Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious diseases
Human immuno-virology
My current research Group is the continuation of my previous research Unit (1994-2020), both maintaining a focus on the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection. When Dr. Elisa Vicenzi was appointed as independent Unit Head in 2006 for her contributions to research on emerging viral diseases (SARS and Influenza at the time), in agreement with the Scientific Direction, Dr. Silvia Ghezzi, previously hired as technician in my Unit, joined her Unit while Dr. Massimo Alfano, hired with a permanent position as Senior Investigator, remained in my Unit before leaving years later to join the URI. Neither position in my Unit has been ever replaced. Of note, with my move to our University in 2002, no structured OSR positions characterize my Unit/Group ever since.
Research activity
Our current research activity deals with the role of human macrophages as targets of HIV infection and as reservoir of reversible proviral latency, based on an original model published by our group firstly in 2009 and characterized through the years and based on primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) functionally polarized to either M1 or M2 cells by pro-inflammatory cytokines or interleukin-4, respectively. In particular, we observed that a second polarization of M1-MDM with pro-inflammatory cytokines several days after infection leads to a state of proviral latency reversible upon strong cell stimulation by allogeneic PHA-stimulated PBMC. We have recently completed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of M1-polarized or unpolarized MDM, either infected or not, at different times before and after infection and restimulation or not to capture novel correlates of human macrophage polarization, proviral latency and its reversal that will be explored in the near future. Finally, in collaboration with the Viral Pathogenesis and Biosafety Group headed by Dr. Elisa Vicenzi, we are investigating the potential role of M1/M2 polarization of MDM in flavivirus infections with promising results.
