Virginia Fuochi
at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania. She obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification (ASN) as Associate Professor in the MEDS-03/A sector in March 2025.
Her academic training began with a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Catania, followed by an International PhD in Microbiological and Biochemical Sciences. During her doctoral studies, she developed advanced expertise in the study of probiotics and amensalistic interactions among microorganisms, with particular emphasis on Lactobacillus strains and the production of antimicrobial and antitumor peptides and bacteriocins. Part of her research activity was carried out at the University of Oslo, where she deepened her knowledge of advanced proteomic and chromatographic approaches for the structural and functional identification of bacterial-derived peptides.
Throughout her career, she has gained solid international experience, including appointments as Visiting Professor at the International University of Gorazde (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and at the University of Kragujevac (Kragujevac, Serbia), where she also contributed to the investigation of the immunomodulatory properties of biological products in murine models of breast cancer.
Dr. Fuochi’s scientific activity focuses on several integrated research lines, including probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics; vaginal and gut microbiota; the design of innovative antimicrobial and antiviral strategies; the study of antimicrobial peptides and peptidoglycan fragments with antiproliferative activity; and advanced drug delivery systems and functional biomaterials. She is the author of numerous publications in international peer-reviewed journals, including high-impact outlets such as Frontiers in Microbiology, Brain, Behavior and Immunity, and iScience, and she serves as an editorial board member and topic editor for several international scientific journals.
In parallel with her research activity, she is actively involved in teaching within Biotechnology degree programs, consistently receiving high OPIS student evaluation scores. Her work lies at the intersection of basic microbiology, applied research, and third-mission activities.