Mycobacteria Laboratory

The mycobacteria laboratory is responsible for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, mycobacteriosis, and latent tuberculosis in the entire metropolitan area of Bologna. The research activity centers on themes associated with mycobacteria infections, in close collaboration with the U.O. of Infectious Diseases/Malattie Infettive (Dr. Tadolini).

Research areas:

• The study of the epidemiological evolution of tuberculosis in metropolitan Bologna
• Tuberculosis in the child and the adult: the role of IGRA testing in the diagnosis of tubercular infections
• The performance of new molecular and immunological tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis
• Predictive factors of negative results in the sputum of patients with bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing anti-tubercular therapy
• The anti-mycobacterial activity of new β-lactam molecules (in collaboration with Prof. DarIa Giacomini, Istituto di Chimica, UNIBO)
• Environmental surveillance for Mycobacterium chimaera in healthcare facilities: innovative methods for managing risk and early diagnosis (in collaboration with Prof. Sandra Cristino, Istituto di Igiene, UNIBO)

Teaching activity:

• Course in Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology for the degree program in Podiatry
• Course in Microbiology for the degree program in Orthopedic Techniques
• Course in Bacteriology for the degree program in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques.

Instrumentation available:

• System for Real-Time PCR GeneXpert (Cepheid)
• System for Real-Time PCR Ingenius (Elitech)
• Mass spectrometer MALDI-TOF (Bruker) for bacterial identification
• Infrared spectrometer Biotyper (Bruker), for thegenotyping of isolated bacteria
• Chemiluminescence analyzer Liaison XL (Diasorin)

Collaborators

Giulia Lombardi, team member