High School Human

Dr. Rossella Messina

***** ****** ***** ** – Apt 261 San Diego, CA 92130 858-***-****

abh8d1@r.postjobfree.com

Italian Citizenship, currently on a J1 status since May 2009.

Work and Research Experience

• Feb ‘10 to Now – Post-Doctoral Researcher under the supervision of Dr. Nunzio Bottini at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and

Immunology, La Jolla, CA. My research focuses on structural and inhibition studies of lymphoid protein tyrosine phosphatase

involved in type I diabetes using Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (DXMS) technique.

• Feb ’10 – Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Pharmaceutical Sciences department of University of Catania, Italy, with

a thesis entitled “Effect of 2-benzo[d]thiazolyl- and 2-benzo[d]isothiazolyl-imino-5-benzylidene-4-thiazolidinone derivatives

in human articular chondrocyte metabolism”, advisor Prof. Annamaria Panico.

• May ‘09 to Dec ‘09 – Visitor graduate student under the supervision of Dr. Virgil Woods Jr. at School of Medicine of

University of California San Diego. I worked on the evaluation of the binding sites of MMP-12 with a nanomolar

Hydroxammic acid inhibitor using Deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (DXMS) technique. Aim of the research was to

verify the amminoacidic residues mainly involved in the MMP-12 activity and his potential use for the treatment of

pathologies were MMP-12 is over-expressed.

• Jan ‘07 to Jan ‘10 – PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Annamaria Panico at Pharmaceutical Sciences department of

University of Catania, Italy. My doctoral research focused on in-vitro studies of cartilage damage and inflammation through

the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity and chondroprotective effect of synthetic inhibitors. In particular during the last

year I focused my attention on the capability of some heterocyclic derivatives to inhibit the Metalloproteinases (MMPs)

activity mainly involved in cartilage damage (in-vitro IC 50 studies).

• Sep ‘07 to Jul ‘08 – Master student in Mass Spectrometry Methods and Applications at Pharmaceutical Sciences department of

University of Palermo, Italy (mark: 100/100). This master consisted of theoretical and applicative classes describing all the

possible types of mass spectrometers and all the application in toxicology, food and drug analysis and pharmaceuticals.

• May ‘06 to Dec ‘06 – Visiting researcher under the supervision of Dr. Roberta Pastorelli at molecular toxicology department,

proteomic unit at Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy. During this period I worked on the

evaluation of proteins expression in rat livers treated with Dioxin through the use of IEF and 2D gels and analysis of protein

mass through a Maldi - Tof spectrometer.

• Oct ‘99 to Oct ’05 – Graduate student for MS degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and technology at pharmaceutical sciences

department at University of Catania, Italy (mark: 110/110), with a thesis entitled “In vivo evaluation of the protective effect of

soy bean germs oil on skin damaged induced by UV-B radiations”, advisor F. Bonina.

• Jul ’99 – Scientific High School diploma (mark 84/100) at Liceo Scientifico Principe Umberto di Savoia, Catania, Italy.

PhD Thesis abstract

OA is the result of imbalance between synthesis and degradation of articular cartilage components, where radicals (ROS and

NO), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b) and MMPs (MMP-3 and MMP-13) are over produced. The present report expands upon our

initial study of substituted and unsubstituted 5-benzylidene 2-benzo[d]thiazolyl- and 2-benzo[d]isothiazolylimino-4-

thiazolidinone isomers by presenting important data on their anti-inflammatory/antidegenerative activity. We investigated the

influence of each derivative on the production of cell vitality, NO, GAGs, and performed in vitro inhibition efficiency against

MMP-3 and MMP-13, key molecules involved in cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis diseases.Human chondrocytes were

treated with IL-1β in the presence of these derivatives at different concentration (10 to 100 μg/mL). After 120 h, the amount of

glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the inhibition of metalloproteinase (MMP-3 - 13) were

measured. The progressive destruction of articular cartilage is one of the hallmarks of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cartilage degradation is attributed to different classes of catabolic factors, including proinflammatory cytokines, aggrecanases,

matrix metalloproteinase, and nitric oxide.

Master Thesis abstract

My research interest during my Master thesis was focused on the “in vivo” evaluation of photoprotective, anti-inflammatory

and antiradicals activity of a preparation and detailed composition of an oil newly extracted from pure soy germ (not less than 96

% hypocotyle). Experiments in vivo, showed that soybean-germ oil (SGO) possesses a remarkable protective activity against

UVB-induced skin inflammation, exceeding that of tocopherol acetate by a factor of 2. These results suggested that SGO might

have interesting therapeutic and cosmetic applications in the management of skin diseases initiated, sustained, or exacerbated by

an over production of free radicals.

International Publication

Journal Papers:

A. Panico, V. Cardile, N. A. Santagati, and R. Messina “Antioxidant and Protective Effects of Sumac Leaves on Chondrocytes,”

Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, vol 3, issue 11, pp. 855-861, Nov 2009.

G. Frasca, A. Panico, F. Bonina, R. Messina, L. Rizza, G. Musumeci, and V. Cardile “ Involvement of Inducible Nitric Oxide

Synthase (INOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Red Orange Extract in Human

Chondrocytes,” Natural Product Research Manuscript, Vol 15, pp. 1469-80, Sep 2010

A. Panico, R. Messina, P. Vicini, V. Cardile, and M. Fragai “Effect of 2-BENZO[d]THIAZOLYL- and 2-

BENZO[d]ISOTHIAZOLYL-IMINO-5-BENZYLIDENE-4-THIAZOLIDINONE Derivatives in Human Articular Chondrocyte

Metabolism,” submitted to journal ChemMedChem, Sep 2010.

S. M. Stanford, D. Krishnamurthy, M. Falk, R. Messina, B. Debnath, S. Li, R. Kazemi, R. Dahl, Y. He, X. Yu, A. C. Chan, Z. Y.

Zhang, A. M. Barrios, V. L. Woods Jr, N. Neamati, and N. Bottini “Discovery of a novel series of Inhibitors of Lymphoid

Tyrosine Phospatase with activity in human T cells,” submitted to Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Oct 2010.

Conference Papers:

P. Vicini, A. Geronikaki, M. Incerti, R. Messina, S. Ronsisvalle, and A. Panico “Antidegenerative Activity of Heteroarylimino-

4-Thiazolidinones on Human Chondrocyte Cultures Stimulated by IL-1beta,” 20th International Symposium on Medicinal

Chemistry, Aug 2008.

R. Messina, A. Panico, S. Rnsisvalle, M. Fragai, A. Geronikaki, and P. Vicini “2-Heteroarylimino-5-Benzylidene-4-

Thiazolidinones as new Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases-13,” 20th International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry,

Aug 2008.

A. Panico, F. Garufi, R. Messina, and N. A. Santagati “Antioxidant Activity of Aloe Arborescenes var. Etnea Flowers: a Plus for

Health,” III Congresso Intersocietà sulle Piante Medicinali, FITOMED, Jun 2008.

R. Messina, A. Panico, V. Cardile, M. Fragai, M. Incerti, and P. Vicini “Effect of 2-Benzo[D]Thiazolyl- and 2-

Benzo[D]Isothiazolyl-Imino-5-Benzylidene-4-Thiazolidinone Derivatives in Human Articular Chondrocyte Metabolism,” XXIII

Congresso Nazionale della Società Chimica Italiana, Jul 2009.

R. Messina, A. Panico, V. Cardile, M. Fragai, M. Incerti, and P. Vicini “Effect of 2-Benzo[D]Thiazolyl- and 2-

Benzo[D]Isothiazolyl-Imino-5-Benzylidene-4-Thiazolidinone Derivatives in Human Articular Chondrocyte Metabolism,” 5th

International Symposium on Computational Methods in Toxicology and Pharmacology Integrating Internet Resources, Jul

2009.

Working and Technical Skills:

Strong character; great motivation; good skills; ability to meet deadlines and objectives, work independently and in a

competitive environment.

Operating Systems: Windows (XP, 2003, Vista); Mac OS X.

Office Automation: Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint); Prisma.

Technical Computer Tools: Pymol, Sierra Analytics DXMS software.

Laboratory Analysis Techniques: Western Blot; Expression, isolation, and purification of intracellular proteins; Deuterium

Exchange Mass Spectrometry; insects, mammalian and bacteria cells cultures; in-vitro enzyme inhibitory activities; Real

time PCR; DNA extraction.

Languages:

Italian (mother tongue), and English (fluent).

San Diego, dicembre 31, 2012

Rossella Messina

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