Researcher
Marine Biotechnology Department

Tel. +39 081 5833221
Fax: +39 081 7641355
e-mail chiara.lauritano(at)szn.it
Skype: chiara.lauritano

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

My research interests are in marine biotechnology, functional genomics and plankton ecology. My research activity is mainly focused on bioprospecting for marine organisms, drug discovery and transcriptomic analyses in order to study enzymes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites with bioactivities useful for human health and/or other enzymes with potential biotechnological applications (e.g. for pharmaceuticals and bioremediation). My interests are also focused on the bioactivity (e.g. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-diabetes) of various marine organisms, mainly microalgae, in order to isolate biologically active compounds for the treatment of human pathologies. I also study physiological and molecular responses to biotic and abiotic stressors (e.g. ocean acidification, cold, nutrient starvation or enrichment, exposure to microalgal secondary metabolites) in marine organisms.

Selected Publications

1. Lauritano C.§, Borra M., Carotenuto Y., Biffali E., Miralto A., Procaccini G., Ianora A. (2011) First molecular evidence of diatom effects in the copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 404(1-2):79-86. § Corresponding author.

2. Lauritano C.§, Borra M., Carotenuto Y., Biffali E., Miralto A., Procaccini G. and Ianora A. (2011) Molecolar evidence of the toxic effects of diatom diets on gene expression patterns in copepods. PLoS One, 6(10):e26850. § Corresponding author.

3. Lauritano C.§, Procaccini G. and Ianora A. (2012) Gene Expression Patterns and Stress Response in Marine Copepods. Marine Environmental Research, 76:22-31. § Corresponding author.

4. Serra I.A.*, Lauritano C.*, Dattolo E., Puoti A., Nicastro S., Innocenti A.M., Procaccini G. (2012) Reference genes assessment for the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in different salinity, pH and light conditions. Marine Ecology. DOI 10.1007/s00227-012-1907-8 *First two authors share equal responsibility.

5. Carotenuto Y., Esposito F., Pisano F., Lauritano C., Perna M., Miralto A., Ianora A. (2012) Multi-generation cultivation of the copepod Calanus helgolandicus in a re-circulating system. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 418-419 (2012) 46–58.

6. Lauritano C.§, Carotenuto Y., Miralto A., Procaccini G. and Ianora A. (2012) Copepod population-specific response to a toxic diatom diet. PLoS One, 7(10): e47262. § Corresponding author.

7. Lauritano C.§, Carotenuto Y, Procaccini G, Turner JT, Ianora A. (2013) Changes in expression of stress genes in copepods feeding upon a non-brevetoxin-producing strain of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Harmful Algae, 28:23-30. § Corresponding author.

8. Carotenuto Y., Dattolo E., Lauritano C., Pisano F., Sanges R., Miralto A., Procaccini G. and Ianora A. (2014) Insights into the transcriptome of the marine copepod Calanus helgolandicus feeding on the oxylipin-producing diatom Skeletonema marinoi. Harmful Algae, 31:153–162.

9. Dattolo E., Ruocco M., Brunet C., Lorenti M., Lauritano C., D’Esposito D., De Luca P., Sanges R., Mazzuca S., Procaccini G. (2014) Response of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to different light environments: Insights from a combined molecular and photo-physiological study. Marine Environmental Research, 101:225-36.

10. Asai S., Ianora A., Lauritano C. and Carotenuto Y. (2015) High‒quality RNA Extraction from Copepods for Next Generation Sequencing: A Comparative Study. Marine genomics. 24:115-118. doi: 10.1016/j.margen.2014.12.004.

11. Lauritano C., Carotenuto Y., Vitiello V., Buttino I., Romano G. Hwang J.S. and Ianora A. (2015) Effects of the oxylipin-producing diatom Skeletonema marinoi on gene expression levels in the calanoid copepod Calanus sinicus. Marine Genomics. pii: S1874-7787(15)00008-2. doi: 10.1016/j.margen.2015.01.007.

12. Lauritano C.§, Orefice I., Procaccini G., Romano G., Ianora A. (2015) Key Genes as Stress Indicators in the Ubiquitous Diatom Skeletonema marinoi. BMC Genomics, 16:411. § Corresponding author.

13. Orefice I., Lauritano C., Procaccini G., Romano G., Ianora A. (2015) Insights in possible cell-death markers in the diatom Skeletonema marinoi in response to senescence and silica starvation. Marine Genomics, 24:81-88.

14. Lauritano C., Ruocco M., Dattolo E., Buia M.C., Silva J., Santos R., Olivé I., Costa M.M., Procaccini G. (2015) Response of key stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents, Biogeosciences, 12:4185–4194.

15. Jeanine L. Olsen, Pierre Rouzé, Bram Verhelst, Yao-Cheng Lin, Till Bayer, Jonas Collen, Emanuela Dattolo, Emanuele De Paoli, Simon Dittami, Florian Maumus, Gurvan Michel, Anna Kersting, Chiara Lauritano, Rolf Lohaus, Mats Töpel, Thierry Tonon, Kevin Vanneste, Mojgan Amirebrahimi, Janina Brakel, Christoffer Boström, Mansi Chovatia, Jane Grimwood, Jerry W. Jenkins, Alexander Jüterbock, Amy Mraz, Wytze T. Stam, Hope Tice, Erich Bornberg-Bauer, Pamela J. Green, Gareth A. Pearson, Gabriele Procaccini, Carlos M. Duarte, Jeremy Schmutz, Thorsten B. H. Reusch, & Yves van de Peer. (2016) The genome of the seagrass Zostera marina reveals angiosperm adaptation to the sea, Nature, 530, 331–335. doi:10.1038/nature16548.

16. Lauritano C.§, Romano G., Roncalli V., Amoresano A., Fontanarosa C., Bastianini M., Braga F., Carotenuto Y., Ianora A. (2016) New oxylipins produced at the end of a diatom bloom and their effects on copepod reproductive success and gene expression levels. Harmful Algae. 55: 221–229. § Corresponding author.

17. Lauritano C§, Ianora A. (2016) Marine Organisms with Anti-diabetes properties. Marine Drugs. 14(12): 220. doi: 10.3390/md14120220. § Corresponding author.

18. Lauritano C. §, Andersen J.H., Hansen E., Albrigtsen M., Escalera L., Esposito F., Helland K., Hanssen K.Ø., Romano G., Ianora A. (2016) Bioactivity screening of microalgae for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-diabetes and antibacterial activities. Frontiers in Marine Science. 3, 68. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00068. § Corresponding author.

19. Romano G., Costantini M., Sansone C., Lauritano C., Ruocco N., Ianora A. (2017) Marine microorganisms as a promising and sustainable source of bioactive molecules. Marine Environmental Research. 128:58-69. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.05.002.

20. Olivè I., Silva J., Lauritano C., Costa M.M., Ruocco M., Procaccini G., Santos R. (2017) Linking gene expression to productivity to unravel long- and short-term responses of seagrasses to CO2 in volcanic vents. Scientific Reports. 7: 42278. doi: 10.1038/srep42278.

21. Procaccini G., Ruocco M., Marin-Guirao L., Dattolo E., Brunet C., D’Esposito D., Lauritano C., et al. (2017) Depth-specific fluctuations of gene expression and protein abundance modulate the photophysiology in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Scientific Reports. 7:42890. doi: 10.1038/srep42890.

22. Rasmusson L.M.; Lauritano C ; Procaccini G.; Gullström M.; Buapet P.; Björk M. (2017) Respiratory oxygen consumption in the seagrass Zostera marina varies on a diel basis and is partly affected by light. Marine Biology. 164(6): 140. doi: 10.1007/s00227-017-3168-z.

23. Lauritano C. §, De Luca D., Ferrarini A., Avanzato C., Minio A., Esposito F., Ianora A. (2017) De novo transcriptome of the cosmopolitan dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae to identify enzymes with biotechnological potential. Scientific Reports. 7, Article number: 11701. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-12092-1. § Corresponding author.

24. Ravaglioli C., Lauritano C. et al. (2017) Nutrient Loading Fosters Seagrass Productivity Under Ocean Acidification. Scientific Reports. 7, Article number: 13732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14075-8

25. Lauritano C. §, Martín J., de la Cruz M., Reyes F., Romano G., Ianora A. (2018) First identification of marine diatoms with anti-tuberculosis activity. Scientific Reports. 8:2284 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-20611-x. § Corresponding author.

26. Ruocco N, Costantini S, Zupo V, Lauritano C., Caramiello D, Ianora A, Budillon A, Romano G, Nuzzo G, D'Ippolito G, Fontana A, Costantini M. (2018) Toxigenic effects of two benthic diatoms upon grazing activity of the sea urchin: morphological, metabolomic and de novo transcriptomic analysis. Scientific Reports. 8:5622. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24023-9.

27. Brillatz T.*, Lauritano C.* §, Jacmin M.*, Khamma S., Marcourt L., Righi D., Romano G., Esposito F., Ianora A., Queiroz E.F., Wolfender J.L. and Crawford A.D. (2018) Zebrafish-based identification of the antiseizure nucleoside inosine from the marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi. PLoS One. 13:e0196195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196195. *First author shared. § Corresponding author.

28. Martinez Andrade K.A., Lauritano C., Romano G., Ianora A. (2018) Marine microalgae with anticancer properties. Marine Drugs. 16(5). pii: E165. doi: 10.3390/md16050165.

29. Giordano D., Costantini M., Coppola D., Lauritano C., Núñez Pons L., Ruocco N., di Prisco G., Ianora A., Verde C. (2018) Biotechnological applications of bioactive peptides from marine sources. Advanced microbial physiology. vol. 73, p. 171-220.

30. Lauritano C. §, De Luca D., Amoroso M., Benfatto S., Maestri S., Racioppi C., Esposito F., Ianora A. (2019) New molecular insights on the response of green algae to nitrogen starvation. Scientific Reports. 9,3336. § Corresponding author.

31. Lauritano, C.; Ferrante, M.I.; Rogato, A. (2019) Marine Natural Products from Microalgae: An -Omics Overview. Mar. Drugs, 17, 269

32. Martínez K.A.*, Lauritano C.*§, Druka D., Romano G., Grohmann T., Jaspars M., Martín J., Díaz C., Cautain B., de la Cruz M., Ianora A., Reyes F. (2019) Amphidinol 22, a new cytotoxic and antifungal amphidinol from the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae. Marine Drugs. 17(7):385. doi: 10.3390/md17070385. *First author shared. § Corresponding author.

33. Vingiani G.M., De Luca P., Ianora A., Dobson A., Lauritano C.§ (2019) Microalgal Enzymes with Biotechnological Applications. Marine Drugs. 17, 459; doi:10.3390/md17080459. § Corresponding author.

34. Riccio G. and Lauritano C. § Microalgae with immunomodulatory activities (2020) Marine Drugs. 18, 2; doi:10.3390/md18010002..§ Corresponding author.

35. Elagoz A. M., Ambrosino L., Lauritano C.§. (2020) De novo transcriptome of the diatom Cylindrotheca closterium identifies genes involved in the metabolism of anti-inflammatory compounds. Scientific Reports. 10:4138 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61007-0. § Corresponding author.

36. Lauritano C. §, Helland K., Riccio G., Andersen J.H., Ianora A., Hansen E.H. (2020) Lysophosphatidylcholines and Chlorophyll-Derived Molecules from the Diatom Cylindrotheca closterium with Anti-Inflammatory Activity. Mar. Drugs 2020, 18, 166; doi:10.3390/md18030166. § Corresponding author.

37. Lauritano C. *,§, Martínez K.A.*, Battaglia P., Granata A., de la Cruz M., Cautain B., Martín J., Reyes F., Ianora A., Guglielmo L. (2020) First evidence of anticancer and antimicrobial activity in Mediterranean mesopelagic species. 10, 4929, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61515-z. *First author shared. § Corresponding author.

38. Coppola D., Oliviero M., Vitale G.A., Lauritano C., D'Ambra I., Iannace S., de Pascale D. (2020) Marine collagen from alternative and sustainable sources: extraction, processing and applications. Marine Drugs. 18(4), 214. https://doi.org/10.3390/md18040214.

39. Riccio G., De Luca D., Lauritano C. § (2020) Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and sulfolipid synthesis in microalgae. Marine Drugs. 18, 237; doi:10.3390/md18050237 § Corresponding author.

40. Damiano S, Lauritano C, Longobardi C, Andretta E, Elagoz AM, Rapisarda P, Di Iorio M, Florio S, Ciarcia R. (2020) Effects of a Red orange and Lemon Extract in Obese Diabetic Zucker rats: role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 9(5), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051600

41. De Luca D. and Lauritano C. § (2020) In silico identification of type III PKS chalcone and stilbene synthase homologs in marine photosynthetic organisms. Biology. 9, 110; doi:10.3390/biology9050110. § Corresponding author.

42. Saide A, Lauritano C., Ianora A. (2020) “Pheophorbide α: state of the art”. Marine Drugs. 18, 257, ISSN: 1660-3397, doi: 10.3390/md18050257 § Corresponding author.

43. Damiano S., Longobardi C., Lauritano C., Andretta E., Capasso G., Florio S., Ciarcia R. (2020) The Protective Effect Of Red Orange And Lemon Extract (Rle) In Diabetic Obese Zucker Rats Is Related To Its Action On The Nadph Oxidase Subunit. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 35 (Supplement_3), gfaa142. P0988. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfaa142.P0988.

44. Riccio G., Ruocco N., Mutalipassi M., Costantini M., Zupo V., Coppola D., de Pascale D., Lauritano C. § (2020) Ten-year research update review: antiviral activities from marine Organisms. Biomolecules. 10, 1007; doi:10.3390/biom10071007 § Corresponding author.

45. Vingiani G.M., Stalberga D., De Luca P., Ianora A., De Luca D., Lauritano C. §(2020) De novo transcriptome of the non-saxitoxin producing Alexandrium tamutum reveals new insights on harmful dinoflagellates. Marine Drugs. 18, 386; doi:10.3390/md18080386. § Corresponding author.

46. Asai S., Sanges R., Lauritano C. et al. (2020) De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Gene Expression Profiling of the Copepod Calanus helgolandicus Feeding on the PUA-Producing Diatom Skeletonema marinoi. Marine Drugs. 18, 392; doi:10.3390/md18080392.

47. D’Ambra I. and Lauritano C. (2020) A Review of Toxins from Cnidaria. 18(10), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/md18100507.

48. Russo E., Lauritano C. et al. (2020) RNA-Seq and differential gene expression analysis in Temora stylifera copepod females with contrasting non-feeding nauplii survival rates: an environmental transcriptomics study. BMC Genomics 21:693. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-07112-w

49. Lauritano C§, Ianora A. (2020) Chemical Defense in Marine Organisms. Marine Drugs. 18, 518. https://doi.org/10.3390/md18100518. § Corresponding author

50. Lauritano C§, Roncalli V, Ambrosino L, Cieslak MC, Ianora A. (2020) First De Novo Transcriptome of the Copepod Rhincalanus gigas from Antarctic Waters. Biology 9 (11), 410. § Corresponding author.

51. Lauritano C§, Rizzo C., Lo Giudice A. e Saggiomo M (2020) Physiological and molecular responses to environmental stressors of microalgae and associated bacteria from cold environments. Microorganisms vol. 8, 1957, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8121957 § Corresponding author.