Virology, Cell Cultures and Viral Antigen Development
The Unit is responsible for molecular and serological diagnostics, as well as for the genomic, in vitro and in vivo characterisation of pathogens causing viral infections in domestic and wild animals. It is actively engaged in the surveillance of emerging and re-emerging viral infections, particularly those with zoonotic potential, and in the development and validation of new diagnostic methodologies. Its work is aimed at continuously strengthening diagnostic and biological characterisation capacities for emerging viruses, contributing to the timely and effective management of health emergencies and to the reinforcement of strategies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
The Unit focuses on viral infections in domestic and wild animals, as well as zoonotic diseases transmissible to humans, including those covered by national plans developed by the Ministry of Health. Services are provided using classical and molecular virology techniques, in close collaboration with other departments and National Reference Centres (NRCs). Thanks to its expertise, the Unit contributes to the activities of the WOAH Reference Laboratories for Bluetongue and West Nile Fever, the FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, and the NRC for Exotic Diseases.
It is actively involved in the development and validation of innovative molecular methods and collaborates closely with the NRC GENPAT on virus discovery, sequencing, and phylogenetic characterization. With ministerial authorization for the manipulation of genetically modified microorganisms, the Unit is at the forefront of implementing advanced reverse genetics and CRISPR systems for the production of synthetic viruses. These technologies enable highly refined studies on the pathogenesis of high-impact viruses—particularly coronaviruses and flaviviruses—and on cross-protective immune responses. The Unit leads several animal experimentation activities aimed at improving knowledge of viral kinetics in in vivo models. It is also fully involved in the annual post-marketing surveillance plan for veterinary drugs, coordinated by the Ministry of Health.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unit led SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic activities, providing support to local health authorities.
Numerous ongoing research lines contribute to national and international projects in which the Unit serves as coordinator or partner, including:
- Ecology of Wild-life, Livestock, huMan and Infectious Diseases in changing environments (WiLiMan-ID – Horizon Europe)
- Deconstructing the protective immunity of yellow fever virus 17D to inform flavivirus vaccine design (Yellow4FLAVI – Horizon Europe)
- European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW – Horizon Europe)
- OneCoV: Emerging animal coronaviruses and impact on public health (Ministry of Health)
- Biological characterization and virulence factors of new and known animal arboviruses (CARBO – Ministry of Health)
- Establishment of a surveillance system on selected (re)emergent and at risk of introduction zoonoses based on an ecologic approach (EcoSurv – EFSA)
- One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases (INF-ACT – PNRR)
- + - Our Research
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- + - Head
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Alessio Lorusso
Head
Dr. Alessio Lorusso has been leading the Virology, Cell Cultures and Viral Antigen Development Unit since April 2024.
Dr. Alessio Lorusso has been leading the Virology, Cell Cultures and Viral Antigen Development Unit since April 2024.
He graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bari in 2005. During his training, he was a Visiting Student with the Mycoplasma Study Group at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in Surrey, United Kingdom. Between 2006 and 2008, he continued his research as a Visiting PhD Student at the Virology Unit of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht, the Netherlands, where he worked on the innovative project “Manipulation of the canine coronavirus type II genome through targeted recombination.” He earned his PhD in Animal Health and Pathology in 2009. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Microbiologist at the USDA’s National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa (USA), contributing to the project “Molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and genome manipulation of swine influenza viruses,” with a particular focus on the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus.
From 2011 to 2016, Dr. Lorusso held a research fellowship at the Virology and Cell Cultures Unit of the WOAH Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue and West Nile virus at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise. In December 2016, he became a Veterinary Officer in the same unit, and in 2017 was tasked with supporting the strategic management in identifying diagnostic and analytical activities that could benefit from the introduction of innovative genomic-based methods and advanced analytical technologies. He earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Health, Farming and Livestock Production from the University of Teramo and completed a second-level Master’s degree in Healthcare and Social Care Management at Bocconi University in Milan in 2023. He is also a member of the institute’s biosafety committee.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he coordinated the diagnostic workflow for SARS-CoV-2 in human samples, the interpretation of genomic data following sequencing, and the related research activities. He currently also serves as Deputy Director of the FAO Reference Center for Zoonotic Coronaviruses.
In his current role, he promotes and coordinates numerous research and innovation initiatives, with particular focus on staff training and the optimization of financial resources. Collaboration—both nationally and internationally—is central to his approach, fostering integration and dialogue across the various departments of IZSAM. Thanks to his experience in multicultural environments, he has stood out for his commitment to building a strong network of interdisciplinary collaborations. His work aims to position the unit as a hub for innovative research, supporting the training of younger generations and ambitiously addressing the challenges of One Health.
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- + - Selected papers
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Insect-specific Alphamesonivirus-1 (Mesoniviridae) in lymph node and lung tissues from two horses with acute respiratory syndrome
Jurisic, L., Auerswald, H., Marcacci, M., Di Giallonardo, F., Coetzee, L. M., Curini, V., Averaimo, D., Ortiz-Baez, A. S., Cammà, C., Di Teodoro, G., Richt, J. A., Holmes, E. C., & Lorusso, A. (2025). Journal of virology, 99(2), e0214424.
A cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 mutant, showing a deletion in the spike protein spanning the furin cleavage site, has reduced virulence at the lung level in K18-hACE2 mice
Valleriani, F., Di Pancrazio, C., Spedicato, M., Di Teodoro, G., Malatesta, D., .... Bencivenga, F., Decaro, N., Bonfante, F., & Lorusso, A. (2024). Virology, 592, 109997.
SARS-CoV-2 replicates in respiratory ex vivo organ cultures of domestic ruminant species.
Di Teodoro, G., Valleriani, F., Puglia, I., Monaco, F., Di Pancrazio, C., Luciani, M., Krasteva, I., Petrini, A., Marcacci, M., D'Alterio, N., .... Savini, G., Decaro, N., Holmes, E. C., & Lorusso, A. (2021). Veterinary microbiology, 252, 108933.
The envelope protein of Usutu virus attenuates West Nile virus virulence in immunocompetent mice
Zaccaria, G., Malatesta, D., Jurisic, L., Marcacci, M., Di Teodoro, G., Conte, A., Teodori, L., Monaco, F., Marini, V., Casaccia, C., Savini, G., Di Gennaro, A., Rossi, E., D'Innocenzo, V., D'Alterio, N., & Lorusso, A. (2021). Veterinary microbiology, 263, 109262.
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