CNR

National Research Council – CNR

Partner

The National Research Council (CNR) is the largest public research institution in Italy. CNR promotes innovation and competitiveness of the research system in Italy. Several CNR units harbour microbial collections with extreme interest for academic research and the bioindustry for biotechnological applications. 

The CNR-ISPA (Institute of Science Food Production) of Bari is an outstanding, internationally recognized Italian research centre engaged in the innovation and technology transfer for the improving of food quality and safety. The Institute holds one of the most important and ancient microbial culture collections (ITEM) of relevant interest for food production, food safety risk by contaminants and food pathogens. ITEM includes more than 14,000 microbial strains preserved belonging to various agro-food microorganisms (mainly fungi, yeast and bacteria), about 9,000t of them are available as public resources.

The CNR-IPSP (Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection), the most important Italian research group dedicated to plant protection in agriculture and forestry, hosts (in Torino headquarter and Bari) a collection (Plant Virus Italy, PLaVIT) of more than 1,000 isolates of plant viruses, viroids and phytoplasma originating from several countries and hosts and collected over the last 50 years, including heritage strains. 

PLAVIT and ITEM are members of the European Culture Collection Organization (ECCO) and the World Federation Culture Collection (WFCC). 

The CNR-IBBA (Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology) of Pisa, aiming at improving the sustainable agricultural production systems and food quality, hosts the microbial culture collection MLIP (Microbiology Lab IBBA Pisa). MLIP collection includes complex microbial communities derived from local soils and microorganisms derived from water, soil, food, and plant tissues (bacteria, microalgae, and fungi, both mycorrhizal and saprotrophs). 

The CNR-ICB (Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry) collection of Pozzuoli harbours an Extremophiles Collection (CE-ICB), that comprises archaea and bacteria microorganisms isolated in several extreme habitats, such as polar regions, salty lakes, geothermal soils, etc. ICB-CNR is mainly focused on chemical studies of microbial metabolism for the biotechnological development of sustainable bioprocesses.

The CNR-IRSA (Water Research Institute) in Verbania harbours a culture collection (MEGIC) dedicated to environmental microorganisms, with a focus on aquatic ecosystems. MEGIC includes mainly bacteria and fungi collected in freshwaters and marine environments, and type strains of picocyanobacterial of aquatic origins. Beside whole-genome sequencing, MEGIC focus on the characterization of proteomes and of melanin of microbial isolates. 

The CNR-ISA (Institute of Food Science) Culture Collection preserves approximately 300 strains of lactic acid bacteria and 400 strains of yeasts. The strains are primarily sourced from Mediterranean agricultural and food environments, including traditional fermented products such as sourdough, dairy products, wine, grapes, and cereals. Beyond preserving and characterising these microbial resources, CNR experts provide a range of services, such as strain isolation, genetic identification, molecular and biochemical analyses, as well as training courses. 

Beside characterization, valorisation and maintenance of microbial resources, the expertise of CNR staff also provide additional external services such as strain isolation, genetic identification, purification, molecular and biochemical analyses as well as training courses. 

Collection:

  • CNR-ISA Avellino ISACC – Institute of Food Science Culture Collection
  • CNR- IPSP Bari e Torino PLaVIT – Plant Virus Italy Culture Collection 
  • CNR-ISPA Bari ITEM – Agro Food Microbial Culture Collection 
  • CNR-IBBA Pisa MLIP – Microbiology Lab IBBA Pisa Culture Collection
  • CNR-ICB Pozzuoli CE-ICB – Extremophiles Collection – Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry 
  • CNR-IRSA Verbania MEGIC – MEG CNR-IRSA Verbania Culture Collection


Key people:

  • CNR-ISPA
  • Dr. Antonio Moretti.
    Director of Institute of Sciences of Food Production (CNR-ISPA) – Plant pathologist – mycologist involved in various European Projects on fungi, mycotoxins and food safety. 
  • Dr. Giancarlo Perrone.
    Senior Researcher at CNR-ISPA. Food mycologist/Plant pathologist. Expert in culture collection and preservation of filamentous fungi, food mycology, microbiology, He is the Scientific Responsible – Curator of ITEM Culture Collection at CNR-ISPA from 2015.
  • CNR-IPSP
  • Dr. Gian Paolo Accotto.
    Senior researcher of Sustainable Plant Protection (CNR-IPSP), involved in European and Italian projects on plant viruses.
  • Dr. Marina Ciuffo.
    Curator of the PLAVIT Collection IPSP -TO, plant virologist at CNR-IPSP, expert in plant virus isolation, characterization, and diagnosis.
  • Dr. Luisa Rubino.
    Curator of the PLAVIT Collection IPSP -BA, plant virologist, involved in European and Italian projects on plant viruses.
  • CNR-IBBA
  • Dr. Cristiana Sbrana.
    Senior researcher and head of CNR-IBBA Pisa Section. Agro-environmental microbiologist, expert in beneficial plant endophytes. Head and curator of MLIP Culture Collection.
  • CNR-ICB
  • Dr. Annarita Poli;
    Research Director at CNR-ICB Pozzuoli. Scientific Responsible and Curator of CE-ICB. Involved in many research projects on extremophilic microorganisms.
  • Dr. Ida Romano;
    Technician at CNR-ICB Pozzuoli. Co-curator of CE-ICB. Expertise in microbial taxonomy.
  • Dr. Ilaria Finore;
    Researcher at CNR-ICB Pozzuoli. Co-curator of CE-ICB. Responsible for extremophile biotechnological valorisation of CE-ICB, and set-up of bioprocesses.
  • Mr. Luigi Leone;
    Technician at CNR-ICB Pozzuoli. Responsible for storage process and strain quality control.
  • CNR-IRSA
  • Dr. Laura Garzoli.
    Senior Researcher at CNR-IRSA Verbania. Environmental mycologist, specialized in aquatic fungi. Head of MEGIC Culture Collection.
  • Dr. Ester M Eckert
    Senior Researcher at CNR-IRSA Verbania. Environmental microbiologist specialized on microbial interactions, food webs and their influence on antimicrobial resistance in the environment.  Coordinator MEGIC Culture Collection bacterial section.
  • Dr. Selene Chinaglia
    Post Doc at CNR-IRSA Verbania. curator of MEGic Culture Collection. Expertise in fungal taxonomy and ecology, and biodegradation assay 
  • Dr. Emanuele Ferrari
    Researcher at CNR-IRSA Verbania. Responsable for strains valorization through proteomic and melanins characterisation. 
  • CNR-ISA
  • Dr. Anna Reale
    Senior Researcher at CNR-ISA. Food microbiologist, specialized in the isolation, identification and characterization of microorganisms of food interest, alongside developing microbial-based strategies to improve the quality of traditional and novel fermented products. Coordinator of the ISACC (ISA collection), a curated collection of microbial strains significant to food research and biotechnology.
  • Dr. Tiziana Di Renzo
    Senior Researcher at CNR-ISA. Food microbiologist, specialized in the isolation and characterization of microorganisms from food, with a particular focus on microbial communities related to food safety, quality and fermentation. Her research supports the valorization of both traditional and novel food products.
  • Dr Alida Sorrentino
    Researcher at CNR-ISA. Food microbiologist, specialised in the isolation and characterisation of yeasts from food and food waste with technological and biotechnological properties.
  • Dr Rosa Anna Siciliano
    Senior Researcher at CNR-ISA. Analytical chemist, expert in mass spectrometry, microbial proteomics and microorganism identification by methods based on MALDI-TOF-MS. 
  • Dr Maria Fiorella Mazzeo
    Senior Researcher at CNR-ISA. Analytical chemist, expert in mass spectrometry, microbial proteomics and microorganism identification by methods based on MALDI-TOF-MS. 
  • Eng Antonio d’Acierno
    Senior researcher at CNR-ISA. A highly experienced IT professional with decades of experience in data analysis and management.
  • Dr Filomena Nazzaro
    Research Director. Skills in the study of the antimicrobial (antibiofilm) and prebiotic activities of natural extracts, oils, honey, and the study of postbiotic compounds
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