Georgiana Bosco
Tutor: Cinzia Lucia Randazzo
- From October 2024 - ongoing: Start of PhD programme in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. Research project: "Development of a formulation of probiotics and germinated brown rice (GBR) for health benefits". Supervisor: Prof. Cinzia Lucia Randazzo.
- September 2023 - September 2024: Research fellow at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), AGR/16, University of Catania. Research project: "Study of the ruminal microbiome of lambs by means of independent cultivation methods". Scientific
- October 2022 - April 2023: Extra-curricular training at Probioetna srl. Activity: "study of complex ecosystems using cultivation-dependent and independent methods".
- November 2022: Qualification of Food Technologist.
- July 2022: Master's Degree in Food Science and Technology (LM-70), Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania; supervisor: Prof. Cinzia Lucia Randazzo, co-rapporteur: Dr. Amanda Vaccalluzzo. Experimental thesis: "Screening and selection of potential probiotic strains belonging to Lactobacillus spp through biofilm formation and anti-adhesion activity against pathogenic Candida spp." Grade: 108/110.
- April 2020: Bachelor's Degree in Environmental and Food Toxicology (L-29), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania. Supervisor: Prof. Valeria Sorrenti. Thesis "Use of innovative methodologies for phytoremediation of agricultural soils polluted by heavy metals".
This PhD project focuses on the development of a synbiotic formulation to support human health by combining germinated brown rice (GBR) with selected probiotic strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. GBR represents a sustainable and nutritionally valuable ingredient, obtained through environmentally friendly procedures which enhance the bioavailability of health-promoting compounds such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and γ-oryzanol. In addition, its content of dietary fibre and minerals makes GBR a promising prebiotic substrate able to support the growth and activity of beneficial gut microbiota. In parallel, probiotics are being investigated for their potential to positively modulate host health through their functional and microbiota-targeted effects. The combination of GBR and probiotics may therefore offer a promising synbiotic strategy to promote gut balance and contribute to overall well-being, opening new perspectives for the development of innovative and personalized nutritional approaches.
Publications
- Bosco, G., Consoli, V., Pino, A., Vaccalluzzo, A., Caggia, C., Sorrenti, V., & Randazzo, C. L. (2025). Development of a synbiotic formulation based on germinated brown rice and probiotics suitable to support women’s well-being. Food Bioscience, 108006.
- Bosco, G., Vaccalluzzo, A., Russo, N., Pino, A., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. L. (2026). Effect of By-Products from Pistachio Skin on Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Healthy Lambs as Sustainable Feeding Ingredient. Microorganisms, 14(2), 358.
- Russo, N., Bosco, G., Solieri, L., Ronsivalle, M., Pino, A., Vaccalluzzo, A., ... & Randazzo, C. L. (2026). Dietary Pistachio Skin Effects on Antibiotic-Free Lamb: Virulence Traits, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Clonal Relatedness in Commensal Escherichia coli Strains. Antibiotics, 15(2), 160.
- Vaccalluzzo, A., Pino, A., Bosco, G., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. L. (2025). Strain-specific qPCR assay to track the vaginal colonization of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus TOM 22.8 strain orally administered. BMC microbiology, 25(1), 759.
- Vaccalluzzo, A., Pino, A., Bosco, G., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. L. (2023). Quantitative PCR Assay as a tool for the detection of lactobacilli in sicilian table olives produced at an industrial scale. Fermentation, 9(4), 355.
Conference participation
- Bosco, G., Pino, A., Sanfilippo, R. R., Vaccalluzzo, A., Agolino, G., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. (2023, September 26–29). Antagonistic activity against foodborne and human pathogens, biofilm formation and anti-adhesion activity of lactobacilli from different sources [Poster presentation]. 7th International Conference on Microbial Diversity (MD), Parma, Italy.
- Russo, N., Bosco, G., Militello, I., Pino, A., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. (2023, September 26–29). Antimicrobial resistance, pathotyping and clonal relatedness of Escherichia coli cloacalis from healthy differently fed lambs [Poster presentation]. 7th International Conference on Microbial Diversity (MD), Parma, Italy.
- Bosco, G., Russo, N., Pino, A., Vaccalluzzo, A., Musati, M., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. (2024). Impact of pistachio peels in the faecal microbiota of lambs [Poster presentation]. G7 2024 EXPO Agriculture and Fisheries
- Bosco, G., Consoli, V., Pino, A., Vaccalluzzo, A., Caggia, C., Sorrenti, V., & Randazzo, C. L. (2025). Formulation of a symbiotic blend of germinated brown rice and probiotics [Poster presentation]. 8th International Conference on Microbial Diversity (MD 2025).
- Bosco, G., Pino, A., Vaccalluzzo, A., Caggia, C., & Randazzo, C. L. (2025). Selection of lactic acid bacteria able to produce conjugated linoleic acid [Poster presentation]. 8th International Conference on Microbial Diversity (MD 2025).