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RESEARCH

Research and development activities support the strengthening of competence both at ARTA and in its focus areas. ARTA prepares students for project handling in the industry, as well as to pursue research at graduate and post-graduate level. In addition, efforts are made to apply such findings to contribute to the prosperity and welfare of human beings, where the Institute of Cellular Pharmacology has a long tradition of developing creative, innovative and collaborative solutions that enhance the well-being of humanity.

At ARTA, work-based projects are closely integrated into the training process and are implemented as part of the focus area strategic activities. ARTA is also active in international development projects. Such partnerships aim to build and sustain a community of learners. Participants frequently interact with other programme participants, offering a collaborative experience that will further grow their expertise in a variety of areas.

A selection of noteworthy research projects conducted over the years in relation to the discovery of new therapeutic agents and the evaluation of active ingredients derived from plants is indicated below. A number of these projects are the result of collaboration between research groups at ICP-Texinfine and local entities or other research groups abroad. Students can access the full text of articles and publications through their LMS login.

  • P. Genne; M. Dimanche-Biotrel; R.Y. Manvernay; G.Gutierrez; O. Duchamp; J.M. Petit; F. Martin; B.
    Chauffert; Cinchonine, a Potent Efflux Inhibitor to Circumvent Anthracycline Resistance In Vivo; Cancer Research 52 May 1992
  • R. Cali-Corleo; G. Gutierrez; C.Saliba; M. Serrar; A. Marroni; M. Brincat; M. Cormary; Heat Shock Protein 72 rises following a diving stress and this rise is accelerated following preconditioning using TEX-OE®; British Hyperbaric Association; Hull, 1999
  • A. Butterweck; L. Viorery; C. Saliba; M. Brincat; R. Galea; A. Felice; M. Serrar; G. Gutierrez; The Effect of an Extact of a Phyeophycac alga (EPP) on Human Breast Carcinoma Cells related to Tamoxifen and Oestradiol; Nottingham 1999
  • M. Serrar; G. Gutierrez; M. Brincat; C. Saliba; R. Galea; J.P. Salles; K. Bendhaou; The Induction of Calcium Fixation and Synthesis of Extracellular Matrix Components by an Extract from the Marine Alga Padina pavonica; Manchester 2000
  • R. Galea; S. Attard Montalto; M. Brincat; M. Serrar; G. Gutierrez; C. Saliba; J.P. Salles; P. Braillon;
    Phytoestrogen/SERMs like activity from a marine alga derived molecule on bone density and collagen markers in postmenopausal women; FIGO Congress Washington 2000
  • C. Agius; G. Gutierrez; C. Saliba; J. Abela Medici; The Effect of TEX-OE® on Fish Stress; CEAC Monaco, 2000
  • C. Agius; C.A. Baluci; J. Abela Medici; G. Gutierrez; C.M. Saliba; M. Serrar M; The effect of TEX-OE® on fish stress; 5th International Aquarium Congress (IAC), Monaco, November 2000
  • D.C. Powell; Discussion of possible methods of reducing stress, capture, transport, maintenance and display of a living Coelacanth; International Coelacanth Symposium, Marathon, Florida, USA 2002
  • C. Saliba; G. Gutierrez; K. Thompson; C. Agius; C. Baluci; T. Camilleri; The Effect of TEX-OE® on Fish Stress; Interzoo Nuremberg, 2004
  • J. Weise; S. McPherson; M.C. Odden; M.G. Shlipak; Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on Symptoms of the Alcohol Hangover; Arch Intern Med 2004; 164: 1334-1340
  • G. Gutierrez; C. Saliba; M. Serrar; Elements de biologie cellulaire en milieu hyperbare; L’Annuaire de la plongee sous-marine, 6eme edition, VAV edition, 88-90; 2005
  • C.A. Baluci; C. Saliba; G. Gutierrez; A. Collie; C. Aguis; Effects of Tex-OE® preconditioning on cognitive outcome after acute alcohol consumption; New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) Annual Meeting, Boca Raton, Florida USA, June 2005
  • M. Colin; G. Gutierrez; M. Pinaut; A.Y. Pringent; C. Saliba; Influence d’un activateur des proteins de stress (HSP), extrait de la Figue de Barbarie, sur la croissance et la mortalite du lapereau sevre; 11emes Journees de la Recherche Cunicole, 2005
  • C.A. Baluci; C. Saliba; G. Gutierrez; A. Collie; C. Aguis; Cognitive effects of acute alcohol consumption are reduced by TEX-OE pre-conditioning; BAP Annual Meeting; London, UK, Jul. 2005
  • C. Saliba, G. Gutierrez, C. Agius, C. Baluci, M. Vella; The effect of TEX-OE® on Stress using in-vitro and in-vivo models; Institute for Ageing Annual Conference AIX En Provence 2005
  • A. Khazzaka; P. Figwer; M.T. Poirel; M. Serrar; M. Frank; HSP 70 response in pigs is affected by their
    Halothane genotypes after heat stress; Science Direct- Journal of Thermal Biology Volume 31, Issue 8, December 2006
  • S.R. Martinod; B. Bernard; M. Serrar; G. Gutierrez; Release of Heat-Shock Protein Hsp72 after exercise and supplementation with an Opuntia ficus indica extract TEX-OE; Proceedings of the 53rd Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practioners 2007
  • J. Sandilnands; K. Drynan; R.J. Roberts; Preliminary studies on the enhancement of storage
    time of chilled milt of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.) using and extender containing Tex-OE® heat shock stimulating factor; Aquaculture Research; 2009 1-4
  • R.J. Roberts; C. Agius; C. Saliba; P. Bossier and Y.Y. Sung; Heat Shock Proteins (chaperones) in fish and shellfish and their potential role in relation to fish health: a review; Journal of Fish Diseases 2010
  • M. Caruana; A. Camilleri; M.Y. Farrugia; S. Ghio; M. Jakubíˇcková; R.J. Cauchi; N. Vassallo; Extract from the Marine Seaweed Padina pavonica Protects Mitochondrial Biomembranes from Damage by Amyloidogenic Peptides. Molecules 2021, 26, 1444.
  • PRODUCTION OF SHEEP’S MILK AND CHEESELETS WITH ALGAL BOOSTER; Julia Bonaci, 2011 – Diploma in Agriculture
  • THE POTENTIAL USE OF OPUNTIA EXTRACT IN THE REGULATION OF SUGAR METABOLISM; Claire Angele Baluci, 1999
  • THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF OPUNTIA EXTRACT AGAINST STRESS IN FISH; Joseph Abela Medici, 2001
  • THE PROPHYLACTIC EFFECT OF TEX-OE IN ANGELFISH (Pterophyllum scalare); Tristan Camilleri, 2002
  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN LD50 PROTOCOL TO TEST THE EFFECT OF TEX-OE TM ON SHRIMP (Palaemon xiphias); Josepha Mercieca, 2005
  • STRESS IN FARMED ANIMALS: THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF TEX-OE® ON FARMED RABBITS AND POULTRY; Matthew John Vella, 2005
  • EFFECTS OF Opuntia EXTRACT ON VIBROSIS IN GILTHEAD SEA BREAM (Sparus aurata L.); Flavia Zammit, 2006
  • NUTRITIONAL AND MEAT QUALITY ASPECTS OF BLUEFIN TUNA PENNING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN; Saviour Caruana, 2006
  • A STUDY ON THE GROWTH OF Dunaliella salina, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT TWO PARAMETERS: CULTURE MEDIUM AND AERATION; Monique Frendo, 2007
  • STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF Vibro anguillarum INFECTIONS IN GILTHEAD SEA BREAM (Sparus aurata L.); Maria–Liza Scicluna, 2008
  • STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF TEX-OE® ON HAEMATOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BLOOD IN TELEOSTS; Manuel Attard, 2009
  • THE INFLUENCE OF OPUNTIA EXTRACT ON THE SURVIVAL OF NORMAL AND CANCEROUS CELLS EXPOSED TO CHEMOTHERAPY; Elizabeth Cremona, 2010
  • THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF Tex-OE® ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF VIBRIO ANGUILLARUM; Gavin Ellul, 2010
  • EVALUATING THE USE OF THE SEAWEED Padina pavonica (L) AS A DIET FOR THE MASS PRODUCTION OF THE ROTIFER Brachionus plicatilis; Malcolm Pace Debono, 1998
  • THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF OPUNTIA EXTRACT AGAINST STRESS CONDITIONS IN VITRO: Methodologies for the Determination of Biological Activity and for Isolation of the Active Molecule Responsible for Such Effects; Claire Angele Baluci, 2000
  • THE SUITABILITY OF THE SEAWEED Padina pavonica (L) AS A DIET FOR THE MASS PRODUCTION OF THE ROTIFER Brachionus plicatilis; George. L Georgiou, 2001
  • THE APPLICATION OF ALGAL BOOSTER AND TEX-OE® IN SHRIMP FARMING; Matthew John Vella, 2008
  • THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF TEX-OE® ON THEPATHOGENSIS OF VIBROSIS IN THE GILTHEAD SEA BREAM (Sparus aurata L.); Ali Ahmed El Fituri, 2009
  • IDENTIFICATION OF NATURAL POLYPHENOLS AND EXTRACTS ACTING AS INHIBITORS OF AMYLOID BETA-DERIVED CELLULAR DAMAGE; Rachel Cremona, 2010
  • IDENTIFICATION OF NATURAL POLYPHENOLS AND PLANT EXTRACTS AS POTENT INHIBITORS OF LIPID MEMBRANE DESTABILISATION BY AMYLOID-BETA PEPTIDE (1-42); Alison J. Gauci, 2010
  • MOLECULES NATURELLES ET PATHOLOGIES LIESS AU VIEILLISSEMENT: RECHERCHE DES PRINCIPES ACTIFS A PARTIR DE DEUX SYSTEMS VEGETAUX; Lionel Viornery, 1999
  • STUDIES ON THE PROPERTIES OF AN EXTRACT FROM OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA; Claire Angele Baluci, 2005
  • ETUDE DE LA REPONSE HSPS 70 CHEZ LE PORC SUITE A UN STRESS; Aline Khazzaka, 2006
  • THE EFFECT OF A MARINE ALGA, Padina pavonica, ON MALTESE MENOPAUSAL WOMEN; Raymond P. Galea, 2009
  • INVESTIGATIONS ON THE USE OF THE BROWN ALGA Padina
    pavonica (L.) IN THE FARMING OF GILTHEAD SEA BEAM Sparus aurata (L.); Yiannos Kyriacou, 2011

Ongoing Research Projects

  • Genomic similarities between plants and animals – novel approaches to natural treatments based on phylogenetic heritage, with an aim to develop natural, plant-based products for the treatment of damaged of deficient metabolic pathways in humans (eg osteoporosis).
  • Research on natural anti-viral treatments against HCMV and HPV – development of natural based products for the treatment of HCMV and HPV, not only for the treatment of re-occurring outbreaks but also as a means of preventing papilloma related cancer.
  • Development of veterinary products – testing of natural plant extracts to reduce mortality and improve growth in fish of aquacultural importance, including shrimp and oyster species, showing interesting potential application fields throughout the aquaculture cycle for infection, transport, handling, vaccination and overall growth performance of the animal.
  • General R&D projects for new products based on natural plant extracts to treat several conditions, including arthritis, chronic inflammation with a special interest in asthma, dysmenorrhea and erectile dysfunction, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
  • Chemical identification of bioactive molecules of interest from various complex plant extracts.

Address

F25 ‘Sorbonne Centre’

Mosta Technopark

Mosta MST3000 Malta

+356 2143 8458

info@arta.edu.mt​

MFHEA Licence No:

2018-013

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