Applied Microbiological and Virological Sciences

Research areas and methodologies:

Evaluation of antibiotic resistance/sensitivity profiles of the main groups of pathogenic bacteria using routinely used phenotypic classical microbiology methods.
Determination of resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-resistant, macrolide-resistant and multiple antibiotic resistant strains), Streptococcus pyogenes e Streptococcus agalactiae (determinants of macrolide resistance) Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (methicillin resistance, macrolide resistance, tetracycline resistance, aminoglycoside resistance) and Enterococcus faecium (mainly vancomycin-resistant) by PCR and sequencing experiments.

Development of new molecular typing methods for Streptococcus pneumoniae (RFLP and penicillin-bind sequencinging proteins pbp1a, pbp2b, pbp2x and the gene dhfr responsible for resistance to trimethoprim, PFGE, MLST), Streptococcus pyogenes (typing by gene sequencing em e sof, PFGE, MLST, Streptococcus agalactiae (typing by molecular serotyping of genes for capsular polysaccharides, PFGE, MLST), Enterococcus faecium (PFGE), Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (PFGE)

Characterization of virulence factors using molecular biology techniques (PCR and sequencing) for Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcal surface protein pspA), Streptococcus agalactiae (alpha like surface proteins), Streptococcus pyogenes (pyrogenic exotoxins SpeA e SpeC), And Enterococcus faecium (the esp surface protein and biofilm production).

Using combination of PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and TNFalpha and IL10 cytokine assay as procedures for diagnosing meningculture-negative bacterial infections.

Identification by molecular biology techniques (sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene) of clinical isolates belonging to Gram-positive bacteria, in particular to the species Enterococcus spp

Use and comparative evaluations of clinical microbiology methods applied to clinical bacteriology

Microbiological methods for the rapid diagnosis of blood infections

Role of clinical microbiology in antimicrobial stewardship programs in healthcare facilities

Collaborations with other Research Centers

• Higher Institute of Health (ISS), Rome
• La Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University, Rome
• University of Catania.
• University of Camerino
• University of Chieti-Pescara “G. D'Annunzio"
• Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona
• University of Pavia
• University of Padua
• National Research Council
• University of Milan
• University of Rome "La Sapienza"
• University of Bologna
• Association of Italian Zooprophylactic Institutes (AIZS)
• Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK)
• University of Siena
• University of Cagliari
• University of Naples "Federico II"
• University of Bari “Aldo Moro”
• University of Turin
• Humanitas University
• National Institute of Molecular Genetics Foundation, Milan (INGM)
• “Mario Negri” Pharmacological Research Institute IRCCS, Milan (IRFMN)
• IRCCS Sacred Heart Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona
• Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
• University of Florence