Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM):
- Titolo: Host-microbiota interaction: exploring the gut-brain axis in marine invertebrates
Tutor SZN: Assunta Liberti
Dipartimento: BEOM
Description
Host-microorganism interactions in the gastrointestinal tract are essential for the proper development and functioning of the host organism. In particular, the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain plays a key role, with the microbiota also influencing host behavior.
The aim of this training project is to investigate, in marine invertebrates such as protochordates and mollusks, the components of the immune and enteric nervous systems, analyzing their variations following the manipulation of the microbial community isolated from them. This study will lay the foundation for future functional and behavioral studies, expanding our understanding of the connection between microbiota, immune system and neurophysiology in marine invertebrates.
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- Title: Neuronal plasticity in marine molluscs: the role of mitochondria
SZN Tutor: Serena Mirra
Department: BEOM
Description
We aim to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of neuronal resilience against environmental stress in marine molluscs, with a particular focus on mitochondrial homeostasis (dynamics, function, bioenergetics), autophagy, cell death and inflammatory responses.
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- Title: Annotating octopus brain regions: a development of an interactive digital atlas for the cephalopod brain
SZN Tutor: Graziano Fiorito
Department: BEOM
Description
A brain atlas is a necessary tool for analyzing structure and function of nervous system in fields of neuroscience and behavioral science. Although various annotations are available for 'brains' of several mammalian and few other species including some invertebrates, annotation for 'brains' of cephalopod mollusks is not available. The proposed thesis work is aimed at filling this gap and implementing a pipeline for construction of a flexible annotation atlas (FAA) of the octopus (O. vulgaris) brain. The workplan include analysis of published works and in-house resources (available at the octopus lab, BEOM Dept, Stazione Zoologica), annotation of serial sections of entire adult octopus’ brain, data on brain structure, digital representation of single areas and ROIs. The produced FAA will be then available as Open Data – implementing FAIR Data Principles – and will help improving the consistency of whole brain ROI definition among laboratories internationally by fulfilling various requests from researchers with its flexibility and reproducibility. The same principles utilized for octopus will be subsequently adopted for other cephalopod species.
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Sustainable Marine Biotechnology (Bluebio)
- Title: Functional characterization of the prostaglandin synthesis pathway in marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules similar to second messengers and are mainly involved in inflammatory processes resolution as well as in the onset of serious pathologies. Their synthesis and related metabolic pathway have been recently discovered in marine eukaryotic unicellular microalgae. Understanding their role in such simple organisms and the functional regulation mechanisms will help decipher their ecological and physiological role as well as the importance of their conservation during the evolution of the planet.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae (diatoms) and zooplanktonic species.
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- Title: Comparative study of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX) in different species of marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
In order to transform the production of prostaglandins through marine microalgae into a biotechnological application, the characterization of the chemical-physical and kinetic characteristics of the enzyme necessary for their synthesis, the cyclooxygenase, is crucial to prepare the ground for future application research lines.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques.
Organisms used: bacteria and marine microalgae (diatoms).
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- Title: Use of bioinformatic approaches for the identification of the prostaglandin synthesis "pathway" in different marine organisms:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules involved in inflammatory and pathological processes that have been very well studied in humans. Very interesting has been considered their production in simple marine organisms such as diatoms, unicellular eukaryotic algae. Given the strong interest in marine resources both from an ecological and biotechnological point of view, it is very interesting to expand their research into other marine organisms in order to understand their role both in physiology and in the chemical communication necessary to establish a balance between the various species component the plankton. The new sequencing technologies supported by bioinformatics software are very useful and versatile to be able to perform a wide-spectrum study.
Approaches used: bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae and zooplanktonic species.
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- Title: Molecular insights into the synthetic pathways of secondary metabolites produced by the diatom Thalassiosira rotula:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Marine microalgae in the diatom group are particularly interesting for the production of metabolites deriving from secondary metabolism for adaptation to different climatic conditions. These metabolites mainly perform a defense function and therefore have biological activities that are often interesting for human use in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical fields. Thalassiosira rotula is a species of diatom present in the Gulf of Naples capable of synthesizing some interesting secondary metabolites. Its genome and transcriptome have been sequenced thus allowing the identification of the pathways responsible for the synthesis of these metabolites. The sequences obtained from genomic and transcriptomic sequencing allow to investigate the activation of these pathways in different conditions through molecular approaches.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: Thalassiosira rotula.
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- Title: Discovery of the pharmacological potential of marine microalgae against telomerase activity in human cancers
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Telomeres are special sequences located at the ends of chromosomes whose role is to protect the ends of the DNA from damage. However, after each cell division their size decreases and when their length reaches a critical point, the cells undergo apoptosis and/or senescence. Thus, the length of telomeres can act as a biological clock to determine the life span of a cell and an organism, and their length is determined by an enzyme called telomerase. This enzyme is constitutively turned off in somatic cells, while it is highly active in germ cells allowing their continuous replication. Likewise, telomerase is expressed in approximately 90% of cancer cells, thus allowing for their indefinite proliferation. For this reason, telomerase inhibition may represent a preferred specific target for anticancer therapies. Various natural products, commonly derived from plants, have shown telomerase inhibitory activity and include secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, xanthones, and sesquiterpenes.
Marine eukaryotic microalgae are very important components of phytoplankton able to adapt to all kinds of ecological niches and physicochemical conditions due to a series of secondary metabolites they produce. The project aims to identify microalgae species that produce molecules capable of inhibiting telomerase activity in a set of different cancer cell lines for possible exploitation as an anticancer drug.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: diatoms, dinoflagellates.
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- Title: Screening for the production of biomolecules with antibiofilm properties
SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Screening of marine bacterial isolates for antimicrobial activity and production of bioactive molecules with activity inhibiting the formation of biofilms of pathogenic strains. Application of culture approach and molecular techniques for taxonomic identification.
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- Title: Extraction of chitin and chitosan from fisheries waste
SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Isolation of high-value products from under-utilised marine species and waste from fish processing and aquaculture plants in the view of a circular economy and recycling perspective.
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- Title: Characterisation of microbial communities associated with microplastics in the marine environment
- SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Culture-based and molecular approach for the study of microbial communities associated with microplastics (plastisphere) and biotechnological applications for degradative potential.
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Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI):
- Title: Assessment of plastic pollution in areas of the Mediterranean Sea and approach to studying the potential transfer of microplastics into the trophic web
Tutor SZN: Cristina Pedà
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
The impact of marine litter, particularly plastics, on marine life and habitats is a major global concern and an important environmental issue. Microplastics (< 5 mm) are the most frequently detected size category in the marine environment and in the gastrointestinal tracts of marine vertebrates as they can easily enter the trophic web through direct or indirect ingestion. To date, many studies have investigated the ingestion of microplastics and associated chemical contaminants in marine organisms, but their transfer through the trophic web is poorly understood, especially at higher trophic levels. The traineeship activities will focus on the study of the presence of plastics in areas of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea through the application of protocols for the extraction of plastics and microplastics from different matrices (water, sediments, biota). In addition, activities will also include the study of the ingestion of microplastics by key species in the trophic web of the Strait of Messina, through the analysis of stomach contents, using both chemical digestion and visual sorting approaches. The identification and characterisation of plastics and microplastics will be carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The traineeship activity will be carried out at the SZN site in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
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- Title: Exploring the impact of microplastics in polar environments
Tutor SZN: Cristina Pedà
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
Marine litter pollution also affects remote environments such as the Arctic regions and their biodiversity. However, due to the inaccessibility and difficulty of constant observations in these environments, further studies are needed to fill knowledge gaps. The traineeship activity will focus on studying the impact of plastics in samples collected in polar areas through the application of extraction protocols for plastics and microplastics from environmental matrices (water, sediments, biota). Identification and characterisation of plastics will be performed by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The traineeship activity will be carried out at the SZN site in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
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- Title: Communities responses to multiple stressors
Tutor SZN: Manuel Berlino, Maria Cristina Mangano
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
Benthic habitats are highly biodiverse, an attribute that makes them energy flow and carbon cycling hotspots. Unfortunately, metabolism dynamics across varying ecosystems and communities are poorly understood, particularly in function of their associated biodiversity (changes/loss) and functionality. The aim of this work is to measure metabolism in situ, and to collect/measure pertinent community and abiotic variables from diverse ecosystems. Thus, to be able to understand the community metabolism across varying habitats’ composition, ecosystem functions and under different stressors presence.
Profile: Biological/Environmental/Natural Sciences degree or equivalent; Proficiency in English; Proven experience in fieldwork (marine); Proven experience in laboratory (biological sciences); Diving certificate(?); Knowledge about biogeochemical cycles in marine environments; Availability to go to the field when necessary; Basic Microsoft Office skills; Ability to work in a team and willingness to learn. The activities will consist of providing support during the different phases of the research: Fieldwork (metabolism measurements of several day cycles, biodiversity and abiotic variables assessment in different ecosystems), laboratory processing of samples and data extraction.
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- Title: Biological and ecological aspects of deep-sea fish
Tutor SZN: Pietro Battaglia
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
There is still little knowledge on Mediterranean deep-sea fish. The purpose of this project is to investigate some ecological and biological aspects of deep-sea fish species, including growth, age, sexual maturity, and feeding habits. The trainee will gain knowledge about the taxonomy of fish and the methods commonly used to assess the above mentioned aspects. The results will provide a baseline for potential management and conservation policy for the species. The activity will be carried out at the Ichthyology and Fisheries Laboratory of the SZN headquarters in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
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- Title: trophic ecology of cephalopods
Tutor SZN: Pietro Battaglia e Giorgio Aglieri
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
The CIAO MARE project uses several species of cephalopods, having different ecology and lifestyle, as bioindicators of the environmental status of the sea, investigating the effects of pollution and marine litter on the biology, physiology, ecology, and flesh quality of these fishery resources. In this context, the feeding habits of cuttlefish, octopus and loliginid squids are studied through an integrated approach using several complementary techniques: stomach content analysis, isotopic analysis and metabarcoding. The internship activity will be carried out at the Ichthyology and Fisheries Laboratory of the SZN headquarters in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
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- Title: assessment of the impact of microplastic ingestion in cephalopod molluscs
Tutor SZN: Pierpaolo Consoli
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
The impact of human activities has significant consequences on marine biota and the environment due to the presence of various chemical pollutants and marine litter, including microplastics. The internship activity will focus on the study of microplastic ingestion by cephalopods through the analysis of gasto-intestinal tract, using the chemical digestion approach and the identification and characterization of compounds by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The internship activity will be carried out at Messina, SZN Sicily Marine Centre.
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- Title: Integrated taxonomy studies in marine invertebrates
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description
Research based on the classification of marine invertebrates applying techniques for the morphological description and diagnosis of species identification, and molecular approaches related to DNA barcoding and phylogeny.
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- Title: Allelopathy and functional symbioses in marine holobionts
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description:
Studies related to symbiotic interactions taking place in marine ecosystems and their role in organismal health, disease, and acclimatization to the environment via metabolic fluxes of nutrients, defensive compounds and allelochemical mediators.
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- Title: Integrative taxonomy as a tool to assess the true biodiversity of the marine biota of the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Mediterranean Sea)
SZN Tutor: Fabio Crocetta
Department: EMI
Description:
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots worldwide. However, many local zoological groups have not been subjected to a deep review based on modern methods. The aim of the project will be to explore the biota of the Gulf of Naples through an integrative taxonomy approach – i.e. a comprehensive framework to delimit and describe taxa by integrating information from ecological, molecular, and morphological data. Data obtained will have important implications in conservation issues, refine phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries, and shed a light on evolutionary lines and cryptic diversity.
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- Title: Spore formation in Chaetoceros cultures as a mode of long-term strain-maintenance and storage.
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
The candidate exposes monoclonal strains of Chaetoceros species to conditions fostering spore formation, and to determine optimalconditions for survival. If spores are obtained, their ultrastructural details are documented in SEM if this information is not already availablefor the species.
Together with Marina Montresor
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- Title: Morphological plasticity of Chaetoceros strains in response to grazing copepods
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
Strains of several species of the planktonic diatom Chaetoceros are exposed to grazing copepods. In case the copepods enticephenotypic responses in the diatoms, further experiments unravel if mechanical or biochemical triggers cause the response.
Together with Ylenia Carotenuto.
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- Title: Deep-sea mega-benthos of the central Mediterranean Sea.
SZN Tutor: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description:
The study aims to create an inventory of the Mediterranean deep-sea megabenthos, combining video analysis with morphological/molecular approach of sampled materials.
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- Title: Monitoring of microcosms life cycles in controlled environment
SZN Tutor: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description:
The research aims to evaluate the aquarium rearing performance of rare species by means medium-term monitoring of morphometric parameters.
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Conservation of marine Animals and Public Engagement (CAPE):
- Title: Management and databasing of the scientific collections of Stazione Zoologica
Tutor SZN: Paolo Albano
Department: CAPE
Description
Stazione Zoologica owns an important historical collection of marine organisms, whose enlargement is undergoing due to the contribution of its scientists and acquisitions from third parties. The internship objective is to learn the techniques to handle samples preserved both in liquids or dry, both historical and modern, both in the public exhibits and preserved uniquely for scientific research. Moreover, the intern will learn about the use of specific software for databasing the collection.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (website https://pgalbano.weebly.com/)
- Title: Patterns and drivers of native species richness decline in the Eastern Mediterranean
SZN Tutor: Paolo Albano
Department: CAPE
Description
The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is under the siege of climate warming, biological invasions, and further local stressors. We quantify today's and historical native Mediterranean and non-indigenous species richness with extensive sampling programs and use multidisciplinary approaches at the interface of marine ecology and paleontology to quantify species loss and identify its main drivers. Furthermore, we use functional trait studies and species distribution models to understand and predict the fate of the Mediterranean in future climate scenarios.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (website https://pgalbano.weebly.com/)
Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources (RIMAR):
- Title: Design, construction, and testing of underwater research equipment
SZN Tutor: Simonepietro Canese
Department: RIMAR
Description:
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn is seeking a mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering student for a summer internship in our research infrastructure department. The start date and schedule of the internship is flexible, but we are looking for students who can commit 30 to 40 hours per week for a 10-to-12-week period.
Essential Functions: Design, construction and testing of underwater research equipment;
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