The CASATI project (PI. Prof. Angelo Cichelli) was created to respond to one of the most serious threats to global public health: antibiotic resistance. This increasingly widespread phenomenon is caused by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, especially in intensive livestock farming, where they are used not only for therapeutic purposes but also for prevention. In line with the “One Health” approach promoted by the WHO—which recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health—the project aims to develop concrete tools to curb the spread of antibiotics in our food and the environment. We validate the method with gold standard techniques (GC-MS).
We create an “ANTIBIOTIC SAFE” food safety label to certify products free of antibiotic residues and ensure greater consumer safety. Advanced analyses for human health We study the impact of antibiotic residues on the human microbiota and target tissue cells, to understand how they influence the microbial balance and the spread of resistance.
With CASATI, we want to enable a safe, traceable, and eco-sustainable food supply chain, making a concrete contribution to the fight against antibiotic resistance.
MicoBioLab Group (Coordinated by Mara Di Giulio, Simonetta D’Ercole, and Silvia Di Lodovico) The microbiology team analyzes how antibiotic residues influence the composition of the human microbiota (intestinal, oral, and skin). In vitro studies evaluate changes in bacterial load, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation. This activity is central to understanding the link between diet and antibiotic resistance.
Dr. Michele Ditrani (CASATI Project Scholar)
