Dr. Federico Buonanno
University of Macerata, Macerata, Marche, Italy
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Academic Career Length
18Years (2009-Present)
(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)
Representative Publications
View All Publications1 April 2013 in Zoological Science
Journal Article
The time-honored assumption about the defensive function of trichocysts in Paramecium against predators was recently verified experimentally against different species of unicellular predators. In the present study, we examined the defensive function of trichocysts against three metazoan predators, Cephalodella sp. (Rotifera), Eucypris sp. (Arthropoda), and Stenostomum sphagnetorum (Platyhelminthes). The results confirmed the defensive function of trichocysts against two of these metazoan predators (Cephalodella sp. and Eucypris sp.), while they seem ineffective against S. sphagnetorum. We also compared the defensive efficiency of the trichocysts of P. tetraurelia with that of toxin-containing extrusomes of two ciliates.
12 August 2010 in Biologia
Journal Article
Federico Buonanno
Claudio OrtenziClimacostol (5-(Z)-non-2-enyl-benzene-1,3-diol) is a natural toxin isolated from the freshwater ciliated protozoan Climacostomum virens and belongs to reso
1 July 2009 in Zoological Science
Journal Article
Federico BuonannoThis study investigated defensive behavior by the microturbellarian Stenostomum sphagnetorum against the predatory ciliate Dileptus margaritifer. When S. sphagnetorum was attacked by D. margaritifer, the microturbellarian released a mass of mucous material from the site of attack and swam away, while D. margaritifer ingested the released material. If the attack was repeated, S. sphagnetorum was killed and eaten by the predator. Observations on the predator-prey interactions between these two organisms suggest that the discharge of mucous material by S. sphagnetorum is the main component of defensive behavior. The following findings support this hypothesis: 1) individuals of S. sphagnetorum artificially deprived of glandular secretions through lysozyme treatment were more vulnerable to D. margaritifer and were more sensitive to the predator's toxin than were untreated animals, while they were indistinguishable from intact S. sphagnetorum in external morphology and in the capacity to grow; 2) supernatant containing the D. margaritifer toxin induced in S. sphagnetorum the same behavioral reactions observed in actual encounters with D. margaritifer.
1 February 2017 in Zoological Science
Journal Article
Federico BuonannoAAAndrea Anesi
Andrea AnesiGGGraziano Di Giuseppe
Graziano Di GiuseppeGGGraziano Guella
Graziano Guella
Claudio OrtenziPseudokeronopsis erythrina produces three new secondary metabolites, erythrolactones A2, B2 and C2, and their respective sulfate esters (A1, B1, C1), the structures of which have been recently elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data coupled to high resolution mass measurements (HR-MALDI-TOF). An analysis of the discharge of the protozoan pigment granules revealed that the non-sulfonated erythrolactones are exclusively stored in these cortical organelles, which are commonly used by a number of ciliates as chemical weapons in offense/defense interactions with prey and predators. We evaluated the toxic activity of pigment granule discharge on a panel of free-living ciliates and micro-invertebrates, and the activity of each single purified erythrolactone on three ciliate species. We also observed predator—prey interactions of P. erythrina with unicellular and multicellular predators. Experimental results confirm that only P. erythrina cells with discharged pigment granules were preferentially or exc...
Journal Article
Federico BuonannoECElisabetta Catalani
Elisabetta CatalaniDCDavide Cervia
Davide CerviaFSFrancesca Proietti Serafini
Francesca Proietti SerafiniSPSimona Picchietti
Simona PicchiettiClaudio Ortenzi +6
Climacostol (5-[(2Z)-non-2-en-1-yl]benzene-1,3-diol) is a resorcinol produced by the protozoan Climacostomum virens for defence against predators. It exerts a potent antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens, inhibits the growth of several human and rodent tumour cells, and is now available by chemical synthesis. In this study, we chemically synthesized two novel analogues of climacostol, namely, 2-methyl-5 [(2Z)-non-2-en-1-yl]benzene-1,3-diol (AN1) and 5-[(2Z)-non-2-en-1-yl]benzene-1,2,3-triol (AN2), with the aim to increase the activity of the native toxin, evaluating their effects on prokaryotic and free-living protists and on mammalian tumour cells. The results demonstrated that the analogue bearing a methyl group (AN1) in the aromatic ring exhibited appreciably higher toxicity against pathogen microbes and protists than climacostol. On the other hand, the analogue bearing an additional hydroxyl group (AN2) in the aromatic ring revealed its ability to induce programmed cell death in protistan cells. Overall, the data collected demonstrate that the introduction of a methyl or a hydroxyl moiety to the aromatic ring of climacostol can effectively modulate its potency and its mechanism of action.
1 January 2017 in The European Zoological Journal
Journal Article
Federico BuonannoAAAndrea Anesi
Andrea AnesiGGG. Guella
G. Guella
Claudio OrtenziIt is known that the freshwater heterotrich ciliate Blepharisma japonicum uses five pigments called blepharismins, stored in its extrusive pigment granules, for both light perception and chemical defense against predators. In this work we focused our attention on the defensive strategies of two additional pigmented species of Blepharisma, B. stoltei and B. undulans. In particular: (1) we observed the predator–prey interactions of B. stoltei or B. undulans against one multicellular and two unicellular predators; (2) we clarified the nature of B. stoltei and B. undulans pigments by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS); and (3) we demonstrated and compared the toxicity of the purified pigments on a panel of ciliated protists, and against one metazoan predator. The results indicate that the chemical defense mechanism present in B. stoltei and B. undulans is mediated by the same five blepharismins previously characterized for B. japonicum, although produced in different proportions.
About Me
Federico Buonanno was born in Chieti, July 17, 1972, he is full professor of Zoology at the University of Macerata, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Environment and Territory section.
BACKROUND
Year 2000, degree in natural sciences from the University of Camerino (Italy).
Year 2004, Ph.D. degree in environmental sciences and public health, from the University of Camerino.
2006-2018, Assistant professor, (BIO/05, Zoology) at the University of Macerata (Italy).
2018-2020, Associate professor in Zoology. University of Macerata (Italy).
2020, Full professor in Zoology. University of Macerata (Italy).
INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
President of the ‘Orientation and Study Plans Committee’ for the class LM-85bis, UniMC (2020_present)
• Member and President of the ‘Orientation and Study Plans Committee’ for the classes 18 and 19, UniMC (2006_2012)
• Member of the Orientation and Study Plans Committee for the class L-19, UniMC (2015_2016)
• Member of the Committee for ‘Evaluation of Scientific Research’ (CAR) for the Area 11+BIO UniMC (2010_2012)
• Member of the coordination committee for PhD course in Life and Health Sciences, UniCam (2006_2013)
• Member of the Academic Senate, UniMC (2018).
RESEARCH TOPICS
• Predator-prey interactions, secondary metabolites and toxicology in ciliated protozoa
• Study and application of single-cell biosensors for environmental monitoring
• Protists as model organisms for biology teaching.