Senior Researcher – Permanent position (BIOS-07/A)
Department of Medicine and Surgery – University of Parma
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
- Conducting research activities in the biochemical field, from critical data analysis to systematic literature review.
- Networking: Active collaboration within research networks, contributing to synergistic projects with national and international academic partners.
- Scientific Output: Writing and publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals.
- Science Communication: Participation in scientific conferences for the presentation of original research results.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
- Biochemistry and Metabolomics Laboratory – Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma
- Access to: high-resolution NMR, circular dichroism, fluorescence, DLS
EDITORIAL AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
- Editorial Management: Guest Editor for Special Issues. Responsible for peer-review and critical selection of scientific contributions.
- University Teaching: Lecturer for the courses of Biochemistry and Chemistry and Propaedeutic Biochemistry.
- Mentoring and Tutoring: Supervisor for the preparation of bachelor's theses, providing methodological and bibliographic support.
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Academic Committee for the Degree Programme in MEDICINA E CHIRURGIA
- Member of the Review Group for the Degree Programme in Tecniche della prevenzione nell’ambiente e nei luoghi di lavoro.
1. METABOLOMICS BASED ON NMR SPECTROSCOPY
Metabolomics is a key tool for understanding the dynamic responses to genetic modifications and physiological or pathophysiological stimuli. Thanks to the rapid advances in precision medicine, this approach is gaining an increasingly central role, providing diagnostic and prognostic information of high clinical relevance.
- Metabolomic profiling and analysis
Identification of molecular markers in biological fluids for the diagnosis and prognosis of tumors.
Profiling of different types of saliva; comparison between salivary metabolomes and serum metabolome.
Identification of molecular markers in saliva and tissues for the early diagnosis of potentially malignant oral lesions.
Identification of differential molecular markers in in vitro models of breast carcinoma.
Metabolic adaptability of cultured microorganisms: profiling of the intracellular and extracellular metabolome to decipher the capacity to adapt to different environmental conditions.
2. MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS OF LIPOCALIN-ASSOCIATED ALLERGIES
This approach offers great potential for improving molecular allergy diagnostics and facilitating the design of personalized immunotherapies, in line with emerging trends in precision medicine.
- Characterization and standardization of recombinant allergens for contribution to molecular allergy diagnostics
Structural, conformational and functional investigations with recombinant allergens.
Advanced structural analysis using molecular dynamics.
Site-specific mutagenesis for the production of hypoallergenic variants.
Characterization of the reactivity of the recombinant allergen Mus m 1.
Molecular diagnosis of allergy to mouse urinary proteins using the recombinant allergen Mus m 1.
3. ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES
This line of research offers promising perspectives for the development of innovative antimicrobial drugs. These advances are fundamental in the fight against multi-resistant pathogens, opening new therapeutic intervention possibilities and contributing to the broader objective of addressing the health emergency linked to antibiotic resistance.
- Synthetic antimicrobial peptides: towards new therapeutic strategies
Characterization of the antimicrobial properties of rationally designed synthetic peptides.
Definition of their antimicrobial potential, mechanism of action, specificity and toxicity.
Updated to the academic year 2025/2026
- CHEMISTRY AND PROPAEDEUTIC BIOCHEMISTRY for the “filter semester” (1 ECTS), 1st year of the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery
- BIOCHEMISTRY (2 ECTS), 1st year of the Degree Course in Scienze motorie, sport e salute
- APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY (2 ECTS) – module of the Integrated Course Fondamenti chimici ed azione dei fattori di rischio, 1st year of the Degree Course in Tecniche della prevenzione nell’ambiente e nei luoghi di lavoro
- Supervisor and co-supervisor of bachelor's theses
Gallo M, Ferrari E, Brugnoli F, Terrazzan A, Ancona P, Volinia S, Bertagnolo V, Bergamini CM, Spisni A, Pertinhez TA, Bianchi N. Metabolic Profiling of Breast Cancer Cell Lines: Unique and Shared Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jan 24;26(3):969. doi: 10.3390/ijms26030969.
Artesani L, Gallo M, Giovati L, Bisignano FM, Ferrari E, Castronovo LM, Conti S, Santoro F, Pertinhez TA, Ciociola T. Anti-Staphylococcus aureus Activity and Structural Characterization of Rationally Designed Peptides. Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Apr 26;14(5):437. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14050437.
Ferrari E, Antonelli R, Gallo M, Meleti M, Setti G, Mucci A, Righi V, Gambini A, Magnoni C, Spisni A, Pertinhez TA. Salivary Metabolomics Discloses Metabolite Signatures of Oral Leukoplakia with and Without Dysplasia. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jul 7;26(13):6519. doi: 10.3390/ijms26136519.
Setti G, Gambini A, Righi V, Mucci A, Pertinhez TA, Ferrari E, Gallo M, Biscussi B, Antonelli R, Meleti M, Magnoni C. Tissue and Salivary NMR Metabolomics in Reticular-Type Oral Lichen Planus. NMR Biomed. 2025 Oct;38(10):e70137. doi: 10.1002/nbm.70137.
Agosta F, Pertinhez TA, Cozzini P, Spisni A, Ferrari E. Conformational Flexibility of a Lipocalin Allergen (Mus m 1): Implications for Molecular Allergy Diagnostics. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Mar 27;47(4):234. doi: 10.3390/cimb47040234.
Ferrari E, Naponelli V. Catechins and Human Health: Breakthroughs from Clinical Trials. Molecules. 2025 Jul 25;30(15):3128. doi: 10.3390/molecules30153128.
Antonelli R, Ferrari E, Gallo M, Ciociola T, Calciolari E, Spisni A, Meleti M, Pertinhez TA. The Association between Salivary Metabolites and Gingival Bleeding Score in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 17;25(10):5448. doi: 10.3390/ijms25105448.
Antonelli R, Massei V, Ferrari E, Gallo M, Pertinhez TA, Vescovi P, Pizzi S, Meleti M. Salivary Diagnosis of Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024 May 2;46(5):4234-4250. doi: 10.3390/cimb46050258.
Antonelli R, Setti G, Treister NS, Pertinhez T, Ferrari E, Gallo M, Bologna-Molina R, Vescovi P, Meleti M. Salivary metabolomics in oral cancer: A systematic review. Oral Oncology Reports. 2024, 11, 100657. doi: 10.1016/j.oor.2024.100657.
Gallo M, Ferrari E, Giovati L, Pertinhez TA, Artesani L, Conti S, Ciociola T. The Variability of the Salivary Antimicrobial Peptide Profile: Impact of Lifestyle. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Oct 26;25(21):11501. doi: 10.3390/ijms252111501.
