Development of BIOnanotechnologies based on Extracellular Vesicles for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of atherosclerotic disease (BIOVEA)
Various biomarkers have been proposed for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome, however none for stable coronary disease. Identification of biomarkers that augment established clinical indicators, may allow earlier diagnosis of coronary disease, as well as improved recognition of the risk of complications and cardiovascular death. Additionally, this would pave the way for biomarkers, such as extracellular vesicles, to be employed as precise therapeutic agents in these diseases.
The Ultrastructural Pathology and Bioimaging Lab (UPBL) is a research and diagnostic facility of Victor Babeș National Institute of Pathology in Bucharest, Romania, specializing in high-resolution imaging of biological specimens, through a wide array of technologies and methods, from fluorescence to electron microscopy. UPBL currently houses the only super-resolution microscope in Romania (Leica STED3X) and is a Leica Reference Site, organizing workshops for various bioimaging techniques. UPBL is also the first cryo-electron microscopy center in Romania dedicated to life-sciences applications.
Our facilities and infrastructure are open access to all interested researchers from Romania or abroad.
Negative stain electron microscopy of the two novel vaccine technologies: messenger RNA and adenoviral vectors. mRNA is delivered to cells tightly packed in the lipid nanoparticles shown in the first image. By contrast, adenoviruses in the second image have symmetrical shells, inside of which resides the DNA that encodes parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Cryo-electron micrograph showing glycoprotein-coated viral particles (envelope and nucleocapsid)
Digital reconstruction of a sagittal brain section, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy
Negative stain electron microscopy of the two novel vaccine technologies: messenger RNA and adenoviral vectors. mRNA is delivered to cells tightly packed in the lipid nanoparticles shown in the first image. By contrast, adenoviruses in the second image have symmetrical shells, inside of which resides the DNA that encodes parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.