I am a researcher at Fondazione Ri.MED in Palermo. I graduated in Biotechnology at the University of Palermo, where I completed my Bachelor’s internship at IBIM-CNR. During this period, I generated and characterized a stable HEK293T cell line overexpressing alpha-enolase to study its intracellular localization and the functions of its variants, including the tumor-suppressor factor MBP1. This first project introduced me to cell biology, genetic engineering, and imaging techniques.

I then obtained a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Research Biotechnology, also in Palermo, and completed an Erasmus Placement at the GIGA Research Center of the University of Liège. During my Master’s internship, I worked on improving the solubility and functional optimization of Octarellin VI, an artificial protein designed in silico, applying Directed Evolution strategies as well as protein expression and purification techniques. This project strengthened my background in molecular and protein biotechnology.

I subsequently earned a PhD in Microbial and Cell Proliferation Biotechnologies at the University of Messina, conducting part of my research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris in the laboratory of Prof. Patrick Trieu-Cuot. During my PhD, I characterized two novel surface proteins of Streptococcus agalactiae (FbsC and PbsP), defining their function, their interaction with host components, and their potential as vaccine antigens.

Over the years, I have developed advanced skills in molecular biology, microbiology, cell culture, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, protein analysis, and the generation of cellular models. I routinely work with human primary cells (PBMCs, hMDMs) and use automated platforms for high-content imaging and liquid handling.

I am the author and co-author of several peer-reviewed publications in international journals, including FASEB Journal, Cell Death & Disease, and Molecular Microbiology. My studies have contributed to clarifying how cigarette smoke components modulate inflammatory responses, revealing non-canonical mechanisms of caspase and gasdermin activation in human macrophages.

My scientific goal is to understand how chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation caused by cigarette smoke or viral infections influence the progression of respiratory diseases, with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets and intervention strategies.