Mycology Laboratory of DISTAV and Culture Collection (ColD-UNIGE) Core Facility

LOCATION

Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa; Palazzo delle Scienze, Building 12, IV floor, room IV.003 and room IV.09

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Prof. Mirca Zotti; tel. +39 010 353-8240; mirca.zotti@unige.it

MISSION

The University of Genoa is characterized by a long-standing tradition of mycological studies, started in the early years following its foundation. This scientific heritage, progressively enriched by the contributions of numerous scholars, was fully realized in the 2000s with the establishment of the Mycology Laboratory at DISTAV.
It is currently the only operational mycological center in Liguria and one of the few in Italy, with a strong applied vocation both in the agro-environmental and health fields.
The Mycology Laboratory includes the Culture Collection (or Microbial Biological Resource Center / biobank) ColD-UNIGE, established in the 1970s. Initially composed of fungal strains of Antarctic and marine origin, the collection was later expanded with viable fungal strains from numerous mycological fields (medical/forensic, food, biodeteriogenic fungi, etc.). Over time, this commitment has transformed the collection into a research infrastructure serving the scientific community.
ColD-UNIGE is a reference center for the preservation of microorganisms. An associate member of the national node of microbial collections MIRRI-IT, it includes a wide variety of organisms: filamentous fungi isolated in the Mycology Laboratory (DISTAV), yeasts from the Marine Biotechnology Laboratory (DISTAV), and bacteria isolated in the Microbiology Laboratory (DISTAV).
Unique in Liguria, the collection represents a strategic resource for microbial biodiversity conservation and for the development of basic and applied research at local, national, and international levels. The main activities of the Collection include the characterization, valorization, and preservation of microbial resources and their associated data, in compliance with the conditions of the Nagoya Protocol.
In addition, external services are provided, such as isolation, identification, purification, molecular analysis, and characterization of functional traits of strains.
The Mycology Laboratory and ColD-UNIGE also play an active role in national professional training, promoting specialized courses in collaboration with public institutions such as the Liguria and Piedmont Regions and the Local Health Authority (ASL). Among these, for example, are the course for obtaining the “Mycology Expert” qualification, pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 686/96, and the international course 'Introduction to forensic mycology: training course', promoted in collaboration with MIRRI-IT.

OUR SERVICES

The Mycology Laboratory and ColD-UNIGE have adopted an official fee schedule for the use of research infrastructures, established at the departmental level in line with operating, maintenance, and technical support costs.
The fee schedule can be found at: https://distav.unige.it/servizi_modulistica and is published transparently on the Department’s institutional website, accessible to all stakeholders. It ensures access under market conditions, in compliance with fair competition principles, avoiding undue advantages for specific users or research groups.
Services include:

  • Long-term preservation of fungal organisms by cryopreservation/lyophilization for 5 and/or 30 years
  • Safe deposit: secure procedure for microorganisms subject to patent
  • Distribution and exchange of microorganisms from the collection (https://susmirri-catalog.di.unito.it/collections/ColD) and publicly deposited strains
  • Identification of macro- and microfungi (including yeasts) using molecular techniques (DNA barcoding)
  • Specific tests related to functional traits of fungal strains of interest using cultural and optical microscopy methods
  • Consulting services on preservation, identification, deposit processes; dissemination on microbial biodiversity conservation
  • Monitoring of microfungal components in workplaces or domestic environments
  • Microbial counts
  • Consulting on cultivation of edible/medicinal saprotrophic macrofungi
  • On-site inspections and sampling for fungal contamination
  • Consulting on remediation of areas/materials contaminated by fungi
  • Commercial expertise (food, fuels, environments, industrial effluents, etc.)
  • Biomonitoring consulting using fungi
  • Fungal community characterization in environmental compartments
  • Research and selection of fungal strains with bioremediation properties
  • Bioremediation of contaminated sites (mycoremediation)
  • Use of fungi in environmental restoration
  • Professional mycology courses and outreach activities

EQUIPMENTS

  • Freezers -20°C (2)
  • Freezer -80°C (1)
  • Lyophilizer (1)
  • Thermostatic refrigerators (4)
  • Refrigerators 4°C (3)
  • Autoclaves (2)
  • Laminar flow hood BLS-2 (2)
  • Chemical hood (1)
  • Real-Time PCR (1)
  • Optical microscope with camera (2)
  • Stereomicroscopes (3)
  • Bioreactors (3)

PERSONNEL

Prof. Mirca Zotti - Associate Professor
Prof. Simone Di Piazza - Researcher
Dr. Grazia Cecchi - Specialized technician (fixed-term)

TARGET USERS

  • Internal researchers (Geo and Bio), national and international researchers
  • Internal technical offices of the University
  • External collaborators (public and private)

HOW TO ACCESS

COLLABORATIONS & NETWORKING

CONTACTS

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