Anca Botezatu

By Demetra Socolov, Coralia Bleotu, Nora Miron, Razvan Socolov, Lucian Boiculese, Mihai Mares, Sorici Natalia, Moshin Veaceslav, Anca Botezatu and Gabriela Anton

Part of the book: Chlamydia

By Gabriela Anton, Adriana Plesa, Coralia Bleotu, Anca Botezatu, Mariana Anton, Lorelei Irina Brasoveanu and Mihai Stoian

Part of the book: Oncogene and Cancer

By Anca Botezatu, Iulia V. Iancu, Oana Popa, Adriana Plesa, Dana Manda, Irina Huica, Suzana Vladoiu, Gabriela Anton and Corin Badiu

The main modifications that characterize cancer are represented by alterations in oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, and non-coding RNA genes. Most of these alterations are somatic and the process is a multistep one. Tumors often arise from an initial transformed cell, and after subsequent genetic alterations different cytogenetically clones lead to tumor heterogeneity.

Part of the book: New Aspects in Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Human Carcinogenesis

By Adriana Plesa, Iulia V. Iancu, Anca Botezatu, Irina Huica, Mihai Stoian and Gabriela Anton

High‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes infection associates with cervical dysplasia and carcinogenesis. hr‐HPV transforming potential is based on E6 and E7 viral oncoproteins actions on cellular proteins. A persistent infection with hr‐HPV leads to progression from precursor lesions to invasive cervical cancer inducing changes in host genome and epigenome. Pathogenesis and development of cancer associated with both genetic and epigenetic defects alter transcriptional program. An important role for malignant transformation in HPV‐induced cervical cancer is played by epigenetic changes that occur in both viral and host genome. Furthermore, there are observations demonstrating that oncogenic viruses, once they integrated into host genome, become susceptible to epigenetic alterations made by host machinery. Epigenetic regulation of viral gene expression is an important factor in HPV‐associated disease. Gene expression control is complex and involves epigenetic changes: DNA methylation, histone modification, and non‐coding RNAs activity. Persistent infection with hr‐HPV can cause viral DNA integration into host genome attracting defense mechanisms such as methylation machinery. In this chapter, we aim to review HPV infection role in chromatin modification/remodeling and the impact of HPV infection on non‐coding RNAs in cervix oncogenesis. The reversible nature of epigenetic alterations provides new opportunities in the development of therapeutic agents targeting epigenetic modification in oncogenesis.

Part of the book: Human Papillomavirus

By Carmen Cristina Diaconu, Ioana Madalina Pitica, Mihaela Chivu-Economescu, Laura Georgiana Necula, Anca Botezatu, Iulia Virginia Iancu, Ana Iulia Neagu, Elena L. Radu, Lilia Matei, Simona Maria Ruta and Coralia Bleotu

In the genomic medicine era, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 was immediately followed by viral genome sequencing and world-wide sequences sharing. Almost in real-time, based on these sequences, resources were developed and applied around the world, such as molecular diagnostic tests, informed public health decisions, and vaccines. Molecular SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance was a normal approach in this context yet, considering that the viral genome modification occurs commonly in viral replication process, the challenge is to identify the modifications that significantly affect virulence, transmissibility, reduced effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics or failure of diagnostic tests. However, assessing the importance of the emergence of new mutations and linking them to epidemiological trend, is still a laborious process and faster phenotypic evaluation approaches, in conjunction with genomic data, are required in order to release timely and efficient control measures.

Part of the book: Current Topics in SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19