Alessandra Camarca

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Alessandra Camarca
Institute of Food Science
Research

Nutrheff Thematic
Biological validation

Research Interest and expertise in the field of nutraceuticals and functional food
Interest in mucosal immunology and celiac disease. Expertise in gluten-specific T cell lines, identification of gluten immunogenic peptides and alternative cereals, validation of strategies for gluten detoxification. Evaluation of the immune-modulatory properties of biomolecules by ex-vivo analysis on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cell proliferation/vitality, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production, expression of activation markers, differentiation of dendritic cells).

Keywords: Immune-modulation, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), T cell lines (TCLs), Gluten, Intestinal Inflammation

Nutraceuticals and foods of interest
Bioactive peptides, polyphenols and probiotics/prebiotics, from vegetable extracts and/or from food-derived microorganisms.

Fields of application
Characterization of alternative cereals for celiac disease patients diet; characterization of novel gluten endopetidases; identification of novel anti-inflammatory natural compounds.

Facilities and equipments
Tools for in vitro expansion and culturing of primary intestinal gluten-specific T cell lines. Tools for isolation, ex-vivo culturing and analysis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Equipment for cellular immunology assays such as ELISA, proliferation, cytofluorimetric analysis.