Alice Anzalone
Tutor: Vittoria Catara
2018-2021: PhD course in Biotechnology, XXXIII Cycle, University of Catania. Research project: “Selection of endophytic bacterial communities, genes and secondary metabolites for the sustainable production of greenhouse tomatoes”. Supervision: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara.
The project aims to acquire the basis for biotechnological interventions on the tomato microbiome in order to improve the growth conditions, the resistance to stress and the characteristics that lead to the formation of the general product quality with a view to sustainable agriculture that is attentive to the protection of the environment and the consumer.
The specific objectives refer to the selection of bacteria able to colonize tomato plants endophytically, which act as biostimulants, biofertilizers and / or biological control agents and to the development of a model system for the analysis by NGS techniques of traceability and profile of the microbiota of tomato plants, from seed to cultivation, in soil and soil less.
15/03/2019 - 15/09/2019: Training of six months as visiting PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology Technology University of Graz, Austria. Supervisor: Prof.ssa G. Berg. Research activity: Study and evaluation of the evolution of endophytic bacterial communities of tomato roots during the plant production process, and its formation under different cultivation conditions. Preparation of DNA samples from seed, soil, rhizosphere and endosphere of nursery plants, and from rhizosphere and tomato endosphere in different phenological phases. Analysis of bacterial and fungal communities of DNA samples by metagenomic approach with NGS technology.
2017 - 2018: Postgraduate Internship, University of Catania, Department of Agriculture food and Environment, Phytobacteriology laboratory. Supervision: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara. Research activity: Molecular diagnosis of plant pathogen using Real-time PCR, end point PCR and ELISA.
2015 - 2017: Master’s Degree in Agricultural Biotechnology, Department of Agriculture food and Environment, University of Catania. Supervisor: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara. Degree thesis: “Citronellol as Quorum-Quencing agent in the fight against bacterial diseases of plants"; Final mark: 110/110 e lode.
2014 - 2016: Master’s Degree in Food Science and Technology, University of Catania. Supervisors: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara. Degree thesis: "Study of the mechanisms of action of a Pseudomonas fungal antagonist strain in post-harvest rot"; Final mark: 110/110 e lode.
2016 - 2017: GRADUATED STUDENT assistant, Internship, University of Catania – Department of Agriculture food and Environment, Phytobacteriology laboratory. Supervision: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara.
2011-2014: Bechelor’s Degree in Food Science and Technology, Univeristy of Catania. Supervisor: Prof.ssa Vittoria Catara. Degree thesis: “Mycotoxicological risks in the pistachio supply chain". Final mark: 110/110.
From 26/11/2018 to 30/11/2018: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) Grant for the participation at the practical and theoretical course “Translational aspects of plant microbiome research”, ICGEB, Trieste 26-30 November 2018.
From 2/07/2018 to 6/07/2018: Summer School on “Emerging pests and disease in horticultural crops: innovative solutions for diagnosis and management” as part of the H2020 project EMPHASIS, held at AGRINNOVA, Grugliasco 2-6 Jule 2018.
September 2018: “Young Research Award” - Italian Phytopathological Society (SIPaV). Selected for a short oral presentation with the contribute “Pseudomonas corrugata genome mining reveals a LuxR ‘solo’ with a role in virulence in tomato. Ancona, 5-7 September 2018
2005-2010: Classical maturity, High School “Enrico Medi”, Randazzo (CT)
- Anzalone, A., Guardo, M. Di, Bella, P., Ghadamgahi, F., Dimaria, G., Zago, R., Catara, V. (2021). Bioprospecting of Beneficial Bacteria Traits Associated With Tomato Root in Greenhouse Environment Reveals That Sampling Sites Impact More Than the Root Compartment. Front. Plant Sci.12, 1–17. doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.637582.
- Licciardello, G., Caruso, A., Bella, P., Gheleri, R., Strano, C. P., Anzalone, A., Trantas, A. T., Sarris, P. F., Almeida, N. F., Catara, V. (2018). The LuxR regulators PcoR and RfiA co-regulate antimicrobial peptide and alginate production in Pseudomonas corrugata. Front. Microbiol. 9, 521. doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00521.
- Anzalone, A., Bergna, A., Dimaria, G., Di Guardo, M., Mosca, A., Leonardi, C., Berg, G., Catara, V. (2021). Comunità batteriche e fungine del pomodoro: dal vivaio alla serra, in suolo e fuori suolo. Congress of XIII Giornate scientifiche SOI, I traguardi di agenda 2030 per l’ortoflorofrutticoltura Italiana, Catania, Italy 22-25 June 2021.
- Bella, P., Musumeci, S., Treccarichi, S., Anzalone, A., Catara, V., Branca, F. (2021). Exploitation of Brassica oleracea complex species (n=9) for increasing the resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in the related crops. Congress of Breeding and seed sector innovations for organic food systems (EUCARPIA), 8-10 March 2021.
- Anzalone, A., Bergna, A., Di Guardo, M., Dimaria, G., Leonardi, C., Berg, G., Catara, V. (2020). Beneficial bacteria communities from the tomato seed and root endosphere. Congress of Young Scientists for Plant Health , Web Workshop (SIGA-SEI-SIBV-SIPAV), 16 December 2020, Poster Communication Abstract ISBN 978-88-944843-1-1.
- Anzalone, A., Bella, P., Bergna, A., Cirvilleri, G., Catara, V. (2019). Microbial diversity of root-associated bacteria in tomato plants grown in the greenhouse environment. Congress of 5th International Conference on Microbial Diversity, Catania, Italy 25-27 September 2019. Book of abstract 326-327.
- Anzalone, A., Bella, P., Bergna, A., Cirvilleri, G., Catara, V. (2019). Identification and characterization of tomato root bacterial endophytes for integrated disease control program. Congress of the XXV Congress of the Italian Phytopathological Society (SIPaV), Milan, Italy, September 16-18, 2019. J. Plant Pathol. 101, 81. doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00394-4.
- Aiello, D., Vitale, A., Contarino, G., Anzalone, A., Catara, V., Cirvilleri, G., (2019). Evaluation of antibacterial products for the control of Xanthomonas pv. perforans in organic tomato farming. Congress of the 4th International Symposium on Biological Control of Bacterial Plant Diseases, Viterbo, Italy 9-11 July. J. Plant Pathol. 101, 873.2019. doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00395-3.
- Anzalone, A., Bella, P., Cirvilleri, G., Catara, V. (2019). Set up of a collection of tomato root-associated bacteria for the biological control of bacterial disease. Congress of the 4th International Symposium on Biological Control of Bacterial Plant Diseases, Viterbo, Italy 9-11 July 2019. J. Plant Pathol. 101, 871. doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00395-3.
- Anzalone, A., Licciardello, G., Strano, C.P., Bella, P., Bertani, I., Venturi, V., Catara, V. (2018). Pseudomonas corrugata genome mining reveals a Luxr ‘Solo’ with a role in virulence in tomato. (Selection a oral presentation and Poster). Congress of the XXIV Congress of the Italian Phytopathological Society (SIPaV), Ancona, Italy, 5-7 September 2018. J. Plant Pathol. 100, 615. doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0130-y.
- Caruso, A., Anzalone, A., Gurrieri, L., Provenzano, S., Bella, P., Palmeri, R., Catara, V., Licciardello, G. (2017). Antimicrobial activity of plant natural compounds against phytopathogenic bacteria and interference with quorum sensing. Congress of the 15th Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, (Plant Health Sustaining Mediterranean Ecosystems), Cordoba, Spain 20-23 June 2017. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 56 , (2): 185-186.
- “Young Research Award” - Italian Phytopathological Society (SIPaV). Selected for a short oral presentation; free registration at the conference and three-year inscription at SIPaV,
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) Grant for the participation at the practical and theoretical course “Translational aspects of plant microbiome research”.