The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors
The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors.
We mainly focus on microalgal products and on the optimization of the production of bioactive compounds by changing growth parameters such as the quality of light and concentration of nutrients. We are interested in the characterization of the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds isolated from microalgae and other marine organisms, through advanced screening platforms that allow the prediction of the type of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical activity of compounds.
We also focus on the isolation and characterization of marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, which are able to resist and degrade pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Bioremediation and bioaugmentation studies are aimed at validating new technologies for the recovery of marine polluted coastal areas. New and innovative approaches are being developed for the restoration of such sites using seagrasses and corals.
Our shared expertise covers such fields as ecology, chemical ecology, physiology, genomics and transcriptomics, chemistry and biochemistry, and cell biology that drive technology and knowledge transfer for industrial applications of marine natural products.
Available platforms include:
• BlueBiomass Platform for the isolation and maintenance and mass cultivation of microalgae and other marine organisms for potential biotechnological applications.
• BlueBioChem Platform for the extraction and fractionation of bioactive marine organisms
• BlueOmics Platform for genome mining of new enzymes and biosynthetic pathways
• BlueCell Platform to test the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds on marine model species and human cell lines.
• BlueMicrobe Platform for testing antibacterial activity of marine organisms.
• BlueEnvironment Platform for the bioremediation and restoration of polluted marine sites
Director
Senior Researcher
Brunet Christophe
Costantini Maria
Romano Giovanna
Zupo Valerio
Researcher
Balzano Sergio
Carrella Sabrina
Della Sala Gerardo
Di Dato Valeria
Galasso Christian (SZN Amendolara)
Lauritano Chiara
Orefice Ida
Rastelli Eugenio (SZN Fano)
Rizzo Carmen (SZN Sicilia)
Ruocco Nadia (SZN Amendolara)
Sansone Clementina
Senior Technologist
Technologist
Barra Lucia (SZN Amendolara)
Coppola Daniela
Sardo Angela
Tedesco Pietro
Technicians
Palumbo Flora, supporto Amministrativo
Smerilli Arianna
Technical Operator
Research Fellowships
Buschi Emanuela
Del Mondo Angelo
Di Costanzo Federica
Palma Esposito Fortunato
Vitale Laura
Vitale Giovanni Andrea
Scholarship
Arigò Caterina (SZN Sicilia)
Luci Marika (SZN Amendolara)
Mangiabosco Chiara
Melchiorre Chiara
PhD Student
Blasio Martina
Buonocore Carmine
Cassella Vincenza
Cavalletti Elena
Coppola Alessandro
De Falco Gabriele
Esposito Roberta
Glaviano Francesca
Montuori Eleonora
Pistelli Luigi
Ragozzino Costanza
Santaniello Giovanna
Scibelli Sebastiano
Simonetti Silvia
Somma Emanuele
Storari Annalisa
Terzo Stella Maria Concetta
Tinto Eleonora
Viel Thomas
Vingiani Giorgio
SECRETED - Sustainable Exploitation of bio-based Compounds Revealed and Engineered from naTural sources
SEDREMED - Bioremediation of contaminated sediments in coastal areas of ex-industrial sites 2021-2024
ISIDORE - Integrated Services For Infectious Diseases Outbreak Research
HOTBIO - A holistic approach to training a new generation of scientists in marine biodiscovery
BlueRemediomics - ARNESSING THE MARINE MICROBIOME FOR NOVEL SUSTAINABLE BIOGENICS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Project @ CNR “SCANFISH” SEA COSMETICS AND NUTRACEUTICS: FROM FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE BYPRODUCTS
PON project “ALIFUN” Development of functional foods for the innovation of traditional Italian food products
PRoDiA: Droplet digital PCR to assess the occurrence and infer the ROle of prostaglandin in natural DIatom Assemblage in the Ionian coastal waters
Director
Massimo Cavaliere ad interim
Research Director
Researcher
Senior Technologist
Marco Borra
Canese Simonepietro
Conversano Fabio
De Luca Pasquale
Sarno Diana
Technologist
Berti Claudio
Cianelli Daniela
D'Ambrosio Paolo
Di Capua Iole
Margiotta Francesca
Passarelli Augusto
Saggiomo Maria
Terlizzi Francesco
Technician
Ambrosino Luca
Campili Fabrizio
Cannavacciuolo Marco
Corato Federico
Corato Giuseppe
Errico Davide
Fasciglione Paolo
Franzitta Giulio
Gallia Roberto
Gragnaniello Giovanni
Graziano Rita
Gugliemo Rosanna
Iacono Bruno
Iamunno Franco
Iorio Claudio
Lanzotti Giampiero
Miralto Marco
Pagliarani Alberto
Pannone Raimondo
Pansera Marco
Percopo Isabella
Rando Vincenzo
Russo Monia Teresa
Sanfilippo Marilena
Scalco Eleonora
Technical operator
Research Fellowship
Blanckaert Alice
Bosso Luciano
Escalera Laura
Kokoszka Florian Volmer Martin
Limatola Nunzia
Marotta Pina
Saviano Simona
Scholarship
Annona Giovanni
Austoni Martina
Bazzani Emma
Buondonno Angela
Carrabino Leandro
Cipolletta Francesco
Ferri Sara
Fioretti Sara
Firmamento Roberto
Furia Marta
Giova Antonio
Marino Gabriele
Pantano Valentina
Paini Germano
Passaniti Giulia
Picciolo Andrea
Riccio Francesco
Severini Maila
Stenico Francesco
PhD Students
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Updated on August 3rd, 2023