VALENTINA MASTRANTONIO

Avviso per gli studenti di Ecologia del corso di laurea Biotecnologie Agro-alimentari e Industriali (A.A. 2025/2026)
 
Le lezioni avranno inizio martedi 3 marzo 2026.
Orario: martedi 14-16 (Aula C, ed.CU035, piano terra)
           mercoledi 13-15 (Aula Sergi, ed. CU026 Antropologia, primo piano)
 
Ricevimento: mercoledi dalle 11.00 alle 13.00. Gli studenti possono contattare il docente tramite email (valentina.mastrantonio@uniroma1.it) per fissare l'incontro. 
 
 
 

Valentina Mastrantonio

Current position:
RTT (SC 05/BIOS – SSD BIOS-05/A)
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

Main research topics and interests
My research activity spans the fields of Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology. Integrating molecular, behavioral and phenotypic analyses, I investigate how eco-evolutionary processes affect the origin and maintenance of biological diversity at population and species level. My core research interests include: i) the role of ecological context in hybridization and its impact on inter- and intra-specific diversity; ii) species interactions and their influence on population and community; iii) the evolution of adaptive polymorphisms and the mechanisms facilitating their spread across populations. My research utilizes arthropods—including species of agricultural and medical importance—as model systems, which also informs the development of targeted, eco-friendly control strategies.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

2025-to date Member of PhD committee in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Sapienza University
2024-2026 Membro della Commissione Ricerca di Ateneo per la Macroarea A
2022 Member of PhD committee in Ecology and Sustainable Management of the Environmental Resources (36° CICLO), Tuscia University
2021 Member of PhD committee in Ecology and Sustainable Management of the Environmental Resources (37° CICLO), Tuscia University
2021-2022 Membro della Commissione Osservatorio della Didattica nel Consiglio d'Area Didattica in Scienze Applicate ai Beni Culturali, Sapienza University of Rome

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

- 2024- to date Course of “Ecology” for the Bsc in Natural Sciences (BIO/07) (9 CFU, 72 hours), Sapienza University of Rome
- 2024- to date Course of “Ecology” for the Bsc in Food and Industrial Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome
- 2021-2023: Member of PhD committee in Ecology and Sustainable Management of the Environmental Resources. Tuscia University.
- 2021-2023 Teaching: Ecology. Bachelor degree: Tecniche della Prevenzione nell'Ambiente e nei Luoghi di Lavoro. Sapienza University of Rome.
- 2021-2023 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

RESEARCH GRANTS
2023: PRIN funded by Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Role: Responsabile di Unità)
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: Tutor and Co-tutor of BSc, MSc and PhD students. BSc degree: Natural Sciences; Agro-industrial Biotechnology. MSc degree: Ecobiology; Industrial and Environmental Genomic Biotechnologies. Sapienza University.

PUBLICATIONS
1. De Rosa M, Vaccarella E, Cerasti F, Lucchesi V, Marini F, Massimi L, Mastrantonio V, Sciubba F, Spagnoli M, Porretta D, Tiraboschi C, Canepari S. Drosophila melanogaster as model organism to assess brake dust toxicity by a multi-platform approach. Environ Pollut. 2026, 392:127661 (*corresponding author)

2. Cordeschi G, Bisconti R, Mastrantonio V, Canestrelli D, Porretta D. Phenotypic plasticity shapes carry-over effects in sea rock-pool mosquitoes. Biol Open. 2026 Mar 15;15(3):bio062033.

3. Cordeschi, G., Mastrantonio, V., Bisconti, R. et al. Should I dive or should I float? Behavioural plasticity of Aedes mariae pupae under predation threat. Parasites Vectors 18, 224 (2025).

4. Cordeschi, G., Mastrantonio, V*., De Nicola, C. et al. Insect vectors have personality: first evidence with the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. Sci Rep 15, 39943 (2025).

5. Vaccarella, E., Lucchesi, V., Canepari, S., Massimi, L., Bellini, R., Porretta, D., & Mastrantonio, V. (2025). An in vivo assessment revealed multiple toxic effects of brake dust on the urban mosquito Aedes albopictus. Science of the Total Environment, 991, 179937.

6. Cerasti F., Cristofaro M., Mastrantonio V., Scifo J., Verna A., Canestrelli D., Porretta D. (2025). Developing heterospecific sterile insect technique for pest control: insights from the spotted wing fly Drosophila suzukii. Pest Management Science, 81(9), 5214-5223.

7. Mastrantonio V., Liberati F., Castrignanò T., Lucchesi V., Urbanelli S., Bellini R., Vontas J., Porretta D. (2025). Comparative transcriptomics reveals different profiles between diflubenzuron-resistant and-susceptible phenotypes of the mosquito Culex pipiens. Pest Management Science, 81(6), 3370-3377.

8. Cerasti F., Mastrantonio V., Cemmi A., Di Sarcina I., Cristofaro M., Porretta D. (2025). Optimizing irradiation dose for Drosophila melanogaster males to enhance heterospecific Sterile Insect Technique (h-SIT) against Drosophila suzukii. PLOS ONE, 1-14.

9. Mastrantonio V., Vasquez M., Notarides G., Patsoula E., Lucchesi V., Piras F., Bellini R., Porretta D. (2025). First report and evidence of multiple origins of diflubenzuron resistance alleles in Culex pipiens mosquito from Cyprus. Parasites & Vectors, 1-6.

10. Mastrantonio, V., Porretta, D., Liberati, F. et al. De novo transcriptome assembly of the Mediterranean sea-rock pool mosquitoes Aedes mariae and Aedes zammitii. Sci Data 12, 115 (2025).

11. Mastrantonio V., Libro P., Di Martino J., Matera M., Bellini R., Castrignanò T., Urbanelli S., Porretta D. (2024). Integrated de novo transcriptome of Culex pipiens mosquito larvae as a resource for genetic control strategies. Scientific Data, 11.

12. Bisaglia, B., Castelli, M., Soresinetti, L. et al. Barcoding of Italian mosquitoes (BITMO): generation and validation of DNA barcoding reference libraries for native and alien species of Culicidae. Parasites Vectors 17, 407 (2024).

13. Cerasti F., Mastrantonio* V., Dallai R., Cristofaro M., Porretta D. (2023). Applying Satyrization to Insect Pest Control: The Case of the Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura. Insects 2023, 14(6), 569 (*corresponding author)
14. Negri A, Pezzali G, Pitton S, Piazzoni M, Gabrieli P, Lazzaro F, Mastrantonio V, et al. (2023) MosChito rafts as a promising biocontrol tool against larvae of the common house mosquito, Culex pipiens. PLoS ONE 18(12): e0295665.
15. Pitton S., Negri A., Pezzali G., Piazzoni M., Locarno S., Gabrieli P., Quadri R., Mastrantonio V., Urbanelli S., Porretta D., Bandi C., Epis S., Caccia S. (2023). MosChito rafts as effective and eco-friendly tool for the delivery of a Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide to Aedes albopictus larvae. Scientific Reports, 13(1): 3041

16. Lucchesi V., Grimaldi L., Mastrantonio V*., Porretta D., Di Bella L., Ruspandini T., Di Salvo M.L., Vontas J., Bellini R., Negri A., Epis S., Caccia S., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. (2022). Cuticle modifications and over-expression of the chitin-synthase gene in diflubenzuron resistant phenotype. Insects, 13(12), 1109 (*corresponding author)

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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 author]

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. Porretta D*., Mastrantonio V*., Mona S. Epis S., Montagna M., Sassera D., Bandi C., Urbanelli S. (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 author].

42. 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. Lucchesi V., Vaccarella E., Caneparia S., Massimi L., Bellini R., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V. "What happens when you “bite the dust”: toxic effects of urban pollution on the mosquito vector Aedes albopictus", 9th International Congress of SOVE 2025, Chania, Creta, Grecia

2. Vaccarella E., Cerasti F., Tiraboschi C., De Rosa M., Lucchesi V., Sciubba F., Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Massimi L., Canepari S. "Drosophila melanogaster as a bioindicator of PM-induced oxidative stress effects", European Aerosol Conference 2025, Lecce, Italia

3. Lucchesi V., Mastrantonio V., Liberati F., Castrignanò T., Urbanelli S., Bellini R., Vontas J., Porretta D."Different molecular mechanisms contribute to the diflubenzuron-resistant phenotype of the mosquito Culex pipiens" INF-ACT Conference 2025, Napoli, Italia

4. Vaccarella E., Canepari S., Lucchesi V., Cerasti F., Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Massimi L. "Model/experimental organisms to estimate oxidative stress and health effects induced by in vivo exposure to different PM components" European Areosol Conference 2024 (EAC2024), Tampere, Finland

5. Vaccarella E., Canepari S., Lucchesi V., Cerasti F., Mastrantonio V., Porretta D., Massimi L. "Valutazione dell’efficienza di organismi modello/sperimentali per stimare lo stress ossidativo e gli effetti sulla salute indotti dall’esposizione a diverse componenti di PM" XI Convegno sul particolato atomosferico PM2024, Torino, Italia

6. Lucchesi V., Porretta D., Urbanelli S., Bellini R., Mastrantonio V. "Strong resistance with cuticular thickeningin the diflubenzuron-resistant phenotype of Culex pipiens raises new concerns for mosquito control" 23rd European SOVE Conference, Montpellier, Francia

7. Mastrantonio V., Urbanelli S., Porretta D. 2023. A hidden road to diversity: mtDNA introgression promotes intra-specific paternal leakage and heteroplasmy in hydraenid beetles. Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) 2023, Ferrara, Italy

8. Lucchesi V., Mastrantonio V., Bellini R., Vontas J., Urbanelli S., Porretta D, 2022. Agriculture and public health promote diflubenzuron resistance in the West Nile vector Culex pipiens. 22th Congress of the Society of Vector Ecology (SOVE), Sofia

9. 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 European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA) Conference, Vienna

10. 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)

11. 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 European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA) Conference, Vienna

12. 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)

13. 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 European- Society of Vector Ecology E-SOVE, Palermo.

14. M. Ferrari, L.D. Marco, D. Porretta, 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

15. 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

16. Porretta D., Mastrantonio V., Latrofa M.S., Dantas-Torres F., Urbanelli S., D. Otranto. 2016. Nuclear genetic markers for multilocus phylogeny of Rhipicephalus ticks. Società Italiana di Parassitologia (SOIPA), Bari

17. 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. Società Italiana di Parassitologia (SOIPA), Bari

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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 Società Italiana di Biologia Evolutiva SIBE. Milano.