In Saccharomyces We Trust, Long Life to Yeast! My Saccharomyces cerevisiae memories: from Vineyards to Sex in the Gut – a Journey in Science

Early memories of “bread rising in my grandmother’s kitchen and grapes fermenting during the Chianti harvest” shaped my enduring fascination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Training under Mario Polsinelli and Robert K. Mortimer catalyzed my foundational work on yeast diversity, overturning assumptions about species level domestication, revealing genetically distinct strains on damaged grapes. With the advent of genome sequencing, I contributed to early functional genomics, microarray development, and population-level expression studies, including the first genome-wide expression profile of a wine strain. A family medical crisis redirected research toward the human microbiome, leading to discoveries on diet-driven microbial differences, yeast-based immunomodulation, and trained immunity. Later work uncovered the ecological role of social wasps as “mating nests” for Saccharomyces and demonstrated yeast sporulation and hybridization in the insect gut. Leadership roles in European research and the ICYGMB community highlight my commitment to mentorship, international collaboration, and support for scientists affected by war. I close with a mission to advance yeast science and empower the next generation of yeast researchers.