Main Lines of Research
Epidemiological and Virological Surveillance Activities of Respiratory Virosis, with special reference to Influenza viruses and new emerging viruses with pandemic potential such as avian influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 - Regional Reference Laboratory accredited by the National Institute of Health;
Activity of Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis cases under the "Global Polio Eradication Program" (GPEI) - Regional Reference Laboratory accredited by the National Institute of Health;
Environmental Surveillance Activities of Non-Polio Polioviruses and Enteroviruses in Wastewater as part of the "Global Polio Eradication Program" (GPEI) - Regional Reference Laboratory accredited by the National Institute of Health;
Assessment of Immune Status against Polio and Tetanus in Children and Young Adults.Studies in the field of Environmental Microbiology: evaluation of the quality of sanitary, thermal and water for human consumption, including the search for Legionella spp. and other environmental opportunists; microbiological monitoring of air and surfaces in environments at high risk of contamination/infection
Main applied methodologies
Molecular methods
Extraction of nucleic acids from clinical and environmental biological samples;
Amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences by traditional PCR method - Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Amplification and quantification of specific nucleic acid sequences by Real Time RT-PCR;
Determination of nucleic acid nucleotide sequence by sequencing method.
Culture methods:
Culture of cell cultures;
Isolation of viruses in cell cultures;
Bacterial and fungal cultures from active (CFU/m3) and passive (Air Microbial Index, IMA) air sampling;
Bacterial and fungal cultures from water sampling after filtration.
Immunological methods:
Cytopathic effect neutralization assays for the detection and titration of specific antibodies in human serum;
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the detection and titration of specific antibodies in human serum.
Description of the main equipment qualifying the activity performed
Class II biological hood
Class III glove box
Strumentation for nucleic acid extraction
Thermocycler for PCR
Thermocycler for Real Time-PCR
Active air samplers ((SAS, International Pbi; AIRPORT MD8, Sartorius; SASS 2300 Research International)
Air and CO incubators2
Steam autoclaves
Dry stove
Distiller
Keywords
Influence, SARS-CoV-2, Poliomyelitis, Environment, Surveillance.
