Best Poster Presentation Awards 2021
19 Posters were presented during Targeting Mitochondria 2021 (held on October 27-29 2021).
Nominated Posters for the Awards of the Best Poster Presentation 2021:
Using Polypeptide-Based Nanoconjugates as Mitochondrially-Targeted Drug Delivery Platforms
Camilla Pegoraro, Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, Spain
Disease Causing-MFN2 Mutations Alter Mitochondrial Fusion and Fission Dynamics in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast
Daniel Lagos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
The Mitochondrial Network is Altered in Friedreich’s Ataxia Cardiomyopathy
Bojjibabu Chidipi, University of South Florida, United States of America
The Mitochondrial NME6 Protein is Enzymatically Inactive but Interacts with RCC1L (WBSCR16) in the Matrix Space
Bastien Proust, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Croatia
Functional Characterization of Platelet-Derived Mitochondria-Containing Microparticles in Breast Cancer
Vanessa Veilleux, Université de Moncton, Canada
OPA1 Disease-Causing Mutants Alter Mitochondrial Nucleoid Dynamics
Josefa Macuada, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
The winners of the Best Poster Presentation Awards - Targeting Mitochondria 2021
Award #1:
Functional Characterization of Platelet-Derived Mitochondria-Containing Microparticles in Breast Cancer, Vanessa Veilleux, Université de Moncton, Canada
"Participating at this international conference was a great experience and broaden my knowledge of mitochondrial research. Having the desire and the deep ambition to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge, I’m looking forward to the next Targeting Mitochondria"
Award #2:
Using Polypeptide-Based Nanoconjugates as Mitochondrially-Targeted Drug Delivery Platforms, Camilla Pegoraro, Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, Spain
“My Ph.D. project aims to develop novel polypeptide-based carriers that permit targeted drug delivery to mitochondria as a novel breast cancer treatment strategy. We successfully developed several cationic polypeptide-based candidate carriers, and our preliminary results have provided robust evidence for specific mitochondrial colocalization. Our next steps involve the conjugation of bioactive agents of interest to our candidate polypeptide-based carriers, their exhaustive characterization, and their therapeutic evaluation in relevant breast cancer models and possibly other indications.”
Award #3:
The Mitochondrial Network is Altered in Friedreich’s Ataxia Cardiomyopathy, Bojjibabu Chidipi, University of South Florida, United States of America
"I am currently investigating the mechanisms of cardiomyopathy in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), an autosomal recessive congenital neurodegenerative disease caused by a deficiency in the frataxin protein. Interestingly, most FA patients are diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 60% of patients die with HCM. We recently found that the mitochondrial fission protein (DRP1) expression is significantly decreased, reactive oxygen species are increased, and the mitochondrial membrane potential is depolarized in human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hIPSC-CM) from patients with FA-HCM. My future prospects are to explore the mechanistic links between DRP1, mitochondrial dysfunction and HCM in FA."
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Interactive Online Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Best Short Oral Presentation Award 2021
Out of 23 short oral presentations communicated during Targeting Mitochondria 2021 (held on October 27-29 2021), the scientific committee selected 4 presentations for the Awards of the Best Short Oral Presentation 2021.
Nomination for the Best Short Oral Presentation Award
Novel Cytotoxic Compounds Targeting Mitochondria
Alaa Al Assi, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
Transplantation of Muscle Stem Cell-Derived Mitochondria Rejuvenates the Bioenergetic Function of Aged Host Muscle
Young Charles Jang, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Impact on Mitochondrial Function by Increased Levels of Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase
Inge Kuhl, Université Paris-Saclay, France
Cross Talk of Mitochondrial Calcification and Inflammation in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells: Implications for Calcinosis
Bhargavi Duvvuri, University of Washington, USA
The Winner of the Best Short Oral Presentation Award
Transplantation of Muscle Stem Cell-Derived Mitochondria Rejuvenates the Bioenergetic Function of Aged Host Muscle
Young Charles Jang, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Young Charles Jang commenting on his vision for next year: "For the upcoming year, we will continue to do research on how transplanted mitochondria establish mitochondrial-nuclear genomic communication and how aging and oxidative stress alter these interactions."
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Interactive Online Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Scientific Award of Targeting Mitochondria 2021
At the end of Targeting Mitochondria 2021, the scientific committee awarded Prof. Alessandro Prigione for his presentation about "Patient-Specific Brain Organoids for Modeling Mitochondrial Diseases"
Alessandro Prigione is a tenured Associate Professor of Pediatric Metabolic Medicine at the Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology at Heinrich Heine University (HHU) in Düsseldorf Germany.
The interest of the Prigione group is to develop induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-based approaches for disease modeling and drug discovery of rare incurable neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders affecting mitochondrial metabolism. A specific focus is on Leigh syndrome, which is the most severe mitochondrial disease affecting children. His latest work (Inak et al Nature Communications 2021) employed human neurons and brain organoids from patients with Leigh syndrome to dissect the neuronal-specific disease mechanisms and led to the identification of novel disease targets and interventions.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Interactive Online Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Comprehensive Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial Stress as a Central Biological Hub for Spaceflight Impact
Dr. Afshin Beheshti, from the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA will join us this year to present his recent findings on "Comprehensive Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial Stress as a Central Biological Hub for Spaceflight Impact".
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Programmable Synthetic Gene Switches for Mitochondrial Gene Modulation
Prof. Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam from Kyoto University, Institute for Advanced Study, Japan, will join the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 congress and will present his research on "Deleting DNA to Treat Mitochondrial Diseases".
According to his latest studies, mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause mitochondrial diseases characterized by abnormal mitochondrial function. Although eliminating mutated mtDNA has the potential to cure mitochondrial diseases, no chemical-based drugs in clinical trials are capable of selective modulation of mtDNA mutations. In his presentation, Prof. Ganesh discusses the progress and therapeutic prospects of synthetic gene switches that can be programmed for targeted elimination of mutated mtDNA through sequence-specific adenine alkylation.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
The Mitochondriotropic DecylTPP Group Lowers Mitochondrial OXPHOS Supercomplex Levels and Induces a Glycolytic Switch
Prof. Werner Koopman, from the Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, will join the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress and will present a talk entitled "The Mitochondriotropic DecylTPP Group Lowers Mitochondrial OXPHOS Supercomplex Levels and Induces a Glycolytic Switch".
Prof. Koopman will discuss the bioenergetic effects of mitochondria-targeted Trolox(MitoE10), in comparison with mitochondria-targeted ubiquinone (MitoQ10) and two mitochondria-targeting moieties (decylTPP, TPMP). Incubation with these molecules did not greatly affect cell viability of primary human skin fibroblasts (PHSFs) from healthy individuals and a patient with Leigh Syndrome (LS). Unexpectedly, MitoE10, MitoQ10 and decylTPP reduced the levels and activity of the first oxidative phosphorylation complex (complex I or CI) and of the amount of CI+CIII-containing OXPHOS super complexes. Functionally, these effects were associated with reduced cellular oxygen consumption rates, increased extracellular acidification rates , a less negative mitochondrial membrane potential (deltaPSI), a decreased mitochondrial size and elevated levels of hydroethidine-oxidizing ROS. Collectively, these results demonstrate that MitoE10, MitoQ10 and decylTPP lower the levels of CI and CI-containing super complexes in PHSFs, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and glycolytic switch induction.
Targeting Microbiota 2021 Congress
October 20-22, 2021 - Paris, France & Online
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
The One-Carbon Pool Controls Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism via Complex I and Iron-Sulfur Clusters
Dr. Anna Wredenberg, from Max Planck Institute Biology of Ageing–Karolinska Institutet Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 World Congress, and will deliver a speech concerning "The One-Carbon Pool Controls Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism via Complex I and Iron-Sulfur Clusters".
Accoring to her recent studies, Dr. Wredenberg confirms that vital intermediary steps of one-carbon metabolism are localized to mitochondria, but it remains unclear how it connects to mitochondrial function. Additionally,The one-carbon metabolite and methyl group donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is pivotal for energy metabolism. A gradual decline in mitochondrial SAM (mitoSAM) causes hierarchical defects in fly and mouse, comprising loss of mitoSAM-dependent metabolites and impaired assembly of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Complex I stability and iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis are directly controlled by mitoSAM levels, while other protein targets are predominantly methylated outside of the organelle before import.
However, the mitoSAM pool follows its cytosolic production, establishing mitochondria as responsive receivers of one-carbon units.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Dysregulation of Mitochondria-Lysosome Contacts by GBA1 Dysfunction in Dopaminergic Neuronal Models of Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Dimitri Krainc, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago in USA will be will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress and will demonstrate his study regarding the "Dysregulation of Mitochondria-Lysosome Contacts by GBA1 Dysfunction in Dopaminergic Neuronal Models of Parkinson’s Disease".
Dr. Krainc confirms that he recently identified the formation of direct mitochondria-lysosome membrane contacts that mark sites for lysosomal regulation of mitochondrial networks. However, mitochondrial contacts regulate lysosomal dynamics providing a new angle to studies of these organelles in neurodegenerative diseases.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Introduction Remarks: Past, Present and Future
Dr. Egbert Mik, from University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands, will join the 12th Targeting Mitochondria Congress in October 2021, to give a talk entitled "Introduction Remarks: Past, Present and Future".
During the sessin, Dr. Mik will explain the challenge of qualitative and quantitative assessment of mitochondrial function in vitro and in vivo, as well as future perspectives regarding this subject.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
A Potential Mitochondrial Link Between Life Stress and the Reversibility of Hair Greying in Humans
Dr. Martin Picard, Associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, USA will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress and give a presentation entitled "A Potential Mitochondrial Link Between Life Stress and the Reversibility of Hair Greying in Humans".
Life stress causes neuroendocrine and metabolic alterations that influence mitochondria; and in turn, mitochondria produce signals and energy that influence pigment production that color our hairs. This presentation will describe a new approach to quantify human hair pigmentation patterns, demonstrating that human hair graying is rapidly reversible and linked to life stress. Individual hairs transitioning from their young-dark to old-white states, and reverting back to dark, show specific mitochondrial proteomic recalibrations pointing to a threshold-based metabolic mechanism for hair greying.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Optimization of Energy Homeostasis in Old Age by SIRT6
Prof. Haim Cohen, head of the Molecular Mechanism of Aging Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University, Israel will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress and give a presentation entitled "Optimization of Energy Homeostasis in Old Age by SIRT6".
Prof. Cohen's Studies in model organisms showed that the activity of the Sir2 family of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases (sirtuins) is important in regulating lifespan in yeast, worms, and flies. He shows that overexpression of mammalian sirtuin SIRT6 in mice leads to a reduction in frailty and lifespan extension by ~30%. To do so, SIRT6 restores energy homeostasis of old animals through an improvement in the utilization of two major gluconeogenic precursors, lactate and glycerol.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Nuclear Sensing of Breaks in Mitochondrial DNA Enhances Immune Surveillance
Dr. Agnel Sfeir from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA, will give a presentation on :Nuclear Sensing of Breaks in Mitochondrial DNA Enhances Immune Surveillance"
Dr. Sfeir will describe mitochondrial DNA double-strand breaks (mtDSBs) as toxic lesions that compromise the integrity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and alter mitochondrial function. Communication between mitochondria and the nucleus is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis; however, the nuclear response to mtDSBs remains unknown. Here, using mitochondrial-targeted transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), we show that mtDSBs activate a type-I interferon response that involves the phosphorylation of STAT1 and activation of interferon-stimulated genes. After the formation of breaks in the mtDNA, herniation mediated by BAX and BAK releases mitochondrial RNA into the cytoplasm and triggers a RIG-I-MAVS-dependent immune response. We further investigated the effect of mtDSBs on interferon signalling after treatment with ionizing radiation and found a reduction in the activation of interferon-stimulated genes when cells that lack mtDNA are exposed to gamma irradiation. We also show that mtDNA breaks synergize with nuclear DNA damage to mount a robust cellular immune response. Taken together, we conclude that cytoplasmic accumulation of mitochondrial RNA is an intrinsic immune surveillance mechanism for cells to cope with mtDSBs, including breaks produced by genotoxic agents.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Impact of Mitochondrial Dynamics on Stem Cell Function: Insights from Physiology, Diseases and Aging
Dr. Mireille Khacho, from Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 World Congress, which will be held October 27-29, 2021 and will present her study on "The Impact of Mitochondrial Dynamics on Stem Cell Function: Insights from Physiology, Diseases and Aging".
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Age-Related Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Key Factor in COVID-19 Disease
Dr. Guillermo López-Lluch from Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC, Spain will be joining the Targeting Mitochondria 2021 World Congress, which will be held October 27-29, 2021 and give a presentation on Age-related Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Key Factor in COVID-19 Disease.
Dr. Lluch states that COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases induce an inflammatory response mainly produced by the release of inflammatory cytokines. In this response, lymphocyte release of interferon decrease impairing the immune response against virus infection. In both, inflammatory response and inhibition of interferon release, activity of mitochondria plays a key role. Accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria during aging and chronic metabolic diseases can be the key of the inefficient response against respiratory infections.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
Clinical Application of Antioxidants to Improve Human Oocyte Mitochondrial Function: Advances and Perspective
Dr. Cristina Rodríguez-Varela from Medical Research Institute Hospital La Fe (IIS La Fe) in Valencia, Spain will give a presentation on Clinical Application of Antioxidants to Improve Human Oocyte Mitochondrial Function: Advances and Perspective.
Dr. Rodríguez-Varela will discuss the fact that mitochondria are essential organelles in the acquisition of human oocyte competence, as sufficient energy levels are crucial for optimal oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent embryo development. In addition, mitochondria constitute the first antioxidant line of defense within the cell, counteracting reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from its own metabolism. An imbalance between the amount of ROS produced and the capacity of the cell to counteract them leads to oxidative stress, and ultimately to mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysfunction, in turn, impairs cellular functions through reduced ATP output and/or increased oxidative stress. Hence, oxidative stress may be the cause of, or be caused by, mitochondrial dysfunction. Regardless of the origin, this condition gives rise to a vicious cycle with positive feedback, ultimately compromising the overall oocyte quality. Antioxidant therapy has arisen in this context as a new approach aiming to improve human oocyte quality by means of improving, or just protecting, mitochondrial function. In this talk, we will highlight the importance of optimal levels of functional mitochondria in the acquisition of human oocyte competence, and we will give an overview of the main antioxidant supplementation therapies currently under research in our species.
Targeting Mitochondria 2021 Congress
October 27-29, 2021 - Berlin & Virtual Congress
www.targeting-mitochondria.com
