Gruppo Meacci
Name………… Prof ELISABETTA MEACCI …………………………………………………………………….
Position (Associate Professor of Molecular Biology… Bio/11…………………………………………………
Name of Research Team/Laboratory ……Unit of Molecular and Applied Biology…………………………………
e-mail……elisabetta.meacci@unifi.it………………………………………………………………………………………….
telephone number……00390552751231…………………………………………………………………………..
Brief biographical sketch of the Coordinator (date of birth, degrees and Universities where they have been obtained)
Pistoia (Italy), February 20, 1963
EDUCATION
1987 Degree in Biological Sciences cum laude at the University of Firenze.
1989 Post-graduated studies in Phamacology (Specializzazione in Farmacologia) magna cum laude at the University of Firenze;
1989-1992 Fogarty/NIH Visiting Fellows at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes/Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism (NHLBI/LCM) at the National Institutes of Health of Bethesda (NIH, MD, USA) in the laboratory coordinated by Dr. Vincent Manganiello. During this period, she participated to molecular biology studies aimed to characterize cAMP-specific phosphodieterase.
1992-1996 Ph.D in Biochemistry Department of Biochemical Sciences Univ of Firenze
1996 National Research Council Fellowship
1996-1998 Fogarty/ NIH Visiting Associate in the laboratory coordinated by Dr. Joel Moss, Chief of Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH. During this period her research was focused on cytohesin-1,a guanine nucleotide exchange factor specific for monomeric GTP-binding proteins of ARF family.
1998 Researcher (Biochemistry, BIO/10) at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Firenze.
2002 she was positively evaluated as Associate Professor (Molecular Biology, BIO/11) in a comparative "concorso" at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
From 2005 she start teaching as Associate Professor (Molecular Biology, BIO/11) at the Faculty of Sciences
From 2012 she obtained the Abilitazione Nazionale to Full Professor in 05/E Biochemistry and Molecualr Biology ASN 2012 .
From 2012 she obtained the Abilitazione Nazionale to Full Professor in 05/F Applied Biology (Bio/13) ASN 2012.
From 2008 to 2012: Coordinator (Presidente) of the Master Course in Molecular Biotechnologies
From 2010 at present: Delegate of the Faculty of Science for Job Placement/CsaVRI at the University of Firenze.
2006-2011 Member of the Scientific Board of the PhD in "Biomedical Sciences- Biochemistry and Applied Biology”
2011 at present Member of the Scientific Board of the PhD in "Biomedical Sciences”
2013 at present - Delegate of the University of Florence for “Apprendistato di Alta formazione e ricerca” CsaVRI.
2017 at present Delegate of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences for Centro di Servizi di Ateneo per la Valorizzazione della Ricerca e la gestione dell'Incubatore universitario (CsaVRI)
2019 at present Membro della commissione Laboratori Congiunti e Conto Terzi (Nomina Rettorale Decreto n. 40811 (335) del 03/03/2020
Teaching activities – Courses-
- Molecular Biology in basic and advanced courses for students of Laurea Triennale e Magistrale in Molecular Biotechnology , Laurea Triennale e Magistrale in Biology and Master in School of Specialists Studies in Health area at the University of Firenze.
- Organism models in biology in Laurea Magistrale in Biology
- Biomolecular technologies for students of Laurea Magistrale in Molecular Biotechnology
- Biochemistry in basic and advanced courses for students of Laurea Triennale e Magistrale in Biotechnology , Laurea Triennale e Magistrale in Biology
Member of the scientific board of the Doctorate/PhD Program in
2006- 2010 PhD in Biochemistry and Applied Biology – University of Firenze
2011 to present PhD in Biomedical Sciences – University of Firenze
Member of the following Scientific Societies
1) SIBBM Societa Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare..
2) ABCD Associazione di Biologia cellulare e del Differenziamento …………………………................
3) SIPMel Società italiana di Patologia Clinica e Medicina di laboratorio
Member of the editorial board of the following Journals
1) Editorial Board member of AIMS Molecular Science (Prof. Owen M. McDougal, Editor in Chief of AIMS Molecular Science, Boise State University, USA
2) Assistant Editor of “International Scholarly Research Network (ISNR) Cell Biology Hindawi Publishing Corporation.
Research Team
Federica Pierucci, Master in Biology, PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Maria Chiara Iachini, PhD student
Ambra Vestri, Master in Molecualr Biotecnology, PhD in Biotecnology
Alessia Frati, Master in Biology, Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry
Current research interests
Research interests
In the last 15 years her research has been focused on the sphingolipid metabolism, the signalling pathways triggered by sphingosine 1-phosphate in various mammalian cell types (muscle and cardiac cells and tumoral cells) and on the regulation of enzymes involved in the control of cellular levels of lipid mediators, such as phospholipase D, sphingomyelinase and ceramidase.
More recently, her research has been also focus on the role of Connexin 43, Gap junction communication and Stretch-activated channels (TRCP) in cell proliferation and myogenesis in skeletal muscle satellite cells..
In the last year, her reaserch has been finalized to the nantechonology field: identification of new protocols for nanoparticles from plants. and phage display library for nanoantibodies production
She is coauthor of 80 publications on international journals and she participated at 130 national and international congresses, also as invited speaker.
DATI SCOPUS Contemporary H- index: 27 –
957 citazioni per gli articoli degli ultimi 15 anni - 18 H index per gli articoli degli ultimi 15 anni
Current / recent sources of funding
1) …MIUR…- PRIN……………………
2) …Regione Toscana………………………………………………………………………………………...
3) .. Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze…………………………………
4) …Fondazione Cassa di risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia…………………………
5) …Fondazione Banca di Pistoia e Vignole……………………………
Best publications of the last 5 years
A. Frati, B.Ricci, F.Pierucci, S.Nistri, D.Bani, E.Meacci
Role of sphingosine kinase/s1p axis in ecm-remodeling of cardiac cells elicited by the hormone relaxin.
Mol Endocrinol (2015) 29:53-67. doi: 10.1210/me.2014-1201.
F.Pierucci , A.Frati, R.Squecco, E.Lenci, C.Vicenti, J.Slavik, F.Francini, M.Machala, E.Meacci
Non-dioxin-like organic toxicant PCB153 alters Cx43-formed Gap junction function in liver progenitor cells through the modulation of sphingolipid metabolism . Arch Toxicol. 2017 91:749-760. doi: 10.1007/s00204-016-1750-7.
F.Pierucci, M.Garcia-Gil, A.Frati, E. Bruzzone, B.Ricci, E. Vannini, F. Luzzati, M. Caleo, P. Peretto, E. Meacci
Vitamin D3 protects against amyloid b1-42 peptide cytotoxicity in differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells: a role for S1P/S1P1 axis. Neuropharmacology (2017) 116:328-342. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.003. [Epub ahead of print]
M.Garcia-Gil, F. Pierucci, A. Vestri, E. Meacci
Crosstalk between sphingolipids and vitamin D3: potential role in the nervous system. Review.
Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Jan 27. doi: 10.1111/bph.13726. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
F.Pierucci, M.Garcia-Gil, A.Frati, E. Bruzzone, B.Ricci, E. Vannini, F. Luzzati, M. Caleo, P. Peretto, E. Meacci
Vitamin D3 protects against amyloid 1-42 peptide cytotoxicity in differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells: a role for S1P/S1P1 axis. Neuropharmacology (2017) 116:328-342. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.003.
M.Garcia-Gil, F. Pierucci, A. Vestri, E. Meacci Crosstalk between sphingolipids and vitamin D3: potential role in the nervous system. Review. Br J Pharmacol. (2017) 174:605-627. doi: 10.1111/bph.13726. Epub 2017 Feb 24.Review.
A.Vestri, F.Pierucci, L. Monaco, E. Meacci
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors: do they have a therapeutic potential in cardiac fibrosis?. Review
Front Pharmacol (2017) 174: 605-627
I. Clemente, S. Ristori, F. Pierucci, M.Muniz-Miranda, C. Salvatici, C. Giordano, E. Meacci, A. Feis, C. Gonnelli. Gold nanoparticles from vegetable extracts: a study on stability, shape and toxicity. ChemistrySelect (2017) 2, 9777 – 9782 Wiley-VCH DOI: 10.1002/slct.201701681
C. Sassoli, F.Pierucci, A.Tani, A.Frati, F.Chellini, F.Matteini, A.Vestri, G. Anderloni, D. Nosi, S. Zecchi-Orlandini, Meacci E.
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Is Required for MMP-2 Function in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Implications for Cytoskeleton Assembly and Proliferation.
Stem Cells Int. 2018 Mar 11;2018:5034679. doi: 10.1155/2018/5034679. eCollection 2018.
F.Pierucci, A. Frati, C. Battistini, F.Matteini, M.C: Iachini, A. Vestri, F.Penna, P. Costelli, E.Meacci Involvement of sphingosine 1-phopsphate / sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor axis in skeletal muscle atrophy Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2018 Sep 1;1864(12):3598-3614. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.08.040. [Epub ahead of print]
V.Domazetovic, G.; Marcucci, F.Pierucci, L Di Cesare Mannelli, C.Ghelardini, , Vincenzini, M.T, ML. Brandi, E.Meacci, T Iantomasi,
Antioxidant and antiosteoclastogenic action of Blueberry in osteocytes and its protective effect on stress-induced toxicity in mesenchymal stromal cells: involvement of SIRT1.FEBS Open Bio,2019 Jun;9(6):1082-1096. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.12634.
C.Sassoli*, F.Pierucci *, S.Zecchi-Orlandini, E. Meacci. Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P)/ S1P Receptor Signaling and Mechanotransduction: Implications for Intrinsic Tissue Repair/Regeneration.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Nov 7;20(22). pii: E5545. doi: 10.3390/ijms2022 5545. Review. * equally contributed
E.Meacci and M.Garcia-Gil. S1P/S1Preceptor signalling in neuromuscolar disorders Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 17;20(24). pii: E6364. doi: 10.3390/ijms20246364. Review.
A.Vestri, G. Margheri, E. Landini, E. Meacci, B. Tiribilli. A versatile and compact surface plasmon resonance set-up, based on single board computer. Review of Scientific Instruments. 2020 91 (1) RSI19-AR-01099R1 DOI: 10.1063/1.5111829 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5111829
Previous research experiences ………………
1989-1992 Fogarty/NIH Visiting Fellows at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes/Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism (NHLBI/LCM) at the National Institutes of Health of Bethesda (NIH, MD, USA) in the laboratory coordinated by Dr. Vincent Manganiello. During this period, she participated to molecular biology studies aimed to characterize cAMP-specific phosphodieterase.
1992-1996 Ph.D in Biochemistry Department of Biochemical Sciences Univ of Firenze
1996 National Research Council Fellowship
1996-1998 Fogarty/ NIH Visiting Associate in the laboratory coordinated by Dr. Joel Moss, Chief of Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH. During this period her research was focused on cytohesin-1,a guanine nucleotide exchange factor specific for monomeric GTP-binding proteins of ARF family.
Linee di ricerca:
Identificazione dei bersagli molecolari della sfingosina 1-fosfato in cellule muscolari scheletriche: coinvolgimento nella comunicazione cellula-cellula (Connessina 43 e Gap junction), nel rimodellamento del citoscheletro e motilità cellulare.
Ruolo biologico dell’asse ceramide/ceramide chinasi/ceramdie 1-fosfato nell’azione neuroprotettiva della vitamina D3 in cellule di neuroblastoma umano (SH-SY5Y), nella neurodegenerazione e nella biologia muscolare
Coinvolgimento degli sfingolipidi nella citotossitità indotta da composti diossina-like e non dioxin-like in cellule precursori staminali di fegato (WB F344).
Studi riguardanti il ruolo dei derivati della vitamina D nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche, tumori e neurodegenerazione
Identificazione dei bersagli molecolari degli sfingolipidi in cellule cardiache e loro ruolo nella rigenerazione tissutale. Coinvolgimento nell’azione dell’ormone relaxina
Ruolo di polifenoli (epigallocatechina, acido rosmarinico e caffeico) e principi bioattivi nella biologia delle cellule muscolari scheletriche Ricerche sulla biocompatibilità di materiali usati in campo medico e odontoiatrico.
Sviluppo di nuovi protocolli per la messa a punto di nanoanticorpi per il biomonitoraggio e la protezione ambientale
Uso di C elegans come organismo modello
Ultimo aggiornamento
29.12.2020