The project is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach, assembling skills from different scientific fields across two Research Units (RUs).
RU1: Coordinating Unit (Lead)
Institution: Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA).
Principal Investigator (PI): Prof. Filomena Fiorito.
Expertise: Virology, molecular biology, cell culture, and studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms used by viruses during their replication. The RU involves the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, the Department of Chemical Sciences, and the Department of Agricultural Sciences.
RU2: Associated Unit
Institution: Università degli Studi di BARI ALDO MORO (UNIBA).
Associated Principal Investigator (PI): Prof. Annamaria Pratelli.
Expertise: Animal infectious diseases, diagnostics, epidemiology, and long-term experience in virus therapy and discovery.
Detailed Description of the Project Team and Planning
The project is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach, involving highly qualified experts from complementary fields. The consortium includes a Principal Investigator (PI) Unit (UNINA) and an Associated PI Unit (UNIBA), whose members possess consolidated expertise and strong track records relevant to the project’s objectives. Gender equality is ensured within the composition of the research teams.
Research Units (RUs) and Team Expertise
RU1 – University of Naples Federico II (UNINA)
The PI Unit includes members from three departments:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production (DMVPA)
- Prof. Filomena Fiorito – Scopus ID: 24830353100
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DSC)
- Prof. Anna Andolfi – Scopus ID: 6603539481
- Dott. Gaetano De Tommaso – Scopus ID: 7004510724
- Department of Agricultural Sciences (DAS)
- Prof. Rosanna Capparelli – Scopus ID: 55906714300
- Dott. Valentina Iovane – Scopus ID: 35484127500
Interrelation and Complementarity
The coherence of RU1 is supported by a long-standing collaborative history documented by joint publications and scientific projects. Each department contributes specific and complementary expertise:
- DMVPA
Specialists in cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying viral replication and host cell death regulation. The team has strong competence in cell culture, virus propagation and titration, biochemical assays, phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy. - DAS
With extensive experience in inflammation and FPR-mediated signaling, DAS investigators will analyze intracellular pathways activated during CCoV and FCoV infection. They will also assess the ability of natural compounds to modulate AhR and FPRs, supported by in silico approaches. - DSC
Over 30 years of experience in the isolation, characterization, and structural analysis of natural bioactive compounds from plant and microbial sources. Additional expertise includes potentiometric and spectroscopic methods for studying metal–ligand interactions.
Facilities and Equipment (RU1)
RU1 has access to advanced instrumentation, including:
HPLC, LC-MS-qTOF, GC-MS, UV-VIS spectrophotometers, spectropolarimeter, NMR instruments, SEM/TEM center, optical/inverted/fluorescence microscopes, CO₂ incubators, rotavapors, chromatographic systems, and laminar flow hoods.
RU2 – University of Bari Aldo Moro (UNIBA)
The Associated PI Unit includes experts from the Department of Veterinary Medicine:
- Prof. Annamaria Pratelli – Scopus ID: 7004884960
- Prof. Maria Tempesta – Scopus ID: 7005599031
- Prof. Francesco Cirone – Scopus ID: 57223920691
Expertise and Role
RU2 has extensive experience in the study of animal coronaviruses and will collaborate with RU1 across all WPs. In particular, RU2 will be responsible for:
- in vitro evaluation of antiviral activity of selected SMs against CCoV and FCoV
- contributing to virological analyses throughout the project
Facilities and Equipment (RU2)
The laboratories are equipped for advanced biomolecular and virological activities, including:
UV-VIS spectrophotometer, instruments for nucleic acid and protein quantification, PCR and real-time qPCR systems, electrophoresis equipment, microbiological facilities (autoclaves), and microscopy platforms (optical, inverted, fluorescence).