Education

4/2009

BSc: Biology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

07/2012

MSc: Microbial Biotechnology Biology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

04/2017

PhD: Biotechnological exploitation of the microbial and enzymatic system of ligninolytic fungi.

Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Professional Experience

12.2020 – present

Principal Investigator – Postdoctoral researcher in National Technical University of Athens, for the project ‘Harnessing the potential of Accessory enzymes and their Synergistic relationships in the valorization of Greek lignocellulosic biomass – ARSIS’

Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

06.2020 – 11.2020

PostDoctoral researcher in National Technical University of Athens, for the project ‘Bio2’ (MIS 5049430) ‘Biotechnological exploitation of wild strains of Greek basidiomycetes for the production of bioactive small molecules and macromolecules with applications in cosmetic and biocatalysis industries’.

Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

01.2019 – 06.2020

PostDoctoral researcher in National Technical University of Athens, for the project ‘INSPIRED’ (MIS 5002550). Protein sample analysis and preparation for crystallographic studies.

Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

09.2018 – 12.2018

PostDoctoral researcher in Fungal Biodiversity and Biotechnology Laboratory. Discovery and characterization of novel lignocellulolytic enzymes. Study of the synergistic effects of several accessory enzymes in the degradation of lignocellulosic substrates.

INRA, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

01.2018 – 08.2018

PostDoctoral researcher in National Technical University of Athens, for the project ‘VOLATILE’, EU Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (H2020-NMBP-BIO-2016), grant agreement No. 720777. Microalgae large scale fermentation for the production of ω-3 fatty acids.

Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

05.2017 – 10.2017

PostDoctoral researcher for the project ‘OPTIBIOCAT’, grant no 613868. Immobilization of selected esterases for the production of bioactive compounds of cosmeceutical interest. Biochemical process engineering group, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural resources Engineering, Lulea Technical University, Lulea, Sweden

03.2013 – 09.2015

Researcher for the project “THALIS- NKUA- Metagenomics of ligninolytic microorganisms – Biotransformation of plant by-products into high added value products”. Heterologous expression and characterization of novel enzymes and bioactive compounds from ligninolytic fungi. Valorization of agroindustrial residues for the production of biocatalysts and bioactive compounds.

Biology Department, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

Teaching Experience

2013-2016

Teaching assistant at the laboratory courses of the School of Chemical Engineering, National and Technical University of Athens:

Biotechnology and Environment

Applied Biotechnology
Supervision of diploma thesis for 6 undergraduate students (2013-2017)

2009- 2011

Teaching assistant at the laboratory courses of the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens:

Microbiology

Selected Topics in Molecular and Applied Microbiology

Awards

2018 ‘Sejours scientifiques de haut niveau’, scholarship for young researchers, Embassy of France in Greece

2017 Award for the best Undergraduate Diploma Thesis for Sector IV of the School of Chemical Engineering of National Technical University of Athens- Student name: E. Koutroufini, Diploma thesis title: ‘Production and characterization of a novel laccase from thermophile fungus Myceliophthora thermophila’

2016, 2017 ‘Thomaidio’ award for student’s article publication in a peer-reviewed journal, from National Technical University of Athens

Language Skills

Greek: Native language

English: Certificate of Proficiency in English, University of Cambridge

French: Diplome de langue et litterature francaises, 2eme degre, Universite Paris Sorbonne – Paris IV

List of Publications

Publications in peer-reviewed journals

18. Zerva, A., Tsafantakis, N., Topakas, E., (2021). Evaluation of Basidiomycetes Wild Strains Grown in Agro-Industrial Residues for Their Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Potential and for the Production of Biocatalysts. Fermentation, 7, 19; doi: 10.3390/fermentation7010019.

17. Zerva, A., Pentari, C., Grisel, S., Berrin, J.-G., & Topakas, E. (2020). A new synergistic relationship between xylan-active LPMO and xylobiohydrolase to tackle recalcitrant xylan. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 13(1); doi: 10.1186/s13068-020-01777-x

16. Zerva, A., Pentari, C., & Topakas, E. (2020). Crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of laccases from Pleurotus citrinopileatus induced in olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW). Molecules, 25(9); doi: 10.3390/molecules25092221

15. Zouraris, D., Kiafi, S., Zerva, A., Topakas, E., Karantonis, A. (2020). FTacV study of electroactive immobilized enzyme/free substrate reactions: Enzymatic catalysis of epinephrine by a multicopper oxidase from Thermothelomyces thermophila. Bioelectrochemistry 134: 107538, doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107538.

14. Labourel, A., Frandsen K. E. H., Zhang F., Brouilly, N., Grisel S., Haon M., Ciano L., Ropartz D., Fanuel M., Martin F., Navarro D., Rosso M.-N., Tandrup T., Bissaro B., Johansen K. S.,

Zerva A., Walton P. H., Henrissat B., Lo Leggi L., Berrin J.-G. A fungal family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase-like copper proteins, Nature Chemical Biology, 2020, 10.1038/s41589-019-0438-8, doi:10.1038/s41589-019-0438-8.

13. Zerva, A., Simic, S., Topakas, E., Nikodinovic-Runic, J. Applications of microbial laccases: Patent review of the past decade (2009-2019). Catalysts, 2019, 9, 1023.

12. Karnaouri A., Antonopoulou I., Zerva A., Dimarogona M., Topakas E., Rova U. and Christakopoulos P. (2019). Thermophilic enzyme systems for efficient conversion of lignocellulose to valuable products: structural insights and future perspectives for esterases and oxidative catalysts. Bioresource Technology: 279: 362-372.

11. Zerva A., Koutroufini E., Kostopoulou I., Detsi A. and Topakas E. (2019). A novel thermophilic laccase-like multicopper oxidase from Thermothelomyces thermophila and its application in the oxidative cyclization of 2′,3,4-trihydroxychalcone. New Biotechnology 49: 10-18.

10. Papaspyridi L.-M., Zerva A. and Topakas E. (2018). Biocatalytic Synthesis of Fungal β-Glucans. Catalysts 8(7): 274.

9. Zerva A., Koutroufini E., Kostopoulou I., Detsi A., Topakas* E. (2019). A novel thermophilic laccase-like multicopper oxidase from Thermothelomyces thermophila and its application in the oxidative cyclization of 2’,3,4-trihydroxychalcone. New Biotechnology, 49, pp. 10-18.

8. Zerva, A., Antonopoulou, I., Enman, J., Leonov, L., Rova, U., Christakopoulos, C. Cross-linked enzyme aggregates of feruloyl esterase preparations from Thermothelomyces thermophila and Talaromyces wortmannii, Catalysts 2018(8): 208.

7. Zouraris, D., Zerva, A., Topakas, E., Karantonis, A. (2017). Kinetic and amperometric study of the MtPerII peroxidase isolated from the ascomycete fungus Myceliophthora thermophila. Bioelectrochemistry, 118(Supplement C): 19-24.

6. Zerva A., Papaspyridi L.-M., Christakopoulos P. and Topakas E. (2017). Valorization of Olive Mill Wastewater for the Production of β-glucans from Selected Basidiomycetes. Waste and Biomass Valorization: 8(5): 1721-1731.

5. Zerva, A., Manos, N., Vouyiouka, S., Christakopoulos, P., Topakas, E. Bioconversion of Biomass-Derived Phenols Catalyzed by Myceliophthora thermophila Laccase. Molecules 2016, 21, 550.

4. Zerva A., Zervakis G. I., Christakopoulos P. and Topakas E. (2017). Degradation of olive mill wastewater by the induced extracellular ligninolytic enzymes of two wood-rot fungi. J Environ Manage 203(Pt 2): 791-798.

3. Zerva, A., Christakopoulos, P., Topakas, E. Characterization and application of a novel class II thermophilic peroxidase from Myceliophthora thermophila in biosynthesis of polycatechol, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Volumes 75–76, July–August 2015, Pages 49-56, ISSN 0141-0229, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2015.04.012

2. Zerva, A., Savvides, A.L., Katsifas, E.A., Karagouni, A. D., Hatzinikolaou, D.G. Evaluation of Paecilomyces variotii potential in bioethanol production from lignocellulose through consolidated bioprocessing, Bioresource Technology, Volume 162, June 2014, Pages 294-299, ISSN 0960-8524, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.137

1. Anasontzis, G. E., Zerva A., Stathopoulou P.M., Haralampidis K., Diallinas G., Karagouni A.D., and Hatzinikolaou D.G. Homologous overexpression of xylanase in Fusarium oxysporum increases ethanol productivity during consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosics. Journal of Biotechnology 152(1-2): 16-23.

Book chapters

1. Karnaouri A., Zerva A., Christakopoulos P., Topakas* E. (2021). Screening of recombinant lignocellulolytic enzymes through rapid plate assays. Book Chapter, in “Protein Downstream processing: Design, Development and Application of High and Low-Resolution Methods, Second Edition”. Ν. Labrou (Ed), Humana Press-Springer, 2178:479-503; doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0775-6_30

Other publications

1. Anastasia Zerva, Georgios I. Zervakis, Paul Christakopoulos and Evangelos Topakas, From toxic wastes to valuable products: valorization of olive oil mill wastewater using mushrooms, Atlas of Science, April 27, 2016.

Conferences

6. 2nd LPMO symposium – Marseille (France) – 7-9 November 2018

5. 2nd Annual Conference of the Greek National Initiative “Mikrobiokosmos”, 11 -13 December 2009, Caravel Hotel, Athens

4. 31ο Annual Conference of the Greek National Company of Biological Sciences, May 14-16 2009, Patras.

3. 1st Annual Conference of the Greek National Initiative “Mikrobiokosmos”, December 12 – 14 2008, National Centre of Scientific Research “DEMOKRITOS”, Athens

2. 30ο Annual Conference of the Greek National Company of Biological Sciences, May 22-24 2008, Thessaloniki.

1. 28ο Annual Conference of the Greek National Company of Biological Sciences, May 18-20 2006, Ioannina.

Publications/posters in Conferences’ Proceeding with Reviewers

21. Zerva, A., Tsafantakis, N., Topakas, E. Production of biocatalysts and bioactive compounds from Greek basidiomycete wild strains grown in different induction media, 1st International Electronic Conference on Microbiology (ECM 2020), 02/11/2020 – 30/11/2020, https://ecm2020.sciforum.net/

20. Zerva, A., Tsafantakis, N., Topakas, E. Greek Basidiomycete Wild Strains for the Production of Bioactive Compounds and Enzymes with Applications in Cosmetic and Biocatalysis Industries, 1st International Electronic Conference on Catalysis Sciences (ECCS2020), 10/11/2020 – 30/11/2020, https://sciforum.net/conference/ECCS2020

19. Limnaios A., Zerva A., Topakas E., Taoukis P. Production of a novel thermophilic β-galactosidase and application in the synthesis of prebiotic oligosaccharides from acid whey, 33rd EFFoST International Conference 2019, 12-14 November 2019, Postillion Convention Centre, WTC Rotterdam, The Netherlands, poster presentation

18. Zerva A., Limnaios A., Taoukis P., Topakas E. Discovery of a novel thermophile β-galactosidase, TtbGal1, for the production of prebiotic oligosaccharides from acid whey, HERAKLION 2019 7th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 26-29 June 2019, oral presentation

17. Pentari, C., Zerva, A., Zouraris, D., Karantonis, A., Topakas, E. Study of the synthetic potential of two novel laccases PcLac1 and PcLac2 from the basidiomycete Pleurotus citrinopileatus, 12th National Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering, Eugenides Foundation, Athens, 23-31 May 2019, poster presentation

16. Limnaios, A., Zerva, A., Topakas, E., Taoukis, P. Development and application of a novel β-galactosidase for the production of high nutritional value compounds from by-products of the yoghurt industry. 12th National Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering, Eugenides Foundation, Athens, 23-31 May 2019, poster presentation

15. Michailof, C., Kalogiannis, K., Marianou, A., Karnaouri, A., Zerva, A., Topakas, E., Lappas, A., Production of activated carbons of high specific surface from residual biorefinery lignin. 12th National Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering, Eugenides Foundation, Athens, 23-31 May 2019.

14. Zouraris, D., Karantonis, A., Zerva, A., Topakas, E., Electrochemical study of peroxidase MtPerII and investigation of its application potential in a biosensor, 11th National Scientific Conference of Chemical Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece, 25-27 May 2017

13. Koutroufini E., Zerva A., Detsi A., Topakas E., Production and characterization of a novel laccase from thermophile fungus Myceliophthora thermophila, 7th Conference of the Hellenic scientific society Mikrobiokosmos ’10 years microbial communities in action’, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece 7-9 April 2017, poster presentation

12. Zerva A., Manos N., Koutroufini E. and Topakas E., A novel laccase-like enzyme from thermophile fungus Myceliophthora thermophila, 8th European Meeting on OxiZymes, Hof van Wageningen, Wageningen, Netherlands, 3–6 July 2016, poster presentation.

11. Zerva A., Papaspyridi L.-M., Mousavi G., Christakopoulos P. and Topakas E., Isolation of b-glucans from selected Basidiomycetes strains grown in olive oil mill wastewater, 4th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Limassol, Cyprus, 23–25 June 2016, oral presentation

10. Zerva A., Manos N., Vouyiouka S., Christakopoulos P., Topakas E., Polymerization of naturally occurring phenols by a Myceliophthora thermophila laccase, ECOST Training School, COST Action CM1303, Certosa di Pontigniano, Siena, Italy, 27/04- 01/05/2016

9. Zerva A., Gkatzarou E., Mioteli D., Mousavi G., Zervakis G., Christakopoulos P., Topakas E, Degradation of olive mill waste waters by two wood-rot fungi and their effect on the induction of extracellular ligninolytic enzymes, International Conference on Industrial Waste & Wastewater Treatment & Valorization, President Hotel, Athens, 21-23 May 2015, poster presentation

8. Zerva A., Gkatzarou E., Mioteli D., Mousavi M., Zervakis G., Christakopoulos P., Topakas E, Bio-valorization of olive oil mill waste, with the use of indigenous Greek Basidiomycetous species, 6th Conference of the Hellenic scientific society Mikrobiokosmos ‘New Horizons in the Micro World’, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece 3-5 April 2015, poster presentation.

7. Zerva A., Christakopoulos P., Topakas E., Characterization of a novel thermophilic Class II peroxidase from Myceliophthora thermophila, ECOST Training School, COST Action CM1303, Certosa di Pontigniano, Siena, Italy, 28/05 – 01/06/2014, oral presentation

6. Zerva A., Stathopoulou P.M., Katsifas E.A., Karagouni A.D. and Hatzinikolaou D.G., The filamentous fungus Paecilomyces variotii as a potential candidate for bioethanol production via consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosics, 15th European congress on Biotechnology “Bio-crossroads”, Istanbul, Turkey, 23 – 26 September 2012, oral presentation

5. Zerva A., Stathopoulou P.M., Katsifas E. A., Karagouni A. D. and Hatzinikolaou D. G., Investigation of the application potential of fungus Paecilomyces variotii in ethanol production from lignocellulosic substrates following one step process, 4rth Annual Conference of the Greek National Initiative “Mikrobiokosmos”, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece, 21 – 23 October 2011, oral presentation

4. Zerva A., Stathopoulou P.M., Katsifas E.A., Karagouni A.D. and Hatzinikolaou D.G., Evaluation of Paecilomyces variotii potential in the consolidated bioprocessing of Lignocellulosics 11th Conference on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology – BAGECO11, Corfu, Greece, May 29 – June 2, 2011, poster presentation

3. Anasontzis G.E., Zerva A., Stathopoulou P.M., Diallinas G. and Hatzinikolaou D.G., Homologous overexpression of xylanase in Fusarium oxysporum increases ethanol productivity during the simultaneous saccharification/fermentation of lignocellulosics, Eurofung Meeting, Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands, November 2010, poster presentation

2. Anasontzis G.E., Zerva A., Stathopoulou P., Karagouni A.D. and Hatzinikolaou D.G., Homologous overexpression of xylanase in Fusarium oxysporum, 10th International Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology (BAGECO-10), Uppsala, Sweden, June 2009, poster presentation

1. Zerva A., Anasontzis G.E., Stathopoulou P.M., and D.G. Hatzinikolaou, Homologous overexpression of xylanolytic enzymes in fungus Fusarium oxysporum, 31 Annual Conference of the Greek National Company of Biological Sciences, Patras, Greece, May 14-16, 2009, oral presentation