Our group focuses on the identification and development of new organic molecules aimed at applications in the agricultural and medical fields. The multidisciplinary nature of our activities is structured around two main research lines:
Semiochemical-based insect pest control
Insects rely on olfaction to locate the resources necessary for their development and survival. Based on this brief but complex foundation, our research focuses on the identification of semiochemicals—chemical signals used by organisms to communicate with each other—in pest insects, especially in the context of insect-insect and insect-plant interactions. By characterizing these chemical signals, we deepen our understanding of the chemical ecology of pest insects with a view to developing environmentally friendly control strategies aligned with the principles of Integrated Pest Management. To achieve this objective, our research is based on the isolation and identification of semiochemicals, the evaluation of their electrophysiological and behavioral activity, and finally the validation of their efficacy under field conditions.
Chemistry and biology of sphingolipids
Sphingolipids are essential components of cells, both under normal physiological conditions and in pathological states. Under healthy conditions, they act as key signaling molecules in the regulation of various cellular functions. However, sphingolipids can also promote the development of diseases, from rare pathologies (sphingolipidoses) to conditions of major impact. Our research ranges from the development of chemical probes for diagnostic applications to the discovery of disease biomarkers (lipidomics) and the identification of chimeras targeting the proteolysis of proteins relevant to sphingolipid metabolism and functions. These objectives are achieved by combining disciplines such as computational design and synthesis of molecules, as well as the study of their biological activity in both cell-free systems and cell culture models.