Prof. Patrizia Falabella

Patrizia Falabella is a Full Professor at the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences of the University of Basilicata, for the disciplinary sector of “General and Applied Entomology”.

The research activities mainly fall within the scope of entomological biotechnologies and their applications and in particular concern:

1) Study of host-parasitoid interactions to identify and characterize factors of parasitic origin responsible for the induction of pathological syndromes affecting the host and with potential insecticidal action.

2) Study of the physiology of insects to evaluate the potential insecticidal effect of compounds of natural origin and to characterize, at the molecular level, the mechanisms of the immune response and ecdysteroidogenesis.

3) Study of the molecular bases of olfactory perception in insects related to the investigation of the morphological ultrastructure of sensilla, useful for understanding the physiological mechanisms of chemoreception.

4) Study of bioconverter insects, Hermetia illucens in particular, as sources of molecules and innovative processes of high economic and biological value.

This research branch is related to: 

- optimization of bioconversion processes 

- production of wholemeal flours (high in noble proteins, lipids and chitin) usable for the formulation of feed intended for the aquaculture and pet food sectors 

- molecular and functional analysis of antimicrobial and anticancer peptides derived from H. illucens - extraction of chitin and purification of chitosan for different possible applications (edible coating for the extension of the shelf life of agri-food products, wastewater treatment, cosmetic applications, biostimulants for plants) 

- extraction of lipids for the formulation of personal care products