An experimentally representative in-silico protocol for dynamical studies of lyophilised and weakly hydrated amorphous proteins

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An experimentally representative in-silico protocol for dynamical studies of lyophilised and weakly hydrated amorphous proteins

Understanding the stability and activity of freeze dried bio-macromolecules at low degrees of hydration is crucial for pharmaceutical and food industries. However, the building of in silico models for dynamical studies at a molecular level needs careful consideration. In this work, researchers of the Department of Chemical Science and Technologies of the University of Rome Tor Vergata in collaboration with Dr Mark Telling (STFC, ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK) propose a modelling protocol that mimics experimental protein lyophilization, and proteins in weakly hydrated amorphous states, and validate it against experimental neutron scattering data.

The study has been published on Communication Chemistry on 12 April 2024 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-024-01167-6).

Two proteins of different structural complexity are investigated: apoferritin and insulin, illustrated on the left and right, respectively, in the figure.

12 researchers from our Department in the World’s Top 2% Scientists

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12 researchers from our Department in the World’s Top 2% Scientists

The Top 2% Most Influential Scientists’ List, published by Stanford University, represents a prestigious recognition honoring researchers whose work has had a significant impact in their respective scientific fields. Selected from a pool of approximately 9 million researchers globally, the list covers 22 scientific areas and 174 subcategories, comprising the top 2% of the world’s best researchers. Divided into two lists — one covering the entire career span (1996-2022) and the other focusing on the latest year’s contributions (2022 citations) — this compilation attests to the quality, quantity, and dissemination of scientific publications produced by researchers in their respective fields of study.

In the 2023 ranking, 89 researchers from the University of Rome Tor Vergata earned recognition for the year 2022 category, while 86 excelled in the category encompassing their entire careers.

Notably, 12 researchers within the Top 2% belong to the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, affirming its excellence. Here are their names (in alphabetical order):

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Call of interest for position of Associate Professor in  Organic Chemistry

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In the framework of the Dipartimenti di Eccellenza program of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” will open soon a call for an academic position for one Associate Professor in organic chemistry.

Additional information on request from Prof. Massimo Bietti (mail: bietti@uniroma2.it)

The Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies among the 180 Departments of excellence 2023-2027 of Italian universities

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The Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies among the 180 Departments of excellence 2023-2027 of Italian universities

X-CHEM “eXpanding CHEMistry: implementing excellence in research and teaching” is the name of the project with which the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies was selected among the 11 Departments funded in the Chemistry area within the 180 Departments of Excellence 2023-2027 .

X-CHEM represents for the DSTC the opportunity to become not only a national but also a European reference point in the Chemistry area, with the aim of permanently entering among the best 100 European Departments, developing new synergies through interaction and collaboration among all the research groups of the various thematic areas present in the Department, thanks also to the creation of an advanced microscopy infrastructure.

The project aims to enhance interdisciplinary activities in the sectors of Energy Transition, Health and Environment coordinated in order to offer a contribution to the resolution of global challenges, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development identified in the Italian and European strategic plans (European Green Deal, Horizon Europe, PNRR, PNR 2021-2027, PNIR), in line with the regional and national Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation.

As part of the X-CHEM project, research projects for young researchers, doctoral scholarships and a fund for visiting professors will also be financed to increase the degree of internationalization of the two reference doctorate courses (Chemical Sciences and Materials for Health, Environment and Energy). The individual economic endowment of PhD students will also be increased, increasing the possibility of participating in international schools, workshops and congresses and of carrying out research activities in collaboration with national and/or international groups.

In terms of human resources, the recruitment of a professor, five researchers, two units of laboratory technical staff, two technical-administrative staff and the activation of four two-year research contracts are envisaged.

The overall value of the X-CHEM project (5 years) is € 7,125,690.

Friday 11 November | Biophysics and genetics at the Lincei – Kurt Wütrich and Lucio Luzzatto – Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei

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Friday 11 November | Biophysics and genetics at the Lincei – Kurt Wütrich and Lucio Luzzatto – Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei

At the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Palazzo Corsini, Via della Lungara 10, Rome), the lectures della Classe di Scienze Fisiche Matematiche e Naturali.

Program detail:
Ore 14:45 – Kurt Wüthrich, The Molecules of Life: DNA, RNA, Proteins – History Placed in Perspective;
Ore 15:30 – Lucio Luzzatto, Mutations and selection in Haematopoiesis;

To participate, Registration is required
Live streaming at this address.
More information is available on the website of Lincei

Program

Dr Williane Da Silva Freitas winner of the 2022 Doctoral Award of the Electrochemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society

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The Electrochemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society awarded Dr Williane Da Silva Freitas with the 2022 Doctoral Prize “Fondazione Oronzio e Niccolò De Nora” for a PhD thesis entitled “Development of Platinum Group Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Electrochemical Devices”.

Dr Freitas’s work was carried out in thePhD program in Chemical Sciences of the Department of Chemical Science and Technologies of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

The research activity was carried out within the MaDE@UTV research group under the supervision of Prof. Barbara Mecheri, dealing with the development of electrocatalysts based on non-noble metals for applications in Fuel Cells.

Winners of the 2022

New article published in the US scientific journal PNAS

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Published a study that reveals a strategy used by bacteria against the defense molecules of our innate immune system

Our body produces molecules, called antimicrobial peptides, which defend us against infections, including those caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotic treatments. However, a new study has shown that bacteria can become immune to these defenses, thickening and staying close together, a bit like soldiers of the Macedonian phalanx or the tortoise formation of the Roman legions did. The research, entitled “Inoculum effect of antimicrobial peptides”, is the result of a collaboration between the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Sapienza University of Rome, the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of Copenhagen and the results have been published in the prestigious journal of American Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA (PNAS).

Click here to read the article on the PNAS website

Francesco Ricci receives the Luigi Galvani Prize from the Bioelectrochemical Society (BES)

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Our colleague Francesco Ricci obtained the prestigious “Luigi Galvani Prize” which since 1985 has been awarded every two years by the Bioelectrochemical Society to a scientist under 45 who has made an important contribution to the field of bioelectrochemistry.

The award, never previously won by an Italian, was officially conferred on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the XXVI International Symposium on Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics which was held on May 9, 2021 electronically.

SPlastica winner of the “Unindustria Award”

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SPlastica winner of the “Unindustria Award”

SPlastica, innovative start up and spin off of Tor Vergata University is the winner of the 5th edition of the “Unirsi per l’Impresa” award, for the category “Startup Innovative Unindustria Award”.

On Thursday 17th September, the final stage of the competition and the award ceremony was held at Unindustria headquarters in the presence of the President of Unindustria Filippo Tortoriello, the President of the Young Entrepreneurs Group Giulio Natalizia and Paolo Orneli, Councillor for Economic Development, Trade and Craftsmanship, Research, Startup and Innovation of REGIONE LAZIO.

The award was established in order to support the growth of innovative companies, through partnership with the manufacturing and services system of Lazio, as a driving force for the economic growth of the Lazio production system and competitiveness on the national and international market. All projects with a strong innovative content have been admitted, in terms of product and/or service, process and management.

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