Cyanobacteria of the genus Chroococcidiopsis from extremely dry hot and cold deserts leave at absolute limit for life, being able to avoid and /or repair damages induced by desiccation. The complete removal of water from cells, storage in the dried state and rewetting, impose physiological constraints which are lethal to the majority of the organisms. Desiccation induced damages span from those mediated by free radicals, reactive oxygen species, Maillard and Fenton reactions, to those caused by the phase transitions of phospholipid bilayers. Researches aim to highlight the cellular and molecular mechanisms employed by desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis to repair DNA induced damages and face oxidative stress. Researches take advantage of molecular biology tools developed for this cyanobacterium, such as gene transfer methods and gene reporter systems. To date desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis represent the only desiccation tolerant cyanobacteria suitable to genetic manipulation.

Researches take advantage of the fact that Daniela Billi is entrusted of maintaining 250 isolates of Chroococcidiopsis, and related genera, belonging to the Culture Collection of Microorganisms from Extreme Environments (CCMEE) established by E. Imre Friedmann (Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL).