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Latest news from the Laboratory
Latest news from the Laboratory
Research, biosafety, and innovation:
Research, biosafety, and innovation:
VIRMOLAB-3.0 launched with INFRA+ support
VIRMOLAB-3.0 launched with INFRA+ support
Professor David Lembo, Director of the VIRMOLAB Research Infrastructure, has received €1,005,000 in funding for the VIRMOLAB-3.0 project, under the INFRA+ ERDF 2021-2027 regional program. The initiative involves the construction of a new BSL-3 laboratory, dedicated to the study of highly pathogenic viruses and the development of innovative strategies to combat future pandemics. This expansion represents a significant investment in biosafety, scientific innovation, and international collaboration. This achievement strengthens the University's research infrastructure and enhances the skills of the Molecular Virology and Antiviral Research Laboratory team.
Dr. Rachele Francese Receives CRT Foundation Grant for her Research on the Antiviral Activity of Breast Milk
Dr. Rachele Francese Receives CRT Foundation Grant for her Research on the Antiviral Activity of Breast Milk
The project “Antiviral Activity of Human Milk After Digestion and New Bioactive Components: Scientific Research and Outreach Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding and Infant Health” led by Dr. Rachele Francese, has been awarded a €40,000 grant under the 2025 Ordinary Grants Call launched by the CRT Foundation. In collaboration with the University Neonatology Unit at Sant’Anna Hospital in Turin and the Institute of Food Production Sciences (CNR) in Grugliasco, the project will investigate how the digestive process affects the antiviral properties of human milk, with the aim of identifying new bioactive components. The initiative will also include science communication and outreach activities targeted at healthcare professionals and families, with the goal of highlighting the protective role of breastfeeding and supporting increased breastfeeding rates in the region. The project will officially begin on October 1, 2025.
Prof. David Lembo wins the European call HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01 with the NANOBLOC® project
Prof. David Lembo wins the European call HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01 with the NANOBLOC® project
The European Commission communicated, on 4 August 2022, the allocation of a funding of 5,727,386 euros for the project "ANTIVIRAL, ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIFUNGAL NANOCOATING PLATFORM (NANOBLOC®, 101057597)" within the European call HORIZON-CL4 -2021-RESILIENCE-01. The project, which involves the collaboration of 4 European universities and institutes and 5 industrial companies, has the objective of developing innovative antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral coatings applicable to a wide variety of substrates (porous materials, fabrics, commonly used solid surfaces …) by means of ecological and industrially scalable technologies. The UNITO unit, directed by Prof. David Lembo, will study and validate the antiviral efficacy, possible toxicity and mechanism of action of the coatings produced in the project. The project started on January 1, 2023, and will last 3 years.
Latest publications
Latest publications
Feyles E, Felicetti T, Arduino I, Rittà M, Civra A, Muratori L, Raimondo S, Lembo D, Manfroni G, Donalisio M. Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity of Pyridobenzothiazolone Analogues Against Respiratory Viruses. Viruses. 2025 Jun 24;17(7):890. doi: 10.3390/v17070890.
Reshamwala D, Shroff S, Liimatainen J, Tienaho J, Kuukkanen I, Laajala M, Civra A, Francese R, Veteli P, Cortina-Escribano M, Sarjala T, Karonen M, Lembo D, Linnakoski R, Marjomäki V. Selected strains of the Ganoderma lucidum complex from Finnish forests have excellent broadly acting antiviral properties. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):23565. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-08377-5.
Florio Furno M, Laizé V, Arduino I, Pham GN, Spina F, Mehiri M, Lembo D, Gavaia PJ, Varese GC. Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts. Mar Drugs. 2025 Mar 7;23(3):115. doi: 10.3390/md23030115.
Civra A, Costantino M, Porporato D, Francese R, Donalisio M, Poli G, Marinozzi M, Lembo D. 25R,26-hydroxycholesterol and an oxysterol synthetic analog inhibit Varicella zoster Virus replication. Antiviral Res. 2025 Apr;236:106113. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106113.
Zucca G, Perucchini M, Vigani B, Valentino C, Patterlini V, Climani G, D'Angelo D, Sonvico F, Muratori L, Civra A, Lembo D, Ruggeri M, Sandri G, Rossi S. Development of a nasal spray based on cyclodextrin/hydrophobically-modified hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose for the prevention of viral respiratory infections. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Apr;299:140024. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140024.
Francese R, Rittà M, Lembo D, Donalisio M. Lupus and SARS-CoV-2: What have we learned after the pandemic? Lupus. 2025 Feb;34(2):117-132. doi: 10.1177/09612033241309845.
Baroni S, Carletti T, Donalisio M, Arduino I, Cazzaniga I, Giorgino T, Esposito F, Porta A, Diomede L, De Luigi A, Gobbi M, Lembo D, Marcello A, Tramontano E, Milani M, Mastrangelo E. The antipsychotic drug lurasidone inhibits coronaviruses by affecting multiple targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Nov 25;14:1487604. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1487604.
Nigro F, Civra A, Porporato D, Costantino M, Francese R, Poli G, Romani A, Lembo D, Marinozzi M. Cholenamide-based, antiviral fluorescent probes targeting oxysterol-binding protein. Bioorg Chem. 2024 Dec;153:107922. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107922.
Puxeddu M, Donalisio M, Bugert JJ, Corona A, Cocomazzi P, Milani M, Hucke F, Arduino I, Esposito F, Moretti P, Ortore MG, Nalli M, Manetto S, Mazzoccanti G, Bigogno C, Dondio G, Sciò P, Coluccia A, Fracella M, Antonelli G, Lembo D, Tramontano E, Silvestri R, Mastrangelo E, La Regina G. 4-(3-Phenylsulfonylindol-2-yl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)piperazinyl-methanones as Potent Inhibitors of both SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 Viruses. ACS Infect Dis. 2024 Sep 13;10(9):3158-3175. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00108.
Moro GE, Girard M, Peila C, Garcia N, Escuder-Vieco D, Keller K, Cassidy T, Bertino E, Boquien CY, Buffin R, Calvo J, Gaya A, Gebauer C, Lamireau D, Lembo D, Picaud JC, Wesolowska A, Arslanoglu S, Cavallarin L, Giribaldi M. New alternatives to holder pasteurization in processing donor milk in human milk banks. Front Nutr. 2024 Jun 26;11:1409381. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1409381.
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