Ricerc@Sapienza

The Molecular Virology Laboratory is engaged in several lines of research mainly focused on persistent viral infections and their interaction with the host. In addition, following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the laboratory has initiated studies aimed at identifying elements useful for a deeper understanding of the relationship between this virus and the human host.

A major area of research concerns:

1. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

In particular, we focus on the molecular characterisation of drug-resistant viral variants and the possible role that these variants may play in the response to therapy when they are stored in viral reservoirs. Another key research topic is HIV latency. It is well established that once integrated into the human genome, HIV can persist in a “latent” form, which may consist of either intact or defective proviral genomes. Our goal is to monitor intact and defective proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals undergoing different therapeutic regimens.

2. SARS-CoV-2 virus

Regarding SARS-CoV-2, the laboratory is studying the relationship between different viral variants, the oral microbiota, and inflammatory markers. This research will lead to improved knowledge on the interplay between the oral microbiota and SARS-CoV-2, by shedding light on the potential pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the acquisition and progression of the viral infection. The discovery of a specific set of oral bacterial species as biomarkers aimed to identify alterations of the microbiota able to prevent the onset of respiratory or systemic chronic diseases could strongly reduce the economic costs on public health systems.

3.Torque Teno Virus (TTV).
Research on TTV aims to assess whether this virus—considered an indicator of immune status—may serve as a potential biomarker of response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. Furthermore, evaluating changes in TTV viral load in oncology patients receiving different treatments may provide valuable insights into the relationship between viremia and the immune system.