Chaire d'Excellence Projet PepKit
POR FSE | POR FESR
Events
December 24th, 2016
Multiple Sclerosis, molecular mechanisms and bacterial infections - A study conducted by PeptLab researchers with an international team published in Nature Scientific Reports
The etiopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is still an unknown debated question. One of the most relevant hypothesis considers the possible involvement of bacterial infections triggering at the molecular level an autoimmune response and therefore the manifestation of the disease.
This is the pathway that has been followed by an international research team led by Anna Maria Papini and that was recently published in Nature Scientific Reports ("Antibodies from multiple sclerosis patients preferentially recognize hyperglucosylated adhesin of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae" - DOI: 10.1038/srep39430).
"Antibodies present in blood of patients affected by MS recognise specifically the protein adhesin produced by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae in a hyperglucosylated form”, clarifies Anna Maria Papini. “Our data indicate for the first time that a bacterial protein could be one of the native antigen leading to the production of antibodies by stimulating the immune system."
The study is part of a stream of research initiated in 1995 with the ”Project Multiple Sclerosis”, funded by the Italian Higher Institute of Health (ISS), to investigate the molecular mechanisms of MS. The project led to the establishment of the Interdepartmental Laboratory of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology of the University of Florence.
"These results are connected to the original observation, published by our team in 1999, that synthetic peptides characterised by “hairpin structures”, but only those bearing glucose moiety on the tip of the hairpin, are able to recognise serum antibodies in MS patients”, A.M. Papini points out. “The new results show that the peptides previously described, mimic portions of the bacterial hyperglucosylated adhesin, paving the way of a molecular mimicry mechanism by which human proteins become the target of specific antibodies in MS".
The project was developed in tight collaboration with researchers from MIT (Boston, USA), the Weizmann Institute of Science (Rheovot, Israel) and the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the University of Naples Hospital.
Co-sponsors of the study were also Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and Regione Toscana (MARK project: “Identification of diagnostic biomarkers for immune system-mediated diseases”).
SELF-ASSEMBLED PEPTIDES: FROM NANOSTRUCTURE TO BIOACTIVITY
Self-assembled peptides: from nanostructure to bioactivity
The Royal Society at Chicheley Hall, Buckinghamshire
Monday 24th – Tuesday 25th October 2016
Organised by Professor Ian Hamley, Professor Dek Woolfson, Professor Louise Serpell, Dr Alberto Saiani and Professor Raffaele Mezzenga
https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/10/self-assembled-peptides/
The audio recordings of each of the talks from the above meeting are now online, excluding those of you who requested that these were not shared. Please see the meeting webpage and click on the link following each abstract; https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/10/self-assembled-peptides/
February 21-26, 2016
Gordon Research Conference 2016 Peptides Chemistry & Biology
Peptides, Chemistry & Biology of
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DatesFebruary 21-26, 2016LocationVentura Beach MarriottVentura, CA |
OrganizersChairs:Philip E. Dawson & Anna Maria Papini Vice Chairs: Jennifer R. Cochran & James S. Nowick |
Meeting Description
Peptides are molecules, ubiquitous in Nature, that play critical roles in biomedicine, agriculture, material and food science, etc. As a mature field of investigation, many basic properties and applications involving peptides have already been explored in detail. In order to continue advancing peptide science, barriers will have to be overcome with respect to predicting, synthesizing and testing, the structure and function of peptides. Future advances in peptide science will require researchers to overcome the physical barriers of the gut, brain and cellular membranes and also the technological, social, diversity and conceptual barriers that that currently limit scientists’ ability to realize the full potential of peptide science in the -omics era. To do this, the GRC will bring together scientists from academia and industry, and across all aspects of peptide chemistry, biology, and technology to critically evaluate the current state of the art, and future prospects of areas such as peptide drugs, vaccines, immunology, diagnostics, nutraceutics, cosmetics. The conference will also explore the frontiers of synthetic methodologies for the design, production, analysis, delivery of complex peptides and peptide-like polymers.The 2016 program will feature invited talks from leaders in the field from around the world; as well as talks from early career scientists; poster sessions; and, of course in the GRC tradition, plenty of time for discussion, scientific exchanges, and for continuing to building the peptide-science community across barriers. The GRC has several programs to encourage and support attendance by underrepresented groups, which we endorse and encourage application.
February 17th, 2016
The thesis in biotechnology of Emma Piattelli, entitled “Study of the interaction between N-glucosylated bacterial adhesin and autoantibodies purified from multiple sclerosis patients sera” (“Studio dell'interazione fra adesina batterica N-glucosilata e autoanticorpi purificati da sieri di pazienti affetti da Sclerosi Multipla” - tutor: P. Rovero, PeptLab 2014), has been granted the “Claudio Orlando Memorial Award” by the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Florence.
Complimenti, Emma!
February 10-12, 2016
1st MS Peptide Day
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
Wednesday February 10, 2016
14:00 - 14:30 – Registration & Poster Hanging
14:30 - 15:00 – Welcome addresses
Session 1 - MS and peptides: a lifelong partnership
Chairperson: Donatella Caruso, University of Milano (Italy), Fulvio Magni, University of Milano Bicocca (Italy)
15:00 - 15:50 – PL1 – Pietro Traldi, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica “Città della Speranza” (Italy).
“MS and peptides: an old but well consolidated affair”
Session 2 - MS and peptides: insight into structure
Chairpersons: Michael Przybylski, University of Konstanz (Germany), Vincenzo Cunsolo, University of Catania (Italy)
15:50 - 16:40 – PL2 – Bela Paizs, Bangor University (UK).
“Mobilities, collision cross-sections and peptide fragmentation chemistry”
16:40 - 17:30 – PL3 – Jean-Claude Tabet, University of Paris VI (France).
“Amino acids and peptides into single charged complexes: zwitterion influence dissociation orientation independent to the charge polarity”
17:30 - 18:00 – Welcome cocktail
Thursday February 11, 2016
Session 3 - MS and peptides: biomedical, pharmaceutical & food applications
Chairpersons: Bela Paizs, Bangor University (UK), Antonio Triolo, Menarini (Italy)
9:15 - 10:05 – PL4 – Michael Przybylski, University of Konstanz (Germany).
“New perspectives for proteomics, biomedical and biomolecular recognition analysis by combination of affinity tools and mass spectrometry”
10:05 - 10:30 – OP1 – Virginie Lemaire, Sigma-Aldrich a part of Merck (France).
“Chromatographic separation of biomolecules : today’s modes, mechanism, and column options”
10:30-11:15 – Coffee break & poster session
11:15 - 11:40 – OP2 – Philippe Vassault, Waters (France).
“How to improve peptide identification and quantification with ion mobility”
11:40 - 12:05 – OP3 – Barbara Prandi, University of Parma (Italy).
“Mass spectrometry detection of beef and pork meat in complex food matrices”
12:05 - 12:30 – OP4 – Claire Dauly, Thermo Fisher Scientific (France).
“Pushing the limits of bottom-up proteomics with state-of-the-art UHPLC and orbitrap mass spectrometry”
12:30 - 12:55 – OP5 – Sara Crotti, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica “Città della Speranza” (Italy).
“Predictive and diagnostic performances of circulating peptides in colorectal cancers”
12:55 - 14:20 – Buffet lunch
14:20 - 14:35 – Claudio Toniolo, University of Padova (Italy).
“Presentation of the Italian Peptide Society (ItPS)”
Session 4: MS and peptides: proteomic aspects
Chairperson: Giuliana Bianco, University of Basilicata (Italy), Jean-Claude Tabet, University of Paris VI (France).
14:35 - 15:25 – PL5–Nathalie Norais, GSK (Italy).
“Isotopically labelled peptides for quantitative proteomics”
15:25 - 15:50 – OP6 – Tullia Tedeschi, University of Parma (Italy).
“Molecular characterisation of protein hydrolysates obtained by enzymatic digestion of fleshing meat”
15:50 - 16:20 – Coffee break
16:20 - 16:45 – OP7 – Francesco Tisato, IENI - CNR (Italy).
“ESI-MSn study of the interaction products of cytotoxic phosphino copper(I) complexes with model peptides”
16:45 - 17:10 – OP8 – Claudia Bello, University of Vienna (Austria).
“A chemoenzymatic approach for the synthesis of homogeneously glycosylated MUC1 variants for proteomic studies”
20:30 – Social dinner at Palazzo Borghese
Friday February 12, 2016
Session 5: MS and peptides: developments and perspectives
Chairperson: Pietro Traldi, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica “Città della Speranza” (Italy).
9:15 - 10:05 – PL6 – Zbigniew Szewczuk,University of Wroclaw (Poland).
"Derivatization of peptides for improved analysis by ESI-MS"
10:05 - 10:35 – Round Table: MS and peptides: looking ahead
Moderators: Paolo Rovero, University of Florence (Italy), Anna Maria Papini, University of Florence (Italy).
10:35 - 10:45 – Concluding remarks
11:00 - 12:00 – Turist visit to "Cenacolo di Santa Apollonia"
PL = Plenary Lecture
OP = Oral Presentation
Images from the Congress