Research Topics:

COVID-19

The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives and also our approach to doing research. In this respect, we actively engaged into several collaborations focusing on SARS-Cov2 protein characterization based on our expertise in protein production, biophysical and structural analyses.

Cartoon representation of the crystal structure of the complex between SARS-CoV-2 RBD and human ACE2 ectodomain. hACE2 is colored in wheat, SARS-Cov-2 RBD in magenta. Interface residues are shown with green and yellow sticks.

Publications:

Bernardotto S, Frasson I, Faravelli S, Morelli A, Schiavon E, Moscatiello GY, Violatto MB, Pinnola A, Canciani A, Mattarei A, Rossi G, Brini M, Pasetto L, Bonetto V, Bigini P, Forneris F, Richter SN, Morpurgo M.
Efficient SARS-CoV-2 infection antagonization by rhACE2 ectodomain multimerized onto the avidin nucleic-acid-NanoASsembly
Biomaterials, 303, 122394. (2022) - PubMed

Brasu N, Elia I, Russo V, Montacchiesi G, Stabile SA, De Intinis C, Fesi F, Gizzi K, Macagno M, Montone M, Mussolin B, Grifoni A, Faravelli S, Marchese S, Forneris F, De Francesco R, Sette A, Barnaba V, Sottile A, Sapino A, Pace L.
Memory CD8⁺ T cell diversity and B cell responses correlate with protection against SARS-CoV-2 following mRNA vaccination
Nature Immunology, 23, 1445-1456. (2022) - PubMed

Bruni M, Cecatiello V, Diaz-Basabe A, Lattanzi G, Mileti E, Monzani S, Pirovano L, Rizzelli F, Visintin C, Bonizzi G, Giani M, Lavitrano M, Faravelli S, Forneris F, Caprioli F, Pelicci PG, Natoli G, Pasqualato S, Mapelli M, Facciotti F.
Persistence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Non-Hospitalized COVID-19 Convalescent Health Care Workers
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9, 3188. (2020) - PubMed

Brondino N, Bertoglio F, Forneris F, Faravelli S, Borghesi A, Damiani S, Provenzani U, Nola M, Olivola M, Caviglia M, Politi P, Fusar-Poli L, Fusar-Poli P.
A Pilot Study on Covid and Autism: Prevalence, Clinical Presentation and Vaccine Side Effects
Brain Sciences, 11, 860. (2021) - PubMed

Varotto-Boccazzi I, Manenti A, Dapporto F, Gourlay LJ, Bisaglia B, Gabrieli P, Forneris F, Faravelli S, Bollati V, Rubolini D, Zuccotti G, Montomoli E, Epis S, Bandi C.
Epidemic Preparedness: Leishmania tarentolae as an Easy-to-Handle Tool to Produce Antigens for Viral Diagnosis: Application to COVID-19
Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 736530. (2021) - PubMed

Castelli M, Scietti L, Clementi N, Cavallaro M, Faravelli S, Pinnola A, Crisciuolo E, Diotti RA, Clementi M, Forneris F, Mancini N.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Affinity and Dynamics Exclude the Strict Requirement of an Intermediate Host
BioRxiv, (2021)

Active Grants related to this research:

NextGenerationEU Program - National Reprise and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Partenariato Esteso Malattie Infettive Emergenti - INF-ACT Foundation

Piano Operativo Salute (POS), Traiettoria 4 (Biotecnologia, bioinformatica e sviluppo farmaceutico) - Immuno-Hub Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health