Cell and Animal Engineering
The Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases which will host the training platform in animal and cell engineering is a multidisciplinary research center composed by a network of laboratories working at the University of Milan. The Center has generated two major core facilities dedicated to:
- “Genetic, cell and animal engineering”
- “Functional imaging”.
- The mission of the core facilities are the development of novel technologies, maintenance of innovative techniques, and training of younger scientists to facilitate the technology transfer among the different groups composing the Center.
- Moreover, it joins with P36 for PET/MR imaging applications in neurosciences
Objectives:
Training will be performed in modules on the selected topics reporter below. The trainees will follow small theoretical courses and will mostly practice by performing experiments. The training will be performed on a maximum of two students/module. Two weeks time will be required for each module. Training courses are suitable for Master and Ph.D. students and for post-doctoral fellows. The content of each training can be tailored according to the necessities of the trainees. The topics of the different modules will be:
- Module 1: Principles in vector design
- Module 2: Cell Engineering
- Module 3: Animal Engineering
- Module 4: PET/MR Brain Imaging (clinical, experimental)
Description of work:
a) Available training infrastructure
- Laboratory for cell biology fully equipped
for cell growth, maintenance and engineering by means of quantitative
microinjection, transfection by electroporation or adsorption and viral
infection. The laboratory is also well equipped with instrumentation
for light microscopy and video microscopy and image enhancement.
Cellular dynamics can be monitored by fluorescence and interference
techniques; fluorescence photobleaching, imaging of calcium efflux. Two confocal microscopes are available. - Laboratory
for molecular biology fully equipped for manipulation of nucleic acids,
DNA sequencing, DNA expression analysis by conventional molecular
biology techniques and real time
PCR. The laboratory has CCD camera units for in vivo imaging by bioluminescence. Animal facilities supervised by Veterinarians with expertise in mouse genetics are part of the laboratory. - PET/MRI laboratory
b) Teachers
- Surpervisor and course director: Adriana Maggi
- Molecular biology training: Paolo Ciana (Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics) with the technical help of Monica Rebecchi
- Cell biology training: Elisabetta Vegeto (Ph.D. in Chemistry and Pharmacology) with technical help of Clara Meda
- Oocyte injection and animal engineering: Giulia Chiesa (Ph.D. in Chemistry and Pharmacology) and Cinzia Parolini (Ph.D. in Chemistry and Pharmacology)
Specific training packages
- Module 1:
• Principles in vector design
• Principles in reporter selection
• Gene targeting
• Analysis of reporter expression
- Molecular biology-based methods
- Biochemical methods
- In vivo imaging
- Cell sorting
• Generation of recombinant plasmids
• Recombinant virus
- Lentivirus
- Adenovirus - Module 2
• Cell Engineering
- Immortalized cells
- Cells in primary culture
- Organ stem cells - Module 3
• Animal Engineering
- Classical transgenesis
- Gene targeting
- Principle of nuclear transfer
- Oocyte injection and implantation
- Principles of genotyping
- Animal colony generation and maitenance
- Sperm and embryo banks
- Ethics of animal handling
- In vivo imaging by bioluminescence - Module 4
• PET/MR imaging in various applications in neuroscience
