Production of Bacterial Vaccines and Diagnostic Tools
The Unit specialises in the production of bacterial vaccines, diagnostic tools, reagents, and culture media to support the diagnosis and control of infectious animal diseases. Authorised by the Ministry of Health, the unit operates in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and distributes key products such as Buffered Brucella Antigen for Rose Bengal Test, Bovine PPD Tuberculin, and over 70 diagnostic reagents. The unit is strongly oriented towards research and innovation, providing high-value services with a continuous focus on customer needs. Additionally, it actively collaborates at national and international levels to promote veterinary public health.
The Unit is a strategic asset for veterinary public health and food safety, playing a central role in the prevention and control of animal diseases through the One Health approach. Its mission is to produce high-quality diagnostic and vaccine products to support the fight against major veterinary diseases, zoonoses, and emerging pathogens at both national and international levels.
As part of the Laboratory for the Production of Diagnostics, Reagents, and Vaccines, the unit focuses on:
- Buffered Brucella Antigen for the Rose Bengal Test, used in brucellosis diagnosis.
- Bovine PPD Tuberculin, used for tuberculosis diagnosis.
- Stabulogenic vaccines and autogenous vaccines, customised to address specific epidemiological needs.
- Reference sera and reagents, with over 70 types employed in serological diagnostics.
- Culture media, with approximately 400 types produced for microbiological research and diagnostics.
Authorised by the Ministry of Health, the unit operates in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and follows stringent quality and safety standards, developing innovative solutions to enhance diagnostic and prophylactic methodologies.
The unit also provides biobanking services through the IZSAM Strain and Cell Biobank, which stores and manages reagents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cell lines. This biobank offers the scientific community a diverse collection of animal-derived biological materials, preserved at cryogenic temperatures and managed according to high-quality standards by highly qualified staff. All materials are traceable and available for research, diagnostics, and vaccine development.
In the field of research, the unit employs cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-value services with a customer-oriented approach. It participates in national and international research projects to develop next-generation diagnostic and vaccine platforms while actively promoting alternatives to animal testing. Quality is ensured through a system aligned with international standards, which includes: participation in interlaboratory proficiency testing schemes, adherence to GMP guidelines, implementation of strict biosafety protocols,
and validation of diagnostic methods.
The unit collaborates closely with National and International Reference Centres (WOAH) by providing reference materials for ring trials and cooperating with other IZSAM laboratories to address cross-disciplinary challenges. Essential services include; sterilisation of laboratory glassware across all IZSAM facilities and lyophilisation of diagnostic products. Additionally, the unit represents IZSAM in projects led by the Ministry of Health and other international organisations, contributing to capacity-building activities in developing countries.
The unit supports IZSAM's strategic goals in three key areas:
- Zoonoses and Emerging Pathogens: Developing advanced vaccines and diagnostic reagents.
- Food Safety: Ensuring high-quality culture media for food supply chain controls.
- Environmental Sustainability: Reducing the ecological footprint through sustainable production practices.
The unit is distinguished by operational efficiency, organisational rationality, and a commitment to continuous staff development. Through its highly qualified professionals and the use of advanced technologies, it tackles emerging disease challenges associated with globalisation and climate change. With an interdisciplinary and innovative approach, the unit upholds the mission of IZSAM, contributing to the advancement of veterinary public health and the improvement of quality of life for humans and animals alike, in line with the One Health philosophy.
- + - Head
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Marco Caporale
Head
Marco Caporale is a veterinarian with a PhD in Epidemiology and Zoonoses Control, and a specialisation in Infectious Diseases, Prevention and Veterinary Public Health. He has over two decades of experience in the research, development, and production of vaccines and diagnostic tools for animal health. He currently serves as Head of the Bacterial Vaccine and Diagnostic Reagents Production Unit at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), combining scientific and managerial expertise to advance veterinary public health.
Marco Caporale is a veterinarian with a PhD in Epidemiology and Zoonoses Control, and a specialisation in Infectious Diseases, Prevention and Veterinary Public Health. He has over two decades of experience in the research, development, and production of vaccines and diagnostic tools for animal health. He currently serves as Head of the Bacterial Vaccine and Diagnostic Reagents Production Unit at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), combining scientific and managerial expertise to advance veterinary public health.
He graduated with honours in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Teramo in 2000, obtained a PhD in Epidemiology and Zoonoses Control from the University of Bologna in 2004, and completed a specialisation in Infectious Diseases at the University of Bari in 2012. He has carried out research at prestigious institutions including the University of Zurich, the University of Georgia, the Medical Research Council in Glasgow, and Public Health England in Porton Down.
From 2006 to 2016, he worked as a Research Associate at the Centre for Virus Research at the University of Glasgow, developing advanced skills in viral molecular biology, experimental vaccine development, and viral antigen production. He then joined Public Health England as Senior Virologist, where he managed the National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses, gaining extensive experience in the operation of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories and the large-scale production of diagnostic materials.
Since 2017, he has worked as a Veterinary Officer at IZSAM, focusing on the production of vaccines, reagents, and culture media, as well as on the study of exotic diseases. In 2024, he was appointed Head of the Bacterial Vaccine and Diagnostic Reagents Production Unit, overseeing the production of over 70 diagnostic tools and 300 types of culture media. Key products include bovine PPD tuberculin for bovine tuberculosis testing, Brucella antigen for Rose Bengal rapid slide agglutination, and custom-made autogenous and stable vaccines tailored to specific epidemiological needs. The unit operates under strict GMP and ISO standards, ensuring high levels of quality and safety.
He also manages the Biobank of Strains and Cell Lines, which preserves viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cell lines for research, diagnostics, and vaccine development, with high standards of quality and traceability.
He has led and contributed to projects funded by major institutions such as the Wellcome Trust and the Horserace Betting Levy Board, supporting the development of chimeric vaccines for African horse sickness, the characterisation of Orbivirus pathogenicity determinants, and the study of innate immune responses in ruminants infected with Schmallenberg virus.
He has published over 27 scientific papers in international journals and serves on the Editorial Board of One Health, as well as Section Editor for Veterinaria Italiana.
With a career dedicated to research, production, and innovation, Marco Caporale continues to contribute to the advancement of animal health and food safety, strengthening the role of IZSAM both nationally and internationally.
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- + - Selected papers
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Evaluation of veterinary autogenous vaccines safety by an MTT in-vitro cytotoxicity assay.
Profeta, F., Matteucci, O., Orsini, G., Sonsini, L., Lombardi, G., Capista, S., Antonucci, D., Ronchi, G. F., & Di Ventura, M. (2019). Veterinaria italiana, 55(4), 299–305.
Humoral immune response and delayed-type hypersensitivity in rabbits infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum.
Di Febo, T., Krasteva, I., Bonfini, B., Tittarelli, M., Matteucci, O., Orsini, G., Rossi, E., Podaliri Vulpiani, M., Rodomonti, D., Iannetti, L., & Luciani, M. (2020). Scientific reports, 10(1), 14914.
Serological Diagnosis of Brucella Infection in Cetaceans by Rapid Serum Agglutination Test and Competitive ELISA with Brucella abortus and Brucella ceti as Antigens.
Di Febo, T., Di Francesco, G., Grattarola, C., Sonsini, L., Di Renzo, L., Lucifora, G., Puleio, R., Di Francesco, C. E., Smoglica, C., Di Guardo, G., & Tittarelli, M. (2025). Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 14(1), 26.
Evaluation of Three Serological Tests for Diagnosis of Canine Brucellosis.
Perletta, F., Di Pancrazio, C., Rodomonti, D., Di Febo, T., Luciani, M., Krasteva, I. M., Maggetti, M., Profeta, F., Salini, R., De Massis, F., Sacchini, F., & Tittarelli, M. (2023). Microorganisms, 11(9), 2162.
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