Loriano Ballarin

Associate Professor of Zoology

Ascidian Biology Lab

Dipartimento di Biologia - Università di Padova

About me

Loriano Ballarin is Associate Professor of Zoology at the Department of Biology, University of Padova (School of Science). He teaches Zoology and Comparative Immunobiology to undergraduate students and carries out his research in the lab, formerly directed by Prof. A. Sabbadin, who first introduced the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri as laboratory model organism, more than 50 years ago. Ballarin’s main interest is investigating the role of haemocytes in immune and stress responses in ascidians, with particular reference to colonial species. His studies focussed mainly on phagocytosis and allorecognition. He stressed the importance of phagocytes in the resorption of zooids during the colonial generation change of B. schlosseri and defined the role of cytotoxic morula cells as effector haemocytes of the nonfusion (rejection) reaction between contacting, genetically incompatible colonies, which leads to the appearance of cytotoxic spots along the contact area. Using ascidians as reference species, he contributed to clarify the action mechanisms, at cellular levels, of various antifoulants that has been introduced in the aquatic environment since the ban of organotin compounds. He also brought some contributions to the study of haemocyte and coelomocyte functions and their role in stress responses in other invertebrates, such as the venus clams Tapes philippinarum and Venus gallina and the sipunculan worm Sipunculus nudus.

His scientific activity is certified by more than 100 papers on peer-reviewed international scientific journals (giving a total number of citation of 592, 160 of those from 2009) and more than 10 contributions, in form of chapters, in scientific books, where he is author or co-author. 

He obtained the National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor of "Comparative Anatomy and Cytology" (2014) and of "Zoology and Anthropology" (2017).

Active ongoing collaborations:

- Prof. Nicolò Parrinello, Dept. of Animal Biology, University of Palermo (ascidian biology)

- Dr. Carmela Gissi, Dept. of Biology, University of Milano (bioinformatics)

- Prof. Giuseppe Basso, Dept. of Pediatry, University of Padova (apoptosis)

- Prof. Kazuo Kawamura, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kochi                 University (ascidian stem cell differentiation) 

Loriano Ballarin has been elected president of the Italian Association of Developmental and Comparative Immunobiology (IADCI) for the period 2009-2012 and confirmed for the period 2012-2015.

Publications

(Click here to download as PDF or click here to contact me for reprints)

Papers

 1984

1) Ballarin L., Galleni L., 1984. Larval development in Echinoplana celerrima (Turbellaria, Polycladida). Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. (now Invertebr. Biol.), 103: 31-37.

 2) Ballarin L., Galleni L., 1984. Preliminary report on the effects of salinity on the early development of Stylochus mediterraneus (Turbellaria: Polycladida). Int. J. Invert. Reprod. Develop. (now Invert. Reprod. Develop.), 7: 259-262.

1987

3) Ballarin L., Galleni L., 1987. Evidence for planctonic feeding in Goette's larva of Stylochus mediterraneus (Turbellaria: Polycladida). Boll. Zool., 54: 83-85.

1992

4) Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., 1992. Genetic and cytological aspects of histocompatibility in ascidians. Boll. Zool. (now Ital. J. Zool.), 59: 167-173.

1993

5) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1993. Histoenzymatic staining and characterization of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri hemocytes. Boll. Zool., 60: 19-24.

1994

6) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1994. Phenoloxidase in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Anim. Biol., 3: 41-48.

7) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1994. Phagocytosis in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 18: 467-481.

1995

8) Cima F., Ballarin L., Bressa G., Sabbadin A., 1995. Immunotoxicity of butyltins in Tunicates. Appl. Organometal. Chem., 9: 567-572.

9) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1995. Morula cells and histocompatibility in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Zool. Sci., 12: 757-764.

1996

10) Cima F., Ballarin L., Bressa G., Martinucci G., Burighel P., 1996. Toxicity of organotin compounds on   embryos of a marine invertebrate (Styela plicata; Tunicata). Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 35: 174-182.

 11) Cima F., Ballarin L., Sabbadin A., 1996. New data on phagocytes and phagocytosis in the compound  ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (Tunicata: Ascidiacea). Ital. J. Zool., 63: 357-364.

12) Cima F., Ballarin L., Bressa G., Martinucci G.B., Burighel P., 1996. Embryotoxic effects of organotin compounds on Styela plicata (Tunicata; Ascidiacea). Fresenius Environ. Bull., 5: 718-722.

1997

13) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1997. Calcium homeostasis and yeast phagocytosis in hemocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.,118 A: 153-158.

14) Cima F., Ballarin L., Bressa G., Sabbadin A., Burighel P., 1997. Triphenyltin pesticides as immunotoxins         for tunicates. Mar. Chem., 58: 267-273.

1998

15) Cima F., Ballarin L., Bressa G., Burighel P., 1998. Cytoskeleton alteration by tributyltin (TBT) in tunicate phagocytes. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 40: 160-165.

16) Cima F., Marin M.G., Da Ros L., Ballarin L., 1998. Marine invertebrates as bioindicators of organotin contaminants: immuno- and embryotoxicity. Ann. Chim., 88: 517-527.

17) Cima F., Marin M.G., Matozzo V., Da Ros L., Ballarin L., 1998. Immunotoxic effects of organotin compounds in Tapes philippinarum. Chemosphere, 37: 3035-3045.

18) Ballarin L., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 1998. Phenoloxidase and cytotoxicity in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 22: 479-492.

19) Cima F., Spinazzi R., Ballarin L., 1998. Possible tributyltin-calmodulin interaction in morpho-functional alterations of ascidian phagocytes. Fresenius Environ. Bull., 7: 396-401.

1999

20) Ballarin L., Tonello C., Guidolin L., Sabbadin A., 1999. Purification and characterization of a humoral opsonin, with specificity for D-galactose, in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem. Physiol,. 123B: 115-123.

21) Cima F., Marin M.G., Matozzo V., Da Ros L., Ballarin L., 1999. Biomarkers for TBT immunotoxicity studies     on the cultivated clam Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850). Mar. Poll. Bull., 39: 112-115.

22) Cima F., Ballarin L., 1999. TBT-induced apoptosis in tunicate haemocytes. Appl. Organometal. Chem., 13: 697-703.

23) Frizzo A., Guidolin L., Ballarin L., Sabbadin A., 1999. Purification and partial characterisation of phenoloxidase from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Mar. Biol., 135: 483-488.

2000

24) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2000. Tributyltin induces cytoskeletal alterations in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri phagocytes via interaction with calmodulin. Aquat. Toxicol., 48: 419-429.

25) Ballarin L., Tonello C., Sabbadin A., 2000. Humoral opsonin from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri     as a member of the galectin family. Mar. Biol., 136: 813-822.

    26) Frizzo A., Guidolin L., Ballarin L., Baldan B., Sabbadin A., 2000.  Immunolocation of phenoloxidase in vacuoles of the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri morula cells. Ital. J. Zool., 67: 273-276.

27) Cima F., Matozzo V., Marin M.G., Ballarin L., 2000. Haemocytes of the clam Tapes philippinarum: morphofunctional characterisation. Fish Shellfish Immunol., 10: 677-693.

28) Matozzo V., Marin M.G., Ballarin L., Filippini S., 2000. Effetti dell’esposizione al rame sugli emociti del bivalve Tapes philippinarum. Biol. Mar. Medit., 7: 902-905.

2001

29) Cima F., Perin A., Burighel P., Ballarin L., 2001. Morpho-functional characterisation of haemocytes of the compound ascidian Botrylloides leachi (Tunicata, Ascidiacea). Acta Zool., 82: 261-274.

30) Matozzo V., Ballarin L., Pampanin D.M., Marin M.G., 2001. Effects of copper and cadmium exposure on functional responses of hemocytes in the clam Tapes philippinarum. Arch. Environ. Con. Toxicol., 40: 163-170.

31) Ballarin L., Franchini A., Ottaviani E., Sabbadin A., 2001. Morula cells as the main immunomodulatory haemocytes in ascidians: evidences from the colonial species Botryllus schlosseri. Biol. Bull., 201: 59-64.

32) Matozzo V., Cima F., Perin L., Ballarin L., 2001. Phagocytic and enzymatic activities of cells and urn cell         complexes in the coelomic fluid of the marine worm Sipunculus nudus (Sipuncula). Ital. J. Zool., 68: 273-280.

2002

33) Ballarin L., Scanferla M., Cima F., Sabbadin A., 2002. Phagocyte spreading and phagocytosis in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: evidence for an integrin-like, RGD-dependent recognition mechanism. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 26: 39-48.

34) Matozzo V., Ballarin L., Marin M.G., 2002. In vitro effects of TBT on functional responses of hemocytes in     the clam Tapes philippinarum. Appl. Organometal. Chem., 16: 169-174.

35) Cima F., Dominici D., Mammi S., Ballarin L., 2002. Butyltins and calmodulin: which interaction? Appl. Organometal. Chem., 16: 182-186 

36) Pampanin D.M., Ballarin L., Carotenuto L., Marin M.G., 2002. Air exposure and functionality of Chamelea gallina haemocytes: effects on haematocrit, adhesion, phagocytosis and enzyme content. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 131A: 605-614.

37) Pampanin D.M., Marin M.G.,  Ballarin L., 2002. Morphological and cytoenzymatic characterization of             haemocytes of the venus clam Chamelea gallina. Dis. Aquat. Org., 49: 227-234.

38) Shirae M., Ballarin L., Frizzo A., Saito Y., Hirose E., 2002. Involvement of quinones and phenoloxidase in     the allorejection reaction in a colonial ascidian, Botrylloides simodensis: Histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Mar. Biol., 141: 659-665.

39) Matozzo V., Ballarin L., Del Favero M., Cima F., 2002. Effects of TBT on functional responses of  coelomocytes in the marine worm Sipunculus nudus. Fresenius Environ. Bull., 11: 568-572.

40) Cima F., Dominici D., Ballarin L., Burighel P., 2002. Influence of TBT on activity of detoxifying enzymes         from haemocytes of a colonial ascidian. Fresenius Environ. Bull., 11: 573-577.

41) Ballarin L., Cima F., Floreani M., Sabbadin A., 2002. Oxidative stress induces cytotoxicity during rejection     reaction in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem Physiol., 133C: 411-418.

2003

42) Cima F., Basso G., Ballarin L., 2003. Apoptosis and phosphatidylserine-mediated recognition during the take-over phase of the colonial life-cycle in the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Cell Tissue Res., 312: 369-376.

43) Matozzo V., Da Ros L., Ballarin L., Meneghetti F., Marin M.G., 2003. Functional responses of haemocytes     in the clam Tapes philippinarum from the lagoon of Venice: fishing impact and seasonal variations. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci., 60: 949-958.

44) Ballarin L., Pampanin D.M., Marin M.G., 2003. Mechanical disturbance affects haemocyte functionality in  the Venus clam Chamelea gallina. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 136A: 631-640.

45) Pagliara P., Candia Carnevali M.D., Burighel P., Ballarin L., 2003. The spherule cells of Holothuria polii Delle Chiaie, 1823, (Aspidochirata, Holothuroidea) during brown body formation: an ultrastructural study. J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol., 35: 295-301.

46) Ballarin L., Dall’Oro M., Bertotto D., Libertini A., Barbaro A., 2003. Caratteristiche ematologiche nell’ombrina (Umbrina cirrosa). Confronto tra individui triploidi e diploidi. Biol. Mar. Medit., 10: 404-407.

47) Marin M.G., Moschino V., Pampanin D.M., Nesto N., Ballarin L., Casellato S., Da Ros L., 2003. Effects of hydraulic dredging on target species Chamelea gallina from the northern Adriatic Sea: physiological responses     and shell damage. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K., 83: 1281-1285.

2004

48) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2004. TBT-sulfhydryl interaction as a cause of immunotoxicity in Tunicates. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 58: 386-395.

49) Matozzo V., Ballarin L., Marin M.G., 2004. Exposure of the clam Tapes philippinarum to 4.nonylphenol:          changes in anti-oxidant enzyme activities and re-burrowing capability. Mar. Poll. Bull., 48: 563-571.

50) Ballarin L., Dall'Oro M., Bertotto D., Libertini A., Francescon A., Barbaro A., 2004. Haematological parameters in Umbrina cirrosa (Teleostei, Sciaenidae): a comparison between diploid and triploid specimens. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 138A,  45-51.

51) Cima F., Sabbadin A., Ballarin L., 2004. Cellular aspects of allorecognition in the compound ascidian  Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 28: 881-889.

52) Matozzo V., Ballarin L., Marin M.G., 2004. Parametri cellulari in popolazioni di vongole (Tapes philippinarum) soggette a diverso impatto di pesca in laguna di Venezia. Biol. Mar. Medit., 10: 724-726.

2005

53) Ballarin L., Menin A., Franchi N., Bertoloni G., Cima F., 2005. Morula cells and non-self recognition in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Invertebr. Surv. J., 2: 1-5.

54) Ballarin L., Cima F., 2005. Cytochemical properties of Botryllus schlosseri haemocytes: indications for morpho-functional characterisation. Eur. J. Histochem., 49: 255-264.

55) Menin A., Del Favero M., Cima F., Ballarin L., 2005. Release of phagocytosis-stimulating factor(s) by morula cells in a colonial ascidian. Mar. Biol., 148: 225-230.

2006

56) Cima F., Ballarin L., Gasparini F., Burighel P., 2006. External amebocytes guard the pharynx entry in a  tunicate (Ascidiacea). Dev. Comp. Immunol. 30: 463-472.

57) Ballarin L., Burighel P., 2006. RGD-containing molecules induce macropinocytosis in ascidian hyaline amoebocytes. J. Invertebr. Pathol., 91: 124-130.

58) Menin A., Ballarin L., 2006. Exogenous IL-8 induces phagocyte activation in the compound ascidian  Botryllus schlosseri. Invertebr. Surv. J., 3: 18-24.

59) Tiozzo S., Ballarin L., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 2006. Programmed cell death in vegetative development: apoptosis during the colonial life-cycle of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Tissue Cell, 38: 193-201.

60) Cima F., Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., 2006. Colony specificity and chemotaxis in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 145A: 376-382.

61) Bragadin M., Cima F., Ballarin L., Manente S., 2006. Irgarol inhibits the synthesis of ATP in mitochondria from rat liver. Chemosphere, 65: 1898-1903.

62) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Ballarin L., 2006. Colony specificity in Botrylloides leachi. I. Morphological aspects. Invertebr. Surv. J., 3: 125-136.

63) Ballarin L., Cima F., 2006. Apoptosis and recognition of apoptotic cells in colonial ascidians. Caryologia, 59: 354-357.

64) Ballarin L., 2006. Apoptosi: una necessità biologica. Le Scienze Naturali nella scuola, 29: 43-49.

2007

65) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L., 2007. Botryllus schlosseri: a model ascidian for the  study of asexual reproduction. Dev. Dyn., 236: 335-352. 

66) Ballarin L., Zaniolo G., 2007. Colony specificity in Botrylloides leachi. II. Cellular aspects of the non-fusion  reaction. Invertebr. Surv. J., 4: 38-44.

67) Bragadin M., Iero A., Cima F., Ballarin L., Manente S., 2007 TCMS inhibits ATP synthesis in mitochondria:  A systematic analysis of the inhibitory mechanism. Toxicol. in Vitro, 21: 1127-1133.

2008

 68) Cima F., Bragadin M., Ballarin L., 2008. Toxic effects of new antifouling substances on tunicate haemocytes. I. Sea-nine® and chlorothalonil. Aquat. Toxicol., 86: 299-312.

69) Ballarin L., Menin A., Tallandini L., Matozzo V., Burighel P., Basso G., Fortunato E., Cima F., 2008.  Haemocytes and blastogenetic cycle in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: a matter of life and death. Cell Tissue Res., 331: 555-564.

70) Ballarin L., Burighel P., Cima F., 2008. A tale of death and life: natural apoptosis in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (Urochordata, Ascidiacea). Curr. Pharm. Design, 14: 138-147.

 71) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2008. Effects of antifouling paints alternative to organotin-based ones on macrofouling biocoenosis of hard substrata in the Lagoon of Venice. Fresenius Environ. Bull., 17. 1901-1908.

72) Gasparini F., Franchi N., Spolaore B., Ballarin L., 2008. Novel rhamnose-binding lectins from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 32: 1177-1191.

73) Matozzo V., Marin M.G., Cima F., Ballarin L., 2008. First evidence of mitotic spindle in circulating  haemocytes from bivalves: the clam Tapes philippinarum as a case study. Cell Biol. Int., 32: 865-868.

74) Ballarin L., 2008. Immunobiology of compound ascidians, with particular reference to Botryllus schlosseri:  state of art. Invertebr. Surv. J., 5: 54-74.

75) Menin A., Ballarin L., Bragadin M., Cima F., 2008. Immunotoxicity in ascidians: antifouling compounds alternative to organotins. II. The case of Diuron and TCMS pyridine. J. Environ. Sci. Health, 43B: 644-654.

 76) Menin A., Ballarin L., 2008. Immunomodulatory molecules in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: evidence from conditioned media. J. Invertebr. Pathol., 99: 275-280.

 77) Ballarin L., Cammarata M., Cima F., Grimaldi A., Lorenzon S., Malagoli D., Ottaviani E., 2008. Immune-neuroendocrine biology of invertebrates: a collection of methods. Invertebr. Surv. J., 5: 192-215.

2009

78) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2009. Apoptosis and pattern of Bcl-2 and Bax expression in the alimentary tract during the colonial blastogenetic cycle of Botryllus schlosseri (Urochordata, Ascidiacea). Ital. J. Zool., 76: 28-42.

79) Ballarin L., Kawamura K., 2009. The hemocytes of Polyandrocarpa misakiensis: morphology and immune-related activities. Invertebr. Surv. J., 6: 154-161.

2010

80) Cima F., Manni L., Basso G., Fortunato E., Accordi B., Schiavon F., Ballarin L., 2010. Hovering between death and life: haemocytes and natural apoptosis in the blastogenetic cycle of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 34: 272-285.

81) Ballarin L., Schiavon F., Manni L., 2010. Natural apoptosis during the blastogenetic cycle of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: a morphological analysis. Zool. Sci., 27: 96-102.

82) Iero A., Manente S., De Pieri S., Mane E., Gallo M., Cima F., Ballarin L., Bragadin M., 2010. Interactions of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) with isolated rat liver mitochondria. Inorg. Chem. Commun., 13: 676–678.

83) Mane E., Manente S., Iero A., De Pieri S., Capodaglio G., Cima F., Ballarin L., Bragadin M., 2010. Beef heart mitochondria for the Rotenone monitoring. Anal. Methods, 2, 809–810.

84) Ballarin L., Del Favero M., 2010. Identification and preliminary characterization of a Ca2+-dependent hemagglutinin in the coelomic fluid of Sipunculus nudus. Invertebr. Surv. J., 7: 221-227.

2011

85) Franchi N., Schiavon F., Carletto M., Gasparini F., Bertoloni G., Tosatto S.C.E., Ballarin L., 2011. Immune roles of a rhamnose-binding lectin in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Immunobiology, 216: 725-736.

86) Franchi N., Boldrin F., Ballarin L., Piccinni E., 2011. CiMT-1, an unusual chordate metallothionein gene in Ciona intestinalis genome: structure and expression studies. J. Exp. Zool., 315A: 90-100.

87) Ballarin L., Del Favero M., Manni L., 2011. Relationships among hemocytes, tunic cells, germ cells and accessory cells of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. J. Exp. Zool., 316B: 284-295.

88) Gallo C., Schiavon F., Ballarin L., 2011. Insight on cellular and humoral components of innate immunity in  Squilla mantis (Crustacea, Stomatopoda). Fish Shellfish Immunol., 31: 423-431.

2012

89) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2012. Immunotoxicity in ascidians: Antifouling compounds alternative to organotins III  – The case of copper(I) and Irgarol 1051. Chemosphere, 89: 19-29.

90) Ballarin L., 2012. Ascidian cytotoxic cells: state of the art and research perspectives. Invertebr. Surv. J., 9:  1-6.

 91) Franchi N., Ferro D., Ballarin L., Santovito G., 2012. Transcription of genes involved in glutathione biosynthesis in the solitary tunicate Ciona intestinalis exposed to metals. Aquat. Toxicol., 114-115: 14-22.

 92) Casellato S., Masiero L., Ballarin L., 2012. Toxicity of fluoride to the freshwater mollusc Dreissena polymorpha: effects on survival, histology and antioxidant enzyme activity. Fluoride, 45: 19-30.

 93) Ballarin L., 2012. Il Botrillo e l’immortalità. Scienza e Filosofia, 7: 90-96.

 94) Ballarin L., Franchi N., Schiavon F., Tosatto S.C. Mičetić I., Kawamura K. 2012. Looking for putative  phenoloxidases of compound ascidians: haemocyanin-like proteins in Polyandrocarpamisakiensis and  Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 38: 232-242.

2013

 95) Franchi N., Schiavon F., Betti M., Canesi L., Ballarin L., 2013. Insight on signal transduction pathway involved in phagocytosis in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. J. Invertebr. Pathol., 112: 260-266.

 96) Franchi N., Ballarin L., 2013. Influence of cadmium on the morphology and functionality of haemocytes in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 158C: 29-35.

 97) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2013. A proposed integrated bioindex for the macrofouling biocoenosis of hard substrata in the lagoon of Venice. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 130: 190-201.

 98) Ferro D., Franchi N., Ballarin L., Cammarata M., Mangano V., Rigers B., Parrinello N., Santovito G., 2013. Characterization and metal-induced gene transcription of two new copper zinc superoxide dismutases in the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Aquat. Toxicol., 140-141: 369-379.

2014

99) Ballarin L., Covre V., Masiero L., Casellato S., 2014. Immunotoxic effects of fluoride on hemocytes of Venerupis philippinarum. Invertebr. Surv. J., 11: 22-29.

100) Matozzo V., Franchi N., Ballarin L., 2014. In vitro effects of the nonsteroidal anti-1 inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, on the immune parameters of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Toxicol. In vitro, 28: 778-783.

101) Franchi N., Piccinni E., Ferro D., Basso G., Spolaore B., Santovito G., Ballarin L., 2014. Characterization and transcription studies of a phytochelatin synthase gene from the solitary tunicate Ciona intestinalis exposed to cadmium. Aquat. Toxicol.,152: 47-56.

102) Franchi N., Ballarin L., 2014. Preliminary characterization of complement in a colonial tunicate: C3, Bf and inhibition of C3 opsonic activity by compstatin. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 46: 430-438.

103) Franchi N., Hirose E., Ballarin L., 2014. Cellular aspects of allorecognition in the compound ascidian Botrylloides simodensis. Invertebr. Surv. J., 11: 219-223.

2015

104) Gasparini F., Manni L., Cima F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., Caicci F., Franchi N., Schiavon F., Rigon F., Campagna D., Ballarin L., 2015. Sexual and asexual reproduction in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Genesis, 53: 105-120.

105) Cima F., Ballarin L., 2015. Immunotoxicity in ascidians: Antifouling compounds alternative to organotins - IV. The case of zinc pyrithione. Comp.B iochem. Physiol., 169C: 16-24.

 106) Franchi N., Ballarin L., Cima F., 2015. Insights on cytotoxic cells of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Invertebr. Surv. J., 12: 109-117.

107) Cima F., Ballarin L., Caicci F., Franchi N., Gasparini F., Rigon F., Schiavon F., Manni L., 2015. Life history and ecological genetics of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Zool. Anz., 257: 54-70.

108) Ballarin L., Franchi N., Gasparini F., Caicci F., Miyauchi A., Hirose E., 2015. Suppression of cell-spreading and phagocytic activity on nano-pillared surface: in vitro experiment using hemocytes of the colonial ascidian  Botryllus schlosseri. ISJ-Invert.Survival J., 12: 82-88.

109) Campagna D., Gasparini F., Franchi N., Manni L., Telatin A., Vitulo N., Ballarin L., Valle G., 2015. SATRAP:SOLiD Assembler TRAnslation Program. PLoS ONE, 10(9): e0137436.

2016

110) Campagna D., Gasparini F., Franchi N., Vitulo N., Ballin F., Manni L., Valle G., Ballarin L., 2016. Transcriptome dynamics in the asexual cycle of the basal chordate Botryllus schlosseri. BMC Genomics, 17:         275.

111) Franchi N., Ballin F., Manni L., Schiavon F., Basso G., Ballarin L., 2016. Recurrent phagocytosis-induced         apoptosis in the cyclical generation change of the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 62: 8-16.

112)  Franchi N., Ballin F., Manni L., Schiavon F., Ballarin L., 2016. Data on four apoptosis-related genes in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. Data Brief, 8: 142-152.

2017

113) Tasselli S., Ballin, F., Franchi N., Fabbri E., Ballarin L., 2017. Expression of genes involved in oxidative stress response in colonies of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri exposed to various environmental conditions. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 187: 22-27.

114) Franchi N., Ballin, F., Ballarin L., 2017. Protection from oxidative stress in immunocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: transcript characterization and expression studies. Biol. Bull., 232: 4557.

115) Franchi N., Ballarin L., 2017. Morula cells as key hemocytes of the lectin pathway of complement activation in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. Fish Shellfish Immunol., 63: 157-164.

116) Kawamura K., Saitoh Y., Ballarin L., Sunanaga T., 2017. Regulatory cis- and trans-elements of mitochondrial D-loop-driven reporter genes in budding tunicates. Mitochondrion, 35: 59-69.

117) Franchi N., Ballarin L., 2017. Immunity in Protochordates: the Tunicate perspective. Front. Immunol., 8: 674.

118) Cima F., Peronato A., Ballarin L., 2017. The haemocytes of the colonial aplousobranch ascidian Diplosoma listerianum: structural, cytochemical and functional analyses. Micron, 102: 51-64.

Books

1. Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., Manni L., Martinucci G.B., Burighel P. (1999) - Differentiation of blood and germ cell lines in ascidians. Ist. Lomb. Acc. Sci. Lett., incontro di studio n. 13 "Embriologia sperimentale, biologia dello sviluppo ed evoluzione" in ricordo di Silvio Ranzi, 39-60.

2. Ballarin L., Cima F. (2001) - Immunotoxicity in ascidians: the case of organotin compounds. In: “The Biology of Ascidians”, H. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, & C. C. Lambert (eds), Springer, Tokyo, pp. 374-379.

3. Zaniolo G., Ballarin L. (2001) - Colony specificity in Botrylloides leachi (Savigny): preliminary reports. In: “The Biology of Ascidians”, H. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, & C. C. Lambert (eds), Springer, Tokyo, pp. 442-444.

4. Ballarin L., Burighel P. (2002) – Tunicata and Cephalochordata. In: “Biological and Medical Sciences”, G. Contrafatto and A. Minelli (eds), in: “Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS)”, Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK, http://www.eolss.net.

5. Cima F., Ballarin L., Burighel P. (2002) - Biodiversity in the lagoon of Venice: effects of biocidal compounds on the survival of benthic filter-feeding organisms, with particular reference to compound ascidians. In: P. Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice. Corila Research Program. 2001. Results”, Istituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti, Venezia, pp. 595-600.

6. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2004) – Biodiversity in the lagoon of Venice: a laboratory model for the study of the effects of antifouling compounds on settlements and survival of sessile species. In: P. Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice. Research Program 2001-2003. Volume II, 2002 Results.”, Istituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti, Venezia, pp. 449-456.

7. Cima F., Ballarin L., Burighel P. (2005) – Macrofouling ecological succession on hard substrata in the lagoon of Venice: effects of copper-containing antifouling paints. In: P. Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice. CORILA Research Program 2001-2003. Volume III, 2003 Results.”, Istituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti, Venezia, pp. 429-435.

8. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2005) – Ascidians as models for studying effects of antifouling compounds on biodiversity in the lagoon of Venice. In: “Lagoon and coastal wetlands in the global change context: impacts and management issues”. Proceedings of the International Conference, Venice, 26-28 April 2004, P. Lasserre, P Viaroli, P. Campostrini (eds), ICAM Dossier n. 3, UNESCO 2005, Venezia, pp. 315-322.

9. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2006) – Temporal and biotic evolution of “Botryllus biocoenosis” in the presence of antifouling paints. In: “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice 2005. CORILA Research Program 2004-2006. Volume IV, 2005 Results.”, P. Campostrini (Ed.), CORILA, Venezia, pp. 239-246.

10. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2007) – Proposal of a new environmental quality index for the macrofouling biocoenosis of hard substrata in the lagoon of Venice. In: P- Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice. CORILA Research Program 2004-2006”. Volume V, 2005 Results.”, CORILA, Venezia, pp. 227-234.

11. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2008) – A new biondex, based on macrofouling biocoenosis of hard substrata, for the estimation of the environmental quality: application in the Lagoon of Venice. In: P. Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice. CORILA Research Program 2004-2006”. Volume VI, 2006 Results.”, CORILA, Venezia, pp. 231-234.

12. Ballarin L., Manni L. (2009). Stem cells in sexual and asexual reproduction of Botryllus schlosseri (Ascidiacea, Tunicata): an overview. In: “Stem cells in marine organisms”, B. Rinkevich and V. Matranga eds., Springer, Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New York, pp. 267-280.

13. Cima F., Ballarin L. (2011) - Genotoxicity and immunotoxicity of organotins. In: A. Pagliarani, F. Trombetti, V. Ventrella (Eds) Biochemical and Biological Effects of Organotins, Ch. 7, Bentham Science Publishers, The Netherlands: pp. 97-111.

14. Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L. (2011) - Application of a new bioindex based on hard substrate biocoenosis for the evaluation of the lagoon quality. In: P. Campostrini (Ed.) “Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice – Volume VII, 2007-2010 Results”, CORILA, Venezia, pp 153-160.

15. Ballarin L., Cammarata M., Franchi N., Parrinello N. (2013) - Routes in innate immunity evolution: galectins and rhamnose-binding lectins in ascidians. In: Marine proteins and peptides. Biological activities and applications, Ch. 9, S.-K. Kim Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK., pp. 185-206.

16. Ballarin L. (2013) - Echinodermi e Protocordati. In: E. Ottaviani (Ed.) “Compendio di Immunobiologia Comparata”, Capitolo 6, Piccin Editore, Padova, pp. 83-112.

17. Cima F., Franchi N., Ballarin L. (2016) - Origin and function of tunicate hemocytes. In: D. Malagoli (Ed.) “The Evolution of the Immune System”, chapter 2, Elsevier, London, pp. 29-49.

18. Franchi N., Ballarin L. (2016) - Cytotoxic cells of compound ascidians. In: L. Ballarin & M. Cammarata (Eds) “Lessons in Immunity: from Single-Cell Organisms to Mammals”, chapter 14, Elsevier, London, pp. 193-203.