BIO-MEMORY

The project is organized in 3 main activities:

1) Implementation and updating of the BioGenRes network of biobanks, with a focus on nationally/internationally recognized collections of animal, plant or microorganism species samples (animal and plant germplasm banks, microbial strain libraries of pathogenic/toxigenic organisms, nematodes, soil and water microflora and microorganisms used in agro-industry and food (e.g. microbial starters for fermentations)).

2) Replication (rejuvenation) and expansion of material stored in collections. For plant and microbial collections: multiplication of accessions for which a small amount of material is available and rejuvenation of accessions whose seed viability data are below the expected standards (> 85%). For animal collections of zootechnical interest: collection and freezing of genetic material of local breeds to complete sampling carried out in previous projects or expansion of the number of species and breeds stored in cryobanks.

3) Biochemical, molecular, metabolic, functional and phenotypic characterization of the material conserved in the biobanks of the BioGenRes network, also in order to carry out association studies and to identify markers associated with traits linked to production and/or adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors.

PRIN AGRITECH (SPOKE 1) - Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes

Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes

The resilience of agricultural and forest ecosystems under stressful conditions generated by climate change requires the enhancement and exploitation of genetic resources through state-of-the-art conservation strategies, combined with in-depth genome characterization and high-throughput phenotyping.

Activities include large-scale sequencing of accessions/breeds/strains, extensive marker-based genome descriptions, elucidation of the (pan)genome, deep phenotyping, and multi-omics characterization.

The resulting information, processed through advanced methods for the analysis, interpretation, archiving, and management of complex data, will highlight superior alleles/haplotypes, identify beneficial interactions across a variety of conditions, and define conservation units.

SMART-BREED - Innovative molecular technologies for the adaptation of horticultural species to climate change through precision breeding

The project aims to develop innovative molecular technologies to study the effects of genetic variability and use this information to accelerate the breeding of new resilient varieties that maintain their productive and typical characteristics in variable and extreme environmental conditions. Since genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) are the main targets on which the processes of adaptation of the genotype to the environment naturally act, the project will focus, as a “proof of concept”, on transcription factors with a proven role in the response of shade avoidance and in the flowering induction response.

Aims. To innovate the traditional agricultural sector through the use of advanced technologies that allow the preservation and valorization of the agricultural biodiversity.

Results. Development of innovative molecular tools for the genetic improvement and adaptation of vegetable species belonging to the Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae families through precision breeding and biotechnology.

Partnership: CNR, Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari (CNR-IBPM);  CREA, Centro di Ricerca Genomica e Bioinformatica (CREA-GB), Unit of Rome.

PNRR AGRITECH (SPOKE 8) - CIRCULAR ECONOMY in AGRICULTURE THROUGH WASTE VALORIZATION and RECYCLING

The research activity carried out at IBBA is part of Task 8.1.2 ‘Valorisation of waste through biotechnological processes to obtain high-value molecules or new products’ and focuses on the exploitation of photosynthetic organisms, such as microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella vulgaris) and duckweeds (Lemna minor, Lemna gibba) for the treatment of dairy wastewaters coupled with the production of biomasses that can be valorised for their protein content and high added-value compounds.

The project also envisages the metagenomic characterisation of microbial consortia associated with the photosynthetic organisms during wastewater treatment and the isolation and characterisation of local microalgal strains from the dairy plant washing waters.

PRIN 2022 PNRR FUN METALS - Fungal interaction with metals: transformation and mechanisms for biorecovery

This project aims to fill some knowledge gaps on the interaction mechanisms between fungi and these rare metals and metalloids.

FUN METALS intends to investigate how fungi can mobilise these elements, accumulating or translocating them, or in which forms they can be compartmentalised in the fungal cells. The project aims to investigate which transformations those metals might undergo by fungal action.

The results will provide new insights into the physicochemical and biochemical mechanisms involved in the interaction between fungi and rare metals. These findings will stimulate new ideas for biotechnological applications to recover these elements from industrial and electronic waste.

NUTRAGE - Nutrition, Diet & Active Aging

With a multidisciplinary approach, Nutrage aims to promote solutions and strategies for active and healthy aging, which have significant implications for the future, well-being, and social cohesion of the country. Evidence suggests that nutrition plays a key role in promoting the prevention and delaying the onset of major aging-related diseases. Therefore, the project intends to develop new foods with high nutritional value, new dietary regimens, and specific personalized nutrition programs, and to promote new pathways to support the health, well-being, and safety of the most vulnerable populations. The specific objectives of the project are:

• Development of agri-food (bio)technologies
• Development of new foods with high health value
• Green technologies for the extraction and stabilization of biocompounds
• Identification of early biomarkers
• Innovative strategy for active and healthy aging
• Integrated analysis of the physiopathological bases of aging
• Food culture and education