The University of Bologna is world-wide recognized as the oldest University in the world. It is the place where the notion of high level Universal studies was conceived, in 1088. It is one of the largest and most highly ranked Universities in Italy (100.000 students, > 3000 permanent faculties; > 3000 administrators). The Department of Experimental Pathology (36 faculties, 12 Full professors, 3 women Full Professors) ranks very highly in UNIBO. It comprises 5 sections. Prof. Dr. Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume is head of the Section of Microbiology and Virology (previously, the Institute of Microbiology). The Interdepartmental Centre CIG was established in 2001 with the participation of 35 scientists.

Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume (Coordinator of the Project)

Prof. Dr. Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume is a full Professor of General Microbiology at UNIBO since 1996, and at University of Milano since 1994.
Prof. Dr. Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume received a prize from Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 2000, is Co-founder and Vice-President of Italian Society of Virology and member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Virology. She has served in Ad-hoc Committees from EU and the strategic Research Committee of the Italian Ministry of Health.
The team of Prof. Dr. Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume focuses on molecular bases of herpes simplex virus entry into the cell, and she has established an international reputation as a leading expert in the field. Author of more than 100 publications on topics related to the proposal. A number of influential discoveries in this field in recent years have come from her laboratory, including role of gD as the HSV receptor-binding glycoprotein, and as the trigger of fusion, the discovery of the nectin1 receptor, the role of UL20 and gK proteins in the exocytosis of HSV, the role of gH as the executor of HSV fusion.

Relevant publications/patents

• Fusco, D, Forghieri, C, Campadelli-Fiume, G: The pro-fusion domain of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) interacts with the gD N terminus and is displaced by soluble forms of viral receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.102:9323-8. (2005)
• Gianni, T, Menotti, L, Campadelli-Fiume, G.: A heptad repeat in herpes simplex virus 1 gH, located downstream of the alpha-helix with attributes of a fusion peptide, is critical for virus entry and fusion. J Virol.;79:7042-9. (2005)
• Gianni, T, Martelli, PL, Casadio, R, Campadelli-Fiume, G: The ectodomain of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein H contains a membrane alpha-helix with attributes of an internal fusion peptide, positionally conserved in the herpesviridae family. J Virol.79:2931-40. (2005)
• Gianni, T, Campadelli-Fiume, G, Menotti, L: Entry of herpes simplex virus mediated by chimeric forms of nectin1 retargeted to endosomes or to lipid rafts occurs through acidic endosomes. Virol.78:12268-76. (2004)
• Cocchi, F, Fusco, D, Menotti, L, Gianni, T, Eisenberg, RJ, Cohen, GH, Campadelli-Fiume, G: The soluble ectodomain of herpes simplex virus gD contains a membrane-proximal pro-fusion domain and suffices to mediate virus entry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.101:7445-50. (2004)
  

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume
Coordinator of the project
University of Bologna
Tel.: +39 051 209 47 33
Fax: +39 051 209 47 35
E-Mail: gabriella.campadelli@unibo.it
Website: www.eng.unibo.it