University of Sassari | Italy
Ilaria Cossu is a motivated PhD candidate in Life Sciences and Biotechnologies with a specialization in Microbiology and Immunology. Their work focuses on understanding the role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in cancer, integrating molecular biology, immunology, and virology approaches to explore how retroviral elements may influence tumorigenesis. Their doctoral project involves conducting indirect ELISA assays, maintaining and analyzing cell cultures, processing blood samples, performing RNA extraction and reverse transcription, and carrying out quantitative PCR for gene expression profiling. The researcher is actively engaged in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and collaborative research activities at both national and international levels.
Prior academic training includes Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Biology, each completed with top distinction, and research internships in microbiology, virology, and biochemistry laboratories. These experiences provided hands-on expertise in electrophoretic methods such as cellulose acetate electrophoresis, C-PAGE, fluorescent 2-aminoacridone probe (FACE) analysis, and SDS-PAGE, contributing to a solid foundation in protein and nucleic acid characterization. Their current research aims to advance understanding of retroviral contributions to cancer biology and supports the development of innovative molecular approaches for disease investigation and potential therapeutic insights.
Featured Publications:
Cossu, I., Ruberto, S., Filippi, E., Simula, E. R., Noli, M., Mottula, A., & others. (2025). HERV-K envelope induces a humoral response in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Current Microbiology, 82(12), 574.
Jasemi, S., Molicotti, P., Fais, M., Cossu, I., Simula, E. R., Sechi, L. A., & others. (2025). Biological mechanisms of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis toxin: Linking inflammation, colorectal cancer, and clinical implications. Toxins, 17(6), 305.
Simula, E. R., Jasemi, S., Cossu, D., Fais, M., Cossu, I., Chessa, V., & others. (2025). Human endogenous retroviruses as novel therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disorders. Vaccines, 13(4), 415. h
Ruberto, S., Santovito, A., Caviglia, G. P., Noli, M., Cossu, D., Ribaldone, D. G., & others. (2025). Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and human endogenous retrovirus in Italian patients with inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Immunology.