Emerging and re-emerging pathogens, molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of disease

1. Zelini P. et al. Immunological profile of pregnant women with preconception immunity with or without vertical transmission of human cytomegalovirus to the fetus: a retrospective observational study. Lancet Microbe. Lancet Microbe. 2025 Aug 18:101162. doi: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101162.
    
2. Alteri C et al. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 reveals multiple lineages and early spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Lombardy, Italy. Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 19;12(1):434. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20688-x.
    
3. Cassaniti I. et al. Positive HCMV DNAemia in stem cell recipients undergoing letermovir prophylaxis is expression of abortive infection. Am J Transplant. 2021 Apr;21(4):1622-1628. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16450.
   
   
4. Ferrari A. et al. Human type I interferons protect Vero E6 and ARPE-19 cells against West Nile virus and are neutralized by pathogenic autoantibodies. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 2;15(1):11271. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89312-6.
    
5. De Gasparo R. et al. Bispecific IgG neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants and prevents escape in mice. Nature. 2021 May;593(7859):424-428. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03461-y.

Sequencing platforms: 3500XL Genetic Analyzer (Sanger), MiSeqDX system and NextSeq 2000 system (NGS, Illumina) and MinION (NGS Oxford Nanopore). Flow cytometers: FACSLyric™ Clinical Flow Cytometry System (BD) and Elispot reader (AID iSpot Spectrum Elispot Microplate Reader). MALDI-TOF technology to identify microorganisms. Fully equipped BSL-3 microbiology facility.

• Ricerca Finalizzata RF-2019-12370797 «Novel prediction markers for preventing Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reactivation in the era of game changer inhibitors of viral packaging and egress”, 15/06/2021-14/06/2025;
   
• Bando CCM 2022 SURVEID “Studio pilota per la sorveglianza di potenziali minacce da malattie infettive emergenti (EIDs) di origine virale mediante una piattaforma diagnostica basata sul sequenziamento metagenomico di nuova generazione (mNGS), 9/12/2022-8/12/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 80728 “Characterization of the role of innate immune cells in SARS-CoV2 infection: an integrated multidisciplinary approach” 01/07/21- 30/06/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 5x1000 cod. 90000X120A «In vitro model for the study of SARS-CoV-2 infection of lung. Acronym: VISION», 01/07/2021-01/07/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 80222 “Real-Time bioinformatic surveillance of nosocomial infections and multidrug resistant bacteria to improve infection control”, 01/07/2018-30/06/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 08074822 «Correlation of Toxoplasma gondii serotypes circulating in Italy and clinical manifestations”, 01/01/2023-31/12/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 08068122 “Phylogenetic characteristics of different Candida species and their impact on the clinical picture of patients with Invasive Candidiasis. What has changes during the COVID pandemic?”, 01/01/2023-31/12/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 08073922 “Evaluation of molecular and phenotypic testing of non-tuberculous Mycobacteria isolates, with emphasis on newly available drugs”, 01/01/2023-31/12/2024;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 90000X122BC“Personalized immunological score for the prediction of severe infectious events in immunocompromised   patients and tailored management (PERISCOPE)”, 01/09/2023-31/08/2025;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 90000X122H“Development of new molecular systems for the identification of different microbiological investigations by PCR techniques “, 01/09/2023-31/08/2025;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 1068-rcr2024-43 “Comprehensive characterization of immune response induced by adjuvanted glycoprotein E (gE)-based recombinant zoster vaccine in vulnerable population receiving immunomodulant therapies”, 01/07/2024-30&06/2026;
   
• Ricerca Corrente 08068725 “Xenotransplantation: in vitro model to investigate the roles of porcine and human cytomegalovirus in transplant-related complications (XENOMORPH), 01/09/2025-31/08/2027;
   
• Progetto Europeo Horizon grant 101191725, “Counter-acting the pandemic potential of flaviviruses: addressing virus-host interactions and defence strategies to design new therapeutics against WNV and DENV”, 01/01/2025-31/12/2028;
   
• Progetto RIPREI 2023 cod. 0b6c6c2dcdcb, “SARS-CoV-2 variants capability to infect and disseminate into different cells of the cardiovascular system and mechanisms leading to viral-induced endothelial cells dysfunction and cardiomyocyte damage (SIDECAR)”, 01/01/2024-31/12/2025.

• CovidNET (National epidemiologic and virologic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2); 
   
• InfluNet (National surveillance of Influenza virus and diagnosis of respiratory viral infection in ICU patients in Lombardy); 
   
• MoRoNet (National surveillance of measles and rubella infections);
   
• GLAIT (National network on infections in transplanted patients);
   
• GLITRAVE (National network on infections in pregnancy); 
   
• GLIVE (National network on emerging viral infections);
   
• GLIVIRE (National network on respiratory viral infections); 
   
• EVD-LabNet (International network on diagnosis and surveillance of emerging and re-emerging viral infections in Europa);
   
• CYMAF (Antibody Mediated Control of Cytomegalovirus at the Materno-Fetal Interface);
   
• VIRONET-C (HCV Virology Italian Resistance Network Study Group);
   
• Italian HIV DNA network;
   
• ENPEN (European Enterovirus Non-Polio European Network);
   
• MaBI (Italian network on invasive bacterial diseases);
   
• EARS-Net (European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network);
   
• ENTER-NET (Italian Enteric Pathogen Network);
   
• ESGREV (European Study Group for Respiratory viruses).