• Full Professor of Physiology at University of Calabria (Italy), Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences;
• Delegate of the Dean for the Doctorate of Research
• Scientific director of the Laboratory of Organ and System Physiology (Department of Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Italy);
• Director of the Research Group in Physiology at the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Italy;
• Member of the "Giunta di Dipartimento" at the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, at University of Calabria.
• Coordinator of the Doctorate in Life Science and Technology at University of Calabria
• Past Coordinator of the Doctorate Fellowship in Life Sciences at University of Calabria
• Past member of the Scientific Board of the High School in Clinical Pathology, both at University of Calabria;
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Italian Society of Physiology
• Member of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Research, Italian Physiological Society (as component of the Scientific Advisory Board), Society for Experimental Biology
• Member of the Research Group at University of Calabria of the Italian Institute for Cardiovascular Research;
• Professor of Molecular Physiology for Master students in Biotechnology for the Human Health and of Cell and System Physiology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Nutritional and Health Sciences, University of Calabria;
• Past vice Director of the Department of Pharmaco-Biology (University of Calabria, Italy);
• Director of Master in “Applicative aspects in clinical nutrition”, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nutritional and Health Sciences, University of Calabri;
• Eligible Member of the Italian National Examinig board for Professor position.
Memberships
Società Italiana di Fisiologia
Società Italiana di Ricerche Cardiovascolari
Society for Experimental Biology
International Society for Heart research
Referee for many national projects, PhD thesis from non-Italian Universities, and for international journals, including
Journal of Experimental Biology, General and Comparative Endocrinology, Cell and Tissue Research, Journal Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Circulation Research, Gene, American Journal Physiology, Acta Physiologica, Cardiovascular Diabetology, Cancer therapy, Peptides, Endocrine, PLOSOne, Molecules.
Editor for Antioxidants (MDPI).
Guest Editor for BBA Bioenergetics Special Issue “Radical Species, Mitochondria and Cardiac Function” (2009).
Co-Editor of the volume “Chromogranins: from Cell Biology to Physiology and Biomedicine”. (Springer Verlag) 2017.
Co-Editor of the Special Issue “Mechanisms, and pathophysiology of obesity: upgrading a complex scenario”. CMC.
Co-Guest Editor for the ANTX Special Issue: The NOS/NO system in the vertebrate heart.
Main research interest
1.Morpho-functional plasticity of the fish heart in relation to ontogenetic development and environmental influences (e.g. hypoxia, thermal stress).
2. Autocrine-paracrine modulation of the cardiac performance in vertebrates (fish, amphibians, rat): Natriuretic Peptides (NP), Angiotensin II (AngII), and the NOS/NO system.
3.NO-dependent cardiac modulation in vertebrates adapted to extreme environments: ventricular NOS system in antarctic teleosts and tropical lungfish.
4.Neuroendocrine modulation of vertebrate cardiac performance: Chromogranin A-derived peptides, Glucagon-like peptide-2, Selenoprotein-T.
For the Society for Experimental Biology, has organized the session “Radical Species, Mitochondria and Cardiac Function” for the Annual Main Meeting 2008, (http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/Marseille/Programme_by_day.html).
Editor of the volume Chromogranins: from Cell Biology to Physiology and Biomedicine" (UNIPA Springer Series, Springer Verlag, 2017)
Collaborations
Research activity on NP have been carried out in collaboration with Prof. Yoshio Takei, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan), while those on neuropeptides are in collaboration with San Raffaele Scientific Institute (DIBIT), Milan (Dott. Angelo Corti), University of California, San Diego (Prof. Sushil Mahata), Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA (Dr. Peng Loh), and INSERM, Strasbourg (France) (Prof. Marie Helene Betz-Boutigue), INSERM, Rouen, France (Prof. Youssef Anouar). Part of these researches was carried out in the context of the Doctorate in Animal Biology, Italy-France co-tutorship.
Researches on neuropeptides in cardioprotection are in collaboration with University of Turin (Prof. Pasquale Pagliaro, prof. Giuseppe Alloatti).
Researches on morpho-functional aspects (structural, ultrastructural, molecular and hemodynamics) of cardiac rearrangement in relation to both the development and adaptation to estreme environmental conditions are in collaboration with University of Palermo, Italy (Prof. G. Zummo) and University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain (Prof. J. M. Icardo), of the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (Prof. Y.K. Ip), the Universities of Aarhus and Odense (Prf. Angela Fago and Prof. Frank B. Jensen), with the A. Dohrn Zoological Station (Naples), the research association Cephalopod Research (Dott. G. Fiorito), and with the Ecotekne Research Center (Univ. Salento: Prof. T. Verri).
Research programs
1991-2007 National Program for Antarctic Research (PNRA) (O.U. University of Calabria, coordinator: Prof. B. Tota): "Adattamento di teleostei alle basse temperature: caratteristiche adattative e non adattative dei Nototenioidei Antartici e Sub-Antartici”.
1992-1996 Research Program CEE n. AIR1-CT920186 “Improvement of the nutritional value, growth and resistance to stress of eels and sturgeon by controlled dietary lipids and conditions during intensive aquaculture" in cooperation with the Universities of Birmingham, Copenaghen, Milano, University of Calabria, Prof. B. Tota.
1994-1995 Research Program CEE n. CI1-CT93-0050 “Environmental influences on the ecology and physiology of sub-Antarctic fish” in cooperation with Università di St. Andrews, Scotland, Marine Research Centre, Ushuaia, Argentina.
1998-2000 Research Project CNR n. CNR 98.00.104.PF31 “Sviluppo di nuove specie e tecnologie per l'acquacoltura. Tematica 4. Biotecnologie industriali e metodologie innovative. Sottotematica 4F. Biotecnologie marine ed ambientali” in cooperation with University of Lecce and University of Palermo.
2003-2004 “Progetto di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN)” “Le vasostatine nuovi peptidi regolatori della funzione cardiaca e della muscolatura liscia”, coordinator Prof. Bruno Tota, in cooperation with University of Palermo.
2005-2007 Member of the Operative Unit of the “Istituto Italiano di Ricerche Cardiovascolari” at University of Calabria.
2008 Responsible of the OU at UNICAL of "Progetto di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN)" "Peptidi oressigeni ed anoressigeni: elementi di un sistema integrato che regola la motilità gastrointestinale e l'attività cardiaca.", national director Prof. Flavia Mule', University of Palermo.
2008 Scientific coordinator of the Progetto Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Calabria e Lucania, entitled: “Cuore-cervello: nuovi orizzonti biomedici nello studio di neuropeptidi ad azionecardiovascolare” (Responsible B. Tota).
2011 Research project PON01_00293: “Spread Bio Oil: valutazione dell’impatto nella dieta e suscettibilità all’infarto del miocardio”.
2015-present: project in in collaboration with University of Rouen (France), DC2N, Inserm U982 su “Regulation of the heart function: a role for selenoproteins?” including a Italy-France PhD co-tutorship program.
PI for the PRIN project: Coordinatore Nazionale di un progetto (20158JNY2H: Cardiovascular adaptation to hypoxia: a microfluidic approach on natural animal models), selected for founding from the University of Calabria for its elevated evaluation.
Present: POR_CUP J88CI7000370006 Healthy Whey.
Responsible for CONISMA of the Laboratory of Organ and System Physiology, DiBEST, UNICAL
Revisor for projects (e.g.. 2013 - prot. INAJ135039, Università dell’Insubria), and for national and international PhD thesis (e.g. Univeristy of Bologna-Ravenna; University of Singapore, Dr. Ong Li Ying Jasmine).
Progetto PON03PE_00009_1 –NEUROMEASURES.
Progetto PON ARS01_00401 Demetra
Progetto PON ARS01-_00568 SI.F.I.PA.CRO.DE.
Member of examining board for doctorate fellowship.
Responsible for research fellowships in Physiology at the University of Calabria.
Results in brief
Prof. Cerra's researches described basic aspects of the morphological and functional plasticity of the vertebrate heart. The discovery that the heart is a complex endocrine organ with a myriad of autocrine-paracrine circuits has impressively accelerated studies aimed to clarify the significance of the cardiac non-uniformity (or heterogeneity). Such non-uniformity is esemplified not only by the selective capability of the different cells of the heart of both mammalian and non mammalian Vertebrates to respond to different stimuli, either physical (i.e. shear stress and stretch), or chemicals (i.e. cardiostimulators as AngII, and cardioihnibitors as NP and NO). Moreover these cells are itself sites for production and release of these substances.
Among these substances, prof. Cerra’s interest has been directed to cardiomodulatory factors such as the cardiac hormones known as Natriuretic peptides (NP), angiotensin II, the gaseaous transmitter Nitric Oxide (NO), and the Chromogranin-A (CgA)-derived peptides. During the last decade, an important aspect of the researches carried out by Prof. Cerra has regarded CgA-derived peptides and their effects on the heart of vertebrate species, including teleost fish. The study has been carried out by using perfusion rat techniques and molecular biology. CgA-derived peptides represents the products of the proteolytic processing of CgA, ubiquitary protein co-stored and co-secreted with catecholamines in adrenal chromaffin granules. Studies have regarded the fragments known as vasostatins (VS-1 and VS-2) because of their ability to relax the precontracted vascular smooth muscle, as that known as catestatin (Cts), known for its ability to inhibit the nicotinic-induced catecholamine release. Prof. Cerra’s researches have demonstrated that both VSs and Cts modulate cardiac contraction and relaxation, by inducing negative inotropism and lusitropism, and reduce the coronary pressure. For both peptides, the mechanism of action involves β2/β3 adrenergic receptors and the NO-cGMP-PKG cascade. In this context, it is of relevance the result obtained by prof. Cerra on the rat heart concerning the negative role elicited by β3 adrenergic receptors on the control of cardiac relaxation. Studies have demonstrated that Cts requires the activation of phosphodiesterase type 2 and the S-nitrosylation of intracellular proteins like phospholamban and beta-arrestin. At the same time, both VS (mainly VS-1) and Cts counteract the stimulation induced by beta adrenergic and endothelin-1. This is clearly indicative of a protective role against cardiac hyperstimulation. Of relevance in relation to cardio protection, Prof. Cerra demonstrated that both VS-1 and Cts are able to protect the mammalian heart against the ischemis/reperfusion damages, acting as pre- and post- conditioning agents, respectively. The limit infarct area size and preserve post-ischemic ventricular function. These effects are obtained by involving the NO pathway and molecules of the cardioprotective RISK cascade.
In relation to the morpho-functional heterogeneity of the Vertebrate heart, Prof. Cerra has analysed important aspects such as the cardiac structural and ultrastructural rearrangement and to the selective expression of different subtypes of receptors for important cardiac hormones, such as NP and AngII. Moreover, she has examined the intracardiac role of NO as short- and long-term autocrine/paracrine regulator of cardiac function, as in the case of adaptation to environmental stresses (i.e. extremely low temperature of polar seas, absence of respiratory pigments, metabolic depression of vertebrate species undergoing estivation, reduced oxygen availability).
Studies have been carried out on non mammalian Vertebrates such as teleosts and elasmobrachs fishes and amphibians, being natural models for their structural and functional cardiac characteristics. Moreover, thanks to the national Program for Antarctic research (PNRA), prof. Cerra has extended her studies to teleosts endemic of the Antarctic waters. This allowed to compare the vertebrate cardiac receptor and morpho-functional design not only in relation to their ontogenetic development, but also to lifestyle, environmental conditions, phyletic position. Prof. Cerra has studied the distribution of receptors for NP in the different cardiac regions of both many fish species and amphibians, thus extending, on a large evolutionary scale with data on zonal receptor distribution, the concept of cardiac endocrine non-uniformity. Receptor studies have been also dedicated to the localization of cardiac AngII receptors, using for the first time on the heart of the elasmobranch Scyliorhinus canicula the homologous dogfish AngII. Results allowed to define the importance of the heterogeneity of zonal binding profiles in the homeostatic control of the heart.
Researches on the the characterization of the morpho-functional aspects of the cardiac rearrangement in relation to the ontogenetic growth and the adaptation to estreme environments are acarried out in collaboration with the laboratories of Anatomia Umana University of Palermo, Italy (Prof. G. Zummo), and the Laboratory of Anatomy, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain (Prof. J. M. Icardo).
Cardiac morpho-functional plasticity has been also analysed in terms of morpho-dynamic variations of the cardiac pump of teleosts (Anguilla anguilla) in relation to ontogenetic development.
Recently, to describe the intracardiac role of the NO system, Prof. Cerra has developed a research line aimed to analyse the cardiac localization of the Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) enzyme. Researches, carried out on both Antarctic and tropical fishes as natural models of adaptation, have been performed also thanks to the collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore directed by Prof. Y.K. Ip. Results have described the intracardiac localization of NOS, paving the way to strengthen the ancient phylogenetic roots of NO-mediated cardiac control.
More recently, Prof. Cerra's interest has been dedicated to the identification of the mechanisms activated by natural food elements, and by humoral mediators of the alimentary behavior, which play a role in modulating cardiac performance of mammals. In this context, Prof. Cerra has analysed the role of quercetin and myricetin in the beat-to-beat control of cardiac performance, showing different effects in terms of inotropism, lusitropism and coronary motility. Moreover, she described the direct cardiac effects of the pro-glucagon-derived peptide GLP-2, showing, for the first time, the presence of cardiac receptors for this anorexigen factor and endocrine mediator of the gastrointestinal function.
