Stefano Benini

Dr. Stefano Benini is an Associate Professor at the University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO). He has held this position since 2009 and possesses dual National Scientific Qualifications for the role of associate professor in General Biochemistry (BIO/10) and Organic Chemistry (CHEM-05/A) sectors. His research spans structural biology, bioorganic chemistry, and plant pathology with a particular focus on bacterial enzymes and plant-pathogen interactions.

Dr. Benini's research interests center on the structural and functional characterization of proteins, particularly those involved in plant-pathogen interactions. His work on Erwinia amylovora, the causative agent of fire blight in apple and pear trees, has been extensive, examining enzymes such as levansucrase, AmsI phosphatase, and other virulence factors. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to understanding urease, a nickel-dependent enzyme, through crystallographic studies that have revealed insights into its catalytic mechanism and inhibition. His research integrates structural biology with biochemical and biophysical approaches to understand enzyme function at the molecular level.

His publication record demonstrates expertise in crystallography, enzyme kinetics, and structural analysis of proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis. Recent work shows a continued focus on fire blight pathogens while expanding into areas such as siderophore biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus and inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidogenesis. His research bridges fundamental enzymology with potential applications in plant disease control and medical biochemistry.

• National Scientific Qualification for associate professor in General Biochemistry (BIO/10, 2022-2034)
• National Scientific Qualification for associate professor in Organic Chemistry (CHEM-05/A, 2025-2037)

Dr. Benini has supervised numerous research projects focused on plant pathogen enzymology and structural biology. His work on Erwinia amylovora has provided critical insights into the molecular mechanisms of fire blight pathogenesis. He has collaborated extensively with researchers across Europe, contributing to our understanding of bacterial carbohydrate-active enzymes and their role in plant disease development. His laboratory has developed structural models that have advanced our knowledge of enzyme-substrate interactions in pathogen virulence factors.

Dr. Benini leads research on the structural characterization of proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis, particularly those from Erwinia species. His team employs X-ray crystallography, biochemical assays, and bioinformatics to understand the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions. Current projects focus on elucidating the structural basis for enzyme specificity in fire blight pathogens and developing potential inhibitors of key virulence factors.