ASSOCIATE
publications: Orcid
personal details and research activity: People
Curriculum Vitae
Graduated in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Turin, I have always focused my academic and research path on the study of Xylella fastidiosa, initially investigating the bacterium itself and subsequently concentrating on its main insect vector.
Since 2022, I have been conducting research on Philaenus spumarius (meadow spittlebug), the primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe. In particular, I have focused on the detailed study of the insect’s reproductive biology, with specific attention to ovarian and embryonic dormancy phenomena, as well as the oviposition phase.
During my research activities, I have used gene expression analysis of specific target genes as markers of ovarian development, also assessing the insect’s fecundity under different environmental conditions.
Initially as a research fellow and currently as a PhD student, I have continued working on Philaenus spumarius with the aim of developing sustainable control strategies. In this context, my research focuses on the study of egg parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi as potential biological control agents of the vector. Furthermore, I collaborate on a research project aimed at evaluating the effects of infection by Wolbachia pipientis, a reproductive manipulator bacterium, on Philaenus spumarius populations.