RESEARCHER
maurilia.monti(AT)ipsp.cnr.it
06.4993.27824
publications: Orcid
personal details and activity: People
Curriculum Vitae
During my working career I have focused my research to different fields of research, but all related to the application of biotechnologies in agricultural field.
I started my research with plant genetic transformation, working on recalcitrant (hazelnut) and horticulture (tomato) and floriculture (Lilium spp and Petunia hybrida) plants, applying both traditional (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and with innovative transformation techniques (biolistic). Still in the field of transgenic plants, I followed one of the first experiments in the open field in Italy, to evaluate resistance to CMV (Cucumber Mosaic Virus) of tomato plants genetically transformed with a benign satellite of CMV, and the environmental risk associated with this strategy.
In entomology, I have been working on
-Molecular characterization and phylogeny of entomoparasitoid hymenoptera, and invasive quarantine insects, through the use of techniques such as RAPDs, RFLP-PCR, and analysis of hypervariable sequences (28S, COI and ITS2)
– Molecular characterization, through the analysis of variable regions of the ribosomal 16S (both with sequencing and with the DGGE technique) and other genes (multilocus approach) of endosymbionts responsible for alterations in reproduction in hymenoptera entomoparasitoid
-Identification of genes and metabolic processes involved in the degradation of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) in Drosophila melanogaster through microarrays analysis, to deepen the aspects related to the degradation of xenobiotic molecules and a possible application in the field of bioremediation.
In plant pathology, I am interested on molecular characterization of plant pathogens and biocontrol agents of fungal origin.
Finally, recently, with the acquisition by IPSP institute of PTR-MS TOF (Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry) for in vivo real time detection of Volatile Organ Compounds I have been characterizing VOC profiles produced in the multitrophic interactions between plants and microorganisms (beneficial and pathogenic).
Project Leader for: Adaptation mechanism of insect holobiont toward xenobiotics and its application to novel pentachlorophenol biodegradation systems