Nicole Maculet

Dr. Nicole Maculet


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 July 2026 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Gabriella GuelfiGabriella Guelfi
Gabriella Guelfi
CDCecilia Dall'Aglio
Cecilia Dall'Aglio
Francesca MercatiFrancesca Mercati
Francesca Mercati
Camilla CapacciaCamilla Capaccia
Camilla Capaccia
NMNicole Maculet
Nicole Maculet
Margherita MaranesiMargherita Maranesi
Margherita Maranesi
Grape pomace (GP) is being explored as a sustainable feed ingredient for ruminants due to its fiber and polyphenol content; however, its systemic effects under farming conditions remain unclear. This study tested whether 5% dried grape pomace (GP5) modulates serum circulating miRNAs (cmiRNAs) in dairy sheep. Twelve Sarda ewes were enrolled in a 30-day trial and assigned to a control (CTRL) or GP5 diet. Small RNA sequencing was initially performed in GP5 animals (paired T30 vs. T0 comparison); after quality filtering, five paired animals were included in the sequencing analyses. The differentially expressed (DE) cmiRNAs were validated by RT-qPCR in GP5 and CTRL groups. RT-qPCR confirmed the NGS-derived miRNA signature, identifying miR-143, miR-382-5p, miR-409-3p, and miR-194 as significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) in GP5 animals. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed that DE miRNAs target shared hubs, with PPAR signaling among the most enriched pathways (BH-adjusted p = 1.35 × 10−9), predicted to be inhibited (Z = −2.646). Cholecystokinin/gastrin-mediated and S100 signaling were also enriched (BH-adjusted p = 7.08 × 10−11 and 3.21 × 10−8) and predicted to be activated (Z = 2.828 and 3.162). Overall, GP5 supplementation was associated with a selective cmiRNA signature consistent with targeted post-transcriptional regulation.

10 November 2026 in Immuno
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Gabriella GuelfiGabriella Guelfi
Gabriella Guelfi
RVRamon Vázquez-Molinero
Ramon Vázquez-Molinero
Margherita MaranesiMargherita Maranesi
Margherita Maranesi
DSDavid Sardon
David Sardon
ERElisa Gómez Rodríguez
Elisa Gómez Rodríguez
Francesca MercatiFrancesca Mercati
Francesca Mercati
Uterine physiology may differ among cattle managed under different farming systems. This pilot study evaluated uterine NAMPT/visfatin and SPP1/osteopontin in pregnant and luteal-phase non-pregnant cattle from one intensive beef farm (INT; n = 7; nulliparous heifers aged 14–18 months, crossbred with a predominant Limousin genetic background) and one extensive farm (EXT; n = 6; Lidia cows aged 28–34 months). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded uterine tissues were analyzed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Visfatin immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the luminal epithelium and uterine glands. NAMPT expression was higher in the INT cohort than in the EXT cohort (0.6331 ± 0.0855 vs. 0.3632 ± 0.0395; p = 0.0200), whereas SPP1 expression did not differ between cohorts (0.2056 ± 0.0661 vs. 0.1806 ± 0.0562; p = 0.7786). Visfatin immunostaining scores were significantly higher in INT than EXT cows in the secretory adenomeres (median [IQR]: 2.37 [2.15–2.52] vs. 1.48 [1.38–1.77]; p = 0.0012), whereas no significant difference was detected in the combined luminal epithelium/glandular duct compartment (p = 0.4639). Because age, breed, and farm of origin were confounded with management system, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory between-cohort associations.