Bianca Colonna

Biography

* 1977: Laurea in Scienze Biologiche (110/110 e lode) presso l'Università di Roma La Sapienza (tesi sperimentale su Plasmidi e trasposoni in Salmonella wien). * 1978-1981: Borsista presso l'Istituto Pasteur di Parigi nel laboratorio del Prof. Maurice Hofnung lavora sui meccanismi di regolazione degli operoni maltosio in Escherichia coli K12. * 1981-1984: Borsista C.N.R. presso il laboratorio del prof. F.Graziosi dell'Università di Roma La Sapienza lavora sui sistemi di cattura del ferro in enterobatteri patogeni. * 1984-1998: Ricercatore Universitario presso il Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo dell'Università La Sapienza.

Research Interest

Main research interests: the research activity has always revolved around the understanding of mechanisms regulating gene expression in microorganisms. Following the initial training in molecular genetics of the maltose system at the Pasteur Institute, the investigation has been directed towards the understanding of genetic systems involved in iron uptake and the organization of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella. In recent years the research focus has been centered mainly on the expression of vir genes in Shigella. The results obtained have contributed to the clarification (i) of the mechanisms inducing silencing of virulence genes as a function of temperature; (ii) of the role of histone-like proteins in the control of the virulence phenotype; (iii) of the role of intrinsically curved DNA as a sensor of environmental signals relevant to gene expression; (iv) of the role of a new sRNA in the regulation of the icsA virulence gene and (v) of the molecular mechanisms underlying the emergence of pathoadaptive mutations in the evolution of pathogenic E. coli. Recently, a new research line has been set up on the molecular characterization of virulence determinants in Stenothrophomonas maltophilia, an emerging bacterial pathogen associated with cystic fibrosis.