Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology. Coordinator: Gallinella

Study of viruses and microorganisms of medical interest, in their biological characteristics and ability to interact with the human host, the development of innovative diagnostic technologies for the diagnosis of infectious processes and the in vitro evaluation of new compounds, formulations and biomaterials as antiviral and antimicrobial agents.

Research themes

Virology

The research group has expertise in the development and application of techniques for the detection of nucleic acids and viral antigens in clinical biological samples; of molecular biology techniques for the synthesis and production of recombinant viruses; of molecular cloning techniques for the expression of heterologous proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems; of morphological and functional analysis techniques through confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The study of parvovirus B19 constitutes a main theme, in the various basic and clinically applied aspects: virus-cell interaction, functional and expression profile analysis of the parvovirus B19 genome; evaluation of the antiviral activity of compounds against parvovirus B19; characterization of different pathogenetic and clinical aspects of parvovirus B19 infection.

Top-ranking research lab on Parvovirus B19: www.expertscape.com/ex/parvovirus+b19%2C+human

Microbiology (Referent: Prof. Giovanna Angela Gentilomi)

With the clinical pipeline of antimicrobial drugs running dry, additional novel drugs and alternative strategies with multiple and/or unique target sites on the pathogens are of paramount need. In this frame, research activity of the Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology group deals with the evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of inorganic, polymeric and composite materials, synthetic and plant-based formulations and the investigation of the mechanisms of action of the biologically active compounds/formulations. Of note, in the current scenario of antimicrobial resistance, strong attention is paid on agents with inhibitory properties on multi-drug resistant pathogens such as the ESKAPE microbes (Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) and on mono- and polymicrobial biofilms.

 

Lab Members

Giorgio Gallinella, Full Professor

Giovanna Angela Gentilomi,  Associate Professor

Elisabetta Manaresi, Senior Assistant Professor

Francesca Bonvicini,  Associate Professor

Erika Fasano, PhD Student

Federica Bichicchi, PhD Student

Niccolò Guglietta, PhD Student

Main publications

  • Antiviral activity of brincidofovir on parvovirus B19. Bua G, Conti I, Manaresi E, Sethna P, Foster S, Bonvicini F, Gallinella G. Antiviral Res. 2019 Feb;162:22-29. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.12.003. Epub 2018 Dec 8. PMID: 30529090
  • A Functional Minigenome of Parvovirus B19. Reggiani, A., Avati, A., Valenti, F., Fasano, E., Bua, G., Manaresi, E., Gallinella, G. Viruses 14. doi:10.3390/v14010084
  • Importin alpha/beta-dependent nuclear transport of human parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein 1 is essential for viral replication. Alvisi, G., Manaresi, E., Cross, E.M., Hoad, M., Akbari, N., Pavan, S., Ariawan, D., Bua, G., Petersen, G.F., Forwood J, Gallinella, G. (2023). Antiviral Research 213:105588. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105588
  • Cellulose acetate membranes loaded with combinations of tetraphenylporphyrin, graphene oxide and Pluronic F-127 as responsive materials with antibacterial photodynamic activity.Morsi, R.E., Gentili, D., Corticelli, F., Morandi, V., Figoli, A., Russo, F., Galiano, F., Gentilomi, G.A., Bonvicini, F., Manet, I. and Ventura, B. (2023). RSC Advances 13: 26550-26562. doi: 10.1039/D3RA04193J
  • Medicated Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Hybrid Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration and Local Antimicrobial Therapy to Prevent Bone Infections. Mulazzi, M., Campodoni, E., Bassi, G., Montesi, M., Panseri, S., Bonvicini, F., Gentilomi, G.A., Tampieri, A., Sandri, M. (2021). Pharmaceutics 16; 13(7):1090. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13071090

 

Contacts