University of Naples Federico II - UNINA
Department of Biology
Marco Moracci
Full professor of Biochemistry, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Italy | ORCID iD
Research Director and group leader at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council of Italy. (CNR) Naples, (2014)
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Senior Researcher and group leader at the Institute of Protein Biochemistry- CNR Naples, Italy (2001)
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Researcher IBP-CNR, Naples, Italy (1994)
Research activities are focused on the study of the: 1) Discovery, characterization, and engineering of carbohydrate active enzymes; 2) Study of carbohydrate active enzymes involved in lysosome storage disorders; 3) Metagenomic analysis of hydrothermal sites for the identification of hyperthermophilic microorganisms; and 4) Study of the adaptation and evolution of hyperthermophilic Archaea.
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Coordinator of the Work Package (WP) “Stakeholder mapping, engagement and leverage of Pan-European interest” for PREP-IBISBA (2020-2024)
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Representative of the University of Naples ‘Federico II’ for the Joint Research Unit (JRU) IBISBA-IT and Coordinator of the IBISBA Italian Node (2018-2028)
Coordinator of the WP n. 0008788 (26/09/2017) for the Italian Space Agency project “Life in Space: origin, presence, persistence of life in space, from molecules to extremophiles” (2018-2021)
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Task Leader of the WP "Communication, Outreasch and Dissemination) for IBISBA 1.0 (2017-2021)
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Andrea Strazzulli
Non-tenured Assistant Professor (RTD-B)
Researcher in Biochemistry | ORCID iD
MSc. Degree in Industrial Biotechnology (2007)
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Ph.D. In Industrial Biotechnology (2011)
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His interests are focused, but non-limited, on the understanding of the structure-function relationship and on the mechanistic aspects of Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes).
In particular, his studies are addressed to the enzyme discovery of novel glycosidases by classical and metagenomic approach, in their biochemical characterization and engineering, and in the study of the molecular basis of enzyme activity and stability.
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Roberta Iacono
Researcher - RTDA
MSc. Degree in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology (2012)
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PhD in Applied Biology (2016)
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Research activities are focused on identification and biochemical characterization of hyperthermophilic enzymes, by classical, omics (including in situ and in vitro enrichments) and functional approaches, involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates from microorganisms growing in extreme environments.
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Experimental work is also focused on the evaluation of the physiological plasticity of extremophiles in response to environmental variations and geological events, biotic and abiotic factors and their ability to adaptation. In addition, her research activities are aimed to the structure / function analysis of glycosyl hydrolase of pharmaceutical interest with particular focus on stability in the presence of molecular chaperones
Marika Gargano
Post-Doctoral Researcher
PhD in Biotechnology (2023)
MSc. Degree in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology (2019)
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Research activities are focused on identification and biochemical characterization of new thermophile poly(ethylene) hydrolyzing enzymes (PHEs), in order to understand their applicability in biotechnological fields. According to green chemistry principles, her experimental work is also focused on the engineering of PHEs, to develop sustainable PET degradation processes.
Carmen Ercolano
PhD Student
PhD Student of 36th cycle in Industrial Biotechnology.
Title of the project: Discovery, characterization and engineering of enzymes involved in polymer modification for sustainable biocatalysis and biotransformation.
Discovery of new glycoside hydrolases, discovery and engineering of new poly(ethylene) terephthalate hydrolysing enzymes.
Francesca Paragliola
PhD Student
MSc. degree in Biology (2021)
PhD student 37th cycle in Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Naples 'Federico II'
Project title: Identification, characterisation and modification of carbohydrate-active enzymes from (hyper)thermophilic microorganisms for biocatalysis and biotransformation
The aim of his project is the in silico identification, biochemical characterization and engineering of novel enzymes, mainly enzymes active on carbohydrates from (hyper)thermophilic microorganisms, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of their activity and stability, for future biotechnological applications
Esther Pirozzi
PhD Student
MSc degree in Pharmacy (2023)
PhD Student 39th in Biotechnology at University of Naples “Federico II”.
Title of the project: Discovery and characterization of carbohydrate-active enzymes from hyper(thermophilic) microorganism for biotransformations.
The target of the project is to discover new extremophilic enzymes for the degradation of agro-food industrial wastes into high value-added products.
National Research Council of Italy - CNR
Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - IBBR
Beatrice Cobucci-Ponzano
Senior Researcher - Principal Investigator | ORCID iD
Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Extremophiles Group leader at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - IBBR-CNR, Naples, Italy (https://www.ibbr.cnr.it/ibbr/info/people/beatrice-cobucci-ponzano)
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From 2023 Member of the Steering Committee of the Italian Society of Astrobiology
From 2019 Coordinator of the Joint Research Unit (JRU) IBISBA-IT (www.ibisba.it)
2001 PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Padua, Padua, Italy
1997 Master's Degree in Biological Sciences University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy​
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Research activities are focused on discovery and engineering of protein and enzymes, with special focus on carbohydrate-active enzymes, from organisms growing in extreme environments (temperature, pH, ionic strength, pressure, etc.) and working at optimal operational conditions at the interface between chemistry and biology. The identified and characterized enzymes are exploited in industrial biotechnologies, such as the development of enzymatic cocktails for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to valorize waste products such as agri-food residues.
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Project WP leader last 5 years
2022 – today UO Leader Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System – ITINERIS. PNRR MISSIONE 4, COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 3.1 (https://itineris.cnr.it)
2019 – 2023 WP Leader Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator PREP-IBISBA - H2020 INFRADEV (www.ibisba.eu)
2019 – 2023 WP Leader OPPS Vita nello Spazio: origine, presenza, persistenza della vita nello spazio, dalle molecole agli estremofili - Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (https://www.lifeinspace.it)
2017- 2022 WP Leader Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator IBISBA 1.0 - H2020 INFRAIA (www.ibisba.eu)
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Project participation last 5 years
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2024-2027 IBISBA-DIALS - HORIZON-INFRA-2023-DEV-01 (https://ibisba.eu/dials/)
2023 – 2026 BIOINDUSTRY4.0 - Horizon Europe Project (https://bioindustry4.hub.inrae.fr/)
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Patents
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2021 Italian - N. 102021000020729 Preparazione combinata per il trattamento della malattia di Pompe. Parenti G., Minopoli N., Tarallo A., Damiano C., Moracci M., Iacono, R.; Cobucci-Ponzano B., Ferrara MC., Peluso G.
2016 Italian - N. 102016000080100 Nuovi Chaperoni allosterici. Moracci M., Ferrara MC., Cobucci-Ponzano B., Peluso G., Parenti G., Porto C., Rossi B.
2013 International - N. US 61/656,246 Allosteric chaperones for use in the treatment of Pompedisease. Parenti G; Porto C; Andria G; Cobucci-Ponzano B.; Ferrara C; Moracci M.
2002 Italian - N.RM2002A000550 Proteine mutanti dell'alphaLfucosidasi termofile e termostabili in grado di essere prodotte per via ricombinante. Cobucci-Ponzano B, Trincone A., Rossi M., Moracci M.​
Federica De Lise
Researcher
Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - IBBR-CNR, Naples, Italy
Ph.D. In Biotechnology (2018).
MSc. Degree in Biology (2014)
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Research activities are focused on:
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​Enzyme discovery and characterisation of novel enzymes, with particularly interest in Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes)
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Study of recoding mechanisms in hyperthermophilic Archea, in particular in the microorganism Saccharolobus solfataricus
Mauro Di Fenza
Infrastructure Manager
Mauro plays a pivotal role in managing and facilitating access requests to the platforms and services within the research infrastructure IBISBA-IT. His duties also include ensuring that experimental data are collected and shared digitally, and adhere to the FAIR principles. Finally, he takes charge of coordinating training sessions and managing communication activities.
Nicola Curci
Researcher
Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - IBBR-CNR, Naples, Italy
Post-doctoral researcher of Architecture et Function des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) at University of Marseille, France (2021 – 2023)
PhD in biotechnology (2021)
MSc. Degree in Biology (2017)
His research is dedicated to the identification and biochemical characterization of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), with the aim of understanding their molecular mechanisms of activity and stability. The study and the action of CAZymes on substrates of biotechnological and industrial interest are valuable for exploiting biotechnological applications in bioconversions, contributing to sustainable processes and paving the way for novel applications.
Oriana Sacco
PhD Student
MSc. degree in Biology (2022)
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Ph.D. student XXXVIII° in Biotechnology at University of Naples ‘Federico II’
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Ph.D. project title: "Carbohydrate-active enzymes for biocatalysis and food waste valorisation processes”
Ali Shaikh Ibrahim
PhD Student
Ali is a PhD Student in the 37th cycle in Biotechnology, at the University of Naples Federico II.
Title of the project: Identification and exploitation of (hyper)thermophilic (hemi)cellulases and new enzymes for food waste products recycling
Ali is associated with the CNR Institute of BioSciences and BioResources (IBBR) of Naples.
He aims to use these enzymatic activities for industrial and biotechnological applications, with a particular focus on the valorization of lignocellulosic biomasses toward the generation of value-added products and novel applications.
Alberto Bobbio
Master student in Biology of Extreme Environments
Nikolas Masourakis
Communication & Dissemination Coordinator
Communication and Dissemination Coordinator at Bioindustry 4.0 and IBISBA-DIALS. Nikolas is dedicated to bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and its impactful dissemination. Ensures that the innovative work and advancements within projects or the team reach diverse audiences, from industry stakeholders to the wider scientific community. Implements strategic communication techniques to enhance collaboration, promote awareness and drive engagement. Passionate about informatics, manages diverse digital infrastructures. From designing and maintaining websites to orchestrating dockerised applications and configuring NAS servers.
Outside the professional sphere, splits time between CrossFit workouts and a variety of outdoor activities, such as trekking, snowboarding, windsurfing and sailing that cultivate a sense of equilibrium and adaptability to carry into his work.