Mara Battilani

Aetiology, diagnosis and phrophylaxis of infectious diseases of the livestocks and pets: canine and feline parvovirus, canine distemper virus, Feline infectious peritonitis, BVD/MD, Porcine parvovirus, Avian rotavirus;
Bioinformatic analysis to study viral evolution and antigenic characteristics of viral proteins.

CANINE AND FELINE PARVOVIRUS (Project responsible)
- Application of  ELISA, hemagglutination and tissue culture for diagnosis of canine parvovirus, valutation and comparative analysis of sensibility and specificity, positive and negative predictive values of these tests
- set-up of biological molecular techniques to diagnosis: PCR, Real-Time
- antigenic and genomic characterization of canine parvovirus strains (CPV-2)
- mutagenesis experiment to deepen the biological conseguences of CPV-2 variants
- phylogenetic analysis of viral sequences using specific softwares
- structural analysis of protein sequences by Modelling program
- study of quasispecies nature of CPV-2 and FPV
- bioinformatic analysis to identify mi-RNA in the feline and canine parvovirus genome
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis on mRNA expression of procalcitonin and cytokines pannel in animal diseased

FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (Project responsible)
- set-up of biological molecular techniques to diagnosis: PCR, Real-Time
- survey on diffusion of feline coronaviru in stray and household cats
- study on quasispecie nature of FCoV using SSCP analysis
- biomolecular characterization of N gene, prediction of epitopes stimulating the cell-immune mediated response
- synthesis of immunogen peptides, stimulating of immunocompetent cells and evalutation of cytokines profile




INVESTIGATION OF VIRAL DISEASES OF COMPANION ANIMALS
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA VIRUS AND CANINE PARVOVIRUS
These viruses, responsible of severe haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in cats and dogs, provide an exemplary system to study pathogen-host relationships and the evolution of virulence, essential factors for understanding newly emerging infectious diseases. Our research group is carrying on an antigenic and genomic characterization of the strains isolated from domestic and wild carnivores. Antigenic properties of viruses was investigated using specific monoclonal antibodies and genomic analysis was conducted by restriction endonucleasis and phylogenetic analysis of VP2 gene sequences. Our results showed that CPV-2 continues to show an on-going evolution, and we are investigating the biological consequences of the new variants by mutagenesis experiments.
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP)
Use of RT-PCR to detect asyntomatic carrier cats and for the diagnosis of the FIP; survey of coronavirus infection in stray and household cats; molecular characterization of feline coronaviruses from healthy and sick cats; evidence of quasispecie nature by SSCP analysis (single strand conformational polymorphism).
CANINE DISTEMPER
Molecular characterisation of viral strains isolated from naturally infected dogs, studies on genetic determinants for pathogenesis. Works are under way to set up molecular tools for the diagnosis of the disease.
INVESTIGATION OF VIRAL DISEASES OF FARMED ANIMALS
BVD\MD
Survey on Pestivirus infection in domestic and wild ruminant from Cadore region (Belluno province) and in a red deer population. Survey on BVD-MD diffusion in dairy farm in Bologna province; identification of PI animals in positive herds using ELISA and RT-PCR. Genetic characterization of BVDV strains with restriction endonucleasis and sequencing of genome.
VIRAL ENCEPHALOPATHY AND RETINOPATHY OF FISHES
Survey on Nodavirus infection in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), mullet, (Liza ramada, Chelon labrosus) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus) farmed in Italy with cell culture isolation and RT-PCR. Genetic characterization of Nodavirus strains from sea bass and mullet with RT-PCR and sequencing of capsid protein gene.
MOLECULAR AND ANTIGENIC CHARACTERISATION OF ORF VIRUS.
The main objectives of the division is to study virulence factors responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease, recent work has included investigation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its role in causing malignant forms of the disease. Work is under way to determine a vaccine able to immunise against orf virus without causing virus spreading, in particular the feasibility  of using orf virus  proteins  as components of a vaccine. Furthermore, possible functions in virus cycle of  orf virus F1L immunodominant protein are under investigation.
EMERGING VIRUSES: BAT CORONAVIRUSES
Recent survey carried out in bat populations Europe and Asia, have evidenced the importance of bats as carriers and reservoir of emerging viruses affecting humans and animals.
New coronavirus species have been detected in bats, confirming the predominat role of bats as reservoir of ancestral coronaviruses, SARS virus including.
An epidemiological survey will carried out in Rhinolophus spp., applying molecular techniques with the aim to detect coronavirus strains in feces of bats. Molecular charaterization will be done by sequencig viral genomes.