The Mycology Laboratory of DISTAV is unique in Liguria and one of the few in Italy to have a global approach to mycology dealing with various topics related to both filamentous microfungi and macrofungi (mushrooms and truffle included). It carries on a tradition of study and research dating back to the early decades of the nineteenth century. Its activities deal with various issues related to the taxonomy, ecology, biodiversity, and biotechnological environmental applications of fungi. Among the main research topics, the following have direct connections with forensics:

  • Mycodiversity assessment: assessment of environmental mycobiomes (in arir, soil and water) and isolation of viable strains.
  • Strain characterization and conservation: cryopreservation of fungal strains and polyphasic identification (morphological and molecular approaches).
  • Medical and forensic mycology: research on non-dermatophyte fungi (NDF) as agents of superficial mycoses and skin appendages; studies on the role of fungi in forensic science (e.g., analysis of cadaveric mycoflora to estimate the postmortem interval, and fungi contaminating objects/artifacts and environments).
  • Macrofungi: mycetism, edible and toxic fungi, food fraud related to the trade of mushrooms and truffles.
  • Mycology in cultural heritage: isolation of biodeteriogenic fungi on various artifacts, including stone; studies on biological foxing.

For more information see: Laboratory of Mycology | DISTAV (unige.it)

Doctoral candidate:

Marco Iannaccone

  • B.Sc. in Forestry at University of Molise, thesis in Micropropagation of Quercus pubescens Willd
  • M.Sc. by research in Biology at University of Malta, on Isolation and characterization of mycorrhizae and mycorrhiza-like associations from soils of the Maltese Islands.
  • Mycologist n.491, Trento, Italy.

Forensic Mycology remains an underutilized tool in crime scene investigations. The present research aims to examine the diversity of fungal successions on cadavers to improve post-mortem interval estimation and identify key forensic markers. The main objectives include developing a forensic mycology database, establishing standardized sampling protocols, and analyse fungal growth under different conditions. A further objective is the improvement of the culture Collection of DISTAV (ColD-UNIGE), which is also a member of the Italian Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI-IT), and partner of the project “Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy (SUS-MIRRI.IT)”. It will result in an enhancement of forensic accuracy and will help to standardize methodologies in crime scene analysis, focusing on the biobanking of forensic fungi.

Title of PhD work:

Fungi as forensic tools