De Berardinis

Development of new antigen delivery systems.

Using the phage display platform as a vehicle able to induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, we perform analysis of the in vitro and in vivo immune response to delivered antigens, in wild type and transgenic mouse models. Administration of recombinant bacteriophage displaying tumor-associated antigens and/or conjugated to immune-stimulating lipids, is able to generate protective immune response, inhibiting tumor growth in animal models. fd vectors, engineered by us for targeting dendritic cells, confer adjuvanticity and activate both innate and adaptive immune responses. 

Understanding of the impact of micro and nanoparticles on the immune response.

Micro and nanoparticles are used as antigen delivery system; particles of different size and formulation can lead to different responses: using in vitro and in vivo assays we measure particle toxicity  and functional activity in the context of their ability to induce immune responses to model antigens.

Production of lentiviral particles.

By transduction with lentiviral particles we can redirect T cell lymphocytes against selected antigens and we can produce pseudotyped lentiviral particles in order to study pathogen physiopathology in conditions not needing BSL3 safety containment.