Curriculum

• A.A. 2018/2019. Docente del corso: “Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, Meknés, Marocco. Progetto Erasmus+ 2018-1-IT02-KA107-047799 - Staff mobility for Teaching.
• A.A. 2017/2018. Docente del corso: “Microbial Genetics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, Meknés, Marocco.
• A.A. 2017/2018. Docente del corso: “Bioinformatics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, Meknés, Marocco

• A.A. 2021/2022. Titolare del corso di "Genomica Applicata e Bioinformatica"; Corso di Laure Magistrale Biologia della Salute, delle Tecnologie Applicate e della Nutrizione (Periodo: secondo semestre). Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2020/2021. Titolare del corso “Bioinformatics and molecular networks”; (Course taught in english). Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche LM-9 (Periodo: secondo semestre). Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2015/2016; 2018/2019; 2019/2020; 2020/2021; 2021/2022. Titolare del corso di Genetica (Cattedra AK); Corso di Laurea Triennale in Scienze Biologiche L-13 (Periodo: secondo semestre). Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina.
• Dal 2016 ad oggi. Titolare del corso di Genetica; Corso di Laurea in Scienze dell’Ambiente e della Natura L-32 (Periodo: secondo semestre). Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2014/2015; 2015/2016; 2016/2017; 2017/2018; 2018/2019. Titolare del corso di Bioinformatica per l'analisi genetica; Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biologia LM-6 (Periodo: secondo semestre). Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2012/2013; 2013/2014. Titolare del corso di Genetica; Corso di Laurea Triennale Interfacoltà in Biotecnologie - Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali – Università di Messina.

• A.A. 2020/2021. Titolare del corso di Genetica (SSD: BIO/18; CFU: 1). Scuola di Specializzazione in Genetica Medica; Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2019/2020; 2020/2021. Titolare del corso di Genetica (SSD: BIO/18; CFU: 1). Scuola di Specializzazione in Microbiologia e Virologia; Dipartimento di Patologia Umana dell’Adulto e dell’Età Evolutiva “Gaetano Barresi”, Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2018/2019; 2019/2020. Titolare del corso di Bioinformatica (SSD: BIO/18; CFU: 2). Scuola di Specializzazione in Genetica Medica; Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2020/2021. Attività didattica in Genetica e Genomica (6 ore) per il Corso di Dottorato in “Biologia Applicata e Medicina Sperimentale” Ciclo: 36° - 26 Febbraio 2021. Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2018/2019. Insegnamento modulo di: “Ruolo emergente della bioinformatica negli studi informatici di epigenetica e implicazioni per le patologie” (4 ore). Master di I livello in “Occupational and Environmental Risk Management”. Università di Messina; (4 Ottobre 2019).
• A.A. 2017/2018. Corso di “Bioinformatica e strumenti informatici” (12 ore). Master di I livello in “Occupational and Environmental Risk Management”. Università di Messina; (14, 21-22 Settembre 2018).
• A.A. 2010/2011. Professore a contratto di Genetica; Corso di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche L-13. Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali – Università di Messina.
• A.A. 2010/2011. Professore a contratto di Genetica; Corso di Laurea Magistrale Interclasse LM51/55 (Scienze cognitive e psicologia). Facoltà di Scienze della Formazione – Università di Messina.
• Dal 2013 ad oggi: Attività didattica integrativa e di servizio agli studenti. Inoltre, il Dr. Orazio Romeo è stato relatore di n° 12 Tesi di Laurea Magistrale in Biologia (LM-6) e n° 15 Tesi di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche (L-13).

• Dal 28/06/2019 al 01/10/2019. Tutor del Dr. Damiano Spagnuolo e Assistente Responsabile Esterno delle Operazioni (AREO) sul sistema Sicilia FSE1420, nell’ambito del PO FSE 2014-2020, avviso 20/2018 per il finanziamento di tirocini obbligatori e non obbligatori delle professioni ordinistiche (Progetto formativo: Etichettatura molecolare di organismi eucariotici e studio della biodiversità mediante analisi genetiche).
• A.A. 2015/2016. Supervisor (12 mesi) della Dr.ssa Lamya El aamri (Dottoranda della "Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, Meknés, Marocco"); nell’ambito della mobilità Erasmus+ progetto KA107(2015-1-IT02-KA107-014704).
• A.A. 2015/2016. Supervisor (5 mesi) di Hanen Farjaoui studentessa (Master Science) dell’“University of Sfax, Tunisia” nell'ambito del programma "ERASMUS+ KA107-2016".
• A.A. 2014/2015 Supervisor (10 mesi) della Dr.ssa Sanae Rharmitt (Dottoranda della "Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, Meknés, Marocco") nell'ambito del programma "EU Mare Nostrum (EUMN-III Call - F.S.1.04.11.01 UORI)" finanziato dall' Unione Europea (grant n° 2011-4050/001-EMA2).

• Novembre 2014. Vincitore del progetto "Giovani ricercatori 2011-2012" finanziato dal Ministero della Salute. Codice Progetto GR-2011-02347606; IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo” Messina (Finanziamento: €285.000).
• Giugno 2011. Progetto assistenziale "Indagine sulla trasmissione nosocomiale di ceppi di Candida parapsilosis responsabili di candidemie in reparti di terapia intensiva” (Delfino D, Cascio A, Romeo O, Criseo G) finanziato dal Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino”, Messina.
• 2021-2023. Responsabile Scientifico di attività conto terzi per il monitoraggio microbiologico degli ambienti ospedalieri e la prevenzione della diffusione di cloni patogeni resistenti agli antimicrobici. Convenzione tra Grande Ospedale Metropolitano "Bianchi, Melacrino, Morelli" di Reggio Calabria e Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina (Contratto n. 0026501 del 25/02/2021; €240.000).
• Luglio 2020. Responsabile Scientifico di prestazioni di servizi bioinformatici per la società Prodotti Gianni S.r.l. Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina (Contratto n. 72909 del 06/08/2020; €5.000).
• 2018-2020. Responsabile Scientifico di attività conto terzi per il monitoraggio microbiologico degli ambienti ospedalieri e la prevenzione della diffusione di cloni patogeni resistenti agli antimicrobici. Convenzione tra Grande Ospedale Metropolitano "Bianchi, Melacrino, Morelli" di Reggio Calabria  e Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali – Università di Messina (Contratto n. 36036 del 14/05/2018; €220.000).
• 2021. Responsabile scientifico progetto FFABR (Fondo di Finanziamento per le Attività Base di Ricerca) di Ateneo, Università di Messina, anno 2021 (Decreto Prot. n. 0153724 del 7/12/2021).

• Novembre 2017. Membro dell’Associazione Genetica Italiana (AGI).
•  Gennaio 2017. Membro della Società Italiana di Genetica Umana (SIGU)
•  Luglio 2008. Membro della Società Italiana di Bioinformatica (BITS).

• 23 Novembre 2019. Invited speaker; lecture: Recent advances in Sporothrix genomics: promise and challenges, 7^th Asia Pacific Society for Medical Mycology (APSMM) Congress, 22-24 Novembre, Guangzhou, China.
• 3 Luglio 2018. Invited Speaker; lecture: RNA-seq and transcriptome-wide analysis of Sporothrix schenckii yeast and mycelial forms. 20^th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 
• 24-27 Maggio 2018. Invited Speaker; lecture: Scientists and Social Networks; 10^th Anniversary of ResearchGate (www.researchgate.net), Berlin, Germany.

• 13 Dicembre 2021. Romeo O. Pandemie nascoste ai tempi del Coronavirus. Convention “Contrastiamo le pandemie Il nuovo scenario Sistemi di prevenzione e contrasto”, Complesso Monumentale dello Steri, Palermo (Relazione su invito).
• 27-30 Settembre 2017. Romeo O. Massive parallel sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of fungal genomes of pathogenic Sporothrix species. 45° Congresso della Società Italiana di Microbiologia, Genova (Relazione su invito).
• 6 Ottobre 2017. Romeo O. Epidemiologia molecolare. Convegno CoRe FOCuS – alla radice del problema delle IFI. Palazzo Steri, Palermo (Relazione su invito).
• 26-27 Gennaio 2017. Romeo O. Whole RNA-sequencing, transcriptome assembly and gene expression profiling of fungal pathogens. SMART SCIENCE 2017, Catania (Relazione su invito).
• 27-28 Maggio 2016. Romeo O. "De Novo" Fungal Genome Assembly Using Short-read Sequences. Corso ECM Next Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics: Methods, Tools and Applications in Basic. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi, Messina.
• 26 Febbraio 2016. Romeo O. Draft genome sequence of Sporothrix pallida, a non-pathogenic member of the genus Sporothrix. SMART SCIENCE 2016, Catania (Relazione su invito).
• 29 Maggio 2015. Bioinformatica per l'analisi di dati NGS: approcci sperimentali. Corso di Genomica, Proteomica e Bioinformatica per lo Studio e l'Identificazione dei Microrganismi. Aula Magna "V. Ricevuto" Università di Messina.
• 08 Maggio 2015. Infezioni micotiche opportunistiche in ambito oncologico. II Conferenza Nazionale "Nuove Frontiere nella Diagnostica di Laboratorio". Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo (Relazione su invito).
• 22 Febbraio 2014. Candidosi genitale: una malattia a trasmissione sessuale o soltanto una comune infezione micotica? I Conferenza Nazionale "Patologie Infettive a Trasmissione Sessuale e Neurologiche: Il Punto. Casa Internazionale delle Donne, Roma (Relazione su invito).
• 29 Novembre 2008. Candida africana: Caratteristiche fenotipiche e relazioni filogenetiche con Candida albicans. 9° Congresso nazionale FIMUA, Catania.

• 14 Giugno 2019. Responsabile Scientifico del Corso: BIOINFORMATICA, Nuova Generazione di Biologi: Biologi in-silico. Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università di Messina. Corso ECM organizzato in collaborazione con ENPAB.
• 27-28 Maggio 2016. Responsabile Scientifico del Corso ECM: Next Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics: Methods, Tools and Applications in Basic Research, Clinical Diagnostics and much more. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina.
• 23 Settembre 2015. Responsabile Scientifico Workshop: Nuove piattaforme genetiche nella ricerca e nella diagnostica. Aula Magna "V. Ricevuto" Università di Messina.
• 29 Maggio 2015. Responsabile Scientifico del Corso di aggiornamento in Genomica, Proteomica e Bioinformatica per lo Studio e l'Identificazione dei Microrganismi. Aula Magna "V. Ricevuto" Università di Messina; Corso ECM, Ordine Nazionale dei Biologi.
• 13 Novembre 2014. Convegno: Il Biologo: figura dinamica nel mondo del lavoro. Aula Magna "V. Ricevuto", Ex Facoltà di Scienze MM. FF. NN. Università di Messina, Messina; Corso ECM, Ordine Nazionale dei Biologi.
• 20 Giugno 2014. Convegno: La Biologia forense nel processo civile e penale. Palazzo Campanella, Consiglio Regionale della Calabria, Reggio Calabria; Corso ECM, Ordine Nazionale dei Biologi.

• Novembre 2016-Settembre 2020. “Associate Editor”, Journal: “Frontiers in Microbiology”, section “Funghi and Their Interactions” Publisher: Frontiers, ISSN: 1664-302X.
• Febbraio 2022-ad oggi. “Associate Editor” Journal: “Frontiers in Microbiology”, section “Infectious Agents and Disease” Publisher: Frontiers, ISSN: 1664-302X.

• Marzo 2020. Valutatore di proposte progettuali interdisciplinari nell’ambito del bando “Ciencia de Frontera 2019” - National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), Messico. 
• Aprile 2020. “Nominated Referee” FLAIR Fellowships 2021. The Royal Society, London, UK.

1. Romeo O, Criseo G. What lies beyond genetic diversity in Sporothrix schenckii species complex? New insights into virulence profiles, immunogenicity and protein secretion in S. schenckii sensu stricto isolates. Virulence. 2013; 4:203-6.
2. Romeo O, Tietz HJ, Criseo G. Candida africana: is it a fungal pathogen? Curr. Fungal Infect. Rep. 2013; 7:192-7.

1. Mandalari G, Minuti A, La Camera E, Barreca D, Romeo O, Nostro A. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains and effect of phloretin on biofilm formation. Current Microbiology. In press.
2. Giosa D, Lombardo D, Musolino C, Chines V, Raffa G, Casuscelli di Tocco F, D'Aliberti D, Caminiti G, Saitta C, Alibrandi A, Aiese Cigliano R, Romeo O, Navarra G, Raimondo G, Pollicino T. Mitochondrial DNA is a target of HBV integration. Commun Biol. 2023;6(1):684.
3. Floridia V, Giuffrè L, Giosa D, Arfuso F, Aragona F, Fazio F, Chen C, Song C, Romeo O, D’Alessandro E. Comparison of the Faecal Microbiota Composition Following a Dairy By-Product Supplemented Diet in Nero Siciliano and Large White × Landrace Pig Breeds. Animals. 2023; 13(14):2323.
4. Grassi A, Gambini M, Pantoli M, Toscano S, Albertetti A, Del Frassino DM, Ugochukwu ICI, Romeo O, Otranto D, Cafarchia C. A Lethal Case of Disseminated Cladosporium allicinum Infection in a Captive African Bullfrog. Journal of Fungi. 2023;9(2):191.
5. Tardiolo G, Romeo O, Zumbo A, Di Marsico M, Sutera AM, Cigliano RA, Paytuví A, D’Alessandro E. Characterization of the Nero Siciliano Pig Fecal Microbiota after a Liquid Whey-Supplemented Diet. Animals. 2023;13(4):642. 
6. Du W,  Giosa D, Wei J, Giuffrè L, Shi G, El Haamri L, D’Alessandro E, Hafidi M, de Hoog S, Romeo O, Huang H. Long-read PacBio genome sequencing of four environmental saprophytic Sporothrix species spanning the pathogenic clade. BMC Genomics. 2022;23(1):506.
7. Quindós G, et al. In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Ibrexafungerp (SCY-078) Against Contemporary Blood Isolates From Medically Relevant Species of Candida: A European Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:906563.
8. Dougue AN, El-Kholy MA, Giuffrè L, Galeano G, D Aleo F, Kountchou CL, Nangwat C, Dzoyem JP, Giosa D, Pernice I, Shawky SM, Ngouana TK, Boyom FF, Romeo O. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis reveals many novel genotypes and a high level of genetic diversity in Candida tropicalis isolates from Italy and Africa. Mycoses. 2022; 65(11):989-1000.
9. Lui M, Giosa D, Romeo O, Bitto A. Computational Pathways Analysis and Personalized Medicine in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Curr Pharmacogenomics Person Med. 2022; 19(1):40-52.
10. Corrêa-Moreira D, Menezes RC, Romeo O, Borba CM, Oliveira MME. Clinical and Anatomopathological Evaluation of BALB/c Murine Models Infected with Isolates of Seven Pathogenic Sporothrix Species. Pathogens. 2021; 10(12):1647.
11. Barreca D, Trombetta D, Smeriglio A, Mandalari G, Romeo O, Felice MR, Gattuso G, Nabavi SM. Food flavonols: Nutraceuticals with complex health benefits and functionalities. Trends Food Sci Tech. 2021; 117:194-204.
12. Shokoohi G, Javidnia J, Mirhendi H, Jahromi AR, Rezaei-Matehkolaei A, Ansari S, Maryami F, Goodarzi S, Romeo O. Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida dubliniensis and Candida africana isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis: A single-center experience in Iran. Mycoses. 2021;64(7):771-779.
13. Giosa D, Felice MR, Giuffrè L, Aiese Cigliano R, Paytuví-Gallart A, Lo Passo C, Barresi C, D'Alessandro E, Huang H, Criseo G, Mora-Montes HM, de Hoog S, Romeo O. Transcriptome-wide expression profiling of Sporothrix schenckii yeast and mycelial forms and the establishment of the Sporothrix Genome DataBase. Microb Genom. 2020;6(10):mgen000445.
14. Corrêa-Moreira D, De Luca PM, Romeo O, C Menezes R, Paes RA, Oliveira RZ, de Moraes AM, de L Neto RG, Moraes Borba C, E de Oliveira MM. Tregs in the immune response of BALB/c mice experimentally infected with species of the Sporothrix genus. Future Microbiol. 2020;15:1217-1225.
15. Romeo O, Marchetta A, Giosa D, Giuffrè L, Urzì C, De Leo F. Whole Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genome Analysis of the Halotolerant Deep Sea Black Yeast Hortaea werneckii. Life (Basel). 2020;10(10):229.
16. Monno R, Brindicci G, Romeo O, De Carolis E, Criseo G, Sanguinetti M, Fumarola L, Ingravallo G, Mariani M, Monno L. Infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii: an autochthonous case in Bari, Southern Italy. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;39(12):2457-2460.
17. Tamez-Castrellón AK, Romeo O, García-Carnero LC, Lozoya-Pérez NE, Mora-Montes HM. Virulence factors in Sporothrix schenckii, one of the causative agents of sporotrichosis. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2020;21(3):295-312.
18. Nnadi NE, Giosa D, Ayanbimpe GM, D’Alessandro E, Aiese Cigliano R, Oheri UC, Aguiyi JC, Enweani IB, Romeo O. Whole-genome sequencing of an uncommon Cryptococcus neoformans MLST43 genotype isolated in Nigeria. Mycopathologia. 2019;184(5):555-557.
19. D'Alessandro E, Giosa D, Sapienza I, Giuffrè L, Cigliano RA, Romeo O, Zumbo A. Whole genome SNPs discovery in Nero Siciliano pig. Genet Mol Biol. 2019 ;42(3):594-602.
20. Scordino F, Giuffrè L, Felice MR, Orlando MG, Medici MA, Marino Merlo F, Romeo O. Genetic diversity of Candida albicans isolates recovered from hospital environments and patients with severe acquired brain injuries. Infect Genet Evol. 2019;76:104068.
21. Felice MR, Giuffre L, El Aamri L, Hafidi M, Criseo G, Romeo O, Scordino F. Looking for new antifungal drugs from flavonoids: impact of the genetic diversity of Candida albicans on the in-vitro response. Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(27):5108-5123.
22. El Aamri L, Scordino F, Barresi C, Romeo O, Criseo G, Hafidi M. Esterase profiling and molecular identification of yeasts isolated from different environmental samples from Morocco. Journal of Biological Research 2019; 92(7935):56-60.
23. D’Arrigo M; Bisignano C; Irrera P; Smeriglio A; Zagami R; Trombetta D; Romeo O; Mandalari G. In vitro evaluation of the activity of an essential oil from Pistacia vera L. variety Bronte hull against Candida sp. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019; 19(1):6.
24. Ropars J, et al. Gene flow contributes to diversification of the major fungal pathogen of humans Candida albicans. Nature Communications. 2018; 9:2253. 
25. Scordino F, Giuffrè L, Barberi G, Marino Merlo F, Orlando MG, Giosa D, Romeo O. Multilocus sequence typing reveals a new cluster of closely related Candida tropicalis genotypes in Italian patients with neurological disorders. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:679.
26. Giosa D, Felice MR, Lawrence TJ, Gulati M, Scordino F, Giuffrè L, Lo Passo C, D'Alessandro E, Criseo G, Ardell DH, Hernday AD, Nobile CJ, Romeo O. Whole RNA-Sequencing and Transcriptome Assembly of Candida albicans and Candida africana under Chlamydospore-Inducing Conditions. Genome Biol Evol. 2017;9:1971-1977.
27. Hagen F, et al. Importance of resolving fungal nomenclature: the case of multiple pathogenic species in the Cryptococcus genus. mSphere. 2017;2:e00238-17.
28. Chowdhary A, Hagen F, Sharma C, Al-Hatmi AM, Giuffrè L, Giosa D, Fan S, Badali H, Felice MA, de Hoog S, Meis JF, Romeo O. Whole genome-based amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis reveals genetic diversity in Candida africana. Front. Microbiol. 2017;8:556.
29. Huang L, Gao W, Giosa D, Criseo G, Zhang J, He T, Huang X, Sun J, Sun Y, Huang J, Zhang Y, Brankovics B, Scordino F, D'Alessandro E, van Diepeningen A, de Hoog S, Huang H, Romeo O. Whole-genome sequencing and in silico analysis of two strains of Sporothrix globosa. Genome Biol Evol. 2016; 8:3292-3296.
30. Nnadi NE, Enweani IB, Cogliati M, Ayanbimpe MG, Okolo OM, Kim E, Sabitu MZ, Criseo G, Romeo O, Scordino F. Molecular characterization of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans VNII isolates in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Journal de Mycologie Médicale. 2016; 26:306-311.
31. Chillemi V, Lo Passo C,  van Diepeningen A, Rharmitt S,  Delfino D, Cascio A,  Nnadi NE,  Cilo BD, Sampaio P,  Tietz HJ,  Pemán J, Criseo G,  Romeo O,  Scordino F. Multilocus microsatellites analysis of European and African Candida glabrata isolates. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease. 2016; 35:885-892.
32. Cogliati M, et al. Environmental distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii around the Mediterranean basin. FEMS Yeast Res. 2016; 16(4):fow045.
33. D'Alessandro E, Giosa D, Huang L, Zhang J, Gao W, Brankovics B, Oliveira MM, Scordino F, Lo Passo C, Criseo G, van Diepeningen AD, Huang H, de Hoog GS, Romeo O. Draft Genome Sequence of the Dimorphic Fungus Sporothrix pallida, a Non-pathogenic Species Belonging to Sporothrix, a Genus Containing Agents of Human and Feline Sporotrichosis. Genome Announc. 2016; 31:4(2).
34. Felice MR, Gulati M, Giuffrè L, Giosa D, Di Bella LM, Criseo G, Nobile CJ, Romeo O, Scordino F. Molecular characterization of the N-acetylglucosamine catabolic genes in Candida africana, a natural N-acetylglucosamine kinase (HXK1) mutant. PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0147902.
35. Rharmitt S, Hafidi M, Hajjaj H, Scordino F, Giosa D, Giuffrè L, Barreca D, Criseo G, Romeo O. Molecular characterization of patulin producing and non-producing Penicillium species in apples from Morocco. Int. J Food Microbiol. 2016; 217:137-140.
36. Giannetto A, Maisano M, Cappello T, Oliva S, Parrino V, Natalotto A, De Marco G, Barberi C, Romeo O, Mauceri A, Fasulo S. Hypoxia-inducible factor α and Hif-prolyl hydroxylase characterization and gene expression in short-time air exposed Mytilus galloprovincialis. Marine Biotechnology. 2015;17(6):768-781.
37. Bonaccorsi P, Barattucci A, Papalia T, Criseo G, Faggio C, Romeo O. Pyrimidine derived disulfides as potential antimicrobial agents: synthesis and evaluation in vitro. J Sulfur Chem. 2015; 36:317-25.
38. Oliveira M, Franco-Duarte R, Romeo O, Pais C, Criseo G, Sampaio P, Zancope-Oliveira R. Evaluation of T3B fingerprinting for identification of clinical and environmental Sporothrix species. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2015;362:1-7.
39. Okolo OM, van Diepeningen AD, Toma B, Nnadi NE, Ayanbimpe MG, Onyedibe IK, Sabitu MZ,  Banwat BE, Groenewald M, Scordino F, Egah ZD, Criseo G, Romeo O. First report of neonatal sepsis due to Moesziomyces bullatus in a preterm low birth weight infant. J Med Microbiol Case Rep. 2015; 2:1-4.
40. de Oliveira MM, Santos C, Sampaio P, Romeo O, Almeida-Paes R, Pais C, Lima N, Zancopé-Oliveira R. Development and optimization of a new MALDI-TOF protocol for the identification of Sporothrix species complex. Res Microbiol. 2014; 166:102-10.
41. Criseo G, Scordino F, Romeo O. Current methods for identifying clinically important cryptic Candida species. J Microbiol Met. 2015; 111;50-56.
42. Delfino D, Scordino F, Pernice I, Lo Passo C, Galbo R, David A, Barberi I, Criseo G, Cascio A, Romeo O. Potential association of specific Candida parapsilosis genotypes, bloodstream infections and colonization of health workers’ hands. Clin Microbiol Infec. 2014; 20:946-51.
43. Cascio A, Pantaleo D, Corona G, Barberi G, Delfino D, Romeo O, Iaria C, Barberi I. Neonatal liver abscesses associated with candidemia: Three cases and review of literature. J Mat. Fet. Neonatal Med. 2014; 27:743-9.
44. Nnadi NE, Ojogba OM, Romeo O, Mebi AG, Scordino F, Bessie EI, Criseo G. Lack of Candida bracariensis and Candida nivariensis in vaginal Candida glabrata isolates in Jos, Plateau State. Afri J Microbiol Res. 2013;7:4480-2
45. Genovese G, Romeo O, Morabito M, Alessi D, Criseo G, Faggio C. Activity of ethanolic extracts of Asparagopsis taxiformis against the major molecular types of Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii complex. Afr J Microbiol Res. 2013; 7:2662-7.
46. Esposto MC, Prigitano A, Romeo O, Criseo G, Trovato L, Tullio V, Fadda ME, Tortorano AM and FIMUA working group. Looking for Candida nivariensis and C. bracarensis among a large Italian collection of C. glabrata isolates: results of the FIMUA working group. Mycoses. 2013; 56:394-6.
47. Romeo O, Delfino D, Cascio A, Lo Passo C, Amorini M, Romeo D, Pernice I. Microsatellite-based genotyping of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates reveals dominance and persistence of a particular epidemiological clone among neonatal intensive care unit patients. Inf Gen Evol. 2013; 13:105-8.
48. Biondo C, Mancuso G, Beninati C, Iaria C, Romeo O, Cascio A, Teti G. The role of endosomal toll-like receptors in bacterial recognition. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci. 2012; 16: 1506-12.
49. Nnadi NE, Ayanbimpe GM, Scordino F, Okolo MJ, Enweani IB, Criseo G, Romeo O. Isolation and molecular characterization of Candida africana from Jos, Nigeria. Med. Mycol. 2012; 50:765-7.
50. Romeo O, Scordino F, Chillemi V, Criseo G. Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex in Southern Italy: An Overview on the Environmental Diffusion of Serotypes, Genotypes and Mating-Types. Mycopathologia. 2012; 174:283-91
51. Romeo O, Delfino D, Costanzo B, Cascio A, Criseo G. Molecular characterization of Italian Candida parapsilosis isolates reveals the cryptic presence of the newly described species Candida orthopsilosis in blood cultures from newborns. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2012; 72:234-8.
52. Nnadi NE, Romeo O, Ayanbimpe GM, Okolo MO, Scordino F, Enweani IB, Criseo G. Genotyping and fluconazole susceptibility of Candida albicans strains from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis in Jos, Nigeria. Asian Pac. J Trop. Dis. 2012; 2:48-50.
53. Romeo O, Scordino F,Criseo G.New insight into molecular phylogeny and epidemiology of Sporothrix schenckii species complex based on calmodulin-encoding gene analysis of Italian isolates.Mycopathologia.2011;172:179-86.
54. Romeo O, Criseo G. Candida africana and its closest relatives. Mycoses. 2011; 54:475-86.
55. Cascio A, Mandraffino G, Cinquegrani M, Delfino D, Mandraffino R, Romeo O, Criseo G, Saitta A. Actinomadura pelletieri mycetoma - an atypical case with spine and abdominal wall involvement. J. Med. Microbiol. 2011; 60:673-6.
56. Romeo O, Scordino F, Criseo G. Environmental isolation of Cryptococcus gattii serotype B, VGI/MATα strains in Southern Italy. Mycopathologia. 2011; 171:423–30.
57. Romeo O, De Leo F, Criseo G. Adherence  ability  of  Candida  africana:  A  comparative  study  with  Candida  albicans  and Candida dubliniensis. Mycoses. 2011; 54:57-61.
58. Criseo G, Romeo O. Ribosomal DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of environmental Sporothrix schenckii strains: comparison with clinical isolates. Mycopathologia 2010; 169:351-8.
59. Romeo O, Scordino F, Pernice I, Lo Passo C, Criseo G. A multiplex PCR protocol for rapid identification of Candida glabrata and its phylogenetically related species Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis. J. Microbiol Methods. 2009; 79:117-20.
60. Romeo O, Criseo G. Morphological, biochemical and molecular characterisation of the first Italian Candida africana isolate. Mycoses. 2009; 52:454-7
61. Romeo O, Criseo G. Molecular epidemiology of Candida albicans and its closely related yeasts Candida dubliniensis and Candida africana. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2009; 47:212-4.
62. Criseo G, Zungri D, Romeo O. A stable yeast-like form of Sporothrix schenckii: lack of the dimorphic stage. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2008; 46:3870-1.
63. Romeo O, Criseo G. First molecular method for discriminating between Candida africana, Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis by using the hwp1 gene. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2008; 62:230-3.
64. Criseo G, Racco C, Romeo O. High genetic variability in non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains by using Quadruplex PCR-based assay. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 2008; 125:341-3.
65. Criseo G, Malara G, Romeo O, Puglisi Guerra A. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report from extreme southern Italy. Mycopathologia. 2008; 166:159-62.
66. Romeo O, Racco C, Criseo G. Amplification of the Hyphal Wall Protein 1 Gene to distinguish Candida albicans from Candida dubliniensis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2006; 44:25.

• 2019. S. schenckii whole transcriptome analysis: SRA database accession n°: PRJNA539953
• 2018. C. neoformans EN28 genome project: Genbank accessions: CP025717 - CP025731. 
• 2016. S. globosa Genome project: GenBank LVYW00000000 -LVYX00000000
• 2016. C. africana transcriptome assembly project: Genbank GEVV00000000.2.
• 2016. C. albicans transcriptome assembly project: Genbank GEVW00000000.2.
• 2009. S. pallida Genome project: GenBank JNEX00000000.

• Hunter P. The growth of social media in science. EMBO Reports. 2020; e50550.
• Richard Van Noorden. Online Collaboration: Scientists and the social network. Nature. 2014; 512:126-129.
• Youngsuk (Y. S.) Chi (Chairman of Elsevier). The E-volution of Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age. Publishing Research Quarterly. 2014; 30: 344-351.

• Citazioni totali¹: 1445.
• H-index¹: 22.

Curriculum

Orazio Romeo, PhD
University of Messina
Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31 98166 – Messina
ORCID number:0000-0001-5093-2525; SCOPUS ID: 24068965100
e-mail: oromeo@unime.it

Orazio Romeo is Professor of Genetics and scientific responsible of the Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Bioinformatics at the University of Messina where he leads a research group of about 10 people among PhD students, post-docs, scientific guests and undergraduate students, including Erasmus graduate/PhD students from various non-European countries.
He holds a Degree in Biological Sciences (2005) and a PhD in microbial biotechnology (2010) from the same University and since 2005 his research has focused mainly on the study of fungal genetics and genomics, including the design and development of molecular protocols related to the rapid identification of pathogenic species belonging to Candida genus. In 2006 he also obtained a 1-year postgraduate MSc degree in Bioinformatics at Sardegna Ricerche/CRS4 (Pula, Cagliari) and in recent years his research has focused mainly on in-silico analysis of microbial genomes and transcriptomes sequenced by using massive parallel sequencing technologies. From this point of view, He is internationally well-known by his works on Sporothrix genomics and for the release of the Sporothrix Genome DataBase (www.sporothrixgenomedatabase.org), a web-based genomic platform for integrating RNA-seq expression data and exploring gene-models in S. schenckii genome.
Prof. Romeo teaches genetics and bioinformatics in different degree courses at the University of Messina and since 2018 holds the course of "Microbial Genetics and Bioinformatics" at the Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Morocco. He is also "visiting professor" at "The Third Affialted Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University", Guangzhou, China where he collaborates with Prof. Huaiqiu Huang on different research themes focusing mainly on Sporothrix genomics and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Prof. Romeo is currently the scientific lead of a third-party agreement between the University of Messina and the Great Metropolitan Hospital of Reggio Calabria regarding the environmental control of particulate and microbiological contamination of hospital wards, highly-regulated labs and other complex environments traditionally considered at high infectious risk, for both patients and the healthcare workers. In 2011, Prof. Romeo was also the winner of the "Young Researchers" project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (MoH call 2011/12; project GR-2011-02347606), concerning the surveillance and control of fungal HAIs at the “IRCCS Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo” hospital, Messina. He is currently "Associate Editor" of "Frontiers in Microbiology" journal (IF: 4.259) and reviewer for several high impact international journals including Nature and Lancet (publons profile: https://publons.com/researcher/1206146). Since 2006 he has published over 50 scientific papers in various international peer-reviewed journals in the field of clinical microbiology and fungal genomics and has been "invited speaker" in many national and international conferences.
The professor. Romeo was also part of the panel of external evaluators of i) scientific projects funded by the "National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT)" in Mexico, ii) Nominated Referee of FLAIR Fellowships 2021. The Royal Society, London, UK iii) member of international doctoral commissions (University of Amsterdam; Moulay Ismail University) and iv) from 2013 to 2016 he was also member of the permanent study commission "microbiology, virology and molecular biology" of the National Order of Biologists (ONB, Rome) where he organized dozens of scientific conferences held throughout the national territory. He is currently a member of the Academic Senate of the University of Messina (two-year period 2019-2021).
Prof. Romeo is currently the "group leader" of many international collaborations and some of his research activities have also been reviewed by important scientific journals (Van Noorden R. Nature. 2014; doi:10.1038/512126a; Hunter P. EMBO Reports. 2020; doi: 10.15252/embr.202050550).

SHORT CV
 
ORCID number: 0000-0001-5093-2525 (http://orcid.org)
SCOPUS ID: 24068965100 
 
DETAILS OF POSITIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Present Positions:
- Since 2021, Associate Professor in Genetics (SSD: Bio/18), at the University of Messina.
- Since 2018, Senior Researcher (fixed-time, RTD-B art.24, c.3, Italian law 240/2010) in Genetics (SSD: Bio/18), at the University of Messina.
-Since 2019, Member of the Academic Senate of the University of Messina.
-Since 2019. Visiting Professor in Microbial Genomics at "THe Third Affiliated Hospital of the Sun Yat-Sen University", Guangzhou, China.
-Since 2020, Memberof the Board of the Ph.D. Program of Applied Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina.
 
PAST POSITIONS:
2012-2018, Researcher (fixed-time, RTD-A ex art.1, c.14, Italian law 230/2005) in Genetics (SSD: BIO/18) at the Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina.
2013-2014, Member of the Board of the Ph.D. Program of Applied Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina.
2013-2016, Member of the National Standing Committee “Microbiology, Virology and MolecularBiology" in Professional Association for Biologists (Onb) - Rome.
2017-2019, Member of the Board of the Ph.D. Program of Medical and Surgical Biotechnologies, University of Messina.
2018, Member of the Examination Committee for PhD defenseat the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
 
RESPONSABILITIES OF FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS:
-2014-2018, Principal Investigator of the Research Project GR-2011-02347606 for “The surveillance and control of hospital-acquired infections” (IRCCS Hospital Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, Messina) funded by The Italian Ministry of Health, Targeted Health Research Program (Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata).
-2018-present, Scientific Manager in the agreement between the University of Messina and the Great Metropolitan Hospital of Reggio Calabria for the environmental control of particulate and microbiological contamination of hospital wards, highly-regulated labs and other complex environments (agreement n° 0036036/14-05-2018).
 
FIELD OF INVESTIGATION AND AREAS OF INTEREST::
Orazio Romeo is an expert of molecular genetics, molecular cell biology, and genetics of microrganisms. He has focused his research activities on:
- fungal genomics, molecular epidemiology and evolution;
- molecular clinical mycology;
- use of bioinformatics tools for identification and genetic characterization of microbial pathogens;
- nucleic acids sequencing methods and applications;
- prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections;
- microbial and particulate monitoring of clean rooms and other critical environments.
 
HONORS AND AWARDS
Dr. O. Romeo was appointed as external evaluator of scientific projects at the following foreign institutions: 
- National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), Mexico, March 2020. “Ciencia de Frontera 2019” Program-
- The Royal Society, London, UK, April 2020. “FLAIR Fellowships 2021” Program.

Scientific activity and influential contributions to research of Dr. O.  Romeo have been cited in:
- Hunter P. The growth of social media in science. EMBO Reports. 2020; e50550.
- Richard Van Noorden. Online Collaboration: Scientists and the social network. Nature. 2014; 512:126-129.
- Youngsuk (Y. S.) Chi (Chairman of Elsevier). The E-volution of Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age. Publishing Research Quarterly. 2014; 30: 344-351
 
INVITED SPEAKER (International Conferences)
23 Nov. 2019. Lecture: Recent advances in Sporothrix genomics: promise and challenges, 7th AsiaPacific Society for Medical Mycology (APSMM) Congress, Guangzhou,China.
3 Jul. 2018. Lecture: RNA-seq and transcriptome-wide analysis of Sporothrixschenckii yeast and mycelial forms. 20Th ISHAM Congress, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
25 May 2018. Lecture: Scientists and Social Networks; 10th Anniversary of ResearchGate (www.researchgate.net), Berlin, Germany.
 
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
- Member of the Italian Genetics Association (AGI) 
- Member of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM)
- Member of the Bioinformatics Italian Society (BITS)
 
EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES:
Serves as associate editor of Frontiers in Microbiology journal (Publisher: Frontiers, ISSN: 1664-302X) and of RevistaIberoamericana de Micología” (Elsevier, ISSN: 1130-1406) and as reviewer for many scientific journals (see Publons profile at publons.com/a/1206146)
 
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING:
Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Messina. PhD in Microbial Biotechnologies, University of Messina. 8th BioSapiens European School of Bioinformatics, European Bioinformatic Institute (EMBL-EBI) - Cambridge Outstation, Hinxton,Cambridge, UK. 6th Advanced Training Course in “Molecular prediction and Bioinformatics in Hematology/Oncology”, CollegioGhislieri, in collaboration with the University of Pavia, Italy.Master Postgraduate Program in Bioinformatics Technologies Applied to Personalized Medicine, SardegnaRicerche and CRS4, Pula, Cagliari.
 
INTERNATIONAL TEACHING ACTIVITY:
2018/2019. Visiting Professor (Erasmus+ project 2018-1-IT02-KA107-047799 Staff mobility for Teaching), Course “Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology, Moulay Ismail University, Meknés, Morocco.
2017/2018. Professor of the course “Microbial Genetics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology, Moulay Ismail University, Meknés, Morocco.
2017/2018. Professor of the course “Bioinformatics”, Master in Plant Protection and Biotechnology, Moulay Ismail University, Meknés, Morocco
2015/2016. Supervisor (12 months), PhD student Dr. LamyaElaamri, "Moulay Ismail University, Meknés, Morocco"); Erasmus+ project KA107(2015-1-IT02-KA107-014704).
2015/2016. Supervisor (6 months), Master student HanenHanenFarjaoui, “University of Sfax, Tunisia” ERASMUS+ program KA107-2016".
2014/2015 Supervisor (10 months), PhD student Dr. SanaeRharmitt, "Moulay Ismail University, Meknés, Morocco"); EU Mare Nostrum project (F.S.1.04.11.01 UORI) funded by EU grant n° 2011-4050/001-EMA2.
 
WHOLE GENOME AND TRANSCRIPTOME SEQUENCES SUBMITTED IN PUBLIC DATABASES:
2019. S. schenckiiwhole transcriptome analysis: SRA n°: PRJNA539953
2018. C. neoformans genome project, Genbank: CP025717-CP025731.
2016. S. globosa genome project: GenBank LVYW00000000-LVYX00000000
2016. C. africana transcriptome assembly project: Genbank GEVV00000000.2.
2016. C. albican stranscriptome assembly project: Genbank GEVW00000000.2.
2009. S. pallida Genome project: GenBank JNEX00000000
 
PUBLICATIONS AND BIBLIOMETRICS:
Co-author of 62 scientific articles published in international peer-reviewed journals and more than 50 abstracts (poster and oral communications) in proceeding of national and international congresses. Citation index: 1445; h-index: 22; source Scopus, July 2023..