Invertebrate biology

The research activity is focused on different aspects of insect development and physiology for the development of biotechnological applications. The main topics addressed are 1) the use of dipteran larvae for the bioconversion of organic waste and protein production for feedstuff and development of biomaterials; 2) the identification of molecules for the development of bio-inspired strategies for the control of pest insects; and 2) the study of cell death processes during metamorphosis in holometabolous insects.
Another line of research is conducted on in vivo and in vitro models of Metazoans in the following areas: 1) study and characterization of cells and molecules involved in innate immune response in annelids; 2) study of the basic mechanisms of cell differentiation and molecular regulation of tissue regeneration in annelids and cnidarian; 3) amyloidogenesis and innate immune response in annelids.
 
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Find us: Campus Bizzozero; Via Dunant, 3; 21100 Varese; blue floor

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Keywords: Circular economy; Development; Innate immunity; Insect biotechnology; Invertebrates; Regeneration

ERC panels: LS3_7 Cell death and autophagy; LS9_1 Applied biotechnology; LS8_2 Biodiversity, conservation biology, conservation genetics; LS6_1 Innate immunity in animals and plants; LS3_1 Morphology and functional imaging of cells and tissues

Collaborations: Università degli Studi di Milano; Università degli Studi di Padova; Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”; Politecnico di Milano; KU Leuven; Cairo University; South China Agricultural University; Università degli Studi di Palermo; Università degli Studi di Bologna; Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, University of Lille; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; University of Pecs; Aarhus University.