Research
Main research topics:
The main research areas include the study of human and animal enteric viruses and hepatotropic viruses of veterinary interest. Research topics are focused on viral agents with particular reference to zoonotic implications and virus discovery:
- human and animal caliciviruses (vesiviruses, noroviruses, sapoviruses).
- human and animal astroviruses
- hepaciviruses, hepadnaviruses, hepeviruses
-virus discovery
Other studies of his career concern the viruses of carnivores (parvovirus, coronavirus, CRESS DNA virus) and ruminants (pestivirus, coronavirus). The molecular surveillance of viral infections, the development of diagnostic systems and immunization devices and antiviral therapy represent the main objectives of the research activity.
Research projects:
- Operating Unit member for the project "Metagenomic approach to the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis in dogs". Current research 2015 Ministry of Health (lead institution Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata).
- Operating unit member of the project "Improving understanding of autochthonous hepatitis E transmission routes: a focus on foodborne and waterborne pathways (FOOD-WAT-HEV)". Finalized Research 2018 under the RF-2018-12365399 Program.
- Operational unit component of the project: "Hepatotropic viruses with zoonotic potential and Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar and pig meat produced for private domestic consumption". Current Research 2019 within the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute Program of the South 05/19 RC
- Operational unit manager of the project "HEV risk assessment: study of foods potentially involved in zoonotic transmission". Current Research 2019 within the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute Program of Puglia and Basilicata 03/19 RC.
- Operational unit member of the project "New gastroenteric viruses of dogs and cats: development of NGS protocols for zoonotic risk assessment". Current Research 2018 in the context of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy IZS ME 02/18 RC.
- Operating unit component of the international project funded by the British government entitled: "Coronavirus inactivation using activated carbon-based filtering media" (2020-2021)
- Operational unit manager of the project "The safe resumption of face-to-face teaching in the time of COVID: SCOOP Precision CONtainment Strategies". HORIZON EUROPE SEEDS 2022.
- Head of operating unit and substitute PI of the project "Investigating Hepatotropic Viruses in carnivores and humans in a One Health perspective (HVOH)" Call PRIN 2022 Prot. 2022EPP2TT
Main collaborations with other research institutes:
- University of Teramo | UNITE Faculty of Veterinary Medicine;
- University of Siena UNISI - Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine;
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary; University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Collaborations with scientific journals:
- Guest editor of Animals magazine for the special issue “Novel Insights into Companion Animals Virus: Infection and Therapy” (from 2022 to present)
Affiliation to scientific societies
- Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostic Society (Si.Di.L.V.) (from 2016 to date)
- Italian Society of Virology (SIV - ISV) (from 2018 to today)