Daria NICOLOSI

2025 – present: Lecturer in Microbiology and Biotechnology for Environmental Sustainability – Bachelor’s Degree Program in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2024 – present: Lecturer in Microbiology – Master’s Degree Program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology.

2024 – present: Lecturer in Microbiology – Bachelor’s Degree Program in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2024 – present: Member of the Joint Student–Staff Committee, Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania.

2022 – present: Associate Professor – Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania.

2019 – present: Lecturer in Microbiology – Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy.

2017 – present: Scientific Director and Co-Founder – NaCTUre (UniCT Spin-off).

2020 – 2024: Member of the Quality Assurance Group – Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy.

2020 – 2023: Operational Coordinator of the Catania Unit for the project “AAA: SAFE SOS” – Studies on novel antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor molecules.

2019 – 2023: PRIN 2017 Principal Investigator of an Operating Unit – Characterization of bioactive peptides from insects for biomedical applications.

2010 – 2022: Tenured Researcher – Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.

2014 – 2019: Member of the Quality Assurance Group – Bachelor’s Degree Program in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2013 – 2019: Lecturer in Microbiology – Bachelor’s Degree Program in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2006 – 2009: Research Fellowship – Study on bacterial epidemiology and antibiotic resistance.

2003 – 2009: National Project “Severe Infections” – Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) – Head of the laboratory of the Reference Center for Southern Italy for microbiological surveillance of severe infections.

2002 – 2006: PhD in Microbiological Disciplines – University of Catania.

2002: Master’s Degree in Pharmacy – University of Catania.

·         Worku AT, Sciarretta A, Guarnieri A, Falcone M, Brancazio N, Minwuyelet A, Cutuli MA, Atenafu G, Nicolosi D, Colacci M, Yewhalaw D, Di Marco R, Petronio Petronio G. Microbial gatekeepers: midgut bacteria in Aedes mosquitoes as modulators of arboviral transmission and targets for sustainable vector control. Front Microbiol. 2025 Sep 9;16:1656709. PMID: 41030555. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1656709.

·         Di Naro M, Petronio Petronio G, Mukhtar F, Cutuli MA, Magnifico I, Falcone M, Brancazio N, Guarnieri A, Di Marco R, Nicolosi D. Extracellular Vesicles in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes: Mechanisms of Inter-Kingdom Communication and Clinical Implications. Microorganisms. 2025 Mar 11;13(3):636. PMID: 40142528. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030636.

·         Mukhtar F, Guarnieri A, Brancazio N, Falcone M, Di Naro M, Azeem M, Zubair M, Nicolosi D, Di Marco R, Petronio Petronio G. The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exosomal miRNAs in host pathogen cross-talk as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Front Microbiol. 2024 Aug 8;15:1441781. PMID: 39176271. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1441781.

·         Guarnieri A, Venditti N, Cutuli MA, Brancazio N, Salvatore G, Magnifico I, Pietrangelo L, Falcone M, Vergalito F, Nicolosi D, Scarsella F, Davinelli S, Scapagnini G, Petronio Petronio G, Di Marco R. Human breast milk isolated lactic acid bacteria: antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity on the Galleria mellonella burn wound model. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Sep 6;14:1428525. PMID: 39310784. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1428525.

·         Petronio Petronio G, Di Naro M, Venditti N, Guarnieri A, Cutuli MA, Magnifico I, Medoro A, Foderà E, Passarella D, Nicolosi D, Di Marco R. Targeting S. aureus Extracellular Vesicles: A New Putative Strategy to Counteract Their Pathogenic Potential. Pharmaceutics. 2024 Jun 11;16(6):789. PMID: 38931910. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060789.

·         Awoke Minwuyelet, Giulio Petronio Petronio, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Andrea Sciarretta, Irene Magnifico, Daria Nicolosi, Roberto Di Marco, Getnet Atenafu. Symbiotic Wolbachia in mosquitoes and its role in reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases: updates and prospects. Front Microbiol. 2023 Oct 13:14:1267832. PMID: 37901801. PMCID: PMC10612335. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1267832. 

·         Nicolosi D, Petronio Petronio G, Russo S, Di Naro M, Cutuli MA, Russo C, Di Marco R. Innovative Phospholipid Carriers: A Viable Strategy to Counteract Antimicrobial Resistance. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Nov 3;24(21):15934. PMID: 37958915. doi: 10.3390/ijms242115934.

·         Genovese C, Garozzo A, D'Angeli F, Malfa GA, Bellia F, Tomasello B, Nicolosi D, Malaguarnera R, Ronsisvalle S, Guadagni F, Acquaviva R. Orobanche crenata Forssk. Extract Affects Human Breast Cancer Cell MCF-7 Survival and Viral Replication. Cells. 2022 May 19;11(10):1696. PMID: 35626733. doi: 10.3390/cells11101696.

·         Laura Pietrangelo, Irene Magnifico, Giulio Petronio Petronio, Marco Alfio Cutuli, Noemi Venditti, Daria Nicolosi, Angelica Perna, Germano Guerra, Roberto Di Marco. A Potential “Vitaminic Strategy” against Caries and Halitosis Appl. Sci.2022, 12(5), 2457;https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052457.

·         Genovese C, D'Angeli F, Bellia F, Distefano A, Spampinato M, Attanasio F, Nicolosi D, Di Salvatore V, Tempera G, Lo Furno D, Mannino G, Milardo F, Li Volti G. In Vitro Antibacterial, Anti-Adhesive and Anti-Biofilm Activities of Krameria lappacea (Dombey) Burdet & B.B. Simpson Root Extract against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Apr 13;10(4):428. PMID: 33924336. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10040428.

·         D'Angeli F, Guadagni F, Genovese C, Nicolosi D, Trovato Salinaro A, Spampinato M, Mannino G, Lo Furno D, Petronio Petronio G, Ronsisvalle S, Sipala F, Falzone L, Calabrese V. Anti-Candidal Activity of the Parasitic Plant Orobanche crenata Forssk. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Nov 9;10(11):1373. PMID: 34827311. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10111373.

·         D'Angeli F, Malfa GA, Garozzo A, Li Volti G, Genovese C, Stivala A, Nicolosi D, Attanasio F, Bellia F, Ronsisvalle S, Acquaviva R. Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Juglans regia L. Pellicle Extract. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Feb 4;10(2):159. PMID: 33557378. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10020159.

·         Acquaviva R, D'Angeli F, Malfa GA, Ronsisvalle S, Garozzo A, Stivala A, Ragusa S, Nicolosi D, Salmeri M, Genovese C. Antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of walnut pellicle extract (Juglans regia L.) against coagulase-negative staphylococci. Nat Prod Res. 2021 Jun;35(12):2076-2081. PMID: 31397177. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1650352.

·         Carlo Genovese, Floriana D'Angeli, Francesco Attanasio, Gaetano Caserta, Kevin Sebastiano Scarpaci, Daria Nicolosi. Phytochemical composition and biological activities of Orobanche crenata Forssk.: a review Nat Prod Res. 2021 Nov;35(22):4579-4595. PMID: 32162541. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1739042.

·         Carlo Genovese, Luana Pulvirenti, Nunzio Cardullo, Vera Muccilli, Gianna Tempera, Daria Nicolosi, Corrado Tringali. Bioinspired benzoxanthene lignans as a new class of antimycotic agents: synthesis and Candida spp. growth inhibition. Nat Prod Res 2020 Jun;34(12):1653-1662. PMID: 30422685. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1525375. 

·         Castracani CC, Longhitano L, Distefano A, Anfuso D, Kalampoka S, La Spina E, Astuto M, Avola R, Caruso M, Nicolosi D, Giallongo C, Tibullo D, Volti GL. Role of 17beta-Estradiol on Cell Proliferation and Mitochondrial Fitness in Glioblastoma Cells. J Oncol. 2020 Feb 14;2020:2314693. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32148493. doi: 10.1155/2020/2314693.

·         Nicolosi D, Genovese C, Cutuli MA, D'Angeli F, Pietrangelo L, Davinelli S, Petronio Petronio G, Di Marco R. Preliminary in Vitro Studies on Corynebacterium urealyticum Pathogenetic Mechanisms, a Possible Candidate for Chronic Idiopathic Prostatitis? Microorganisms. 2020 Mar 25;8(4):463. PMID: 32218312. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8040463.

·         Daria Nicolosi, Diana Cinà, Concettina Di Naso, Floriana D’Angeli, Mario Salmeri, Carlo Genovese. Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in a Referral Center in South Italy: A Surveillance Study. Open Microb. J. 2020 May. doi: 10.2174/1874285802014010091.

·         Davinelli S, Nicolosi D, Di Cesare C, Scapagnini G, Di Marco R. Targeting Metabolic Consequences of Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by D-chiro-inositol and Emerging Nutraceuticals: A Focused Review. J Clin Med. 2020 Apr 2;9(4):987. PMID: 32252239. doi: 10.3390/jcm9040987.

·         La Rosa GRM, Gattuso G, Pedullà E, Rapisarda E, Nicolosi D, Salmeri M. Association of oral dysbiosis with oral cancer development. Oncol Lett. 2020 Apr;19(4):3045-3058. Epub 2020 Mar 3. PMID: 32211076 doi: 10.3892/ol.2020.11441.

·         Genovese C, D'Angeli F, Di Salvatore V, Tempera G, Nicolosi D. Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women: serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns over five years in Eastern Sicily (Italy). Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;39(12):2387-2396. Epub 2020 Jul 22. PMID: 32700131. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-03992-8.

·         Genovese C, Acquaviva R, Ronsisvalle S, Tempera G, Antonio Malfa G, D'Angeli F, Ragusa S, Nicolosi D. In vitro evaluation of biological activities of Orobanche crenata Forssk. leaves extract. Nat Prod Res. 2020 Nov;34(22):3234-3238. Epub 2019 Jan 23. PMID: 30672323. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1552697.

·         Vivarelli S, Falzone L, Basile M, Nicolosi D, Genovese C, Libra M, Salmeri M. Benefits of using probiotics as adjuvants in anticancer therapy (Review). World Acad. Sci. J. 2019 Jun;3:125-135. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2019.13

·         Genovese C, Davinelli S, Mangano K, Tempera G, Nicolosi D, Corsello S, Vergalito F, Tartaglia E, Scapagnini G, Di Marco R: Effects of a new combination of plant extracts plus d-mannose for the management of uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infections. J Chemother. 2018 Apr;30(2):107-114. PMID: 29078739. doi: 10.1080/1120009X.2017.1393587

·         Genovese C, Corsello S, Nicolosi D, Aidala V, Falcidia E, Tempera G: Alterations of the vaginal microbiota inthe third trimester of pregnancy and pPROM. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016; 20: 3336-3343. PMID: 27608890

·         Nicolosi D, Cupri S, Genovese C, Tempera G, Mattina R, Pignatello R: Nanotechnology approaches for antibacterial drug delivery: Preparation and microbiological evaluation of fusogenic liposomes carrying fusidic acid. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2015 Jun;45(6):622-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2015.01.016. PMID: 25816979. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2015.01.016

·         Daria Nicolosi, Gianna Tempera, Carlo Genovese and Pio M. Furneri: Anti-Adhesion Activity of A2-type Proanthocyanidins (a Cranberry Major Component) on Uropathogenic E. coli and P. mirabilis Strains. Antibiotics 2014, 3(2), 143-154. PMID: 27025740. PMCID: PMC4790394. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics3020143

·         V. Rapisarda, A. Marconi1, S. Candido, D. Nicolosi, M. Salmeri, P. Gangemi, L. Proietti, D. A. Spandidos, M. Bracci, C. Fenga, M. Libra: A tailored health surveillance program unveils a case of MALT lymphoma in an HCV-positive health-care worker. Oncology Letters 2013, vol. 5: 651-654. PMID: 23420489. PMCID: PMC3573080. doi: 10.3892/ol.2012.1028

·         G. C Leonardi, S. Candido, M. Cervello, D. Nicolosi, F. Raiti, S. Travali, D. A. Spandidos, M. Libra: The tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (Review). International Journal of Oncology 2012, vol. 40: 1733-1747. PMID: 22447316. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1408

·         G. Blandino, G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi: Susceptibility of molecularly characterized hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates to dalbavancin. Journal of Chemotherapy 2011, Vol 23 n. 5: 306-307. PMID: 22005065. doi: 10.1179/joc.2011.23.5.306

·         F. Campanile, S. Borbone, M. Perez, D. Bongiorno, V. Cafiso, T. Bertuccio, S. Purrello, D. Nicolosi, C. Scuderi, S. Stefani: Heteroresistance to glycopeptides in Italian meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (November) 2010, Vol. 36 n. 5: 415-419. PMID: 20727722. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.06.044

·         G. Tempera, S. Corsello, C. Genovese, F. E. Caruso, D. Nicolosi: Inhibitory activity of cranberry extracts on the bacterial adhesions in the urine of women: an ex-vivo study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (April-June) 2010, Vol. 23 n. 2: 611-618. PMID: 20646356. doi: 10.1177/039463201002300223

·         D. Nicolosi, M. Scalia, V. M. Nicolosi, R. Pignatello: Encapsulation in fusogenic liposomes broadens the spectrum of action of vancomycin against gram-negative bacteria. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (June) 2010, Vol. 35 n. 6: 553-558. PMID: 20219328. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.01.015

·         G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi, G.M. Rossolini, S. Stefani: Intra-abdominal infections: etiology, epidemiology, microbiological diagnosis and antibiotic resistance. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Suppl. 1 (Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for Intra-abdominal Infections): 5-11. PMID: 19622445. doi: 10.1179/joc.2009.21.Supplement-1.5

·         M.L. Mezzatesta, F. Gona, G. Marchese, D. Nicolosi, M.A. Toscano, S. Stefani, G. Nicoletti: Cefditoren versus community-acquired respiratory pathogens: time-kill studies. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Vol. 21 n. 4: 378-382. PMID: 19622454. doi: 10.1179/joc.2009.21.4.378

·         G. Tempera, A. Mangiafico, C. Genovese, E. Giudice, S. Mastrojeni, D. Nicolosi, P.M. Furneri: In vitro evaluation of the synergistic activity of neomycin-polymyxin B association against pathogens responsible for otitis externa. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 2009, 22(2): 299-302. PMID: 19505383. doi: 10.1177/039463200902200206

·         D. Nicolosi, V. M. Nicolosi, A. Cappellani, G. Nicoletti, G. Blandino: Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of uncommon bacterial species causing severe infections in Italy. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Vol. 21 n. 3: 253-260. PMID: 19567344. doi: 10.1179/joc.2009.21.3.253

·         A.M. Lo Bue, R. Di Marco, I. Milazzo, D. Nicolosi, G. Calì, B. Rossetti, G. Blandino: Microbiological and clinical periodontal effects of fixed orthodontic appliances in pediatric patients. New Microbiologica 2008, 31(2): 299-302. PMID: 18623999

·         M.L. Mezzatesta, G. Trovato, F. Gona, V.M. Nicolosi, D. Nicolosi, A. Carattoli, G. Fadda, G. Nicoletti, S. Stefani: In vitro activity of tigecycline and comparators against carbapenem-susceptible and resistant Acinetobacter baumannii  clinical isolates in Italy. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2008, 7:4. PMID: 18261233. PMCID: PMC2275293. doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-7-4

·         G. Nicoletti, G. Schito, G. Fadda, S. Boros, D. Nicolosi, A. Marchese, T. Spanu, A. Pantosti, M. Monaco, G. Rezza, A. Cassone, E. Garaci for the CIGAR (Gruppo Cooperativo Infezioni Gravi ed Antibiotico Resistenza): Bacterial isolates from severe infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Italy: a nationwide study in the hospital setting. Journal of Chemotherapy 2006 Vol. 18 n. 6: 589-602. PMID: 17267336. doi: 10.1179/joc.2006.18.6.589

·         G. Tempera, G. Abbadessa, G. Bonfiglio, E. Cammarata, A. Cianci, S. Corsello, A. Raimondi, G. Ettore, D. Nicolosi, P.M. Furneri: Topical kanamycin: an effective therapeutic option in aerobic vaginitis. Journal of Chemotherapy 2006 Vol. 18 n. 4: 409-414. PMID: 17024797. doi: 10.1179/joc.2006.18.4.409

·         G. Blandino, A.M. Lo bue, I. Milazzo, D. Nicolosi, G. Calì, V. Cannavò, B. Rossetti: Comparison of systemic flurithromycin therapy and clinical procedures in the treatment of periodontal diseases. Journal of Chemotherapy 2004 Vol. 16 n. 2: 151-155. PMID: 15216949. doi: 10.1179/joc.2004.16.2.151

 

 

My scientific activity focuses on the identification and characterization of compounds of natural origin, with potential applications in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Initially, I investigated the pharmacological potential of species already used in traditional medicine: the root of Krameria lappacea counteracts clinical MRSA isolates; Orobanche crenata inhibits phenotypic switching in Candida, exerting a protective effect on host cells and suggesting the prospect of therapies that combine infection treatment with support for tissue repair processes. My research has also included the study of a frequently overlooked natural resource: by-products, such as the pellicles of Juglans regia kernels, which have shown significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor activity.

The transition from the Department of Biomedical Sciences to the Department of Drug and Health Sciences offered me the opportunity to broaden and redefine my research lines, in line with the Department’s strategic vision and with an integrated One Health approach.

My activity then shifted toward microorganism–host interactions and communication mechanisms, with the aim of identifying new pharmacological strategies for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. Of particular interest to me are those microbes that, through complex biological interactions, are able to influence the onset and spread of infections. An example is my work on the microbiota of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, which contributes to determining their ability to transmit arboviruses responsible for Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. This research envisages microbiota manipulation as a sustainable and innovative strategy for the control of insect-borne diseases and as an alternative or complement to the use of insecticides.

In parallel, my interest has developed in microbial communication mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs), once considered cellular waste but now recognized as sophisticated carriers of biological information, capable of transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids and of influencing the behavior of interacting cells. As such, EVs represent promising innovations in both therapeutic and diagnostic fields.

Finally, I am currently conducting research on the antibacterial and immunostimulatory potential of beneficial microorganisms, particularly lactobacilli isolated from human milk, for the treatment of complex infections such as those associated with burns. Through alternative and highly sustainable preclinical models, I investigate their effects on the control of opportunistic pathogens and on the modulation of the host’s innate immune response. One line of investigation is dedicated to skin infections and inflammatory skin diseases, in which I have explored the role of S. aureus EVs in damaging the epidermal barrier and exacerbating inflammatory conditions. Biomolecules derived from C. acnes appear capable of reducing cytotoxicity and virulence in pathogenic strains, suggesting the possibility of limiting antibiotic use in favor of approaches based on modulation of the skin microbiota.

What unites the different areas of my research is a vision of Microbiology centered on the role of microorganisms as mediators and regulators of complex biological processes, with particular attention to implications for public health and infection control. The ultimate goal is to identify new intervention strategies that go beyond the classical therapeutic approach, considering the microbial ecosystem as a key player in disease prevention and control. This perspective clearly reflects the One Health paradigm, recognizing the importance of the relationship between human, animal, and environmental health and proposing sustainable approaches for the management of global health emergencies.