Vittorio Colizzi    Bandiera-Tricolore-Italiana

colizzi (1)

Sito web: www.vittorio-colizzi.com

Curriculum vitae
Academic Degrees
 1973 Medical Degree with honor, University of Rome “La Sapienza”
 1976 Specialist Degree in Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “La Sapienza”
- 1978 Specialist Degree in Public Health & Hygiene, University of Pisa
- 1987 Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology, Brunel University, Uxbridge, England

Employments
- 1974-75 Research Fellow at the Division of Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research “Regina Elena” Rome.
- 1976-81 Assistant Professor, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pisa University.
- 1982-86, Associate Professor of Immunology, Head of the Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pisa University.
- 1987-1999, Associate Professor of Immunology, Head of the Laboratory of Immunochemistry & Molecular Pathology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”.
- 1998-now, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Biotechnology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”.
- 2000-now, Full Professor of Immunology, Head of the Laboratory of Immunology & Molecular Pathology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”.
- 2005-now, Head of the Italian-Cameroon AID Programme & Scientific Director at the International Research Centre “Chantal Biya”, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Central Africa.

Products and Patents
- Biostat: a mathematical programme for application in Immunology (software and guidance).
- Procedure for vaccine preparation based on identification of aminoacid sequences in HIV antigens showing similarity with protein sequences of human organism. Patent N. RM 92 A 000157, deposited 6/3/92.
- Diagnostical method for detection of tuberculosis infection. Patent international classification : A61B; N. RM 92 A 000336, deposited 5/5 1992.
- Diagnostical method based on Peptide-Elisa for detection of H.pylori infection. Patent N. RM 96 A 000805, 1996.
- Method for identification of antigenic peptides and relative usage for the formulation of a specific HIV-1 vaccineprocedure for vaccine preparation based on identification of aminoacid sequences in HIV antigens showing similarity with protein sequences of human organism. Patent N. RM 2004 A000066, deposited 9/2/2004.
- Amicosante M., Colizzi V., Mariani F., Saltini C. Uso di sequenze amminoacidiche da Mycobacterium tuberculosis o dei loro corrispondenti acidi nucleici per la diagnosi e la prevenzione di infezione tubercolare, relativo kit diagnostico e vaccino. Italian Patent, 23/07/2010, RM2010A000411.

Administration & Scientific Commettees
- Scientific Societes: Gruppo di Cooperazione in Immunologia, Italian Society for Microbiology, Italian Society for Immunofarmacology, British Society for Immunology, European Association for Microbial Immunology & Biotechnology.
- Administration: C.N.R.& UNESCO Commettee for AIDS, Administration Council of University of Tor Vergata, Coordinator of Tor Vergata Biotechnology Science Park, University & Research Worker Union C.G.I.L.
- President (Chairman of the Board) of the following institutions: Azienda per il Diritto allo Studio dell’Università di Roma “Tor Vergata” (A.DI.S.U.), and Consorzio Iniziative per la Promozione dell’Occupazione nella Tecnologia, la Scienza e l’Innovazione (I.P.O.TE.S.I.).
- Director of the UNESCO International Centre for AIDS and other Emerging Infections, Hospital “L. Spallanzani, Rome (1998-2002).
- President of the Advisory Board of the National Institute of Infectious “L. Spallanzani”, Rome (2007-2010)
- President of the Strategic Committee of the Academic Spin-off TDA (italina srl (Technology Development for Africa)
- President of the Academic spin-off AfroInnova (cameroonian AS, based a Yaoundé).

Specific activity in Africa
 European Union Network on Tuberculosis: Lusaka, Zambia,1999 (partecipant to Network and discussant to a specific meeting held in Lusaka)
 HIV Unesco Vaccine Project, Ivory Coast, 2000-2001 (responsible of the project)
 Italy-OMS project on HIV in Ivory Coast: collaborating at th set up of the project with the local office OMS and with the UTL of Burkina Faso.
 Italy-Morocco cooperation between the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Nation Institute of Hygiene of Rabat, Morocco (Project Director).
 UNESCO programme “Families First Africa, 2003-now (scientific coordinator).
 European Union Action Plan for the HIV nosocomial infection in Benghazi, Libya, 2005 (Project Director)
 International Research Centre “Chantal Biya”, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005-2006 (head of the ISS Cooperation Programme Italy-Cameroon), then Scientific Director (2009-2011).
 United Nations (HO, UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF) consultants in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinée, Kenya, Niger.

Recent Teaching Activity
General Pathology in the Course of Pharmacy (English);
Oncology in the Degree Course of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Biology and Human Evolution (Master II, Italian)

Technology Transfer
The activity is carried out in the context of two international organizations, namely: the UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Biotechnology and the Biotechnology European Group of Tor Vergata Science Park. The most important is the set up and the coordination of the Start up Incubator for social and life science business in Douala (Cameroon).

Scientific Research
- Subjects of the scientific activities are related to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, with special interest in AIDS and Tuberculosis.
- More than 200 scientific publications on international peer review journal (Nature, Journal of Immunolology, Infection and Immunity, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Clinical Experimental Immunology, AIDS, AIDS and Human Retrovirus Journal, etc.)
- More than 10 chapters on books and review articles in italian, english, french and russian.

IF total: 889.328 (223 pubblications)
Citations: 4372
Years: 37
Cites/year: 118.16
Cites/paper: 18.22/9.0/0 (mean/median/mode)
h-index: 37
g-index: 54
e-index: 32.33
hc-index: 16
hI-index: 8.78
hI,norm: 15

Research Field
Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the microbial-host interactions. In particular, it have been characterised the natural and acquired immune responses, including immunopathology and autoimmunity, developed by the host immune system in the course of viral (HIV, HBV, HCV) and bacterial (Tuberculosis) human and experimental infections.

Grants obtained as Principal Investigator
- 1982-85 Joint Project C.N.R.-M.R.C. (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy – Medical Research Council, U.K.) Microbial interaction with suppressor cell circuits”.
- 1985-88 World Healt Organization (WHO) “Vaccine development” Immunology of Tuberculosis (IMM/TUB) Programme.
- 1988-91 Joint Project CNR-MRC (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Medical Research Council) “HIV interaction with the autoreactive T cell response”
- 1988-94 Target Oriented Project on Biotechnology and Bioinstrument (C.N.R.)”T cell epitopes in the immune response to Tuberculosis”.
- 1989-96 AIDS Project, Italian Minister of Health “Structural and functional analysis of HIV gp120 and T-T cell interaction in AIDS immunopathogenesis”.
- 1990-95 Target Oriented Project on Factors of Diseases (C.N.R.) “M. tuberculosis and HIV coinfection”
- 1992-95 EU Programme on Biomedicine & Health Research, AIDS section (BIOMED)
- 1993-95 “Galileo Project”, French-Italian Cooperation
- 1996-98 Tuberculosis Project, Italian Minister of Health “M. tuberculosis gene expression and protective role of  T cells”.
- 1997-99 EU-Copernicus Project “New methods for detection of CD4 T cell depletion by apoptosis in AIDS and implication for therapeutic strategies”
- 1996-98 AIDS Project, Italian Minister of Health “Role of g/d T cells in HIV infection”.
- 1998-2000 EU-FSE ADAPT Project “Development of the biotechnological Science Park”.
- 2000-now, ISS Project on Neonatal Vaccine Development (1 million euro) .
- 2003-2006 UNESCO Programme “Families First Africa” (1 million euro).
- 2006-2009 ISS-MAE Action Plan for Cameroon (2 million euro).

Ongoing Collaborations
- University of Viterbo “La Tuscia” for the research activity dealing with the molecular characterization of plant microRNAs.
- University of Dschang (Cameroon) for the teaching activity of General Pathology in several Masters (Public Health, Pharmacy, Reahbilitation Medicine); Transfer Technology for the study and research of medical plants.
- University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) for teaching activity in the course of Genetics and Molecular Biology. Transfer Technology in the field of Hepatisi B vaccination and medical plants research.
- International Research Centre for HIV/AIDS in Yaoundé (CIRCB, Cameroon) as support of the Scientific Council of the CIRCB.
- Centre for Relation with Africa, Italian Geographic Society, for all projects dealing with Africa, and in particular with the Interntional Committee for the Lack Tchad (Nd’jamena).

Publications

1. Role of HLA-B α-3 domain amino acid position 194 in HIV disease progression. Grifoni A, Montesano C, Palma P, Salerno A, Colizzi V, Amicosante M. Mol Immunol. 2013 Apr;53(4):410-3.

2. HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 allele frequencies in Cyrenaica population (Libya) and genetic relationships with other populations. Galgani A, Mancino G, Martínez-Labarga C, Cicconi R, Mattei M, Amicosante M, Bonanno CT, Di Sano C, Gimil GS, Salerno A, Colizzi V, Montesano C. Hum Immunol. 2013 Jan;74(1):52-9.

3. Human cord blood γδ T cells expressing public Vγ2 chains dominate the response to bisphosphonate plus IL-15. Cairo C, Sagnia B, Cappelli G, Colizzi V, Leke RG, Leke RJ, Pauza CD., Immunology. 2012 Nov 26.

4. Early warning indicators for HIV drug resistance in Cameroon during the year 2010.Billong SC, Fokam J, Nkwescheu AS, Kembou E, Milenge P, Tsomo Z, Dion GN, Aghokeng AF, Mpoudi EN, Ndumbe PM, Colizzi V, Elat Nfetam JB. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):

5. B-Pred, a structure based B-cell epitopes prediction server.Giacò L, Amicosante M, Fraziano M, Gherardini PF, Ausiello G, Helmer-Citterich M, Colizzi V, Cabibbo A. Adv Appl Bioinform Chem. 2012;5:11-21.

6. Paediatric HIV Infection in Western Africa: The Long Way to the Standard of Care. Tchidjou HK, Maria Martino A, Goli LP, Diop Ly M, Zekeng L, Samba M, Maiolo S, Palma P, Pontrelli G, Mancino G, Rossi P, Colizzi V. J Trop Pediatr. 2012 Apr 23.

7. A new Mycobacterium tuberculosis smooth colony reduces growth inside human macrophages and represses PDIM Operon gene expression. Does an heterogeneous population exist in intracellular mycobacteria Giovannini D, Cappelli G, Jiang L, Castilletti C, Colone A, Serafino A, Wannenes F, Giacò L, Quintiliani G, Fraziano M, Colizzi V, Mariani F. Microb Pathog. 2012 Jul 4.

8. Characterization of drug resistance mutations in naïve and ART-treated patients infected with HIV-1 in Yaounde, Cameroon. Ceccarelli L, Salpini R, Moudourou S, Cento V, Santoro MM, Fokam J, Takou D, Nanfack A, Dori L, Torimiro J, Sarmati L, Andreoni M, Perno CF, Colizzi V, Cappelli G. J Med Virol. 2012 May;84(5):721-7. doi: 10.1002/jmv.23244.

9. Validation of a single-platform, volumetric, flow cytometry for CD4 T cell count monitoring in therapeutic mobile unit. Mbopi-Kéou FX, Sagnia B, Ngogang J, Angwafo FF 3rd, Colizzi V, Montagnier L, Bélec L. J Transl Med. 2012 Feb 6;10:22.

10. HMGB1 and Cord Blood: Its Role as Immuno-Adjuvant Factor in Innate Immunity. Ciucci A, Gabriele I, Percario ZA, Affabris E, Colizzi V, Mancino G. PLoS One. 2011;6(8):e23766.

11. In vitro anti Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv activity of Lannea acida A. Rich from Burkina Faso.Ouattara L, Koudou J, Karou DS, Giacò L, Capelli G, Simpore J, Fraziano M, Colizzi V, Traore AS. Pak J Biol Sci. 2011 Jan 1;14(1):47-52.

12. Drug Resistance Among Drug-naive and First-line Antiretroviral Treatment-failing Children in Cameroon. Fokam J, Salpini R, Santoro MM, Cento V, Perno CF, Colizzi V, Ndumbe PM, Fokunang Ntungen C, Ndiang Tetang SM, Nanfack AJ, Takou Komego DA, Cappelli G. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Aug 3.

13. Lysophosphatidic acid enhances antimycobacterial response during in vivo primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Delogu G, Sali M, Rocca S, Quintiliani G, Santucci MB, Greco E, Cabibbo A, Mariani F, Colizzi V, Fadda G, Fraziano M. Cell Immunol. 2011;271(1):1-4.

14. Implementation of HIV Early Infant Diagnosis and HIV Type 1 RNA Viral Load Determination on Dried Blood Spots in Cameroon: Challenges and Propositions. Nkenfou CN, Lobé EE, Ouwe-Missi-Oukem-Boyer O, Sosso MS, Dambaya B, Gwom LC, Moyo ST, Tangimpundu C, Ambada G, Fainguem N, Domkam I, Nnomzo’o E, Ekoa D, Milenge P, Colizzi V, Fouda PJ, Cappelli G, Torimiro JN, Bissek AC. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2011 Jul 27.

15. Characterization of the immune response of human cord-blood derived gamma/delta T cells to stimulation with aminobisphosphonate compounds. Placido R, Auricchio G, Gabriele I, Galli E, Brunetti E, Colizzi V, Battistini L, Mancino G. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011 Jan-Mar;24(1):101-10.

16. Performance evaluation of an in-house human immunodeficiency virus type-1 protease-reverse transcriptase genotyping assay in Cameroon. Fokam J, Salpini R, Santoro MM, Cento V, D’Arrigo R, Gori C, Perno CF, Colizzi V, Nanfack A, Gwom LC, Cappelli G, Takou D. Arch Virol. 2011 Apr 5.

17. Molecular Epidemiology of HIV Type 1 CRF02_AG in Cameroon and African Patients Living in Italy. Véras NM, Santoro MM, Gray RR, Tatem AJ, Presti AL, Olearo F, Cappelli G, Colizzi V, Takou D, Torimiro J, Russo G, Callegaro A, Salpini R, D’Arrigo R, Perno CF, Goodenow MM, Ciccozzi M, Salemi M. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2011 May 6.

18. Different transcriptional profiles of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells infected with distinct strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Sanarico N, Colone A, Grassi M, Speranza V, Giovannini D, Ciaramella A, Colizzi V, Mariani F. Clin Dev Immunol. 2011;2011:741051.

19. Reference Values of Lymphocyte Subsets in Healthy, HIV-Negative Children in Cameroon. Sagnia B, Ateba Ndongo F, Ndiang Moyo Tetang S, Ndongo Torimiro J, Cairo C, Domkam I, Agbor G, Mve E, Tocke O, Fouda E, Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer O, Colizzi V. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 May;18(5):790-5.