Marco Bisaglia

Drosophila models of neurodegeneration

In my group, we are interested in a better understanding of the molecular determinants involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders with particular emphasis on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The current research focuses on the analysis of the interaction between metal dyshomeostasis, mitochondrial/autophagic dysfunction, and oxidative stress. A better understanding of the physiological redox signaling and cellular redox alterations associated with neurodegeneration is essential for defining effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The following projects are underway at my laboratory:
1) Analysis of the interplay between mitochondria and autophagy in PD
2) Evaluation of the role of ferroptosis in PD
3) Assessment of the mechanism of action of Riluzole in ALS

Following a research period spent as visiting scientist in the laboratory of Dr. Alex J. Whitworth, one of the main experts on Drosophilamelanogaster models of PD, I became aware of the great potential and usefulness of fruit flies to explore, in synergy with cellular models, the complexity of the redox homeostasis. The acquired expertise has been functional to the recent development in my lab of research lines that, using D. melanogaster as an animal model, address scientific questions at the organism level.

Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway as a Therapeutic Strategy for ALS Treatment. Arslanbaeva L, Bisaglia M. Molecules. 2022; 27(5):1471. doi: 10.3390/molecules27051471.

Metformin Repurposing for Parkinson Disease Therapy: Opportunities and Challenges. Agostini F, Masato A, Bubacco L, Bisaglia M. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 23(1):398. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010398. 

DJ-1: A promising therapeutic candidate for ischemia-reperfusion injury. De Lazzari F, Prag HA, Gruszczyk AV, Whitworth AJ, Bisaglia M. Redox Biol. 2021; 41:101884. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101884. 

Copper Ions and Parkinson's Disease: Why Is Homeostasis So Relevant? Bisaglia M, Bubacco L. Biomolecules. 2020;1 0(2):195. doi: 10.3390/biom10020195.

Antioxidant Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: Insights from Drosophila melanogaster. De Lazzari F, Sandrelli F, Whitworth AJ, Bisaglia M. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020; 9(1):52. doi: 10.3390/antiox9010052.

Superoxide dismutating molecules rescue the toxic effects of PINK1 and parkin loss.Biosa A, Sanchez-Martinez A, Filograna R, Terriente-Felix A, Alam SM, Beltramini M, Bubacco L, Bisaglia M, Whitworth AJ. Hum Mol Genet. 2018; 27(9):1618-1629. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy069.

Recent findings on the physiological function of DJ-1: Beyond Parkinson's disease. Biosa A, Sandrelli F, Beltramini M, Greggio E, Bubacco L, Bisaglia M. Neurobiol Dis. 2017; 108:65-72. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.005. 

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)-mimetic M40403 Is Protective in Cell and Fly Models of Paraquat Toxicity: Implications for Parkinson disease Filograna R, Godena VK, Sanchez-Martinez A, Ferrari E, Casella L, Beltramini M, Bubacco L, Whitworth AJ, Bisaglia M. J Biol Chem. 2016; 291(17):9257-67. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.708057. 

Analysis of the Catecholaminergic Phenotype in Human SH-SY5Y and BE(2)-M17 Neuroblastoma Cell Lines upon Differentiation. Filograna R, Civiero L, Ferrari V, Codolo G, Greggio E, Bubacco L, Beltramini M, Bisaglia M. PLoS One. 2015; 10(8):e0136769. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136769.

Are dopamine derivatives implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease? Bisaglia M, Filograna R, Beltramini M, Bubacco L. Ageing Res Rev. 2014; 13:107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.12.009.