Prof.ssa Francesca Pica, M.D., Ph.D
Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum
Nata a Roma il 18 Settembre 1959. Stato civile: coniugata, tre figlie.
Posizione accademica:
Professore Associato Confermato di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (MED/07) presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1 - 00133 Roma, Italia.
Tel. 06 72596462 o 72596581; Indirizzo e-mail: pica@uniroma2.it
ISTRUZIONE E CARRIERA ACCADEMICA
1977 Diploma di Maturità Scientifica conseguita presso il Liceo Scientifico "Isacco Newton" di Roma, con la votazione di 60/60
1983 Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia conseguita presso l'Università di Roma "La Sapienza" con la votazione di 110/110 cum laude
1984 Abilitazione alla professione di Medico Chirurgo, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" ed iscrizione all'Albo dell'Ordine dei Medici di Roma e Provincia. Numero d’ordine: 34308
1989 Dottore di Ricerca in " Microbiologia Medica Sperimentale " (II ciclo), l'Università degli Studi di Pisa
1991 Diploma di Specializzazione in Malattie Infettive, con la votazione di 70/70 cum laude, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"
1989-1995 Inquadrata nel ruolo di Ricercatore ex-art.36 presso l'Istituto di Medicina Sperimentale (I.M.S.) del Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.) di Roma
1995 Vince il concorso pubblico, per titoli ed esami, ad 1 posto di Ricercatore Universitario per il settore scientifico-disciplinare F05X Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (oggi MED/07), bandito con decreto del Rettore dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata del 05.11.1993 e pubblicato sulla G.U. n°10 bis, IV serie speciale del 04.02.1994.
Il 02.11.1995, prende servizio come Ricercatore Universitario di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica F05X (oggi MED/07) presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università di Roma Tor Vergata ed inizia così la propria carriera accademica.
1998 Viene confermata nel ruolo di Ricercatore Universitario F05X Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (oggi MED/07) presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università di Roma Tor Vergata
2001 Dichiarata IDONEA nella valutazione comparativa ad 1 posto di Professore Associato per il settore scientifico-disciplinare F05X Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (oggi MED/07), indetta dall'Università degli Studi di Torino e pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale - IV serie speciale - n.81 del 17/10/2000
2002 Nominata Professore Associato di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (MED/07) presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
2005 Confermata nel ruolo di Professore Associato di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (MED/07) presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, in regime di impegno a tempo pieno, ruolo ricoperto fino ad oggi.
ATTIVITA' DIDATTICA
Dall’a.a. 2002/2003 ad oggi: Docente titolare di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (MED/07) presso i Corsi di Laurea Triennale, Magistrale e Specialistica della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università di Roma Tor Vergata:
- Microbiologia (3 CFU) nell’ambito del Corso Integrato di Microbiologia (Totale: 10 CFU) - 2° anno, II semestre - Corso di Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia – Italiano. E’ Coordinatore di tale Corso Integrato dal 2023.
- Microbiology (5 CFU), Integrated Course of Microbiology (Total: 10 CFU) – 2nd year, II semester - International Medical School - Degree in Medicine and Surgery - English. E’ Coordinatore di tale Corso Integrato dal 2017.
- Batteriologia e Microbiologia Pratica (3 CFU) nell’ambito del Corso Integrato di Microbiologia, 2° anno, II semestre - Corso di Laurea in Tecnico di Laboratorio Biomedico. (dal 2002 al 2023)
- Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (1 CFU), nell’ambito del Corso Integrato di Patologia Generale e Fisiopatologia - 1° anno, II semestre - (Totale: 6 CFU) - Corso di Laurea in Scienze Infermieristiche. E’ Coordinatore di tale Corso Integrato.
- Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica (1 CFU), nell’ambito del Corso Integrato di Patologia Generale e Fisiopatologia del 1° anno, II semestre (Totale: 6 CFU) - Corso di Laurea in ostetricia. E’ Coordinatore di tale Corso Integrato.
- Microbiologia (2 CFU) nell’ambito del Corso Integrato di Microbiologia e Patologia, 1° anno, II semestre (Totale: 10 CFU) - Corso di Laurea in Igiene Dentale. E’ Coordinatore di tale Corso Integrato.
Incarichi di insegnamento in CORSI DI LAUREA INTERNAZIONALE tenuti in INGLESE in Italia: Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
academic year 2018/2019
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (1 CFU), 1st year, II semester, Degree in Nursing, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences.
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (2 CFU), 1st year, II semester, Degree in Midwifery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences
academic year 2019/2020
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
academic year 2020/2021
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, 1st semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
- Bacteriological, Virological and Mycologycal Diagnostic (3 CFU), 3rd year-1st semester Degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technician
academic year 2021/2022
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
academic year 2022/2023
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
Scuole di Specializzazione -Dal 1995 ad oggi: Docente Titolare (3 CFU) presso la Scuola di Specializzazione in MICROBIOLOGIA E VIROLOGIA della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1995-2008 Docente Titolare (1 CFU) presso la Scuola di Specializzazione in MALATTIE INFETTIVE della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
Dal 2015 Docente Titolare (1 CFU) presso la Scuola di Specializzazione in MALATTIE DELL’ APPARATO RESPIRATORIO della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università di Roma Tor Vergata
Dal 2015 Docente Titolare (1 CFU) presso la Scuola di Specializzazione in ODONTOIATRIA PEDIATRICA della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
Dal 2023 Docente Titolare (1 CFU) presso la Scuola di Specializzazione in IGIENE E MEDICINA PREVENTIVA della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
Dottorato di Ricerca
Dal 2002 ad oggi: Membro del Collegio dei Docenti nel Corso di Dottorato di Ricerca in “Microbiologia, immunologia e malattie infettive”, che dal 2012 ha cambiato denominazione in "Microbiologia, Immunologia, Malattie Infettive, Trapianti (MIMIT) ”- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
Master e Corsi di Perfezionamento
2009/2010 Docente nel Corso di Perfezionamento in "Gestione Clinica delle Resistenze ai Farmaci Antivirali" dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
Dal 2017 ad oggi, Docente di Microbiologia nel Master di I Livello in “Nutrizione e Cosmesi”, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata. (Argomenti del corso: il Microbiota intestinale in salute e in malattia; Microrganismi causa di infezioni, tossinfezioni ed intossicazioni alimentari; Igiene e sicurezza alimentare; Sicurezza microbiologica dei cosmetici: norme legislative e test di laboratorio).
2017/2018 Docente di Microbiologia, Patologia Generale e Clinica nel Master Universitario di I Livello in “Management del rischio infettivo correlato all’assistenza sanitaria” , Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
2019/2020 Docente di Microbiologia, Patologia Generale e Clinica nel Master Universitario di I Livello in “Management del rischio infettivo correlato all’assistenza sanitaria” , Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
2020/2021 Docente di Microbiologia, Patologia Generale e Clinica nel Master Universitario di I Livello in “Management del rischio infettivo correlato all’assistenza sanitaria” , Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
ATTIVITA' SCIENTIFICA
Dal 1995, Responsabile di un Laboratorio di Virologia, Immunologia e Biologia Cellulare del Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
Ha ricevuto numerosi finanziamenti per la ricerca da enti statali (MIUR, ISS, CNR).
Ha partecipato come PI o componente a numerose ricerche nazionali e internazionali.
Membro di Comitato Scientifico ed Invited Speaker a numerosi congressi e simposi nazionali ed internazionali.
Vincitore di premi scientifici in congressi internazionali.
Visiting Researcher presso la Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University di New York, NY, su invito di Patrick Steven Moore, allora Professor of Public Health Division of Epidemiology della struttura, oggi Director, Cancer Virology Program, UPCI Professor, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Editorial Board Member di Antibiotics_an Open Access Journal by MDPI (IF= 4.8)
Per Antibiotics, è anche Section Board Member and Guest Editor di uno Special Issue dal titolo “Epidemiology, Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial therapy: A Shared Effort Against Infectious Diseases” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/antibiotics/special_issues/2277C21731)
Reviewer per riviste scientifiche internazionali: International Journal of Immunopharmacology, Herpes Journal, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Molecular Cancer, Plos One, BMC Cancer, BMC Infectious Diseases, Expert Opinion Biological Therapy, Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int., Microorganisms, Antibiotics
Autore o coautore di oltre 200 prodotti scientifici, tra cui pubblicazioni scientifiche per la maggior parte su riviste internazionali con peer-review, abstracts e capitoli di libri.
Curatore di due edizioni italiane successive del testo Medical Microbiology di Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA:
- (2007) MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA - Quinta Edizione. Di Murray Patrick R.; Pfaller Michael A.; Rosenthal Ken S.. Roma:EMSI-Edizioni mediche scientifiche internazionali, ISBN: 978-88-86669-56-6
- (2010). MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA - Sesta Edizione. Di Murray Patrick R.; Pfaller Michael A.; Rosenthal Ken S.. TORINO:Elsevier Masson, ISBN: 9788821431692
Parametri attività scientifica
Researchgate Interest Score 883.1 - Citations 2.025 - H-index= 28
Google Scholar: 150 docs; Total citations = 2605; H-index = 31; i10-index = 57
SCOPUS Author: 91 documents; H-index = 27; Total citations = 1779
Linee di Ricerca
Patogenesi e clinica delle infezioni sostenute da Virus Erpetici (in particolare HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV e HHV-8/KSHV).
Aspetti biologici e clinici della risposta immune antivirale dell'ospite.
Azione antivirale delle prostaglandine (PGA, PGJ2 e Delta-12-PGJ2) in vitro ed in vivo.
Timosina alfa 1 (Ta1): azione immunomodulante di Ta1, in combinazione con IFN o IL-2, in modelli sperimentali di immunosoppressione da tumori, sostanze di abuso, infezioni virali; studio sui livelli sierici di Ta1 in individui sani e affetti da varie patologie (sepsi, malattie infiammatorie croniche e autoimmuni, tumori).
Espressione di Retrovirus endogeni umani e relazione con patologie del neurosviluppo.
Aspetti microbiologici e clinici delle Infezioni Correlate all’assistenza (ICA). Sono state oggetto di studio in particolare le infezioni dell’apparato respiratorio in ambito ospedaliero.
Contaminazione microbica di dispositivi in uso (smartphone) e loro ruolo nella trasmissione di agenti infettivi in ambito ospedaliero. Studio su personale ospedaliero in formazione.
Patogeni fungini. Candida albicans e nuove Candida spp. Studio in vitro sull’attività antifungina di retinoidi ed altri composti naturali.
Collaborazioni con gruppi di ricerca nazionali e internazionali
1992-2016 Allan L. Goldstein, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA (Studi sulla azione immunomodulante e antitumorale della Timosina alfa 1 in modelli sperimentali animali di immunosoppressione da farmaci, tumore e infezione virale. Più di recente studio sui livelli sierici di timosina alfa 1 in individui sani ed in pazienti con sepsi, patologie infiammatorie croniche e tumori).
1990-2000 Maria Gabriella Santoro, Cattedra di Virologia, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italia. (Studi sul meccanismo dell’azione antivirale di vari tipi di prostaglandine, da sole o in combinazione con IFN, in modelli di infezione virale in vitro).
1992-1996 Federico Cozzolino, Istituto di Neurobiologia e Medicina Molecolare (INMM), Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Roma. A seguire, Docente di Scienze e Tecniche di Medicina di Laboratorio e direttore del laboratorio “Biology and Pharmacology of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases”, presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’Università di Firenze. (Studi sperimentali su NGF e linfociti in modelli sperimentali animali).
1988-2018 Antonio Volpi - Cattedra di Malattie Infettive dell’Università Sapienza in Roma e successivamente Cattedra di Malattie Infettive dell'Università di Roma Tor Vergata (Studi di virologia generale e di epidemiologia e clinica delle infezioni da virus erpetici)
1990-1993 Filippo Belardelli, Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Ematologia, I.S.S., Roma (Studi sperimentali di chemio-immuno terapia in topi iniettati i.m. ed e.v. con cellule di Eritroleucemia di Friend)
1996-1998 Patrick Steven Moore, Professor of Public Health Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (al tempo della collaborazione), oggi Director, Cancer Virology Program, UPCI Professor, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. (Studi sul virus KSHV/HHV8 e sulla relazione tra NGF e cellule di linfoma effusivo primario [PEL] che ospitano HHV8 ma non EBV).
2011-2013 Juergen Haas, Division of Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, U.K. and Max von Pettenkofer Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, 80336 München, Germany. (Studi su HSV e IFN-lambda)
Progetti di ricerca (Responsabile Scientifico o Componente di U.O.) 1989-1993 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto Finalizzato C.N.R. "Prevenzione e controllo dei fattori di malattia (FATMA)" - Sottoprogetto 3. 1992 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto di ricerca Nazionale "Immunodiagnosi", finanziato dal MURST. 1992-1996 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto Finalizzato CNR "Applicazioni cliniche nella ricerca oncologica" (ACRO) - Sottoprogetto 8 - Trattamento di tumori solidi in fase avanzata con associazioni di farmaci immunomodulanti e chemioterapia.
1996-2009 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto di ricerca dal titolo "Chemio-immunoterapia delle infezioni e dei tumori". Finanziamento per la Ricerca Scientifica di Ateneo (ex-quota 60%) 1997 Componente di U.O. nel PRIN dal titolo "Meccanismi di regolazione della morte cellulare - Unità di ricerca: L'apoptosi nella omeostasi e nella patologia associata ad infezioni virali del sistema immunitario."
1998 Componente di U.O. nel PRIN dal titolo "L'apoptosi nella patologia associata alle infezioni da retrovirus umani e da HHV-8." 1998-1999 Responsabile Scientifico del Progetto dal titolo "Relazione tra HHV-8, elevati livelli sierici di NGF e sviluppo di KS in soggetti con infezione da HIV: implicazioni patogenetiche, diagnostiche e terapeutiche.", nell'ambito del Secondo Programma Nazionale di Ricerca sull'AIDS - Sottoprogetto: "Infezioni opportunistiche e tubercolosi" 2000-2001 Responsabile Scientifico del Progetto dal titolo "Relazione tra HHV-8, elevati livelli sierici di NGF e sviluppo di KS in soggetti con infezione da HIV: implicazioni patogenetiche, diagnostiche e terapeutiche.", nell'ambito del Terzo Programma Nazionale di Ricerca sull'AIDS - Sottoprogetto: "Infezioni opportunistiche e tubercolosi" 2000 Componente di U.O. nel PRIN dal titolo "L'apoptosi nell'eziopatogenesi delle infezioni virali."
2002-2003 Responsabile Scientifico del Progetto dal titolo "Relazione tra HHV-8, elevati livelli sierici di NGF e sviluppo di KS in soggetti con infezione da HIV: implicazioni patogenetiche, diagnostiche e terapeutiche.", nell'ambito del Quarto Programma Nazionale di Ricerca sull'AIDS - Sottoprogetto: "Infezioni opportunistiche e tubercolosi"
2002 Componente di U.O. nel PRIN dal titolo "Ruolo dell'apoptosi nell'eziopatogenesi delle infezioni virali."
2002-2004 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto di Ricerca Finalizzata 1% Ministero della Sanità dal titolo "Strategie di immunoterapia contro genotipi di HPV oncogeni e non oncogeni".
2002-2004 Componente di U.O. nel Progetto "Esposizione a campi elettrici ed elettromagnetici in vitro,espressione genomica ed attivazione di herpesvirus". Ministero della Salute, ISPESL-DIPIA.
2004-2005 Componente di U.O. nell'ambito del "Programma Onco Tecnologico", Progetto dal titolo "Sviluppo di nuove terapie antitumorali basate sui farmaci antiretrovirali inibitori della proteasi di HIV e inibitori non nucleosidici della trascrittasi inversa, da soli o combinati: studi preclinici in vitro ed in vivo".
2004 Componente di U.O. nel PRIN dal titolo "Ruolo dell'apoptosi nell'eziopatogenesi di alcune infezioni virali."
2005-2007 Responsabile Scientifico di Sottoprogetto: "Timosina come immunomodulatore nella terapia del cancro" nell'ambito di una Ricerca finalizzata da parte del Ministero della Sanità - Progetti 2002 ISS titolo “Sviluppo di nuove strategie di immunoterapia e terapie combinate contro i tumori” - Sottoprogetto: "Sviluppo di strategie di adiuvanza in patologie infettive e cronico-degenerative" (https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/ricercaSanitaria/dettaglioContenutiRicercaSanitaria.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=5729&area=Ricerca%20sanitaria&menu=progetti20002008&tab=5)
2006 Componente di U.O. nell'ambito del PRIN dal titolo "Ruolo dell'apoptosi nell'eziopatogenesi e nella terapia di alcune infezioni virali."
2008 Componente di U.O. nell'ambito del PRIN dal titolo "Dall’ interazione virus-cellula ospite allo sviluppo di nuove terapie antivirali".
2010-2011 Componente di U.O. nell'ambito del PRIN dal titolo "Tecnologie OMICS e Systems Biology per la definizione di nuove strategie finalizzate al controllo delle infezioni virali".
2016-2018 Responsabile scientifico del Progetto dal titolo: “VZVIMMQOL - Herpes Zoster (HZ) in the vaccination era: the need to clarify the relation among virus, immune response and inflammation to improve the patients’ quality of life (QOL)”, Bando "Mission: Sustainability", Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata (D.R. 2817/2016), Codice Unico di Progetto (CUP): E86C18000630005.
2017-2023 Componente di U.O. nell'ambito del PRIN dal titolo “APPEALING: An integrated APProach focusEd on defining the moleculAr and biological mechanisms reguLatING viral reactivation and persistence” .
Dal 2022 Co-PI dell’ Unità Operativa dell’Università di Roma Tor Vergata per il PRIN dal titolo “Insights into AIRways trACT InfectiONs in children: an integrated approach to track viral antigens, infection mechanisms and disease manifestations (AIRACTION)”
INCARICHI GESTIONALI DIPARTIMENTALI E DI ATENEO
Dal 2015 ad oggi: Membro del Collegio dei Docenti della Scuola IaD (Istruzione a Distanza) dell'Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
Dal 2015 ad oggi Membro del Centro Interdipartimentale per la Ricerca e la Formazione delle Professioni Sanitarie (CIFAPPS), Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
Dal 2016 ad oggi: Membro della Giunta della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
Dal 2016 ad oggi: Membro della Giunta del Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
- Dal 2018 ad oggi Membro della Commissione Didattica del CL in Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università di Roma Tor Vergata.
- Dal 2020 ad oggi nell’ambito del Sistema di Misurazione e Valutazione della Performance del Personale TAB dell’Ateneo, è stato indicato dal Direttore del Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, come valutatore di supporto, per affiancarlo nelle fasi di valutazione del personale TAB afferente alla Cattedra di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica.
- Dal 2021 ad oggi: Presidente del Comitato Tecnico Scientifico della Biblioteca Biomedica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’ Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
ALTRI INCARICHI SCIENTIFICI E PROFESSIONALI Dal 2006, Membro dell'Albo dei Revisori per la valutazione dei programmi e prodotti di ricerca ministeriale MIUR, per i settori scientifico-disciplinari MED/07 MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA (area: 06 - Scienze mediche) e MED/17 MALATTIE INFETTIVE (area: 06 - Scienze mediche), e relativamente ai seguenti Settori dell'European Research Council (ERC):
nº 1. LS6_7 Microbiology (Life Sciences: Immunity and infection: immunobiology, etiology of immune disorders, microbiology, virology, parasitology, global and other infectious diseases, population dynamics of infectious diseases, veterinary medicine);
n°2. LS6_8 Virology (Life Sciences: Immunity and infection: immunobiology, etiology of immune disorders, microbiology, virology, parasitology, global and other infectious diseases, population dynamics of infectious diseases, veterinary medicine);
n°3. LS7_3 Pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery and design, drug therapy (Life Sciences: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health: etiology, diagnosis and treatment of disease, public health,epidemiology, pharmacology, clinical medicine, regenerative medicine, medical ethics). 2002 Membro della Commissione di Concorso pubblico nella Valutazione comparativa per 1 posto di Ricercatore Universitario presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" (decreto rettorale no. 34 / 235 of 13/05/2002, G.U. n.41 of 05.24.2002) 2003 Membro della Commissione di Concorso pubblico per 1 posto di Ricercatore - III livello professionale dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - Laboratorio di Parassitologia - pubblicato nella G.U. IV serie speciale - n.102 del 28 dicembre 2001 (Nominata con decreto Presidenziale in data 14.3.2003); 2003 Presidente della Commissione di Concorso pubblico per 3 posti di Collaboratore tecnico enti di ricerca - IV livello professionale dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - Laboratori di Batteriologia e Micologia medica (2 posti) e di Biologia cellulare (1 posto), pubblicato nella G.U. IV serie speciale - n.102 del 28 dicembre 2001 (Nominata con decreto Presidenziale in data 14.3.2003); 2004 Membro della Commissione del Concorso pubblico per 1 unità di personale con il profilo di Primo ricercatore - II livello professionale dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, sorveglianza e promozione della salute, pubblicato nella G.U. IV serie speciale - n.42 del 28.5.2004 (Nominata con decreto Presidenziale in data 8.11.2004); 2008 Membro della Commissione del Concorso pubblico per 10 unità con il profilo di Operatore Tecnico - VIII livello professionale dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), pubblicato nella G.U. IV serie speciale - n.64 del 19.8.2008 (Nominata con decreto Presidenziale in data 29.10.2008); 2011 Membro della Commissione del Concorso pubblico per 9 unità di personale con il profilo di Collaboratore Tecnico Enti di Ricerca - VI livello professionale dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) per l'Area delle Segreterie Tecniche (lett. H dell'art.1 del bando), pubblicato nella G.U. IV serie speciale - n.27 del 05.04.2011 (Nominata con decreto Presidenziale in data 09.09.2011); 2011 Componente della Commissione Giudicatrice, nominata su designazione del CUN come da comunicazione del MIUR, prot. N° 2510, del 3 maggio 2011, per i giudizi di conferma in ruolo dei Professori Associati per il Settore Scientifico-Disciplinare MED/07 (Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica) ai sensi dell'art. 23 del D.P.R. 11.7.1980, n. 382 e della Legge 3.7.1998, n. 210. 2012 Revisore "peer" nella valutazione di prodotti di ricerca conferiti alla VQR 2004-2010.
2013-2014 Incarico di collaborazione professionale in qualità di Valutatore a supporto della Commissione tecnica di garanzia per la valutazione di progetti di ricerca pervenuti a valere sul bando L.R.7/2007 “Invito a presentare proposte per progetti di ricerca fondamentale o di base Annualità 2013”, approvato dal Direttore Generale di Sardegna Ricerche con determinazione n.43 del 27 gennaio 2014, e pubblicato sul sito www.sardegnaricerche.it con autorizzazione del Centro Regionale di Programmazione con comunicazione prot. CRP 625 del 30.01.2013.
Dal 2015 Referee in REPRISE_MIUR (Register of Expert Peer Reviewers for Italian Scientific Evaluation for the Italian Ministry of University and Research).
2016 Membro della Commissione del Concorso pubblico, per titoli ed esami a n. 1 posto di cat. D per le esigenze della Cattedra di Virologia, bandito con D.R n.2606 del 17/09/2015 il cui avviso è stato pubblicato sulla G.U. n. 79 del 13/10/2015
Dal 2017 Membro della Commissione di Esame Finale Abilitante per i CdS Triennale in INFERMIERISTICA ed INFERMIERISTICA PEDIATRICA, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
2024 Con decreto direttoriale n. 1368 del 23 aprile nominata Commissario Esaminatore nell’ambito della Selezione Pubblica per il conferimento di N. 1 assegni per la collaborazione ad Attività di Ricerca relativa al Programma del PRIN 2022MNXLE7 “Approfondimenti sulle Infezioni delle VIe Aeree nei Bambini (AIRACTION) -Settore Scientifico Disciplinare MED/07 presso la struttura del Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale dell’Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata (MUR - PRIN_2022 _ AIRACTION - CUP: E53D23001380006), bandita con Decreto Direttoriale n. 1032/2024 e pubblicata sul Sito dell’Ateneo in data 25.03.2024.
APPARTENENZA A SOCIETA' SCIENTIFICHE, ORDINI PROFESSIONALI E CENTRI UNIVERSITARI
Membro della della Società Italiana di Virologia - Italian Society of Virology (SIV-ISV)
Membro della Società Italiana di Microbiologia (SIM)
Membro dell'Ordine Provinciale di Roma dei Medici-Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri (OMCeO) dal 26.01.1984 con numero d'ordine 34308
Membro dell'ACCADEMIA MEDICA DI ROMA
Membro del CIFAPPS (Centro Interdipartimentale sulla Formazione, Aggiornamento e Promozione Professioni Sanitarie)
ELENCO DELLE PUBBLICAZIONI SCIENTIFICHE PIÙ RILEVANTI
Cosio T, Pica F, Fontana C, Pistoia ES, Favaro M, Valsecchi I, Zarabian N, Campione E, Botterel F, Gaziano R. Stephanoascus ciferrii Complex: The Current State of Infections and Drug Resistance in Humans. J FUNGI (Basel). 2024 Apr 18;10(4):294. doi: 10.3390/jof10040294. PMID: 38667965; PMCID: PMC11050938.
Cosio T, Gaziano R, Fontana C, Pistoia ES, Petruccelli R, Favaro M, Pica F, Minelli S, Bossa MC, Altieri A, Ombres D, Zarabian N, D'Agostini C. Closing the Gap in Proteomic Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum: A Case Report and Review of Literature. J FUNGI (Basel). 2023 Oct 15;9(10):1019. doi: 10.3390/jof9101019. PMID: 37888274; PMCID: PMC10607645.
Maurici M, Pica F, D'Alò GL, Cicciarella Modica D, Distefano A, Gorjao M, Simonelli MS, Serafinelli L, De Filippis P. Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Students' Mobile Phones: Impact of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), Users' Demographics and Device Characteristics on Bacterial Load. LIFE (Basel). 2023 June 8;13(6):1349. doi: 10.3390/life13061349. PMID: 37374131; PMCID: PMC10301942.
Matteucci C, Nepravishta R, Argaw-Denboba A, Mandaliti W, Giovinazzo A, Petrone V, Balestrieri E, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F, Paci M, Garaci E. Thymosin ?1 interacts with Galectin-1 modulating the ?-galactosides affinity and inducing alteration in the biological activity. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2023 May;118:110113. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110113. Epub 2023 Apr 5.
Maurici M, D'Alò GL, Fontana C, Santoro V, Gaziano R, Ciotti M, Cicciarella Modica D, De Filippis P, Sarmati L, De Carolis G, Pica F. Microbiology and Clinical Outcome of Hospital-Acquired Respiratory Infections in an Italian Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study. HEALTHCARE (Basel). 2022 Nov 12;10(11):2271. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112271.
Pistoia ES, Cosio T, Campione E, Pica F, Volpe A, Marino D, Di Francesco P, Monari C, Fontana C, Favaro M, Zampini P, Orlandi A, Gaziano R. All-Trans Retinoic Acid Effect on Candida albicans Growth and Biofilm Formation. J FUNGI (Basel). 2022 Oct 5;8(10):1049. doi: 10.3390/jof8101049.
Gaziano R, Pistoia ES, Campione E, Fontana C, Marino D, Favaro M, Pica F, Di Francesco P. Immunomodulatory agents as potential therapeutic or preventive strategies for COVID-19. EUR REV MED PHARMACOL SCI. 2021 Jun;25(11):4174-4184. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202106_26061.
Ciotti M, Maurici M, Santoro V, Coppola L, Sarmati L, De Carolis G, De Filippis P, Pica F. Viruses of Respiratory Tract: an Observational Retrospective Study on Hospitalised Patients in Rome, Italy. MICROORGANISMS. 2020 Apr 1;8(4):501. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8040501.
D'Alò GL, Cicciarella Modica D, Maurici M, Mozzetti C, Messina A, Distefano A, De Filippis P, Pica F. Microbial contamination of the surface of mobile phones and implications for the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. TRAVEL MED INFECT DIS. 2020 Sep-Oct;37:101870. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101870. Epub 2020 Sep 2.
Cicciarella Modica D, Maurici M, D'Alò GL, Mozzetti C, Messina A, Distefano A, Pica F, De Filippis P. Taking Screenshots of the Invisible: A Study on Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones from University Students of Healthcare Professions in Rome, Italy. MICROORGANISMS 2020 Jul 19;8(7):1075. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8071075.
Gaziano R, Campione E, Iacovelli F, Pistoia ES, Marino D, Milani M, Di Francesco P, Pica F, Bianchi L, Orlandi A, Marsico S, Falconi M, Aquaro S. Antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plant Cardiospermum halicacabum L: new evidence and future perspectives. EUR REV MED PHARMACOL SCI. 2019 Aug;23(16):7135-7143. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201908_18759.
Zorzoli E, Pica F Masetti G, Franco E, Volpi A, Gabutti G. Herpes zoster in frail elderly patients: prevalence, impact, management, and preventive strategies. AGING CLIN EXP RES. 2018 Jul;30(7):693-702. doi:10.1007/s40520-018-0956-3. Epub 2018 May 2. Review. PubMed PMID: 29721782.
Cipriani C, Ricceri L, Matteucci C, De Felice A, Tartaglione AM, Argaw-Denboba A, Pica F, Grelli S, Calamandrei G, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Balestrieri E. High expression of Endogenous Retroviruses from intrauterine life to adulthood in two mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorders. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 2018 Jan 12;8(1):629. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-19035-w. PubMed PMID: 29330412; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC5766538.
Pica F Gaziano R, Casalinuovo IA, Moroni G, Buè C, Limongi D, D'Agostini C, Tomino C, Perricone R, Palamara AT, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Garaci E. Serum thymosin alpha 1 levels in normal and pathological conditions. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):13-21. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1474197. PubMed PMID:30063864.
Matteucci C, Argaw-Denboba A, Balestrieri E, Giovinazzo A, Miele M, D'Agostini C, Pica F, Grelli S, Paci M, Mastino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Garaci E, Tomino C. Deciphering cellular biological processes to clinical application: a new perspective for T?1 treatment targeting multiple diseases. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):23-31. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1474198. PubMed PMID:30063863.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Pica F, Vallebona PS, Garaci E, Paci M. Potential mechanism of thymosin-?1-membrane interactions leading to pleiotropy: experimental evidence and hypotheses. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):33-42. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1456527. PubMed PMID: 30063856.
Gaziano R, Campione E, Iacovelli F, Marino D, Pica F, Di Francesco P, Aquaro S, Menichini F, Falconi M, Bianchi L. Antifungal activity of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (Sapindaceae) against Trichophyton rubrum occurs through molecular interaction with fungal Hsp90. DRUG DES DEVEL THER. 2018 Jul 12;12:2185-2193. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S155610. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30034223; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6047602.
Giacomini E, Rizzo F, Etna MP, Cruciani M, Mechelli R, Buscarinu MC, Pica F, D'Agostini C, Salvetti M, Coccia EM, Severa M. Thymosin-?1 expands deficient IL-10-producing regulatory B cell subsets in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. MULT SCLER. 2018 Feb;24(2):127-139. doi:10.1177/1352458517695892. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 28273784.
Pica F, Ciotti M, Maurici M, Buè C, Nardi P, Lucà G, Moroni G, Rogliani P, Perno CF, Volpi A. Clinical features and outcome of hospitalized patients with HSV-1 DNA in the lower respiratory tract. NEW MICROBIOLOGICA 2017 (Apr 3;40(2). [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28368075.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Pica F, Vallebona PS, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 Interacts with Hyaluronic Acid Electrostatically by Its Terminal Sequence LKEKK. MOLECULES 2017 Oct 27;22(11). pii: E1843. doi: 10.3390/molecules22111843. PubMed PMID: 29077041.
Cela, D., Nepravishta, R., Lazari, D., Gaziano, R., Moroni, G., Pica F., Paci M., Abazi, Sokol. Report on maloine, a new alkaloid discovered from G. maloi: Structural characterization and biological activity. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE 2017; 1129, 121-127.
A Volpi, F Pica, M Maurici, M Ciotti, P Nardi, S Bondanini, P Rogliani, C Buè. HSV positivity in bronco-alveolar lavage fluid and clinical outcome in hospitalized patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016, 45, 327-328.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. New studies about the insertion mechanism of Thymosin ?1 in negative regions of model membranes as starting point of the bioactivity. AMINO ACIDS. 2016 May; 48(5):1231-9. doi: 10.1007/s00726-016-2169-4. PubMed PMID: 26801937.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 Interacts with Exposed Phosphatidylserine in Membrane Models and in Cells and Uses Serum Albumin as a Carrier. BIOCHEMISTRY. 2016 Mar 15; 55(10):1462-72. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem. 5b01345. PubMed PMID: 26909491.
Gaziano R, Moroni G, Buè C, Miele MT, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F. Antitumor effects of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine: Evidence and perspectives. WORLD J GASTROINTEST ONCOL. 2016 Jan 15;8(1):30-9. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i1.30. Review. PubMed PMID: 26798435; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4714144.
Pica F, Chimenti MS, Gaziano R, Buè C, Casalinuovo IA, Triggianese P, Conigliaro P, Di Carlo D, Cordero V, Adorno G, Volpi A, Perricone R, Garaci E. Serum thymosin ? 1 levels in patients with chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. CLIN EXP IMMUNOL. 2016 Oct; 186(1):39-45. doi: 10.1111/cei.12833. PubMed PMID: 27350088; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5011367.
Nepravishta R, Mandaliti W, Vallebona PS, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Mechanism of Action of Thymosin a1: Does It Interact with Membrane by Recognition of Exposed Phosphatidylserine on Cell Surface? A Structural Approach. VITAM HORM. 2016; 102:101-19. doi: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.04.002. PubMed PMID: 27450732.
Moroni G, Gaziano R, Bue C, Agostini M, Perno CF, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F (2015). Progesterone and Melanoma Cells: An Old Story Suspended between Life and Death. JOURNAL OF STEROIDS & HORMONAL SCIENCE, vol. 5, ISSN: 2157-7536, doi: 10.4172/2157-7536.1000158 wos
Garaci E, Pica F, Matteucci C, Gaziano R, D'Agostini C, Miele MT, Camerini R, Palamara AT, Favalli C, Mastino A, Serafino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P. Historical review on thymosin ?1 in oncology: preclinical and clinical experiences. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2015; 15 Suppl 1:S31-9. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1017466. Epub 2015 Jun 22. PubMed PMID: 26096345.
Balestrieri E, Pica F, Matteucci C, Zenobi R, Sorrentino R, Argaw-Denboba A, Cipriani C, Bucci I, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P. Transcriptional activity of human endogenous retroviruses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. BIOMED RES INT. 2015; 2015:164529.
Nepravishta R, Mandaliti W, Eliseo T, Vallebona PS, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 inserts N terminus into model membranes assuming a helical conformation. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2015 Feb 2:1-11.
Pica F, Gatti A, Divizia M, Lazzari M, Ciotti M, Sabato AF, Volpi A. One-year follow-up of patients with long-lasting post-herpetic neuralgia. BMC INFECT DIS. 2014 Nov 1;14:556.
Serafino A, Pica F, Andreola F, Gaziano R, Moroni N, Moroni G, Zonfrillo M, Pierimarchi P, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Garaci E. Thymosin ?1 activates complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis in human monocyte-derived macrophages. JOURNAL OF INNATE IMMUNITY 2014;6(1):72-88. doi: 10.1159/000351587. Epub 2013 Jun 22.
Griffiths SJ, Koegl M, Boutell C, Zenner HL, Crump CM, Pica F, Gonzalez O, Friedel CC, Barry G, Martin K, Craigon MH, Chen R, Kaza LN, Fossum E, Fazakerley JK, Efstathiou S, Volpi A, Zimmer R, Ghazal P, Haas J. A systematic analysis of host factors reveals a Med23-interferon-? regulatory axis against herpes simplex virus type 1 replication. PLOS PATHOGENS 2013; 9(8):e1003514.
Volpi A, Pica F. “Epstein - Barr virus and CNS infections”. In: NEUROVIRAL INFECTIONS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES & DNA VIRUSES. Edited by Sunit K. Singh and Daniel Ruzek - Vol. I - Section II - Chapter 9, p. 245-272, 2013. London:Taylor & Francis Group.
Pica F, Balestrieri E, Serafino A, Sorrentino R, Gaziano R, Moroni G, Moroni N, Palmieri G, Mattei M, Garaci E, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P. Antitumor effects of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine in a rat syngeneic model of colorectal cancer. ANTI-CANCER DRUGS 2012; vol. 23, p. 32-42.
Balestrieri E, Arpino C, Matteucci C, Sorrentino R, Pica F, Alessandrelli R, Coniglio A, Curatolo P, Rezza G, Macciardi F, Garaci E, Gaudi S, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P HERVs expression in Autism Spectrum Disorders . PLOS ONE 2012; vol. 7, p. e48831.
Serafino A, Pierimarchi P, Pica F, Andreola F, Gaziano R, Moroni N, Zonfrillo M, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Garaci E. Thymosin alpha 1 as a stimulatory agent of innate cell-mediated immune response. ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2012; vol. 1270, p. 13-20.
Garaci E, Pica F, Serafino A, Balestrieri E, Matteucci C, Moroni G, Sorrentino R, Zonfrillo M, Pierimarchi P, Sinibaldi- Vallebona P. Thymosin ?1 and Cancer: Action on Immune Effector and Tumor Target Cells. ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2012; vol. 1269, p. 26-33.
Pica F, Volpi A. Public awareness and knowledge of herpes labialis. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2012; vol. 84, p. 132-137.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Pica F. Frequency of Herpes Zoster Recurrences. MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS 2011; vol. 86, p. 584-587.
Pica F, Volpi A, Gaziano R, Garaci E. Interferon-lambda in immunocompetent individuals with a history of recurrent herpes labialis. ANTIVIRAL THERAPY 2010; vol. 15, p. 737-743.
Gatti A, Pica F, Boccia MJT, De Antoni F, Sabato AF, Volpi A. No evidence of family history as a risk factor for herpes zoster in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2010; vol. 82, p. 1007-1011.
Volpi A, Pica F. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 e 2 e Varicella zoster virus (VZV). In: Gruppo di Lavoro AMCLI “Infezioni Materno-Fetali” Attualità in tema di infezioni materno-fetali (seconda edizione) 2010; p. 63-89, TORINO: Editing Berrino Printer.
Volpi A, Pica F. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)1 e 2 e Varicella zoster virus (VZV). In: Gruppo di lavoro AMCLI "Infezioni materno-fetali". Attualità in tema di infezioni materno-fetali. 2009; p. 57-83, TORINO: Editing Berrino Printer.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Pica F Bellino S, Marsella LT, Sabato AF. Clinical and psychosocial correlates of post-herpetic neuralgia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2008; vol. 80, p. 1646-1652.
Garaci E, Favalli C, Pica F, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Palamara AT, Matteucci C, Pierimarchi P, Serafino A, Mastino A, Bistoni F, Romani L, Rasi G. Thymosin alpha 1: from bench to bedside. ANN N Y ACAD SCI. 2007 Sep; 1112:225-34. Epub 2007 Jun 28.
Pica F, Volpi A. Transmission of human herpesvirus 8: an update. CURR OPIN INFECT DIS. 2007 Apr; 20(2):152-6. Review.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Serafini G, Costa B, Suligoi B, Pica F, Marsella LT, Sabato E, Sabato AF. Clinical and psychosocial correlates of acute pain in herpes zoster. J CLIN VIROL. 2007 Apr; 38(4):275-9. Epub 2007 Mar 6.
Pica F, Serafino A, Divizia M, Donia D, Fraschetti M, Sinibaldi-Salimei P, Giganti MG, Volpi A. Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus in BCBL-1 cells. BIOELECTROMAGNETICS. 2006 Apr; 27(3):226-32.
Gialloreti LE, Divizia M, Pica F, Volpi A. Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of varicella vaccine programmes based on an observational survey in the Latium region of Italy. HERPES. 2005 Oct; 12(2):33-7.
Gentile G, Capobianchi A, Volpi A, Palù G, Pica F, Calistri A, Biasolo MA, Martino P. Human herpesvirus 8 DNA in serum during seroconversion in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients. J NATL CANCER INST. 2005 Jul 6; 97(13):1008-11.
D'Agostini C, Pica F, Febbraro G, Grelli S, Chiavaroli C, Garaci E. Antitumour effect of OM-174 and cyclophosphamide on murine B16 melanoma in different experimental conditions. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2005 Jul; 5(7-8):1205-12. Epub 2005 Mar 19.
Pica F, Serafino A, Garaci E, Volpi A. Cidofovir on HHV-8 in BCBL-1 cells. ANTIVIR THER. 2004 Oct; 9(5):823-5.
Garaci E, Pica F, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pierimarchi P, Mastino A, Matteucci C, Rasi G. Thymosin alpha(1) in combination with cytokines and chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2003 Aug; 3(8):1145-50.
Volpi A, Gentile G, Pica F, Suligoi B; Slavip study group. Antiviral treatment of varicella in pediatric practice in the Latium region of Italy: results of an observational study. PEDIATR INFECT DIS J. 2002 Aug; 21(8):739-43.
Garaci E, Pica F, Rasi G, Favalli C. Thymosin alpha 1 in the treatment of cancer: from basic research to clinical application. INT J IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2000 Dec; 22(12):1067-76.
Pica F, Volpi A, Serafino A, Fraschetti M, Franzese O, Garaci E. Autocrine nerve growth factor is essential for cell survival and viral maturation in HHV-8-infected primary effusion lymphoma cells. BLOOD. 2000 May 1; 95(9):2905-12.
Pica F, Palamara AT, Rossi A, De Marco A, Amici C, Santoro MG. Delta(12)-prostaglandin J(2) is a potent inhibitor of influenza A virus replication. ANTIMICROB AGENTS CHEMOTHER. 2000 Jan; 44(1):200-4.
Volpi A, Pica F Virus dell'Herpes simplex. MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA, 2000; 15(1):57-65.
Volpi A, Pica F, Gentile G, Capobianchi A, Fraschetti M, Martino P. Neutralizing antibody response against human cytomegalovirus in allogeneic bone marrow-transplant recipients. J INFECT DIS. 1999 Nov; 180(5):1747-8.
Volpi A, Pica F. Direct Diagnosis of HSV Infections. HERPES - CAMBRIDGE MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS 1998; 5:31-32.
Pica F, Fraschetti M, Matteucci C, Tuthill C, Rasi G. High doses of thymosin alpha 1 enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of combination chemo-immunotherapy for murine B16 melanoma. ANTICANCER RES. 1998 Sep-Oct; 18(5A):3571-8.
Pica F Volpi A, Barillari G, Fraschetti M, Franzese O, Vullo V, Garaci E. Detection of high nerve growth factor serum levels in AIDS-related and -unrelated Kaposi's sarcoma patients. AIDS. 1998 Oct 22; 12(15):2025-9.
Garaci E, Pica F, Rasi G, Palamara AT, Favalli C. Combination therapy with BRMs in cancer and infectious diseases. MECH AGEING DEV. 1997 Jun; 96(1-3):103-16. Review.
Pica F, Franzese O, D'Onofrio C, Bonmassar E, Favalli C, Garaci E. Prostaglandin E2 induces apoptosis in resting immature and mature human lymphocytes: a c-Myc-dependent and Bcl-2-independent associated pathway. J PHARMACOL EXP THER. 1996 Jun; 277(3):1793-800.
Pica F, Rossi A, Santirocco N, Palamara A, Garaci E, Santoro MG. Effect of combined alpha IFN and prostaglandin A1 treatment on vesicular stomatitis virus replication and heat shock protein synthesis in epithelial cells. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1996 Mar; 29(2-3):187-98.
Conti C, Mastromarino P, Tomao P, De Marco A, Pica F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of poliovirus replication by prostaglandins A and J in human cells. ANTIMICROB AGENTS CHEMOTHER. 1996 Feb; 40(2):367-72.
Pica F, Franzese O, D'Onofrio C, Paganini L, Favalli C, Bonmassar E, Garaci E. Effect of PGE2 on c-Myc and Bcl-2 production and programmed cell death in human lymphocytes. ADV PROSTAGLANDIN THROMBOXANE LEUKOT RES. 1995; 23:457-9.
Mastromarino P, Conti C, Petruzziello R, De Marco A, Pica F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of Sindbis virus replication by cyclopentenone prostaglandins: a cell-mediated event associated with heat-shock protein synthesis. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1993 Mar; 20(3):209-22.
Pica F, De Marco A, De Cesare F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication by delta 12-prostaglandin J2 is regulated at two separate levels and is associated with induction of stress protein synthesis. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1993 Mar; 20(3):193-208.
Di Francesco P, Gaziano R, Pica F, Palamara AT, Innocenti F, Favalli C. In vitro phencyclidine-induced inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation: prevention by cell activation. IMMUNOPHARMACOL IMMUNOTOXICOL. 1993 Jan; 15(1):69-78.
Garaci E, Pica F, Mastino A, Palamara AT, Belardelli F, Favalli C. Antitumor effect of thymosin alpha 1/interleukin-2 or thymosin alpha 1/interferon alpha,beta following cyclophosphamide in mice injected with highly metastatic Friend erythroleukemia cells. J IMMUNOTHER EMPHASIS TUMOR IMMUNOL. 1993 Jan; 13(1):7-17.
Mastino A, Favalli C, Grelli S, Rasi G, Pica F, Goldstein AL, Garaci E. Combination therapy with thymosin alpha 1 potentiates the anti-tumor activity of interleukin-2 with cyclophosphamide in the treatment of the Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. INT J CANCER. 1992 Feb 1; 50(3):493-9.
Di Francesco P, Marini S, Pica F, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. In vivo cocaine administration influences lymphokine production and humoral immune response. IMMUNOL RES. 1992; 11(1):74-9.
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Marini S, Favalli C, Garaci E. Thymosin alpha one restores murine T-cell-mediated responses inhibited by in vivo cocaine administration. INT J IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 1992 Jan; 14(1):1-9.
Di Francesco P., Belogi L., Pica F., Cavallo G., Gaziano R., Santiangeli Croce C.C., Tubaro E., Garaci E. Depressed T-cell proliferation and polymorphonuclear superoxide anion production in mice treated with cocaine. MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, 1991, Vol. 19, Issue 19, Pages 653 - 654
Pica F, De Cesare F, Amici C, Garaci E, Santoro MG. Antiviral activity of cyclopentenone prostaglandins: Block of virus protein synthesis and induction of stress proteins in polarized monkey kidney cells. CYTOTECHNOLOGY 1991 Feb;5(Suppl 1):28-9. doi: 10.1007/BF00736801
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. Inhibition of rat fibroblast cell proliferation at specific cell cycle stages by cocaine. CELL BIOL INT REP. 1990 Jun; 14(6):549-58.
Garaci E, Mastino A, Pica F, Favalli C. Combination treatment using thymosin alpha 1 and interferon after cyclophosphamide is able to cure Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. CANCER IMMUNOL IMMUNOTHER. 1990;32(3):154-60.
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Croce C, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. Effect of acute or daily cocaine administration on cellular immune response and virus infection in mice. NAT IMMUN CELL GROWTH REGUL. 1990; 9(6):397-405.
Di Francesco F., Pica F., Croce C., Tubaro E., Favalli C. Cocaine vs morphine: Differential inhibitory effects of natural killer cell activity in mice. INT J IMMUNOPATHOL PHARMACOL 1990, Vol. 3. Issue 3, 183-189.
Di Francesco P., Pica F., Santiangeli C., Croce C., Tubaro E., Garaci E. Suppressive effects of phencyclidine on murine immune surveillance. MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 1990, Vol. 18, Issue 19, 755-757
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Belogi L. et al. Influence of cocaine on murine immune surveillance. PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Volume 22, 1990, Page 165.
Jezzi, T., Mastino, A., Marini, S., Pica F et al. Effects of in vivo PGE2 administration on IL-2 production by splenocytes collected from normal and tumor-bearing mice. INT J IMMUNOPATHOL PHARMACOL, Volume 2, Issue 1, 1989, Pages 31-40.
Pica F, Mastino A, Grelli S, Jezzi T, Favalli C. Combined treatment with thymosin alpha 1 and interferon enhances NK activity in immunosuppressed tumor bearing mice. J CHEMOTHER. 1989 Jul; 1(4 Suppl):1167-9.
Mastino A, Favalli C, Jezzi T, Grelli S, Pica F Garaci E. Modifications in spleen lymphocyte subsets after cyclophosphamide and 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 administration in mice. J CHEMOTHER. 1989 Jul; 1(4 Suppl):454-6.
Volpi A, Pica F, Cauletti M, Panà A, Rocchi G. Cytomegalovirus infection in day care centers in Rome, Italy: viral excretion in children and occupational risk among workers. J MED VIROL. 1988 Oct; 26(2):119-25.
Volpi, A., Sorbi, L., Pica F. et al. Infection of lympho-monocytes caused by cytomegalovirus. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 1012-1013.
Pica F., Tersigni, R., Vella, S. et al. Contemporaneous reactivation of herpes simplex 1 and 2 infection in a renal transplanted patient. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 983-984.
Andreoni, M., Reverberi, L., Pica F. et al. Herpes simplex virus infections in pregnant women with aspecific vaginitis. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 1009-1010.
Sarmati L, Andreoni M, Arcese W, Pica F. et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in 16 bone marrow transplant recipients. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 39, Issue 9, 1987, Pages 935-936.
Pica F., Volpi, A., Pulsoni, A., et al. Hemorrhagic cystitis by Adenovirus in a bone marrow transplant patient. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 39, Issue 9, 1987, Pages 977-978.
Prof. Francesca Pica, M.D., Ph.D
Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum
Born in Rome on September 18, 1959. Marital status: married, three daughters.
Academic position:
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 1 - 00133 Rome, Italy.
Tel. 06 72596462 o 72596581; e-mail address: pica@uniroma2.it
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER
1977 High School Diploma in Science obtained from the "Isacco Newton" Scientific High School in Rome, with a grade of 60/60
1983 Degree in Medicine and Surgery obtained from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" with a grade of 110/110 cum laude
1984 Qualification to practice as a Medical Surgeon, University of Rome "La Sapienza" and registration in the Register of the Order of Physicians of Rome and Province. Order number: 34308
1989 PhD in Experimental Medical Microbiology (II cycle) at the University of Pisa
1991 Specialist in Infectious Diseases, with a grade of 70/70 cum laude, at the University of Rome "La Sapienza"
1989-1995 Researcher ex-art.36 at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (I.M.S.) of the National Research Center (C.N.R.) in Rome
1995 Won the public competition, based on qualifications and exams, for 1 position of University Researcher for the scientific-disciplinary sector F05X Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (now MED/07), announced by decree of the Rector of the University of Rome Tor Vergata on 05.11.1993 and published in the Official Journal n°10 bis, IV special series of 04.02.1994
1995 She was appointed to the role of University Researcher of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology F05X (now MED/07) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata and thus began her academic career
1998 She was confirmed in the role of University Researcher F05X Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (now MED/07) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
2001 Winner of the comparative evaluation procedure for one position of Associate Professor for the scientific-disciplinary sector F05X Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (now MED/07), announced by the University of Turin and published in the Official Journal - IV special series - n.81 of 10/17/2000
2002 Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
2005 Confirmed in the role of Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, on a full-time basis, a role held until today.
TEACHING ACTIVITY
From the academic year 2002/2003 to date: Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07) at the Bachelor's, Master's and Specialist Degree Courses of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata:
- Microbiology (3 CFU) within the Integrated Course of Microbiology (Total: 10 CFU) - 2nd year, II semester - DEGREE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY – ITALIAN. She has served as Coordinator of this Integrated Course since 2023.
- Microbiology (5 CFU), Integrated Course of Microbiology (Total: 10 CFU) – 2nd year, II semester - DEGREE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY – ENGLISH. She has served as Coordinator of this Integrated Course since 2017.
- Bacteriology and Practical Microbiology (3 CFU) in the IC of Microbiology, 2nd year, 2nd semester - DEGREE COURSE IN BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN. (from 2002 to 2023)
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (1 CFU), in the Integrated Course of General Pathology and Physiopathology - 1st year, 2nd semester - (Total: 6 CFU) - DEGREE COURSE IN NURSING SCIENCE. She serves as Coordinator of this Integrated Course.
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (1 CFU), in the Integrated Course of General Pathology and Physiopathology of the 1st year, 2nd semester (Total: 6 CFU) - DEGREE COURSE IN OBSTETRICS. She serves as Coordinator of this Integrated Course.
- Microbiology (2 CFU) within the Integrated Course of Microbiology and Pathology, 1st year, 2nd semester (Total: 10 CFU) - DEGREE COURSE IN DENTAL HYGIENE. She serves as Coordinator of this Integrated Course.
Teaching assignments in INTERNATIONAL DEGREE COURSES held in ENGLISH in Italy: Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
academic year 2018/2019
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (1 CFU), 1st year, II semester, Degree in Nursing, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences.
- Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (2 CFU), 1st year, II semester, Degree in Midwifery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences
academic year 2019/2020
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
academic year 2020/2021
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, 1st semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
- Bacteriological, Virological and Mycologycal Diagnostic (3 CFU), 3rd year-1st semester Degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technician
academic year 2021/2022
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
academic year 2022/2023
- Bacteriology (2 CFU), 2nd year, I semester, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, The Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences. She served as Coordinator for this Course.
Specialization Schools
-From 1995 to today: Microbiology (3 CFU) at the School of Specialization in MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata
1995-2008 Virology (1 CFU) at the School of Specialization in INFECTIOUS DISEASES of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
Since 2015 Microbiology (1 CFU) at the School of Specialization in RESPIRATORY DISEASES of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
Since 2015 Microbiology (1 CFU) at the School of Specialization in PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
Since 2023 Clinical Microbiology (1 CFU) at the School of Specialization in HYGIENE AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
PhD Courses
From 2002 to date: Member of the Teaching Board of the PhD Course in "Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases", which since 2012 has changed its name to "MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES, TRANSPLANTS (MIMIT)" - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata
Masters and Specialization Courses
2009/2010 Professor in the Specialization Course in CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF ANTIVIRAL DRUG RESISTANCE at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
From 2017 to date Professor in the 1st Level Master in NUTRITION AND COSMETICS, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. (Course topics: Intestinal microbiota in health and disease; Microorganisms causing infections, food poisoning and intoxication; Hygiene and food safety; Microbiological safety of cosmetics: legislative standards and laboratory tests).
2017/2018 Professor of Microbiology, General and Clinical Pathology in the 1st Level University Master in MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS RISK RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
2019/2020 Professor of Microbiology, General and Clinical Pathology in the 1st Level University Master in MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS RISK RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
2020/2021 Professor of Microbiology, General and Clinical Pathology in the 1st Level University Master in MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS RISK RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Since 1995 Head of a Laboratory of Virology, Immunology and Cellular Biology in the Department of Experimental Medicine at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
She received numerous research grants from state agencies and other institutions (MIUR, ISS, CNR).
She participated as PI in numerous national and international research projects.
Member of the Scientific Committee and/or Invited Speaker at numerous national and international conferences and symposiums.
Winner of scientific awards at international conferences.
Visiting Researcher at the Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University di New York, NY, invited by Patrick Steven Moore, then Professor of Public Health Division of Epidemiology della struttura, today Director, Cancer Virology Program, UPCI Professor, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Editorial Board Member of Antibiotics_an Open Access Journal by MDPI_IF= 4.8
For Antibiotics, she is also Section Board Member and Guest Editor of a Special Issue “Epidemiology, Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial therapy: A Shared Effort Against Infectious Diseases” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/antibiotics/special_issues/2277C21731)
Reviewer for international journals: International Journal of Immunopharmacology, Herpes Journal, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Molecular Cancer, Plos One, BMC Cancer, BMC Infectious Diseases, Expert Opinion Biological Therapy, Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int., Microorganisms, Antibiotics
Author or co-author of over 200 scientific products, including scientific publications mostly in international peer-reviewed journals, abstracts and book chapters. Editor of two successive Italian editions of the text Medical Microbiology by Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA.
- (2007) MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA - Quinta Edizione. Di Murray Patrick R.; Pfaller Michael A.; Rosenthal Ken S.. Roma:EMSI-Edizioni mediche scientifiche internazionali, ISBN: 978-88-86669-56-6
- (2010). MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA - Sesta Edizione. Di Murray Patrick R.; Pfaller Michael A.; Rosenthal Ken S.. TORINO:Elsevier Masson, ISBN: 9788821431692
Parameters of scientific activity
Researchgate Interest Score 881.9 - Citations 2,023 - H-index= 28
Google Scholar: 150 documents; Total citations = 2599; H-index = 31; i10-index = 57
SCOPUS Author: 91 documents; H-index = 27; Total citations = 1777
Research Lines
1) Pathogenesis and clinical aspects of infections caused by Herpes Viruses (in particular HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV and HHV-8/KSHV).
2) Biological and clinical aspects of the host antiviral immune response.
3) Antiviral action of prostaglandins (PGA, PGJ2 and Delta-12-PGJ2) in vitro and in vivo.
4) Thymosin alpha 1 (Ta1): immunomodulatory action of Ta1, in combination with IFN or IL-2, in experimental models of immunosuppression by tumors, drug abuse and viral infections; study on serum levels of Ta1 in healthy individuals and those affected by various pathologies (sepsis, chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cancer).
5) Expression of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) and correlation with neurodevelopmental disorders.
6) Microbiological and clinical aspects of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) of viral and bacterial etiology. Respiratory infections were studied in particular.
7) Microbial contamination of devices in use (smartphones) and their role in the transmission of infectious agents in hospital settings. Study on hospital staff in training.
8) Fungal pathogens. Candida albicans and other new Candida spp. In vitro studies on the antifungal activity of retinoids and other natural compounds.
Collaborations with international research groups
1992-2016 Allan L. Goldstein, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA (Studies on the immunomodulatory and antitumor action of Thymosin alpha 1 in experimental animal models of drug-induced immunosuppression, tumors, and viral infections. More recently, studies on the serum levels of Thymosin alpha 1 in healthy individuals and in patients with sepsis, chronic inflammatory diseases, and tumors).
1990-2000 Maria Gabriella Santoro, Chair of Virology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. (Studies on the mechanism of the antiviral action of various types of prostaglandins, alone or in combination with IFN, in in vitro models of viral infections).
1992-1996 Federico Cozzolino, Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, National Research Center (CNR), Rome. Then, PO of Laboratory Medicine Sciences and Techniques and director of the laboratory “Biology and Pharmacology of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases”, at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Florence. (Experimental studies on NGF and lymphocytes in experimental animal models).
1988-2018 Antonio Volpi - Chair of Infectious Diseases at Sapienza University in Rome and later at the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Studies in general virology and epidemiology and clinics of herpes virus infections)
1990-1993 Filippo Belardelli, Department of Oncology and Hematology, I.S.S., Rome. (Experimental studies of chemo-immunotherapy in mice injected i.m. and i.v. with Friend's Erythroleukemia cells)
1996-1998 Patrick Steven Moore, Professor of Public Health Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (at the time of the collaboration), now Director, Cancer Virology Program, UPCI Professor, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. (Studies on KSHV/HHV8 and the relationship between NGF and primary effusion lymphoma [PEL] cells harboring HHV8 but not EBV).
2011-2013 Juergen Haas, Division of Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, U.K. and Max von Pettenkofer Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, 80336 München, Germany. (Studies on HSV and IFN-lambda)
.
Research Projects (Scientific Director or Member of U.O.)
1989-1993 Member of U.O. in the C.N.R. Finalized Project "Prevention and control of disease factors (FATMA)" - Subproject 3.
1992 Member of U.O. in the National Research Project "Immunodiagnosis", funded by MURST.
1992-1996 Member of U.O. in the CNR Finalized Project "Clinical applications in oncological research" (ACRO) - Subproject 8 - Treatment of advanced solid tumors with combinations of immunomodulatory drugs and chemotherapy.
1996-2009 Member of U.O. in the Research Project entitled "Chemo-immunotherapy of infections and tumors". Funding for University Scientific Research (ex-quota 60%)
1997 Member of U.O. in the PRIN entitled "Mechanisms of regulation of cell death - Research unit: Apoptosis in homeostasis and in the pathology associated with viral infections of the immune system."
1998 Component of U.O. in the PRIN entitled "Apoptosis in the pathology associated with infections by human retroviruses and HHV-8."
1998-1999 Scientific Director of the Project entitled "Relationship between HHV-8, high serum levels of NGF and development of KS in subjects with HIV infection: pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic implications.", within the Second National Research Program on AIDS - Subproject: "Opportunistic infections and tuberculosis"
2000-2001 Scientific Director of the Project entitled "Relationship between HHV-8, high serum levels of NGF and development of KS in subjects with HIV infection: pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic implications.", within the Third National Research Program on AIDS - Subproject: "Opportunistic infections and tuberculosis"
2000 Member of the U.O. in the PRIN entitled "Apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis of viral infections."
2002-2003 Scientific Director of the Project entitled "Relationship between HHV-8, high serum NGF levels and development of KS in subjects with HIV infection: pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic implications.", within the Fourth National Research Program on AIDS - Subproject: "Opportunistic infections and tuberculosis"
2002 Member of the U.O. in the PRIN entitled "Role of apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis of viral infections."
2002-2004 Member of the U.O. in the Finalized Research Project 1% Ministry of Health entitled "Immunotherapy strategies against oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV genotypes".
2002-2004 Member of the U.O. in the Project "Exposure to electric and electromagnetic fields in vitro, genomic expression and activation of herpesviruses". Ministry of Health, ISPESL-DIPIA.
2004-2005 Member of the U.O. in the "Programma Onco Tecnologico", Project entitled "Development of new antitumor therapies based on antiretroviral drugs, HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, alone or combined: preclinical studies in vitro and in vivo".
2004 Member of the U.O. in the PRIN entitled "Role of apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis of some viral infections."
2005-2007 Scientific Manager of the Subproject: "Thymosin as an immunomodulator in cancer therapy" in the context of a Research finalized by the Ministry of Health entitled "Development of adjuvant strategies in infectious and chronic-degenerative diseases".
2006 Member of the U.O. within the PRIN entitled "Role of apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis and therapy of some viral infections."
2008 Member of the U.O. within the PRIN entitled "From the virus-host cell interaction to the development of new antiviral therapies".
2010-2011 Member of the U.O. within the PRIN entitled "OMICS and Systems Biology technologies for the definition of new strategies aimed at controlling viral infections".
2016-2018 Scientific Director of the Project entitled: “VZVIMMQOL - Herpes Zoster (HZ) in the vaccination era: the need to clarify the relation among virus, immune response and inflammation to improve the patients’ quality of life (QOL)”, Call "Mission: Sustainability", University of Rome Tor Vergata (D.R. 2817/2016), Single Project Code (CUP): E86C18000630005.
2017-2023 Member of the U.O. within the PRIN entitled “APPEALING: An integrated APProach focusEd on defining the molecular and biological mechanisms reguLatING viral reactivation and persistence” .
2022 to date Co-PI of the Operational Unit of the University of Rome Tor Vergata for the PRIN entitled “Insights into AIRways trACT InfectiONs in children: an integrated approach to track viral antigens, infection mechanisms and disease manifestations (AIRACTION)”
DEPARTMENTAL AND UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT ROLES
Since 2015 Member of the Teaching Staff of the IaD School (Distance Learning) of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Since 2015 Member of the Interdepartmental Center for Research and Training of Health Professions (CIFAPPS), University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Since 2016 Member of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Since 2016 Member of the Board of the Department of Experimental Medicine of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Since 2018 he has also been a Member of the Teaching Commission of the DEGREE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY – ITALIAN. at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Since 2020 within the System for Measuring and Evaluating the Performance of the TAB Staff of the University, he was indicated by the Director of the Department of Experimental Medicine, as a support evaluator, to assist him in the evaluation phases of the TAB staff belonging to the Chair of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology.
From 2021 to date: President of the Scientific Technical Committee of the Biomedical Library, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
OTHER SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL TASKS
Since 2006 Member of the Board of Reviewers for the evaluation of MIUR ministerial research programs and products, for the scientific-disciplinary sectors MED/07 MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY (area: 06 - Medical Sciences) and MED/17 INFECTIOUS DISEASES (area: 06 - Medical Sciences), and in relation to the following Sectors of the European Research Council (ERC):
nº 1. LS6_7 Microbiology (Life Sciences: Immunity and infection: immunobiology, aetiology of immune disorders, microbiology, virology, parasitology, global and other infectious diseases, population dynamics of infectious diseases, veterinary medicine);
n°2. LS6_8 Virology (Life Sciences: Immunity and infection: immunobiology, aetiology of immune disorders, microbiology, virology, parasitology, global and other infectious diseases, population dynamics of infectious diseases, veterinary medicine);
n°3. LS7_3 Pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery and design, drug therapy (Life Sciences: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health: aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of disease, public health, epidemiology, pharmacology, clinical medicine, regenerative medicine, medical ethics).
2002 Member of the Public Competition Commission in the comparative evaluation for 1 position of University Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (rector's decree no. 34 / 235 of 13/05/2002, G.U. no. 41 of 05.24.2002)
2003 Member of the Public Competition Commission for 1 position of Researcher - III professional level of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - Laboratory of Parasitology - published in the G.U. IV special series - no. 102 of 28 December 2001 (Appointed by Presidential Decree dated 14.3.2003);
2003 Chairman of the Public Competition Commission for 3 positions of Technical Collaborator for Research Institutions - IV professional level of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - Medical Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratories (2 positions) and Cellular Biology (1 position), published in the Official Journal IV special series - no. 102 of 28 December 2001 (Appointed by Presidential Decree dated 14.3.2003);
2004 Member of the Public Competition Commission for 1 unit of personnel with the profile of First Researcher - II professional level of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) - National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, published in the Official Journal IV special series - no. 42 of 28.5.2004 (Appointed by Presidential Decree dated 8.11.2004);
2008 Member of the Commission for the public competition for 10 units with the profile of Technical Operator - VIII professional level of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), published in the Official Journal IV special series - no. 64 of 19.8.2008 (Appointed by Presidential Decree dated 29.10.2008);
2011 Member of the Commission for the public competition for 9 units of personnel with the profile of Technical Collaborator for Research Bodies - VI professional level of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) for the Technical Secretariats Area (letter H of art. 1 of the announcement), published in the Official Journal IV special series - no. 27 of 05.04.2011 (Appointed by Presidential Decree dated 09.09.2011);
2011 Member of the Judging Commission, appointed on the designation of the CUN as per communication from the MIUR, prot. No. 2510, dated May 3, 2011, for the confirmation judgments in the role of Associate Professors for the Scientific-Disciplinary Sector MED/07 (Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology) pursuant to art. 23 of the Presidential Decree 11.7.1980, no. 382 and Law 3.7.1998, no. 210.
2012 "Peer" reviewer in the evaluation of research products submitted to the VQR 2004-2010.
2013-2014 Professional collaboration assignment as an Evaluator to support the Technical Guarantee Commission for the evaluation of research projects received under the call for proposals L.R.7/2007 “Call for proposals for fundamental or basic research projects Year 2013”, approved by the General Director of Sardegna Ricerche with resolution no. 43 of 27 January 2014, and published on the website (www.sardegnaricerche.it) with authorization from the Regional Programming Center with a communication prot. CRP 625 of 30.01.2013.
Since 2015 Referee in REPRISE_MIUR (Register of Expert Peer Reviewers for Italian Scientific Evaluation for the Italian Ministry of University and Research).
2016 Member of the Commission for the public competition, based on qualifications and examinations, for no. 1 position in cat. D for the needs of the Chair of Virology, announced with D.R n.2606 of 17/09/2015 whose notice was published in the G.U. n. 79 of 13/10/2015
Since 2017 Member of the Examination Commission for the State Exam - Qualifying Test for the Nursing Professions for the Three-Year Degree Courses in NURSING and PEDIATRIC NURSING, University of Rome Tor Vergata
2024 With directorial decree no. 1368 of 23 April, appointed Examining Commissioner in the context of the Public Selection for the awarding of no. 1 grant for collaboration in Research Activities relating to the PRIN 2022MNXLE7 Program "Insights into Airway Infections in Children (AIRACTION) - Scientific Disciplinary Sector MED/07 at the Department of Experimental Medicine of the University of Rome Tor Vergata (MUR - PRIN_2022 _ AIRACTION - CUP: E53D23001380006), announced with Directorial Decree no. 1032/2024 and published on the University Website on 03.25.2024.
MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, PROFESSIONAL ORDERS, ACADEMIES AND UNIVERSITY CENTERS
Member of the Italian Society of Virology (SIV-ISV)
Member of the Italian Society of Microbiology (SIM)
Member of Ordine Provinciale di Roma dei Medici-Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri (OMCeO) since 26.01.1984 with order number 34308
Member of the MEDICAL ACADEMY OF ROME
Member of CIFAPPS (Interdepartmental Center for Training, Updating and Promotion of Health Professions)
LIST OF THE MOST RELEVANT SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Cosio T, Pica F, Fontana C, Pistoia ES, Favaro M, Valsecchi I, Zarabian N, Campione E, Botterel F, Gaziano R. Stephanoascus ciferrii Complex: The Current State of Infections and Drug Resistance in Humans. J FUNGI (Basel). 2024 Apr 18;10(4):294. doi: 10.3390/jof10040294. PMID: 38667965; PMCID: PMC11050938.
Cosio T, Gaziano R, Fontana C, Pistoia ES, Petruccelli R, Favaro M, Pica F, Minelli S, Bossa MC, Altieri A, Ombres D, Zarabian N, D'Agostini C. Closing the Gap in Proteomic Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum: A Case Report and Review of Literature. J FUNGI (Basel). 2023 Oct 15;9(10):1019. doi: 10.3390/jof9101019. PMID: 37888274; PMCID: PMC10607645.
Maurici M, Pica F, D'Alò GL, Cicciarella Modica D, Distefano A, Gorjao M, Simonelli MS, Serafinelli L, De Filippis P. Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Students' Mobile Phones: Impact of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), Users' Demographics and Device Characteristics on Bacterial Load. LIFE (Basel). 2023 June 8;13(6):1349. doi: 10.3390/life13061349. PMID: 37374131; PMCID: PMC10301942.
Matteucci C, Nepravishta R, Argaw-Denboba A, Mandaliti W, Giovinazzo A, Petrone V, Balestrieri E, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F, Paci M, Garaci E. Thymosin ?1 interacts with Galectin-1 modulating the ?-galactosides affinity and inducing alteration in the biological activity. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2023 May;118:110113. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110113. Epub 2023 Apr 5.
Maurici M, D'Alò GL, Fontana C, Santoro V, Gaziano R, Ciotti M, Cicciarella Modica D, De Filippis P, Sarmati L, De Carolis G, Pica F. Microbiology and Clinical Outcome of Hospital-Acquired Respiratory Infections in an Italian Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study. HEALTHCARE (Basel). 2022 Nov 12;10(11):2271. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112271.
Pistoia ES, Cosio T, Campione E, Pica F, Volpe A, Marino D, Di Francesco P, Monari C, Fontana C, Favaro M, Zampini P, Orlandi A, Gaziano R. All-Trans Retinoic Acid Effect on Candida albicans Growth and Biofilm Formation. J FUNGI (Basel). 2022 Oct 5;8(10):1049. doi: 10.3390/jof8101049.
Gaziano R, Pistoia ES, Campione E, Fontana C, Marino D, Favaro M, Pica F, Di Francesco P. Immunomodulatory agents as potential therapeutic or preventive strategies for COVID-19. EUR REV MED PHARMACOL SCI. 2021 Jun;25(11):4174-4184. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202106_26061.
Ciotti M, Maurici M, Santoro V, Coppola L, Sarmati L, De Carolis G, De Filippis P, Pica F. Viruses of Respiratory Tract: an Observational Retrospective Study on Hospitalised Patients in Rome, Italy. MICROORGANISMS. 2020 Apr 1;8(4):501. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8040501.
D'Alò GL, Cicciarella Modica D, Maurici M, Mozzetti C, Messina A, Distefano A, De Filippis P, Pica F. Microbial contamination of the surface of mobile phones and implications for the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. TRAVEL MED INFECT DIS. 2020 Sep-Oct;37:101870. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101870. Epub 2020 Sep 2.
Cicciarella Modica D, Maurici M, D'Alò GL, Mozzetti C, Messina A, Distefano A, Pica F, De Filippis P. Taking Screenshots of the Invisible: A Study on Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones from University Students of Healthcare Professions in Rome, Italy. MICROORGANISMS 2020 Jul 19;8(7):1075. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8071075.
Gaziano R, Campione E, Iacovelli F, Pistoia ES, Marino D, Milani M, Di Francesco P, Pica F, Bianchi L, Orlandi A, Marsico S, Falconi M, Aquaro S. Antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plant Cardiospermum halicacabum L: new evidence and future perspectives. EUR REV MED PHARMACOL SCI. 2019 Aug;23(16):7135-7143. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201908_18759.
Zorzoli E, Pica F Masetti G, Franco E, Volpi A, Gabutti G. Herpes zoster in frail elderly patients: prevalence, impact, management, and preventive strategies. AGING CLIN EXP RES. 2018 Jul;30(7):693-702. doi:10.1007/s40520-018-0956-3. Epub 2018 May 2. Review. PubMed PMID: 29721782.
Cipriani C, Ricceri L, Matteucci C, De Felice A, Tartaglione AM, Argaw-Denboba A, Pica F, Grelli S, Calamandrei G, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Balestrieri E. High expression of Endogenous Retroviruses from intrauterine life to adulthood in two mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorders. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 2018 Jan 12;8(1):629. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-19035-w. PubMed PMID: 29330412; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC5766538.
Pica F Gaziano R, Casalinuovo IA, Moroni G, Buè C, Limongi D, D'Agostini C, Tomino C, Perricone R, Palamara AT, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Garaci E. Serum thymosin alpha 1 levels in normal and pathological conditions. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):13-21. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1474197. PubMed PMID:30063864.
Matteucci C, Argaw-Denboba A, Balestrieri E, Giovinazzo A, Miele M, D'Agostini C, Pica F, Grelli S, Paci M, Mastino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Garaci E, Tomino C. Deciphering cellular biological processes to clinical application: a new perspective for T?1 treatment targeting multiple diseases. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):23-31. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1474198. PubMed PMID:30063863.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Pica F, Vallebona PS, Garaci E, Paci M. Potential mechanism of thymosin-?1-membrane interactions leading to pleiotropy: experimental evidence and hypotheses. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2018 Jul;18(sup1):33-42. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1456527. PubMed PMID: 30063856.
Gaziano R, Campione E, Iacovelli F, Marino D, Pica F, Di Francesco P, Aquaro S, Menichini F, Falconi M, Bianchi L. Antifungal activity of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (Sapindaceae) against Trichophyton rubrum occurs through molecular interaction with fungal Hsp90. DRUG DES DEVEL THER. 2018 Jul 12;12:2185-2193. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S155610. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30034223; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6047602.
Giacomini E, Rizzo F, Etna MP, Cruciani M, Mechelli R, Buscarinu MC, Pica F, D'Agostini C, Salvetti M, Coccia EM, Severa M. Thymosin-?1 expands deficient IL-10-producing regulatory B cell subsets in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. MULT SCLER. 2018 Feb;24(2):127-139. doi:10.1177/1352458517695892. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 28273784.
Pica F, Ciotti M, Maurici M, Buè C, Nardi P, Lucà G, Moroni G, Rogliani P, Perno CF, Volpi A. Clinical features and outcome of hospitalized patients with HSV-1 DNA in the lower respiratory tract. NEW MICROBIOLOGICA 2017 (Apr 3;40(2). [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28368075.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Pica F, Vallebona PS, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 Interacts with Hyaluronic Acid Electrostatically by Its Terminal Sequence LKEKK. MOLECULES 2017 Oct 27;22(11). pii: E1843. doi: 10.3390/molecules22111843. PubMed PMID: 29077041.
Cela, D., Nepravishta, R., Lazari, D., Gaziano, R., Moroni, G., Pica F., Paci M., Abazi, Sokol. Report on maloine, a new alkaloid discovered from G. maloi: Structural characterization and biological activity. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE 2017; 1129, 121-127.
A Volpi, F Pica, M Maurici, M Ciotti, P Nardi, S Bondanini, P Rogliani, C Buè. HSV positivity in bronco-alveolar lavage fluid and clinical outcome in hospitalized patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016, 45, 327-328.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. New studies about the insertion mechanism of Thymosin ?1 in negative regions of model membranes as starting point of the bioactivity. AMINO ACIDS. 2016 May; 48(5):1231-9. doi: 10.1007/s00726-016-2169-4. PubMed PMID: 26801937.
Mandaliti W, Nepravishta R, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 Interacts with Exposed Phosphatidylserine in Membrane Models and in Cells and Uses Serum Albumin as a Carrier. BIOCHEMISTRY. 2016 Mar 15; 55(10):1462-72. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem. 5b01345. PubMed PMID: 26909491.
Gaziano R, Moroni G, Buè C, Miele MT, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F. Antitumor effects of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine: Evidence and perspectives. WORLD J GASTROINTEST ONCOL. 2016 Jan 15;8(1):30-9. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i1.30. Review. PubMed PMID: 26798435; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4714144.
Pica F, Chimenti MS, Gaziano R, Buè C, Casalinuovo IA, Triggianese P, Conigliaro P, Di Carlo D, Cordero V, Adorno G, Volpi A, Perricone R, Garaci E. Serum thymosin ? 1 levels in patients with chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. CLIN EXP IMMUNOL. 2016 Oct; 186(1):39-45. doi: 10.1111/cei.12833. PubMed PMID: 27350088; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5011367.
Nepravishta R, Mandaliti W, Vallebona PS, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Mechanism of Action of Thymosin a1: Does It Interact with Membrane by Recognition of Exposed Phosphatidylserine on Cell Surface? A Structural Approach. VITAM HORM. 2016; 102:101-19. doi: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.04.002. PubMed PMID: 27450732.
Moroni G, Gaziano R, Bue C, Agostini M, Perno CF, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pica F (2015). Progesterone and Melanoma Cells: An Old Story Suspended between Life and Death. JOURNAL OF STEROIDS & HORMONAL SCIENCE, vol. 5, ISSN: 2157-7536, doi: 10.4172/2157-7536.1000158 wos
Garaci E, Pica F, Matteucci C, Gaziano R, D'Agostini C, Miele MT, Camerini R, Palamara AT, Favalli C, Mastino A, Serafino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P. Historical review on thymosin ?1 in oncology: preclinical and clinical experiences. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2015; 15 Suppl 1:S31-9. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1017466. Epub 2015 Jun 22. PubMed PMID: 26096345.
Balestrieri E, Pica F, Matteucci C, Zenobi R, Sorrentino R, Argaw-Denboba A, Cipriani C, Bucci I, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P. Transcriptional activity of human endogenous retroviruses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. BIOMED RES INT. 2015; 2015:164529.
Nepravishta R, Mandaliti W, Eliseo T, Vallebona PS, Pica F, Garaci E, Paci M. Thymosin ?1 inserts N terminus into model membranes assuming a helical conformation. EXPERT OPIN BIOL THER. 2015 Feb 2:1-11.
Pica F, Gatti A, Divizia M, Lazzari M, Ciotti M, Sabato AF, Volpi A. One-year follow-up of patients with long-lasting post-herpetic neuralgia. BMC INFECT DIS. 2014 Nov 1;14:556.
Serafino A, Pica F, Andreola F, Gaziano R, Moroni N, Moroni G, Zonfrillo M, Pierimarchi P, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Garaci E. Thymosin ?1 activates complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis in human monocyte-derived macrophages. JOURNAL OF INNATE IMMUNITY 2014;6(1):72-88. doi: 10.1159/000351587. Epub 2013 Jun 22.
Griffiths SJ, Koegl M, Boutell C, Zenner HL, Crump CM, Pica F, Gonzalez O, Friedel CC, Barry G, Martin K, Craigon MH, Chen R, Kaza LN, Fossum E, Fazakerley JK, Efstathiou S, Volpi A, Zimmer R, Ghazal P, Haas J. A systematic analysis of host factors reveals a Med23-interferon-? regulatory axis against herpes simplex virus type 1 replication. PLOS PATHOGENS 2013; 9(8):e1003514.
Volpi A, Pica F. “Epstein - Barr virus and CNS infections”. In: NEUROVIRAL INFECTIONS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES & DNA VIRUSES. Edited by Sunit K. Singh and Daniel Ruzek - Vol. I - Section II - Chapter 9, p. 245-272, 2013. London:Taylor & Francis Group.
Pica F, Balestrieri E, Serafino A, Sorrentino R, Gaziano R, Moroni G, Moroni N, Palmieri G, Mattei M, Garaci E, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P. Antitumor effects of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine in a rat syngeneic model of colorectal cancer. ANTI-CANCER DRUGS 2012; vol. 23, p. 32-42.
Balestrieri E, Arpino C, Matteucci C, Sorrentino R, Pica F, Alessandrelli R, Coniglio A, Curatolo P, Rezza G, Macciardi F, Garaci E, Gaudi S, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P HERVs expression in Autism Spectrum Disorders . PLOS ONE 2012; vol. 7, p. e48831.
Serafino A, Pierimarchi P, Pica F, Andreola F, Gaziano R, Moroni N, Zonfrillo M, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Garaci E. Thymosin alpha 1 as a stimulatory agent of innate cell-mediated immune response. ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2012; vol. 1270, p. 13-20.
Garaci E, Pica F, Serafino A, Balestrieri E, Matteucci C, Moroni G, Sorrentino R, Zonfrillo M, Pierimarchi P, Sinibaldi- Vallebona P. Thymosin ?1 and Cancer: Action on Immune Effector and Tumor Target Cells. ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2012; vol. 1269, p. 26-33.
Pica F, Volpi A. Public awareness and knowledge of herpes labialis. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2012; vol. 84, p. 132-137.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Pica F. Frequency of Herpes Zoster Recurrences. MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS 2011; vol. 86, p. 584-587.
Pica F, Volpi A, Gaziano R, Garaci E. Interferon-lambda in immunocompetent individuals with a history of recurrent herpes labialis. ANTIVIRAL THERAPY 2010; vol. 15, p. 737-743.
Gatti A, Pica F, Boccia MJT, De Antoni F, Sabato AF, Volpi A. No evidence of family history as a risk factor for herpes zoster in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2010; vol. 82, p. 1007-1011.
Volpi A, Pica F. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 e 2 e Varicella zoster virus (VZV). In: Gruppo di Lavoro AMCLI “Infezioni Materno-Fetali” Attualità in tema di infezioni materno-fetali (seconda edizione) 2010; p. 63-89, TORINO: Editing Berrino Printer.
Volpi A, Pica F. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)1 e 2 e Varicella zoster virus (VZV). In: Gruppo di lavoro AMCLI "Infezioni materno-fetali". Attualità in tema di infezioni materno-fetali. 2009; p. 57-83, TORINO: Editing Berrino Printer.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Pica F Bellino S, Marsella LT, Sabato AF. Clinical and psychosocial correlates of post-herpetic neuralgia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2008; vol. 80, p. 1646-1652.
Garaci E, Favalli C, Pica F, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Palamara AT, Matteucci C, Pierimarchi P, Serafino A, Mastino A, Bistoni F, Romani L, Rasi G. Thymosin alpha 1: from bench to bedside. ANN N Y ACAD SCI. 2007 Sep; 1112:225-34. Epub 2007 Jun 28.
Pica F, Volpi A. Transmission of human herpesvirus 8: an update. CURR OPIN INFECT DIS. 2007 Apr; 20(2):152-6. Review.
Volpi A, Gatti A, Serafini G, Costa B, Suligoi B, Pica F, Marsella LT, Sabato E, Sabato AF. Clinical and psychosocial correlates of acute pain in herpes zoster. J CLIN VIROL. 2007 Apr; 38(4):275-9. Epub 2007 Mar 6.
Pica F, Serafino A, Divizia M, Donia D, Fraschetti M, Sinibaldi-Salimei P, Giganti MG, Volpi A. Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus in BCBL-1 cells. BIOELECTROMAGNETICS. 2006 Apr; 27(3):226-32.
Gialloreti LE, Divizia M, Pica F, Volpi A. Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of varicella vaccine programmes based on an observational survey in the Latium region of Italy. HERPES. 2005 Oct; 12(2):33-7.
Gentile G, Capobianchi A, Volpi A, Palù G, Pica F, Calistri A, Biasolo MA, Martino P. Human herpesvirus 8 DNA in serum during seroconversion in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients. J NATL CANCER INST. 2005 Jul 6; 97(13):1008-11.
D'Agostini C, Pica F, Febbraro G, Grelli S, Chiavaroli C, Garaci E. Antitumour effect of OM-174 and cyclophosphamide on murine B16 melanoma in different experimental conditions. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2005 Jul; 5(7-8):1205-12. Epub 2005 Mar 19.
Pica F, Serafino A, Garaci E, Volpi A. Cidofovir on HHV-8 in BCBL-1 cells. ANTIVIR THER. 2004 Oct; 9(5):823-5.
Garaci E, Pica F, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Pierimarchi P, Mastino A, Matteucci C, Rasi G. Thymosin alpha(1) in combination with cytokines and chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. INT IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2003 Aug; 3(8):1145-50.
Volpi A, Gentile G, Pica F, Suligoi B; Slavip study group. Antiviral treatment of varicella in pediatric practice in the Latium region of Italy: results of an observational study. PEDIATR INFECT DIS J. 2002 Aug; 21(8):739-43.
Garaci E, Pica F, Rasi G, Favalli C. Thymosin alpha 1 in the treatment of cancer: from basic research to clinical application. INT J IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 2000 Dec; 22(12):1067-76.
Pica F, Volpi A, Serafino A, Fraschetti M, Franzese O, Garaci E. Autocrine nerve growth factor is essential for cell survival and viral maturation in HHV-8-infected primary effusion lymphoma cells. BLOOD. 2000 May 1; 95(9):2905-12.
Pica F, Palamara AT, Rossi A, De Marco A, Amici C, Santoro MG. Delta(12)-prostaglandin J(2) is a potent inhibitor of influenza A virus replication. ANTIMICROB AGENTS CHEMOTHER. 2000 Jan; 44(1):200-4.
Volpi A, Pica F Virus dell'Herpes simplex. MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA, 2000; 15(1):57-65.
Volpi A, Pica F, Gentile G, Capobianchi A, Fraschetti M, Martino P. Neutralizing antibody response against human cytomegalovirus in allogeneic bone marrow-transplant recipients. J INFECT DIS. 1999 Nov; 180(5):1747-8.
Volpi A, Pica F. Direct Diagnosis of HSV Infections. HERPES - CAMBRIDGE MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS 1998; 5:31-32.
Pica F, Fraschetti M, Matteucci C, Tuthill C, Rasi G. High doses of thymosin alpha 1 enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of combination chemo-immunotherapy for murine B16 melanoma. ANTICANCER RES. 1998 Sep-Oct; 18(5A):3571-8.
Pica F Volpi A, Barillari G, Fraschetti M, Franzese O, Vullo V, Garaci E. Detection of high nerve growth factor serum levels in AIDS-related and -unrelated Kaposi's sarcoma patients. AIDS. 1998 Oct 22; 12(15):2025-9.
Garaci E, Pica F, Rasi G, Palamara AT, Favalli C. Combination therapy with BRMs in cancer and infectious diseases. MECH AGEING DEV. 1997 Jun; 96(1-3):103-16. Review.
Pica F, Franzese O, D'Onofrio C, Bonmassar E, Favalli C, Garaci E. Prostaglandin E2 induces apoptosis in resting immature and mature human lymphocytes: a c-Myc-dependent and Bcl-2-independent associated pathway. J PHARMACOL EXP THER. 1996 Jun; 277(3):1793-800.
Pica F, Rossi A, Santirocco N, Palamara A, Garaci E, Santoro MG. Effect of combined alpha IFN and prostaglandin A1 treatment on vesicular stomatitis virus replication and heat shock protein synthesis in epithelial cells. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1996 Mar; 29(2-3):187-98.
Conti C, Mastromarino P, Tomao P, De Marco A, Pica F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of poliovirus replication by prostaglandins A and J in human cells. ANTIMICROB AGENTS CHEMOTHER. 1996 Feb; 40(2):367-72.
Pica F, Franzese O, D'Onofrio C, Paganini L, Favalli C, Bonmassar E, Garaci E. Effect of PGE2 on c-Myc and Bcl-2 production and programmed cell death in human lymphocytes. ADV PROSTAGLANDIN THROMBOXANE LEUKOT RES. 1995; 23:457-9.
Mastromarino P, Conti C, Petruzziello R, De Marco A, Pica F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of Sindbis virus replication by cyclopentenone prostaglandins: a cell-mediated event associated with heat-shock protein synthesis. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1993 Mar; 20(3):209-22.
Pica F, De Marco A, De Cesare F, Santoro MG. Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication by delta 12-prostaglandin J2 is regulated at two separate levels and is associated with induction of stress protein synthesis. ANTIVIRAL RES. 1993 Mar; 20(3):193-208.
Di Francesco P, Gaziano R, Pica F, Palamara AT, Innocenti F, Favalli C. In vitro phencyclidine-induced inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation: prevention by cell activation. IMMUNOPHARMACOL IMMUNOTOXICOL. 1993 Jan; 15(1):69-78.
Garaci E, Pica F, Mastino A, Palamara AT, Belardelli F, Favalli C. Antitumor effect of thymosin alpha 1/interleukin-2 or thymosin alpha 1/interferon alpha,beta following cyclophosphamide in mice injected with highly metastatic Friend erythroleukemia cells. J IMMUNOTHER EMPHASIS TUMOR IMMUNOL. 1993 Jan; 13(1):7-17.
Mastino A, Favalli C, Grelli S, Rasi G, Pica F, Goldstein AL, Garaci E. Combination therapy with thymosin alpha 1 potentiates the anti-tumor activity of interleukin-2 with cyclophosphamide in the treatment of the Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. INT J CANCER. 1992 Feb 1; 50(3):493-9.
Di Francesco P, Marini S, Pica F, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. In vivo cocaine administration influences lymphokine production and humoral immune response. IMMUNOL RES. 1992; 11(1):74-9.
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Marini S, Favalli C, Garaci E. Thymosin alpha one restores murine T-cell-mediated responses inhibited by in vivo cocaine administration. INT J IMMUNOPHARMACOL. 1992 Jan; 14(1):1-9.
Di Francesco P., Belogi L., Pica F., Cavallo G., Gaziano R., Santiangeli Croce C.C., Tubaro E., Garaci E. Depressed T-cell proliferation and polymorphonuclear superoxide anion production in mice treated with cocaine. MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, 1991, Vol. 19, Issue 19, Pages 653 - 654
Pica F, De Cesare F, Amici C, Garaci E, Santoro MG. Antiviral activity of cyclopentenone prostaglandins: Block of virus protein synthesis and induction of stress proteins in polarized monkey kidney cells. CYTOTECHNOLOGY 1991 Feb;5(Suppl 1):28-9. doi: 10.1007/BF00736801
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. Inhibition of rat fibroblast cell proliferation at specific cell cycle stages by cocaine. CELL BIOL INT REP. 1990 Jun; 14(6):549-58.
Garaci E, Mastino A, Pica F, Favalli C. Combination treatment using thymosin alpha 1 and interferon after cyclophosphamide is able to cure Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. CANCER IMMUNOL IMMUNOTHER. 1990;32(3):154-60.
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Croce C, Favalli C, Tubaro E, Garaci E. Effect of acute or daily cocaine administration on cellular immune response and virus infection in mice. NAT IMMUN CELL GROWTH REGUL. 1990; 9(6):397-405.
Di Francesco F., Pica F., Croce C., Tubaro E., Favalli C. Cocaine vs morphine: Differential inhibitory effects of natural killer cell activity in mice. INT J IMMUNOPATHOL PHARMACOL 1990, Vol. 3. Issue 3, 183-189.
Di Francesco P., Pica F., Santiangeli C., Croce C., Tubaro E., Garaci E. Suppressive effects of phencyclidine on murine immune surveillance. MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 1990, Vol. 18, Issue 19, 755-757
Di Francesco P, Pica F, Belogi L. et al. Influence of cocaine on murine immune surveillance. PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Volume 22, 1990, Page 165.
Jezzi, T., Mastino, A., Marini, S., Pica F et al. Effects of in vivo PGE2 administration on IL-2 production by splenocytes collected from normal and tumor-bearing mice. INT J IMMUNOPATHOL PHARMACOL, Volume 2, Issue 1, 1989, Pages 31-40.
Pica F, Mastino A, Grelli S, Jezzi T, Favalli C. Combined treatment with thymosin alpha 1 and interferon enhances NK activity in immunosuppressed tumor bearing mice. J CHEMOTHER. 1989 Jul; 1(4 Suppl):1167-9.
Mastino A, Favalli C, Jezzi T, Grelli S, Pica F Garaci E. Modifications in spleen lymphocyte subsets after cyclophosphamide and 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 administration in mice. J CHEMOTHER. 1989 Jul; 1(4 Suppl):454-6.
Volpi A, Pica F, Cauletti M, Panà A, Rocchi G. Cytomegalovirus infection in day care centers in Rome, Italy: viral excretion in children and occupational risk among workers. J MED VIROL. 1988 Oct; 26(2):119-25.
Volpi, A., Sorbi, L., Pica F. et al. Infection of lympho-monocytes caused by cytomegalovirus. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 1012-1013.
Pica F., Tersigni, R., Vella, S. et al. Contemporaneous reactivation of herpes simplex 1 and 2 infection in a renal transplanted patient. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 983-984.
Andreoni, M., Reverberi, L., Pica F. et al. Herpes simplex virus infections in pregnant women with aspecific vaginitis. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 37, Issue 10, 1985, Pages 1009-1010.
Sarmati L, Andreoni M, Arcese W, Pica F. et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in 16 bone marrow transplant recipients. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 39, Issue 9, 1987, Pages 935-936.
Pica F., Volpi, A., Pulsoni, A., et al. Hemorrhagic cystitis by Adenovirus in a bone marrow transplant patient. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Volume 39, Issue 9, 1987, Pages 977-978.