Research
Research
The Laboratory of Medical Molecular Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance (M.M.A.R) of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC) of the University of Catania, brings together a group of researchers strongly involved in research in the microbiological field and applied research in the biomedical and biotechnological field.
MMARL has become a national and international reference center for studies of antibiotic resistance thanks to its researchers’ long experience in this field, reached through a continuous role of coordination in monitoring activities and promotion of innovation. The research group has skills in: molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and biofilms; molecular diagnosis of infections; epidemiology of antibiotic resistance; activity of new anti-Gram-positive molecules; molecular typing; multicenter studies of the activity of new antibiotic molecules, multicenter studies of resistances; characterization of genetic elements such as transposons and plasmids, gene mobility assays: transformation and conjugation process, screening and characterization of bacteriocin-producing strains for bacteriotherapy, studies of the oral microbiome, study of gene expression, mutagenesis, cloning, development of advanced diagnostic platforms (POC), development of new biomaterials and sensors.
Education
As far as education is concerned, the members of the group perform several key disciplines in the field of Microbiology, for Bachelor Degree Courses and Master Degree courses in Biological Sciences; the Bachelor Degree Course in Environmental and Natural Sciences (SAN). In particular: Microbiology (course in Biological Sciences); Applied Molecular Microbiology (Master Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology); C.I. Microbial Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology (Master Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology); C.I. Clinical Microbiology and Biology of protozoa and metazoan parasites (Master Degree in Health Biology); Food Microbiology (Master Degree in Health Biology), Bacteriological diagnosis and Antibiotic Susceptibility (SB), Environmental Microbiology (SAN).
Research topics supporting advanced teaching
- Specific instrumental diagnostics and development of new tools (microfluidics, Smart Systems and biosensors) and research of specific markers used for molecular microbiological diagnostics in complex matrices.
- Metagenomic analysis of the human microbiome and the use of probiotics as a means to improve people’s health.
- In vitro assay of new antibiotics and study of resistance mechanisms.
Projects
“Pon” Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013
Project title: Development of a multiplex technology platform for molecular and automated diagnostics, based on the instrumental logic of Lab-on-chip in order to allow multiparametric applications in the field of infectious diseases. Acronym: MICROMAP
COST – European cooperation in Science and technology
Project title: Improved Protection of Medical Devices Against Infection. Acronym: IPROMEDAI
Research products
Ph.D. in Biology, Human Genetics and Bioinformatics: Cellular and Molecular foundations of the Phenotype.
2012 dott.ssa Taschia Bertuccio: Modulating activity of vancomycin and daptomycin on the expression of genes involved in reduced glycopeptide susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus
Ph.D. in Microbiological and Biochemical Sciences.
2012 dott.ssa Daniela Spina: Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from humans and animals
Ph.D. in Advanced Multidisciplinary research in transplants.
Other
MMARL has actively participated and still participates in national and international conferences and events with oral presentations and posters.
Head researchers of the main research lines
Stefania Stefani – Full Professor – Antibiotic Resistance of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity; molecular typing; multicenter studies of the activity of new antibiotic molecules; multicenter studies of resistance.
Maria Lina Mezzatesta – Researcher – Antibiotic Resistance, molecular diagnosis of infections, epidemiology of antibiotic resistance, molecular epidemiology, mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity, antibiotics.
Maria Santagati – Researcher – Characterization of genetic elements, transposons and plasmids, in Streptococci and Enterococci, gene mobility by transformation and conjugation, determination of genomovars of the B.cepacia complex, molecular identification of microorganisms from biological samples, screening and characterization of Bacteriocin-producing strains also for bacteriotherapy, expression of virulence genes in Streptococci, studies of the human microbiome, development of advanced diagnostic platforms, point-of-care (POC).
Floriana Campanile – Researcher – Study of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and epidemiology of resistant species through molecular typing, studies of gene evolution and characterization of mobile elements with resistance determinants. Study of in vitro activity of: new antibiotic molecules in a preliminary phase of experimentation, association of antibiotics and possible mechanisms of resistance. Development of new biomaterials and sensors, point-of-care (POC).
Viviana Cafiso – Research Fellow – Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity, molecular diagnosis of infections, study of gene expression, mutagenesis, cloning, development of advanced diagnostic platforms and POC.
CV and Publications
Available on PubMed.gov
Post-doc and phD students from the MMAR LAB