Lucia Sacchetti
Full Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, retired
Graduated in “Biology” in 1972 and obtained her post-graduate specialization in “Microbiology” from the University of Naples Federico II. In 1980 she was appointed Associate Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II. From 1990 to 2011she was Full Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Naples Federico II and Biology Director at the Department of Laboratory Medicine of the University Hospital Federico II, managing the Functional Area of Biological Individuality. From 2008 to 2011(before from 2000 to 2006) she was Director of the Post-graduate School of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II. Since 2004 she is Director of an operative unit at the Research Center CEINGE (Advanced Biotechnologies) Naples, Italy). Since 2018 she is a member of the CEINGE Unit of the “Task Force Microbiome”, University of Naples “Federico II”. Professor Sacchetti published 127 original articles, most of which in peer-reviewed journals (Citations 2838; h-Index 29) and presented over 200 communications to national and international scientific conferences. Selection of books edited: “ Medicina di Laboratorio e Diagnostica Genetica “ (E. Sorbona, 2007); "Medicina di Laboratorio" (UTET, 1996); “Clinical Biochemistry in Hepatobiliary Diseases” (Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, Vol. 8, 1988). Most of the experimental work in recent years have focused on the role of genetics, epigenetics and microbiome in celiac disease and obesity.
- To characterize duodenal and oropharyngeal microbiome profiles by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in a cohort of active, gluten-free diet (GFD) celiac disease (CD) patients and controls aimed to detect the CD-associated dysbiosis and its putative role in CD pathogenesis and diagnosis.
- To evaluate the microbiome and the metatrascriptome in duodenal samples of morbid obese and lean subjects aimed to highlight any disfunctional interplay between host and microbiota in obesity and its impact on obese phenotype and/or on obese associated diseases.
- Gut microbiome in celiac disease. Our group investigated the oropharyngeal microbiome in active CD patients and found that the Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, with Neisseria being the most abundant genus. Particularly, we highlighted in the oropharynx of active CD patients a microbial imbalance similar to that we previously described in CD duodenal microbiome (Fig.1). Our results suggest a continuum of CD-associated microbial composition from mouth to duodenum. If the CD-associated microbial imbalance precedes or follows the onset of the disease we will assessed by monitoring the oropharyngeal microbiome changes in at-risk for CD groups, such as potential CD, from diagnosis to the overt disease.
- Previously, we described metabolic alterations associated with maternal obesity, in detail the two main energy-producing pathways (glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation) are impaired during pregnancy (Fig. 2) and could concur to predispose offspring to metabolic diseases in adult life. Further, imbalance in the composition and functioning of the gut microbiome, through its interaction with the host, could contribute to obesity. To test our hypothesis we will study in obese (before undergoing bariatric surgery) and in lean subjects the microbiome by 16S rRNA sequencing in two gastrointestinal niches, mouth (oropharyngeal swab) and duodenum. We will also investigate the metatranscriptome in duodenal samples to highlight the expressed genes both in the host and in microbiota. The functional profiles obtained in obese compared with those in lean subjects, hopefully, will reveal key determinants in metabolic imbalance at heart of obesity.
Based on the specific professional skills required to carry out her research, usually establishes collaboration with several colleagues within and outside the CEINGE, more frequent collaborators are:
- Carmela Nardelli, RU
- Valeria D’Argenio, RU
- Lucio Pastore, PO
- Piero Pucci, PO
- Paola Salvatore, PO
- Francesco Salvatore, PO (CEINGE)
- Fabrizio Pasanisi, PO (Università Federico II)
- Carolina Ciacci, PO (Università di Salerno)
- Vincenzo Pilone, PA
1-Oropharyngeal microbiome evaluation highlights Neisseria abundance in active celiac patients. Iaffaldano L, Granata I, Pagliuca C, Esposito MV, Casaburi G, Salerno G, Colicchio R, Piccirillo M, Ciacci C, Del Vecchio Blanco G, Guarracino MR, Salvatore P, Salvatore F, D'Argenio V, Sacchetti L. Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 23;8(1):11047. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29443-1. PMID:30038321
2-Altered Bioenergetic Profile in Umbilical Cord and Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Newborns of Obese Women. Iaffaldano L, Nardelli C, D'Alessio F, D'Argenio V, Nunziato M, Mauriello L, Procaccini C, Maruotti GM, Martinelli P, Matarese G, Pastore L, Del Vecchio L, Labruna G, Sacchetti L. Stem Cells Dev. 2018 Feb 1;27(3):199-206. doi: 10.1089/scd.2017.0198. Epub 2018 Jan 3. PMID:29205089
3-No Change in the Mucosal Gut Mycobioma Is Associated with Celiac Disease-Specific Microbiome Alteration in Adult Patients. D'Argenio V, Casaburi G, Precone V, Pagliuca C, Colicchio R, Sarnataro D, Discepolo V, Kim SM, Russo I, Del Vecchio Blanco G, Horner DS, Chiara M, Pesole G, Salvatore P, Monteleone G, Ciacci C, Caporaso GJ, Jabrì B, Salvatore F, Sacchetti L. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Nov;111(11):1659-1661. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2016.227. No abstract available. Erratum in: Am J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jan;112(1):193. PMID:27808136
4-Metagenomics Reveals Dysbiosis and a Potentially Pathogenic N. flavescens Strain in Duodenum of Adult Celiac Patients. D'Argenio V, Casaburi G, Precone V, Pagliuca C, Colicchio R, Sarnataro D, Discepolo V, Kim SM, Russo I, Del Vecchio Blanco G, Horner DS, Chiara M, Pesole G, Salvatore P, Monteleone G, Ciacci C, Caporaso GJ, Jabrì B, Salvatore F, Sacchetti L. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jun;111(6):879-90. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2016.95. Epub 2016 Apr 5. PMID:27045926
5-Proteome analysis of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hA-MSCs) reveals impaired antioxidant ability, cytoskeleton and metabolic functionality in maternal obesity. Capobianco V, Caterino M, Iaffaldano L, Nardelli C, Sirico A, Del Vecchio L, Martinelli P, Pastore L, Pucci P, Sacchetti L. Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 29;6:25270. doi: 10.1038/srep25270. PMID:27125468