Alice Romeo

ESPERIENZA DI RICERCA

Maggio 2023 — Febbraio 2026: Assegnista di ricerca (Dipartimento di Biologia - Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata). Progetto PNRR CN3: Application of computational methods for the study of protein-nucleic acid interactions.

Novembre 2021 — Marzo 2022: Ricercatore PhD in visita (Dept. of Biophysical Chemistry (GBB), Zernike Campus - University of Groningen Groningen, NL). Supervisor: Prof. S.J. Marrink. Progetto: Coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations of a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope.

Novembre 2019 — Gennaio 2023: Dottoranda in Materials for Health, Environment and Energy (Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Dipartimento di Biologia - Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata). Supervisor: Prof. M. Falconi. PhD project: Investigating SARS-CoV-2 inhibition and transmission: host entry inhibitors and potential virus transport through PM2.5 particles.

ATTIVITÀ DIDATTICA

Marzo 2025 — Febbraio 2026: Professore a contratto per il corso "Metodi Informatici per Biologi" (3 CFU) - Laurea Magistrale in Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare e Scienze Biomediche (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata).

Marzo 2025 — Febbraio 2026: Co-professore a contratto per il corso "Laboratorio di Bioinformatica Strutturale" (AAS) (2 CFU) - Laurea Magistrale in Bioinformatica (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata).

Novembre 2019 — Febbraio 2026: Assistente didattico (Dipartimento di Biologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata) per i corsi:

- Bioinformatica (3 CFU) - Laurea Triennale in Biotecnologie (2019-2021)

- Bioinformatica Strutturale (6 CFU) - Laurea Magistrale in Bioinformatica

- Introduzione al Sistema Operativo Linux (3 CFU) - Laurea Magistrale in Bioinformatica

- Practical course for the study and manipulation of biological macromolecules - PhD in Materials for Sustainable Development (2023).

ISTRUZIONE

2019-2023: Dottorato di Ricerca in Materials for Health, Environment and Energy (Dipartimento di Biologia, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata). Tesi: Investigating SARS-CoV-2 inhibition and transmission: host entry inhibitors and potential virus transport through PM2.5 particles. Valutazione finale: excellent quality cum laude.

2017-2019: Laurea Magistrale in Bioinformatica (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata). Tesi: Analisi computazionale dell'architettura molecolare e del meccanismo di inibizione dell’Anaphase-Promoting Complex (APC/C). Votazione finale: 110/110 e lode.

2013-2016: Laurea Triennale in Biotecnologie (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata). Tesi: Aumento dell'efficacia dei beta-lattamici su E. coli mediante coniugazione con un sideroforo. Votazione finale: 110/110 e lode.

PARTECIPAZIONE A PROGETTI DI RICERCA

2025 — in corso: Collaboratore nel progetto "AI-CARE - Artificial Intelligence for Candida and Aspergillus Retinoids Evaluation" (Università di Roma Tor Vergata)

2023—in corso: Collaboratore nel progetto "Building simple molecules containing regions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to stimulate the immune system against this pathogen" (FFC#13/2023 - Italian Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation (FFC Ricerca). Call for Grant Applications Year 2023).

2023—in corso: Collaboratore nel progetto PNRR "Development of gene therapy and drugs with RNA technology" (National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology, CN3 Spoke 7 – Biocomputing).

2023 — 2025: Collaboratore nel progetto PNRR "Multiscale simulations of biological molecules and biomaterials" (National Research Center in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing (ICSC), CN1 Spoke 6 - Multiscale Modelling and Engineering Applications).

2020—2023: Collaboratore esterno nel progetto "Pulvirus" (ENEA, SNPA, ISS - Objective 5, Activity 5.1: In silico molecular modeling study of the direct interaction between the surface proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and PM).

GRANTS

11 Giu 2025 - 13 Lug 2025: Travel grant, BITS Meeting 2025.

19 Giu 2024 - 19 Mar 2025: ISCRA C - Computational grant (PI), CINECA. Progetto: "Computational insights into the molecular mechanism of potential hRSV fusion inhibitors" (IsCc0_RSVINH) - 80.000 ore sul supercomputer Leonardo pre-exascale Tier-0 EuroHPC.

7 Ago 2023 - 7 Mag 2024: ISCRA C - Computational grant (Collaboratore), CINECA. Progetto: "Insights into the possible interaction between fine particulate matter and biological membranes" (IsCa9_PMBIOMEM) - 80.000 ore sul supercomputer Leonardo pre-exascale Tier-0 EuroHPC.

03 Nov 2021 - 31 Jan 2022: EMBO Scientific Exchange grant, European Molecular Biology Organization. Progetto: Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope. Borsa per svolgere un periodo di ricerca nel gruppo di dinamica molecolare del Prof. S.J. Marrink (Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen).

RESPONSABILITÀ EDITORIALI

Marzo 2024 – in corso: Guest editor per la rivista scientifica Molecules (MDPI). Special issue: "Computational Approaches in Antimicrobial and Antiviral Drug Discovery: Deciphering Drug Binding and Molecular Mechanisms".

Marzo 2023 – in corso: Revisore per riviste scientifiche.

CONTRIBUTI A CONFERENZE

11-13 Giu 2025: BITS Meeting 2025 (Università di Napoli Federico II). Poster: Computational prediction of RNA aptamers targeting the Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA polymerase.

19-20 Apr 2023: Biophysics@Rome 2023 (SIBPA, CNR Rome). Talk: Insights into the possible interaction between fine particulate matter and SARS-CoV-2: molecular and in silico approaches.

26 Gen 2021: ENEA-CRESCO per il contrasto al COVID-19 (ENEA). Talk: Computational methods for the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors targeting the Spike glycoprotein.

4-15 Gen 2021: MolSim-2021 (CECAM-NL). Poster: Computational analysis of potential fusion inhibitors targeting an internal cavity of the SARS-CoV-2 prefusion Spike.

24–26 Nov 2020: 3D-Bioinfo Community AGM (ELIXIR). Poster: Interaction analysis of potential fusion inhibitors targeting an internal cavity of the SARS-COV-2 prefusion Spike.

15–16 Mag 2019: Biophysics@Rome 2019 (SIBPA, CNR Rome). Poster: Molecular modeling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques applied to the design of a novel APC/C inhibitor.

LISTA DELLE PUBBLICAZIONI

Parametri bibliometrici al 16/06/2025:

- Numero di articoli su riviste peer-reviewed: 16

- Numero di citazioni (Scopus): 280

- H-index (Scopus): 7

Ottaviani A, Pietrafesa D, Soren BC, Dasari JB, Olsen SSH, et al. Unveiling the Mechanism of Action of Palmitic Acid, a Human Topoisomerase 1B Inhibitor from the Antarctic Sponge Artemisina plumosa. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025. doi: 10.3390/ijms26052018.

Cosio T, Romeo A, Pistoia E.S, Pica F, et al. Retinoids as Alternative Antifungal Agents Against Candida albicans: In Vitro and In Silico Evidence. Microorganisms. 2025. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13020237.

Pietrafesa D, Napoli A, Iacovelli F, Romeo A, et al. Deciphering the Role of Trehalose in Chroococcidiopsis sp. 029’s High-Desiccation Resistance: Sequence Determination, Structural Modelling and Simulative Analysis of the 30S Ribosomal Subunit. Molecules. 2024. doi: 10.3390/molecules29153486.

Campione E, Rivieccio A, Gaeta Shumak R, Costanza G, et al. Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy, Safety, and Treatment Satisfaction with Tirbanibulin 1% Ointment: A Clinical Perspective on Actinic Keratoses. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023. doi: 10.3390/ph16121686.

Romeo A, Pellegrini R, Gualtieri M, Benassi B, et al. Experimental and in silico evaluations of the possible molecular interaction between airborne particulate matter and SARS-CoV-2. Sci. Total Environ. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165059.

Cosio T, Costanza G, Coniglione F, Romeo A, et al. From In Silico Simulation between TGF-?Receptors and Quercetin to Clinical Insight of a Medical Device Containing Allium cepa: Its Efficacy and Tolerability on Post-Surgical Scars. Life (Basel). 2023. doi: 10.3390/life13081781.

Iacovelli F, Romeo A, Lattanzio P, Ammendola S, et al. Deciphering the Broad Antimicrobial Activity of Melaleuca alternifolia Tea Tree Oil by Combining Experimental and Computational Investigations. Int J Mol Sci. 2023. doi:10.3390/ijms241512432.

Romeo A, Cappelli G, Iacovelli F, Colizzi V, Falconi M. Computational and experimental validation of phthalocyanine and hypericin as effective SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2023. doi:10.1080/07391102.2023.2216276.

Cutone A, Rosa L, Bonaccorsi di Patti MC, Iacovelli F, et al. Lactoferrin Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Blocks Pseudoviral Entry and Relieves Iron Protein Dysregulation in Several In Vitro Models. Pharmaceutics. 2022. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102111.

Romeo A., Iacovelli F., Scagnolari C., Scordio M., et al. Potential Use of Tea Tree Oil as a Disinfectant Agent against Coronaviruses: A Combined Experimental and Simulation Study. Molecules. 2022. doi:10.3390/molecules27123786.

Iacovelli F, Costanza G, Romeo A, Cosio T, et al. Interaction of Pelargonium sidoides Compounds with Lactoferrin and SARS-CoV-2: Insights from Molecular Simulations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. doi:10.3390/ijerph19095254.

Campione E, Lanna C, Cosio T, Rosa L, et al. Lactoferrin as Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Management: Preliminary Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182010985.

Romeo A, Iacovelli F, Falconi M. Computational methods applied to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors targeting the Spike glycoprotein in ENEA CRESCO in the fight against COVID-19. Edizioni ENEA (2021). ISBN:978-88-8286-415-6.

Soren BC, Babu Dasari J, Ottaviani A, Messina B, et al. In Vitro and In Silico Characterization of an Antimalarial Compound with Antitumor Activity Targeting Human DNA Topoisomerase IB. Int J Mol Sci. 2021. doi:10.3390/ijms22147455.

Campione E, Lanna C, Cosio T, Rosa L, et al. Lactoferrin Against SARS-CoV-2: In Vitro and In Silico Evidences. Front Pharmacol. 2021. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.666600.

Romeo A, Falconi M, Desideri A, Iacovelli F. Reconstructing the Free Energy Profiles Describing the Switching Mechanism of a pH-Dependent DNA Nanodevice from ABMD Simulations. Applied Sciences. 2021. doi:10.3390/app11094052.

Romeo A, Iacovelli F, Falconi M. Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein prefusion conformation: virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations applied to the identification of potential fusion inhibitors. Virus Res. 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198068.