National Research Council of Italy

Institute of Biosciences and BioResources

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Alessandra Rogato

Role: Senior Researcher
Section: Researchers and Technologists
Division: Naples
Tel: (39) 081-6132410
E-mail: alessandra.rogato@ibbr.cnr.it

curriculum vitae

Education

2007: PhD in Advanced Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
2002: Degree (Master) in Biotechnological Science, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Professional affiliations and memberships

March 2016- to today: Associate Research at the Department of Integrative Marine Ecology Stazione Zoologica “A. Dohrn”, Naples, Italy

November 2018 to November 2024: Qualified for the position of Associate Professor 05/A1 (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale Bando 2016 (DD n. 1532/2016) (from 06.11.2018 to 06.11.2024).

November 2018 to November 2024: Qualified for the position of Associate Professor in 05/A2 (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale Bando 2016 (DD n. 1532/2016) (from 05.11.2018 to 05.11.2024).

Synopsis of research activity

June-July 2014: Visiting Scientist at the Laboratory of Dr. Assaf Vardi at Weizmann Institute of Science. Rehovor, Israel. CNR Short Term Mobilty Fellow

November 2011- May 2012: Visiting Scientist at the Laboratory of Dr Angela Falciatore, Dep Diatom Functional Genomics Team,Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology (LCQB), UMR 7238 Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS- UPMC, Paris, France.

2010-2011: CDD chercheur (chercheur à durée déterminée) at Laboratoire de Génomique des Microorganismes/Diatom Functional Genomics Team UMR 7238 Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS-UPMC, Paris, France. AXA Research Fund, Post-Doctoral Fellowship

2010: Visiting Scientist at the Laboratory of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hess. Department: Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, University of Freiburg, Germany. Two months

2008-2010: Post-Doctoral research, Stazione Zoologica “A. Dohrn”, Naples, Italy

2007-2008: Post-Doctoral research, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, ABT, CNR, Naples, Italy

June-July 2007 Visiting Science as PhD: at Arterra Bioscience, Naples an Italian research-based biotech company with a strong know-how in biological science and an extensive experience in drug discovery.

2003-2006: PhD training, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, ABT, CNR, Naples, Italy. 2002-2003: Post graduated training Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, ABT, CNR, Naples, Italy 2001-2002: Master training at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy.

1999: Erasmus fellowship for developing a research project conducted at the Department of Plant Biotechnologies, Institute Supérieur Agricole de Beauvais, France.

Research interests

Major objective of my research is to identify and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the ecological success of photosyntetic organisms and their capacity for handling different adaptative solutions in order to succeed in a variable environment. In this context, examples of environmental adaptations are the ones that take place in the marine diatoms, which display a suite of sophisticated responses (physiological, biochemical, and behavioral) to optimize their photosynthesis and growth under changing conditions. Marine diatoms are prominent microalgae in the contemporary oceans, several evidences indicated that diatoms dispose of a suite of sophisticated responses to optimize their photosynthesis and growth under changing conditions. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling diatom responses are still largely unknown. I’m trying to integrate genomic and genetic resources, with well-established physiological and biophysical approaches, to characterize light and nutrient regulated processes in diatoms.

I’m mainly focusing on the pathways of uptake and assimilation of N sources and, on the role played by ammonium and nitrate transporters as sensors of the external N conditions in diatoms and in legume plants as well. In addition, I’m involved in a project aiming at deciphering the biogenesis and function of the diatoms silica cell wall (known as the frustule) and exploring his potential physical, optical and biotechnological applications. This is of fundamental importance in the understanding of the interactions of the living cell with the external environment.

Teaching

26 September 2019 European Biotech Week. Lectures title “Molecular secrets from the oceans: marine diatoms”

10 October 2018 Course in Environmental Science for PhD students, University of NaplesFederico II. Lectures title “Molecular secrets from the oceans: marine diatoms”

2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 Course of Marine Microbial Biodiversity, University of Naples Federico II. Lectures on the Biology and Genomics of Diatoms

26 September 2016 European Biotech Week. Lectures title “Molecular secrets from the oceans: marine diatoms”

04 February 2015 La scuola va al CNR Titolo: I piccoli sistemi modello, perchè e come studiarli.

01 March 2014 Lecture “Segreti molecolari dal fondo degli oceani: genetica e genomica funzionale delle diatomee marine" Founded by Italian Ministry of Research and Education (MIUR) PON02_2007-2013 (GenHORT). University of Naples Federico II, Italy

18 September 2013 Course of "Signal trasduction" for PhD students Open University of London UK at the Stazione Zoologica "A. Dohrn" Napoli.

November 2010 UE NB213: "Biologie du développement des Plantes" M2, Master BIP, UPMC (1er semestre - 6 ECTS). “Light Sensing in the Ocean”

October 2002: In collaboration with the Italian Institute for Philosophical Studies at the secondary school "G. B. Vico " Nocera Inferiore-SA. Italy "Teaching the Science: Practical
Demonstration of an Experimental Model”

Partecipation and Organization of Courses and Workshops

August 2021 4th European Nitrogen Fixation Conference (ENFC), Naples- Italy, Organizing Committee

22-26 March 2021 12th International Phycological Congress IPC2021. Selected Speaker

27-31 July Pant Biology Worldwide Summit (attended by Dr Antonella Longo) Selected Poster categories: Genes & Genomes: Molecular Evolution/Comparative Genomics (corresponding author). DOI: 10.46678/PB.20.1053010

21-24 November 2019: Futuro Remoto 2019Fondazione IDIS - Città della Scienza, Naples

14-18 July 2019: EMBO Workshop “The Molecular Life of Diatoms” Paris, France, Selected Poster (corresponding author)

12-14 June 2019 Riunione annuale dei gruppi di lavoro SBI, Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare Biotecnologie e Differenziamento, Naples, Italy, Selected Speaker

7-9 June 2017: Workshop “Bringing Maths to Life”. Naples- Italy, Scientific Organiser

9-10 October 2016: Futuro Remoto 2016 Fondazione IDIS - Città della Scienza, Naples I marcatori biologici del cambiamento climatico https://www .cnr.it/it/evento/14732.

19-21 October 2015: Workshop “Bringing Maths to Life”. Naples- Italy, Scientific Organiser

27-29 October 2014: Workshop “Bringing Maths to Life”. Naples- Italy, Scientific Organiser

03 November 2014: Futuro Remoto 2014 Fondazione IDIS - Città della Scienza, Naples, Titolo "Alla scoperta dei segreti degli oceani: le alghe, polmone blu del pianeta Terra" http://www.cittadellascienza.it/futuroremoto/2014/ Invited Speaker

25-28 June 2013: EMBO Workshop “The Molecular Life of Diatoms” Paris, France, Selected Speaker

24-27 September 2012 XII° FISV Congress - Università di Roma "Sapienza" - Roma, Italy http://fisv2012.azuleon.org/programme.php Selected Speaker

July 2012: GerIta Dialogue “Next Generation Sequencing - Application cases and bioinformatics development”, Naples, Italy

9-11 October 2009: EMBO Workshop Evo-Devo meet Marine Ecology, New Frontiers in Ocean Science through Integrative Biology. Sant’Angelo d’Ischia, Italy, EMBO POSTER PRIZE, awarded for outstanding poster presentation

7-11 November 2005: Integral workshop on qRT-PCR. Max Planck Institute, Golm, Germany
1-5 July 2004 Congress VIth European Nitrogen Fixation Conference, Toulouse, France.

Fellowship conferred from the advisory board of the conference. Membership to scientific societies

2013 to present. Member of the Italian Society of Plant Biology/ Società Italiana di Biologia Vegetale (SIBV)

Students’ Supervision

Student’s supervisor of five master students and one PhD student

1. Anna Santin TODAY PhD Student, Open University of London (Co-supervisor with M.I. Ferrante) Tentative Title: “Nitrate sensing and uptake in diatoms: from molecular evolution to functional characterization”

2. Carmela Borzacchiello, Graduated in 2019, Master Student in Biology, University of Naples FedericoII Title: “Characterization of the nitrate transporters in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum: a molecular and functional study.”

3. Anita Ariante, Graduated in 2018, Master Student in Biology, University of Naples FedericoII (Co-supervisor with M. Chiurazzi) Title: “Functional characterization of the gene LjNPF4.1 in the model legume Lotus japonicus”

4. Lidia Duplice, Graduated in 2016, Master Student in Biology, University of Naples FedericoII. Title: “Caratterizzazione di due putativi trasportatori del nitrato nella pianta leguminosa modello Lotus Japonicus e analisi del loro possibile ruolo nel processo di simbiosi con Mesorhizobium loti”.

5. Carmen Marangoni, Graduated in 2011, Master Student in Biology, ERASMUS Fellowship, University of Verona (Co-supervisor with A. Falciatore). Title: “Analisi dei Meccanismi di Fotoprotezione nella Diatomea Marina Phaeodactylum tricornutum”

6. Maria Grazia Adelfi, Graduated in 2009, Master Student in Biology, University of Naples Federico II (Co-supervisor with A. Falciatore). Title: “Modulation of gene expression in diatoms by RNA interference”.

Principal collaborations:

Dr. Maurizio Chiurazzi, Institute of BioSciences and BioResources, IBBR-CNR Napoli, Italy

Dr. Maria I. Ferrante, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Integrative Marine Ecology Department,Napoli, Italy

Dr. Daniele Iudicone, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Integrative Marine Ecology Department Napoli, Italy

Dr. Maurizio Ribera D’Alcalà, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn,Integrative Marine Ecology Department Napoli, Italy

Prof. Tomas Morosinotto, Associate Professor in Biochemistry at the Biology Department at the University of Padova.

Dr. Angela Falciatore,UMR7141 CNRS-Sorbonne Université (Directrice), Biologie du chloroplaste et perception de la lumière chez les microalgues, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France

Dr. Antonella Longo, BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.

Dr. Edoardo De Tommasi, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, ISASI-CNR Napoli, Italy

Dr. Johan Gielis, University of Antwerp, Department of Bioengineering. Antwerp, Belgium

Referee Activity:

Reviewer for grants and international journals such as: National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences Australian Antarctic Division Science Program, Marine Biotechnology, BMC Genomics, Molecular Biotechnology, Algal Research, Marine Genomics, Journal of Applied Phycology, Plos One, Water, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Scientific Reports, Journal of Phycology, Applied Sciences, Journal of Marine Research, Marine Drugs (reviewer board; https://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/submission_reviewers), Applied Science (reviewer board: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/submission_reviewers). Review Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science, for the Plant Symbiotic Interactions Section.

Books and Journals edited

Spriger Book 2016: “Dynamics of Mathematical Models in Biology, Bringing Mathematics to Life” Editors: Alessandra Rogato, Valeria Zazzu and Mario R Guarracino, ISBN 978-3-319-45722-2

BMC Bioinformatics Special Issue “Proceedings of Bringing Maths to Life (BMTL) 2017”. Supplement Editors: Alessandra Rogato, Laura Antonelli, Vincenza Colonna ISSN: 1471-2105

Marine Drugs Special Issue, 2020 "Bioinformatics of Marine Natural Products" (ISSN 1660-3397).Guest Editors: Alessandra Rogato, Giovanna Romano

Editorial Board of Growth and Form (GAF) Atlantis Press (https://www.atlantis-press.com/journals/gaf/editorial-board). Area: Botany/Biology

FEMS Microbiology Letters Thematic Issue on “Biological Nitrogen Fixation: genes, organisms, ecosystems”. Editors: Alessandra Rogato; Alessio Mengoni; Roberto Defez; Marco Bazzicalupo; (in preparation, 2021)

Marine Drugs Special Issue, "Bioinformatics of Marine Natural Products 2.0". Guest Editors: Alessandra Rogato, Giovanna Romano (in preparation, 2021)

Publications

H-index from Web Google Scholar: 19

H-index from Web of Science: 17

Research articles: 24

Reviews: 5

  1. Anna S, Luigi C, Antonella L, Maurizio C, Maurizio R d’A, Teresa RM, Immacolata FM, Alessandra R*. 2021 Integrative-omics identification, evolutionary and structural analysis of low affinity nitrate transporters in diatoms, diNPFs. Open Biol. 11: 200395. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.20.0395 *corresponding author

  2. Rogato A. & De Tommasi E. “Physical, chemical, and genetic modification of diatom frustules for applications in nanotechnology". Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417) Special Issue entitled "New Frontiers in Diatom Nanotechnology". Manuscript ID: applsci-966343

  3. Valkov V., Sol S., Rogato A., Chiurazzi M. “The functional characterization of LjNRT2.4 indicates a novel, positive role of nitrate for an efficient nodule N2-fixation activity”. New Phytologist 2020 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16728

  4. Busseni G., Rocha Jimenez Vieira F., Amato A., Pelletier E., Pierella Karlusich J.J., Ferrante M.I., Winckerd P., Rogato, A., Bowler C.,Sanges R., Maiorano L., Chiurazzi M., Ribera d’Alcalà M., Caputi L., Iudicone D. “Meta-omics reveals genetic flexibility of diatoms nitrogen transporters in response to environmental changes”. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2019 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz157

  5. Lauritano C, Ferrante MI, Rogato A. * “Marine natural products from microalgae: an -omics overview”. Marine Drugs 2019, 17(5), 269; Cover of the issue *corresponding author

  6. Sol S., Totev Valkov V., Rogato A, Noguero M., Gargiulo L., Mele G., Lacombe B., “Disruption of the Lotus japonicus transporter LjNPF2. 9 increases shootbiomass and nitrate content without affecting symbiotic performances” BMC Plant Biology 2019, 19 (1), 1-14

  7. Rogato A., Del Prete S., Nocentini A., Carginale V., Supuran C.,Capasso C.“Phaeodactylum tricornutum as a model organism for testing the membrane penetrabilityof sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors”. Journal Of Enzyme Inhibition And Medicinal Chemistry, 2019 34 (1), 510-518
  8. Managò S., Zito G., Rogato A., Casalino M., Esposito E., De Luca A. C., De Tommasi E. “Bio-derived three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructures as efficient SERS substrates for cell membrane probing” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2018. 10, 15, 12406-12416
  9. De Tommasi E, Gielis J, Rogato A.* “Diatom Frustule Morphogenesis and Function: a Multidisciplinary Survey”Mar Genomics. 2017 19. pii: S1874-7787(17)30126-5. doi: 10.1016 Cover of the issue *corresponding author
  10. Lepetit B, Gélin G, Lepetit M, Sturm S, Vugrinec S, Rogato A, Kroth PG, Falciatore A, Lavaud J. “The diatom Phaeodactilum tricornutum adjusts nonphotochenical fluorescence quenching capacity in response to dynamic light via fine-tuned Lhcx and xanthophyll cycle pigment synthesis”. New Phytol. 2017 21. doi: 10.1111/nph.14337
  11. Valkov VT, Rogato A., Alves LM, Sol S, Noguero M, Léran S, Lacombe B, Chiurazzi M. “The nitrate transporter family protein NPF8.6 controls the N-fixing nodule activity.” Plant Physiol. 2017 pp.01187.2017.
  12. Taddei L*, Stella GR*, Rogato A*, Bailleul B, Fortunato AE, Annunziata R, Sanges R, Thaler M, Lepetit B, Lavaud J, Jaubert M, Finazzi G, Bouly JP, Falciatore A. “Multi-signal control of expression of LHCX protein family in marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum”. J. Exp. Bot. 2016, 67 (13), 3939-3951 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erw198 *co-first author in this publication
  13. Rogato A, Valkov Totev V, Alves L M, Apone F, Colucci G, Chiurazzi M. “Down-regulated Lotus japonicus GCR1 plants exhibit nodulation signalling pathways alteration.” Plant Sci. 2016; 247:71-82. doi: 10.1016
  14. Rogato A. *, A. Amato, D. Iudicone, M. Chiurazzi, M. I. Ferrante , M. Ribera d’Alcalà“The diatom molecular toolkit to handle nitrogen uptake”. Marine Genomics 2015; 24(1): 95-108 doi: 10.1016 *corresponding author
  15. D’Apuzzo E, Valkov VT, Parlati A, Omrane S, Barbulova A, Sainz MM, Lentini M, Esposito S, Rogato A, Chiurazzi M.”PII Overexpression in Lotus japonicus Affects Nodule Activity in Permissive Low-Nitrogen Conditions and Increases Nodule Numbers in High Nitrogen Treated Plants”. Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2015;28(4):432-42. doi: 10.1094
  16. Rogato A, Richard H, Sarazin A, Voss B, Cheminant Navarro S, Champeimont R, Navarro L, Carbone A, Hess WR, Falciatore A. “The diversity of small non-coding RNAs in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum” BMC Genomics 2014; 15(1): 698. DOI: 10.1186/1471- 2164-15-698
  17. Lepetit B, Sturm S, Rogato A, Gruber A, Sachse M, Falciatore A, Kroth P, Lavaud J “High light acclimation in the secondary plastids containing diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is triggered by the redox state of the plastoquinone pool”. Plant Physiol, 2013 3: p. 853-86511
  18. Depauw F, Rogato A, Ribera d’Alcalà M and Falciatore A. “Exploring the molecular basis of response to light in marine diatoms”. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2012 63(4):1575- 91.
  19. Bailleul B *., Rogato A*., de Martino A., Coesel S., Cardol P., Bowler C., Falciatore A. Finazzi G. “LHCX1 an atypical member of the LHCSR protein family, modulates diatoms response to light”Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 2010, 107: 18214-9 *co-first author in this publication
  20. Rogato A., D’Apuzzo E*., Barbulova A., Omrane S., Parlati A., Carfagna S., Costa A., Lo Schiavo F., Esposito S. and Chiurazzi M. “Characterization of a developmental root response caused by external ammonium supply in Lotus japonicus” Plant Physiology 2010, 0: pp.110.160309v1
  21. Rogato A., D’Apuzzo E. and Chiurazzi M. “The multiple plant response to high ammonium condition: the Lotus japonicus AMT1.3 protein acts as a putative transceptor”. Plant Signal Behav. 2010, Dec 1;5 (12)
  22. De Riso V., Raniello R., Maumus F., Rogato A., Bowler C. and Falciatore A. “Gene silencing in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricotnutum”. Nucleic Acids Res. 2009, 37(14):e96
  23. Coesel S., Mangogna M., Ishikawa T., Heijde M., Rogato A., Finazzi G., Takeshi T., Bowler C. and Falciatore A. “Diatom PtCPF1 is a new cryptochrome/photolyase family member with DNA repair and transcription regulation activity”. EMBO Rep. 2009, 10(6): 655-61
  24. Omrane S., Ferrarini A., D’Apuzzo E., Rogato A., Delledonne M. and Chiurazzi M.“Symbiotic competence in Lotus japonicus is affected by plant nitrogen status: transcriptomic identification of genes affected by a new signalling pathway”.New Phytol. 2009, 183(2):380-94
  25. Rogato A., D’Apuzzo E., Barbulova A., Omrane S., Stedel C., Rosin U. S.,Katinakis P., Flametakis M., Udvardi M., Chiurazzi M. “Tissue-specific down-regulation of LjAMT1;1 compromises nodule function and enhances nodulation in Lotus japonicus”. Plant Molecular Biology 2008, 68 (6):585-9
  26. Barbulova A., Rogato A., D’Apuzzo E., Omrane S., Chiurazzi M. “Differential effects of combined N sources on early steps of the Nod Factor-Dependent transduction pathways in Lotus japonicus”. Molecular Plant Microbe Interaction 2007, 20(8): 994-1003
  27. Barbulova A., D’Apuzzo E., Rogato A. and Chiurazzi M. “Improved procedures for in vitro regeneration and for phenotypical analysis in the model legume Lotus japonicus”. Functional Plant Biology 2005, 32: 529-536
  28. Ferraioli S., Tatè R., Rogato A., Chiurazzi M. and Patriarca E. J. “Development of ectopic roots from abortive nodule primordia”. Molecular Plant Microbe Interaction 2004, 17: 1043- 10
  29. D’Apuzzo E. *, Rogato A*., Simon-Rosin U., El Alaoui H., Barbulova A., Betti M., Dimou M., Katinakis P., Marquez A., Marini A.-M., Udvardi K. M. and Chiurazzi M.“Characterization of three functional high affinity ammonium transporter in Lotus japonicus with differential transcriptional regulation and spatial expression”. Plant Physiology 2004, 134: 1763-1774 *co-first author in this publication

Publications submitted and in preparation

30. Jaubert M., Duchêne C., Kroth PG, Rogato A, Bouly JP, Falciatore A. “Light and nutrient sensing pathways in marine diatoms” Submitted to Book The Molecular Life of Diatoms, Falciatore A. & Mock T. eds Springer Publisher

31. Russo, M.T., Rogato, A., Pannone R., Biffali E., Ferrante M.I., De Luca P., Borra M., Mauriello E., Falciatore, A. “Transgene localization in transformed Phaeodactylum tricornutum genome”.

Grants

  1. Project Title: Green and Circular Economy (GECE) project N.856, year 2019, funded by the Italian Ministry of University Education and Research (MIUR), Responsabile scientifico WP7 per IBBR “Nuove fonti alimentari da piante acquatiche e microalghe”

  2. Project Title: BIP BioIndustrial Processess: Founding source: Realizzazione della rete delle biotecnologie campane in attuazione delle azioni a valere e obiettivo operativo 2.1 del POR Campania 2007/2013

  3. Project Title: “Qualità delle produzioni tipiche campane ed il suo territorio: approcci innovativi ed integrati per rafforzare la competitività del sistema Agroalimentare QUARC”. Funding source: CAMPUS per Progetti di Ricerca Industriale e Sviluppo Sperimentale in attuazione degli obiettivi operativi 2.1 e 2.2. del programma operativo FESR Campania 2007/2013 - POR

  4. Project Title: “FaReBio di Qualità -Farmaci e reti Biotecnologiche di Qualità”. Funding source: Italian Ministry of Research and Education (MIUR)

 

Selected Publications

(full list available at CNR People)

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