Viral vectors and gene therapy

The main focus of the Viral vectors and gene therapy unit at IBCIT is on three research lines: i) virus-host interactions, ii) gene transfer, new vector development. We study by single gene, single pathway and high throughput analysis the modulation events induced by virus. We use lentiviral, adenoviral and phage vectors to transfer genes and to interfere sequences (siRNAs) in different targets (including stem cells), for basic and applied studies. We use and modify bacteriophage (filamentous and lambda) to produce receptor-selective gene transfer vectors for mammalian cells.

Unit members

Selected publications

Sacchetti B, Funari A, Michienzi S, Di Cesare S, Piersanti S, Saggio I, Tagliafico E, Ferrari S, Robey PG, Riminucci M, Bianco P.
Self-renewing osteoprogenitors in bone marrow sinusoids can organize a hematopoietic microenvironment.
Cell. 2007 Oct 19;131(2):324-36.

Martina Y, Avitabile D, Piersanti S, Cherubini G, Saggio I.
Different modulation of cellular transcription by adenovirus 5, DeltaE1/E3 adenovirus and helper-dependent vectors.
Virus Res. 2007 Dec;130(1-2):71-84.

Benihoud K, Esselin S, Descamps D, Jullienne B, Salone B, Bobé P, Bonardelle D, Connault E, Opolon P, Saggio I, Perricaudet M.
Respective roles of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the immune response-elicited by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in mice.
Gene Ther. 2007 Mar;14(6):533-44. Epub 2006 Nov 16.

Cherubini G, Petouchoff T, Grossi M, Piersanti S, Cundari E, Saggio I.
E1B55K-deleted adenovirus (ONYX-015) overrides G1/S and G2/M checkpoints and causes mitotic catastrophe and endoreduplication in p53-proficient normal cells.
Cell Cycle. 2006 Oct;5(19):2244-52.

Piersanti S, Sacchetti B, Funari A, Di Cesare S, Bonci D, Cherubini G, Peschle C, Riminucci M, Bianco P, Saggio I.
Lentiviral transduction of human postnatal skeletal (stromal, mesenchymal) stem cells: in vivo transplantation and gene silencing.
Calcif Tissue Int. 2006 Jun;78(6):372-84.