The effect of post-biotics-enriched diet on the antioxidant capacity in Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to Cu2O Angela Maione, Marianna Imparato, Antonietta Siciliano, Valeria Maselli, Tania Russo, Mariangela Norcia, Marco Guida, Daniel Mark Lyons, Emilia Galdiero Aquatic Toxicology, 2025 • Postbiotic supplementation mitigated oxidative stress induced by Cu₂O exposure in Mytilus galloprovincialis . This demonstrates the practical application and benefits of postbiotics in aquatic environments. • Enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GST) were observed in mussels fed with postbiotics. This emphasizes the mechanistic understanding of how postbiotics confer protection. • Lower expression of heat shock proteins ( HSP70, HSP90) indicated reduced cellular stress in postbiotic-fed groups. This provides further robust evidence of the protective effects of postbiotics at a molecular level, showcasing a novel aspect of their action in this context. This study explores the effects of copper (I) oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticle exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis gills and the modulation of oxidative stress by a diet enriched with a postbiotic derived from kefir microorganisms. Postbiotics, which include components such as proteins, lipopolysaccharides, and short-chain fatty acids, have shown biological benefits, including enhancing gut health and modulating immunity. They are known for their antioxidant properties, which can counteract oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals, making them useful in both human and animal health. Mussels were exposed to 2 mg L -1 of Cu₂O nanoparticles for three days. Nanoparticle characterization showed rapid agglomeration in seawater, with hydrodynamic diameters increasing from 76 ± 11 nm to 529 ± 75 nm within 24-48 h. Biochemical analyses revealed a significant increase in catalase (CAT) activity in mussels exposed to Cu₂O nanoparticles (G1⁺ group; p < 0.0001), which was not observed in mussels exposed to Cu₂O nanoparticles after feeding with postbiotics (G2⁺ group); indicating the postbiotic's protective role. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was significantly reduced in the G1⁺ group (p < 0.01), but maintained at control levels in the G2⁺ group. While glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity decreased in both exposed groups, the reduction was notably less pronounced in the G2⁺ group compared to G1⁺, suggesting mitigation of the pollutant's adverse effects on the GST-mediated detoxification pathway. A strong negative correlation was observed between CAT and GST (and to a lesser extent GR), indicating that Cu₂O exposure at the tested concentrations can overburden glutathione defense pathways despite robust CAT activity. These results highlight the potential of postbiotics from kefir microorganisms as effective feed additives in mussel aquaculture to enhance resilience against environmental pollutants and mitigate oxidative stress.
When DNA Tells the Tale: High-Resolution Melting as a Forensic Tool for Mediterranean Cetacean Identification Mariangela Norcia, Alessia Illiano, Barbara Mussi, Fabio Di Nocera, Emanuele Esposito, Anna Di Cosmo, Domenico Fulgione, Valeria Maselli International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 Effective species identification is crucial for the conservation and management of marine mammals, particularly in regions such as the Mediterranean Sea, where several cetacean populations are endangered or vulnerable. In this study, we developed and validated a High-Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis protocol for the rapid, cost-effective, and reliable identification of the four representative marine cetacean species that occur in the Mediterranean Sea: the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Species-specific primers targeting mitochondrial DNA regions (cytochrome b and D-loop) were designed to generate distinct melting profiles. The protocol was tested on both tissue and fecal samples, demonstrating high sensitivity, reproducibility, and discrimination power. The results confirmed the robustness of the method, with melting curve profiles clearly distinguishing the target species and achieving a success rate > 95% in identifying unknown samples. The use of HRM offers several advantages over traditional sequencing methods, including reduced cost, speed, portability, and suitability for degraded samples, such as those from the stranded individuals. This approach provides a valuable tool for non-invasive genetic surveys and real-time species monitoring, contributing to more effective conservation strategies for cetaceans and enforcement of regulations against illegal trade.
Flame-forged divergence? Ancient human fires and the evolution of diurnal and nocturnal lineages in moorish geckos Domenico Fulgione, Danilo Russo, Eleonora Rivieccio, Valeria Maselli, Bice Avallone, Alessandro Mondanaro, Giorgio Giurato, Maria Buglione Iscience, 2025 ). The pale-nocturnal variant exhibited lower skin melanin levels, smaller and fewer melanosomes, and lower plasma α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone levels than its dark-diurnal counterpart. Mitochondrial genome analyses indicated that the common ancestor of these gecko lineages diverged approximately 6,600 years ago, coinciding with the transition of modern humans from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural societies. Species distribution models suggested coexistence between humans and geckos during the emergence of these lineages. Additionally, we demonstrated that fire attracts phototactic arthropods, concentrating prey resources. These findings imply that human-controlled fire may have created a novel foraging niche for pale-nocturnal geckos, likely driving the divergence of the two variants.
Stress Induced by Fishing in Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and Relative Impact on Its Use as an Experimental Model Valeria Maselli, Mariangela Norcia, Bruno Pinto, Emanuela Cirillo, Gianluca Polese, Anna Di Cosmo Animals, 2025 The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), among coleoid cephalopods, has evolved the most complex nervous system and sophisticated behaviors. Historically, O. vulgaris was a key animal model for neurophysiology research, and today, it is studied for its genomic innovations. However, unlike other models, there is no octopus farming for research, so specimens must be collected from the wild. This study assessed the impact of fishing on octopuses used in research, considering those caught using artisanal pots in the ‘Regno di Nettuno’ Marine Protected Area, Ischia (NA). To evaluate fishing stress, we identified morphological stress indicators such as chromatophore pattern and posture, and three potential molecular markers, estrogen receptor (ER), catalase (CAT), and heat shock protein (HSP70). We measured the percentage of stress signals shown by fished specimens and analyzed their differential gene expression. The transcriptional levels of octopuses caught using traps were compared to control specimens acclimated in captivity. Results indicated fluctuations in gene expression due to fishing stress. These findings suggest that an acclimation period after the stress event of fishing is crucial for ensuring the welfare of octopuses used in research, thus enhancing the quality of physiological and ethological studies.
Extraocular Photoreception in Optic Lobes, Suckers, and Skin of Octopus vulgaris Valeria Maselli, Al‐Soudy Al‐Sayed, Mariangela Norcia, Stefania Galdiero, Sara Palladino, Emanuela Cirillo, Gianluca Polese, Anna Di Cosmo Integrative Zoology, 2025 Coleoid cephalopods like octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes have advanced light‐sensing systems crucial for visual perception and survival. Previously, it has been demonstrated that the skin of coleoids contains transcripts encoding rhodopsin and retinochrome, exhibiting a dermal light sense. Moreover, chromatophores in the mantle skin of Octopus bimaculoides expand in response to light when completely isolated from the central nervous system and eyes. In our study combining morphology, gene expression, molecular evolution, 3D modeling of protein structures, and phylogenetic analysis, we demonstrated the presence of photosensitive pigment transcripts in Octopus vulgaris, not only in eyes and skin but also in suckers and even optic lobes. In particular, for the first time, the RNA expression of Ov‐Rhodopsin, Ov‐retinochrome, and Ov‐GRK1 was found and quantified in the skin and also localized in different sucker types and the optic lobes. The obtained results suggest that suckers act as extraocular organs. Each of the approximately 1000 suckers contributes to the distributed light perception system, collectively acquiring environmental information that could support eye vision. Our findings could explain octopuses’ extraordinary ability to camouflage. Furthermore, the optic lobes, which are part of the central nervous system, could be directly involved in light detection, in addition to their role in the integration of sensory information.
Trophic organization of the benthic communities off the South Italian coasts: A review with a modelistic approach Bruno Pinto, Davide Bonsignori, Francesco Aliberti, Elvira Brunelli, Federica Carraturo, Maria Carmela Cerra, Paolo D'Ambrosio, Anna Di Cosmo, Alfonsina Gattuso, Marco Guida, Maria Assunta Iovine, Giovanni Libralato, Marialuisa Lusito, Valeria Maselli, Antonio Nappo, Paola Nieri, Gianluca Polese, Giuseppe Trotta, Maria Costantini, Valerio Zupo Science of the Total Environment, 2024
Polystyrene Microplastics Exacerbate Candida albicans Infection Ability In Vitro and In Vivo Angela Maione, Mariangela Norcia, Marica Sinoca, Marilena Galdiero, Valeria Maselli, Antonia Feola, Rosa Carotenuto, Paola Cuomo, Rosanna Capparelli, Marco Guida, Emilia Galdiero International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 Plastic pollution is an important environmental problem, and microplastics have been shown to have harmful effects on human and animal health, affecting immune and metabolic physiological functions. Further, microplastics can interfere with commensal microorganisms and exert deleterious effects on exposure to pathogens. Here, we compared the effects of 1 µm diameter polystyrene microplastic (PSMPs) on Candida albicans infection in both in vitro and in vivo models by using HT29 cells and Galleria mellonella larvae, respectively. The results demonstrated that PSMPs could promote Candida infection in HT29 cells and larvae of G. mellonella, which show immune responses similar to vertebrates. In this study, we provide new experimental evidence for the risk to human health posed by PSMPs in conjunction with Candida infections.
Evolutionary Plasticity in Insular Lizard, Adapting over Reproduction, Metabolism, and Color Variation Domenico Fulgione, Valeria Maselli, Eleonora Rivieccio, Serena Aceto, Marco Salvemini, Maria Buglione Biology, 2023 The Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) living on islets exhibits a melanic skin coloration and a suite of adaptive traits lacking in nearby mainland populations. On islets, the unpredictable environmental conditions and highly fluctuating population densities are believed to have produced reversed island syndrome (RIS). Several physiological, behavioral, and life-history changes based on the RIS could result from positive selection on increased activity of melanocortins. We hypothesize that phenotypes on islets are the product of a plastic variation depending on the regulation of specific genes. Focusing on control systems that determine the insular-adapted phenotype, we demonstrated that reproductive markers, involved in the hypothalamus–hypophysis–gonadal axis, and metabolism markers, flags for hypophysis-melanocortin receptors, are all up-regulated in island lizards under the RIS. This behavior, combined with the observed limited variation in the mitochondrial genome, agrees with the hypothesis that plasticity enables populations to persist in novel environmental conditions and that over time, natural selection will “fine-tune” the population to the environment by modifying the phenotype under selection. We believe that analysis of the transcriptome and the single gene expression, such that all the variations observed in the island populations, can be useful to shed light on evolutionary plasticity as a process affecting animals’ populations in general.
Cuttlefish conservation: a global review of methods to ameliorate unwanted fishing mortality and other anthropogenic threats to sustainability C J Barrett, J Bensbai, M K Broadhurst, P Bustamante, R Clark, G M Cooke, A Di Cosmo, C Drerup, O Escolar, F A Fernández-Álvarez, K Ganias, K C Hall, R T Hanlon, J Hernández-Urcera, Q Q H Hua, T Lacoue-Labarthe, J Lewis, F Lishchenko, V Maselli, H Moustahfid, R Nakajima, C E O’Brien, L Parkhouse, S Pengelly, G J Pierce, J G Ramírez, J-P Robin, K K Sajikumar, G Sasikumar, C L Smith, R Villanueva, D T H Yến ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2023 Cuttlefish are an important global fisheries resource, and their demand is placing increasing pressure on populations in many areas, necessitating conservation measures. We reviewed evidence from case studies spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia encompassing diverse intervention methods (fisheries closures, protected areas, habitat restoration, fishing-gear modifications, promoting egg survival, and restocking), and we also discuss the effects of pollution on cuttlefish. We conclude: (1) spatio-temporal closures need to encompass substantial portions of a species’ range and protect at least one major part of their life cycle; (2) fishing-gear modifications have the potential to reduce unwanted cuttlefish capture, but more comprehensive trials are needed; (3) egg survival can be improved by diverting and salvaging from traps; (4) existing lab rearing and restocking may not produce financially viable results; and (5) fisheries management policies should be regularly reviewed in light of rapid changes in cuttlefish stock status. Further, citizen science can provide data to reduce uncertainty in empirical assessments. The information synthesized in this review will guide managers and stakeholders to implement regulations and conservation initiatives that increase the productivity and sustainability of fisheries interacting with cuttlefish, and highlights gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed.
MicroRNAs are deeply linked to the emergence of the complex octopus brain Grygoriy Zolotarov, Bastian Fromm, Ivano Legnini, Salah Ayoub, Gianluca Polese, Valeria Maselli, Peter J. Chabot, Jakob Vinther, Ruth Styfhals, Eve Seuntjens, Anna Di Cosmo, Kevin J. Peterson, Nikolaus Rajewsky Science Advances, 2022
Contribution to the ecology of the Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus) Maria Buglione, Simona Petrelli, Gabriele de Filippo, Claudia Troiano, Eleonora Rivieccio, Tommaso Notomista, Valeria Maselli, Luciano di Martino, Marco Carafa, Romano Gregorio, Roberta Latini, Mario Fortebraccio, Giorgia Romeo, Claudia Biliotti, Domenico Fulgione Scientific Reports, 2020
