Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna Bruno Ubertini
IZSLER is a governmental Organization providing services to the Veterinary Authorities and Farmers. It took its current name in 1999, however, it was in 1907 when the first “Experimental Station for Infectious Livestock Diseases” was established in Italy. The IZSLER currently employs over 700 people, 100 of whom are veterinarians, biologists and chemists. It has an extensive state-of-the-art analytical infrastructure and conducts research, surveillance and diagnosis of various etiological agents, especially zoonotic viruses and arboviruses circulating in domestic and wild animals and vectors, using a one-health approach.
IZSLER has participated in many European and international research projects in the field of Arboviruses and has well-equipped laboratories for work in virology, NGS sequencing, electron and confocal microscopy, and immunoassay technologies. It is also equipped with BSL3 plus facilities and equipment for experimental vector infection in a BSL3 plus environment. IZSLER leads the WP focused on flaviviviridae epidemiology in humans, animals, and the environment for a ‘One Health’ approach.
Dr. Ana Moreno Martin
Dr. Moreno is the Head (interim) of the Department of Virology at IZSLER. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ph.D. in Veterinary Hygiene and Animal Pathology, Specialization in Animal Health and Hygiene of Hearing and Animal Production, Specialization in Animal Public Health and Specialization in Pathology and Breeding of Avian and Lagomorphic Species. Animal health expert, working in avian and mammalian virology. Expert in viral diseases, especially vector-borne diseases in sequencing, phylogenetic and molecular analysis, development and validation of diagnostic tests such as ELISA with monoclonal antibodies, which is essential for WP6 and WP7.
Dr. Davide Lelli
Dr. Lelli is a Veterinarian Virologist, Specialist in Animal Health, Master Degree in Molecular Virology. Twenty years of experience in research and diagnosis of livestock and wildlife viral diseases. Emerging viral diseases, arthropod-borne viruses, and viruses associated with bats are currently the major topics of his studies. He has been involved as Principal Investigator or Leader of Operative Units in several National and European Research Projects. He is mainly involved in WP6 and WP7.
Dr. Francesco Defilippo
Dr. Defilippo graduated in Natural Sciences, attended the University Master's Degree II level “in Forensic Science” at the University of Parma. Since 2008 he has been working as an entomologist at IZSLER where he is mainly involved in Medical Entomology. Main activities are the identification and sampling of Arthropods of medical interest, the production of laboratory insect colonies and the experimental infection of mosquitoes, which is crucial for carrying activities in WP6. Management of National and Regional Health Surveillance Plans, with particular attention to entomological aspects (West Nile virus, Blue tongue virus, Leishmania), including in emergency situations (participation in entomological surveillance during the Chikungunya and Dengue epidemics in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna).
