Molecular Virology. Coordinator: Menotti

Research themes

Repurposing of viral properties and functions. The unique viruses' life cycle is tightly entangled to the molecular machinery of their hosts. This intimate and absolute dependency drives their unmatched efficiency and promotes an enormous functional biodiversity that can be repurposed in several ways. Understanding the function of viral proteins in pivotal in this field. Active areas of investigation include viruses "domestication", for their use as targeted and selective anti-cancer tools (oncolytic viruses, Menotti, 2020; Appolloni, 2021), and the exploitation of viral functions to create novel activities with therapeutic potential (i.e. control of molecular mechanisms leading to neurocognitive decline (Brandimarti, 2023).

Viral evolution dynamics. Viruses evolve at a higher rate as compared to their host(s). Specific properties of the different viral replicative strategies and host-parasite interactions can drive or push viral evolution, and even viruses considered to be substantially stable can change, under selective pressure. The aim of the research is to follow, by means of molecular tools, in vitro viral evolution, and to dissect the conditions which promote it and the selected mutations.

Interaction of viruses with human microbiota. Some human viruses can be etiologic agents of  sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The vaginal microbiota supporting a condition of eubiosis can have a modulating or protective role against STIs. Our research aims to investigate the mechanisms, the components and metabolites of Lactobacilli that can interfere with viral infection in cell culture model systems. A protective role against herpes simplex 1 by lactobacilli cell-free supernatants has been shown (Avitabile, 2024). The project is in collaboration with the "Beneficial Microbes" group (prof. Beatrice Vitali).

Lab Members

Laura Menotti,  Associate Professor (research areas "Repurposing of viral properties and functions", "Viral evolution dynamics" and "Interaction of viruses with human microbiota")

Elisa Avitabile,  Assistant Professor ( research areas "Repurposing of viral properties and functions" and "Interaction of viruses with human microbiota")

Renato Brandimarti,  Assistant Professor ( research areas "Repurposing of viral properties and functions")

Marco De Maria, PhD Student

Internship projects

Bachelor's and Master's thesis projects abroad (Germany, USA)

Main Publications

• Menotti, L. and Avitabile, E. (2020). "Herpes Simplex Virus Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy: The Blossoming Branch of Multimodal Therapy". Int J Mol Sci. Nov 5;21(21):8310. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218310
• Appolloni, I., Alessandrini, F., Menotti, L., Avitabile, E., Marubbi, D., Piga, N., Ceresa, D., Piaggio, F., Campadelli-Fiume, G. and Malatesta, P. (2021). "Specificity, Safety, Efficacy of EGFRvIII-Retargeted Oncolytic HSV for Xenotransplanted Human Glioblastoma". Viruses Aug 24;13(9):1677. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13091677
• Irollo, E., Nash, B., Luchetta, J., Brandimarti, R. and Meucci O. (2023a) "The Endolysosomal Transporter DMT1 is Required for Morphine Regulation of Neuronal Ferritin Heavy Chain". J Neuroimmune Pharmacol18, 495–508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-023-10082-x
• Brandimarti, R., Irollo, E. and Meucci, O. (2023). "The US9-Derived Protein gPTB9TM Modulates APP Processing Without Targeting Secretase Activities". Mol Neurobiol 60, 1811–1825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-03153-2
• Avitabile, E., Menotti, L., Giordani, B., Croatti, V., Parolin, C. and Vitali, B. (2024). " Vaginal Lactobacilli Supernatants Protect from Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in Cell Culture Models ". Int J Mol Sci 2024, 25(5), 2492. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052492