Omar Almolla

@cardiologicomonzino.it

Bioinformatician at Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS
Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico

Omar Almolla


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https://researchid.co/omar.almolla

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Molecular Medicine, Artificial Intelligence, Developmental Biology, Computer Science
5

Scopus Publications

191

Scholar Citations

3

Scholar h-index

3

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Leptin Receptor Fibroblasts Are Preferential Contributors to Cardiac Fibrosis
    Veronica Larcher, Ariane Fischer, Lunfeng Zhang, Omar Almolla, Mattia Chiesa, et al.
    Circulation Research, 2026
    BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibrosis, a hallmark of heart failure and an unmet clinical need, arises from pathological activation of preexisting cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), but the contribution of CF heterogeneity to this process remains unclear. METHODS: Murine models were used to lineage trace or deplete a specific sub-population of CFs at baseline and after myocardial infarction. Transcriptional and epigenetic differences between fibroblast subsets were assessed using next-generation sequencing. Conservation in humans was evaluated through single-cell RNA-seq data sets and histological examination. RESULTS: In mice, fibroblasts were the sole cardiac cell type expressing the signaling-capable isoform of the LepR (leptin receptor). LepR+ CFs emerged neonatally, occupied a defined niche in the coronary adventitia, exhibited enhanced hedgehog signaling, and responded to leptin. After myocardial infarction, LepR-Cre+ CFs proliferated more than interstitial CFs, became a predominant fibroblast lineage in the scar, and their genetic ablation reduced fibrosis while improving function. LepR+ CFs were also detected in the human heart, where they were embedded in an adipocyte-rich niche. CONCLUSIONS: These findings identify adventitial fibroblasts as key drivers of pathological remodeling and demonstrate that fibroblasts, rather than cardiomyocytes, are the principal responders to leptin in the heart, redefining how this major endocrine pathway influences cardiac remodeling and disease.
  • RNA binding of GAPDH controls transcript stability and protein translation in acute myeloid leukemia
    Sama Shamloo, Jeffrey L. Schloßhauer, Shashank Tiwari, Kim Denise Fischer, Omar Almolla, et al.
    RNA Biology, 2025
  • Microbiota profiling in esophageal diseases: Novel insights into molecular staining and clinical outcomes
    Alberto Barchi, Luca Massimino, Francesco Vito Mandarino, Edoardo Vespa, Emanuele Sinagra, et al.
    Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 2024
  • Report on the sequencing of the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) 'Schattenmorelle' genome
    T. Wöhner, O.F. Emeriewen, A.H.J. Wittenberg, K. Nijbroek, R.P. Wang, et al.
    Acta Horticulturae, 2024
  • The structure of the tetraploid sour cherry ‘Schattenmorelle’ (Prunus cerasus L.) genome reveals insights into its segmental allopolyploid nature
    Thomas W. Wöhner, Ofere F. Emeriewen, Alexander H. J. Wittenberg, Koen Nijbroek, Rui Peng Wang, et al.
    Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023
    Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is an important allotetraploid cherry species that evolved in the Caspian Sea and Black Sea regions from a hybridization of the tetraploid ground cherry (Prunus fruticosa Pall.) and an unreduced pollen of the diploid sweet cherry (P. avium L.) ancestor. Details of when and where the evolution of this species occurred are unclear, as well as the effect of hybridization on the genome structure. To gain insight, the genome of the sour cherry cultivar ‘Schattenmorelle’ was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeqTM and Oxford Nanopore long-read technologies, resulting in a ~629-Mbp pseudomolecule reference genome. The genome could be separated into two subgenomes, with subgenome PceS_a originating from P. avium and subgenome PceS_f originating from P. fruticosa. The genome also showed size reduction compared to ancestral species and traces of homoeologous sequence exchanges throughout. Comparative analysis confirmed that the genome of sour cherry is segmental allotetraploid and evolved very recently in the past.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Microbiota profiling in esophageal diseases: Novel insights into molecular staining and clinical outcomes
    A Barchi, L Massimino, FV Mandarino, E Vespa, E Sinagra, O Almolla, ...
    Computational and structural biotechnology journal 23, 626-637 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 30
  • The structure of the tetraploid sour cherry ‘Schattenmorelle’ ( Prunus cerasus L.) genome reveals insights into its segmental allopolyploid nature
    TW Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1284478 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 11
  • Report on the sequencing of the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Schattenmorelle genome
    T Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    XVI EUCARPIA Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics 1412, 443-446 , 2023
    2023
  • Data set: The structure of the tetraploid sour cherry'Schattenmorelle'(Prunus cerasus L.) genome reveals insights into its segmental allopolyploid nature
    T Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    2023
    Citations: 1
  • Salt-tolerant rootstock increases yield of pepper under salinity through maintenance of photosynthetic performance and sinks strength
    C Penella, M Landi, L Guidi, SG Nebauer, E Pellegrini, A San Bautista, ...
    Journal of plant physiology 193, 1-11 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 149

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Salt-tolerant rootstock increases yield of pepper under salinity through maintenance of photosynthetic performance and sinks strength
    C Penella, M Landi, L Guidi, SG Nebauer, E Pellegrini, A San Bautista, ...
    Journal of plant physiology 193, 1-11 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 149
  • Microbiota profiling in esophageal diseases: Novel insights into molecular staining and clinical outcomes
    A Barchi, L Massimino, FV Mandarino, E Vespa, E Sinagra, O Almolla, ...
    Computational and structural biotechnology journal 23, 626-637 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 30
  • The structure of the tetraploid sour cherry ‘Schattenmorelle’ ( Prunus cerasus L.) genome reveals insights into its segmental allopolyploid nature
    TW Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1284478 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 11
  • Data set: The structure of the tetraploid sour cherry'Schattenmorelle'(Prunus cerasus L.) genome reveals insights into its segmental allopolyploid nature
    T Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    2023
    Citations: 1
  • Report on the sequencing of the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Schattenmorelle genome
    T Wöhner, OF Emeriewen, AHJ Wittenberg, K Nijbroek, RP Wang, ...
    XVI EUCARPIA Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics 1412, 443-446 , 2023
    2023