Tri-dimensional modelling of
protein |
Mission
To actuate in the area of biotechnology and
human health forming human resources and
producing scientific knowledge and technological development.
The Center of Molecular Biology has a well known tradition in Research and Development, as can be seen by the rich and regular scientific production mostly published on prestigious International Journals. Its teaching activities are also very important, with the participation to several Postgraduate Courses, with the all-levels training of fellows and, last but not least, with innumerous collaboration and research periods carried out by our staff and students in some of the best research laboratories of the world.
The Center is composed by two divisions: the Protein Chemistry and the Pituitary Hormone Group. The Protein Chemistry Group bases its research on the effects of ionizing radiation on macromolecules. Snake venom, which is very rich in proteins, has been utilized as important tools for providing the knowledge and specialization of this scientific team for the purification and characterization of animal venoms in order to perform pharmacological screening, one of the tasks of a multinstitutional network involved in the achievement of a new pharmaceuticals starting from animals toxins. Together with these activities the same group is developing other more specific researches related to Neurotoxins and Myotoxins as well as to other venom components showing anti-angiogenic and anti-parasite activity.
The Pituitary Hormone Group has a long experience on Recombinant Human Pituitary Hormone synthesis, purification and characterization, having worked up to now mostly with human growth hormone (hGH), human prolactin (hPRL) and human thyrotropin (hTSH) and starting now also with human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH). Besides research, this group has directed its activities also to the Biotechnological Production and Downstream Processing of the same recombinant hormones, which are produced in E.coli or in mammalian cells. Thanks also to the successful conclusion of the two phases of the FAPESP Small Business Program (PIPE), granted to the collaborating company Hormogen Biotecnologia now localized in the "Centro Incubador de Empresas Tecnológicas (CIETEC)", a joint venture with one of the main Brazilian pharmaceutical company has been initiated. A large scale hGH production plant is being set up which will eventually be extended to the other hormones. Researches are also carried out in the cytogenetic field and, among other activities, the effects of 131I administered to thyroid cancer patients together with recombinant hTSH are also being studied.
A third activity, connected with this Center is the breeding and production of small laboratory animals in our Animal House. In this facility we are keeping specific pathogen free (SPF) animals, under controlled good health conditions, to be used for the testing of the radioisotopes produced in our Institute. In the same Animal House we are also breeding mutant dwarf mice (lit/lit), severly immunodeficient mice (scid) and their offspring (lit/scid), besides normal rats and mice.
Paolo Bartolini
Manager
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