Marta Marmiroli | Università degli Studi di Parma (Italy) (original) (raw)

Papers by Marta Marmiroli

Nanomaterials, 2021

In previous work, two independent Arabidopsis thaliana Ac/Ds transposon insertional mutant lines,... more In previous work, two independent Arabidopsis thaliana Ac/Ds transposon insertional mutant lines, atnp01 and atnp02, were identified that showed a higher level of tolerance than the wild type (wt) line to cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs). The tolerance response was characterized at physiological, genetic and transcriptomic levels. In this work, a comparative analysis was performed on protein extracts from plantlets of the two mutants and of wt, each treated with 80 mg L−1 CdS QDs. A comparative protein analysis was performed by 2D-PAGE, and proteins were characterized by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Of 250 proteins identified from all three lines, 98 showed significant changes in relative abundance between control and CdS QD-treated plantlets. The wt, atnp01, and atnp02 control-treated pairs respectively showed 61, 31, and 31 proteins with differential expression. The two mutants had a different response to treatment in terms of type and quantity of up- and downregulated p...

ACS Nano, 2022

Mitochondria and chloroplasts not only are cellular energy sources but also have important regula... more Mitochondria and chloroplasts not only are cellular energy sources but also have important regulatory and developmental roles in cell function. CeO2, FeOx ENMs, ZnS, CdS QDs, and relative metal salts were utilized in Murashige-Skoog (MS) synthetic growth medium at different concentrations (80-500 mg L-1) and times of exposures (0-20 days). Analysis of physiological and molecular response of A. thaliana chloroplasts and mitochondrion demonstrates that ENMs increase or decrease functionality and organelle genome replication. Exposure to nanoscale CeO2 and FeOx causes an 81-105% increase in biomass, whereas ZnS and CdS QDs yielded neutral or a 59% decrease in growth, respectively. Differential effects between ENMs and their corresponding metal salts highlight nanoscale-specific response pathways, which include energy production and oxidative stress response. Differences may be ascribed to ENM and the metal salt dissolution rate and the toxicity of the metal ion, which suggests eventual biotransformation processes occurring within the plant. With regard to specific effects on plastid (pt) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA, CdS QD exposure triggered potential variations at the substoichiometric level in the two organellar genomes, while nanoscale FeOx and ZnS QDs caused a 1- to 3-fold increase in ptDNA and mtDNA copy numbers. Nanoparticle CeO2 exposure did not affect ptDNA and mtDNA stoichiometry. These findings suggest that modification in stoichiometry is a potential morpho-functional adaptive response to ENM exposure, triggered by modifications of bioenergetic redox balance, which leads to reducing the photosynthesis or cellular respiration rate.

Developing smart agri-food supply chains: Using technology to improve safety and quality, 2021

This chapter is about the history of bio-warfare, and how biological and bio-chemical weapons wer... more This chapter is about the history of bio-warfare, and how biological and bio-chemical weapons were developed during the two World Wars and afterwards. There are examples of attacks to the food chain of entire communities with biochemical weapons by either single individuals or groups, and attacks to single persons who are politically active with newly developed chemical agents. There are also example of attacks to agriculture, so-called agro-terrorism. All these impairment of the food chain have a terroristic base and manage to diminish consumer trust in the health of food and in the efficacy of the food chain control, costing billions of United States (US) dollars to the sector as a result. The final part of the chapter is dedicated to the use of biosensors and how through their deployment agencies have been able to protect communities from disruptive events, such as bioterrorism, should they occur in any part of the food chain.

Environmental Science: Nano, 2020

The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their... more The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their dispersion in the environment has stimulated research on their interaction with potential sensitive receptors.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2017

Cell sensitivity to quantum dots (QDs) has been attributed to a cascade triggered by oxidative st... more Cell sensitivity to quantum dots (QDs) has been attributed to a cascade triggered by oxidative stress leading to apoptosis. The role and function of mitochondria in animal cells are well understood but little information is available on the complex genetic networks that regulate nucleo-mitochondrial interaction. The effect of CdS QD exposure in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was assessed under conditions of limited lethality (<10%), using cell physiological and morphological endpoints. Whole-genomic array analysis and the screening of a deletion mutant library were also carried out. The results showed that QDs: increased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the level of reduced vs oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG); reduced oxygen consumption and the abundance of respiratory cytochromes; disrupted mitochondrial membrane potentials and affected mitochondrial morphology. Exposure affected the capacity of cells to grow on galactose, which requires nucleo-mitochondrial involvement. However, QDs exposure did not materially induce respiratory deficient (RD) mutants but only RD phenocopies. All of these cellular changes were correlated with several key nuclear genes, including TOM5 and FKS1, involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial organization and function. The consequences of these cellular effects are discussed in terms of dysregulation of cell function in response to these "pathological mitochondria".

Water Practice and Technology, 2011

Two horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands (h-SSF CW) were set-up and controlled to det... more Two horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands (h-SSF CW) were set-up and controlled to determine their efficiency in reducing the polluting load of wastewater from Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano cheese production. Besides, comparisons were made of biomass production and nutrient uptake of cattail (Typha latifolia) reaped at different stages. The average concentrations of the influent waters were about 250-320 mg/l TSS, 940-1060 mgO2/l COD, 600-700 mgO2/l BOD5, 35 mg/l TKN, 8-13 mg/l total P, 60-170 mg/l animal and vegetable fats and oils. The removal of COD, BOD5 and animal/vegetable fats and oils were above 95%, while resulted 60-65% for nitrogen and very different for phosphorus, varying from 75% in one CW to 20% in the other. Results demonstrated that h-SSF CW could help to solve the problem of the cost-effective disposal of cheese dairy wastewater, being a suitable treatment for reducing pollutants to values in conformance with Italian standards for discharge to a w...

Nanomaterials

The possibility that engineered manufactured nanomaterials (ENMs) can be harmful to the genetic m... more The possibility that engineered manufactured nanomaterials (ENMs) can be harmful to the genetic materials of living individuals has been highlighted in several experiments, but it is still controversial [...]

The attached data shows the raw data associated with the Tables and Figures found in the linked D... more The attached data shows the raw data associated with the Tables and Figures found in the linked Data in Brief article 'Data on the interaction of hyperaccumulating plants with nanoscale metals Zn and Cd' by Davide Imperiale, Giacomo Lencioni, Marta Marmiroli, Laura Paesano, Andrea Zappettini, Jason C. White and Nelson Marmiroli.

Three-ways ANOVA for As and Si concentrations in fruits of tomato cultivars Aragon and Gladis. Ta... more Three-ways ANOVA for As and Si concentrations in fruits of tomato cultivars Aragon and Gladis. Table S4. MapMan BIN assignation of the differentially abundant fruit proteins in (A) cv. Aragon, (B) cv. Gladis. Table S5. Description of the differentially abundant fruit proteins in (A) cv. Aragon, (B) cv. Gladis. (DOCX 90Â kb)

Protein abundance data. See attached excels file. (XLSX 28Â kb)

Scatter plot of detected spots on 2D gel: a) Aragon, and b) Gladis. (PDF 536Â kb)

This publication was financially supported by the European Commission in the

Science of The Total Environment, 2022

Metal hyperaccumulating plant species are an interesting example of natural selection and environ... more Metal hyperaccumulating plant species are an interesting example of natural selection and environmental adaptation but they may also be useful to developing new technologies of environmental monitoring and remediation. Noccaea caerulescens and Arabidopsis halleri are both Brassicaceae and are known metal hyperaccumulators. This study evaluated tolerance, uptake and translocation of zinc sulfide quantum dots by N. cearulescens and cadmium sulfide quantum dots by A. halleri in direct comparison with the non-hyperaccumulator, genetically similar T. perfoliatum and A. thaliana. Growth media were supplied with two different concentrations of metal in either salt (ZnSO4 and CdSO4) or nanoscale form (ZnS QDs and CdS QDs). After 30 days of exposure, the concentration of metals in the soil, roots and leaves was determined. Uptake and localization of the metal in both nanoscale and non-nanoscale form inside plant tissues was investigated by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) equipped with an X-ray probe. Specifically, the hyperaccumulators in comparison with the non-hyperaccumulators accumulate ionic and nanoscale Zn and Cd in the aerial parts with a BCF ratio of 45.9 for Zn ion, 49.6 for nanoscale Zn, 2.64 for Cd ion and 2.54 for nanoscale Cd. Results obtained with a differential extraction analytical procedure also showed that a significant fraction of nanoscale metals remained inside the plants in a form compatible with the retention of at least a partial initial structure. The molecular consequences of the hyperaccumulation of nanoscale materials are discussed considering data obtained with hyperaccumulation of ionic metal. This is the first report of conventional hyperaccumulating plants demonstrating an ability to hyperaccumulate also engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and suggests a potential novel strategy for not only understanding plant-nanomaterial interactions but also for potential biomonitoring in the environment to avoid their entering into the food chains.

Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials in the Environment, 2019

Abstract Old and new aspects of toxicology applied to the study of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs... more Abstract Old and new aspects of toxicology applied to the study of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) affect on living organisms. The new fields of nanotoxicology, systems nanotoxicology, and nanotoxicogenomics are explored with particular emphasis on the new paradigms for the toxicity test for ENMs. The need to move from in vivo to in vitro study to comply with new European Union (EU) and US regulations and with the 3Rs (replace, reduce, refine) principle is discussed along with the concept of adverse outcome pathways for a mechanistic interpretation of the ENM toxicity. The chapter provides examples of new model organisms to study traditional toxicology end points as well as new strategies and new end points. Innovative approaches to nanotoxicology are explained: high-throughput screening, high-content screening, and integrated systems for alternative test strategies. Studies on the effects of ENMs compared to the parent ions and bulk materials utilizing these new test strategies are related together with the entering and trafficking mechanisms so far discovered to explain ENM toxicity within cells.

Marine Drugs, 2020

The biggest obstacles in the application of marine peptides are two-fold, as in the case of non-m... more The biggest obstacles in the application of marine peptides are two-fold, as in the case of non-marine plant and animal-derived bioactive peptides: elucidating correlation between the peptide structure and its effect and demonstrating its stability in vivo. The structures of marine bioactive peptides are highly variable and complex and dependent on the sources from which they are isolated. They can be cyclical, in the form of depsipeptides, and often contain secondary structures. Because of steric factors, marine-derived peptides can be resistant to proteolysis by gastrointestinal proteases, which presents an advantage over other peptide sources. Because of heterogeneity, amino acid sequences as well as preferred mechanisms of peptides showing specific bioactivities differ compared to their animal-derived counterparts. This review offers insights on the extreme diversity of bioactivities, effects, and structural features, analyzing 253 peptides, mainly from marine food sources. Simi...

Journal of Experimental Botany, 2020

To ensure the food security of future generations and to address the challenge of the ‘no hunger ... more To ensure the food security of future generations and to address the challenge of the ‘no hunger zone’ proposed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), crop production must be doubled by 2050, but environmental stresses are counteracting this goal. Heat stress in particular is affecting agricultural crops more frequently and more severely. Since the discovery of the physiological, molecular, and genetic bases of heat stress responses, cultivated plants have become the subject of intense research on how they may avoid or tolerate heat stress by either using natural genetic variation or creating new variation with DNA technologies, mutational breeding, or genome editing. This review reports current understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of heat stress in crops together with recent approaches to creating heat-tolerant varieties. Research is close to a breakthrough of global relevance, breeding plants fitter to face the biggest challenge of our time.

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2018

Nanomaterials, 2021

In previous work, two independent Arabidopsis thaliana Ac/Ds transposon insertional mutant lines,... more In previous work, two independent Arabidopsis thaliana Ac/Ds transposon insertional mutant lines, atnp01 and atnp02, were identified that showed a higher level of tolerance than the wild type (wt) line to cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs). The tolerance response was characterized at physiological, genetic and transcriptomic levels. In this work, a comparative analysis was performed on protein extracts from plantlets of the two mutants and of wt, each treated with 80 mg L−1 CdS QDs. A comparative protein analysis was performed by 2D-PAGE, and proteins were characterized by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Of 250 proteins identified from all three lines, 98 showed significant changes in relative abundance between control and CdS QD-treated plantlets. The wt, atnp01, and atnp02 control-treated pairs respectively showed 61, 31, and 31 proteins with differential expression. The two mutants had a different response to treatment in terms of type and quantity of up- and downregulated p...

ACS Nano, 2022

Mitochondria and chloroplasts not only are cellular energy sources but also have important regula... more Mitochondria and chloroplasts not only are cellular energy sources but also have important regulatory and developmental roles in cell function. CeO2, FeOx ENMs, ZnS, CdS QDs, and relative metal salts were utilized in Murashige-Skoog (MS) synthetic growth medium at different concentrations (80-500 mg L-1) and times of exposures (0-20 days). Analysis of physiological and molecular response of A. thaliana chloroplasts and mitochondrion demonstrates that ENMs increase or decrease functionality and organelle genome replication. Exposure to nanoscale CeO2 and FeOx causes an 81-105% increase in biomass, whereas ZnS and CdS QDs yielded neutral or a 59% decrease in growth, respectively. Differential effects between ENMs and their corresponding metal salts highlight nanoscale-specific response pathways, which include energy production and oxidative stress response. Differences may be ascribed to ENM and the metal salt dissolution rate and the toxicity of the metal ion, which suggests eventual biotransformation processes occurring within the plant. With regard to specific effects on plastid (pt) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA, CdS QD exposure triggered potential variations at the substoichiometric level in the two organellar genomes, while nanoscale FeOx and ZnS QDs caused a 1- to 3-fold increase in ptDNA and mtDNA copy numbers. Nanoparticle CeO2 exposure did not affect ptDNA and mtDNA stoichiometry. These findings suggest that modification in stoichiometry is a potential morpho-functional adaptive response to ENM exposure, triggered by modifications of bioenergetic redox balance, which leads to reducing the photosynthesis or cellular respiration rate.

Developing smart agri-food supply chains: Using technology to improve safety and quality, 2021

This chapter is about the history of bio-warfare, and how biological and bio-chemical weapons wer... more This chapter is about the history of bio-warfare, and how biological and bio-chemical weapons were developed during the two World Wars and afterwards. There are examples of attacks to the food chain of entire communities with biochemical weapons by either single individuals or groups, and attacks to single persons who are politically active with newly developed chemical agents. There are also example of attacks to agriculture, so-called agro-terrorism. All these impairment of the food chain have a terroristic base and manage to diminish consumer trust in the health of food and in the efficacy of the food chain control, costing billions of United States (US) dollars to the sector as a result. The final part of the chapter is dedicated to the use of biosensors and how through their deployment agencies have been able to protect communities from disruptive events, such as bioterrorism, should they occur in any part of the food chain.

Environmental Science: Nano, 2020

The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their... more The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their dispersion in the environment has stimulated research on their interaction with potential sensitive receptors.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2017

Cell sensitivity to quantum dots (QDs) has been attributed to a cascade triggered by oxidative st... more Cell sensitivity to quantum dots (QDs) has been attributed to a cascade triggered by oxidative stress leading to apoptosis. The role and function of mitochondria in animal cells are well understood but little information is available on the complex genetic networks that regulate nucleo-mitochondrial interaction. The effect of CdS QD exposure in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was assessed under conditions of limited lethality (<10%), using cell physiological and morphological endpoints. Whole-genomic array analysis and the screening of a deletion mutant library were also carried out. The results showed that QDs: increased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the level of reduced vs oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG); reduced oxygen consumption and the abundance of respiratory cytochromes; disrupted mitochondrial membrane potentials and affected mitochondrial morphology. Exposure affected the capacity of cells to grow on galactose, which requires nucleo-mitochondrial involvement. However, QDs exposure did not materially induce respiratory deficient (RD) mutants but only RD phenocopies. All of these cellular changes were correlated with several key nuclear genes, including TOM5 and FKS1, involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial organization and function. The consequences of these cellular effects are discussed in terms of dysregulation of cell function in response to these "pathological mitochondria".

Water Practice and Technology, 2011

Two horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands (h-SSF CW) were set-up and controlled to det... more Two horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands (h-SSF CW) were set-up and controlled to determine their efficiency in reducing the polluting load of wastewater from Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano cheese production. Besides, comparisons were made of biomass production and nutrient uptake of cattail (Typha latifolia) reaped at different stages. The average concentrations of the influent waters were about 250-320 mg/l TSS, 940-1060 mgO2/l COD, 600-700 mgO2/l BOD5, 35 mg/l TKN, 8-13 mg/l total P, 60-170 mg/l animal and vegetable fats and oils. The removal of COD, BOD5 and animal/vegetable fats and oils were above 95%, while resulted 60-65% for nitrogen and very different for phosphorus, varying from 75% in one CW to 20% in the other. Results demonstrated that h-SSF CW could help to solve the problem of the cost-effective disposal of cheese dairy wastewater, being a suitable treatment for reducing pollutants to values in conformance with Italian standards for discharge to a w...

Nanomaterials

The possibility that engineered manufactured nanomaterials (ENMs) can be harmful to the genetic m... more The possibility that engineered manufactured nanomaterials (ENMs) can be harmful to the genetic materials of living individuals has been highlighted in several experiments, but it is still controversial [...]

The attached data shows the raw data associated with the Tables and Figures found in the linked D... more The attached data shows the raw data associated with the Tables and Figures found in the linked Data in Brief article 'Data on the interaction of hyperaccumulating plants with nanoscale metals Zn and Cd' by Davide Imperiale, Giacomo Lencioni, Marta Marmiroli, Laura Paesano, Andrea Zappettini, Jason C. White and Nelson Marmiroli.

Three-ways ANOVA for As and Si concentrations in fruits of tomato cultivars Aragon and Gladis. Ta... more Three-ways ANOVA for As and Si concentrations in fruits of tomato cultivars Aragon and Gladis. Table S4. MapMan BIN assignation of the differentially abundant fruit proteins in (A) cv. Aragon, (B) cv. Gladis. Table S5. Description of the differentially abundant fruit proteins in (A) cv. Aragon, (B) cv. Gladis. (DOCX 90Â kb)

Protein abundance data. See attached excels file. (XLSX 28Â kb)

Scatter plot of detected spots on 2D gel: a) Aragon, and b) Gladis. (PDF 536Â kb)

This publication was financially supported by the European Commission in the

Science of The Total Environment, 2022

Metal hyperaccumulating plant species are an interesting example of natural selection and environ... more Metal hyperaccumulating plant species are an interesting example of natural selection and environmental adaptation but they may also be useful to developing new technologies of environmental monitoring and remediation. Noccaea caerulescens and Arabidopsis halleri are both Brassicaceae and are known metal hyperaccumulators. This study evaluated tolerance, uptake and translocation of zinc sulfide quantum dots by N. cearulescens and cadmium sulfide quantum dots by A. halleri in direct comparison with the non-hyperaccumulator, genetically similar T. perfoliatum and A. thaliana. Growth media were supplied with two different concentrations of metal in either salt (ZnSO4 and CdSO4) or nanoscale form (ZnS QDs and CdS QDs). After 30 days of exposure, the concentration of metals in the soil, roots and leaves was determined. Uptake and localization of the metal in both nanoscale and non-nanoscale form inside plant tissues was investigated by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) equipped with an X-ray probe. Specifically, the hyperaccumulators in comparison with the non-hyperaccumulators accumulate ionic and nanoscale Zn and Cd in the aerial parts with a BCF ratio of 45.9 for Zn ion, 49.6 for nanoscale Zn, 2.64 for Cd ion and 2.54 for nanoscale Cd. Results obtained with a differential extraction analytical procedure also showed that a significant fraction of nanoscale metals remained inside the plants in a form compatible with the retention of at least a partial initial structure. The molecular consequences of the hyperaccumulation of nanoscale materials are discussed considering data obtained with hyperaccumulation of ionic metal. This is the first report of conventional hyperaccumulating plants demonstrating an ability to hyperaccumulate also engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and suggests a potential novel strategy for not only understanding plant-nanomaterial interactions but also for potential biomonitoring in the environment to avoid their entering into the food chains.

Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials in the Environment, 2019

Abstract Old and new aspects of toxicology applied to the study of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs... more Abstract Old and new aspects of toxicology applied to the study of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) affect on living organisms. The new fields of nanotoxicology, systems nanotoxicology, and nanotoxicogenomics are explored with particular emphasis on the new paradigms for the toxicity test for ENMs. The need to move from in vivo to in vitro study to comply with new European Union (EU) and US regulations and with the 3Rs (replace, reduce, refine) principle is discussed along with the concept of adverse outcome pathways for a mechanistic interpretation of the ENM toxicity. The chapter provides examples of new model organisms to study traditional toxicology end points as well as new strategies and new end points. Innovative approaches to nanotoxicology are explained: high-throughput screening, high-content screening, and integrated systems for alternative test strategies. Studies on the effects of ENMs compared to the parent ions and bulk materials utilizing these new test strategies are related together with the entering and trafficking mechanisms so far discovered to explain ENM toxicity within cells.

Marine Drugs, 2020

The biggest obstacles in the application of marine peptides are two-fold, as in the case of non-m... more The biggest obstacles in the application of marine peptides are two-fold, as in the case of non-marine plant and animal-derived bioactive peptides: elucidating correlation between the peptide structure and its effect and demonstrating its stability in vivo. The structures of marine bioactive peptides are highly variable and complex and dependent on the sources from which they are isolated. They can be cyclical, in the form of depsipeptides, and often contain secondary structures. Because of steric factors, marine-derived peptides can be resistant to proteolysis by gastrointestinal proteases, which presents an advantage over other peptide sources. Because of heterogeneity, amino acid sequences as well as preferred mechanisms of peptides showing specific bioactivities differ compared to their animal-derived counterparts. This review offers insights on the extreme diversity of bioactivities, effects, and structural features, analyzing 253 peptides, mainly from marine food sources. Simi...

Journal of Experimental Botany, 2020

To ensure the food security of future generations and to address the challenge of the ‘no hunger ... more To ensure the food security of future generations and to address the challenge of the ‘no hunger zone’ proposed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), crop production must be doubled by 2050, but environmental stresses are counteracting this goal. Heat stress in particular is affecting agricultural crops more frequently and more severely. Since the discovery of the physiological, molecular, and genetic bases of heat stress responses, cultivated plants have become the subject of intense research on how they may avoid or tolerate heat stress by either using natural genetic variation or creating new variation with DNA technologies, mutational breeding, or genome editing. This review reports current understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of heat stress in crops together with recent approaches to creating heat-tolerant varieties. Research is close to a breakthrough of global relevance, breeding plants fitter to face the biggest challenge of our time.

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2018