PhD Student
Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM) Department
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Villa Comunale
80121 Naples - Italy
Tel.: +39 344 401 8432
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Director of Studies: Rossella Annunziata
Internal Supervisor: Salvatore D’Aniello
External Supervisor: Gáspár Jékely
Advisor: Margherita Perillo
Program: Open University, XXVII cycle
Research Interests
Sea cucumbers, or holothuroids, are ecologically important members of marine benthic ecosystems, where they act as bioturbators and nutrient recyclers. Beyond their ecological role, they are also valued for their bioactive compounds and have recently gained attention as emerging experimental models in developmental biology. Among these organisms, the Mediterranean species Holothuria tubulosa has revealed a previously unknown fluorescent pigment cell type, referred to as “fluo cells”, located along the larval ciliary bands. These cells share developmental markers with immune cells known from other echinoderms but may have different sensory or physiological roles. This project aims to understand the embryonic origin, function, and molecular identity of these fluo cells, and to study their fluorescent pigment. My objectives include (i) identifying the gene families involved in their specification and function through transcriptomic and phylogenetic analyses, (ii) tracking their emergence during development using live imaging and fluorescent in situ hybridization, (iii) investigating their role through gene knockouts and behavioural and physiological assays, and (iv) isolating and analysing the fluorescent pigment to explore its biotechnological potential. This multidisciplinary approach will improve our understanding of novel cell type evolution and the ecological significance of natural fluorescence in marine organisms.
