Phd in BIOCHEMISTRY

email: marialuisa.mangoni@uniroma1.it
phone: 0649910838
building: CU27
room: 213

ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5991-5868

EDUCATION

1996 Degree in Biology “cum laudem”, Sapienza University of Rome
2003 PhD in Biochemistry, Sapienza University of Rome.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1998 Fellowship: Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, in the lab of Prof. H.G. Boman
1999 Research contract, University of Chieti (Italy)
2001 McGraw Hill Award for the best scientific work of young scientists
2009 “Atomium Culture” selection for publication of an article in European newspapers

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2002-2010 Assistant Professor at the II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
2011-2012 Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
2013-2020 Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
2020-present Full Professor of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1999-2000 Practical courses of biochemistry and microbiology in the Degree course of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti;
2001 Practical courses of molecular biology and microbiology for Biomedical Laboratory Technicians, II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome;
2003-2011 Lecturer of Biochemistry in the Degree courses of Nursing and Obstetrician, II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. 2 CFU
2003-2011 Practical courses of biochemistry, Degree Course of Medicine, II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome;
2011-present Lecturer of Biochemistry, Teaching course of “Biochemical and Biological Sciences". Degree Course of Prevention Techniques in the Environment and in the Workplace, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome. Coordinator of the Teaching Course. 4 CFU
2012-2020 Lecturer of Biochemistry, Teaching course of "Bases of Cellular Functioning”. Degree Course of Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome. 4 CFU + 2 CFU (attività seminariali)
2014-2015 Lecturer of Biochemistry, Teaching course of “Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life” . Degree Course of Nursing, ASL H, Sapienza University. Coordinator of the Teaching Course. 2 CFU
2015-present Lecturer of Biochemistry, Teaching course of “Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life” . Course of Nursing, Sapienza University of Rome (Isernia). Coordinator of the Teaching course. 2 CFU
2017-present Lecturer of Biochemistry, Teaching course of “Molecular Basis of Life”. Degree Course of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Technique. Coordinator of the Teaching Course. 2 CFU
2021-present Lecturer of Biochemistry, for Degree course in Medicine High Technology. 3 CFU.Coordinator
2021-present Lecturer of "Cellular Biochemistry", for Master’s Degree in Biochemistry. 3 CFU

Other academic activities

2001-present Tutor activity for Master Thesis in Biology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (15 thesis)
2003-present Tutor activity for 6 Ph.D. Thesis in Biochemistry
2008-2009 Member of the Faculty Commitee (II Faculty of Medicine)
2009-2010 “External Advisor” of a PhD student, Doctorate Course in Molecular Biomedicine, University of Trieste.
2009 Member of the “Board of Examiners” for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy (Biochemistry and Neuroscience), University of L'Aquila
2010 Member of the the “Board of Examiners” for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy (Molecular Biomedicine), University of Trieste.
2011 External Referee and Member of the “Board of Examiners” for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy (Biochemistry), University College
Dublin (Irland)
2012 Tutor activity for a Master thesis of an Erasmus student from University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology
2012 Member of the Academic Board of Doctoral School in Pasteurian Sciences
2013-present Member of the Academic Board of Doctoral School in Biochemistry
2014 Tutor activity for a Master degree thesis in Biology of a student from Universityof Guadalajara, Mexico
2016 External Referee of a PhD Thesis in Biochemistry (Title: Optimised bacterial production and characterisation of natural antimicrobial
peptides with potential application in agriculture) Stellenbosch University
2016 Member of the “Board of Examiners” for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology), University of
Udine.
2016 Member of the “Board of Examiners” for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy (Chemical Sciences”, Università Tor Vergata, Roma
2016 External Referee of a PhD Thesis in Biochemistry.Title: Enhancing the activity of the proline-rich antimicrobial peptide Chex1-Arg 20 by
chemical multimerization) Melbourne University, Australia
2016 External Referee of the PhD Thesis of Andrea Rachel LEONG OPTOM-School of Optometry and Vision Science (Title: Enhancing the
activity of the proline-rich antimicrobial peptide Chex1-Arg 20 by chemical multimerization)University of New South Wales, UNSW
SYDNEY NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA
2016 Member of the Evaluation Committee for a Researcher position RTD-B, l’University of Trieste
2017 External Referee of the PhD thesis of Aritreyee Datta in Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, India (Title: Structural Insights into de-noco
designed antimicrobial peptides:mechanistic analysis against plant and animal pathogens)
2018 Tutor of a training period for the student Lærke Maria Damsted Holmlund, University of Copenhagen (May1-May 31, 2018) under the
Project Antimicrobial Peptides – Potential Therapeutic Agents”
2019 External Referee of a PhD thesis in Molecular biomedicine (XXXI Cycle) University of Trieste, Title: “Optimization of BMAP18-an
antiinfective peptide for the treatment of pulmonary infections”
2019 External Referee of a PhD thesis in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Siena. Title: Polyalkylguanidines:new
weapons to tackle bacterial resistance
2023 COORDINATOR OF THE PhD COURSE IN BIOCHEMISTRY, SAPIENZA UNIVERISTY

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Leader of the Research Group working on "Antimicrobial Peptides" (http://www.marialuisamangoni.it/) at the Department of Biochemical Sciences,

Principal research lines:

(i) Isolation and functional characterization of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from amphibian skin secretions;
(ii) Development of experimental procedures to determine their antibacterial, antifungal, antiparassitic and cytolytic activities;
(iii) Studies of the mechanism of action of AMPs on artificial and biological systems (bacteria, fungi, and parasites of Leishmania genus) by means of biochemical and biophysical techniques;
(iv) Studies on the role of AMPs in innate immunity, using amphibia as an in vivo model system;
(v) Studies on the peptide-membrane interaction;
(vi) Development of natural amphibian peptides as potential drugs.

REFEREE ACTIVITY

i) For scientific publications on FEBS Journal; FEBS Letters; Journal of Infectious Disease; Nature Protocols; Peptides; Biochimie; Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes; Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects; Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Developmental and Comparative Immunology; Regulatory Peptides; Journal of Peptide Science; Journal of Peptide Research; Current Protein and Peptide Science; Biochemistry; European Journal of Microbiology, PloSOne; Journal of Medical Microbiology, Bioinformatics

(ii) For Research Projects of: “(2006) National Science Foundation” USA Proposal N. 0619536; (2004) “International Foundation for Science” Proposal n. AF/17633 “; (2014) Research project received by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Project number:I 1763-B20; (2017) Murdock College Research Program for Natural Sciences proposal from Carroll College Proposal N. NS-LS-2017-08; (2019) “Swedish Research Funding Foundation” (Knowledge Foundation); (2019)
ERC Advanced Grant; ERC Advanced Grant (2019); French Government in partnership with the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (2020); Research Projects of Trieste University, 2011 e 2013.

ii) Per Progetti di Ricerca della “(2006) National Science Foundation” USA Proposal N. 0619536; (2004) “International Foundation for Science” Proposal n. AF/17633 “; (2014) Research project received by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Project number:I 1763-B20; (2017) Murdock College Research Program for Natural Sciences proposal from Carroll College Proposal N. NS-LS-2017-08; (2019) “Swedish Research Funding Foundation” (Knowledge Foundation); (2019)
ERC Advanced Grant; ERC Advanced Grant (2019); French Government in partnership with the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (2020); Progetti di Ricerca Ateneo Università di Trieste anni 2011 e 2013.

EXPERIENCE AS SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR (RECIPIENT OF GRANTS)

2005-2007: Local Team Coordinator for the PRIN Project “Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity and mechanism of action of natural peptides for a potential therapeutic usage”

2006-2007: Principal Investigator of the Faculty Project “Studies on the structure-function relationship of antimicrobial peptides and their potential therapeutic application” funded by Sapienza University

2008-2009: Principal Investigator of the project " Peptidi antimicrobici naturali e loro analoghi di sintesi: meccanismo d'azione e efficacia terapeutica" funded by Sapienza University
.
2008-2010: National Coordinator of the PRIN Project: “Structure-function relationships and mechanism of action of natural and synthetic antimicrobial peptides in the defence against antibiotic-resistant pathogens and lipopolysaccharide-induced shock”.

2008-2009: Principal Investigator of the Project " Natural antimicrobial peptides and their synthetic analogs: mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy" funded by Sapienza University

2011: Principal Investigator of the Project " Development of new host-defence like peptides and lipopeptides against lung pathogens: in vitro and in vivo studies" funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2012: Principal Investigator of the Project "Development of short-sized native peptides and their synthetic analogues for the treatment of mucosal surfaces-associated infections " funded by Sapienza University

2013: Principal Investigator of the Project " Antimicrobial peptides as novel strategies for treatment of lung bacterial infections and development of inhalable dry podwers" funded by Sapienza University

2014: Principal Investigator of the Project “Fighting microbial infections: a multidisciplinary strategy to develop short-sized native peptide-based antimicrobials" funded by IIstituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti " (call 2013)

2014: of the Project " Development and preclinical testing of a novel antimicrobial peptide to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung infections " funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2014: Principal Investigator of the Project: "Derivatives of naturally-occurring peptides as novel drugs for treatment of P. aeruginosa lung infections: in vitro studies and preclinical testing” funded by Sapienza University

2016: Principal Investigator of the Project: “Derivatives of a naturally-occurring peptide for the development of a novel "antibiotic therapy" against bacterial lung infections” funded by Sapienza University

2017: Principal Investigator of the Project: "Frog skin-derived peptides for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection and bronchial epithelial repair: advanced in vitro and in vivo characterization and development of polymeric nanoparticles for lung delivery" funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. FFC 15/2017

2018: Principal Investigator of the Project “Development of novel peptide-based formulations and nano/bio-materials against pulmonary and ocular surface microbial infections” funded by Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti (2018-2020). Call 2018

2019: Principal Investigator of the Project FFC 8/2019 "Antimicrobial peptides from amphibian skin for treatment of lung pathology in cystic fibrosis: advanced in vitro and in vivo functional characterization", funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2019-21)

2019: Principal Investigator of the Project Title:Amphibian skin-derived peptides as novel tools against drug-resistant respiratory microbial and viral strains in elderly and cystic fibrosis patients skin-derived peptides as novel tools against drug-resistant respiratory microbial and viral strains in elderly and cystic fibrosis patients, funded by Sapienza

2021: Principal Investigator of the Project "Unravelling esculentin peptides for new therapeutic strategies against pulmonary bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis" funded by Sapienza University (3 years)

2022: PI of the Project funded by Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti "Small multifunctional membrane-active peptides to tackle drug-resistant respiratory and wound infections: advances in delivery systems and in vivo efficacy" (2022-2023). Call 2020.

2022: PI of the Project FFC4/2022 "Esculentin-derived peptides as novel therapeutic agents with antimicrobial and CFTR potentiator activities to address cystic fibrosis lung disease" funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2022: PI of the Project "Peptide-based therapeutic strategies to overcome antibiotic resistance in lungs " funded by Sapienza University (2 years)

PARTICIPANT TO THE FOLLOWING MAIN PROJECTS
-Partecipazione al Progetto FILAS RU-2014-1020 dal titolo 'Piattaforma di sistemi cellular eucarioti per l'espressione di proteine eterologhe e per lo screening tossicologico di interferenti alimentari, microambientali e bioattivi'.
dal 29-07-2015 al 29-07-2017

-Progetto Partenariato PE13 (PNRR) Emerging Infectious diseases. Title: "One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases". PI: Prof. Alessandra Torre Sapienza. Funder: Italian Ministry of University and Research. Co-PI Spoke 3: Prof. Alessandra Carattoli. PE13321852BEB81FF. FROM 2022 to 2025

-Rome Technopole “Advances and automated innovation labs for diagnostic and therapeutic biopharma solutions”. PI: Prof. Cristina Limatola. Co-PI Prof. Bruno Botta. RT72218451D366F5. FROM 2022 to 2025

INVITED SPEAKER IN CONFERENCES

(i) The V Gordon Research Conference on Antimicrobial Peptides, Ventura CA. USA 2005 Title: “Temporins, Potent leishmanicidal peptides on both promastigote and amastigote stages”
(ii) The 2nd International Congress Natural Peptides to drugs, Zermatt, Switzerland, 2006. Title: Short-host defence peptides from frog skin”
(iii) The 51st Annual Meeting of the American Biophysical Society, Baltimore, MD, USA, 2007. Title: “Short and unique membrane-active antimicrobial peptides from frog skin”
(iv) The VI Gordon Research Conference on Antimicrobial Peptides, Barga (Lu) Italy, 2007. Title: "A synergistic effect between temporins controls bacterial resistance due to lipopolysacharide layer"
(v) The 1st Italy-Korea Symposium on Antimicrobial Peptides, Gwangju-Korea, July 2008. Title: “Short leishmanicidal and antibacterial membrane-active peptides from frog skin”
(vi) The First International Workshop on Antimicrobial Peptides, Cagliari, Italy, September 2009. Title: “Temporins, esculentins and bombinins H: host-defence peptides from amphibian with potent antimicrobial activities and synergistic effects”
(vii) The 455th Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-Seminar on Biophysics of Membrane-Active Peptides, Bad Honnef, April 2010. Title: “Antimicrobial Peptides of the Temporin Family: Features, Biological Activities and Membrane-Interactions”
(viii) New Antimicrobial Workshop, New Compounds and Strategies for Antimicrobials. Trieste, May 2012. Title: “Short membrane-active peptides from amphibian skin to fight microbial pathogens”
(ix) 56th National Meeting of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chieti (Italy). September 2012. Title: “A lesson from amphibian skin for the development of new anti-infective agents”
(x) The IX Gordon Research Conference on Antimicrobial Peptides, Ventura (LA), CA, USA, 2013. Title:"Fighting microbial infections: membrane-active peptides isolated from amphibian skin"
(xi) International Regulatory Peptide Society, Rouen, France, 2016. Title: “Esculentin-1a(1-21) and its diastereomer: frog skin-derived peptides with anti-Pseudomonal activities”
(xii) Boulder Peptide Symposium”. Boulder, Colorado (USA)- September 25-28, Title:“Derivatives of the Frog Skin Peptide Esculentin-1a with Promising activity Against Infections Induced by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa”
(xiii) Cost Action CM1407, 5th MC/WG, Malta, March, 1-2, 2018. Title: “How to struggle Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated infections? A lesson from the amphibian skin-derived peptide Esculentin(1-21) and its diastereomer”.
(xiv) World Ophthalmology Congress 2018, Barcelona, Spain. June, 16-19. Title: “Esculentin-1a derived Peptides: Promising anti-Pseudomonal Drugs for the Development of Antimicrobial Contact Lenses”
(xv) Cost Action CM1407, Tenerife, December 13-14, 2018. Title: “Esculentin-1a derived peptides: Potential new drugs to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection?
(xvi) Gordon Research Conference on Antimicrobial Peptides, il Ciocco, (Lucca), 24 Febbraio-1 marzo 2019. Titolo: How to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia ? A lesson from the amphibian skin derived peptide Esculentin(1-21) and its diastereomer”
(xvii) European Peptide Symposium, Sitges (Barcelona), Spain, 28 August-September 2, 2022. Title: Esculentin-1a derived diastereomers to address Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis: from nature to bench towards therapeutic application.
(xviii) 7 International Antimicrobial peptides Symposium, Paris, France, 7-9 Novembre, 2022. Title: Bioactive peptides from Esculentin-1a: from discovery towards nanotechnology strategies to prevent and treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung and ocular surface infections
(xix) 46th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Vienna, Austria. 7-10 Giugno. Title: Esc peptides: novel therapeutic agents with dual potentiator and antimicrobial activity
(xx) XVIII Iberian Peptide Meeting, Sesimbra Portugal, 27-29 Novembre. Title: Esc Peptides for Novel Therapeutics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung and Ocular Surface Infections: Beyond Antimicrobial Activity

Speaker in other conferences (selection for oral communication):

(i)The 30th European Peptide Symposium, Helsinki, Finland, September 2008. Title: “Synergism Between Temporins in Killing of Gram-negative bacteria and in Neutralizing LPS Activation of Macrophages”
(ii) The 3rd International Conference on Antimicrobial Research, Madrid, Spain, 2014. Title: “A frog skin-derived antimicrobial peptide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced mucosal infections”
(iii) Institut Pasteur International Network. From Basic Science to Biomarkers & Tools in Global Health. Scientific Symposium, Paris, November 29th-December 2nd, 2016. Title: “Frog-skin derived peptides: are they new weapons against Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced infections ?”
(iv) XV Congress of the Italian Federation of Life Sciences (FISV), Rome, 18th-21st September, 2018. Title: “How to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia? A lesson from derivatives of the amphibian skin peptide esculentin-1a”

INVITED MEMBER OF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FOLLOWING CONFERENCES:
2010: First International Conference on Antimicrobial Research (November, 3-5), Valladolid (Spain).
2012: Second International Conference on Antimicrobial Research (November, 21-23), Lisbon (Portugal)
2018: V International Conference on Antimicrobial Research (May, 24-25), Torremolinos Málaga (Spain)
2018: 35th European Peptide Symposium (August, 26-31) Dublin (Irland)
2019: International 9th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP) Utrecht University, The Netherlands August 28 - 30, 2019
2019: 9th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (August 28-30), Utrech, The Netherlands
2020: Italian Peptide Symposium (online)
2022: Chair of the Italian Peptide Symposium (June 15), Naples
2023: 10th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (September 6-8), Trieste
2023: Chair of ItPS Scientific Day, Firenze, September 23

INVITED CHAIR OF THE FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES:
2006: 2nd International Congress Natural Peptides to drugs, 18-21 April, Zermatt, Swizerland.
2012: 2nd New Antimicrobials Workshop, 25,-26 May, Trieste.
2014: The 3rd International Conference on Antimicrobial Research, October 1-3, Madrid, Spain
2018: 35° European Peptide Symposium (August 26-31), 2018, Dublin
2019: 9th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (August 28-30), Utrech, The Netherlands
2023: 10th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (September 6-8), Trieste

INVITED LECTURER FOR A MASSIVE ONLINE COURSE (MOOC) BY PASTEUR INSTITUTE (PARIS, FRANCE)
2017: Lecture on “Antimicrobial Peptides” for the MOOC on “Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases”. This MOOC targets people (medical students, scientific Master, PhD students and all scientists) with a medical or scientific training background who are interested in all aspects of innate immunity https://www.fun-mooc.fr/courses/course-v1:+96004+session01/about

INVITED GUEST FOR SEMINARS ABROAD
(i) “Frogs make short peptides with antibacterial and antiparasitic activity. The importance of a D amino acid” - Karolinska Institutet (MTC), May 5th, 2000, Stockholm- Sweden.
(ii) Daily Seminars on antimicrobial peptides and teaching lessons to PhD students on the methods used for the determination and characterization of their antimicrobial activity. September 21-26th 2002, University of Brasilia, Brasil.
(iiii) “Frog skin peptides in the antimicrobial defence mechanisms”. University of L’Aquila, July, 5th, 2006-Aquila.
(iv) “Temporins: short membrane-active peptides from frog skin with anti-infective and anti-endotoxin properties. May 7th, 2009-Karlsruhe University,
(v) “Antimicrobial Peptides from frog skin: novel anti-infective agents with expanding properties”. June 10, 2011-Potsdam. The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT (from 9th to 11 june)
(vi) "Amphibian Skin Peptides: potential candidates for the development of new anti-infective agents" April 16, 2014-Manchester. Stopford Building, University of Manchester Medical School (15th-18 th April)
(vii) “Efficacy of Esculentin peptides against Pseudomonas-induced pneumonia and keratitis” University of Graz (7th-10th October, 2018)
(viii) Title: “Unraveling small bioactive peptides: from nature to bench towards therapeutic applications”, April 28, University of Brasilia (2021)
(ix) Title: A lesson from amphibian skin antimicrobial peptides and derivatives for new therapeutic application. European School of Medicinal Chemistry, Urbino 28 June-July 1st (2021)

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
(i) The Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (since 1997); (ii) The European Peptide Society (since 2012); (iii) The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), since 2004; (iv) The American Chemical Society (ACS) since 2005; (v) The American Microbiology Society (2014-2016); (vi) Italian Peptide Society since 2016

MEMBER OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OF THE ITALIAN PEPTIDE SOCIETY
2016-2022: http://www.italianpeptidesociety.it/it/organizzazione

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ITALY AT THE EUROPEAN PEPTIDE SOCIETY (EPS COUNCIL) SINCE 2018

MEMBER OF THE SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN PEPTIDE SOCIETY SINCE 2023

ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN PEPTIDE SOCIETY FOR THE 4 YEARS PERIODS 2022-2026 https://www.italianpeptidesociety.it/it

PATENTS
2018 US patent n. 10059752 (28.08.2018). Esculentin 1A derivatives and uses thereof. Inventors: McDermott and Mangoni. Ownership: Sapienza and Houston Universities (50%) https://www.uniroma1.it/it/brevetto/us201414506383
• Continuation in Part n. US10751440(B2) (25.08.2020)
• Divisional patent n. US11110195(B2) (09.07.2021)

2021 Patent N. 102019000018938 (27.9.2021). Title: Use of esculentin for use in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Inventors: MANGONI and FERRERA. Ownership: Sapienza University; Fondazione per la Ricerca sulla Fibrosi cistica - onlus and Istituto G. Gaslini. Ownership: Sapienza University (50%); Fondazione per la Ricerca sulla Fibrosi cistica - onlus (25%) and Istituto G. Gaslini (25%).
• PCT: WO 2021/074025 (22.04.2021) pending

EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES
2009-2012: EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER of “Open Journal of Biochemistry” and “World Journal of Biological Chemistry”
2015-2019: EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER of “Current Protein & Peptide Science”
2018-present: EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER of “Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes”
2015-present: ASSOCIATE EDITOR of “Frontiers in Chemistry, Section Chemical Biology”,
2015-2017: SECTION EDITOR of Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes
2019-present SECTION EDITOR of “Antibiotics” section “Antimicrobial Peptides”
2019-present SECTION EDITOR of “Current Protein & Peptide Science”
2019-present SECTION EDITOR of “Protein and Peptide Letters”

INVITED GUEST EDITOR
2009 for a special issue on “Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptides”, published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes vol. 1788, issue 8
2011 for a “Multi-Author Review” on “Host-defence peptides: from biology to therapeutic strategies” published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences vol. 88 issue 13
2016 for a special issue on “Antimicrobial Peptides in Medicinal Chemistry: Advances and Applications" published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry” vol 16 issue 1
2019 for a special issue on “Peptide nanomaterials for drug delivery applications” to be published in Current Protein and Peptide Science” (CPPS-2019-HT8-668-X, in progress)
2020 For a special issue on “Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian” Antibiotics
2021 For a special issue on “Secondary Metabolites and Peptides as Unique Natural Reservoirs of New Therapeutic Leads for Treatment of Cancer and Microbial Infections” to be published in Frontiers, section Chemical Biology