Short CV

2001: Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Padova

2002: Research fellow at the Department of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology,Universityof Padova

2003-2006: PhD in in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology,UniversityofPadova(Supervisor: Prof. P. Giusti)

2006-present: Assistant Professor of Pharmacology (BIO/14)

2008-2010: Visiting Research Scientist at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Centre for Neuronal Survival, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

  Courses

Educational offer

  Office hours

Tuesday, 10:00 - 11:00

  Availability for Thesis Projects

Microglia e neuroinfiammazione: studi in vivo e in vitro dei meccanismi molecolari coinvolti nei processi neurodegenerativi e identificazione di nuovi possibili bersagli farmacologici 

  Scientific Activities

The research is mainly focused on molecular pharmacology and neuropharmacology fields. In particular, the studies are addressed to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenic and/or neurodegenerative responses induced by pharmacological or pathological stimuli, with a particular attention to the role of inflammatory conditions, involved in many neurodegenerative disorders. The professional experience includes the use of a variety of in vitro (primary neuronal and glial cell cultures, neuronal and glial cell lines) and in vivo (transgenic mice) models integrated with molecular and biochemical studies, cellular biological assays, histological and immunofluorescence techniques.

Membership: Member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology; Member of Society for Neuroscience

  Technical expertise

• Cell cultures: isolation and culture of primary neuronal and glial cell cultures; neuronal and glial cell lines; cell transfection for transient protein expression
• Cellular, molecular and biochemical assays: evaluation of gene (real-time PCR) and protein (Western blotting, ELISA) expression; evaluation of cellular viability and proliferation; histological and immunofluorescence techniques.
• Animal models: transgenic mice; mouse models of neuroinflammation

  Positions available

  Publications

• Zusso M, Debetto P, Guidolin D, Barbierato M, Manev H, Giusti P. Fluoxetine-induced proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells isolated from rat postnatal cerebellum. Biochem Pharmacol. 2008 Aug 1;76(3):391-403.
  IF 2008: 4.838; PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY Q1 
• Zusso M, Methot L, Lo R, Greenhalgh AD, David S, Stifani S. Regulation of postnatal forebrain amoeboid microglial cell proliferation and development by the transcription factor Runx1. J Neurosci. 2012 Aug 15;32(33):11285-98
  IF 2012: 7.869; NEUROSCIENCES Q1 
• Mercanti G, Ragazzi E, Toffano G, Giusti P, Zusso M. Phosphatidylserine and curcumin act synergistically to down-regulate release of interleukin-1β from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cortical primary microglial cells. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2014;13(5):792-800.
  IF 2014: 2.628; PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY Q2 
• Barbierato M, Facci L, Marinelli C, Zusso M, Argentini C, Skaper SD, Giusti P. Co-ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin Promotes the Maturation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 18;5:16676
  IF 2014: 5.578; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES Q1
• Marinelli C, Di Liddo R, Facci L, Bertalot T, Conconi MT, Zusso M, Skaper SD, Giusti P. Ligand engagement of Toll-like receptors regulates their expression in cortical microglia and astrocytes.
  J Neuroinflammation. 2015 Dec 30;12(1):244.
  IF 2014: 5.318; NEUROSCIENCES Q1

  Complete list of publications

Morena Zusso in Padua Research Archive IRIS (Institutional Research Information System)

  Patents

  Research projects and Funds

2007-2012    Ex 60% Projects, University of Padova - PI

2009-2011    PRAT grant, University of Padova, Title: “Sviluppo di un nuovo modello animale di malattia di Parkinson con TAT-alfa-sinucleinaA30P per la valutazione di nuove strategie neuro protettive” - PI

2012-2015      Ex 60% Projects, University of Padova - P

2012             Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. financial support; Title: “Effetto della fosfatidilserina e della curcumina nella modulazione della risposta neurogenica di colture di cellule staminali/progenitori neurali” - PI

2013             Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. financial support; Title: “Effetto di fosfatidilserina, curcumina e della loro associazione nella modulazione della risposta infiammatoria di cellule microgliali” - PI

2013-2015     “Assegni di Ricerca Junior” grant,UniversityofPadova; Title: “Study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of microglia-derived interleukin-6 on proliferation, survival, and differentiation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells” - PI.

2014-2016    PRAT grant, University of Padova, Title: “Novel chalcone- and curcumin-based analogues as modulators of microglia and macrophage activation”- PI

2015             Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. financial supports; Title: “Effetto dell’associazione di fosfatidilserina–curcumina in un modello in vivo di neuroinfiammazione” and “Valutazione dell’effetto di Liposom su un modello di neuroinfiamazione”- PI