Download CURRICULUM VITAE e PUBBLICAZIONI SCIENTIFICHE

MARIA DEL MAR LLEO’ FERNANDEZ
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology
CURRICULUM VITAE
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Family name: LLEO' FERNANDEZ
Name: Maria del Mar
Born: Madrid (Spain) 13 November 1955.
Residence: Via San Marco 85, 37138 Verona (Italy)
Phone: +39 045 8027194
Email: [email protected]
Current position: Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology,
University of Verona, Medical School
Education
PhD, Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense di Madrid (Spain), 1979 and
Università degli Studi di Genova (Italy), 1985.
From 1980 to 1987: research activity at the University of Genova with different
fellowships
From 1987 to 2004: Assistant Professor, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'
Università di Verona.
Since January 2005: Associate Professor, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology,
Università degli Studi di Verona.
Teaching Activity:
1)University Courses
Since 1995
"Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica", II year of the Universitary Degree in
Techniques of Biomedical Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Verona,
(Verona and Trento)
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Since 2003-2004: Elective course “The persistence of microorganisms in the
environment, a concern of medical interest“ University Degree in Medicine and
Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Verona
2) Schools of Specialization in Microbiology
1991-1992: "Parasitology", III year, School of Specialization in Biochemistry and
Clinical Chemistry, University of Verona.
since 1991: "Microbiology", I year, School of Specialization in Dermatology and
Sexually transmitted Diseases, University of Verona
since 1993
“Culture and identification of microorganisms”, “Laboratory instrumentation”,
“Food Microbiology”, “Microbiological quality and monitoring of waters and
environments”, “Industrial Microbiology”, all courses of the School of Specialization
in Microbiology, University of Verona.
3) PhD School in Translational Biomedical Sciences:
since 1990 tutor and teacher, doctorate in “Basic and Applied Microbiology”
University of Verona.
Since 2007 member of the Coordination Committee of the PhD School in
Translational Biomedical Sciences, University of Verona.
International and National collaborations
Gerald D. Shockman and Lolita Daneo-Moore, Temple University of Philadelphia,
regulation of growth and division of Enterococcus hirae. (1980-1990)
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Marc Solioz, University of Berna, Switzerland, cloning of chromosomal genes of
E. hirae using E. coli libraries and enterococcus defective mutants. (1990-1992)
Since 1997 Rita R. Colwell and A. Huq,
Biotechnology Institute of Maryland
(USA), pathogenicity of bacterial viable but non culturale forms and ecology and
pathogenicity of vibrios.
Since 1998 Monique Pommepuy and Dominique Hervio, Institut Français de
Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), development of molecular
methods for the detection of bacteria in food and the environment.
Since 2004, Antonio Guell, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Marcelo
Scavuzzo (CONAE, Argentina Spatial Agency), PL Mancini (ESA, European Space
Agency), application of space technology to human health and epidemiology.
Since 1998, Carla Pruzzo, University of Genova, Italy, non culturable bacterial
forms, ecology and pathogenicity of Vibrio spp
Since 2007, Jesus Romalde, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain),
molecular typing of Vibrio strains
Since 2009, Donatella Ottaviani, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Marche (Italy),
Amedeo Manfrin, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie (Italy), serotyping of Vibrio
parahaemolyticus, antibiotic resistance in fish farms.
Participation and Coordination of Research Projects (a selection)
Since 1990 to 2003: participation to projects from the Consiglio Nazionale della
ricerca, CNR (FATMA, 5 years and Biotecnologie, 3 years), Ministero
dell’Università e la Ricerca, MURST (COFIN 1998, 2000, 2003, biannual);
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Consorzio per gli Studi Universitari di Verona (biannual).
Coordinator of Research Unit (after international peer-review process):
-
Fondi MURST (Italian Research Ministry), ex-60% a.a. 2003-2004, 2004-2005,
2005-2006
- ESA- Telemedicine via satellite Program (2004) and "SAFE-Satellites for
Epidemiology" (2006-2007) funded by the European Space Agency
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MURST dedicated projects (2009-2010): Epidemiology of V. parahaemolyticus
in Italian coastal areas
Scientific Coordinator of the following more recent (2006-2010) research project
(after international peer-review process):
- MURST PRIN 2006-07: Survival strategies of pathogenic bacteria in response to
stress conditions found in the human body: biological, pathogenic and diagnostic
aspects”
- CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales): VibrioSea project (2006-2009).
Satellite-based early warning systems for the prediction and prevention of
waterborne epidemics: the vibrios model.
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MURST PRIN 2010-12: Role of the marine environment in the evolution,
persistence and diffusion of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria
that might represent a risk for human health.
Research activity:
The research activity has been mainly developed in the following field:
1)Mechanisms of growth and division in bacteria: physiology and division of
Enterococcus faecalis and analysis of thermosensitive mutants with alterations in
different phases of the growth and division (papers 1 and 2). Study of the
Enterococcus physiology analyzing the role of the penicillin binding proteins (PBP)
in the peptidoglycan synthesis and as the target for the action of beta-lactams
(papers 3, 4, 5). The role of the autolytic enzymes in the cell cycle of Enterococcus
faecalis also in relation with the effect of penicillins (resistance, paradox effect…)
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(papers 6, 13). General model to explain the maintenance of the bacteria
morphology on the basis of the equilibrium between two reactions, the lateral wall
synthesis and the septum formation. (Paper 7, 11, 12).
2) Mechanisms of action of antibiotics active on the bacterial cell wall: the
analysis of the mechanism of action of the new antibiotic daptomycin identifying its
target in the lypoteicoic acid of the bacterial cell wall (papers 8, 9, 10)
3)Survival mechanisms of bacteria of medical interest in the natural
environment: study of the “viable but non culturable” state of the bacteria in
stressing conditions of the natural environment, comparison with the starvation state
and other survival mechanisms, analysis of the physiological, biochemical and
genetics aspects of this physiological state in gram-positives and gram-negative
bacteria (papers 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23), presence of these bacterial forms in the
environment (lake, seawater) also developing molecular methods aimed to reveal
their presence in stressing conditions (Papers 24, 25, 26); demonstration of the
viability and pathogenicity of these bacterial forms, also in clinical cases (papers 15,
19, 22, 27), analysis of their ability of resuscitating to the division state and their
response to the antibiotic treatment (papers 18, 21, 28)
4) Application of space technologies and satellites to the prediction and
prevention of environment-related diseases and outbreaks specially “waterborne
diseases” and sanitary emergencies (papers 29, 30, 31). A pilot project has been
developed in the area of the Mediterranean Sea to analyze the complementary role of
satellites in monitoring ocean parameters influencing presence, persistence and
spread of bacteria in the aquatic environment (paper in preparation)
5) Ecology and pathogenesis of marine Vibrio spp and Vibrio parahaemolyticus
strains. The presence of virulence genes and pathogenicity islands, typical of clinical
strains, have been detected and analyzed in marine strains usually considered as non
virulent. Two marine V. parahaemolyticus strains carrying genetic pandemic markers
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have been detected directly in environmental samples for the first time in Europe. It
has been demonstrated that the marine strains of V. parahaemolyticus are capable of
causing cytotoxic effects and structural damages in human intestinal cells (papers
32, 33, 34, 35, 36).
Diagnostic Activity
Since 1992 M.M. Lleo is a Senior Biologist Coordinator of the Diagnostic
Microbiology Service at the University Hospital of Verona. Since 2005 she is also
the coordinator of the High Specialization Service “Diagnosis of bacterial infections
in blood and central nervous system”
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SELECTED PUBBLICATIONS
1.- Canepari P, Lléo MM, Satta G, Fontana R, Shockman GD, Daneo-Moore L.
Division blocks in temperature-sensitive mutants of Streptococcus faecium (S.
faecalis ATCC 9790). J Bacteriol. 1983 Dec;156(3):1046-51.
2.- Division of temperature-sensitive Streptococcus faecium mutants after return to
the permissive temperature. Canepari P, Lléo MM, Fontana R, Satta G, Shockman
GD, Daneo-Moore L. J Bacteriol. 1984 Oct;160(1):427-9.
3.- In Streptococcus faecium penicillin-binding protein 5 alone is sufficient for
growth at sub-maximal but not at maximal rate. Canepari P, Lleò MM, Cornaglia G,
Fontana R, Satta G. J Gen Microbiol. 1986 Mar;132(3):625-31.
4.- Streptococcus faecium mutants that are temperature sensitive for cell growth and
show alterations in penicillin-binding proteins. Canepari P, Lleò MM, Fontana R,
Satta G. J Bacteriol. 1987 Jun;169(6):2432-9.
5.- Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of beta-lactams against Streptococcus
(Enterococcus) faecium are associated with saturation of different penicillin-binding
proteins. Lleó MM, Canepari P, Cornaglia G, Fontana R, Satta G. Antimicrob
Agents Chemother. 1987 Oct;31(10):1618-26.
6.- Paradoxical response of Enterococcus faecalis to the bactericidal activity of
penicillin is associated with reduced activity of one autolysin. Fontana R, Boaretti M,
Grossato A, Tonin EA, Lleò MM, Satta G. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990
Feb;34(2):314-20.
7.- Bacterial cell shape regulation: testing of additional predictions unique to the twocompeting-sites model for peptidoglycan assembly and isolation of conditional rodshaped mutants from some wild-type cocci. Lleo MM, Canepari P, Satta G. J
Bacteriol. 1990 Jul;172(7):3758-71.
8.- Lipoteichoic acid as a new target for activity of antibiotics: mode of action of
daptomycin (LY146032). Canepari P, Boaretti M, Lleó MM, Satta G. Antimicrob
Agents Chemother. 1990 Jun;34(6):1220-6.
9.- The activity of daptomycin on Enterococcus faecium protoplasts: indirect
evidence supporting a novel mode of action on lipoteichoic acid synthesis. Boaretti
M, Canepari P, Lleò MM, Satta G. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1993 Feb;31(2):22735.
10.- In vitro activity, beta-lactamase stability and PBP affinity of RU 51,746-2, the
active metabolite of the new orally absorbed cephalosporin ester, RU 51807. Boaretti
M, Lleó MM, Canepari P. J Chemother. 1991 Jan;3 Suppl 1:57-61.
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11.- Cell elongation and septation are two mutually exclusive processes in
Escherichia coli. Canepari P, Signoretto C, Boaretti M, Lleò MM. Arch Microbiol.
1997 Aug;168(2):152-9.
12.- Inhibition of bacterial cell surface extension by various means causes blocking
of macromolecular synthesis. Lleò MM, Canepari P, Fontana R, Satta G. Res
Microbiol. 1997 Jan;148(1):11-20.
13.- Identification of a gene (arpU) controlling muramidase-2 export in Enterococcus
hirae. Lleò MM, Fontana R, Solioz M. J Bacteriol. 1995 Oct;177(20):5912-7
14.- Nonculturable Enterococcus faecalis cells are metabolically active and capable
of resuming active growth. Lleó MM, Tafi MC, Canepari P. Syst Appl Microbiol.
1998 Aug;21(3):333-9
15.- Competitive polymerase chain reaction for quantification of nonculturable
Enterococcus faecalis cells in lake water. Lleó MM, Tafi MC, Signoretto C, Dal Cero
C, Canepari P. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 1999 Dec 1;30(4):345-353.
16.- mRNA detection by reverse transcription-PCR for monitoring viability over
time in an Enterococcus faecalis viable but nonculturable population maintained in a
laboratory microcosm. Lleò MM, Pierobon S, Tafi MC, Signoretto C, Canepari P.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 Oct;66(10):4564-7
17.- Cell wall chemical composition of Enterococcus faecalis in the viable but
nonculturable state. Signoretto C, Lleò MM, Tafi MC, Canepari P. Appl Environ
Microbiol. 2000 May;66(5):1953-9
18.- Modification of the peptidoglycan of Escherichia coli in the viable but
nonculturable state. Signoretto C, Lleò MM, Canepari P. Curr Microbiol. 2002
Feb;44(2):125-31
19.- Resuscitation rate in different enterococcal species in the viable but nonculturable state. Lleò MM, Bonato B, Tafi MC, Signoretto C, Boaretti M, Canepari
P. J Appl Microbiol. 2001 Dec;91(6):1095-102
20.- In vitro adhesion to human cells by viable but nonculturable Enterococcus
faecalis. Pruzzo C, Tarsi R, Lleò MM, Signoretto C, Zampini M, Colwell RR,
Canepari P. Curr Microbiol. 2002 Aug;45(2):105-10
21.- The viable but nonculturable state and starvation are different stress responses of
Enterococcus faecalis, as determined by proteome analysis. Heim S, Lleo MM,
Bonato B, Guzman CA, Canepari P. J Bacteriol. 2002 Dec;184(23):6739-45.
22.- Vancomycin resistance is maintained in enterococci in the viable but
nonculturable state and after division is resumed. Lleò MM, Bonato B, Signoretto C,
Canepari P. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Mar;47(3):1154-6
23.- Persistence of adhesive properties in Vibrio cholerae after long-term exposure to
sea water. Pruzzo C, Tarsi R, Lleò MM, Signoretto C, Zampini M, Pane L, Colwell
RR, Canepari P. Environ Microbiol. 2003 Oct;5(10):850-8.
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24.- Involvement of rpoS in the survival of Escherichia coli in the viable but nonculturable state. Boaretti M, Lleò MM, Bonato B, Signoretto C, Canepari P. Environ
Microbiol. 2003 Oct;5(10):986-96.
25.- Adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis in the nonculturable state to plankton is the
main mechanism responsible for persistence of this bacterium in both lake and
seawater. Signoretto C, Burlacchini G, Lleò MM, Pruzzo C, Zampini M, Pane L,
Franzini G, Canepari P. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Nov;70(11):6892-6
26.- Molecular vs culture methods for the detection of bacterial faecal indicators in
groundwater for human use. Lleo MM, Bonato B, Tafi MC, Signoretto C, Pruzzo C,
Canepari P. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2005;40(4):289-94.
27.- Survival of enterococcal species in aquatic environments. Lleò MM, Bonato B,
Benedetti D, Canepari P. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2005 Oct 1;54(2):189-96
28.- Adhesion to medical device materials and biofilm formation capability of some
species of enterococci in different physiological states. Lleo M, Bonato B, Tafi MC,
Caburlotto G, Benedetti D, Canepari P. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2007 Sep;274(2):2327.
29.- Inhibition of the resuscitation from the viable but non-culturable state in
Enterococcus faecalis. Lleò MM, Benedetti D, Tafi MC, Signoretto C, Canepari P.
Environ Microbiol. 2007 Sep;9(9):2313-20.
30.- Application of space technologies to the surveillance and modelling of
waterborne diseases. Lleo MM, Lafaye M, Guell A. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2008
Jun;19(3):307-12.
31.- A satellite infrastructure for health early warning in post-disaster health
management. Chronaki CE, Berthier A, Lleo MM, Esterle L, Lenglet A, Simon F,
Josseran L, Lafaye M, Matsakis Y, Tabasco A, Braak L. Stud Health Technol
Inform. 2007;129(Pt 1):87-91
32.- Isolation of a Vibrio parahaemolyticus pandemic strain from a marine water
sample obtained in the northern Adriatic. Caburlotto G, Ghidini V, Gennari M, Tafi
MC, Lleo MM. Euro Surveill. 2008 Mar 13;13(11).
33.- Presence of T3SS2 and other virulence-related genes in tdh-negative Vibrio
parahaemolyticus environmental strains isolated from marine samples in the area of
the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. Caburlotto G, Gennari M, Ghidini V, Tafi M, Lleo MM.
FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2009 Aug 18.
34.- Serological and molecular characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus marine
strains carrying pandemic genetic markers. Caburlotto G, Gennari M, Ghidini V, Tafi
M, Lleo MM. ISME J. 2010 Apr 15.
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35.- Serodiversity and ecological distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the
Venetian Lagoon, Northeast Italy. G. Caburlotto, BJ. Haley, MM. Lleò, A Huq, RR.
Colwel. Environmental Microbiology Reports (2010) 2(1), 151–157
36.- Effect on human cells of environmental Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains
carrying type III secretion 2 system 2 G. Caburlotto, MM. Lleò, T. Hilton, A. Huq,
RR. Colwell, JB. Kaper, Infection and Immunity (2010) 78(7):3280-3287.
37.- Altered intestinal function precedes the appearance of bacterial DNA in serum
and ascites in patients with cirrhosis: a pilot study. Thalheimer U, De Iorio F, Capra
F, Lleo MM, Zuliani V, Ghidini V, Tafi MC, Caburlotto G, Gennari M, Burroughs
AK, Vantini I. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2010) volume 22, issue 10
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