Title: professor

Association/Company: Università di Bologna

Biography
Paola Mattarelli è professore di Microbiologia agro-ambientale presso il Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroalimentari all’Università di Bologna. Gli argomenti di ricerca riguardano: tassonomia ed ecologia di microrganismi; prebiotici e probiotici; microbiota intestinale; attività antimicrobica di oli essenziali e idrolati. Ha descritto 21 nuove specie di probiotici.

Autore del capitolo sulle Bifidobacteriaceae nel “Bergey’s Manual Systematic Bacteriology”. Ha progetti nazionali e internazionali sia privati sia pubblici. Segretario dell’ICSP – Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and related organisms”.  Membro dell’Editorial Board dell’IJSEM e del SAM. E’ autore di 89 articoli e 20 capitoli di libri.

Speech session
Fish microbiome: modulation and its advantages

Speech
Effects of essential oils on fish microbiome

Abstract
Biofilm formation is one of the main mechanisms responsible for the pathogenicity of microorganisms in aquaculture. Therefore, counteracting biofilm formation is an important target in the development of potential agents with antimicrobial activity. In this field, essential oils, natural substances already known as powerful antimicrobials, can represent a valid support for the disintegration of biofilms and for preventing their formation by pathogens.

It is, therefore, essential to highlight the anti-biofilm activity of essential oils and their mixtures to effectively inhibit the microbial growth of pathogenic strains by preventing biofilm development and, consequently, the related microbial infections by limiting the use of antibiotics in aquaculture. Essential oils can, therefore, according to a One Health approach, represent an excellent resource to contain the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance by combining the effectiveness of treatments on farmed fish with a low environmental impact.