Technician
Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources Department
Molecular Sequencing & Analysis Center
Tel. +39 081 5833269
Fax: +39 081 7641355
e-mail monia.russo(at)szn.it
Skype: moniateresarusso
Research interests
My work experiences have been focused on the use of molecular biology for the study of genomes, gene expression and analysis of gene function by mutagenesis in different model systems, such as cell cultures, mice, tunicates and different species of diatoms. In particular, for marine diatoms, I worked to expand the potential of their use as systems of molecular experimental models through the establishment of genetic transformation tools and the improvement of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, coupling it with bacterial conjugation or proteolistic transformation.
My activities at the MB&BI unit consist in participation in routine activities carried out by the service, both basic and specialist ones, such as preparation of competent bacterial cells for chemical transformation and electroporation, preparation of media and solutions, Sanger sequencing, Real Time PCR, droplet digital PCR, nucleic acid quality control by capillary electrophoresis, isolation and purification of gDNA and mRNA with relative qualitative and quantitative analysis for the preparation of libraries for analysis by NGS, realization of gain of function mutants by gene overexpression, knock down gene expression by RNA interference or loss of function mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 technology using different transformation techniques (biolistics, proteolistics, electroporation, bacterial conjugation), analysis of genetic mutations, training in basic molecular biology techniques, performing comparative tests of new products and protocols, implementation of new strategies and technologies.
Selected Publications
1. Russo, M.T., Vitale, L., Entrambasaguas, L., Anestis, K., Fattorini, N., Romano, F., Minucci, C., De Luca, P., Biffali, E., Vyverman, W., Sanges, R., Montresor, M., Ferrante, M.I. (2018). MRP3 is a sex determining gene in the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. Nature Communications 9:5050; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07496-0. WOS:000451433800020
2. Russo, M.T., Aiese Cigliano, R., Sanseverino, W., Ferrante, M.I. (2018). Assessment of genomic changes in a CRISPR/Cas9 Phaeodactylum tricornutum mutant through whole genome resequencing. PeerJ 6:e5507; DOI 10.7717/peerj.5507 WOS:000447208100001 Co-corresponding authorship.
3. Kroth, P.G., Bones, A.M., Daboussi, F., Ferrante, M.I., Jaubert, M., Kolot, M., Nymark, M., Río Bártulos, C., Ritter, A., Russo, M.T., Serif, M., Winge, P., Falciatore, A. (2018). Genome editing in diatoms: achievements and goals. Plant cell reports 37: 1401–1408. WOS:000445435800005.
4. Basu, S., Patil, S., Mapleson, D., Russo, M.T., Vitale, L., Fevola, C., Maumus, F., Casotti, R., Mock, T., Caccamo, M., Montresor, M., Sanges, R., Ferrante, M.I. (2017). Finding a partner in the ocean: molecular and evolutionary bases of the response to sexual cues in a planktonic diatom. New Phytologist 215: 140–156. WOS:000402413100015.
5. Russo, M.T., Annunziata, R., Sanges, R., Ferrante, M.I., Falciatore, A. (2015). The upstream regulatory sequence of the light harvesting complex Lhcf2 gene of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum enhances transcription in an orientation- and distance-independent fashion. Marine Genomics 24: 69–79. WOS:000367774900009 Co-corresponding authorship.
6. Sabatino, V., Russo, M.T., Patil, S., d’Ippolito, G., Fontana, A. and Ferrante, M.I. (2015). Establishment of genetic transformation in the sexually reproducing diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata and Pseudo-nitzschia arenysensis and inheritance of the transgene. Marine Biotechnology 17(4):452-462. WOS:000357122000008.
7. Russo, M.T., Racioppi, C., Zanetti, L., Ristoratore, F. (2014). Expression of a single prominin homolog in the embryo of the model chordate Ciona intestinalis. Gene Expr Patterns 15(1):38-45. WOS:000338610900005.
8. Antonini, D., Russo, M.T., De Rosa, L., Gorrese, M., Del Vecchio, L., and Missero, C. (2010). Transcriptional repression of miR-34 family contributes to p63-mediated cell cycle progression in epidermal cells. J. Invest. Dermatol. 130(5):1249-57. WOS:000276972300010.
9. De Rosa, L., Antonini, D., Ferone, G., Russo, M.T., Yu, P. B., Han, R. and Missero, C. (2009). p63 suppresses non-epidermal gene expression by direct regulation of BMP/Smad signaling. J Biol Chem. 284 30574-82. WOS:000271090000060.
10. Sordino, P., Andreakis, N., Brown, E. R., Leccia, N. I., Squarzoni, P., Tarallo R., Alfano, C., Caputi, L., D'Ambrosio, P., Daniele, P., D'Aniello, E., D'Aniello, S., Maiella, S., Miraglia, V., Russo, M.T., Sorrenti, G., Branno, M., Cariello, L., Cirino, P., Locascio, A., Spagnuolo, A., Zanetti, L. and Ristoratore, F. (2008). Natural Variation of Model Mutant Phenotypes in Ciona intestinalis. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2344. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002344. WOS:000262614300037.
11. Alfano, C., Russo, M. T., Spagnuolo, A. (2007). Developmental expression and transcriptional regulation of Ci-Pans, a novel neural marker gene of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Gene 406 36-41. WOS:000252500500006. Co-first authorship.
12. D’Aniello, S., D’Aniello, E., Locascio, A., Memoli, A., Corrado, M., Russo, M.T., Aniello, F., Fucci, L., Brown, E. R. and Branno, M. (2006). The ascidian homologue of the vertebrate homeobox gene Rx is essential for ocellus development and function. Differentiation 74 222-34. WOS:000237811900003.
13. Russo, M. T., Donizetti, A., Locascio, A., D’Aniello, S., Amoroso, A., Aniello, F., Fucci, L., Branno, M. (2004). Regulatory Elements Controlling Ci-msxb Tissue Specific Expression during Ciona intestinalis embryonic development. Dev Biol 267 517-18. WOS:000220351400018.
14. Aniello, F., Villano, G., Corrado, M., Locascio, A., Russo, M. T., D’Aniello, S., Fucci, L., Branno, M. (2003). Structural organization of the sea urchin DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase gene and characterization of five alternative spliced transcripts. Gene 302 1-9. WOS:000180682700001.
