Ricerc@Sapienza

Microbiology-Molecular Biology: working on the transcriptional regulation and the biochemistry of the glutamate and glutamine-dependent systems, the major acid resistance (AR) systems in Escherichia coli (commensal and pathogenic) and many other enteric bacteria (commensal and pathogenic). Several interconnections between different AR systems and other physiological and stress-related processes in E. coli and other bacteria are currently under investigation. Novel antimicrobials are studied to combat AMR. Human microbiome of skin and bladder are currently understudy.

Biochemistry: Expert on PLP-dependent enzymes, in particular glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) of mammalian and bacterial origin. The structural properties and the catalytic mechanism are investigated via site-directed mutagenesis, expression and purification of recombinant variants, kinetic and spectroscopic studies in combination with structural studies (the latter in collaboration).

Biotechnology: Exploiting and engineering GAD for biotech applications, including the synthesis of bioactive molecules. In addition she is also studying the acid stress response in E. coli and other bacterial species for applications in the food and biotech sector (vice-chair and then chair of the COST Action CA18113 “Understanding and exploiting the impacts of low pH on micro-organisms”). Nanotechnologies to target skin infections and detection of water contaminations by bacterial pathogens are also currently under investigation