Dipartimento di Biologia

EDUCATION • Degree in Biology (110/110 cum laude,University of Padova), 1992 • PhD in Genetics (University of Ferrara; Consortium among Universities of Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, Parma and Pisa), 1998 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Post graduate fellow of ”Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro” (AIRC) at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, 1993-1994 • PhD student in Genetics (University of Ferrara; Consortium among Universities of Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, Parma and Pisa), 1994-1997. • Erasmus PhD student at the Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, UK, 1995 • Postdoc (University Hospital, Univeristy of Padova), 1997-1999 • Assistant Professor (Genetics) (University of Padova), 1999-2011 • Associate Professor (Scientific Disciplinary Sector BIO/18-Genetics) at the University Padova, Department of Biology, 2011-present • Visiting Scientist (University of Fribourg, Fribourg (CH)), 2012-2013 RESEARCH ACTIVITY Main research topics: • Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and innate immune response in B. mori. Four topics are addressed: i) generation of transgenic silkworms producing an AMP-enriched silk; ii) Genetic differences in the innate immune response among laboratory and commercial silkworm strains; iii) Mechanism of action of specific silkworm AMPs, candidates for drug development; iv) the circadian control of the innate immune response in B. mori. • Analysis of circadian clock and other behavioral genes in insects. This research has been focused on the molecular and functional analyses of circadian and other behavioral genes in the fruit fly D. melanogaster and other insects (B. mori, C. capitata), developing studies including developmental and behavioral analyses, transgenesis, cellular and molecular analyses (at DNA, RNA and protein levels).Currently, she is developing a study to characterize the in vivo transcriptomic variations in Drosophila adult brain neurons (dopaminergic neurons), under normal and oxidative stress- generating environments and in different mutant backgrounds. TEACHING ACTIVITY • “Genetics” for the first-level degree (Bachelor) in Biotechnology and Natural Science, University of Padova 2000-present • Invited Professor in the “Spring school of Chronobiology” for PhD students in Haren, Netherlands, June 2004. • She acquired the Teaching4Learning Badge from University of Padova, 2018 • Tutor of about 30 theses for Bachelor degree and 6 theses for Master degree • Supervisor of 2 PhD students and 3 PostDocs. BOARD OF PhD PROGRAMS • Member of the board of professors of the PhD School in “Biosciences”, Curriculum “Genetics Genomics and Bioinformatics”, University of Padova, 2018 • Member of the board of professors of the PhD School of “Biosciences and Biotechnology”, Curriculum “Genetics and Developmental Molecular Biology”, University of Padova 2009-2015.

Main research topics: • Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and innate immune response in B. mori. Four topics are addressed: i) generation of transgenic silkworms producing an AMP-enriched silk; ii) Genetic differences in the innate immune response among laboratory and commercial silkworm strains; iii) Mechanism of action of specific silkworm AMPs, candidates for drug development; iv) the circadian control of the innate immune response in B. mori. • Analysis of circadian clock and other behavioral genes in insects. This research has been focused on the molecular and functional analyses of circadian and other behavioral genes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and other insects (Bombyx mori, Ceratitis capitata), developing studies including developmental and behavioral analyses, transgenesis, cellular and molecular analyses (at DNA, RNA and protein levels).Currently, she is developing a study aims to characterized the in vivo transcriptomic variations in Drosophila adult brain neurons (dopaminergic neurons), under normal and oxidative stress- generating environments and in different mutant backgrounds. • Study on the possible link between the circadian clock and psychiatric disorders. This part of the work was developed using both Drosophila and mouse models. To this aim she spent one year (12-13) in the laboratory of Prof. Albrecht (University of Fribourg, CH) to use the mouse as a model organism for analyzing both circadian clock and psychiatric-like behaviors.

Bachelor and Master Degree theses will be focussed on the following research topics: • Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and innate immune response in B. mori. Four topics are addressed: i) generation of transgenic silkworms producing an AMP-enriched silk; ii) Genetic differences in the innate immune response among laboratory and commercial silkworm strains; iii) Mechanism of action of specific silkworm AMPs, candidates for drug development; iv) the circadian control of the innate immune response in B. mori. • Analysis of circadian clock and other behavioral genes in insects. This research has been focused on the molecular and functional analyses of circadian and other behavioral genes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, developing studies including developmental and behavioral analyses, transgenesis, cellular and molecular analyses (at DNA, RNA and protein levels). The ongoing study has the aim to characterize the in vivo transcriptomic variations in Drosophila adult brain neurons (dopaminergic neurons), under normal and oxidative stress- generating environments and in different mutant backgrounds.