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Biography
Associate Professor in Microbiology (SD BIO/19) at the University of Catania.
LabMMAR via Santa Sofia 97, 95123, tel: 095-2504732
Email: m.santagati@unict.it
Scientific activity
The main activity of her research is aimed at studying Gram-positive bacteria, in particular: i) study of streptococcal bacteriocin-like inhibitory activity against potential pathogens: bacteriocin production by deferred antagonism test and characterization of their genetic elements and oral microbiome; ii) screening and use of microorganisms in the prevention of infections of the upper respiratory tract. In particular, research is directed to the use of a strain of S.salivarius 24SMBc for use in the prevention of acute otitis chronic pediatric. In particular, the study including the characterization of strains producing bacteriocins by inhibition assays evaluated with the deferred antagonism test, adhesion test cell lines, characterization of the genetic elements that carry genes involved in the production of bacteriocins;iii) molecular mechanisms responsible for antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive bacteria; iv) characterization of genetic elements such as transposons, plasmids carrying resistance determinants and their mobility by conjugation and transformation; iv) molecular identification of pathogens (S. pyogenes and S.pneumoniae) directly from biological samples by use of platforms for Real Time–PCR and identification of virulence genes and expression studies using real-time PCR; v) Within the project PON collaborates with c-Lab, Materials and Microsystems Laboratory (Polytechnical Collage of Turin) and FBK-Bruno Kessler Foundation, Center for Materials and Microsystems Biofunctional Surfaces and Interfaces (Trento) for the development of microfluidic modules (LOC) for the implementation of PCR and real-time PCR to be used for automated molecular diagnostics based on Lab-on-chip. She characterized the genetic elements carrying mef(A) responsible for macrolide resistance, Tn1207.1, Tn1207.3 in S.pneumoniae and S.pyogenes, mega element in S.salivarius and phage phi1207.3 in S.pyogenes (GenBank accession no AF227520; AF227521; AY657002; FJ236311, AY657002).
Academic and institutional roles
Member of the Register of expert auditors MIUR - Evaluation of research projects and research products (2012 / in progress).
Member of the Academic Board of the XXIX cycle PhD in Translational Biomedicine (2014 / in progress)
Member Teachers Graduate College: in "Biology, Human genetics and bioinformatics: cellular and molecular basis of phenotype (200/2014)
Reviewer: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials (ACMA) and Applied and Environmental Microbiology, International Journal Antimicrobiol Angents, Jare (Journal of Applied Research)
Member of the following Scientific Societies: Italian Society of General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (SIMGBM), Italian Society of Microbiology (SIM); European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)
Activities
Employment (1)
Education and qualifications (3)
Works (49)
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