Immunotherapeutic strategies

Project objectives

The project's primary objective is to study polymorphisms in the first group (identified in the protein's collagen-like domain, specifically in codons 52, 54, and 57 of the first exon), which lead to structural abnormalities in the MBP protein, which in turn prevent the correct formation of oligomers in the implicated region. The second group (in the gene's promoter region, at positions -550 and -221) is also being studied. These polymorphisms cause reduced plasma levels of the protein, potentially related to a possible susceptibility to HPV infection and/or an impaired response to therapy. The aim is to investigate whether these polymorphisms may favor a more severe course of the infection, facilitating progression to severe dysplasia and cancer. The results will be critically evaluated to determine a possible therapeutic, immune-modulating role for MBP in traditional treatment protocols, or in DNA vaccination protocols.

Start and end date

01/12/2002 - 01/06/2005

Project Manager

Prof. Vito Michele Fazio - Scientific manager

Coordinating institution of the project

San Gallicano SC Institute of Infectious Dermatology

Other Institutions involved

• University of Brescia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

• National Institute of Health, Laboratory of Virology

• Regina Elena SC Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics

• ENEA CR Casaccia, Plant Genetics and Genomics Section, UTS Biotechnology, Health and Ecosystem Protection

• CNR, Institute of Biomedical Technologies

• S. Gallicano Institute, Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Microbiology

• University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

• Istituto Superiore di Sanità, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Department

• Sapienza University of Rome - Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Service

Funding source(s).

Italian Ministry of Health