- Study of the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial functions in yeast and extension of the model to the study of human mitochondrial disorders. Expression and functional analysis in S. cerevisiae of allegedly pathological mutations found in patients affected by mitochondrial diseases in order to evaluate their pathogenicity. Study of the molecular consequences of mutations. -Search of molecules able to reverse or reduce phenotypic defects induced by these mutations by means of drug repositioning approaches or new drugs. Identification of the action mechanisms and of the molecular target of the selected molecules. -Use of different yeast models to study the effects (antioxidant, antimutagen on mtDNA, anti-aging) of natural and/or synthetic compounds. -Genetic improvement of yeasts for industrial fermentation. Selection of mutants high-producers of primary metabolites. Microbial fermentation for the recovery of industrial processing by-products. -Toxicological, geno-toxicological and epi-genotoxicological profile of environmental contaminants, pharmacologically active molecules and foods. Study of the structure/activity relationship of newly synthesized compounds with antitumor or antibiotic activity. Study of the relationship between genetic or epigenetic variants and onset/evolution of complex diseases (idiopathic infertility and ischemic pathologies). -Genetics and epigenetics of additive behavior. Identification, through statistical models of the Hazard Models type, of risk factors in the development of drug addiction, with particular attention to the role of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. -Development of bio-control strategies for the containment of mycotoxins accumulation in food and feed commodities with a particular emphasis on the analysis of the regulatory mechanism involved in the control of aflatoxins biosynthesis and on morphological differentiation of Aspergillus flavus.