CLAUDIA CORTIMIGLIA

@unicatt.it

Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari per una filiera agro-alimentare Sostenibile
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

CLAUDIA CORTIMIGLIA


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https://researchid.co/clacortimiglia

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Food microbiology
microbial genomics
molecular biology
28

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Sr2+ hydroxyapatite and polylactic acid nanoparticles doped antimicrobial bioactive chitosan-based coating for medical device osteointegration
    Amedeo Ungolo, Marco Ruggeri, Laura Caliogna, Claudia Cortimiglia, Daniele Callegari, Camilla Zanoni, Chiara Milanese, Eleonora Bianchi, Barbara Vigani, Eliana Quartarone, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Silvia Rossi, Giuseppina Sandri
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
  • Cinnamon-enriched chocolate pralines as a delivery system for Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505: viability and digestive stability
    Marianna Bozzetti, Eleonora Galli, Claudia Cortimiglia, Ernesto Carrega, Mariasole Cervini, Paolo Cernuschi, Daniela Bassi
    Food Bioscience, 2026
    The demand for functional foods is rapidly increasing, particularly in the confectionery sector. Cinnamon, a natural spice rich in polyphenols, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making it a valuable addition to health-oriented foods. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 is a probiotic strain known for its immunomodulatory effects, notably in reducing respiratory infections in children. This study aimed to develop milk chocolate pralines enriched with cinnamon and fortified with CRL1505 strain, in order to assess the impact of cinnamon on probiotic viability during storage and simulated digestion. Two praline variants were formulated: one containing only CRL1505 and the same but supplemented with 3.4% cinnamon powder. Products were stored at 25°C for 120 days and analyzed every 30 days for probiotic survival and physicochemical parameters. Microbiological stability was evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the storage period. To assess the probiotic resistance to simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the standardized INFOGEST in vitro human digestion static protocol was implied immediately at the end of production, and after 120 days. Both formulations demonstrated to be microbiologically stable throughout storage. Cinnamon supplementation did not adversely affect probiotic viability during the 120 day-storage period. Simulated digestion confirmed over 77% survival across all digestive phases, even after extended storage. These findings suggest that incorporating cinnamon into probiotic chocolate confections does not drastically compromise probiotic viability and offer additional flavor. The combination of CRL1505 and cinnamon presents a promising approach for developing shelf-stable, health-oriented confectionery products. • L. rhamnosus CRL1505 viability was assessed in chocolate with 3.4% cinnamon. • Cinnamon did not drastically affect chocolate physicochemical properties. • Chocolates maintained high probiotic viable counts after 120 days of storage. • No impact of cinnamon on CRL1505 viability was observed up to 120 days. • Chocolate matrix protected L. rhamnosus CRL1505 during simulated digestion tests.
  • Comprehensive genome-wide analysis for the safety assessment of microbial biostimulants in agricultural applications
    Gabriele Bellotti, Claudia Cortimiglia, Maria Elena Antinori, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Edoardo Puglisi
    Microbial Genomics, 2025
    Microbial biostimulants (MBs) offer a sustainable approach to agriculture by helping to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, as MBs are intentionally released into the environment, their safety should be rigorously assessed. While taxa with qualified presumption of safety (QPS) benefit from established safety indications, non-QPS taxa lack such guidance. To address this gap, we propose a pipeline combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) and extensive literature search (ELS) data to evaluate microbial safety. We analysed public genomes of three QPS species (Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bacillus velezensis, Priestia megaterium) and four non-QPS genera (Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Herbaspirillum), screening them for virulence factors (VFs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Results confirmed the safety of QPS taxa, revealing no VFs and only a few intrinsic and non-clinically relevant AMRs. Among non-QPS taxa, VF hits were more prevalent in Azotobacter and Azospirillum spp., though they were mostly related to beneficial plant interactions rather than pathogenicity. AMR genes in non-QPS taxa were primarily associated with efflux pumps or were sporadically distributed. Notably, the only genus-wide pattern observed was that most Azospirillum and Herbaspirillum genomes harboured chromosomally encoded β-lactamases sharing similar genetic structures; however, the detected β-lactamase (bla) genes were distantly related to clinically relevant bla variants, and the absence of MGEs suggests a low risk of horizontal gene transfer, indicating the overall safety of these genera. In general, this WGS–ELS framework provides a robust tool for assessing the safety of non-QPS MBs, supporting regulatory decision-making and ensuring their safe use in sustainable agriculture while safeguarding public health.
  • Tenebrio molitor Frass: A Cutting-Edge Biofertilizer for Sustainable Agriculture and Advanced Adsorbent Precursor for Environmental Remediation
    Alessandra Verardi, Paola Sangiorgio, Brigida Della Mura, Stefania Moliterni, Anna Spagnoletta, Salvatore Dimatteo, Daniela Bassi, Claudia Cortimiglia, Raffaella Rebuzzi, Salvatore Palazzo, Simona Errico
    Agronomy, 2025
    The projected growth of the global population to over 10 billion by 2080 necessitates groundbreaking sustainable agricultural solutions that enhance productivity while mitigating environmental impacts. Tenebrio molitor frass (TMF), derived from larval excrement and exuviae, has emerged as a promising organic fertilizer. Enriched with macro- and micronutrients, TMF enhances soil functions through microbial communities that promote nutrient cycling, decompose organic matter, and suppress soilborne pathogens. Additionally, functional compounds like chitin, cellulose, xylans, and lignin improve the soil structure, foster beneficial microbes, and activate natural plant defence responses. The synergy of microbial activity and bioactive compounds positions TMF as a valuable resource for enhancing plant growth and soil health. Its role as a nutrient source, biostimulant, and soil amendment aligns with circular economy principles by recycling agro-industrial by-products and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. TMF also contributes to sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, microbial biodiversity, and plant stress resilience, while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff. Additionally, TMF-derived biochar offers the potential for environmental remediation as an effective adsorbent. Despite its advantages, TMF faces challenges in scalability, cost, and regulations, requiring advancements in processing, enrichment, and supportive policies to maximize its potential in sustainable farming.
  • Antibiotic resistance and novel Sequence Types of Klebsiella spp. in human, animal, and food sources: a One Health perspective from Northern Nigeria
    Ayodele Timilehin Adesoji, Vittoria Mattioni Marchetti, Claudia Cortimiglia, Francesca Piscopiello, Ilaria Petrizzi, Aurora Piazza, Emmanuel Dayo Alabi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Roberta Migliavacca
    Current Research in Microbial Sciences, 2025
    using the One Health approach are urgently needed in Northern Nigeria. Importance: spp., ongoing surveillance across Africa is warranted, employing both classical and molecular methods. In this study, next-generation sequencing enabled a comprehensive assessment of the circulating bacterial species, resistome, plasmidome, and virulome.
  • Evaluating the Genome-Based Average Nucleotide Identity Calculation for Identification of Twelve Yeast Species
    Claudia Cortimiglia, Javier Alonso-Del-Real, Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Amparo Querol, Giovanni Iacono, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    Journal of Fungi, 2024
    Classifying a yeast strain into a recognized species is not always straightforward. Currently, the taxonomic delineation of yeast strains involves multiple approaches covering phenotypic characteristics and molecular methodologies, including genome-based analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) calculation through FastANI, a tool created for bacterial species identification, for the assignment of strains to some yeast species. FastANI, the alignment of in silico-extracted D1/D2 sequences of LSU rRNA, and multiple alignments of orthologous genes (MAOG) were employed to analyze 644 assemblies from 12 yeast genera, encompassing various species, and on a dataset of hybrid Saccharomyces species. Overall, the analysis showed high consistency between results obtained with FastANI and MAOG, although, FastANI proved to be more discriminating than the other two methods applied to genomic sequences. In particular, FastANI was effective in distinguishing between strains belonging to different species, defining clear boundaries between them (cutoff: 94–96%). Our results show that FastANI is a reliable method for attributing a known yeast species to a particular strain. Moreover, although hybridization events make species discrimination more complex, it was revealed to be useful in the identification of these cases. We suggest its inclusion as a key component in a comprehensive approach to species delineation. Using this approach with a larger number of yeasts would validate it as a rapid technique to identify yeasts based on whole genome sequences.
  • Microplastic-Mediated Transfer of Tetracycline Resistance: Unveiling the Role of Mussels in Marine Ecosystems
    Giovanni Milani, Claudia Cortimiglia, Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Emanuele Greco, Daniela Bassi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    Antibiotics, 2024
    The global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is exacerbated by the mobilization of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) occurring in different environmental niches, including seawater. Marine environments serve as reservoirs for resistant bacteria and ARGs, further complicated by the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs). MPs can adsorb pollutants and promote bacterial biofilm formation, creating conditions favorable to the dissemination of ARGs. This study explores the dynamics of ARG transfer in the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis within a seawater model, focusing on the influence of polyethylene MPs on the mobilization of the Tn916-carrying tetM gene and plasmid-encoded ermB. Experiments revealed that biofilm formation on MPs by Enterococcus faecium and Listeria monocytogenes facilitated the transfer of the tetM resistance gene, but not the ermB gene. Furthermore, the presence of MPs significantly increased the conjugation frequency of tetM within mussels, indicating that MPs enhance the potential for ARG mobilization in marine environments. These findings highlight the role of MPs and marine organisms in ARG spread, underscoring the ecological and public health implications.
  • Development of Coated PLA Films Containing a Commercial Olive Leaf Extract for the Food Packaging Sector
    Cecilia Fiorentini, Giulia Leni, Elena Díaz de Apodaca, Laura Fernández-de-Castro, Gabriele Rocchetti, Claudia Cortimiglia, Giorgia Spigno, Andrea Bassani
    Antioxidants, 2024
    A commercial olive leaf extract (OL), effective against Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, was added to three different coating formulations (methylcellulose, MC; chitosan, CT; and alginate, ALG) to produce active polylactic acid (PLA) coated films. Evaluation of these coated PLA films revealed significant inhibition of S. aureus growth, particularly with the MC and CT formulations exhibiting the highest inhibition rates (99.7%). The coated films were then tested for food contact compatibility with three food simulants (A: 10% ethanol; B: 3% acetic acid; D2: olive oil), selected to assess their suitability for pre-cut hams and ready-to-eat vegetables in relation to overall migration. However, coated films with active functions exhibited migration values in simulants A and B above legal limits, while promising results were obtained for simulant D2, highlighting the need to deeply investigate these coatings’ impact on a real food system. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that the type of coating influenced the selective release of certain phenolic classes based on the food simulant tested. The Oxitest analysis of simulant D2 demonstrated that the MC and ALG-coated PLA films slightly slowed down the oxidation of this food simulant, which is an edible vegetable oil.
  • Companilactobacillus alimentarius: An extensive characterization of strains isolated from spontaneous fermented sausages
    Giulia Tabanelli, Federica Barbieri, Alberto Baños, Jose Manuel Garcia Madero, Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Claudia Cortimiglia, Giovanni Milani, Daniela Bassi, Fausto Gardini, Chiara Montanari
    International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2024
    Companilactobacillus alimentarius is a facultatively heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium (LAB) that is a significant constituent within the microbiota of various traditional fermented foods exerting several functions in fermentative or ripening processes. This species has been isolated from Spanish fermented sausages, where its frequency of isolation was comparable to those of Latilactobacillus sakei and Latilactobacillus curvatus. Despite to its presence in several niches, ecological information on this species is still scarce and only few publications report information about its safety features (i.e. antibiotic resistance). Since studies on C. alimentarius concern the analysis of a few individual traits regarding this species, a more extensive work on a larger number of isolates from the same matrix have been performed to allow a clearer interpretation of their phenotypic and technological characteristics. Specifically, 14 strains of C. alimentarius isolated from Mediterranean spontaneously fermented sausages, have been screened for their safety and technological characteristics (such as antibiotic resistance, biogenic amine production, inhibiting potential, growth at different temperatures and NaCl concentrations) and with phenotype microarrays with the aim to elucidate their potential role and contribution to sausage fermentation and ripening. In general, a wide variability was observed in relation to the parameters considered. Several of the tested strains were able to produce histamine, tyramine and putrescine while the antibiotic resistance greatly varied according to the strains, with the exception of vancomycin. In addition, C. alimentarius strains showed a relevant potential to grow in conditions of salt and temperature mimicking those found in fermented foods. In particular, the growth at 10 °C and in the presence of salt can explain the presence of C. alimentarius in sausages and its adaptation to fermented meat environment in which low temperature can be applied during ripening. The differentiation of the phenotypic profile reflected the environmental conditions that influenced the isolation source, including those derived by the raw materials. Given the species frequent association with spontaneous fermentations or the ripening microbiota of various products, despite not being intentionally used as starter cultures, the data presented in this study contribute to a deeper comprehension of their role, both advantageous and detrimental, in numerous significant fermented foods.
  • Validation of digital PCR assay for the quantification of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine faeces according to the ISO 20395:2019
    Simone Russo, Claudia Cortimiglia, Anita Filippi, Giorgia Palladini, Chiara Garbarino, Elisa Massella, Matteo Ricchi
    Journal of Microbiological Methods, 2023
  • Genome engineering of Stx1-and Stx2-converting bacteriophages unveils the virulence of the dairy isolate Escherichia coli O174:H2 strain UC4224
    Giovanni Milani, Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Claudia Cortimiglia, Daniela Bassi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023
  • Isothermal inactivation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in curd simulating the stretching phase in pasta-filata cheese process
    Filippo Barsi, Elena Dalzini, Simone Russo, Elena Cosciani-Cunico, Paola Monastero, Norma Arrigoni, Chiara Anna Garbarino, Claudia Cortimiglia, Marina Nadia Losio, Matteo Ricchi
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022
  • Genomic Insights of Enterococcus faecium UC7251, a Multi-Drug Resistant Strain From Ready-to-Eat Food, Highlight the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain
    Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Giovanni Milani, Claudia Cortimiglia, Ester Pietta, Daniela Bassi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022
  • Wild Boars as an Indicator of Environmental Spread of ESβL-Producing Escherichia coli
    Alessandra Mercato, Claudia Cortimiglia, Aseel Abualsha’ar, Aurora Piazza, Federica Marchesini, Giovanni Milani, Silvia Bonardi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Roberta Migliavacca
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022
  • Citrus peel extracts for industrial-scale production of bio-based active food packaging
    Cecilia Fiorentini, Guillermo Duserm Garrido, Andrea Bassani, Claudia Cortimiglia, Marta Zaccone, Luana Montalbano, Vanesa Martinez-Nogues, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Giorgia Spigno
    Foods, 2022
  • Colorimetric point-of-care detection of Clostridium tyrobutyricum spores in milk samples
    Paola Cecere, Francesca Gatto, Claudia Cortimiglia, Daniela Bassi, Franco Lucchini, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Pier Paolo Pompa
    Biosensors, 2021
  • Genomic Investigation of Virulence Potential in Shiga Toxin Escherichia coli (STEC) Strains From a Semi-Hard Raw Milk Cheese
    Claudia Cortimiglia, Maria Francesca Borney, Daniela Bassi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021
  • Genome-based studies indicate that the enterococcus faecium clade b strains belong to enterococcus lactis species and lack of the hospital infection associated markers
    Mireya Viviana Belloso Daza, Claudia Cortimiglia, Daniela Bassi, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2021
  • Staphylococcus aureus From Goats Are Genetically Heterogeneous and Distinct to Bovine Ones
    Alicia Romanò, Alessandra Gazzola, Valentina Bianchini, Claudia Cortimiglia, Antonio M. Maisano, Paola Cremonesi, Hans U. Graber, Fausto Vezzoli, Mario Luini
    Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020
  • Draft genome sequence of lactobacillus helveticus Lh 23, isolated from natural whey starter
    Gaia Bertani, Daniela Bassi, Claudia Cortimiglia, Monica Gatti, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Erasmo Neviani
    Microbiology Resource Announcements, 2020
  • Survey on the CRISPR arrays in Lactobacillus helveticus genomes
    E. Scaltriti, D. Carminati, C. Cortimiglia, R. Ramoni, K.I. Sørensen, G. Giraffa, M. Zago
    Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2019
  • Involvement of tyrosinase-related protein 1 gene in the light brown plumage phenotype of Falco cherrug
    Claudia Cortimiglia, Bianca Castiglioni, Flavia Pizzi, Alessandra Stella, Emanuele Capra
    Animal Genetics, 2017
  • Development of a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction for rapid and simultaneous identification of common foodborne pathogens in soft cheese
    Paola Cremonesi, Claudia Cortimiglia, Claudia Picozzi, Giulietta Minozzi, Michela Malvisi, Mario Luini, Bianca Castiglioni
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016
  • Short report prevalence of staphylococcus aureus and of methicillin-resistant s. Aureus clonal complexes in bulk tank milk from dairy cattle herds in lombardy region (Northern Italy)
    C. CORTIMIGLIA, M. LUINI, V. BIANCHINI, L. MARZAGALLI, F. VEZZOLI, D. AVISANI, M. BERTOLETTI, A. IANZANO, A. FRANCO, A. BATTISTI
    Epidemiology and Infection, 2016
  • Short communication: Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus in bulk tank milk from dairy goat farms in Northern Italy
    C. Cortimiglia, V. Bianchini, A. Franco, A. Caprioli, A. Battisti, L. Colombo, K. Stradiotto, F. Vezzoli, M. Luini
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2015
  • Simultaneous identification by multiplex PCR of major Prototheca spp. isolated from bovine and buffalo intramammary infection and bulk tank
    E. Capra, P. Cremonesi, C. Cortimiglia, G. Bignoli, M. Ricchi, P. Moroni, A. Pesce, M. Luini, B. Castiglioni
    Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2014
  • The axonal guidance factor netrin-1 as a potential modulator of swine follicular function
    G. Basini, C. Cortimiglia, L. Baioni, S. Bussolati, S. Grolli, R. Ramoni, F. Grasselli
    Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2011
  • Netrin-1: Just an axon-guidance factor?
    L. Baioni, G. Basini, S. Bussolati, C. Cortimiglia, F. Grasselli
    Veterinary Research Communications, 2010