Notizie
Avviso per gli studenti di Ecologia 1° Canale, Scienze Naturali (A.A. 2024/2025)
Le lezioni avranno inizio giovedi 3 ottobre 2024.
Orario: giovedi 16-18 (Aula 1, ed. CU005)
venerdi 9-11 (Aula 9, ed. CU005)
Ricevimento: mercoledi dalle 14.30 alle 16.30. Gli studenti possono contattare il docente tramite email (valentina.mastrantonio@uniroma1.it) per fissare l'incontro.
Curriculum
Valentina Mastrantonio
Current position:
RTDa (SC 05/C1 – SSD BIO/07)
Department of Environmental Biology
Sapienza University of Rome
Website
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7701-4716
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EGvhP5kAAAAJ&hl=it
Bibliometric indicators (March 2022)
Articles in ISI-ranked journals: 26 (88% Q1 ISI-JCR quartile)
Citations: 631 (Google Scholar), 448 (Scopus)
H-index: 14 (Google Scholar), 12 (Scopus)
Total Impact Factor: 91,47
Main research topics and interests
The main research interests are addressed to investigate the processes underpinning the origin and maintenance of biological diversity at population and species level. The main issues addressed concern: i) the hybridization process in relation to the ecological context in which it occurs and its effect on diversity in natural populations; ii) the study of how species living in ephemeral aquatic habitats interact with conspecifics and the physical environment; iii) the relationship between the ecological traits of species and their response to past and future climate changes.
The study-systems are represented by arthropod species, including those of medical-veterinary interest; therefore, research activity is also focused on applicative aspects related to the development of strategies to control their abundance.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
- 2021-present Member of OD (Commissione Osservatorio della Didattica), Sapienza University of Rome
- From 2016-present: Subject matter expert in Molecular ecology.
- From 2016-present: Subject matter expert in Ecology
QUALIFYING EXPERIENCES
• 2019: First Annual Conference on Aedes Invasive Mosquito COST ACTION CA17108. Athens, Greece.
• 2017: Short-term scientific mission “Diflubenzuron resistance investigations in Culex mosquitoes” COST Action funded by the “European Network for Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne
Infections”. Heraklion, Crete
• 2016: “NGS for evolutionary biologists: from basic scripting to variant calling”, Elixir-Italy, Napoli
• 2014: Short Visit Grant “ConGenOmics Research Networking Programmes” funded by the European Science Foundation. Imperial College, Londra. Title: Introgressive hybridization and its
evolutionary consequences in animal species.
• 2011: GIS Advanced Course, Sapienza University of Rome.
• 2011: Introduction to Evolutionary Genetics Workshop (2ECT), Institute of Science and Technology, Vienna.
• 2011: “Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) in population genetics: some practical guidelines”, Sapienza University of Rome.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- 2021-present: Member of PhD committee in Ecology and Sustainable Management of the Environmental Resources. Tuscia University.
- 2021-present Teaching: Ecology. Bachelor degree: Tecniche della Prevenzione nell'Ambiente e nei Luoghi di Lavoro. Sapienza University of Rome.
- 2021-present Teaching: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences. Bachelor degree: Technologies for conservation and restoration of cultural heritages. Sapienza University of Rome.
- 2019-2021 Teaching: Ecology. Bachelor degree: Agro-industrial Biotechnology. Sapienza University of Rome.
- 2018 Teaching: Conservation of mountain ecosystems. Bachelor degree: Mountain Sciences. Tuscia University
REFEREE ACTIVITY
ISI-ranked journals: PlosOne, Scientific Reports, Insects, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Pathogens, Parasite and Vectors, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
RESEARCH GRANTS
2020: PRIN funded by Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR) (Position: Researcher)
2018: Avvio alla Ricerca (Tipo 2) funded by Sapienza University (Position: PI).
2016: Progetto di Ateneo funded by Sapienza University (Position: Researcher)
2015: Progetto di Ateneo funded by Sapienza University (Position: Researcher)
2014: Progetto di Ateneo funded by Sapienza University (Position: Researcher)
2012: Progetto di Ateneo funded by Sapienza University (Position: Researcher)
THESIS ADVISOR
2019-present: Co-tutor of 11 BSc and 4 MSc students. BSc degree: Natural Sciences; Agro-industrial Biotechnology. MSc degree: Ecobiology; Industrial and Environmental Genomic Biotechnologies. Sapienza University.
PUBLICATIONS
1. Porretta, D., Mastrantonio, V., Lucchesi, V., Bellini, R., Vontas, J., Urbanelli, S. (2022). Historical samples reveal a combined role of agriculture and public-health applications in vector resistance to
insecticides. Pest Management Science, 78: 1567-1572.
2. Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Lucchesi V., Güz N., Cagatay N.S., Bellini R., Vontas J., Urbanelli S. (2021). Evolution of adaptive variation in the mosquito Culex pipiens: Multiple independent origins of
insecticide resistance mutations. Insects, 12:8.
3. Mastrantonio V., Crasta G., Urbanelli S., Porretta D. (2021). Cannibalism and necrophagy promote a resource loop and benefit larval development in insects of temporary waters. Insects, 12, 657.
4. Fotakis* E.A. Mastrantonio* V., Grigoraki* L., Porretta D, Puggioli A, Chaskopoulou A., Osório H., Weill M., Bellini R, Urbanelli S. Vontas J. (2020). Identification and detection of a novel point mutation
in the chitin synthase gene of Culex pipiens associated with diflubenzuron resistance. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14, 1-10 [*co-primary authorship]
5. Mastrantonio V., Urbanelli S. and D. Porretta. (2019). Ancient hybridization and mtDNA introgression behind current paternal leakage and heteroplasmy in hybrid zones. Scientific Reports, 9: 19177
6. Negri A., Ferrari M., Nodari R., Coppa E., Mastrantonio V., Zanzani S., Porretta D., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. and S. Epis. (2019). Gene silencing through RNAi and antisense Vivo-Morpholino increases the
efficacy of pyrethroids on larvae of Anopheles stephensi. Malaria Journal, 18: 294
7. Porretta, D., Fotakis, E.A., Mastrantonio, V., Chaskopoulou, A., Michaelakis, A., Kioulos, I., Weill, M., Urbanelli, S., Vontas, J., Bellini, R. (2019). Focal distribution of diflubenzuron resistance
mutations in Culex pipiens mosquitoes from Northern Italy. Acta Tropica, 193: 106-112
8. Mastrantonio V., Ferrari M., Negri A., Sturmo T., Favia, G., Porretta, D., Epis, S., Urbanelli, S. (2019). Insecticide exposure triggers a modulated expression of ABC transporter genes in larvae of
Anopheles gambiae s.s. Insects, 10(3),66.
9. Mastrantonio V., Latrofa M.S., Porretta D., Lia R.P., Parisi A., Iatta R., Dantas-Torres F., Otranto D., Urbanelli S. (2019). Paternal leakage and mtDNA heteroplasmy in Rhipicephalus spp. ticks.
Scientific Reports, 9:146.
10. Rosenfeld S., Porretta D., Rahav E., Mastrantonio V., Duchet, C., Blaustein L. (2018) Molecular identification of Aedes phoeniciae (Diptera: Culicidae) in rockpools along the northern Israeli coast.
Journal of vector ecology, 43, 344-346.
11. Mastrantonio V., Crasta G., Puggioli A., Bellini R., Urbanelli S., Porretta D. (2018) Cannibalism in temporary waters: Simulations and laboratory experiments revealed the role of spatial shape in the
mosquito Aedes albopictus. Plos One 13(5): e0198194.
12. Mastrantonio V., Ferrari M., Epis S., Negri A., Scuccimarra G., Montagna M., Favia G., Porretta D., Urbanelli S., Bandi C. (2017) Gene expression modulation of ABC transporter genes in response to
permethrin in adults of the mosquito malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. Acta Tropica, 171:37-43
13. De Marco L., Sassera D., Epis S., Mastrantonio V., Ferrari M., Ricci I., Comandatore F., Bandi C., Porretta D., Urbanelli S. (2017). The choreography of the chemical defensome response to insecticide
stress: insights into the Anopheles stephensi transcriptome using RNA-Seq. Scientific Reports, 7:41312.
14. De Marco L., Epis S., Comandatore F., Porretta D., Cafarchia C., Mastrantonio V., Dantas- Torres F., Otranto D., Urbanelli S., Bandi C., Sassera D. (2017). Transcriptome of larvae representing the
Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex. Molecular Cellular Probes, S0890- 8508(16)30013-5.
15. Porretta D., Epis S., Mastrantonio V., Ferrari M., Bellini R., Favia G., Urbanelli S. (2016). How heterogeneous is the involvement of ABC transporters against insecticides? Acta Tropica, 157: 131-5.
16. Porretta D., Latrofa M.S., Dantas-Torres F., Mastrantonio V., Iatta R., Otranto D., Urbanelli S. (2016). Exon-intron structure and sequence variation of the calreticulin gene among Rhipicephalus
sanguineus group ticks. Parasites & Vectors, 9:640.
17. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Crasta G., Bellini R., Comandatore F., Rossi P., Favia G., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. (2016) Intra-instar larval cannibalism in Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) and Anopheles stephensi
(Diptera: Culicidae). Parasites & Vectors, 9:566.
18. Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Urbanelli S., Crasta G., Nascetti G. (2016). Dynamics of mtDNA introgression during species range expansion: insights from an experimental longitudinal study. Scientific
Reports, 6:30355.
19. Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Bellini R., Nascetti G. and Urbanelli S. (2015). Molecular systematic and origin of the Mediterranean Sea rock-pool mosquitoes of the Aedes mariae complex. Annals of the
Entomological Society of America, 108(4): 593-599.
20. Cafarchia C., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Epis S., Sassera D., Iatta R., Immediato D., Ramos R.A.N., Lia R.P., Dantas-Torres F., Urbanelli S., Otranto D. (2015). Potential role of ATP- binding cassette
transporters against acaricides in the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 29(1): 88–93.
21. Urbanelli S., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Bellini R., Pieraccini G., Romoli R., Crasta G., and Nascetti G. (2014) Hybridization, natural selection and evolution of reproductive isolation: a 25-years
survey of an artificial sympatric area between two mosquito sibling species of the Aedes mariae complex. Evolution, 68(10):3030-3038
22. Epis S., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Comandatore F., Sassera D., Rossi P., Favia G., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. (2014). Temporal dynamics of the ABC transporter response to insecticide treatment: insights
from the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. Scientific Reports, 4,7435. doi:10.1038/srep07435
23. Epis S., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Comandatore F., Sassera D., Rossi P., Cafarchia C., Otranto D., Favia G., Genchi C., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. (2014). ABC transporters are involved in defense against
permethrin insecticide in the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. Parasites and Vectors, 7 (1), 349.
24. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Amendolia S. et al. (2013) Effects of global changes on the climatic niche of the tick Ixodes ricinus inferred by species distribution modelling. Parasites and Vectors,
6(1):271.
25. Porretta D*., Mastrantonio V*., Mona S. et al. (2013) The integration of multiple independent data reveals an unusual response to Pleistocene climatic changes in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus.
Molecular Ecology, 22, 1666–1682. [*co-primary authorship].
26. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Bellini R., Somboon P. and Urbanelli S. (2012) Glacial history of a modern invader: phylogeography and species distribution modelling of the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes
albopictus. Plos One, 7, e44515.
CONGRESS CONTRIBUTIONS
1. Mastrantonio V., Fotakis E.A., Grigoraki L., Porretta D., Puggioli A., Chaskopoulou A., Osório H., Weill M., Bellini R., Urbanelli S., Vontas J. 2021. Snapshot of the insecticide resistance in Southern
European populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens. 10th EMCA Conference, Vienna
2. Mastrantonio V., Crasta G., Puggioli A., Bellini R., Urbanelli S., Porretta D. 2021. The topology of the breeding site affects intra-specific predation in the mosquito vector Aedes albopictus. Virtual
Meeting of the Society of Vector Ecology (SOVE)
3. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Lucchesi V., Güz N., Çağatay N.S., Bellini R., Vontas J., S. Urbanelli. 2021. Insecticide resistance evolved multiple times in the mosquito Culex pipiens. 10th EMCA
Conference, Vienna
4. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Crasta G., Urbanelli S., 2021. Conspecific consumption promotes a resource loop in the vector Aedes albopictus. SOVE Meeting. Virtual Meeting of the Society of Vector
Ecology (SOVE)
5. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Urbanelli S. Vontas J, Bellini R. 2018. Spread of diflubenzuron resistance in the mosquito Culex pipiens in Northern Italy. 21th Conference E-SOVE, Palermo.
6. Ferrari M., Marco L.D., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Negri A., Urbanelli S., Favia G., Sassera D., Bandi C., Epis S. (2017). Temporal patterns of insecticide response in Anopheles stephensi and
identification of molecular targets for gene silencing. Annual meeting of the Italian Malaria Network. Roma
7. Ferrari M., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., De Marco L., Negri A., Urbanelli S., Favia G., Bandi C., Epis S. (2016) The involvement of ABC transporters in the resistance to permethrin insecticide in the
malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia (CNIE). Padova, Italia
8. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Latrofa M.S., Dantas-Torres F., Urbanelli S., D. Otranto. 2016. Nuclear genetic markers for multilocus phylogeny of Rhipicephalus ticks. SOIPA, Bari
9. Cafarchia C., Porretta D., Dantas-Torres F., Iatta R., Immediato D., Mastrantonio V., Epis S., De Marco L., Ferrari M., Negri A., Sassera D., Urbanelli S., D. Otranto. 2016. The “first line of defense”
against acaricides in the brown tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. SOIPA, Bari
10. Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Nascetti G., Urbanelli S. 2015. Ecological and evolutionary consequences of a colonization event: the case study of the mosquitoes Aedes mariae and Ae. zammitii.
Congresso “Ecology at the Interface: Science–Based Solutions for Human well Being”, SITE e EEF, Roma
11. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., and Urbanelli S. 2014. Natural selection and Speciation in Ochthebius beetles. Xth EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF ENTOMOLOGY University of York, York, UK
12. Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Epis S., Bandi C., Otranto D., and Urbanelli S. 2014. “Staying alive”: persistence of the hard tick Ixodes ricinus across Europe under past and future climatic changes. Xth
EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF ENTOMOLOGY, University of York, UK.
13. Mastrantonio V., Amendolia S., Porretta D., Gaiarsa S., Epis S., Genchi C., Bandi C., Otranto D., and Urbanelli S. 2013. Effects of climatic changes on the distribution of the ticks Ixodes ricinus and
Ixodes persulcatus inferred by Species Distribution Modelling. XXIII congresso S.It.E. Ancona.
14. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., S. Epis, C. Bandi, D. Sassera, M. Pajoro, L. Kramer, L. Rinaldi, Genchi and S. Urbanelli 2010. Connectivity among European Ixodes ricinus populations and its implication
for pathogens diffusion: a genetic population approach. XX congresso S.It.E. Roma.
15. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V.; S. Epis, C. Bandi, D. Sassera, D. Pistone, L. Kramer, L. Rinaldi, Genchi and S. Urbanelli 2010. Influence of the cellular endoparasite Midichloria mitocondrii on the
mitochondrial genetic diversity in Ixodes ricinus tick. IV congresso SIBE. Milano.