Basilico Nicoletta

Basilico Nicoletta
Laboratory of Immunology and Parassitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences
University of Milan, Italy

Biography

Basilico Nicoletta is Research Associate from 2000-2002 in Institute of Microbiology, University of Milan. 2003-present: Assistant Professor in General Pathology, School of Pharmacy, University of Milan.

Research Interest

Drug Discovery, Pharmacology, Host-parasite interactions In particular, research interests include: - Antimalarial drug discovery: the research group is part of the Milano Malaria Network in which different laboratories with complementary expertise (chemistry, biochemistry and biology) join together to lead research projects on antimalarial drug discovery. The laboratory has consolidated drug screening facilities against sexual and asexual stages of P falciparum and the team group developed MTS assays to screen novel antiparasitic compounds and inhibitors of heme detoxification process. - Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of antimalarials: another key activity of the laboaratory is to better understand the mechanism of action of current and developing antimalarial classes e.g. artemisinins and quinolones. Research in this area focuses on the role or oxygen, heme and iron in drug activity. - Pathophysiology of parasite-host interaction: in the laboratory we focus on the effects of parasite products on the host immune cells. In particular the role of malaria pigment on endothelial cells and monocyte/macrophages dysfunction is analyzed. Production of cytokines, chemokines, MMPs and vasoactive mediators (endothelin, nitric oxide) in different in vitro models is investigated.