Curriculum vitae

She worked at the Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Cagliari, as post-doctor from 1990 up to 2002 and performed research in the field of the functional and structural characterization of haemoglobins. From 2002 to present she was researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the Cagliari University and performed research at the Department of Life and Environment Sciences of the Cagliari University.. The scientific and research activity is documented by 40 (in extenso) publications in international journals.

Lines of research

• Functional and structural properties of oxygen-carrier proteins of vertebrates and invertebrates, i. e. haemoglobins and haemocyanins.
  Hemoglobins of different species of fish have been studied with the aim of highlighting the molecular adaptations of the molecule in relation to the habitat and physiological enviromental.
• Functional and structural alterations of human haemoglobin variants.
  Adult and fetal hemoglobins variants present in the Sardinian population have been studied the aim of highlighting the alterations in the stability and / or in the functional properties of hemoglobin variant that may be responsible for altered clinical and hematological conditions.
• Human saliva proteome analysis.
  Multidisciplinary study on the molecular events that underlie the processes of salivary secretion and the definition of the protein composition of human saliva in various physio-pathological conditions. The structural characterization and quantification of the different salivary proteins is performed by combining techniques of mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography with high resolution, amino acid sequencing and different enzymatic treatments.

Publications from 2008 to 2015

1. Chrono-proteomics of human saliva: variations of the salivary proteome during human development.
   Messana I, Cabras T, Iavarone F, Manconi B, Huang L, Martelli C, Olianas A, Sanna MT, Pisano E, Sanna M, Arba M, D’Alessandro A, Desiderio C, Vitali A, Pirolli D, Tirone C, Lio A, Vento G, Romagnoli C, Cordaro M, Manni A, Gallenzi P, Fiorita A, Scarano E, Calò L, Passali GC, Picciotti PM, Paludetti G, Fanos V, Faa G, Castagnola M.
   J Proteome Res. (2015) 14(4):1666-77. doi: 10.1021/pr501270x.
2. Top-down analytical platforms for the characterization of the human salivary proteome.
   Cabras T, Iavarone F, Manconi B, Olianas A, Sanna MT, Castagnola M, Messana I.
   Bioanalysis. (2014) ;6(4):563-81. DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.3
3. Modifications of the acidic soluble salivary proteome in human children from birth to the age of 48months investigated by a top-down HPLC-ESI-MS platform.
   Manconi B, Cabras T, Pisano E, Sanna MT, Olianas A, Fanos V, Faa G, Nemolato S, Iavarone F, Castagnola M, Messana I.
   J Proteomics. 2013; 91:536-43.
4. The hemoglobin system of the serpent eel Ophisurus serpens: structural and functional characterization.
   Manconi B, Pellegrini M, Messana I, Sanna MT, Castagnola M, Iavarone F, Coluccia E, Giardina B, Olianas A.
   J Comp Physiol B. 2013, 183(7):905-19
5. A new site-specific monoPEGylated filgrastim derivative prepared by enzymatic conjugation: Production and physicochemical characterization.
   Scaramuzza S, Tonon G, Olianas A, Messana I, Schrepfer R, Orsini G, Caliceti P.
   J Control Release. 2012, 164(3):355-63.
6. δ-Opioid receptors stimulate the metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase through coincident signaling with G(q/11)-coupled receptors.
   Olianas MC, Dedoni S, Olianas A, Onali P.
   Mol Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;81(2):154-65.
7. Functional properties of the newly observed (G)γ-chain fetal hemoglobin variant Hb F-Monserrato-Sassari (HBG2:c.280T>C) or [(G)γ93 (F9) Cys→Arg].
   Pellegrini M, Manconi B, Olianas A, Sanna MT, Meloni C, Pirastru M, Mereu P, Leoni G, Masala B, Manca L.
   Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 Dec;1810(12):1272-7.
8. Striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) hemoglobin system: multiplicity and functional properties.
   Olianas A, Meloni C, Messana I, Sanna MT, Castagnola M, Manconi B, Salvadori S, Giardina B, Pellegrini M.
   J Comp Physiol B. 2011 Feb;181(2):187-97.
9. The surprising composition of the salivary proteome of preterm human newborn.
   Castagnola M, Inzitari R, Fanali C, Iavarone F, Vitali A, Desiderio C, Vento G, Tirone C, Romagnoli C, Cabras T, Manconi B, Sanna MT, Boi R, Pisano E, Olianas A, Pellegrini M, Nemolato S, Heizmann CW, Faa G, Messana I.
   Mol Cell Proteomics. 2011 Jan;10(1):M110.003467.
10. A new beta-chain haemoglobin variant with increased oxygen affinity: Hb Roma [beta115(g17)Ala–>Val].
    Manconi B, De Rosa MC, Cappabianca MP, Olianas A, Carelli Alinovi C, Mastropietro F, Ponzini D, Amato A, Pellegrini M.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 2010 Mar;1800(3):327-35.
11. Age-dependent modifications of the human salivary secretory protein complex.
    Cabras T, Pisano E, Boi R, Olianas A, Manconi B, Inzitari R, Fanali C, Giardina B, Castagnola M, Messana I.
    J Proteome Res. 2009 Aug;8(8):4126-34.
12. Structural and functional characterization of Delphinus delphis hemoglobin system.
    Manconi B, Messana I, Maggiani F, Olianas A, Pellegrini M, Crnjar R, Castagnola M, Giardina B, Sanna MT.
    J Comp Physiol B. 2009 Nov;179(8):971-83.
13. The oxygen-binding modulation of hemocyanin from the Southern spiny lobster Palinurus gilchristi.
    Olianas A, Manconi B, Masia D, Sanna MT, Castagnola M, Salvadori S, Messana I, Giardina B, Pellegrini M.
    J Comp Physiol B. 2009 Feb;179(2):193-203.
14. Trafficking and postsecretory events responsible for the formation of secreted human salivary peptides: a proteomics approach.
    Messana I, Cabras T, Pisano E, Sanna MT, Olianas A, Manconi B, Pellegrini M, Paludetti G, Scarano E, Fiorita A, Agostino S, Contucci AM, Calò L, Picciotti PM, Manni A, Bennick A, Vitali A, Fanali C, Inzitari R, Castagnola M.
    Mol Cell Proteomics. 2008 May;7(5):911-26..
15. Structural and functional characterization of haemocyanin from the anemone hermit crab Dardanus calidus.
    Podda G, Manconi B, Olianas A, Pellegrini M, Messana I, Mura M, Castagnola M, Giardina B, Sanna MT.
    J Biochem. 2008 Feb;143(2):207-16.