Cassone Antonio, M.D. , Ph.D., Prof..

Prof. Cassone is an internationally known authority on Antibacterial and Fungal Immunity, in particular  Candida and Chlamydia. He is the  Author or co-author of 252  publications in peer-reviewed, international journals, inclusive of Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of US, Lancet, Circulation, Journal of Infectious Diseases , Journal of  Immunology, Journal of Bacteriology, Infection and Immunity  and other high-rank journals; 45 Invited Reviews and chapters of international books; 78 Publications in national journals. 161 out of the 252 peer-reviewed papers were published as first or senior author.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Experimental studies on germination of bacterial spores (1967-1970).
• Studies on bacterial and fungal Ultrastructure (1970-1980).
• Studies on morphogenesis, virulence and immunity in candidiasis and related subjects, 1970-present.
• Immunomodulation in mycoses, especially in AIDS patients (1989-present).
• Studies on vaccine immunogenicity  and efficacy (1990-present).
• Studies on pertussis and tuberculosis immunology(1990-present)

DISCOVERIES , ACHIEVEMENTS AND PATENTS

• Mechanisms of bacterial spore activation. 
  
• Nature and composition of Candida cell wall and fungal dimorphism.
  
• Glucan as immunoadjuvant (patent).
  
• Aspartyl proteinases as virulence factors.
  
• Heat-shock protein of C. albicans (patent). 
  
• The anti-fungal responses in HIV-infected subjects.
  
• The role of cell-mediated immunity in pertussis vaccination.
  
• Candida protective antigens.
  
• Idiotypic antibody  network and yeast killer toxin ( patent).
  
• Glucan-based vaccines (patent).
  
• Killer toxin mimicking antimicrobial peptides(patent).
  
• Anti-glucan antibodies and immuno-protection (patent).
• Role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cardiovascular pathology.

PROFESSIONAL AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES

• Director of the Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases (400 staff plus contracts) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian NIH).
• Director of Supranational Reference Centre for antimicrobacterial drug resistance (1998);
  
• Director of the Italian Antibiotic Resistance Forum (2000 );
  
• General consultant for the Italian Public Health Advisory Board (1988 - );
• European Public Health Laboratories Consultant Organisation (1990 - ) ;
• WHO Global TB Research Control Initiative (1996 - ).
  
• Consultant of Public Health Laboratory Service (UK) for research and activity programs (2001-).

CV & PUBLICATIONS