Professor Dr. Angela Meccariello

Biography

Angela Meccariello is a molecular biologist working on novel strategies to control Ceratitis capitata, known as the 'medfly', which is a global agricultural pest that affects over 250 species of fruits and vegetables. The medfly is a crucial pest impacting fresh fruits and vegetables in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, with current treatment programs thought to contribute to an estimated 298 million USD worth of crop damage annually in the region alone. From 2014 to 2017, she conducted her PhD studies under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Saccone, focusing on the genomic and transcriptomic analysis of Ceratitis capitata, particularly the genetic aspects related to its applications in pest control. Her research identified embryonic genes with male-specific expression that serve as the primary masculinization signal for sex determination, referred to as Maleness Y (MoY). This discovery has significant implications for genetic control strategies involving the mass release of sterile males as part of future gene drive initiatives. Additionally, she contributed to the Ceratitis capitata genome project and pioneered the use of DNA-free genome-editing CRISPR/Cas9 techniques in both the medfly and the olive fruit fly. During her post-doctoral period from 2017 to 2019, she worked in Nikolai Windbichler’s lab, obtaining the APHA/DEFRA license for the contained use of Ceratitis capitata and establishing CRISPR/Cas9 Cas12a systems for endogenous editing in the germline of medflies. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious four-year Imperial College Research Fellowship (ICRF2020), which allows her to develop efficient genetic approaches for pest control, with potential transferability to agricultural species using the medfly as a model organism.

Research Interests

Experience