Elisabetta Morelli

Degree in Biology, University of Pisa (1980). Professional training fellowship (ex L. 285), title: "Techniques of engineering and medical informatics, biophysics, nuclear chemistry and medical physics ” (from 1983 to 1990). Researcher at IBF, section of Pisa (from 1990 to now).

orcid://0000-0003-4206-3758,

Research interests:

- Biomarkers of environmental stress (Principal investigator)

Further collaborations:

- Meri Barbafieri (ISE, Pisa CNR).
- Ilaria Corsi (Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena)
- Isabella Buttino (ISPRA, Livorno)
- Mauro Posarelli (ENEA, Secion UTTAMB – BRA, Pisa)

Financial support:

- Fondi ordinari

Key publications:

Barbafieri M, Morelli E, Tassi E, Pedron F, Remorini D, Petruzzelli G (2018) Overcoming limitation of “recalcitrant areas” to phytoextraction process: the synergistic effects of exogenous cytokinins and nitrogen treatments. Sci total Environ. 639: 1520-1529 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.175

Morelli E, Gabellieri E, Bonomini A, Tognotti D, Grassi G, Corsi I (2018) TiO2 nanoparticles in seawater: Aggregation and interactions with the green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 148: 184-193 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.10.024

Scebba F, Tognotti D, Presciuttini G, Gabellieri E, Cioni P, Angeloni D, Basso B, Morelli E (2016) A SELDI-TOF approach to ecotoxicology: comparative profiling of low molecular weight proteins from a marine diatom exposed to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 123: 45-52 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.08.024

Zhou C, Vitiello V, Pellegrini D, Wu C, Morelli E, Buttino I (2016) Toxicological effects of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on marine planktonic organisms. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 123: 26-31 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.09.020i

Morelli E, Salvadori E, Basso B, Tognotti D, Cioni P, Gabellieri E (2015) The response of Phaeodactylum tricornutum to quantum dot exposure: Acclimation and changes in protein expression. Mar. Environ. Res. 111: 149-157 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.06.018

Publications (28):

Interplay between extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from a marine diatom and model nanoplastic through eco-corona formation
Grassi Giacomo; Gabellieri Edi; Cioni Patrizia; Paccagnini Eugenio; Faleri Claudia; Lupetti Pietro; Corsi Ilaria and Morelli Elisabetta
Science of the total environment, 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138457

Chemical composition of essential oil from plants of abandoned mining site of Elba island
Pistelli L, Bandeira Reidel RV, Parri F, Morelli E, Pistelli L
Natural product research (Online), 2019
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1437430

TiO nanoparticles in seawater: Aggregation and interactions with the green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta
Morelli E, Gabellieri E, Bonomini A, Tognotti D, Grassi G, Corsi I
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.10.024

Overcoming limitation of "recalcitrant areas" to phytoextraction process: The synergistic effects of exogenous cytokinins and nitrogen treatments
Barbafieri M.; Morelli E.; Tassi E.; Pedron F.; Remorini D.; Petruzzelli G.
Science of the total environment, 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.175

Response of spontaneous plants from an ex-mining site of Elba island (Tuscany, Italy) to metal(loid) contamination
Pistelli L, D'Angiolillo F, Morelli E, Basso B, Rosellini I, Posarelli M, Barbafieri M
Environmetal science and pollution research international (Internet), 2017
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8488-5

Physiological and biochemical responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) exposed to nano-CeO2 and excess boron: Modulation of boron phytotoxicity
Tassi E, Giorgetti L, Morelli E, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL, Barbafieri M
Plant physiology and biochemistry (Paris), 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.09.013

Toxicological effects of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on marine planktonic organisms
Zhou C.; Vitiello V.; Pellegrini D.; Wu C.; Morelli E.; Buttino I.
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (Online), 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.09.020

The response of Phaeodactylum tricornutum to quantum dot exposure: Acclimation and changes in protein expression.
Morelli E., Salvadori E., Basso B., Tognotti D., Cioni P., Gabellieri E.
Marine environmental research, 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.06.018

A SELDI-TOF approach to ecotoxicology: Comparative profiling of low molecular weight proteins from a marine diatom exposed to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots
Scebba F.; Tognotti D.; Presciuttini G.; Gabellieri E.; Cioni P.; Angeloni D.; Basso B.; Morelli E.
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (Online), 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.08.024

Interaction of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta: A biophysical approach
Morelli E, Salvadori E, Bizzarri R, Cioni P, Gabellieri E
Biophysical chemistry (Print), 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2013.06.007

Temperature and pressure dependence of azurin stability as monitored by tryptophan fluorescence and phosphorescence. The case of F29A mutant
Tognotti D, Gabellieri E, Morelli E, Cioni P
Biophysical chemistry (Print), 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2013.06.005

A multidisciplinary approach for assessing the toxicity of marine sediments: analysis of metal content and elutriate bioassays using metal bioavailability and genotoxicity biomarkers
Frassinetti S, Pitzalis E, Mascherpa MC, Caltavuturo L, Morelli E
Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology (Print), 2012
DOI: 10.1007/s00244-011-9667-x

Nitrogen fertilizer improves boron phytoextraction by Brassica juncea grown in contaminated sediments and alleviates plant stress
Giansoldati V; Tassi E; Morelli E; Gabellieri E; Pedron F; Barbafieri M
Chemosphere, 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.02.005

Chemical stability of CdSe quantum dots in seawater and their effects on a marine microalga
Morelli E; Cioni P; Posarelli M; Gabellieri E
Aquatic toxicology, 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.06.012

Protein structural changes induced by glutathione-coated CdS quantum dots as revealed by Trp phosphorescence
Gabellieri E, Cioni P, Balestreri E, Morelli E
European biophysics journal, 2011
DOI: 10.1007/s00249-011-0736-x

Exogenous cytokinin treatments of a Ni hyper-accumulator, Alyssum Murale, grown in a serpentine soil: Implications for Phytoextraction
Luca Cassina: Eliana Tassi; Elisabetta Morelli; Lucia Giorgetti; Damiano Remorini; Rufus L. Cheney; Meri Barbafieri.
International journal of phytoremediation, 2011

A phytochelatin-based bioassay in marine diatoms useful for the assessment of bioavailability of heavy metals released by polluted sediments.
Morelli E.; Marangi M.L.; Fantozzi L.
Environment international, 2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2008.09.012

Changes in the non-protein thiol pool and production of Dissolved Gaseous Mercury in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii under mercury exposure.
Morelli E.; Ferrara R.; Bellini B.; Dini F.; Di Giuseppe G.; Fantozzi L.
Science of the total environment, 2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.047

Phytochelatins in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin: an evaluation of their use as biomarkers of metal exposure in marine waters.
Morelli E.; Fantozzi L.
Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, 2008
DOI: 10.1007/s00128-008-9472-z

Determination and characterization of phytochelatins by liquid chromatography coupled with on line chemical vapour generation and atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection.
Bramanti E.; Toncelli D.; Morelli E.; Lampugnani L.; Zamboni R.; Miller K.E.; Zemetra J.; D'Ulivo A.
Journal of chromatography (Print), 2006
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.08.045

Susceptibility of insulinoma cells to Cadmium and modulation by L-type calcium channels.
Gavazzo P.; Morelli E.; Marchetti C.
BioMetals (Oxf.), 2005
DOI: 10.1007/s10534-004-5789-1

Biosynthesis of Cd-bound Phytochelatins (PCs) by Phaeodactylum tricornutum and their Speciation via Size-Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and Ion-Pairing Chromatography (IPC) coupled to ICP-MS.
Loreti V.; Toncelli D.; Morelli E.; Scarano G.; Bettmer J.
Analytical & bioanalytical chemistry (Print), 2005
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-005-3385-z

Biosynthesis of phytochelatins and arsenic accumulation in the marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to arsenate exposure.
Morelli E.; Mascherpa M.C.; Scarano G.
BioMetals (Oxf.), 2005
DOI: 10.1007/s10534-005-2998-1

Copper-induced changes of non-protein thiols and antioxidant enzymes in the marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
Morelli E.; Scarano G.
Plant science (Limerick), 2004
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2004.04.001

Properties of phytochelatin-coated CdS nanocrystallites formed in a marine phytoplanktonic alga (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Bohlin) in response to Cd
Scarano G. 1, Morelli E. 1
Plant science (Limerick), 2003

Characterization of cadmium- and lead-phytochelatin complexes formed in a marine microalga in response to metal exposure
Scarano G.; Morelli E.
BioMetals (Oxf.), 2002

Speciation of cadmium-gamma-glutamyl peptides complexes in cells of the marine microalga Paeodactylum tricornutum
Morelli E. 1, Cruz B.H. 2, Somovigo S. 1, Scarano G. 1
Plant science (Limerick), 2002

Synthesis and stability of phytochelatins induced by cadmium and lead in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Elisabetta Morelli; Gioacchino Scarano
Marine environmental research, 2001