Where we are
Via Pietro Castellino 111
80131 Naples
Tel. 0039 081 6132 579
Links
Amministrazione trasparente
Maria Trovato
Current Position:
Technologist, TD
Contacts:
Cell Regulation LAB
phone:
email: maria.trovato@ieos.cnr.it
maria.trovato@cnr.it
Keywords:
vaccines; immune responses; infectious diseases; neutralizing antibodies; T and B cellsMy research activity mainly focused on antigen delivery systems derived from non-pathogenic prokaryotic organisms to be deployed as novel vaccine formulations. By approaches commonly used in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology field and through RNA-Sequencing, my colleagues and I have investigated the efficacy of a multimeric protein scaffold to elicit HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and T-cell responses in rabbits and mice, and analyzed the gene expression profile of vaccine-pulsed DCs. Aimed at better understanding B cell dysfunctions in HIV infection, we have investigated the mechanisms that might explain unsuccessful GC B-cell and TFH responses during acute SIV infection, by means of flow cytometry and cell sorting assays in cynomolgus monkey model. Recently, we have set up a neutralization assay for SARS-CoV-2, producing ACE2/TMPRSS2-stably expressing target cell lines and pseudotyped lentiviral vectors harboring the viral S protein with a detection system based on luminescence, for assessing anti-SARS-CoV-2 nAbs. Recently, I’ve been involved in a project aimed at deciphering the antiviral activities of MARylating PARP enzymes. In detail, the role of PARP12 in triggering and/or amplifying innate immune pathways for controlling viral infections will be investigated by exploiting cell-based imaging, biochemistry, and proteomic approaches.
Education
2013: PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnologies, Second University of Naples, Caserta (Italy)
2010: Postgraduate Diploma in Microbiology and Virology (70/70 cum laude), University of Naples "Federico II“, Naples (Italy)
2006: Master’s Degree in Biological Sciences (110/110 cum laude), University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples (Italy)
Positions
2023 – to date Technologist TD, IEOS SS – CNR of Naples (Italy)
2023 – 2023 Researcher (in vitro), IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Naples (Italy)
2019 – 2023 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, IBBC – CNR of Naples (Italy)
2016 – 2018 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cochin Institute – INSERM Paris (France)
2013 – 2013 Visiting Scientist, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, Oregon (USA)
2014 – 2015 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, IBP – CNR of Naples (Italy)
2010 – 2011 Research Fellow, IBP – CNR of Naples (Italy)
2006 – 2009 Research Fellow, IBP – CNR of Naples (Italy)
D'Apice L‡, Trovato M‡, Gramigna G‡, Colavita F, Francalancia M, Matusali G, Meschi S, Lapa D, Bettini A, Mizzoni K, Aurisicchio L, Di Caro A, Castilletti C, De Berardinis P. Comparative analysis of the neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 strain and variants of concern: Performance evaluation of a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay. Front Immunol. 2022 Sep 26;13:981693. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981693. ‡These authors have contributed equally to this work
Trovato M, Ibrahim HM, Isnard S, Le Grand R, Bosquet N, Borhis G, Richard Y. Distinct Features of Germinal Center Reactions in Macaques Infected by SIV or Vaccinated with a T-Dependent Model Antigen. Viruses. 2021 Feb 9;13(2):263. doi: 10.3390/v13020263.
Trovato M*, Sartorius R, D'Apice L, Manco R, De Berardinis P. Viral Emerging Diseases: Challenges in Developing Vaccination Strategies. Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 3;11:2130. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02130. Review. *corresponding author
Sartorius R, D'Apice L, Trovato M, Cuccaro F, Costa V, De Leo MG, Marzullo VM, Biondo C, D'Auria S, De Matteis MA, Ciccodicola A, De Berardinis P. Antigen delivery by filamentous bacteriophage fd displaying an anti-DEC-205 single-chain variable fragment confers adjuvanticity by triggering a TLR9-mediated immune response. EMBO Mol Med. 2015 Apr 17;7(7):973-88. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201404525.
Jaworski JP, Krebs SJ, Trovato M, Kovarik DN, Brower Z, Sutton WF, Waagmeester G, Sartorius R, D'Apice L, Caivano A, Doria-Rose NA, Malherbe D, Montefiori DC, Barnett S, De Berardinis P, Haigwood NL. Co-immunization with multimeric scaffolds and DNA rapidly induces potent autologous HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies and CD8+ T cells. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31464. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031464.