The microbiota is relevant to many diseases due to its direct impact on the development and maintenance of the immune system. Moreover, both the microbiota and the immune system are intimately related to many other physiological processes such as metabolism and behaviour, as well as the digestive system. We are focusing our attention on the role of dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of several disorders: inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis), coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eosinophilic esophagitis and cancer (Barrett’s esophagus and other solid cancers). Moreover, we are studying the impact of gut microbiota in the development of surgery complications like post-operative recurrence of Crohn’s disease, pouchitis or cancer recurrence.
We are also considering the role of the microbiome in the development of non-responsive celiac disease.

Publications:

Bonazzi E, De Barba C, Lorenzon G, Maniero D, Bertin L, Barberio B, Facciotti F, Caprioli F, Scaldaferri F, Zingone F, Savarino EV.
Recent developments in managing luminal microbial ecology in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: from evidence to microbiome-based diagnostic and personalized therapy.
Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Apr 22:1-14.

Lopetuso LR, Deleu S, Puca P, Abreu MT, Armuzzi A, Barbara G, Caprioli F, Chieng S, Costello SP, Damiani A, Danese S, Del Chierico F, D'Haens G, Dotan I, Facciotti F, Falony G, Fantini MC, Fiorino G, Gionchetti P, Godny L, Hart A, Kupčinskas J, Iqbal T, Laterza L, Lombardini L, Maharshak N, Marasco G, Masucci L, Papa A, Paramsothy S, Petito V, Piovani D, Pugliese D, Putignani L, Raes J, Ribaldone DG, Sanguinetti M, Savarino EV, Sokol H, Vetrano S, Ianiro G, Cammarota G, Cominelli F, Pizarro TT, Tilg H, Gasbarrini A, Vermeire S, Scaldaferri F.
Guidance for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Trials in Ulcerative Colitis: The Second ROME Consensus Conference.
Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2025 Feb 11:izaf013. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izaf013

Angriman I, Scarpa M, Savarino E, Patuzzi I, Rigo A, Kotsafti A, Stepanyan A, Sciuto E, Celotto F, Negro S, Caruso A, Ruffolo C, Bardini R, Pucciarelli S, Barberio B, Spolverato G, Zingone F, D'Incà R, Castagliuolo I, Scarpa M.
Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei DG after ileostomy closure in restorative proctocolectomy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial (microbiota and immune microenvironment in pouchitis -MEP1).
Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2423037. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2423037

Facchin S, Bertin L, Bonazzi E, Lorenzon G, De Barba C, Barberio B, Zingone F, Maniero D, Scarpa M, Ruffolo C, Angriman I, Savarino EV.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Human Health: From Metabolic Pathways to Current Therapeutic Implications.
Life (Basel). 2024 Apr 26;14(5):559

Barberio B, Facchin S, Patuzzi I, Ford AC, Massimi D, Valle G, Sattin E, Simionati B, Bertazzo E, Zingone F, Savarino EV.
A specific microbiota signature is associated to various degrees of ulcerative colitis as assessed by a machine learning approach.
Gut Microbes. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2028366

Funding

2009 - Title of The Research Project “Evaluation Of Small Bowel Distension After Ingestion of Oral Lactulose By Means Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Healthy Volunteers And A Group Of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome” Funded by Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE)

2016 - Title of The Research Project “Modulazione del microbiota intestinale e infiammazione nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche intestinali” Funded by SILA Srl

People involved:

Edoardo V. Savarino, Associate Professor
Fabiana Zingone, Associate Professor
Imerio Angriman, Associate Professor
Marco Scarpa, Assistant Professor

Group members:

Anna D’Odorico, Francesca Galeazzi, Brigida Barberio (Consultant Gastroenterologists), Cesare Ruffolo (Consultant Surgeon), Romilda Cardin (PhD Biologist), Chiara Carlotto, Milena Minotto (laboratory technician)Sonia Facchin, Erica Bonazzi, Daria Maniero, Michela Palo, Elena Agostini (Research Fellow), Greta Lorenzon (Study Coordinator and Research Nurse)