1990: Degree in Biological Sciences cum laude, University of Padova

1995: PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology, University of Padova

1999-: Assiatant Professor of General Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Padova

2014- Associate Professor of General Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Padova

Dr. Rossetto participated to the discovery of the zinc-endopeptidase activity of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins and of the intraneuronal targets and peptide bond specificity of these neurotoxins. More recently she has been also interested in studying snake presynaptic PLA2 neurotoxins contained in the venom of the elapid snakes. She is presently studying the molecular mechanism of action of botulinum neurotoxins at the neuromuscular junction and of a new class of zinc-endopeptidases contained in the venom of some scorpion species.

Dr. Rossetto collaborates with neurologists who inject botulinum toxin type A for treatment of human pathologies characterized by hyperactivity of cholinergic terminals in order to set up new therapeutic protocols with the use of different botulinum toxin serotypes.

  1. Rossetto O, Pirazzini M, Montecucco C. Botulinum neurotoxins: genetic, structural and mechanistic insights. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2014 Jun 30. doi:10.1038/nrmicro3295.
  2. Matak I, Rossetto O, Lackovick Z. Botulinum toxin type A selectivity for certain types of pain is associated with capsaicin-sensitive neurons. Pain. 2014, pii: S0304-3959(14)00206-1.
  3. Colasante C, Rossetto O, Morbiato L, Pirazzini M, Molgo J, Montecucco C. Botulinum neurotoxin type A is internalized and translocated from small synaptic vesicles at the neuromuscular junction. Mol Neurobiol. 2013, 48(1):120-7.
  4. Eleopra R, Montecucco C, Devigili G, Lettieri C, Rinaldo S, Verriello L, Pirazzini M, Caccin P, Rossetto O. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype D is poorly effective in humans: an in vivo electrophysiological study. Clin Neurophysiol. 2013, 124(5):999-1004.
  5. Carli L, Montecucco C, Rossetto O. Assay of diffusion of different botulinum neurotoxin type a formulations injected in the mouse leg. Muscle Nerve. 2009, 40(3):374-80.

PRIN 2008: MECCANISMI D'AZIONE E TRAFFICO INTRACELLULARE DELLE NEUROTOSSINE BOTULINICHE: IMPLICAZIONI TERAPEUTICHE 
24 MESI Coordinatore Progetto

PROGETTO DI ATENEO 2011: BASI MOLECOLARI D'AZIONE DELLE NEUROSSINE BOTULINICHE E LORO APPLICAZIONI TERAPEUTICHE
24 MESI Coordinatore Progetto