Daria Nicolosi

[1] G. Blandino, A.M. Lo bue, I. Milazzo, D. Nicolosi, G. Calì, V. Cannavò, B. Rossetti: Comparison of systemic flurithromycin therapy and clinical procedures in the treatment of periodontal diseases. Journal of Chemotherapy 2004 Vol. 16 n. 2: 151-155.

[2] G. Tempera, G. Abbadessa, G. Bonfiglio, E. Cammarata, A. Cianci, S. Corsello, A. Raimondi, G. Ettore, D. Nicolosi, P.M. Furneri: Topical kanamycin: an effective therapeutic option in aerobic vaginitis. Journal of Chemotherapy 2006 Vol. 18 n. 4: 409-414.

[3] G. Nicoletti, G. Schito, G. Fadda, S. Boros, D. Nicolosi, A. Marchese, T. Spanu, A. Pantosti, M. Monaco, G. Rezza, A. Cassone, E. Garaci for the CIGAR (Gruppo Cooperativo Infezioni Gravi ed Antibiotico Resistenza): Bacterial isolates from severe infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Italy: a nationwide study in the hospital setting. Journal of Chemotherapy 2006 Vol. 18 n. 6: 589-602.

[4] G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi, G.M. Rossolini, S. Stefani: Eziologia, epidemiologia e diagnostica microbiologica delle infezioni intraddominali. Le Infezioni in Medicina 2008, Vol. 16, Suppl. 1: 8-18.

[5] M.L. Mezzatesta, G. Trovato, F. Gona, V.M. Nicolosi, D. Nicolosi, A. Carattoli, G. Fadda, G. Nicoletti, S. Stefani: In vitro activity of tigecycline and comparators against carbapenem-susceptible and resistant Acinetobacter baumannii  clinical isolates in Italy. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2008, 7:4.

[6] A.M. Lo Bue, R. Di Marco, I. Milazzo, D. Nicolosi, G. Calì, B. Rossetti, G. Blandino: Microbiological and clinical periodontal effects of fixed orthodontic appliances in pediatric patients. New Microbiologica 2008, 31(2): 299-302.

[7] D. Nicolosi, V. M. Nicolosi, A. Cappellani, G. Nicoletti, G. Blandino: Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of uncommon bacterial species causing severe infections in Italy. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Vol. 21 n. 3: 253-260.

[8] G. Tempera, A. Mangiafico, C. Genovese, E. Giudice, S. Mastrojeni, D. Nicolosi, P.M. Furneri: In vitro evaluation of the synergistic activity of neomycin-polymyxin B association against pathogens responsible for otitis externa. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 2009, 22(2): 299-302.

[9] M.L. Mezzatesta, F. Gona, G. Marchese, D. Nicolosi, M.A. Toscano, S. Stefani, G. Nicoletti: Cefditoren versus community-acquired respiratory pathogens: time-kill studies. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Vol. 21 n. 4: 378-382.

[10] G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi, G.M. Rossolini, S. Stefani: Intra-abdominal infections: etiology, epidemiology, microbiological diagnosis and antibiotic resistance. Journal of Chemotherapy 2009, Suppl. 1 (Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for Intra-abdominal Infections): 5-11.

[11] G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi, V. M. Nicolosi, S. Stefani: Antibioticoresistenza dei patogeni responsabili delle infezioni ospedaliere in "Infezioni correlate all'assistenza in ospedale e sul territorio", a cura di E.G. Rondanelli, M.L. Moro, P. Grossi, P. Marone. Selecta Medica, Pavia 2009, vol. 1 pag 615-640.

[12] G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi: Il ruolo dei laboratori di microbiologia nel controllo dell'antibiotico-resistenza in "Giornata europea degli antibiotici: uso responsabile per il controllo dell'antibiotico-resistenza", a cura di A. Pantosti e M. Del Grosso. Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Rapporti ISTISAN 09/32), Roma 2009, pag 24-26.

[13] D. Nicolosi, M. Scalia, V. M. Nicolosi, R. Pignatello: Encapsulation in fusogenic liposomes broadens the spectrum of action of vancomycin against gram-negative bacteria. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (June) 2010, Vol. 35 n. 6: 553-558.

[14] G. Tempera, S. Corsello, C. Genovese, F. E. Caruso, D. Nicolosi: Inhibitory activity of cranberry extracts on the bacterial adhesions in the urine of  women: an ex-vivo study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (April-June) 2010, Vol. 23 n. 2: 611-618.

[15] F. Campanile, S. Borbone, M. Perez, D. Bongiorno, V. Cafiso, T. Bertuccio, S. Purrello, D. Nicolosi, C. Scuderi, S. Stefani: Heteroresistance to glycopeptides in Italian meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (November) 2010, Vol. 36 n. 5: 415-419.

[16] R. Pignatello, M. G. Sarpietro, V. M. Nicolosi, D. Nicolosi: Effect of composition on the in vitro activity of fusogenic liposomes loaded with vancomycin against gram-negative bacteria. Inventi Impact: NDDS Vol. 2011, Issue 2: 92-94.

[17] G. Blandino, G. Nicoletti, D. Nicolosi: Susceptibility of molecularly characterized hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates to dalbavancin. Journal of Chemotherapy 2011, Vol 23 n. 5: 306-307.

[18] R. Pignatello, D. Nicolosi, V. M. Nicolosi: Fusogenic liposomes as new carriers to enlarge the spectrum of action of antibiotic drugs against Gram-negative bacteria. In "Science against microbial pathogens: communicating current research and technological advances" (A. Méndez-Vilas ed.). Formatex Research Center, Spain, 2011, vol. 1 pag 52-60.

[19] G. C Leonardi, S. Candido, M. Cervello, D. Nicolosi, F. Raiti, S. Travali, D. A. Spandidos, M. Libra: The tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (Review). International Journal of Oncology 2012, vol. 40: 1733-1747.

[20] G. Blandino, V. M. Nicolosi, D. Nicolosi: Bacilli sporigeni aerobi e anaerobi (cap. 37) e Batteri anaerobi non sporigeni (cap. 38) in "Microbiologia farmaceutica" vol. 2 (a cura di N. Carlone), Edises, Napoli 2013 (ISBN 9788879597364).

[21] V. Rapisarda, A. Marconi1, S. Candido, D. Nicolosi, M. Salmeri, P. Gangemi, L. Proietti, D. A. Spandidos, M. Bracci, C. Fenga, M. Libra: A tailored health surveillance program unveils a case of MALT lymphoma in an HCV-positive health-care worker. Oncology Letters 2013, vol. 5: 651-654.

[22] Daria Nicolosi, Gianna Tempera, Carlo Genovese and Pio M. Furneri: Anti-Adhesion Activity of A2-type Proanthocyanidins (a Cranberry Major Component) on Uropathogenic E. coli and P. mirabilis Strains. Antibiotics 2014, 3(2), 143-154. 

[23] Nicolosi D, Cupri S, Genovese C, Tempera G, Mattina R, Pignatello R: Nanotechnology approaches for antibacterial drug delivery: Preparation and microbiological evaluation of fusogenic liposomes carrying fusidic acid. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2015 Jun;45(6):622-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2015.01.016.

[24] Genovese C, Corsello S, Nicolosi D, Aidala V, Falcidia E, Tempera G: Alterations of the vaginal microbiota inthe third trimester of pregnancy and pPROM. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016; 20: 3336-3343.

[25] Genovese C, Davinelli S, Mangano K, Tempera G, Nicolosi D, Corsello S, Vergalito F, Tartaglia E, Scapagnini G, Di Marco R: Effects of a new combination of  plant extracts plus d-mannose for the management of uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infections. J Chemother. 2017 Oct 27:1-8.

[26] Genovese C, Pulvirenti L, Cardullo N, Muccilli V, Tempera G, Nicolosi D, Tringali C: Bioinspired benzoxanthene lignans as a new class of antimycotic agents: synthesis and Candida spp. growth inhibition. Nat Prod Res. 2018 Nov 13:1-10.

[27] Genovese C, Acquaviva R, Ronsisvalle S, Tempera G, Antonio Malfa GA, D’Angeli F, Ragusa S, Nicolosi D: In vitro evaluation of biological activities of Orobanche crenata Forssk. leaves extract. Nat Prod Res. 2019 Jan 23:1-5.  

[28] Acquaviva R, D'Angeli F, Malfa GA, Ronsisvalle D, Garozzo A, Stivala A, Ragusa S, Nicolosi D, Salmeri M, GenoveseC. Antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of walnut pellicle extract (Juglans regia L.) against coagulase-negative staphylococci. Nat Prod Res. 2019 Aug 9:1-6. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1650352.

During my PhD period, I worked on the project "Serious Infections", a surveillance study on a national scale, coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The Microbiological Sciences Department (University of Catania), in fact, had been chosen as a reference center for the south of Italy for the collection of samples isolated from 45 microbiology laboratories, present in various hospitals scattered throughout the national territory (named operative units). During this project, more than 6,000 bacterial strains, coming from the 45 operative units, were isolated, identified, cataloged and stored in a library. The project was renewed thanks to its epidemiological importance in 2008. Thus it became the starting point for my research conducted during the research grant period. The most important data emerging from the surveillance study about "serious infections" was, however, the worrying increase in resistance of some bacterial species against numerous antibiotics, which is currently not balanced by the development of new molecules. This study also highlighted the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens, in particular pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections or infections related to health care? These data are particularly worrying from a clinical point of view as they increase the possibility of therapeutic failure with consequent serious implications (increased morbidity, increased lethality, increased duration of the disease, possibility of development of complications, and possibility of epidemics). Without forgetting the economic impact of these infections from multi-resistant bacteria (the additional cost required for the use of additional drugs and more expensive procedures as well as an increased hospital stay. These problems, which have now become a global health emergency, have led me to focus my attention on the problem of overcoming bacterial resistance and on the need to find new substances with antimicrobial activity. Regarding overcoming bacterial resistance and the possibility of improving the activity of drugs already used in clinical practice, I tested the possibility to enlarge the spectrum of activity of glycopeptides to gram-negatives (naturally resistant to these drugs because of the large size of the molecules that cannot pass through the pores of the outer membrane) through encapsulation in drug delivery systems. The encapsulation of vancomycin in SUVETs, fusogenic liposomes able to adhere to and fuse with the outer membrane of gram-negatives bacteria, has had excellent results, allowing the antibiotic to reach the periplasmic space where it has been able to carry out its activity. Regarding the research for new substances with antimicrobial activity, I have been testing the antimicrobial activity of extracts of various kinds, from those of plants to chestnut honey produced on the volcano Mt Etna, with promising results. To stimulate this type of research, since January 2017, I have been part of a spinoff of the University of Catania as a scientific manager, with the aim of using, in an entrepreneurial way, the results of our research. Our mission is basic in vitro research, pre-clinical and clinical research, aimed at the production and marketing in the pharmaceutical, parapharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, zootechnical and biomedical sectors of innovative products.

Regarding the research for new substances with antimicrobial activity, I have been testing the antimicrobial activity of extracts of various kinds, from those of plants to chestnut honey produced on the volcano Mt Etna, with promising results. To stimulate this type of research, since January 2017, I have been part of a spinoff of the University of Catania as a scientific manager, with the aim of using, in an entrepreneurial way, the results of our research. Our mission is basic in vitro research, pre-clinical and clinical research, aimed at the production and marketing in the pharmaceutical, parapharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, zootechnical and biomedical sectors of innovative products.