Hemoglobinophaties

• Molecular basis, epidemiology and genotype-phenotype relationship of hemoglobinopathies in Southern Italy;
• Biobanking of biological samples from selected patients with hemoglobinopathies;
• Transcriptional analysis of globin mutants by means of reticulocytes and erythroid cell culture in vitro from PBSC (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell) of carriers or by transient transfection in cellular systems;
• Molecular modeling studies and in silico analysis to define the effect of mutations on globin and mRNA stability.
• Data base and software for the population genetic analysis.

Transcriptional and the posttranslational regulation of the Paraoxonase 2

• Transcriptional analysis of the PON2 mRNA isoforms present in epithelial cellular systems and genotype for the most common PON2 variants;
• Silencing of genes in cell lines, by the use of siRNAs and analysis of mRNA modulation of the “PON2 cluster of genes” sharing sequencing in the 3’UTR, by qRT-PCR.

• mRNA Analysis of Frameshift Mutations with Stop Codon in the Last Exon: The Case of Hemoglobins Campania [α1 cod95 (-C)] and Sciacca [α1 cod109 (-C)]. Cardiero G, Musollino G, Prezioso R, Lacerra G. Biomedicines. 2021 Oct 4;9(10):1390. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9101390.
• Effect of Mutations on mRNA and Globin Stability: The Cases of Hb Bernalda/Groene Hart and Hb Southern Italy. Cardiero G, Musollino G, Friscia MG, Testa R, Virruso L, Di Girgenti C, Caldora M, Colella Bisogno R, Gaudiano C, Manco G, Lacerra G. Genes (Basel). 2020 Jul 31;11(8):870. doi: 10.3390/genes11080870.
• WTAP and BIRC3 are involved in the posttranscriptional mechanisms that impact on the expression and activity of the human lactonase PON2. Carusone TM, Cardiero G, Cerreta M, Mandrich L, Moran O, Porzio E, Catara G, Lacerra G°, Manco G°. Cell Death Dis. 2020 May 7;11(5):324. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-2504-2.
• A failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA)-based approach for risk assessment of scientific processes in non-regulated research laboratories. Mascia A, Cirafici AM, Bongiovanni A, Colotti G, Lacerra G, Di Carlo M, Digilio FA, Liguori GL, Lanati A, Kisslinger A. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. 2020 DEC;25(5-6):311-321, DOI10.1007/s00769-020-01441-9
• Role of nonsense-mediated decay and nonsense-associated altered splicing in the mRNA pattern of two new α-thalassemia mutants. Cardiero G, Scarano C, Musollino G, Di Noce F, Prezioso R, Dembech S, La Porta G, Caldora M, Bisconte MG, Colella Bisogno R, Lacerra G. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2017 Oct;91(Pt B):212-222. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2017.07.014.
• Identification and molecular characterization of a novel 163 kb deletion: The Italian (ϵγδβ)(0)-thalassemia. Cardiero G, Prezioso R, Dembech S, Del Vecchio Blanco F, Scarano C, Lacerra G. Hematology. 2016 Jun;21(5):317-24. doi: 10.1080/10245332.2015.1133007.
• Quality-based model for Life Sciences research guidelines. Digilio, FA, Lanati A, Bongiovanni A, Mascia A, Di Carlo M, Barra A, Cirafici AM, Colotti G, Kisslinger A, Lacerra G°, Liguori GL°. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. 2016 JUN;21(3):221-230. Ruolo svolto: Co-ultimo autore
• Applying Quality and Project Management methodologies in biomedical research laboratories: a public research network’s case study. Bongiovanni A, Colotti G, Liguori GL, Di Carlo M, Digilio FA, Lacerra G, Mascia A, Cirafici AM, Barra A, Lanati A, Kisslinger A. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. 2015 Jun;20(3):203-213.
• α-Thalassemia associated with hb instability: a tale of two features. the case of Hb Rogliano or α1 Cod 108(G15)Thr→Asn and Hb Policoro or α2 Cod 124(H7)Ser→Pro. Bisconte MG, Caldora M, Musollino G, Cardiero G, Flagiello A, La Porta G, Lagona L, Prezioso R, Qualtieri G, Gaudiano C, Medulla E, Merlino A, Pucci P, Lacerra G. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 2;10(3):e0115738. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115738.
• South-Italy β°-thalassemia: a novel deletion not removing the γ-globin silencing element and with 3′ breakpoint in a hsRTVL-H element, associated with β°-thalassemia and high levels of HbF. De Angioletti M, Sabato V, Musollino G, Prezioso R, Carestia C, Lacerra G. Haematologica. 2013 Aug;98(8):e98-e100. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.089722.
• Identification and molecular characterization of a novel 55-kb deletion recurrent in southern Italy: the Italian (G) γ((A) γδβ)°-thalassemia. Lacerra G, Prezioso R, Musollino G, Piluso G, Mastrullo L, De Angioletti M. Eur J Haematol. 2013 Mar;90(3):214-9. doi: 10.1111/ejh.12066.
• Molecular mechanisms of a novel β-thalassaemia mutation due to the duplication of tetranucleotide ‘AGCT’ at the junction IVS-II/exon 3. Musollino G, Mastrolonardo G, Prezioso R, Pagano L, Primignani P, Carestia C, Lacerra G. Ann Hematol. 2012 Nov;91(11):1695-701. doi: 10.1007/s00277-012-1526-y.
• Genotype-phenotype relationship of the δ-thalassemia and Hb A(2) variants: observation of 52 genotypes. Lacerra G, Scarano C, Lagona LF, Testa R, Caruso DG, Medulla E, Friscia MG, Mastrullo L, Caldora M, Prezioso R, Gaudiano C, Magnano C, Romeo MA, Musollino G, Di Noce F, Carestia C. Hemoglobin. 2010;34(5):407-23. doi: 10.3109/03630269.2010.511586.
• HbA2-Partinico or delta(A2)Pro–>Thr, a new genetic variation in the delta-globin gene in cis to the beta(+) thal IVS-I-110 G>A, and the heterogeneity of delta-globin alleles in double heterozygotes for beta- and delta-globin gene defects. Lacerra G, Scarano C, Musollino G, Testa R, Prezioso R, Caruso DG, Lagona LF, Medulla E, Friscia MG, Gaudiano C, Carestia C. Ann Hematol. 2010 Feb;89(2):127-34. doi: 10.1007/s00277-009-0784-9.

Education

• 1988 Degree in Biological Sciences summa cum laude, University of Naples “Federico II”.
• 1993 Obtained the diploma to exert the profession of Biologist at the University of Naples.

Appointments

• 1989-present: Research Scientist at the Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR (National Research Council);
• 1999-2000: Visiting scientist at the University of North Carolina, NC, USA;
• 2005-present: Group leader of a research group on Hemoglobinopathies at IGB-CNR.

Research Experience

• Grants Support from Regione Campania, MIUR, CNR-DSB Progetto Bandiera “InterOmics”.
• 2003-present: IGB member in the commission “IGB-IBBR-IBBC-TIGEM mini-library consortium” for sharing the bibliographic heritage.
• Supervisor of fellowship, technician and Master Degree theses.
• Reviewer for ISI scientific journals and International grant sponsor in the field of hematology and molecular biology.
• Design and development of bioinformatics tools as part of MIUR Projects: software “Genowin” for the analysis of data from patients with hemoglobinopathies; web platform http://quality4lab.igb.cnr.it for the cataloging and dissemination of guidelines, model systems and molecular tools.
• Author of more than 40 research papers on international scientific journals.