RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research activities focus on the application of genetics, genomics, metabolomics and phenomics in the animal production sector, for breeding, selection and conservation programs of animal genetic resources, for food authenticity, for environmental characterizations and One Health approaches.

Genetics, genomics and phenomics in livestock species ​

Investigated species: pig, cattle, rabbit, sheep & goat, donkey, horse, turkey.

 

​Selected publications:

Schiavo et al. (2024) Anim Genet 55, 193-205.

Bovo et al. (2023) Animal 17, 101029. 

Ballan et al. (2023) J Anim Breed Genet 140, 663-678. 

Schiavo et al. (2022) J Dairy Sci 105, 2408-2425.

Bovo et al. (2020) Genet Sel Evol 52, 33.

Physiology and husbandry/slaughtering in pigs, animal welfare​

Topics: ​Male castration​; Carcass classification – definition of the new equations​; Physiological aspects of weaning and stressors;​Physiological aspects of gestation​; LCA

​Selected publications:

Vegni et al. (2023) Animal 17, 100864.

Luise  et al. (2020) Liv. Sci.  231, 103890.

Dall'Olio et al. (2020) Liv. Sci. 240, 104145.

Monteiro et al. (2019)  J. Cleaner Prod. 237, 117843.

Genetics and genomics in aquaculture species ​

Investigated species: European sea bass, gilthead seabream, sea cucumber and European eel. ​​​

Selected publications:

Ribani et al. (2024) Sci Rep 14, 24592. 

Bertolini et al. (2023) Genes 14, 839.

Bertolini et al. (2021) Anim Genet 52, 365-370.

Utzeri et al. (2020) Mar Genomics 51, 100735.

Apicultural genomics

Topics: ​Honey bee genetics and genomics, Honey genomics, Honey bee pests, parasites and pathogens.

 

​Selected publications:

Utzeri et al. (2022). Food Control 134, 108713.

Bovo et al. (2022) Sci Rep 12, 19541.

Ribani et al. (2022) Vet Sci  9, 213.

Bovo et al. (2020) Sci Rep 10, 9279.

Genomics in pets, wild, alien and extinct animal species​

Topics: pigmentation in canary, Lagomorph Genomics Consortium, Albinism in kangaroo, Myocastor coipus population genomics, ancient DNA project​

​

Selected publications:

Bovo et al. (2023) Anim Genet 54, 510-525.

Utzeri et al. (2023) Sci Rep 13, 13635.

Food genomics: authenticity and quality​

Topics: pigmeat, honey, dairy, ethic food (kosher, halal)​

 

​Selected publications:

Fontanesi et al. (2024) Food Control  163, 110547. 

Ribani et al. (2018) Food Chem 246, 90-98.

Ribani et al. (2018) Food Control  91, 58-67.

Utzeri et al. (2018) Food Control 86, 342-34.

 

eDNA and One Health​

Topics: eDNA in livestock farms, eDNA in honey, eDNA in aquaculture production systems, viromics, data mining.​​

​

Selected publications:

Bovo  et al. (2022) Genomics 114,  110312.

Bovo et al. (2020) Sci Rep 10, 9279.

Utzeri et al. (2019) J Invertebr Pathol 161, 47-53.

Evolution (NUMTs in animal species)​

Investigated species: pig, cattle, rabbit (and other lagomorphs), poultry

​Selected publications:

Bolner et al. (2024) Genet Sel Evol, 56.

Biró et al. (2022) Mitochondrion 66, 1-6. 

Schiavo et al. (2018) Anim Genet 49, 259-264. 

Schiavo et al. (2017) DNA Res 24, 487-498.