Group Leader: Sara Botti, PhD

Anna Anselmo, PhD
Bouabid Badaoui, PhD
Teresa Rutigliano, young researcher
Maria Cecere, technician

Ongoing Projects

Genomics of main infectious diseases affecting swine production

Specific topics:

• establishment and characterization of pig cell models to be used in studies of host-pathogen interactions: porcine alveolar macrophages, intestinal epithelial cell lines, dendritic cells;
• genome-wide gene expression profiling of pathogenesis in vitro: alveolar macrophages challenged with Porcine Respiratory Reproductive Syndrome Virus – PRRSV, gut epithelial cell lines challenged with Salmonella spp.);
• identification and characterization of molecular markers associated to resistance/susceptibility to respiratory and gastroenteric diseases in commercial pig populations;
• advanced molecular diagnosis of pathogens affecting swine production;
• detection and characterization of miRNAs expressed during host-pathogen interactions (porcine dendritic cells challenged with Pseudorabies virus, PrV).

Most of these topics benefit from a parallel applied research project (MISAGEN) aimed at investigating the pathogen and host genetics components segregating in commercial pig populations of Lombardia area, especially through:

• the implementation of a database recording pedigree information, clinical symptoms, environmental information and a number of health related phenotypes;
• the implementation of a biorepository to store a large number of biological samples collected in swine breeding farms.

Ongoing grants:

• 2010 - 2014 Partner: EC FP7 project (KBBE-2009-1-3-01) PoRRSCon “Newtools and approaches to control Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in the EU and Asia”.
• 2009-2012 Partner and MC Member: COST Action FA0902 IT: “Understanding and combating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Europe”(EuroPRRSnet).
• 2009-2012 Partner: EC FP7 collaborative project INTERPLAY “Interplay of microbiota and gut function in the developing pig – Innovative avenues towards sustainable animal production”.
• 2009-2010 Coordinator: SABRE Demonstration of Genotyping Activities “SCAN IT - Tackling the genetic components of disease resistance in Italian commercial swine populations”.
• 2006-2010 WP leader and PTP coordinator: EC FP6 project Integrated project SABRE” “Cutting – edge genomics for sustainable animal breeding”.
• 2004-2010 WP leader and PTP coordinator: EC FP6 Network of Excellence EADGENE “European animal disease genomics network of excellence for animal health and food safety”.

Completed grants:

• 2004-2009 WG leader and Italian delegate: COST Action PigNet “European network for pig genomics”.
• 2007-2009 Coordinator: Lombardia Region, DG Agriculture - MISAGEN “Sanitary and genetic improvement of commercial pig populations”.
• 2008-2009 Coordinator: L’Oréal Paris - Molecular epidemiology of Nosema ceranae and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) in honey bee populations of Northern Italy (end in July 2009).
• 2003-2008 Partner: EC FP6 network of excellence MGE “Marine Genomics Europe” and FishBol network.
• 2003-2005 Underwood Fellowship BBSRC, visiting scientist of Roslin Institute and ARK Genomics platform – (Edinburgh, U.K.).
• 2004-2006 Partner: Italian Ministry of Health, “current projects” on infectious diseases - project “Study on the susceptibility to PRRS ofdifferent swine genetic lines”.
• 2002-2004 Partner: Italian Ministry of Health, “strategic projects” on infectious diseases: ”Toll-Like receptor 4 as marker for Salmonella susceptibility in pigs”.
• 2005-2006 Coordinator: Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry project: "Development of molecular and immunological tests to detect and quantify zoonotic/allergenic parasites in fish derived products”.
• 2003-2005 Coordinator: Cariplo Foundation project “EST sequence analysis for SNP discovery in sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)”.
• 2001-2003 Coordinator: Cariplo Foundation project “Mapping anal atresia in pigs”.

Operational Genomics

Specific topics:
meta-analysis of microarray data on the resistance/ susceptibility of different species to mastitis infection:the aim of this work is to bring together and integrate through advanced meta-analysis the outcomes and results of several microarray studies carried out in different host species and populations (cattle, goat and sheep) infected with different pathogens (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus aureus and S. uberis).

Ongoing grants:

• EADGENE EU FP6 Network of Excellence, 2004-2009 (five years): WP8 (Operational Genomics) [Coordinator E. Giuffra].

Molecular and immunological tests for safety of foodstuff on animal origins

Specific topics:

• fine detection of allergenic parasites in fish food;
• traceability of fish species.

Ongoing grants:

• Intramural grants for the development of food safety tests (PTP s.r.l.);

Closed grants:

• MIPAF (Italian Ministry of Agriculture), 2005-2006 (two years) [Coordinator: E. Giuffra];
• Cariplo Foundation, 2003-2005 (2 years) - EST sequence analysis for SNP discovery in sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) [Coordinator: E. Giuffra]

Molecular diagnosis of honey bee pathogens

Specific topics:
Molecular epidemiology of Nosema ceranae and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) in honey bee populations of Northern Italy.

Ongoing grants:

• L’Oréal Paris, 2008-2009 (1 year) [Coordinator: S. Palermo]

Gender issues in science

Specific actions:

• monitoring of gender dimension of SABRE and EADGENE networks (in collaboration with Observa – Science in Society);
• mentoring programs within SABRE and EADGENE networks;
• organization of public events (e.g. Mind the GAP 2007, in collaboration with FAiR – Fairness and Accountability in Research).

Ongoing grants:

• SABRE GAP (Gender Action Plan), 2006-2010 (four years) [Coordinator: E.Giuffra];
• EADGENE GAP (Gender Action Plan), 2004-2009 (five years);