The research group focuses on the study of the persistence of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) and its interaction with the immune system, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms that regulate the stability of the human virome and of enhancing the role of TTV as a functional indicator of the host immune status. Since the mechanisms underlying viral persistence are still poorly understood, partly due to the lack of adequate experimental models, the group develops and employs three-dimensional (3D) cellular models capable of reproducing complex tissue microenvironments and differentiated immune conditions, including states of immunosuppression. Through integrated approaches combining advanced cell culture, molecular virology, and experimental immunology, the group investigates TTV replication and persistence, immunomodulatory mechanisms, and the determinants of viral entry. The research activity aims to support the development of virome-based diagnostic tools and to strengthen the use of TTV as a biomarker of immunocompetence in different clinical settings, including transplantation, immunosuppressive therapies, and oncology, also thanks to strong translational clinical collaborations.
date/time interval:
(March 1, 2022 - )