New availability for an experimental thesis at DEB – Dr. Claudia Coleine

A new experimental thesis opportunity is available at the Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Mycology starting from December 2024. The experimental thesis, focusing on the topic “Multi-omic investigations into the transmissibility of the human microbiome under spatial confinement conditions at the Italian station in Antarctica,” is part of the “Antarctic-ome” project, funded by the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA). The thesis work involves the isolation and molecular identification of microbial species through genomic DNA analysis from environmental samples collected at the Italian Antarctic base Mario Zucchelli, under conditions of spatial confinement and extreme environments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating Shotgun Metagenomics data from human samples (fecal, oral, and skin material) with those obtained from environmental Culturomics analyses and additional field anthropological investigations, we aim to uncover the characteristics and dynamics underlying the transmissibility of the human microbiome among the volunteers of the Mario Zucchelli Station expedition. Furthermore, our results will provide valuable insights for future space exploration missions, where it is crucial to determine the mutualistic relationship between humans and their microbiome under the unique environmental conditions imposed by space travel.

For more information, please contact Dr. Claudia Coleine at coleine@unitus.it or Dr. Federico Biagioli at fbiagioli@unitus.it.