Unibo Principal Investigator: Dr . Giuliano Bettini, Dept. of Veterinary Medical Sciences - DIMEVET
Brazilian Principal Investigator: Prof. Jaquelline Germano de Oliveira, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fiocruz Minas, Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Molecular
Identification of animal models for papillomavirus cancerogenesis
spontaneous tumors in animals have biological and clinical similarities with human tumors; developing animal models, is a complementary alternative to existing models for identifying prognostic markers and validating new antineoplastic treatments.
The human papilloma virus 16 (HPV16) is already known to directly cause more than 90 percent of cervical cancers in women, and recent evidences suggest that it may also play a role in the development of some types of human breast cancers.
A role of other HPVs has also emerged in human non-melanoma skin cancer and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, where HPVs seem to need some co-carcinogens, such as UV irradiation or other risk factors.
In animals, papillomaviruses are associated to the development of cutaneous papillomas in several species and sarcoid in equines; furthermore, a role of PVs has been hypothesized for feline and equine squamous cell carcinoma (FeSCC) and for canine mammary tumors.
The project is focused on the identification of biological overlapping between human and animal tumors elicited by PVs, in order to identify and validate new spontaneous animal models for PV-induced human cancers.
Research Group
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
- Prof. Giuliano Bettini, DIMEVET
- Prof. Alessandra Scagliarini, DIMEVET
- Dr. Maria Morini, DIMEVET
Dr. Massimiliano Bonafè, Dept. Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES
Dr. Claudio Ceccarelli, DIMES
Dr. Monica Cricca, DIMES
BRAZIL
- Prof. Paulo César Peregrino Ferreira
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas
- Dr. Marcelo Antônio Pascoal-Xavier
Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou
Lab. Imunologia Celular e Molecular
- Dr. Carlos Eduardo Calzavara-Silva
Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Lab. Imunologia Celular e Molecular