Carola Eleonora Parolin

Researcher at Beneficial Microbes Lab of the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, she carries out her research in the field of beneficial and probiotic bacteria.

She studies the interactions between the human microbiota, the host, and pathogens, as well as the functional characterization of probiotic bacteria and postbiotics. Her research focuses on the vaginal microbiota and the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of lactobacilli and their postbiotic derivatives, particularly in terms of antimicrobial activity, adhesion capacity, and immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.

She is also involved in investigating the effects of bioplastics and their released additives on environmental bacteria. In addition, she works on the characterization of biofilms formed by priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens, with a particular focus on the extracellular matrix and extracellular DNA (B-DNA and Z-DNA), aiming to develop innovative nanoformulations.