Developed skills and lines of research

Enrico Millo earned his degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies in 1993 and a degree in Pharmacy in 1994. In 2002, he obtained a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology Applied to the Biomedical Field. Since 2009, he has been affiliated with the Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR) at the University of Genoa. As of November 1, 2017, he has served as an Associate Professor in the scientific-disciplinary sector BIO/10 Biochemistry at the Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Biochemistry Section, at the University of Genoa.

His main research topics include the design, synthesis, and characterization of peptide nucleic acids (PNA) for antisense and antigene strategies; the synthesis of molecules with conventional, retro-inverse, and peptidomimetic peptide structures; the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides with antiviral action; the synthesis and characterization of structural analogs of abscisic acid as potential anti-inflammatory drugs; and the design and synthesis of thiazole-based molecules for cystic fibrosis studies.

Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Principal Investigator or as Research Manager

FFC#9/2021
Lead optimization of MKT-077 analogues as HSP70 allosteric inhibitors combined with F508del CFTR correctors: a multi-drug approach to contrast cystic fibrosis

FFC#6/2017
Pharmacophore and pharmacokinetic filtering tools guiding for the design and synthesis of novel thiazole-containing and VX-809 hybrid derivatives as F508del correctors

FFC#7/2015
Aminoarylthiazole derivatives as correctors of the chloride transport defect in novel cystic fibrosis: computer assisted drug design, synthesis and biological evaluation

Projects financed by FFC Ricerca as a partner

FFC#2/2012
Development of novel strategies to correct the chloride transport defect in cystic fibrosis

FFC#2/2009
Development of small molecules to correct the defective chloride transport in cystic fibrosis

Publications from FFC Research projects

Ferrera L., Caputo A, Ubby I et al., Regulation of TMEM16A chloride channel properties by alternative Splicing. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2009, 284(48):33360-8

Sondo E., Tomati V., Caci E. et al., Rescue of the mutant CFTR chloride channel by pharmacological correctors and low temperature analyzed by gene expression profiling. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2011, 301(4):C872-85

Ferrera L., Scudieri P., Sondo E. et al., A minimal isoform of the TMEM16A protein associated with chloride channel activity. BBA- Biomembranes, 2011, 1808(9):2214-23

Budriesi R., Ioan P, Leoni A. et al., Cystic fibrosis: a new target for 4-Imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-1, 4-dihydropyridines. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2011, 54(11):3885-94

Giampieri M., Vanthuyne N., Nieddu E. et al., Asymmetric 4-Aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines potentiate mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. ChemMedChem, 2012, 7(10):1799-807

Scudieri P., Sondo E., Ferrera L. et al., The anoctamin family: TMEM16A and TMEM16B as calcium-activated chloride channels. Experimental Physiology, 2012, 97(2):177-83

Scudieri P., Caci E., Bruno S. et al., Association of TMEM16A Chloride Channel overexpression with airway goblet cell metaplasia. Journal of Physiology, 2012, 590(23):6141-55

Sondo E., Scudieri P., Tomati V. et al., Non-canonical translation start sites in the TMEM16A chloride channel, BBA, 2013, 1838(1 Pt B):89-97

Scudieri P., Sondo E., Caci E. et al., TMEM16A-TMEM16B chimaeras to investigate the structure-function relationship of calcium-activated chloride channels. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2013, 452(3):443-55

Altamura N., Castaldo R., Finotti A. et al., Tobramycin is a suppressor of premature termination codons. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2013, 12(6):806-11

Sondo E., Caci E., Galietta LJ. The TMEM16A chloride channel as an alternative therapeutic target in cystic fibrosis. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 2014, 52:73-6

Carbone A., Castellani S., Favia M. et al., Correction of defective CFTR/ENaC function and tightness of cystic fibrosis airway epithelium by amniotic mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells. J. Cell. Mol. Med., 2014, 18(8):1631-43

Pesce E., Bellotti M., Liessi N. et al., Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of aminoarylthiazole derivatives as correctors of the chloride transport defect in cystic fibrosis. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2015, 99:14-35

Caci E., Scudieri P., Di Carlo E. et al., Upregulation of TMEM16A Protein in Bronchial Epithelial Cells by Bacterial Pyocyanin. PLoS ONE, 2015, 10(6):e0131775

Liessi N, Cichero E, Pesce E et al. Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel thiazole- VX-809 hybrid derivatives as F508del correctors by QSAR-based filtering tools. Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Jan 20;144:179-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.12.030. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Nara Liessi, Elena Cichero, Emanuela Pesce, Nicoletta Pedemonte, Annalisa Salis, Bruno Tasso, Gianluca Damonte, Giada Righetti, Paola Fossa and Enrico Millo. Pharmacophore and pharmacokinetic filtering tools guiding for the design and synthesis of novel thiazole-containing and VX-809 hybrid derivatives as F508del correctors. The Proceedings of the 16th Italian Convention of Investigators in Cystic Fibrosis. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 2019, 14 (Suppl 1):5