PhD Student
Integrative Marine Ecology Department

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Villa Comunale
80121 Napoli - Italia

Tel.: +39 334 8719408
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Curriculum Vitae

Internal Supervisor: Clementina Sansone
Program: Università di Pisa, XXXVII cycle

Research Interests

Biogenic reefs built by tube-forming species, mainly belonging to the Sabellaria genus, provide a range of ecosystem services due to their ability to filter large volumes of water, stabilize sediments and host a wide array of organisms. They are, however exposed to natural and anthropogenic threats, and they are listed among habitats to be protected in EU Directives. Moreover, such reefs are poorly studied, little experimental information is available on their stability and ecological processes. Some studies showed possible biotechnological applications of the adhesive proteins of the tubes as a biocompatible adhesive, with possible uses in medicine and cosmetics. These residues are reported to be converted into L-DOPA, a precursor of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine), already used in the treatment of dopamine deficiency diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. The possible bioactivity of these proteins and the natural production patterns will be tested. Sabellaria alveolata is present in various areas of Italy, and the study will focus on bioconstruction found in the Latium coast. The study aims at characterizing the bioconstructions considering ecological aspects, such as resistance and resilience to anthropic impacts, and investigate the potential biotechnological application.