Environmental and nutritional interventions acting through mitochondria to modulate disease and aging

Within the overall scope of this project, we optimized an in vivo high-content phenotypic-based screening microscopy platform in C. elegans to identify environmental and nutritional factors (with a special attention to dietary components and contaminants) acting through mitochondria-mediated process to specify or counteract neuromuscular disease. We are particularly interested in identifying interventions acting early during animal development to prevent or delay the progression of genetic- or age-associated neurometabolic disorders.  We validated our platform using genetic and pharmacological interventions targeting mitochondria and known to promote healthy aging in C. elegans, and identified a new mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor with lifespan extending effects. Constructive collaboration with the laboratories of Profs Jojo Haendeler, Roel Shin, Daniela Barilà and Felix Distelmaier are nicely contributing to this project.