Giordano Rampioni

Giordano Rampioni obtained his PhD in Biology Applied to Human Health from University Roma Tre in 2007. After completing postdoctoral research at the University of Washington in Seattle (USA) and the University of Nottingham (UK), he joined the Department of Science at University Roma Tre, where he has served as an Associate Professor since 2022. His research focuses on gene regulation in bacterial pathogens, with particular emphasis on the molecular basis of intercellular communication, virulence expression, and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He has contributed to the identification of antivirulence and antibiofilm agents active against this pathogen by employing a variety of strategies, including biosensor-guided screenings, in silico docking, and drug-repurposing approaches. Current interests include single-cell gene expression analyses, intracellular signaling mediated by gasotransmitters and metabolic adaptation to the host environment.

Tentative title of the talks: 

Inside the Host Metabolic Niche: From Pathogen Nutrition to Therapeutic Opportunities

Session/panel summary and proposed speakers:

A deep understanding of the basic biology of bacterial pathogens is crucial for advancing our ability to combat infectious diseases. This session will highlight the most recent discoveries that explain how bacteria sense, adapt to, and persist within the human host. By exploring the molecular determinants of bacterial survival and pathogenicity, we aim to stimulate discussion and inspire new strategies to counteract infection and antimicrobial resistance.

A major focus of the session will be the regulation of virulence gene expression and the intricate signaling pathways that orchestrate bacterial behavior during infection. Regulatory mechanisms such as quorum sensing, the stringent response, and two-component systems enable bacteria to monitor their environment and modulate their physiology in ways that optimize colonization, immune evasion, persistence, and transmission. The session will also spotlight bacterial metabolic pathways, essential determinants of pathogen fitness during infection. To proliferate within diverse host niches, bacteria must dynamically adjust their nutrient acquisition strategies, remodel central and auxiliary metabolic circuits, and balance energy production with the demands generated by host-imposed stress. Metabolism therefore represents a critical interface between pathogen and host. Deciphering the signaling and metabolic pathways that orchestrate bacterial behavior during infection offers promising avenues for targeted antimicrobial therapies.

We encourage abstract submissions that provide mechanistic insight into the basic biology of human bacterial pathogens, also extending beyond virulence regulation and metabolism. Topics that may be selected for oral presentations include, but are not limited to: mechanisms driving the evolution of bacterial pathogenesis; intracellular and extracellular lifestyle transitions; host-adapted metabolism; stress responses and persistence; bacterial communication and signaling networks; multi-omics approaches to dissect pathogenic processes; and innovative experimental or computational methodologies.

Pillar and topic/subtopic:

Pillar 1: Frontiers Health & Clinical Innovations

Subtopic 1.4D: Basic research of Pathogens in Humans