Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Immunology and Microbiology
69
Scopus Publications
2901
Scholar Citations
28
Scholar h-index
52
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Camelus dromedarius T Cell Receptor Gamma (TRG)_Delta (TRD)/CD1D Complex Reveals Different Binding Interactions Depending on the TRD CDR3 Length Salvatrice Ciccarese, Marie-Paule Lefranc, Giulia C. M. Perrone, Pietro D’Addabbo, Ciro Leonardo Pierri Antibodies, 2025 Background: In the adaptive immune response of the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius, Camdro), the T cell receptor (TR) repertoire of the gamma–delta (γδ) T cells is unusually diversified both by somatic hypermutation in rearranged TR gamma (TRG) and delta (TRD) genes and by the diversity in sequence and length of the third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) of the TRD chain. Methods: The purpose was to investigate, in the absence of 3D structures, the role of Camdro γδ T cells, focusing on the binding interactions at the interface between the V-gamma and V-delta domains, and in complex with the CD1D, a major histocompatibily class I (MH1)-like glycoprotein presenting lipid antigen in association with B2M. A combination of hypermutated TRG dromedary cDNA clones was paired with TRD clones bearing very long, long, or short CDR3s, all isolated from the spleen of a single animal. Results: The 3D models of the Camdro TRG_TRD/CD1D_B2M complexes were inferred using the Homo sapiens 3D structure and the ImMunoGeneTics (IMGT) numbering for V, C, and G domains, and investigated for binding interactions at the interface of the paired V-gamma_V-delta and at the interface with CD1D. Our results suggest that transcripts with long CDR3s may derive from a population of CD1D-restricted γδ T cells. Both the CD1D G-alpha1-like and G-alpha-2 like domain helices were contacted by both the V-gamma and V-delta CDR-IMGT loops. Conclusions: Our findings further emphasize the similarity between the γδ T cells population we analyzed in Camelus dromedarius and the CD1D-restricted γδ NKT cells in Homo sapiens.
REDIportal: Toward an integrated view of the A-To-I editing Pietro D’Addabbo, Roni Cohen-Fultheim, Itamar Twersky, Adriano Fonzino, Domenico Alessandro Silvestris, et al. Nucleic Acids Research, 2025 A-to-I RNA editing is the most common non-transient epitranscriptome modification. It plays several roles in human physiology and has been linked to several disorders. Large-scale deep transcriptome sequencing has fostered the characterization of A-to-I editing at the single nucleotide level and the development of dedicated computational resources. REDIportal is a unique and specialized database collecting ∼16 million of putative A-to-I editing sites designed to face the current challenges of epitranscriptomics. Its running version has been enriched with sites from the TCGA project (using data from 31 studies). REDIportal provides an accurate, sustainable and accessible tool enriched with interconnections with widespread ELIXIR core resources such as Ensembl, RNAcentral, UniProt and PRIDE. Additionally, REDIportal now includes information regarding RNA editing in putative double-stranded RNAs, relevant for the immune-related roles of editing, as well as an extended catalog of recoding events. Finally, we report a reliability score per site calculated using a deep learning model trained using a huge collection of positive and negative instances. REDIportal is available at http://srv00.recas.ba.infn.it/atlas/.
De Novo Assembly of the Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producer Azohydromonas lata Strain H1 Genome and Genomic Analysis of PHB Production Machinery Daniele Traversa, Carlo Pazzani, Pietro D’Addabbo, Lucia Trisolini, Matteo Chiara, et al. Microorganisms, 2025 Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable natural polymer produced by different prokaryotes as a valuable carbon and energy storage compound. Its biosynthesis pathway requires the sole expression of the phaCAB operon, although auxiliary genes play a role in controlling polymer accumulation, degradation, granule formation and stabilization. Due to its biodegradability, PHB is currently regarded as a promising alternative to synthetic plastics for industrial/biotechnological applications. Azohydromonas lata strain H1 has been reported to accumulate PHB by using simple, inexpensive carbon sources. Here, we present the first de novo genome assembly of the A. lata strain H1. The genome assembly is over 7.7 Mb in size, including a circular megaplasmid of approximately 456 Kbp. In addition to the phaCAB operon, single genes ascribable to PhaC and PhaA functions and auxiliary genes were also detected. A comparative genomic analysis of the available genomes of the genus Azohydromonas revealed the presence of phaCAB and auxiliary genes in all Azohydromonas species investigated, suggesting that the PHB production is a common feature of the genus. Based on sequence identity, we also suggest A. australica as the closest species to which the phaCAB operon of the strain H1, reported in 1998, is similar.
Deep Intronic ETFDH Variants Represent a Recurrent Pathogenic Event in Multiple Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency Stefania Martino, Pietro D’Addabbo, Antonella Turchiano, Francesca Clementina Radio, Alessandro Bruselles, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is a rare inborn error of metabolism affecting fatty acid and amino acid oxidation with an incidence of 1 in 200,000 live births. MADD has three clinical phenotypes: severe neonatal-onset with or without congenital anomalies, and a milder late-onset form. Clinical diagnosis is supported by urinary organic acid and blood acylcarnitine analysis using tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening programs. MADD is an autosomal recessive trait caused by biallelic mutations in the ETFA, ETFB, and ETFDH genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) and ETF-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase enzymes. Despite significant advancements in sequencing techniques, many patients remain undiagnosed, impacting their access to clinical care and genetic counseling. In this report, we achieved a definitive molecular diagnosis in a newborn by combining whole-genome sequencing (WGS) with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Whole-exome sequencing and next-generation gene panels fail to detect variants, possibly affecting splicing, in deep intronic regions. Here, we report a unique deep intronic mutation in intron 1 of the ETFDH gene, c.35-959A>G, in a patient with early-onset lethal MADD, resulting in pseudo-exon inclusion. The identified variant is the third mutation reported in this region, highlighting ETFDH intron 1 vulnerability. It cannot be excluded that these intronic sequence features may be more common in other genes than is currently believed. This study highlights the importance of incorporating RNA analysis into genome-wide testing to reveal the functional consequences of intronic mutations.
Bioinformatic survey of CRISPR loci across 15 Serratia species Maria Scrascia, Roberta Roberto, Pietro D'Addabbo, Yosra Ahmed, Francesco Porcelli, et al. Microbiologyopen, 2023 The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR‐associated proteins (CRISPR–Cas) system of prokaryotes is an adaptative immune defense mechanism to protect themselves from invading genetic elements (e.g., phages and plasmids). Studies that describe the genetic organization of these prokaryotic systems have mainly reported on the Enterobacteriaceae family (now reorganized within the order of Enterobacterales). For some genera, data on CRISPR–Cas systems remain poor, as in the case of Serratia (now part of the Yersiniaceae family) where data are limited to a few genomes of the species marcescens. This study describes the detection, in silico, of CRISPR loci in 146 Serratia complete genomes and 336 high‐quality assemblies available for the species ficaria, fonticola, grimesii, inhibens, liquefaciens, marcescens, nematodiphila, odorifera, oryzae, plymuthica, proteomaculans, quinivorans, rubidaea, symbiotica, and ureilytica. Apart from subtypes I‐E and I‐F1 which had previously been identified in marcescens, we report that of I‐C and the I‐E unique locus 1, I‐E*, and I‐F1 unique locus 1. Analysis of the genomic contexts for CRISPR loci revealed mdtN‐phnP as the region mostly shared (grimesii, inhibens, marcescens, nematodiphila, plymuthica, rubidaea, and Serratia sp.). Three new contexts detected in genomes of rubidaea and fonticola (puu genes‐mnmA) and rubidaea (osmE‐soxG and ampC‐yebZ) were also found. The plasmid and/or phage origin of spacers was also established.
Evolutive emergence and divergence of an Ig regulatory node: An environmental sensor getting cues from the aryl hydrocarbon receptor? Pietro D'Addabbo, Domenico Frezza, Courtney E.W. Sulentic Frontiers in Immunology, 2023 One gene, the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene, is responsible for the expression of all the different antibody isotypes. Transcriptional regulation of the IgH gene is complex and involves several regulatory elements including a large element at the 3’ end of the IgH gene locus (3’RR). Animal models have demonstrated an essential role of the 3’RR in the ability of B cells to express high affinity antibodies and to express different antibody classes. Additionally, environmental chemicals such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands modulate mouse 3’RR activity that mirrors the effects of these chemicals on antibody production and immunocompetence in mouse models. Although first discovered as a mediator of the toxicity induced by the high affinity ligand 2,3,7,8-tetracholordibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin), understanding of the AhR has expanded to a physiological role in preserving homeostasis and maintaining immunocompetence. We posit that the AhR also plays a role in human antibody production and that the 3’RR is not only an IgH regulatory node but also an environmental sensor receiving signals through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, including the AhR. This review will 1) highlight the emerging role of the AhR as a key transducer between environmental signals and altered immune function; 2) examine the current state of knowledge regarding IgH gene regulation and the role of the AhR in modulation of Ig production; 3) describe the evolution of the IgH gene that resulted in species and population differences; and 4) explore the evidence supporting the environmental sensing capacity of the 3’RR and the AhR as a transducer of these cues. This review will also underscore the need for studies focused on human models due to the premise that understanding genetic differences in the human population and the signaling pathways that converge at the 3’RR will provide valuable insight into individual sensitivities to environmental factors and antibody-mediated disease conditions, including emerging infections such as SARS-CoV-2.
Genome characterization and CRISPR-Cas9 editing of a human neocentromere Antonio Palazzo, Ilaria Piccolo, Crescenzio Francesco Minervini, Stefania Purgato, Oronzo Capozzi, et al. Chromosoma, 2022 The maintenance of genome integrity is ensured by proper chromosome inheritance during mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. The chromosomal counterpart responsible for chromosome segregation to daughter cells is the centromere, at which the spindle apparatus attaches through the kinetochore. Although all mammalian centromeres are primarily composed of megabase-long repetitive sequences, satellite-free human neocentromeres have been described. Neocentromeres and evolutionary new centromeres have revolutionized traditional knowledge about centromeres. Over the past 20 years, insights have been gained into their organization, but in spite of these advancements, the mechanisms underlying their formation and evolution are still unclear. Today, through modern and increasingly accessible genome editing and long-read sequencing techniques, research in this area is undergoing a sudden acceleration. In this article, we describe the primary sequence of a previously described human chromosome 3 neocentromere and observe its possible evolution and repair results after a chromosome breakage induced through CRISPR-Cas9 technologies. Our data represent an exciting advancement in the field of centromere/neocentromere evolution and chromosome stability.
The Organization of the Pig T-Cell Receptor γ (TRG) Locus Provides Insights into the Evolutionary Patterns of the TRG Genes across Cetartiodactyla Giovanna Linguiti, Francesco Giannico, Pietro D’Addabbo, Angela Pala, Anna Caputi Jambrenghi, et al. Genes, 2022 The domestic pig (Sus scrofa) is a species representative of the Suina, one of the four suborders within Cetartiodactyla. In this paper, we reported our analysis of the pig TRG locus in comparison with the loci of species representative of the Ruminantia, Tylopoda, and Cetacea suborders. The pig TRG genomic structure reiterates the peculiarity of the organization of Cetartiodactyla loci in TRGC “cassettes”, each containing the basic V-J-J-C unit. Eighteen genes arranged in four TRGC cassettes, form the pig TRG locus. All the functional TRG genes were expressed, and the TRGV genes preferentially rearrange with the TRGJ genes within their own cassette, which correlates the diversity of the γ-chain repertoire with the number of cassettes. Among them, the TRGC5, located at the 5′ end of the locus, is the only cassette that retains a marked homology with the corresponding TRGC cassettes of all the analyzed species. The preservation of the TRGC5 cassette for such a long evolutionary time presumes a highly specialized function of its genes, which could be essential for the survival of species. Therefore, the maintenance of this cassette in pigs confirms that it is the most evolutionarily ancient within Cetartiodactyla, and it has undergone a process of duplication to give rise to the other TRGC cassettes in the different artiodactyl species in a lineage-specific manner.
A high-resolution map of small-scale inversions in the gibbon genome Ludovica Mercuri, Donato Palmisano, Alberto L'Abbate, Pietro D'Addabbo, Francesco Montinaro, et al. Genome Research, 2022 Gibbons are the most speciose family of living apes, characterized by a diverse chromosome number and rapid rate of large-scale rearrangements. Here we performed single-cell template strand sequencing (Strand-seq), molecular cytogenetics, and deep in silico analysis of a southern white-cheeked gibbon genome, providing the first comprehensive map of 238 previously hidden small-scale inversions. We determined that more than half are gibbon specific, at least fivefold higher than shown for other primate lineage-specific inversions, with a significantly high number of small heterozygous inversions, suggesting that accelerated evolution of inversions may have played a role in the high sympatric diversity of gibbons. Although the precise mechanisms underlying these inversions are not yet understood, it is clear that segmental duplication–mediated NAHR only accounts for a small fraction of events. Several genomic features, including gene density and repeat (e.g., LINE-1) content, might render these regions more break-prone and susceptible to inversion formation. In the attempt to characterize interspecific variation between southern and northern white-cheeked gibbons, we identify several large assembly errors in the current GGSC Nleu3.0/nomLeu3 reference genome comprising more than 49 megabases of DNA. Finally, we provide a list of 182 candidate genes potentially involved in gibbon diversification and speciation.
SLC25A mitochondrial carriers as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of spaceflight-induced dysfunction: the ADP/ATP carrier (AAC3) as a structural case study P D’Addabbo, A De Grassi, DI De Luca, V Scaglione, AL Francavilla, ... Journal of Translational Medicine 24 (1), 101 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Deep meta-analysis of human pangenome data reveals triplication of the IGH constant gene locus P D’Addabbo, R Cianci, D Frezza Discover Immunity 3 (1), 2 , 2026 2026
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Camelus dromedarius T Cell Receptor Gamma (TRG)_Delta (TRD)/CD1D Complex Reveals Different Binding Interactions … S Ciccarese, MP Lefranc, GCM Perrone, P D’Addabbo, CL Pierri Antibodies 14 (2), 46 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
De Novo Assembly of the Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producer Azohydromonas lata Strain H1 Genome and Genomic Analysis of PHB Production Machinery D Traversa, C Pazzani, P D’Addabbo, L Trisolini, M Chiara, M Oliva, ... Microorganisms 13 (1), 137 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
REDIportal: toward an integrated view of the A-to-I editing P D’Addabbo, R Cohen-Fultheim, I Twersky, A Fonzino, DA Silvestris, ... Nucleic Acids Research 53 (D1), D233-D242 , 2025 2025 Citations: 22
METAGENOMIC STUDY TOWARDS PHAGE THERAPY INPROVEMENT: WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM BALANCE AND BACTERIA/PHAGE RATIO? D Frezza, G Di Lallo, D Brandtner, P D’Addabbo, P Mancini, A Bosi, ... 2025
Deep intronic ETFDH variants represent a recurrent pathogenic event in multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency S Martino, P D’Addabbo, A Turchiano, FC Radio, A Bruselles, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25 (17), 9637 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
New insight of human-IgH 3′ regulatory regions in immunoglobulins switch R Cianci, G Mancino, E Galli, E Serone, R Massoud, P D'Addabbo, ... Gene 862, 147254 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Bioinformatic survey of CRISPR loci across 15 Serratia species M Scrascia, R Roberto, P D'Addabbo, Y Ahmed, F Porcelli, M Oliva, ... MicrobiologyOpen 12 (2), e1339 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Evolutive emergence and divergence of an Ig regulatory node: An environmental sensor getting cues from the aryl hydrocarbon receptor? P D'Addabbo, D Frezza, CEW Sulentic Frontiers in Immunology 14, 996119 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Genome characterization and CRISPR-Cas9 editing of a human neocentromere A Palazzo, I Piccolo, CF Minervini, S Purgato, O Capozzi, P D’Addabbo, ... Chromosoma 131 (4), 239-251 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
A high-resolution map of small-scale inversions in the gibbon genome L Mercuri, D Palmisano, A L'Abbate, P D'Addabbo, F Montinaro, ... Genome Research 32 (10), 1941 , 2022 2022 Citations: 9
The Organization of the Pig T-Cell Receptor γ (TRG) Locus Provides Insights into the Evolutionary Patterns of the TRG Genes across Cetartiodactyla G Linguiti, F Giannico, P D’Addabbo, A Pala, A Caputi Jambrenghi, ... Genes 13 (2), 177 , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
Analysis of Four New Enterococcus faecalis Phages and Modeling of a Hyaluronidase Catalytic Domain from Saphexavirus G Di Lallo, M Falconi, F Iacovelli, D Frezza, P D'Addabbo Phage 2 (3), 131-141 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
A genomic survey of Tc1-mariner transposons in nematodes suggests extensive horizontal transposon transfer events A Palazzo, E Escuder, P D'Addabbo, D Lovero, RM Marsano Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 158, 107090 , 2021 2021 Citations: 17
The genomic organisation of the TRA/TRD locus validates the peculiar characteristics of dromedary δ-chain expression S Massari, G Linguiti, F Giannico, P D’Addabbo, S Ciccarese, R Antonacci Genes 12 (4), 544 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
Antimicrobial resistance gene shuffling and a three-element mobilisation system in the monophasic Salmonella typhimurium strain ST1030 M Oliva, C Calia, M Ferrara, P D'Addabbo, M Scrascia, G Mulè, R Monno, ... Plasmid 111, 102532 , 2020 2020 Citations: 10
The establishment of a fungal consortium in a new winery H Abdo, CR Catacchio, M Ventura, P D’Addabbo, H Alexandre, ... Scientific reports 10 (1), 7962 , 2020 2020 Citations: 23
Concerted variation of the 3′ regulatory region of Ig heavy chain and Gm haplotypes across human continental populations D Frezza, C Martinez‐Labarga, V Giambra, E Serone, G Scano, ... American Journal of Physical Anthropology 171 (4), 671-682 , 2020 2020 Citations: 4
Colonization of Wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains in a New Winery H Abdo, CR Catacchio, M Ventura, P D’addabbo, FM Calabrese, ... Beverages 6 (1), 9 , 2020 2020 Citations: 13
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Gene amplification as double minutes or homogeneously staining regions in solid tumors: origin and structure CT Storlazzi, A Lonoce, MC Guastadisegni, D Trombetta, P D'Addabbo, ... Genome research 20 (9), 1198 , 2010 2010 Citations: 308
Identification and molecular characterization of recurrent genomic deletions on 7p12 in the IKZF1 gene in a large cohort of BCR-ABL1–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients I Iacobucci, CT Storlazzi, D Cilloni, A Lonetti, E Ottaviani, S Soverini, ... Blood 114 (10), 2159-2167 , 2009 2009 Citations: 286
Recurrent sites for new centromere seeding M Ventura, S Weigl, L Carbone, MF Cardone, D Misceo, M Teti, ... Genome Research 14 (9), 1696 , 2004 2004 Citations: 186
Evolutionary formation of new centromeres in macaque M Ventura, F Antonacci, MF Cardone, R Stanyon, P D'Addabbo, ... Science 316 (5822), 243-246 , 2007 2007 Citations: 176
MYC -containing double minutes in hematologic malignancies: evidence in favor of the episome model and exclusion of MYC as the target gene CT Storlazzi, T Fioretos, C Surace, A Lonoce, A Mastrorilli, B Strömbeck, ... Human molecular genetics 15 (6), 933-942 , 2006 2006 Citations: 166
Genomic organization and evolution of double minutes/homogeneously staining regions with MYC amplification in human cancer A L'Abbate, G Macchia, P D'Addabbo, A Lonoce, D Tolomeo, D Trombetta, ... Nucleic acids research 42 (14), 9131-9145 , 2014 2014 Citations: 138
MYC -containing amplicons in acute myeloid leukemia: genomic structures, evolution, and transcriptional consequences A L′ Abbate, D Tolomeo, I Cifola, M Severgnini, A Turchiano, B Augello, ... Leukemia 32 (10), 2152-2166 , 2018 2018 Citations: 110
Isolation and partial characterization of bacteriophages infecting Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae , causal agent of kiwifruit bacterial canker G Di Lallo, M Evangelisti, F Mancuso, P Ferrante, S Marcelletti, A Tinari, ... Journal of Basic Microbiology 54 (11), 1210-1221 , 2014 2014 Citations: 105
Independent centromere formation in a capricious, gene-free domain of chromosome 13q21 in Old World monkeys and pigs MF Cardone, A Alonso, M Pazienza, M Ventura, G Montemurro, ... Genome biology 7 (10), R91 , 2006 2006 Citations: 83
A novel group of IncQ1 plasmids conferring multidrug resistance M Oliva, R Monno, P D'Addabbo, G Pesole, AM Dionisi, M Scrascia, ... Plasmid 89, 22-26 , 2017 2017 Citations: 67
Gene expression profile analysis in human T lymphocytes from patients with Down Syndrome S Giannone, P Strippoli, L Vitale, R Casadei, S Canaider, L Lenzi, ... Annals of Human Genetics 68 (6), 546-554 , 2004 2004 Citations: 64
Analysis of high-identity segmental duplications in the grapevine genome G Giannuzzi, P D'Addabbo, M Gasparro, M Martinelli, FN Carelli, ... BMC genomics 12 (1), 436 , 2011 2011 Citations: 59
Inter‐varietal structural variation in grapevine genomes MF Cardone, P D'Addabbo, C Alkan, C Bergamini, CR Catacchio, ... The Plant Journal 88 (4), 648-661 , 2016 2016 Citations: 58
Evolutionary-new centromeres preferentially emerge within gene deserts M Lomiento, Z Jiang, P D'Addabbo, EE Eichler, M Rocchi Genome biology 9 (12), R173 , 2008 2008 Citations: 54
Inversion variants in human and primate genomes CR Catacchio, FAM Maggiolini, P D'addabbo, M Bitonto, O Capozzi, ... Genome research 28 (6), 910 , 2018 2018 Citations: 51
Epigenetic origin of evolutionary novel centromeres D Tolomeo, O Capozzi, RR Stanyon, N Archidiacono, P D’Addabbo, ... Scientific Reports 7 (1), 41980 , 2017 2017 Citations: 51
Evolutionary descent of a human chromosome 6 neocentromere: a jump back to 17 million years ago O Capozzi, S Purgato, P D'Addabbo, N Archidiacono, P Battaglia, ... Genome Research 19 (5), 778 , 2009 2009 Citations: 48
The human TruB family of pseudouridine synthase genes, including the Dyskeratosis Congenita 1 gene and the novel member TRUB1 C Zucchini, P Strippoli, A Biolchi, R Solmi, L Lenzi, P D'Addabbo, ... International journal of molecular medicine 11 (6), 697-704 , 2003 2003 Citations: 46
Genomic segmental duplications on the basis of the t (9; 22) rearrangement in chronic myeloid leukemia F Albano, L Anelli, A Zagaria, N Coccaro, P D'Addabbo, V Liso, M Rocchi, ... Oncogene 29 (17), 2509-2516 , 2010 2010 Citations: 42
Involvement of DNA methylation in the control of cell growth during heat stress in tobacco BY-2 cells I Centomani, A Sgobba, P D'addabbo, N Dipierro, A Paradiso, L De Gara, ... Protoplasma 252 (6), 1451-1459 , 2015 2015 Citations: 40