Sero-Virology Laboratory
The Sero-Virology Laboratory promotes and coordinates both advanced diagnostic and monitoring activities in the field of viral infections and research, education, and training activities. The laboratory is an accredited Regional Reference laboratory in the MoRoNet network for the serological and molecular diagnosis of infections caused by the measles and rubella viruses, as well as for the molecular characterization of the viral strains involved. It is a member of the Working Group of the Advisory Scientific Technical Commission of the Emilia-Romagna Region for the ‘percorso nascita’ (pregnancy assistance), subgroups “stillbirth” and “perinatal mortality”. The laboratory is also the Regional Center for Drug Resistance in HCV, as well as the regional reference center for virological research and serological investigations for the diagnosis of infections due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and related viruses.
Research areas:
The study of biology and virus structure with in-depth analysis of i) basic problems related to the knowledge of the mechanisms of pathogenicity and ii) clinical and application problems related to the improvement of laboratory diagnostics and therapeutic treatments. The studies focus on:
- viral infections/illnesses in immunodepressed subjects, particularly those who have had transplants, either of solid organs or hemopoietic stem cells;
- innovative strategies for the diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention of HPV infections/illnesses;
- innovative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital human Cytomegalovirus infection/illness in the mother, fetus, and newborn;
- laboratory and epidemiological monitoring of of vaccine-preventable micro-organisms;
- prevention of prosthetic infections caused by antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms;
- laboratory monitoring and diagnosis of infections due to respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2;
- the study of a new biomarker (HBV RNA) to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B infection;
- innovative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of infection/illness due to the hepatitis D virus;
- genotype analysis and evaluation of the controlling effect of synthetic and natural molecules on HIV replication kinetics;
- interactions between the HIV-1 Nef protein and the cellular restriction factor SERINC.
Teaching activity:
The laboratory hosts students in the specialist training program in the School of Microbiology and Virology, Clinical Pathology, and Pathological Anatomy. In addition, it hosts students interning for the undergraduate or graduate thesis.
Instrumentation available:
- Vertical laminar flow fume hood Biohazard,
- Refrigerators at 4° C and freezers at -20°C e -80°C,
- optical and fluorescent microscopes,
- incubators at 37°C and CO2,
- Ultracentrifuge Optima (Beckman),
- Centrifuges e microcentrifuges, refrigerated and non-refrigerated,
- various automated systems for the extraction and amplification of nucleic acids,
- Thermal cyclers ,
- Biobank clinical isolates.
Principal Investigator
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Full Professor
Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche - DIMEC
Via Massarenti 9
Bologna (BO)
Tel: +39 051 2143360
Team
Enzo Della Bella
Area dei Collaboratori - Settore tecnico, scientifico, tecnologico, informatico e dei servizi generali
Cristiana Grandi
Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico
Collaborators
Tiziano Fergnani, Biologist, research fellow, team member
Marta Leone, Biologist, grant holder, team member