Massimo Bortolotti

Education

• 2008: PhD in Experimental Pathology at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna. Dissertation title: “Stenodactylin and lanceolin: two new powerful ribosome-inactivating proteins. Purification, chemical-physical characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic mechanisms”. Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Bolognesi.

• 2004: Master Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies (single cycle degree) at Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna (Final mark 110/110 summa cum laude). Experimental thesis: “Chemical synthesis and cytotoxic effects of ATG/saporin-S6 immunotoxin”. Supervisor: Prof. Anna Gasperi-Campani.

Work Experiences

• 2017 - Today: Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine - DIMES (University of Bologna) working on a project entitled: “Study of pathogenic mechanisms of cell intoxication and evaluation of pharmacological efficacy of ribosome-inactivating proteins”.
• 2013 – 2017: Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine - DIMES (University of Bologna) working on a project entitled: “Immunoconjugates containing polynucleotide:adenosine glycosilases for experimental therapy of B lymphoma: evaluation of pathogenic mechanisms of tumor cell intoxication and antitumor efficacy”.
• May 2013 – September 2013: contigent work concerning the insertion of educational contents in Virtual Microscopy site (http://virtualmicroscopy.patologia-sperimentale.unibo.it/).
• 2009 – 2012: Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Experimental Pathology (University of Bologna) working on a project entitled: “Immunotoxins containing ribosome-inactivating proteins for selective depletion of pathological lymphocytic cells”.
• 2008 – 2009: Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Experimental Pathology (University of Bologna) working on a project entitled: “Immunotoxins containing ribosome-inactivating proteins for selective depletion of lymphocytic cells expressing the co-stimolatory antigen CD152 (CTLA-4)”.

Main Research Topics

• Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs): 1) Identification, purification and characterization of new RIPs. 2) Identification of ricin, a toxic type 2 RIP, in complex matrices; isolation, chemical-physical analysis and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of the toxin, considered a chemical weapon and included in Table 1 by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). 3) Study on the distribution in nature and physiological role of RIPs. 4) Study of pathogenetic mechanisms of RIP intoxication, with particular regard to binding, endocytosis and intracellular routing. 5) Study of the temporal sequence of rRNA, DNA or other substrate damage and analysis of induced cell death pathways.
• Immunotoxins: 1) Design and construction of new immunotoxins (antibody-toxin conjugates) through chemical modification and conjugation, in order to obtain specifically toxic pharmacological molecules towards cell targets responsible for a pathological state. 2) In vitro and in vivo studies of immunotoxins for experimental therapy of tumors. 3) In vitro and in vivo studies of immunotoxins for the prevention and therapy of GvHD and transplant rejection. 4) Studies about the employ of toxins or immunotoxins for molecular microsurgery, with particular regards to the treatment of strabismus and oculomotor dystonia.
• Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR): study of the physiological and pathological functions of XOR and of the circulating products of its enzymatic activity.

Honors

• 2012: Award for scientific contribution at XXXI National Conference of Italian Pathology Society and Translational Medicine.
• 2008: “Luciano Balli” award for best scientific works presented at First national Congress of Biotechnology Medicine and Health.
• 2006: Award to a young scientist for the best scientific contribution at XXVIII National Conference of Italian Pathology Society.
• 2005: “Tonino Pistani” graduation award for best graduated student in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies.

Teaching

• 2007 – Today: Exam committee member for the following Course Units: General Pathology; General Pathology and Immunology (First Cycle Degree programme (L) in Nursing, School of Medicine) - General Pathology; General Pathology II (First cycle degree programme (L) in Podology, School of Medicine) – General Pathology and Physiopathology (Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Pharmacy and Biotechnology) – General Pathology and Physiopathology (Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine); General Pathology (First Cycle Degree/Bachelor in Dietistic, School of Medicine) - History of Medicine; Bioethics and History of Bioethics (First Cycle Degree Course in Dental Hygiene).
• 2010 – Today: Academic tutoring activities (e-learning) for the Course Unit of General Pathology Lab (Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine)

Academic Positions

• 2014 – 2016; 2018 - today: member of the Council of the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine - DIMES (University of Bologna) as representative of Research Fellows.
• 2006 - 2007: member of the Council of the Department of Experimental Pathology (University of Bologna) as representative of PhD students.

Editorial Activity

• 2016 - Today: peer-reviewer for Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049), Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059) and Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651).
• 2019: Guest Editor of Special Issues for Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651) and Frontiers in Pharmacology (ISSN1663-9812).
• 2019: Reviewer Editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology (ISSN1663-9812).