MICHELA TOZZI

PhD Student

PhD program:: XXXIX
email: michela.tozzi@iss.it
building: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina molecolare, Edificio 3
room: 3

supervisor: Laura Bracci
advisor: Laura Bracci
co-supervisor: Alessia Fabbri

Research: Elucidating the pro-carcinogenic mechanisms of E.coli CNF1 toxin

My doctoral research focuses on characterizing the pro-tumorigenic effects of the bacterial toxin CNF1 (Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1), produced by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli. Through both in vivo and in vitro experimental models, I investigate the biological impact of CNF1 and the molecular mechanisms through which it contributes to tumorigenesis.
In parallel, my work explores the potential protective role of a polyphenol-rich extract derived from olive oil. By evaluating its effects in vitro and in vivo, I aim to determine whether this polyphenolic mixture can counteract the CNF1-induced tumorigenic activity. Overall, the project seeks to enhance our understanding of CNF1-driven tumorigenesis and to identify natural compounds capable of mitigating its harmful effects.

Research products

11573/1756042 - 2025 - Isolation and phenotype analysis of tissue-resident lymphocytes from mouse colon

Fiore, A.; Tozzi, M.; Rinzo, P.; Macchia, D.; Spada, M.; Fabbri, A.; Bracci, L. - 01a Articolo in rivista

paper: METHODS IN CELL BIOLOGY (Academic Press Incorporated:6277 Sea Harbor Drive:Orlando, FL 32887:(800)543-9534, (407)345-4100, EMAIL: ap@acad.com, INTERNET: http://www.idealibrary.com, Fax: (407)352-3445) pp. 187-199 - issn: 0091-679X - wos: (0) - scopus: 2-s2.0-105000347968 (0)

11573/1756051 - 2025 - The bacterial toxin CNF1 accelerates colorectal cancer progression and metastatic spread

Laterza, Ilenia; Tozzi, Michela; Angela Pia Germinario, Elena; Travaglione, Sara; Fiore, Alessia; Gambardella, Lucrezia; Rossi, Stefania; Michelini, Zuleika; Cara, Andrea; Maroccia, Zaira; Tomasoni, Sofia; Verin, Ranieri; Leoni, Omar; De Luca, Gabriele; Spada, Massimo; Khoueiry, Rita; Herceg, Zdenko; Biffoni, Mauro; Bracci, Laura; Fabbri, Alessia - 04f Poster

conference: 10° ACC annual meeting-New technologies and strategies to fight cancer (Verona)

book: Alleanza Contro il Cancro (ACC) - ()

11573/1756043 - 2025 - E. Coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 promotes colorectal carcinogenesis by causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and intestinal permeability alteration

Tozzi, Michela; Fiore, Alessia; Travaglione, Sara; Marcon, Francesca; Rainaldi, Gabriella; Angela Pia Germinario, Elena; Laterza, Ilenia; Donati, Simona; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Leoni, Omar; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Pietraforte, Donatella; Tomasoni, Sofia; Torrigiani, Filippo; Verin, Ranieri; Matarrese, Paola; Gambardella, Lucrezia; Spadaro, Francesca; Carollo, Maria; Pietrantoni, Agostina; Carlini, Francesca; Panebianco, Concetta; Pazienza, Valerio; Colella, Filomena; Lucchetti, Donatella; Sgambato, Alessandro; Sistigu, Antonella; Moschella, Federica; Guidotti, Marco; Vincentini, Olimpia; Maroccia, Zaira; Biffoni, Mauro; De Angelis, Roberta; Bracci, Laura; Fabbri, Alessia - 01a Articolo in rivista

paper: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH (London : BioMed Central) pp. - - issn: 1756-9966 - wos: WOS:001409654400001 (6) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85217272611 (6)

11573/1756053 - 2025 - Extra-virgin olive oil polyphenols extracted by a “green chemistry” approach hold promising antitumor effects against colorectal cancer: implications for cancer chemoprevention

Tozzi, Michela; Rinzo, Paola; Mattioli, Roberto; Moschella, Federica; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Pietraforte, Donatella; Donati, Simona; Rossi, Stefania; Laterza, Ilenia; Maroccia, Zaira; Leoni, Omar; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Tomasoni6, Sofia; Verin, Ranieri; Panebianco, Concetta; Pazienza, Valerio; Mosca, Luciana; Fabbri, Alessia; Bracci, Laura - 04f Poster

conference: ACC - Alleanza contro il cancro (Verona)

book: ACC - ()

11573/1756046 - 2025 - Evaluation of the antitumor effects of extra-virgin olive oil phenolic compounds extracted by a novel “green” chemistry approach: focus on oxidative genotoxic stress and inflammation

Tozzi, Michela; Rinzo, Paola; Mattioli, Roberto; Moschella, Federica; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Pietraforte, Donatella; Laterza, Ilenia; Maroccia, Zaira; Leoni, Omar; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Tomasoni, Sofia; Verin, Ranieri; Mosca, Luciana; Panebianco, Concetta; Pazienza, Valerio; Fabbri, Alessia; Bracci, Laura - 04f Poster

conference: SIICA- Società Italiana Immunologia, Immunologia Clinica e Allergologia (Perugia)

book: SIICA - ()

11573/1756049 - 2024 - The bacterial toxin CNF1 drives CRC progression though the induction of cellular senescence and stemness features

Laterza, Ilenia; Angela Pia Germinario, Elena; Fiori, Micol E.; Fiore, Alessia; Tozzi, Michela; Maroccia, Zaira; Travaglione, Sara; Bracci, Laura; Fabbri, Alessia - 04f Poster

conference: 36° AICC International Meeting 2024 HIJACKING THE <> PATHWAYS: CANCER, IMMUNITY AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES (Roma)

book: Associazione Italiana colture cellulari (AICC) - ()

11573/1756047 - 2024 - The bacterial toxin CNF1 as a driver of progression in colorectal cancer: a preclinical study

Laterza, Ilenia; Angela Pia Germinario, Elena; Tozzi, Michela; Travaglione, Sara; Fiore, Alessia; Khoueiry, Rita; Herceg, Zdenko; Gambardella, Lucrezia; Maroccia, Zaira; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Bracci And Alessia Fabbri, Laura - 04f Poster

conference: 9° ACC annual meeting-New technologies and strategies to fight cancer (Reggio Emilia)

book: Alleanza Contro il Cancro (ACC) - ()

11573/1756048 - 2024 - CNF1 from E. coli favors colorectal cancer development and progression

Tozzi, Michela; Fiore, Alessia; Laterza, Ilenia; Rinzo, Paola; Donati, Simona; Travaglione, Sara; Angela Pia Germinario2, Elena; Leoni, Omar; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Tomasoni, Sofia; Verin, Ranieri; Colella, Filomena; Lucchetti, Donatella; Sistigu, Antonella; Maroccia, Zaira; Fabbri And Laura Bracci, Alessia - 04f Poster

conference: AICC- Associazione Italiana Colture Cellulari (Roma)

book: AICC - ()

11573/1756052 - 2024 - CNF1 toxin from E.coli induces oxidative DNA damage, intestinal permeability and colorectal neoplasia in vivo

Tozzi, Michela; Fiore, Alessia; Travaglione, Sara; Rainaldi, Gabriella; Laterza, Ilenia; Donati, Simona; Gambardella, Lucrezia; Marcon4, Francesca; Pietraforte, Donatella; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Vincentini, Olimpia; Spadaro, Francesca; Carollo, Maria; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Tommasoni, Sofia; Verin, Ranieri; De Angelis, Roberta; Fabbri And Laura Bracci, Alessia - 04f Poster

conference: ACC - Alleanza contro il cancro (Reggio Emilia)

book: ACC - ()

11573/1726532 - 2023 - Unravelling the role of cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 from E. coli in colorectal carcinogenesis: a preclinical study

Fiore, Alessia; Travaglione, Sara; Tozzi, Michela; Pietraforte, Donatella; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Marcon, Francesca; Donati, Simona; Germinario, Elena; Carlini, Francesca; Leoni, Omar; Torrigiani, Filippo; Verin, Ranieri; Spada, Massimo; Macchia, Daniele; Fabbri And Laura Bracci, Alessia - 04f Poster

conference: XIV National Congress SIICA 2023 (Verona)

book: XIV National Congress SIICA 2023 - ()

11573/1726315 - 2022 - Exploring the tumor-promoting potential of the Escherichia coli toxin CNF1: a preclinical study”

Fiore, Alessia; Travaglione, Sara; Tozzi, Michela; Pietraforte, Donatella; Cristina Quattrini, Maria; Spada, Massimo; Macchia, Daniele; Bracci And Alessia Fabbri, Laura - 04f Poster

conference: 7TH ANNUAL MEETING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES TO FIGHT CANCER (Roma)

book: 7 th annual meeting new technologies and strategies to fight cancer - ()