Bacteriology and Bacterial Antigen Development
The Unit focuses on the research and diagnosis of bacterial pathogens, with particular attention to foodborne pathogens and the analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Its diagnostic services include advanced bacterial identification (MALDI-TOF, PCR, WGS), antibiotic susceptibility testing, monitoring of veterinary drugs, and molecular diagnostics. The laboratory also participates in innovative national and international research projects on zoonoses, bacterial vaccine development, and AMR surveillance, aiming to contribute to improvements in global public and veterinary health.
The Unit serves as a centre of excellence for research and diagnostics on bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and foodborne diseases. With its established expertise in diagnostic bacteriology, molecular biology, and molecular epidemiology, the laboratory is recognised for its specialised knowledge of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Brucella, and other major enteropathogenic bacteria.
The laboratory specialises in bacterial identification and characterisation using innovative, high-precision techniques, including biochemical, serological, and molecular methods (PCR, Digital PCR, Real-Time PCR), as well as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Advanced genomic sequencing (WGS) is applied to provide in-depth bacterial strain characterisation through cutting-edge methods such as cgMLST, wgMLST, SNP analysis, and resistome studies, supported by bioinformatics pipelines for genomic analysis and epidemiological surveillance.
Main activities:
- Campylobacter : Diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, and technical activities as part of its role as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), with active participation in European and international working groups (EURL, ISO, CEN).
- Brucella: Support for the National and WOAH Reference Centre for Brucellosis, providing technical assistance, training, and research on this globally significant zoonosis.
- Salmonella and enteropathogenic bacteria: Identification, data management (ENTER-NET, ENTER-VET, CRAB), and technical support for the Regional Reference Centre for Enteropathogenic Bacteria.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): National and international surveillance, antibiotic susceptibility testing via microdilution methods, and resistome studies.
- Bacteriological and microbiological diagnostics: Isolation of bacterial agents from animal, human, and food matrices, chemical-physical and bacteriological analysis of milk, and veterinary drug control.
- Bioinformatics: Development of molecular epidemiology tools for genomic analysis of resistance and virulence and the identification of infection clusters for priority pathogens.
- Training and international cooperation: Technical training for national and international laboratories, Twinning projects (WOAH, FAO, IAEA), and scientific consultancy.
- Inter-laboratory testing: Ensuring quality standards in food microbiology and diagnostic testing.
- Scientific research: Investigations into zoonoses, bacterial genomics, molecular epidemiology, vaccine development, AMR, and CRISPR-based approaches to address the emerging challenges of veterinary medicine in the context of global health.
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Giuliano Garofolo
Head
Giuliano Garofolo is a veterinary officer and Head of the National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter. In this role, he coordinates activities at the national level, ensuring the quality and oversight of analyses for this zoonotic agent, which has a significant impact on both the Italian and European populations.
Giuliano Garofolo is a veterinary officer and Head of the National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter. In this role, he coordinates activities at the national level, ensuring the quality and oversight of analyses for this zoonotic agent, which has a significant impact on both the Italian and European populations.
He leads work in specialist bacteriology, molecular identification and typing of pathogenic bacteria, and provides support in the development of bacterial vaccines. He also has extensive experience in research management and has served in leadership roles in several national and international projects.
Over the past 15 years, he has worked in the fields of food safety, animal health, and highly pathogenic bacteria. His main scientific interests include molecular evolution of bacteria, antimicrobial resistance, and applied strategies for its control and mitigation, with a particular focus on public health impact. He is also interested in the study and application of CRISPR technology in microbiology.
His research primarily focuses on the use of innovative methodologies to monitor diseases and outbreaks, studying their evolution and spread over time and space.
He has authored 76 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and has an h-index of 24, according to the SCOPUS citation database.
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Evolutionary history and current distribution of the West Mediterranean lineage of Brucella melitensis in Italy.
Janowicz, A., De Massis, F., Zilli, K., Ancora, M., Tittarelli, M., Sacchini, F., Di Giannatale, E., Sahl, J. W., Foster, J. T., & Garofolo, G. (2020). Microbial genomics, 6(11), mgen000446.
Antibiotic resistance, plasmids, and virulence-associated markers in human strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated in Italy.
Garcia-Fernandez, A., Janowicz, A., Marotta, F., Napoleoni, M., Arena, S., Primavilla, S., Pitti, M., Romantini, R., Tomei, F., Garofolo, G., & Villa, L. (2024). Frontiers in microbiology, 14, 1293666.
The Current Landscape of Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella Infantis in Italy: The Expansion of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producers on a Local Scale.
Di Marcantonio, L., Romantini, R., Marotta, F., Chiaverini, A., Zilli, K., Abass, A., Di Giannatale, E., Garofolo, G., & Janowicz, A. (2022). Frontiers in microbiology, 13, 812481.
Widespread Multidrug Resistance of Arcobacter butzleri Isolated from Clinical and Food Sources in Central Italy.
Gabucci, C., Baldelli, G., Amagliani, G., Schiavano, G. F., Savelli, D., Russo, I., Di Lullo, S., Blasi, G., Napoleoni, M., Leoni, F., Primavilla, S., Massacci, F. R., Garofolo, G., & Petruzzelli, A. (2023). Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 12(8), 1292.
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