Cristina Merla is a microbiologist at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Hospital. She has a strong background in molecular biology and specific training in microbiology. She works on the implementation of molecular biology methods, mainly DNA extractions, PCR amplification, and NGS sequencing, in the routine bacteriology laboratory of the hospital. Her research interests in antibiotic resistance and virulence factors have allowed her to practice sequencing of different bacteria.