The course aims to lead the student to the knowledge of the biology and biotechnology mechanisms underlying the production of biopharmaceuticals, with particular attention to the use of plant systems. The positive characteristics and issues relating to the use of plant systems will be addressed by highlighting the diversity of post-translational changes that proteins in plant biological systems undergo compared to animal ones. The course will also consider the development of plastid transformation systems, for the production of bioactive molecules and latest generation recombinant proteins / antibodies useful in safeguarding human health.

● The latest generation drugs: biopharmaceuticals. ● Molecular biotechnology techniques in the plant world. Methods of genetic transformation of plants (transient and stable), Agrobacterium Tumefaciens, biolistic techniques (gene-gun), microinjection of DNA, plant viruses. ● The sorting of proteins within eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the classical secretion pathway and the unconventional pathways. ● Synthesis of folding and key post-translational processes for the correct production of heterologous proteins in plant systems. ● Study and planning of the correct synthesis and accumulation site of biopharmaceuticals in the plant. ● Vegetable nanovesicles an alternative to traditional carriers in the delivery of pharmaceutical formulations. ● Examples of applied plant biotechnology, from theory to practice

D1-Knowledge and understanding. Students will have to have critically and thoroughly assimilated the main themes of basic biology mechanisms and then introduce the knowledge inherent to the molecular biotechnology techniques underlying the production of biopharmaceuticals and bioactive molecules. D2-Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Students should be able to identify cause-and-effect relationships between the introduction or manipulation of exogenous / endogenous genes and the production and accumulation of products of pharmaceutical / nutraceutical interest. D3-Autonomy of judgment. Students should be able to interpret and predict the physiological responses of plant cells to biotechnology, as well as develop knowledge to understand the correct folding, transport and accumulation sites of recombinant proteins. D4-Communication skills. Students will be prepared to use specific technical language to communicate information and ideas related to the knowledge learned during the course. Acquisition of adequate skills and tools for communication with reference to data processing and presentation. D5-Ability to learn. Thanks to the theoretical skills acquired, students will be able to understand and critically discuss the salient aspects of biotechnology and plant molecular biology.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Course books

Biopharmaceuticals in plants by Kathleen Laura Hefferon Taylor& Francis (2009)

Bioloogia cellulare & biotecnologie vegetali Cozzolino S. e vari (2011)

Course books

Biopharmaceuticals in plants by Kathleen Laura Hefferon Taylor& Francis (2009)

Bioloogia cellulare & biotecnologie vegetali Cozzolino S. e vari (2011)