Developed skills and lines of research
Bianca Maria Colonna graduated in 1977 with a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Rome La Sapienza. She is currently Full Professor at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology Faculty of Mathematical Physical and Natural Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome. His experimental studies have always focused on understanding the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression in microorganisms. After a training in molecular genetics of the maltose system at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, her investigation turned to the understanding of genetic systems involved in iron capture and in the organization of antibiotic-resistance genes in Salmonella. In recent years, the study has focused mainly on the expression of virulence genes in Shigella and a line of research on virulence determinants of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an emerging pathogenic microorganism responsible for infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Principal Investigator or as Research Manager
FFC#7/2007
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a multidrug resistant emergent pathogen associated to cystic fibrosis: a post-genomic approach to identify new immunological and therapeutical targets
FFC #7/2005
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an emergent pathogen associated to cystic fibrosis: identification and molecular characterization of virulence determinants as potential targets for new therapeutical strategies
Publications from FFC Research projects
Di Bonaventura G, Prosseda G, Del Chierico F, et al. Molecular characterization of virulence determinants of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains isolated from patients affected by cystic fibrosis. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2007 Jul-Sep;20(3):529-37.
Roscetto E, Rocco F, Carlomagno MS, et al. PCR-based rapid genotyping of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates. BMC Microbiol. 2008 Nov 24;8:202. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-8-202.
Di Bonaventura G, Prosseda G, Del Chierico F, et al. Molecular characterization of virulence determinants of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains isolated from patients affected by cystic fibrosis. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2007 Jul-Sep;20(3):529-37.
Rocco F, De Gregorio E, Colonna B, Di Nocera PP.Stenotrophomonas maltophilia genomes: a start-up comparison. Int J Med Microbiol. 2009 Dec;299(8):535-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2009.05.004. Epub 2009 Jul 1.
Pompilio A, Crocetta V, Confalone P, et al. Adhesion to and biofilm formation on IB3-1 bronchial cells by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. BMC Microbiol. 2010 Apr 7;10:102. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-102.
Di Bonaventura G, Pompilio A, Zappacosta R, et al. Role of excessive inflammatory response to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia lung infection in DBA/2 mice and implications for cystic fibrosis. Infect Immun. 2010 Jun;78(6):2466-76. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01391-09. Epub 2010 Mar 22.
De Carolis E, Posteraro B, Florio AR, et al. Analysis of heat-induced changes in protein expression of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia K279a reveals a role for GroEL in the host-temperature adaptation. Int J Med Microbiol. 2011 Apr;301(4):273-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2010.10.001. Epub 2010 Nov 26.
Nicoletti M, Iacobino A, Prosseda G, et al. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains from cystic fibrosis patients: genomic variability and molecular characterization of some virulence determinants. Int J Med Microbiol. 2011 Jan;301(1):34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2010.07.003. Epub 2010 Oct 16.
Pompilio A, Pomponio S, Crocetta V, et al. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis: genome diversity, biofilm formation, and virulence. BMC Microbiol. 2011 Jul 5;11:159. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-159.