Curriculum: Animal and Human Biology, and Ecology

Supervisor: Antonio Pusceddu

Co-Supervisor: Nicole Grandi

Curriculum Vitae

Eleonora received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2020 at the University of Cagliari, with a thesis on the development of a new magnetic-immuno assay method for the detection of C-reactive protein supervised by Prof. Roberto Loi. Subsequently, she took the Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2022 at the University of Cagliari, discussing a thesis with the title “S-layer in Bacteria and Archaea: bioinformatic characterization at genome level and identification of its possible evolutionary role” supervised by Dr. Nicole Grandi.

After the Master’s degree she worked at Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM) – CSIC in Barcellona within the Erasmus Traineeship program. In the period abroad she was able to focus on research in environmental microbiology. She also won a research fellowship entitled: “Bioinformatic analysis of transcriptomic profiles for the identification and characterization of specific HERV sequences modulated in Multiple Sclerosis” under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Grandi at the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences.

She is currently a PhD student in the PhD Program in Life, Environmental and Drug Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Antonio Pusceddu. Her PhD project focuses on the identification and characterization of Bacteria, Archaea and Viruses in Sardinian wetlands.

Research Topic

Analysis of microbial and viral communities in estuarine and hypersaline ecosystems

Abstract

Eleonora Metta's research project is part of the broader "Ecosystem of innovation for next generation Sardinia (eINS)" initiative, specifically within WP1 "Protection and Valorization of wetlands systems". The core aim is to explore the role of the microbial loop and viral shunt on the benthic ecosystem functioning of coastal lagoons in Sardinia, in relation to microbial biodiversity and climatic stressors like marine heat waves.

This study seeks to map the ecological vulnerabilities of Sardinian wetlands concerning climate change (CC) and to develop forecast models of change in the ecological functions of these areas, including the assessment of ecosystem service (ES) variation or loss. Coastal wetlands are vital ecosystems, known for providing crucial services such as flood control, shoreline stabilization, and climate change mitigation, in addition to supporting biodiversity. Their functioning is largely modulated by the microbial loop, and prokaryote-dominated systems are significantly controlled by viruses, via the viral shunt.

The research will address a knowledge gap on how microbial biodiversity and the dynamics of the microbial loop and viral shunt are affected by CC in these environments. It will employ a combination of field and laboratory experiments using correlative and manipulative approaches, applying updated microbial analysis methods, including machine learning and bioinformatic tools. Sediment samples will be collected from various Sardinian wetlands (e.g., S'Ena Arrubia lagoon, S. Gilla lagoon, and Contivecchi saltwork) across different seasons. Expected outcomes include building a comprehensive map of wetlands vulnerability to CC, clarifying the ecological importance of the microbial loop and viral shunt, and providing insights into microbial diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships and anticipated changes due to CC manifestations, with potential future applications in environmental and medical fields.

Publications

IRIS: https://iris.unica.it/cris/rp/rp48131

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4130-3515

Conference Contributions

> 2023 

Metta E., Grandi N., Farci D., Piano D., Tramontano E. XXXIV SIMGBM CONGRESS – Microbiology 2023, Cagliari, 21-24 September 2023. Comprehensive identification and characterization of the S-layer Homology domain (SLH): results of a bioinformatic survey in more than 6300 bacteria genic sequences.