Bacteriology Laboratory

Areas of research:

An advanced biological system for the management of infections due to “Difficult-To-Treat (DTT)” multi-drug resistant pathogens (MDR) in critically ill patients:

• Genomic characterization of MDRs isolated by Next-Generation-Sequencing and the analysis of clusters and molecular epidemiology;
• In vitro evaluation of synergistic antimicrobial activity in antimicrobial combinations against MDR bacteria isolated from critically ill patients (hematological and transplant);
• Application of molecular tests for the rapid identification of patients colonized and infected by MDR pathogens

Teaching activity:

The laboratory hosts students enrolled the Schools of Specialization for Microbiology and Virology, Clinical Pathology, and Pathological Anatomy for specialized training, as well as students interning to complete their graduate or PhD thesis.

Instrumentation available:

• Vertical Biohazard laminar flow fume hood Class 2
• Chemical fume cupboard
• Optical and fluorescent microscopes
• Incubators at various temperatures (37°C, 32°C and 42°C) and CO₂
• Centrifuges and microcentrifuges, refrigerated and non-refrigerated
• Various automated systems for the extraction and amplification of nucleic acids ELITe InGenius
• Thermal cyclers
• Automated systems for determining the in-vitro sensitivity to anti-bacterial drugs (Beckman Dikinson, Biomedical Sciences)
• Mass spectrometer MALDI-TOF (Bruker), IR-Biotyper (Bruker).
• Sequencer Iseq100 dell'ILLUMINA.
• Biobank for clinical isolates and ATCC reference strains.

Collaborators

Gabriele Turello, Biologist specializing in Microbiology and Virology, team member