Prof. Francesca Turroni

Qualifications / Work experiences
-from January 2026, Delegate of the Director of the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability for Technology Transfer.
-from October 2025, Deputy Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Microbiota and Heath.
-from July 2025, Director of the Interdepartmental Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma.
-from 2025, member of the Executive Board of the Scientific Society SIMGBM (Italian Society for General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology).
-from 2024, Deputy Chair of the Council of the Master's Degree Programme in Translational Biomedical Sciences.
-2020-2023, Deputy Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Biotechnology and Biosciences.
-from May 2019, Associate Professor, SSD BIO19 (Microbiology), University of Parma.
-2015-April 2019, Type B Researcher, SSD BIO19, University of Parma.
-April 2015-November 2015, Head of Research, Genprobio srl, University of Parma Spin-Off, Parma, Italy.
-2014 (2012 round), obtained the National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor for SSD BIO19, competition sector 05/I1 (Genetics and Microbiology).
-2014 (2013 round), obtained the National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor for SSD AGR16, competition sector 07/F2 (Agricultural Microbiology).
-September 2011-March 2015, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland. The position of Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, is certified as corresponding/equivalent to Research Fellow (UK) and Postdoc (Denmark and Norway), according to the certificate issued by the National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
-2011, Research Fellow, Department of Genetics, Biology of Microorganisms, Anthropology and Evolution, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
-2010, awarded the “International Mobility Pilot Action, Spinner 2013” scholarship to carry out research at the Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
-2009, six months of research entitled “Bifidobacteria and human milk oligosaccharides” carried out at the Department of Viticulture & Enology, RM Institute, University of Davis, California, USA.
-2007-2009, PhD candidate in Food Science and Technology at the University of Parma. Thesis title: “Genomic and Ecological Studies to understand Bifidobacterial Adaptation to the Human Gastro-Intestinal Tract”.

Teaching activities and related activities
-from 2020, member of the Teaching Committee for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology.
-2017-2023, Representative on the Joint Faculty-Student Committee for the Master's Degree Programme in Translational Biomedical Sciences.
-Course lecturer for Methods for the Analysis of Environmental Microbial Communities (3 CFU), Bachelor's Degree Programme in Natural and Environmental Sciences, AY 2021/2022, AY 2022/2023.
-Course lecturer for Microbiology and Virology (9 CFU), Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology, from AY 2018-2019 until now.
-Course lecturer for Human Microbiota and Metagenomics (6 CFU), Master's Degree Programme in Translational Biomedical Sciences, from AY 2020-2021 until now.
-Course lecturer for Human Microbiota Ecology and Elements of Metagenomics (6 CFU), Master's Degree Programme in Biology and Biomedical Applications, AY 2015-2016, AY 2016-2017, AY 2017-2018, AY 2018-2019, AY 2019-2020.
-2015, supplementary teaching activity entitled “Methods for the analysis of the intestinal microbiota” for the Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology, associated with the official course “Applied Microbiology and Probiogenomics” (SSD/BIO19), University of Parma, 15 hours.
-2014, supplementary teaching activity entitled “Microbiology and Industrial Applications” for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biotechnology, associated with the official course “Microbiology, Virology and Microbial Physiology” (SSD/BIO19), University of Parma, 12 hours.
-2014, practical classes for the official course “Applied Microbiology and Probiogenomics” for the Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology (SSD/BIO19), University of Parma, 20 hours.
-2013, Practical course on Microbiology in the laboratory, Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, 20 hours.
-2008-2009, practical classes for the official course “General Microbiology” for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Food Science and Technology (SSD/AGR16), University of Parma, 32 hours.
-2011 to date, supervision of students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers at the Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, and the Department of Genetics, Biology of Microorganisms, Anthropology and Evolution, University of Parma, Italy.
-Supervisor/co-supervisor of more than 40 Bachelor's and Master's theses in Biological and Agricultural Sciences in the field of microbiology and microbial genomics applied to probiotic bacteria.
-Faculty tutor for one PhD thesis in Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Parma.

Awards and distinctions
-2025, selected for Fondazione Onda ETS's Top Italian Women Scientists 2025, which includes women scientists listed by TIS, ViaAcademy with a Scholar H-index above 60.
-from October 2022, National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor, SSD BIO19 (Microbiology).
-2014, FEMS-ASM Mäkelä-Cassell Grant (joint award of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies and the American Society for Microbiology).
-2013, FEMS Jensen Award 2013 (award for high-level international research activity).
-2010, FEMS Meeting Attendance Grant funded by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies to attend the international meeting: 3rd International Symposium on Propionibacteria and Bifidobacteria: Dairy and Probiotic Applications, 1-4 June 2010, Oviedo, Spain, for the poster: Characterization of the serpin-encoding gene of Bifidobacterium breve 210B.
-2009, Short Term Fellowship funded by the “Inter-University Consortium for Biotechnology” (CIB) for the six-month research activity entitled “Evaluation of the molecular basis for the utilization of human milk oligosaccharides and non digestible oligosaccharides by bifidobacteria” at the University of California, Davis, USA.
-2008, Student Travel Grant Award from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) to attend the ASM 108th General Meeting, Boston, 1-5 June 2008, for the poster “Exploring the diversity of the human intestinal microflora: the case of bifidobacteria”.

Conferences and other distinctions
-Participated in the international conferences “FoodMicro”, “International Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria”, “Probiotics and Prebiotics Meeting”, “NutriEvent Congress”, “Human Gut Microbiome and Diseases”, “ASM General Meeting”, “Beneficial Microbes”, “FEMS Meeting”, and “Microbes for Health”.
-Member of the editorial boards of the following journals:
-Microbiome Research Reports (part of the Editorial Board)
-BMC Microbiology (Associate Editor)
-Frontiers in Food Microbiology (Review Editor)
-Frontiers in Microbiology (Associate and Topic Editor)
-Reviewer for international journals including: BMC Microbiology, Applied Environmental Microbiology, Letters Applied Microbiology, Journal of Bacteriology, Applied Microbiology, International Journal Systematic Evolutionary Microbiology, Archives of Microbiology, and Nature Microbiology reviews (currently reviews approximately 20 manuscripts per year, representing about half of the requests received).
-Member of the Italian Society for General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (SIMGBM) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Participation in research programmes
During her career, Prof. Francesca Turroni has coordinated and/or served as Scientific Principal Investigator and/or Coordinator of research projects for a total amount exceeding EUR 1,000,000.

Other research activities (technology transfer)
Prof. Turroni is a shareholder and co-founder of the spin-off “GenProbio srl.”, founded in 2011.

Research programmes
Prof. Turroni's research field concerns different -omics approaches (genomics and functional genomics) applied to intestinal bacteria, such as bifidobacteria. Prof. Turroni has devoted more than twelve years of research activity to leading laboratories conducting research in the field of metagenomics and microbial genomics of bifidobacteria and probiotic bacteria.
The main research activities have concerned:
-genomics of probiotic bacteria (probiogenomics);
-metagenomic analysis of the human intestinal microbiota;
-functional aspects of intestinal commensal bacteria;
-bacteria-host relationships in the human gastrointestinal tract;
-functional genomics concerning stress responses in bacteria;
-molecular biology of bacteriophages infecting lactic acid bacteria.

Invited speaker at International Conferences and Seminars
-“Dissecting the Molecular Dialog of bifidobacteria with the Human Gut Microbiota”, Lactic Acid Bacteria Biology, Symbioses and Applications, GRC Conference, 13-18 July, Ventura, Los Angeles, USA (invited lecture).
-“Identifying lung microbiota characteristics potentially associated with the development of VAP”, Pulmivap, third Investigator Meeting, Milan, 13 December 2024 (invited lecture).
-“Bifidobacteria and interaction with the human host”, 12th Probiotics, Prebiotics & new foods Nutraceuticals, Botanicals & Phytochemicals for Nutrition & Human, Animal and Microbiota Health, Rome, 16-19 September 2023 (invited lecture).
-“Human microbiota and health in early life”, Parma Microbiota Day, 27 April 2023 (invited lecture).
-“The lung microbiota”, Pulmivap Investigator Meeting, Milan, 28 September 2023 (invited lecture).
-“Cross talk between cheese and the human gut microbiota”, XXXIII workshop Sociedad Espanola de Microbiota, Probioticos Y Prebioticos (SEMiPyP), 7-9 June 2022 (invited lecture).
-“The role of the intestinal microbiota in infant nutrition”, Italian Society of Neonatology (SIN), webinar, 8 June 2021 (invited lecture).
-“The fimbriome of the genus Bifidobacterium represents extracellular structures that modulate interactions with the mammalian gut” XXXII SIMGBM Congress - Microbiology 2017, Palermo, 17-20 September 2017 (invited lecture).
-“The role of bifidobacteria in the human gut microbiota” Human Gut Microbiome and Diseases, Milan, 25-26 June 2015 (invited lecture).
-“Microbe-microbe interaction: the case of bifidobacteria” seminar at the Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, 5 February 2013 (seminar).
-“Diversity of bifidobacteria in the infant gut microbiota” Cortona Procarioti, Cortona, Italy, 3-5 May 2012.
-“Functional genomic analyses on host-microbe interactions: the case of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010”, 10th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria, 28 August-1 September 2011 (invited lecture).
-“Functional genomic studies on host-microbe interactions involving the human commensal Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010”, SIMGBM 29th National Meeting, Pisa, 21-23 September 2011 (invited lecture).
-“Characterization of the serpin-encoding gene of bifidobacteria: an example of genetic adaptation to the human gut” Cortona Procarioti, Cortona, Italy, 14-15 April 2010.
-“Probiotic and Prebiotic foods”, seminar, University of Parma, 30 March 2010.
-“Microbiological analysis in fermented foods”, laboratory classes, University of Parma, September-December 2008 (seminar).

Book chapters
1) Dehò G., Galli E., Landini P. and Ventura M. Biologia dei Microrganismi, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Zanichelli Editore, 2026, contributed to drafting the text of the fourth edition.
2) Tarracchini C., Milani C., Lugli GA., Mancabelli L., Turroni F., van Sinderen D. and Ventura M. 2024 The infant gut microbiota as the cornerstone for future gastrointestinal health. Advances in Applied Microbiology ’ Volume: 126 (ISBN: 978-0-443-29560-7). Elsevier Publisher (Editors Gadd and Sariaslani).
3) Turroni, F., Milani, C., van Sinderen, D., and Ventura, M. Bifidobacteria: ecology and co-evolution with the host. 2017. The genus Bifidobacterium. Elsevier Publisher (Editors Wood, Biavati, Mattarelli and Holzapfel).
4) Duranti, S., Turroni, F., Meschi, T., Ticinesi, A., Nouvenne, A., van Sinderen, D., and Ventura, M. Next Generation of Probiotic Bacteria: the test case of Bifidobacteria. 2015. Probiotics for Children. Nova Sciences Publishers, Inc. (Editor, M. Manfredi and G. De Angelis).
5) Ventura, M., Turroni, F., and van Sinderen D. Human gut bifidobacteria: special friends. 2014. Diet-Microbe Interactions in the Gut. Elsevier (Editor, K. Tuohy and D. Del Rio).
6) Ventura, M., Turroni, F., and van Sinderen D. The gut microbiota in health and disease. 2014. The human microbiota and microbiome. CABI. (Editor, J. Marchesi).
7) Sanchez, B., Turroni, F., van Sinderen, D., Ventura, M., Gueimonde, M., and Margolles, A. 2012. Exploration of the interaction of probiotics and prebiotics with the host using omics technologies. Book chapter in: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS). V. Kotchetkov (ed.).
8) Ventura, M., Margolles, A., Turroni, F., Zomer, A., de los Reyes-Gavilan, C.G., and van Sinderen D. 2011. The stress response in bifidobacteria. Stress response of Lactic Acid Bacteria. Springer (Editor, E. Tsakalidou).
9) Ventura, M., Turroni, F., van Sinderen D. 2011. Bifidobacteria: general overview on ecology, taxonomy and genomics. Lactic Acid Bacteria: Microbiological and functional aspects CRC Press (Editors, S. Lahtinen, A.C. Ouwehand, S. Salminen, A. Von Wright).
10) Ventura, M., Turroni, F, Foroni, E., Giubellini, V., and van Sinderen D. 2009. Bifidobacteria from ecology to comparative genomics prospectives. Bifidobacteria: Genomics and Molecular Aspects. Caister Academic Press (Editors, B. Mayo and D. van Sinderen).
11) Ventura, M., Turroni, F., and D. van Sinderen. 2009. Genomics of bifidobacteria: where we stand now and where we are going. Bifidobacteria: Genomics and Molecular Aspects. Caister Academic Press (Editors, B. Mayo and D. van Sinderen).
12) Ventura, M., Turroni, F., Ribbera, A., Foroni, E., and D. van Sinderen. 2008. Bifidobacteria: the model of human gut commensal. Therapeutic microbiology: probiotics and other strategies. ASM Press (Editor, J. Versalovic&Wilson).

Book/Journal editorials
During her career, Prof. Turroni coordinated the preparation of the following special issue:
-2014-2017. F. Turroni (topic editor) for “Bifidobacteria and their role in the human gut microbiota”. Special issue for Frontiers in Microbiology (IF 3.9).
-2022 to date (topic editor) for “Bifidobacteria: a pivotal microbial group of the human gut microbiota at all stages of life”. Special Issue form Microbiome Research Reports.
-2022 to date (topic editor) for “Rising Stars in Microbial Symbioses: 2022”. Special issue for Frontiers in Microbiology (IF 6.0).

Popular science articles
During her career, Prof. Turroni has published popular science articles in non-peer-reviewed journals:
-Turroni F. and Ventura M. 2007 “Probiogenomica” Il latte (5): 70-74
-Duranti S., Turroni F., Ventura M. 2015 “Il microbiota: un universo inesplorato”. Biologi Italiani (no. 2; February 2016).

Reviews
Prof. Turroni's research activity has been the subject of the following interviews and reviews:
-Interview with QuBítv (web TV for Parma and its province), April 2021.
-Interview for the “Young Researchers in Parma” column, curated by Informagiovani of the Municipality of Parma, April 2021.
-“Feature Fellow: Francesca Turroni” FEMS Affiliated Letter, September 2012.
-“Jensen Award for Francesca Turroni” FEMS Affiliated Letter, May 2013.
-“Shipping up to Boston”, FEMS Affiliated Letter, June 2014.
-“Interview with Francesca Turroni”, Irish Research Council Book, 2015.Researcher at the Probiogenomics Laboratory with expertise in the molecular and functional characterization of probiotic bacteria and host–microbe interactions.