Nikita Kuznetsov | Enzyme Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Nikita Kuznetsov | Enzyme Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Head of Lab at Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine | Russia

Dr. Nikita A. Kuznetsov is a leading biochemist recognized for influential contributions to the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, biocatalysis, and enzyme engineering, supported by a strong research record comprising 1,724 citations, 125 publications, and an h-index of 25 in Scopus. His scientific work bridges physical chemistry, enzymology, and genetic technologies, offering foundational insights into enzyme conformational dynamics and substrate recognition. He has systematically characterized the kinetic steps of DNA repair enzymes, revealing molecular requirements for nucleotide flipping, DNA bending, and catalytic coordination across prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. His research established the DNA-mediated signaling model that explains cooperative interactions among repair enzymes and identified significant effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms on repair efficiency, protein–protein interactions, and genome maintenance. Kuznetsov’s portfolio includes patented assays for repair enzyme activity, discovery of the first inhibitor of human OGG1, and the development of highly accurate thermostable DNA polymerases that surpass global standards for error-free DNA amplification. His work extends to SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibition, where he applied pre-steady-state kinetics, molecular modeling, and synthesis to identify low-toxicity antiviral candidates. He has engineered thermostable reverse transcriptases, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferases essential for emerging enzymatic DNA synthesis technologies, along with enzymatic systems for bioremediation through redesigned oxygenases. His research demonstrates excellence across fundamental and applied biochemistry, contributing to genome stability studies, molecular diagnostics, antiviral development, and next-generation genetic engineering platforms.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Davletgildeeva, A. T., Tyugashev, T. E., Sagalakova, V. V., Zhao, M., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Predictive analysis and validation of critical missense SNPs of the ABH2 gene using structural bioinformatics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Timofeyeva, N. A., Tsoi, E. I., Novopashina, D. S., Kuznetsov, N. A., & Kuznetsova, A. A. (2025). Interplay between DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, and RNase H1 during head-on transcription–replication conflict. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Gavrilova, A. A., Kuznetsova, A. A., Novopashina, D. S., Zheng, C., Sun, Q., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Biochemical characterization of R-loop degradation by chloroplast-localized RNase H1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Kuznetsova, A. A., Grishina, I. A., Mikushina, E. S., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Engineering a thermostable reverse transcriptase for RT-PCR through rational design of Pyrococcus furiosus DNA polymerase. Biomolecules.

Davletgildeeva, A. T., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Participants in transcription–replication conflict and their role in formation and resolution of R-loops. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

 

Serena Barile | Industrial Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Serena Barile | Industrial Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow at University of Bari Aldo Moro | Italy

Dr. Serena Barile, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, conducts advanced research in biochemical sciences, focusing on metabolomic profiling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and molecular diagnostics. Her studies integrate cutting-edge techniques such as HPLC, LC-MS, and GC-MS to explore cellular metabolism and biochemical mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders. Dr. Barile’s research has led to notable publications in Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Journal of Lipid Research, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Bioenergetics, Bioresource Technology, and Scientific Reports, addressing critical issues related to mitochondrial transporters, lipid remodeling, and disease biomarkers. Her multidisciplinary expertise bridges molecular biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology, contributing to innovations in metabolic disease diagnostics and cellular bioenergetics. She has presented her findings at national and international biomembrane and bioenergetics conferences, showcasing her active engagement in the scientific community. With 8 citations, 5 indexed publications, and an h-index of 2 in Scopus, Dr. Barile exemplifies an emerging researcher with strong analytical capabilities, innovative scientific thinking, and a commitment to advancing biomedical and metabolic research through integrative experimental and computational strategies.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Cafferati Beltrame, L., Sgobba, M. N., Laera, L., Scaglione, V., Todisco, S., Barile, S., Francavilla, A. L., De Luca, D. I., Montaruli, M., Porcelli, V., et al. (2025). Combined in silico / in vitro approaches for identifying modulators of the activity of the p.Tyr110Cys Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase (CRAT) variant associated to an early onset case of Leigh syndrome. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica.

Porcelli, V., Barile, S., Capobianco, L., Barile, S. N., Gorgoglione, R., Fiermonte, G., Monti, B., Lasorsa, F. M., & Palmieri, L. (2024). The mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier does not transport GABA. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics.

Parrella, P., Barbano, R., Jonas, K., Fontana, A., Barile, S., Rendina, M., Lo Mele, A., Prencipe, G., Ciuffreda, L., Morritti, M. G., Valori, V. M., Graziano, P., Maiello, E., Copetti, M., Pichler, M., & Pasculli, B. (2024). Tumor suppressor miR-27a-5p and its significance for breast cancer. Biomedicines.

Castellaneta, A., Losito, I., Porcelli, V., Barile, S., Maresca, A., Del Dotto, V., Losacco, V., Guadalupi, L. S., Calvano, C. D., Chan, D. C., Carelli, V., Palmieri, L., & Cataldi, T. R. I. (2024). Lipidomics reveals the reshaping of the mitochondrial phospholipid profile in cells lacking OPA1 and mitofusins. Journal of Lipid Research.

Castellaneta, A., Porcelli, V., Losito, I., Barile, S., Maresca, A., Del Dotto, V., Guadalupi, L. S., Calvano, C. D., Carelli, V., Palmieri, L., & Cataldi, T. R. I. (2023). Methyl carbamates of phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines reveal bacterial contamination in mitochondrial lipid extracts of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Scientific Reports.

 

Eugenia Messina | Industrial Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Eugenia Messina | Industrial Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow at University of Bari Aldo Moro | Italy

Dr. Eugenia Messina is a distinguished researcher in biotechnology and microbial metabolic engineering, currently serving as a Research Fellow at the Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro,” Italy. Her research focuses on the metabolic and genetic engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica and other non-conventional yeasts for the sustainable synthesis of industrially relevant compounds and the bioconversion of plastic-derived monomers. She has made significant contributions to the development of microbial platforms for plastic upcycling, biochemical characterization of mitochondrial transporters, and metabolic pathways related to fatty acid and isocitric acid production. Messina has authored 8 scientific documents indexed in Scopus, which have collectively received 110 citations from 108 documents, reflecting an h-index of 6-demonstrating the growing influence and recognition of her research. Her publications include papers in Bioresource Technology, Pharmaceutics, Microbial Cell Factories, Frontiers in Microbiology, Metabolic Engineering, FEBS Letters, and Biochemical Journal, along with a European patent on the metabolic engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica for isocitric acid production. She has been recognized with the HERITAGE 2024 Award from the Biotechnology Group of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB), as well as multiple travel grants and presentation awards. Through interdisciplinary research and innovative approaches in bioengineering, Messina’s work contributes to advancing circular bioeconomy strategies, microbial biotechnology, and sustainable bioprocess development.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Brito, D. S., Agrimi, G., Charton, L., Brilhaus, D., Bitetto, M. G., Lana-Costa, J., Messina, E., Nascimento, C. P., Feitosa-Araújo, E., Pires, M. V., Pérez-Díaz, J. L., Obata, T., Porcelli, V., Palmieri, L., Araújo, W. L., Weber, A. P. M., Linka, N., Fernie, A. R., Palmieri, F., & Nunes-Nesi, A. (2020). Biochemical and functional characterization of a mitochondrial citrate carrier in Arabidopsis thaliana. Biochemical Journal, 477(9), 1759–1777.

Yuzbasheva, E. Y., Scarcia, P., Yuzbashev, T. V., Messina, E., Kosikhina, I. M., Palmieri, L., Shutov, A. V., Taratynova, M. O., Amaro, R. L., Palmieri, F., Sineoky, S. P., & Agrimi, G. (2021). Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for the selective and high-level production of isocitric acid through manipulation of mitochondrial dicarboxylate-tricarboxylate carriers. Metabolic Engineering, 65, 156–166.

Messina, E., de Souza, C. P., Cappella, C., Barile, S. N., Scarcia, P., Pisano, I., Palmieri, L., Nicaud, J. M., & Agrimi, G. (2023). Genetic inactivation of the carnitine/acetyl-carnitine mitochondrial carrier of Yarrowia lipolytica leads to enhanced odd-chain fatty acid production. Microbial Cell Factories, 22(1), 128.

Castellani, S., Iaconisi, G. N., Tripaldi, F., Porcelli, V., Trapani, A., Messina, E., Guerra, L., Di Franco, C., Maruccio, G., Monteduro, A. G., Corbo, F., Di Gioia, S., Trapani, G., & Conese, M. (2024). Dopamine and citicoline co-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles as multifunctional nanomedicines for Parkinson’s disease treatment by intranasal administration. Pharmaceutics, 16(8), 1048.

Messina, E., Zbigniew, L., Barile, S., Moroz, P., Scarcia, P., Palmieri, L., Pisano, I., & Agrimi, G. (2025). Acetate co-feeding increases ethylene glycol assimilation and glycolic acid production in Yarrowia lipolytica. Bioresource Technology. (Accepted October 2025).