Progetti

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February 28, 2025

Health assessment of some amphibian and reptile species in Armenia with special focus on emerging infectious agents

This joint bilateral agreement between CNR and MESRA (Armenia) is expected to provide an epidemiological picture concerning occurrence, distribution and prevalence of significant infectious agents of reptiles and amphibians. In particular, the diagnostic approach will allow to identify the presence of herpesvirus and Mycoplasma in the T. Testudo graeca armeniaca tortoise. This is one of the very few studies conducted on wild animals. The current information on infectious agents causing disease in these animals is studied almost exclusively from specimens

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February 24, 2025

Biodiversity and human wellbeing

PNRR-NBFC, Spoke 6 ACTIVITY 1– Biodiversity, Exposome and Urban lifestyle TASK 1.8_Advanced technologies for monitoring and removing contaminants using Nature-Based Solution. The activities aims to: Identify of model plants able to uptake and tolerate inorganic and organic contaminants such as arsenic (As) and micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) from contaminated matrices. Evaluate a study case: Study of the effects of urban air pollution on plants grown hydroponically on a green wall by evaluating gene expression and morpho-physiological response. The green wall was installed at Villa Leopardi, Via

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February 17, 2025

SERRA-LAB

SERRA-LAB (Study And Research of the Effect of Plants on Air Quality and their Response to Air Pollution Stressors in the LABORATORY).   The use of green infrastructure to mitigate air pollution in urban areas is a globally recognised approach. Nevertheless, doubts remain in the quantification of the effects and in the choice of plants. In fact, the results of the scientific studies conducted so far are ambiguous and not very comparable due to the absence of an unambiguous experimental approach. Furthermore,

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February 17, 2025

MOBILES

Monitoring and detection of biotic and abiotic pollutants by electronics, plants and microorganism based sensors – MOBILES The development of portable tests or biosensors for monitoring pathogens, Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs), and Persistent Mobile Chemicals (PMCs) in air, soil, and water remains a critical unmet need for contamination control and infection prevention. The Mobiles consortium aims to create an interdisciplinary framework for the detection, monitoring, and mitigation of these pollutants to safeguard human and environmental health. Key objectives include: Developing electronic biosensors

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February 17, 2025

HYDRO FERN for water depuration

Hydro Fern is a phytodepuration system aims at dearsenification and recovery of drinking water, rainwater, wastewater and industrial effluent. The proposal involves the realisation of the Hydro Fern prototype plant that exploits hydroponic growing technologies and the ability of the perennial fern Pteris vittata to rapidly remove arsenic from water. The prototype consists of a scalable module for vertically growing plants that filter water under controlled conditions, optimising space and maximising arsenic removal efficiency. The expected results are: – optimisation of arsenic removal

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February 17, 2025

Assisted phytoremediation of perfluorinated alkyl substances with industrial hemp

The project “Assisted phytoremediation of perfluorinated alkyl substances with industrial hemp: physiological and molecular analyses combined with innovative non-invasive analytical methods” explores the potential of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for phytoremediation of PFAS-contaminated agricultural soils, particularly focusing on persistent pollutants like PFOA and PFOS. The study integrates several approaches:   Analysis of plant development by different Cultivation methods (in vitro, hydroponic and mesocosm) to evaluate PFAS accumulation and Biomass Utilization: Hemp’s efficient root uptake, translocation, and high biomass production could enable

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Aridification
February 13, 2025

DROMEDAR

The project DROMEDAR (Future DROught and Aridification in the MEDiterranean and ecological impacts) focuses on Mediterranean droughts and their impacts on environment and terrestrial ecosystems. The goal is to identify large scale physical mechanisms responsible for prolonged events beyond the range of the internal variability, in order to make robust assessment of their evolution in the next few decades. There are indications that droughts in the Mediterranean will become more intense, although, as for other extreme events, there is less consensus

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CLIMA
February 12, 2025

STIGE – CLIMAQUIFERI

Thanks to their intrinsic thermal stability, groundwater ecosystems serve as powerful models for the comparative study of global change biology. These fragile environments are threatened by anthropogenic factors that can disrupt stygofauna communities (i.e., aquatic invertebrates, mainly crustaceans, inhabiting groundwater) and promote the colonization of groundwater by surface-dwelling animals. A mechanistic understanding of energy use and resource utilization patterns of organisms living at the interface between hypogean and epigean habitats is critical for predicting the future functioning of groundwater ecosystems.

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Canis lupus
February 11, 2025

HIC SUNT LUPI

The Salento area, in the southern part of the Puglia region, is experiencing a significant re-colonization of the wolf (Canis lupus) after centuries of absence, generating considerable ecological and economic interest. Frequent sightings and livestock attacks indicate a stable wolf presence, challenging the hypothesis of sporadic occurrences. Salento is a densely populated area where agro-ecosystems and urban settlements leave natural areas in a marginal position. This creates a unique context in which the presence of a large predator like the wolf

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February 7, 2025

BioMaster

The human population is constantly exposed to a wide variety of bioaerosols in the atmosphere, representing one of the world’s most significant environmental health risks. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of studying airborne transmission, as it serves as a primary route for the global spread of infections. The BIO-MASTER PRIN project aims to develop a standardized protocol for sampling, classifying, and characterizing the biodiversity and functioning of key bioaerosol components (mainly bacteria, fungi, and pollen). The need for

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