Researcher
Marine Biotechnology Department
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Fano Marine Center
Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano (PU) - Italia
E-mail: eugenio.rastelli(at)szn.it
Research interests
Marine ecosystems host 1030 prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) cells and 1031 viruses, which represent ~90% of the Earth’s microbial abundance and largely contribute to organic matter cycling and biogeochemical processes, profoundly influencing global ecosystem functioning. My integrated and interdisciplinary research aims at unveiling the diversity and functioning of microbial assemblages in different marine systems, including the deep sea (down to hadal trenches), hydrothermal vents, marine aerosols, and polluted sites. Research focuses include the effects of climate change (ocean acidification, warming, deoxygenation, shifts in carbon export to the seafloor) on marine viruses and microbes, the impact of viruses on the diversity and functioning of benthic/planktonic microbes, the ecological/biogeochemical role of virus-host dynamics (particularly on heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic processes and implications for higher trophic levels) and how marine pollution can affect them, as well as potential applications of marine microbes in biotechnology and bioremediation. To collect/analyze seawater and sediment samples from all around the world (Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Southern Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, North Sea), I use standard and cutting-edge sampling/lab methods, also thanks to ongoing international collaborations with colleagues in USA, Japan, France, UK, Croatia, Norway, Denmark. Sampling employs multi-corers, gravity-corers, CTD-carousels, ROVs, manned submersibles; and I apply the following lab techniques: (light/epifluorescence) microscopy, DNA&RNA extraction, purification & (Sanger-/NextGen-)sequencing, PCR-based assays, and functional measurements (using radiolabeled or fluorogenic substrates). My research will help shading light on the diversity and role of marine viruses and microbes at different time and spatial scales, also investigating their possible utilization in applied ecotechnologies.
Selected Publications
Dell’Anno, F., van Zyl, L. J., Trindade, M., Buschi, E., Cannavacciuolo, A., Pepi, M., ... & Rastelli, E. (2023). Microbiome enrichment from contaminated marine sediments unveils novel bacterial strains for petroleum hydrocarbon and heavy metal bioremediation. Environmental Pollution, 317, 120772.
Corinaldesi, C., Bianchelli, S., Candela, M., Dell’Anno, A., Gambi, C., Rastelli, E., Stefano Varrella, Danovaro, R. (2023). Microbiome-assisted restoration of degraded marine habitats: a new nature-based solution?. Frontiers in Marine Science.
Dell’Anno, F., Rastelli, E., Buschi, E., Barone, G., Beolchini, F., & Dell’Anno, A. (2022). Fungi can be more effective than bacteria for the bioremediation of marine sediments highly contaminated with heavy metals. Microorganisms, 10(5), 993.
Arcadi, E., Rastelli, E., Tangherlini, M., Rizzo, C., Mancuso, M., Sanfilippo, M., ... & Romeo, T. (2022). Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Vents as Natural Accelerators of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance in Marine Coastal Areas. Microorganisms, 10(2), 479.
Dell’Anno, F., Rastelli, E., Sansone, C., Brunet, C., Ianora, A., & Dell’Anno, A. (2021). Bacteria, fungi and microalgae for the bioremediation of marine sediments contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons in the omics era. Microorganisms, 9(8), 1695.
Varrella, S., Barone, G., Tangherlini, M., Rastelli, E., Dell’Anno, A., & Corinaldesi, C. (2021). Diversity, ecological role and biotechnological potential of antarctic marine fungi. Journal of Fungi, 7(5), 391.
Dell’Anno, F., Rastelli, E., Tangherlini, M., Corinaldesi, C., Sansone, C., Brunet, C., ... & Dell’Anno, A. (2021). Highly contaminated marine sediments can host rare bacterial taxa potentially useful for bioremediation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 584850.
Tangherlini, M., Corinaldesi, C., Rastelli, E., Musco, L., Armiento, G., Danovaro, R., & Dell’Anno, A. (2020). Chemical contamination can promote turnover diversity of benthic prokaryotic assemblages: The case study of the Bagnoli-Coroglio bay (southern Tyrrhenian Sea). Marine environmental research, 160, 105040.
Rastelli, E., Petani, B., Corinaldesi, C., Dell’Anno, A., Martire, M. L., Cerrano, C., & Danovaro, R. (2020). A high biodiversity mitigates the impact of ocean acidification on hard-bottom ecosystems. Scientific reports, 10(1), 1-13.
Hiraoka, S., Hirai, M., Matsui, Y., Makabe, A., Minegishi, H., Tsuda, M., Juliarni, Rastelli E., ... & Tasumi, E. (2020). Microbial community and geochemical analyses of trans-trench sediments for understanding the roles of hadal environments. The ISME journal, 14(3), 740-756.
Barone, G., Varrella, S., Tangherlini, M., Rastelli, E., Dell’Anno, A., Danovaro, R., & Corinaldesi, C. (2019). Marine fungi: Biotechnological perspectives from deep-hypersaline anoxic basins. Diversity, 11(7), 113.
Rastelli, E., Corinaldesi, C., Dell'Anno, A., Tangherlini, M., Lo Martire, M., Nishizawa, M., ... & Roberto, D. (2019). Drivers of bacterial α-and β-diversity and functioning in subsurface hadal sediments. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 2609.
Rastelli, E., Corinaldesi, C., Canals, M., Danovaro, R., & Dell'Anno, A. (2018). Rapid response of benthic deep-sea microbes (viruses and prokaryotes) to an intense dense shelf water cascading event in a submarine canyon of the NW Mediterranean Sea. Progress in Oceanography, 168, 35-42.
Rastelli, E., Corinaldesi, C., Dell’Anno, A., Lo Martire, M., Greco, S., Facchini, M.C., O’Dowd, C., Ceburnis, D., Danovaro, R. (2017). Transfer of labile organic matter and microbes from the ocean surface to the marine aerosol: an experimental approach. Scientific Reports 7, 11475. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10563-z
Rastelli E., Corinaldesi C., Dell'Anno A., Tangherlini, M., Martorelli, E., Ingrassia, M., Lo Martire, M., Chiocci F.L., Danovaro, R. (2017). High potential for temperate viruses to drive carbon cycling in chemoautotrophy‐dominated shallow‐water hydrothermal vents. Environmental Microbiology [Epub ahead of print] doi:10.1111/1462-2920.13890
Rastelli E., Dell’Anno A., Corinaldesi C., Middelboe, M., Noble, R.T., Danovaro, R. (2016). Quantification of viral and prokaryotic production rates in benthic ecosystems: A methods comparison. Frontiers in Microbiology 7:1501. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01501
Danovaro, R., Dell’Anno, A., Corinaldesi, C., Rastelli, E., Cavicchioli, R., Krupovic, M., Noble, R.T., Nunoura, T., Prangishvili, D. (2016). Virus-mediated archaeal hecatomb in the deep seafloor. Science Advances 2016c;2:e1600492. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1600492
Rastelli E., Corinaldesi C., Petani B., Dell'Anno, A., Ciglenečki, I., Danovaro, R. (2016). Enhanced viral activity and dark CO2 fixation rates under oxygen depletion: the case study of the marine Lake Rogoznica. Environmental Microbiology 18:4511-4522. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.13484
Rastelli E., Corinaldesi C., Dell'Anno A., Greco, S., Lo Martire, M., Carugati, L., Queirós, A.M., Widdicombe, S., Danovaro, R. (2016). CO2 leakage from carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) systems affects organic matter cycling in surface marine sediments. Marine Environmental Research 122:158-168. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.10.007
Rastelli E., Corinaldesi C., Dell’Anno A., Amaro, T., Queirós, A.M., Widdicombe, S., Danovaro, R. (2015). Impact of CO2 leakage from sub-seabed carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) reservoirs on benthic virus–prokaryote interactions and functions. Frontiers in Microbiology 6:935. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00935
Personal websites
Google Scholar
- https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=1EDbmfYAAAAJ&hl=it
Researchgate
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eugenio_Rastelli
- https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Marine-Bioremediation-Research-Group-Eugenio-Rastelli
