Team:
Eloise Mastrangelo, Mario Milani, Federica Cossu, Francesco Bonì, Silvia Ferrara, Francesca Speranza (PhD student)
Collaborations:
Mauro Manno (IBF Palermo), Mario D’Acunto (IBF, Pisa), Luca Bini e Ilaria Vicenti (UNISI), Manuela Donalisio (UNITO), Giuseppe Manfroni (UNIPG), Luisa De Cola (UNIMI), Francesca Baldelli (PoliMi), Linari S.r.l. (Pisa), Rega Institute for Medical Research (Leuven)
RNA virus infections remain a major global health burden, and while vaccines are crucial, their deployment is often too slow to contain emerging outbreaks. Moreover, current antivirals typically target single proteins and show limited efficacy against rapidly evolving viruses.
This project shifts the focus from individual viral factors to the RNA replication machinery as a coordinated functional complex. Through integrated biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches, we aim to dissect the mechanisms governing viral RNA replication and identify novel points of therapeutic intervention.
In parallel, we develop nanoparticle- and extracellular vesicle-based delivery systems to improve the targeting, stability, and safety of antiviral compounds, enabling more effective and precise therapeutic strategies.
Funding:
FP6, FP7, FIRB-MUR, SIR-MUR, PNRR PE-13 INF-ACT
