Research
Main research fields:
The research activity is focused on viral agents of domestic animals, with particular emphasis on those that have an economic impact on livestock productivity, are responsible for zoonoses or can serve as animal models for human infections. These studies involve viruses of carnivores (parvoviruses, coronaviruses, morbilliviruses) and ruminants (pestiviruses, coronaviruses), as well as viral agents with direct and indirect zoonotic potential (astroviruses, uncultivable caliciviruses, rotaviruses, enteroviruses). Molecular surveillance of viral infections, development of innovative diagnostic assays and vaccines and antiviral therapy are objectives of this research.
Research projects:
- One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Missione 4, “Istruzione e Ricerca” – Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” del Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) – Linea di investimento 1.3, “Partenariati Estesi”, f– NextGenerationEU. Member of the research group of Spoke n. 1 - Emerging and re-emerging viral threats (2022-2026).
- CALLIOPE – Home of Innovation for One Health. Emerging Technologies programme - FSC 2014/2020 Italian Ministry of Economic Development. Research unit (2023-2026).
- MUSECoV: Multi-scale Eco-evolution of Coronaviruses: from surveillance toward emergence prediction. ERA-NET Cofund on International Coordination of Research on Infectious Animal Diseases (ICRAD) (leading institution: ANSES, France). Subcontractor (2021-2023).
-Evaluation of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in cats and dogs (CoronaPets). Ricerca corrente 2020 of Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata). Research unit (2020-2022).
-“Genetic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 and serological investigation in humans and pets to define cats and dogs role in the COVID-19 pandemic (COVIDinPET)”. Misura a sostegno dello sviluppo di collaborazioni per l’identificazione di terapie e sistemi di diagnostica, protezione e analisi per contrastare l’emergenza Coronavirus e altre emergenze virali del futuro” (Linea 1 – ambito A). Fondazione CARIPLO in collaborazione con Regione Lombardia e Fondazione Umberto Veronesi (ente capofila Parco Tecnologico Padano). Research unit (2020-2022).
-NGS and molecular diagnostics in animal health: Fast D2. Ricerca corrente 2019 of Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise). Research unit (2019-2022).
-Emerging coronaviruses in domestic and wild carnivores and zoonotic implications. Ricerca corrente 2019 of Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno). Research unit (2019-2022).
- Novel diagnostic flows in animal health: from NGS to the antigen bank. Ricerca corrente 2017 of Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise). Research unit (2017-2019).
- A study on the antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis strains isolated from anthrax outbreaks, Italy 2001-2017”. Ricerca corrente 2017 of Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata). Research unit (2017-2019).
- A metagenomic approach to the diagnosis canine viral gastroenteritis. Ricerca corrente 2015 Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata). Research unit (2016-2018).
- Bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 3 in north-eastern Italy: circulation, clinical impact, pathogenesis in pregnant cows and strain characterisation. Ricerca corrente 2014 Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie). Research unit (2015-2016).
- An epizootiological survey of bats as reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses in Italy: implications for public health and biological conservation. Ricerca finalizzata 2011-12 Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna) - Bando progetti di ricerca giovani ricercatori. Research unit (2014-2016).
- Eco-epidemiological study on zoonotic viruses in southern Italian migratory chiropters. Ricerca corrente 2013 Italian Ministry of Health (leading institution: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno). Research unit (2014-2016).
- Investigations on infectious abortions of ruminants with particular emphasis on emerging abortogenic pathogens. Ricerca corrente 2013 Ministero della Salute (ente capofila Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia). Research unit (2014-2016).
Main scientific collaborations:
- ANSES - Laboratoire de santé animale, sites de Maisons-Alfort et de Normandie, France
- Pestivirus Laboratory, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Ames, IA, USA
- Virology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Editorial appointments:
- Editor of the scientific journal Acta Tropica, Journal of Virological Methods, Virus Genes, Heliyon
- Member of the editorial board of the international journals Veterinary Microbiology (from 2013), Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (from 2008), Journal of Microbiological Methods (from 2009), Virus Genes (from 2010), Peer Journal (from 2012), Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology (from 2014).
Membership in professional societies:
- Italian Society of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (Si.Di.L.V.).
- National Association of Veterinary Infectivologists (A.N.I.V.).