechanisms and to identify biomarkers related to human diseases or bacterial infections

  • Selection, culture and characterization of autochthonous wine yeast strains. The research group produced the first proteomic map of a reference wine Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain isolated from the val d’Orcia area thanks to a combination of different post-genomics technologies, providing a suitable model where to investigate the effects of alcoholic-fermentation- and pesticide-related stresses. This was accomplished within projects funded by MIUR (FIRB RBAU01JE9A), Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and ARSIA.

  • Biochemical and post-genomics study of osteoarticular and bone-relate diseases, paying particular attention to alkaptonuria and osteosarcoma. The group produced a wide database collecting proteome maps of osteoarticular human cells and tissues, identified biomarkers related to osteosarcoma, set up a biobank of osteosarcoma-derived primary cells, and assessed the efficacy of pyrazolo-pyrimidine for the treatment of different types of cancer. Prof. Santucci also funded and directed the Interdepartmental Centre for the Biochemical Study of Osteoarticular Pathologies of Siena University.

Scientific skills

Physio-pathological mechanisms (biochemical, cellular and molecular analyses) of human diseases (gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, osteosarcoma, alkaptonuria, osteoarticular- and bone-related diseases, pathologies with altered angiogenesis)

  • Proteomics of microorganisms (Helicobacter pylori, Saccharomyces cervisiae, Neisseria meningitidis).

  • Proteomics of human cells, tissues and biological fluids (primary and immortalized cells, cartilage, synovia, plasma, serum, urine, saliva and so on)

  • Characterization of products from biopharmaceutical companies (antigens, antibodies, vaccines, biologicals, diagnostics, therapeutic molecules etc.)

  • Characterization of products from agro-alimentary companies (wine yeasts, nutraceutical properties of beers).

  • Biochemical, cell and molecular analyses for the characterization of novel therapeutic agents

  • Structural Biology: structure-function relationships, protein surface accessibility, protein-peptide interactions and atom depth analysis.

Equipment

The laboratory is endowed with a complete equipment and expertise on the biochemical aspects of large scale separation, identification and characterization of proteins:

-Proteomic facilities (complete equipment for high resolution 2D-PAGE; Typhoon 9400 for differential fluorescent staining, Image Master Platinum 6 for computer analysis)
-Calligrapher for protein microarray (BioRad)
-Tissue and cell culture facilities (sterile hoods, incubators, Liquid N2 cell bank, centrifuges, microplate-reader),
-Fluorescence light microscope (“AXIOLAB.A1” HAL35, Zeiss)
-UV/Vis-spectrophotometer (Agilent 8354)
-DNA Thermal Cycler: Rotor−Gene 6000 Real−time rotary analyzer (Corbett)
-24-channel oxygen/pH meter (SDR SensorDish® Reader, PreSense)
-ImageQuant LAS 4010 (GE Healthcare)