Domenica Berardi
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Research
Publications
2026
Demographic, birth, parental characteristics, and the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer: A population-based nested case-control study in California.
Siddique S, Wang R, Berardi D, Johnson CH, Wiemels JL, Metayer C, Ma X. Demographic, birth, parental characteristics, and the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer: A population-based nested case-control study in California. Cancer 2026, 132: e70458. PMID: 42324895, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70458.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates early-onset colorectal cancer, showing male sex, Hispanic ethnicity, high birthweight, and older paternal age increase risk, while foreign-born mothers may reduce it.Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures
Deziel N, Liu S, Johnson N, Berardi D, Clark C, Loughlin C, Sorrentino K, Lin E, Ning X, Warren J, Liew Z, Johnson C, Pollitt K. Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 9048-9060. PMID: 41824932, PMCID: PMC13045016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c15309.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMaximum contaminant levelPotential health burdenPersonal care productsBlood samplesDrinking water concentrationsExposure determinantsLong IslandTap waterContamination levelsPaired waterExposure sourcesCare productsWater samplesPersonal care product useWater concentrationTreatment systemResidents of Long IslandMetabolomic profilesMetabolomic impactMetabolomic measurementsMetabolomic analysisWaterWater consumptionExposure dataPotential carcinogens
2025
Discovery of a Widespread Polyamine–Low-Molecular-Weight Thiol Hybrid Pathway in Clostridioides difficile
Hunt R, Oh J, Jain A, Kuo T, Berardi D, Jian W, Song D, Wu Q, Goodman A, Palm N, Zimmermann M, Johnson C, Crawford J. Discovery of a Widespread Polyamine–Low-Molecular-Weight Thiol Hybrid Pathway in Clostridioides difficile. ACS Infectious Diseases 2025, 11: 2246-2264. PMID: 40671632, PMCID: PMC12403189, DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00286.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow-molecular-weight thiolsTwo-gene operonBacteroides uniformisExpression of polyaminesAssociated with diseaseColorectal cancerBiosynthesis genesCommunity-level changesClostridioides difficile infectionGut homeostasisGenetic screeningGI mucosal biopsiesRisk of colorectal cancerHybrid pathwayMicrobial metabolismHybrid metabolitesGastrointestinal (GI) tractClostridioides difficileDiverse collectionHost immunityMucosal biopsiesSevere inflammationGenesCationic metabolitesMucolytic agentSenescence Cell Induction Methods Display Diverse Metabolic Reprogramming and Reveal an Underpinning Serine/Taurine Reductive Metabolic Phenotype
Berardi D, Farrell G, AlSultan A, McCulloch A, Hall N, Sousa R, Jimenez M, Selman C, Bellantuono I, Johnson C, Rattray Z, Rattray N. Senescence Cell Induction Methods Display Diverse Metabolic Reprogramming and Reveal an Underpinning Serine/Taurine Reductive Metabolic Phenotype. Aging Cell 2025, 24: e70127. PMID: 40530891, PMCID: PMC12341781, DOI: 10.1111/acel.70127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSenescence inductionLabel-free proteomicsDNA damage markersRedox circuitsCell inductionImpaired proteostasisP21 levelsTherapeutic strategiesCellular phenotypesMetabolic phenotypeMetabolic reprogrammingProteomic heterogeneityMetabolic shiftSenescence markersProteomic profilingMetabolic processesSenescence biomarkersDamage markersProtein levelsSenescenceSubphenotypesSenescence modelInfluence cellsPhenotypeInductionSex-specific effects of exogenous asparagine on colorectal tumor growth, 17β-estradiol levels, and aromatase
Aladelokun O, Benitez K, Wang Y, Jain A, Berardi D, Maroun G, Shen X, Roper J, Gibson J, Sumigray K, Khan S, Johnson C. Sex-specific effects of exogenous asparagine on colorectal tumor growth, 17β-estradiol levels, and aromatase. Pharmacological Research 2025, 215: 107736. PMID: 40228761, PMCID: PMC12100670, DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107736.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTumor-specific survivalColorectal cancerTumor growthR2G2 miceIncreased serum estradiol levelsSerum estradiol levelsSub-populations of macrophagesAssociated with cancer prognosisSuppressed tumor growthColorectal tumor growthExogenous asparagineColorectal cancer developmentColorectal cancer cellsNegative feed-back effectEstradiol levelsGlutamate levelsSex-related differencesSex-specific effectsMale miceCancer prognosisAsparagine supplementationCancer progressionMiceDecreased numberTumor
2024
Charting the metabolic biogeography of the colorectum in cancer: challenging the right sided versus left sided classification
Jain A, Morris M, Berardi D, Arora T, Domingo-Almenara X, Paty P, Rattray N, Kerekes D, Lu L, Khan S, Johnson C. Charting the metabolic biogeography of the colorectum in cancer: challenging the right sided versus left sided classification. Molecular Cancer 2024, 23: 211. PMID: 39342363, PMCID: PMC11438248, DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02133-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRectal cancerNormal mucosaMetabolite abundancePatient-matched tumorTumor-specific metabolitesMetabolic heterogeneityPatient survivalRectosigmoid colonSigmoid colonAnatomic subsitePatient-matched normal mucosaTransverse colonMetabolomic profilesAscending colonCRC biomarkersMetabolome DatabaseDescending colonMetabolite changesLeft-sidedRight-sidedColorectumRisk factorsMetabolome mapCancerTumorRecounting the untold stories of breast cancer patient experiences: lessons learned from a patient–public involvement and engagement storytelling event
Cunningham M, Rattray N, McFadden Y, Berardi D, Daramy K, Kelly P, Galbraith A, Lochiel I, Mills L, Scott Y, Chalmers S, Lannigan A, Rattray Z. Recounting the untold stories of breast cancer patient experiences: lessons learned from a patient–public involvement and engagement storytelling event. International Journal Of Pharmacy Practice 2024, 32: 515-523. PMID: 39305489, DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBreast cancer patients' experiencesPatient-public involvementCancer patients' experiencesCommunity-academic partnershipCancer research activitiesBreast cancer careMultidisciplinary healthcare teamExperiences of patientsHealthcare decision makingBreast cancer diagnosisBreast cancerCancer careHealthcare teamPatient experienceHealthcare professionalsCancer diagnosisHealthcareEmpathetic approachCohort buildingBreastMedicine toolsWorkshop seriesDecision makingPatientsCancerAsparagine synthetase and G‐protein coupled estrogen receptor are critical responders to nutrient supply in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer
Lu L, Zhang Q, Aladelokun O, Berardi D, Shen X, Marin A, Garcia‐Milian R, Roper J, Khan S, Johnson C. Asparagine synthetase and G‐protein coupled estrogen receptor are critical responders to nutrient supply in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer. International Journal Of Cancer 2024, 156: 52-68. PMID: 39039782, PMCID: PMC11537827, DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35104.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchG protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1KRAS mutant colorectal cancerAsparagine synthetase expressionMutant colorectal cancerColorectal cancerAsparagine synthetaseG-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 expressionG protein-coupled estrogen receptorWild-typeAssociated with poor overall survivalAdvanced stage tumorsKRAS wild-typeProtective effect of estradiolEffects of estradiolPoor overall survivalEstrogen receptor 1Expression of asparagine synthetasePresence of estradiolIncreased caspase-3 activityDepletion inhibited cell growthColon cancer cohortNutrient supplyAdvanced tumorsOverall survivalStage tumors
2023
Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid and Perfluorooctanoic Acid Promote Migration of Three-Dimensional Colorectal Cancer Spheroids
Zheng J, Sun B, Berardi D, Lu L, Yan H, Zheng S, Aladelokun O, Xie Y, Cai Y, Pollitt K, Khan S, Johnson C. Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid and Perfluorooctanoic Acid Promote Migration of Three-Dimensional Colorectal Cancer Spheroids. Environmental Science And Technology 2023, 57: 21016-21028. PMID: 38064429, PMCID: PMC12903201, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04844.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsColorectal cancerFatty acid β-oxidationCell linesSW48 cell linesSynthesis of proteinsProgression of CRCMigration phenotypeCRC cell linesEpithelial-mesenchymal transitionThree-dimensional spheroidsMetabolic pathwaysN-cadherinΒ-oxidationMechanism of actionNovel insightsE-cadherinBiological techniquesPromotes MigrationColorectal cancer spheroidsMigration assaysMetabolic profilingKRAS G12APerfluorooctanoic acidPersistent environmental contaminantsMetabolic profile
2022
Reversal of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2 enables anaplerosis via redox rescue in respiration-deficient cells
Altea-Manzano P, Vandekeere A, Edwards-Hicks J, Roldan M, Abraham E, Lleshi X, Guerrieri A, Berardi D, Wills J, Junior J, Pantazi A, Acosta J, Sanchez-Martin R, Fendt S, Martin-Hernandez M, Finch A. Reversal of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2 enables anaplerosis via redox rescue in respiration-deficient cells. Molecular Cell 2022, 82: 4537-4547.e7. PMID: 36327975, DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.10.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlutamate dehydrogenaseTricarboxylic acidMitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2Oxidative tricarboxylic acidTransfer of oxidizing equivalentsRespiration-deficient cellsTricarboxylic acid cycleGlutamine-derived carbonsMitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenaseMalate dehydrogenase 2Glutamate dehydrogenase activityMitochondrial aspartate transaminaseCytosolic redox stateBiosynthetic pathwayReductive carboxylationAspartate synthesisETC functionMitochondriaSuccinate dehydrogenaseDehydrogenase 2NADRedox stateCell viabilityDehydrogenaseCells