Developed skills and lines of research
Since 1984, Francesca Berlutti has been a Researcher and Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, where she graduated with honors in Biology, specializing in Microbiology and Virology, from La Sapienza University. Her research activity is mainly focused on the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of bacteria, with reference to 1) biofilm formation and development, 2) the adhesion and invasion ability of the bacterial pathogen in the cell, and 3) the role and functions of the protein called lactoferrin. It is precisely on this last substance that he is developing interesting therapeutic proposals to control infection and lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis.
Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Principal Investigator or as Research Manager
FFC#12/2015
FFC#16/2014
FFC#13/2013
Projects financed by FFC Ricerca as a partner
FFC#11/2008
Publications from FFC Research projects
Berlutti F, Superti F, Nicoletti M et al., Bovine Lactoferrin inhibits the efficiency of invasion of respiratory A549 cells of different iron-regulated morphological forms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cenocepacia, Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol., 2008, 21(1):51-9
Valenti P, Catizone A, Pantanella F et al., Lactoferrin decreases inflammatory response by cystic fibrosis bronchial cells invaded with Burkholderia cenocepacia iron-modulated biofilm , Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol., 2011, 24(4):1057-68
Ciavardelli D, D’Orazio M, Pieroni L et al., Proteomic and ionomic profiling reveals significant alterations of protein expression and calcium homeostasis in cystic fibrosis cells., Molecular Biosystem, 2013, 9(6):1117-26
Frioni A, Conte MP, Cutone A et al., Lactoferrin differently modulates the inflammatory response in epithelial models mimicking human inflammatory and infectious diseases. Biometals, 2014, 27(5):843-56
Valenti P, Catizone A, Frioni A, Berlutti F, Lactoferrin and cystic fibrosis airway infection. In “Diet and Exercise in Cystic Fibrosis” (Ronald Ross Watson), Academic Press, Waltham. Book: WATSON-9780128000519 2014 Chapter: 09
Valenti P, Frioni A, Rossi A, et al., Aerosolized bovine lactoferrin reduces neutrophils and pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections. Biochem Cell Biol. 2017 Feb;95(1):41-47. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2016-0050. Epub 2016 Jul 8.
Antimo Cutone, Maria Stefania Lepanto, Luigi Rosa, et al. Aerosolized Bovine Lactoferrin Counteracts Infection, Inflammation and Iron Dysbalance in A Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chronic Lung Infection. Int J Mol Sci, 20 (9) 2019 Apr 30