CONFERENCE REPORT
Giornata Scientifica della Società Italiana Peptidi Dedicata ai Soci Giovani, Vittorio Erspamer and Carlo Pedone Awards 2023
Florence, Italy, 23 September 2023
The “Giornata Scientifica della Società Italiana Peptidi Dedicata ai Soci Giovani, Vittorio Erspamer and Carlo Pedone Awards 2023” was held at the University of Florence, Learning Center Morgagni, on the 23rd September, 2023 https://sites.google.com/view/itps-giornata-giovani
The “Giornata Scientifica” is a mini symposium dedicated to young researchers that the Italian Peptide Society (ItPS) organizes each second year. The 2023 edition was held in mixed mode with about 35 participants physically present and 12 more that participated online.
Group picture of the participants to the “Giornata Scientifica della Società Italiana Peptidi 2023”
The Local Organizing Committee comprised Claudia Bello, Anna Maria Papini and Paolo Rovero from the University of Florence, supported by the members of the Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology – PeptLab, in particular Fosca Errante, Michael Quagliata, Margherita Marino and Michele Casoria
The Scientific committee of ItPS, comprising Walter Cabri (University of Bologna), Marta De Zotti (University of Padua), Alessandro Gori (National Research Council, CNR- Milan), Silvia Marchesan (University of Trieste) and Mariano Venanzi (University of Rome Tor Vergata), was in charge of the mini-symposium program.
During the mini symposium the “Young Researchers Award” (Vittorio Erspamer award) is traditionally presented to a young member of the Society to acknowledge her/his distinguished contribution to peptide science. This year, in addition to the Erspamer award, the “Carlo Pedone award” for best doctoral thesis in the field of peptide science was awarded. Oral presentations were delivered by the awardees, Lucia Ferrazzano, Carlo Diaferia (winners of the Erspamer award) and Fosca Errante (winner of the Pedone award), followed by the award ceremony. The awards were presented by the President of ItPS, Maria Luisa Mangoni, with Daniela Marasco, Delegate of Scientific Affairs of ItPS.
Vittorio Erpamer and Carlo Pedone Awards ceremony
The one-day mini symposium covered a broad range of topics, giving the possibility to twelve young members of our society, selected by the scientific committee of the society based on the abstracts received, to present their work during the three scientific sessions of the day.
EPS sponsorship was acknowledged by the organizers during the mini symposium and the logo of the Society was displayed on the printed material of the conference as well as on the website of the “Giornata Scientifica”. The EPS mobility fellowship was advertised on screen between presentations and during breaks.
During the mini symposium a total of 15 oral presentations were delivered, starting with the two awardees of the Vittorio Erspamer award and the awardee of the Carlo Pedone award:
Lucia Ferrazzano – University of Bologna, who spoke about “GSPPS and SolPSS: the dual facets of the green peptide synthesis medal” (Vittorio Erspamer award)
Carlo Diaferia – University of Naples “Federico II” , who spoke about “Nanostructured functional materials from peptide self-assembling” (Vittorio Erspamer award)
Fosca Errante – University of Florence, who spoke about “Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of bioactive peptides: collagen turnover modulators for cosmeceutical use and SARS-CoV-2 virus antigens for diagnostic and vaccinal uses” (Carlo Pedone award)
The award session was chaired by the President of ItPS Maria Luisa Mangoni (Sapienza University of Rome) and by Daniela Marasco (University of Naples Federico II).
The subsequent lectures were delivered by the following young members of ItPS during the three scientific sessions:
Session 1, chaired by Marta De Zotti (University of Padua) and Mariano Venanzi (University of Rome Tor Vergata)
Alice Romagnoli – Università Politecnica delle Marche, who spoke about Targeting Cap-dependent translation through a CYFIP1-derived peptidomimetic: insights for cancer and fragile X syndrome
Floriana Cappiello – Sapienza University of Rome, who spoke about Antibacterial activity and corneal wound healing effect of Esc peptides in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis
Claudia Honisch – Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR , who spoke about Oxidative stress induced orexins misfolding
Michael Quagliata – University of Florence, who spoke about Antiviral peptides inhibitors of protein-protein interactions against SARS-CoV-2
Fabia Cenciarelli – University of Bologna, who spoke about Fragrances release in supramolecular peptide gels
Session 2, chaired by Claudia Bello (University of Florence) and Walter Cabri (University of Bologna)
Sara Aquilia – University of Florence, who spoke about Using rapeseed oil by-products to develop protein/peptide-based materials
Daniele Florio – University of Naples “Federico II” , who spoke about Bioinformatics-based design of small peptidomimetics able to enhance the amyloid aggregation
Lorenzo Pacini – University of Florence, who spoke about Investigation of green synthesis binary mixtures on the PurePep® Chorus taking advantage of induction heating
Session 3 chaired by Antonella Accardo (University of Naples Federico II) and Alessandro Gori (National Research Council CNR- Milan)
Maria Rosa Loffredo – Sapienza University of Rome, who spoke about Unnatural amino acid substituted antimicrobial peptide Esc(1-21) with improved activity against Staphylococcus aureus
Michele Casoria – University of Florence, who spoke about Bringing Immunology into the Realm of Chemistry: Structural and dynamic properties of TCR-peptide-MHC complex
Adriana Di Stasi – University of Padua and University of Trieste, who spoke about The designed antimicrobial peptide B7-005: biocompatibility, mode of action and antimicrobial activity against ESKAPE pathogens
Andrea Di Santo – University of Florence, who spoke about A novel method based on Surface Plasmon Resonance for detection and quantification of Adalimumab and anti-Adalimumab antibodies in sera of treated patients
The social events included lunch and one coffee break served at the venue. The mini symposium ended with the closing remarks by the President of ItPS Maria Luisa Mangoni (Sapienza University of Rome) and Michele Saviano (National Research Council CNR – Caserta) and was followed by the meeting of the Italian Peptide Society.
Contributed by Claudia Bello