Andrea Matucci

Scopus Publications

Improving Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Citizen-Collected Ticks
Andrea Matucci, Salvatore Scarso, Graziana Da Rold, Federica Obber, Filippo Marzoli, Andrea Ragusa, Fabio Formenti, Davide Treggiari, Antonio Mori, Cristina Mazzi, Andrea Tedesco, Pietro Sponga, Giulia Bertoli, Lucia Moro, Concetta Castilletti, Carlo Vittorio Citterio, Dora Buonfrate, Federico Giovanni Gobbi, Francesca Perandin, Chiara Piubelli
Pathogens, 2026
This study aimed primarily to evaluate the performance of two Conformité Européenne—In Vitro Diagnostic (CE-IVD) multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) assays for the molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of human interest on ticks removed from human skin and collected through a citizen science-based approach. As a secondary objective, the aggregated results were used to describe tick species distribution, developmental stages, and seasonal TBP circulation in 2024 in the considered area. The comparison was conducted on 116 tick samples collected in 2024 voluntarily delivered to a hospital in northeastern Italy. Detected TBPs were further confirmed with in-house-validated PCR methods and, where applicable, resolved to the species level. Clinically relevant pathogen species were identified as single infections or coinfections. Overall, 33.6% of tick samples tested positive for at least one TBP, and 6.9% showed coinfections. Kit B exhibited a higher detection rate for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. targets, partly reflecting its broader diagnostic specificity, while statistically significant differences in cycle threshold values were observed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum detection. The most frequently involved ticks were Ixodes ricinus nymphs, and the most represented area was Verona province. Late spring and early summer were identified as the periods with the highest tick conferment and pathogen diversity. Overall, the results support the use of multiplex real-time PCR commercial kits combined with citizen science-based tick collection as an effective approach for both diagnostic screening and regional surveillance of circulating ticks and TBPs.
A digital repository of samples from arthropod vectors
Davide Colombo, Alejandro Nabor Lozada-Chàvez, Andrea Matucci, Marco Di Luca, Adele Magliano, Claudio De Martinis, Silvio Gerardo D’Alessio, Maria Beatrice Boniotti, Loredana Capozzi, Federica Gobbo, Maria Paola Maurelli, Alessandra Mistral De Pascali, Claudia Damiani, Paolo Gabrieli, Cristiano Salata, Davide Badano, Federico Forneris, Verena Pichler, Beniamino Caputo, Alessandra Della Torre, Mariangela Bonizzoni
Pathogens and Global Health, 2026
Sustained by urbanization, globalization and climate change, infectious diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies, are emerging or resurging in Europe, including Italy. There are limited therapeutic treatments and vaccines for most arthropod-borne pathogens, thus monitoring and control of vectors remains the most-effective prevention strategy. Supported by a country-wide initiative that aims at providing strategic guidance for preventing vector-borne diseases in Italy, including suirveillance and control initiatives that results in the acquistion of a large number of field samples, we conceived a digital repository of samples from arthropod vectors and their metadata to promote their sharing among the scientific community. We built a relational database called RAV-IT, accessible at https://mosqit.unipv.it/. Currently, RAV-IT aggregates seventeen Italian institutions and hosts nearly two thousand vector samples and their metadata, which can be viewed and requested for research purposes. RAV-IT is interactive and can accept further samples from any users. RAV-IT is a non-profit repository that is expected to enhance resource sharing for research on arthropod vectors.
Persistence and Active Replication Status of Oropouche Virus in Different Body Sites: Longitudinal Analysis of a Traveler Infected with a Strain Spreading in Latin America
Andrea Matucci, Elena Pomari, Antonio Mori, Silvia Accordini, Natasha Gianesini, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Federico Giovanni Gobbi, Concetta Castilletti, Maria Rosaria Capobianchi
Viruses, 2025
An unprecedented outbreak of Oropouche virus (OROV) is occurring in the Americas, characterized by thousands of confirmed cases and a wide geographical spread, including areas outside the Amazon Basin. Little is known about this neglected arbovirus regarding its pathophysiological aspects and potentially different transmission modes. This study describes the clinical course of a man who returned from a trip to Cuba and presented to our hospital 4 days after the onset of febrile symptoms. The patient was diagnosed with Oropouche fever and was followed for 177 days after the onset of symptoms. We performed a longitudinal investigation of the samples collected from several body sites (whole blood, serum, urine, and semen) with the aim of providing further insights into OROV infection dynamics, using the detection of antigenomic RNA as a marker of active viral replication. Clinical samples that were longitudinally collected over the course of OROV infection showed consistently higher amounts of antigenomic RNA compared to genomic RNA, even after viral clearance from serum. Moreover, our case study showed the persistence of OROV RNA in serum of less than 15 days from the onset of symptoms, as compared to up to one month in urine, three months in semen, and four months in whole blood. Our study suggests that Oropouche virus may persist in an actively replicating state in different body sites for long periods of time, with important implications for transmission dynamics. Furthermore, our results provide a diagnostic indication, suggesting that serum is inferior to both urine and whole blood as preferred diagnostic samples. Further studies are needed to determine the pathogenetic implications of these findings, as they have been derived from a single case and must be confirmed using a larger number of cases.
Unexpected Pediatric Cluster of Enterovirus C105, Verona, Italy
Elena Pomari, Simone Malagò, Guglielmo Ferrari, Greta Romano, Antonio Mori, Andrea Matucci, Rebecca Feletti, Paolo Bonetti, Fausto Baldanti, Concetta Castilletti, Antonio Piralla
Viruses, 2025
In an epidemiologic investigation of Enterovirus (EV) infections in a Verona hospital, September 2022–September 2024, we detected EV-C105 in six pediatric patients with upper respiratory symptoms between March and May 2023. The primary objective was to describe the local incidence of EV cases. The secondary objective was to perform Sanger’s genomic characterization and the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of EV-C105. The proportion of positive EV results was calculated based on routine molecular method testing. An available cohort of 114 underwent Sanger sequencing, and the six EV-C105 were characterized with WGS. Overall, 96% EV results were from the upper respiratory tract. The total proportion of positives in children was 83%. Out of the typed 114, 90% were Rhinoviruses and 9%, EVs. Notably, six pediatric cases were EV-C105, placing together in a unique cluster with 99% of nucleotides belonging to the European lineage with the highest Average Nucleotide Identity, including EV-C104, EV-C109, and EV-C118. Our data describes the first cluster indicating that EV-C105 incidence may be higher than previously estimated. However, a limitation for affirming this hypothesis is the lack of a more in-depth epidemiological investigation on a larger case series with the possibility of including data from coordinated laboratories.
Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Adaptive Immune Response in a Cohort of Mild Mpox Patients During the 2022 Wave
Sara Caldrer, Silvia Accordini, Annalisa Donini, Natasha Gianesini, Andrea Matucci, Antonio Mori, Cristina Mazzi, Maddalena Cordioli, Evelina Tacconelli, Niccolò Ronzoni, Andrea Angheben, Chiara Piubelli, Federico Gobbi, Concetta Castilletti
Microorganisms, 2025
Our study wanted to describe the kinetics of serological and adaptive immune responses in mpox patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with laboratory-confirmed mpox were tested at different time points after the symptom onset. An immunofluorescence assay was performed to evaluate the seroconversion kinetics of specific IgA, IgM, and IgG. Moreover, the characterization of the adaptive immunological profile of T- and B-cells was performed. Results: The antibody kinetics revealed the faster and more effective seroconversion of specific IgA than IgM. Moreover, we detected an increase in Active memory B cells and CD8+ cells in the early phases of infection, and a reduction in CD4+ T-cells in the mpox patients with respect to the controls and found the presence of higher levels of Treg cells in the HIV+ patients in the early phase of infection. Conclusion: Our data highlight the relevance of specific IgA testing early after the symptom onset, suggesting a possible role as a marker in early diagnosis, especially in close contact subjects. Furthermore, the different maturation states of effector cells in HIV+ patients, together with high Treg levels, may lead us to better understand the role of MPXV-HIV co-infection and identify potential cellular markers to monitor the excessive immune activation involved in mpox disease progression.
First diagnoses of Oropouche virus in Europe: how can we strengthen communication and preparedness globally?
Concetta Castilletti, Antonio Mori, Elena Pomari, Andrea Matucci, Giulia Martelli, Salvatore Curiale, Andrea Angheben, Federico Giovanni Gobbi
Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2024
Full Genome Characterization of the First Oropouche Virus Isolate Imported in Europe from Cuba
Michela Deiana, Simone Malagò, Antonio Mori, Silvia Accordini, Andrea Matucci, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Natasha Gianesini, Ralph Huits, Chiara Piubelli, Federico Giovanni Gobbi, Maria Rosaria Capobianchi, Concetta Castilletti
Viruses, 2024
On 27 May 2024, the Cuban Ministry of Health reported the first outbreak of Oropouche fever on the island. The etiologic agent, Oropouche virus (OROV), is a poorly understood arbovirus that has been known since the 1960s and represents a public health burden in Latin America. We report the whole-genome characterization of the first European OROV isolate from a returning traveler from Cuba with Oropouche fever-like symptoms. The isolate was obtained from the patient’s serum; whole-genome sequencing was performed by next-generation sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis and genetic variability studies. The analysis showed that the most closely related sequence was from the French Guiana 2020 outbreak. Interestingly, our isolate is a reassortant virus, included in a highly supported monophyletic clade containing recent OROV cases (Brazil 2015–Colombia 2021), separated from the other four previously known genotypes. More deeply, it was found to be included in a distinct branch containing the sequences of the Brazil 2022–2024 outbreak. The reassortment event involved the S and L segments, which have high similarity with sequences belonging to a new cluster (here defined as OROV_SCDC_2024), while the M segment shows high similarity with older sequences. These results likely describe the viral strain responsible for the current outbreak in Cuba, which may also reflect the ongoing outbreak in Latin America. Further studies are needed to understand how OROV evolves towards traits that facilitate its spread and adaptation outside its original basin, and to track its spread and evolution in the European continent.
ddPCR for the Detection and Absolute Quantification of Oropouche Virus
Elena Pomari, Andrea Matucci, Silvia Accordini, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Natasha Gianesini, Antonio Mori, Concetta Castilletti
Viruses, 2024
Background: Oropouche virus (OROV) is a segmented RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus in the family Peribunyaviridae. Herein, an in-house droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay was used for the detection and quantification of OROV. Methods: The ddPCR reaction was assessed as duplex assay using the human housekeeping gene RPP30. Limit of detection (LoD) analysis was performed in whole blood, serum, and urine. The assay was executed on a total of 28 clinical samples (whole blood n = 9, serum n = 11, and urine n = 8), of which 16 specimens were tested positive at the routine molecular diagnostics (endpoint and real-time PCRs). Results: The LoD of the ddPCR performed using 10-fold serial dilution of OROV detected up to 1 cp/µL in all the biological matrices. Compared to the routine molecular diagnostics, the ddPCR assay showed 100% sensitivity for whole blood and serum and 75% for urine, highlighting higher positive rate of ddPCR. Conclusion: We have established a quantitative RNA detection method of OROV with high sensitivity and specificity based on ddPCR. This test is capable of quantitatively monitoring the viral load of OROV and can contribute, in addition to laboratory diagnosis, to shed light on the pathogenesis, filling in the knowledge gaps of this neglected disease and to the vector control programs.
Oropouche fever cases diagnosed in Italy in two epidemiologically non-related travellers from Cuba, late May to early June 2024
Concetta Castilletti, Antonio Mori, Andrea Matucci, Niccolò Ronzoni, Lukas Van Duffel, Giada Rossini, Pietro Sponga, Maria Luca D’Errico, Paola Rodari, Francesco Cristini, Ralph Huits, Federico Giovanni Gobbi
Eurosurveillance, 2024
Oropouche fever is caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), transmitted primarily through the bite of infected midges, particularly of the genus Culicoides. The virus is mainly circulating in Central and South America where several countries reported an ongoing outbreak. We report here two imported cases of OROV infection identified in Italy, late May–early June 2024. These cases indicate that in the shadow of a massive dengue outbreak in the Americas, the Oropouche outbreak might be more widespread than previously estimated.
Pathogenic avian mycoplasmas show phenotypic differences in their biofilm forming ability compared to non-pathogenic species in vitro
Salvatore Catania, Marco Bottinelli, Alice Fincato, Annalucia Tondo, Andrea Matucci, Giorgia Nai, Verdiana Righetti, Francesco Abbate, Ana S. Ramírez, Federica Gobbo, Marianna Merenda
Biofilm, 2024
Mycoplasmas are known as the minimalist microorganisms in the microbes’ world. Their minimalist nature makes them highly sensitive to the environmental conditions and limits their ability to survive for extended periods outside their animal host. Nevertheless, there are documented instances of mycoplasma transmission over significant distances and this phenomenon may be linked to relatively unexplored abilities of mycoplasmas, such as their capacity to synthesize biofilm—the predominant mode of bacterial growth in nature. The authors decided to establish a method aimed at inducing the clustering of mycoplasma planktonic cells within a biofilm in vitro and subsequently assess the capacity of certain avian mycoplasmas to synthesize a biofilm. A total of 299 avian mycoplasma isolates were included in the study, encompassing both pathogenic (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis, M. iowae) and non-pathogenic species (M. gallinaceum, M. gallinarum, M. iners and M. pullorum). The authors successfully demonstrated the feasibility of inducing avian mycoplasmas to synthetize in vitro a biofilm, which can be visually quantified. The only species that did not produce any biofilm was M. iowae. In general, the pathogenic mycoplasmas produced greater quantities of biofilm compared to the non-pathogenic ones. Furthermore, it was observed that the ability to produce biofilm appeared to vary, both qualitatively and quantitatively, not only among different species but also among isolates of a single species. Future studies will be necessary to determine whether biofilm production plays a pivotal epidemiological role for the pathogenic avian mycoplasmas.
Changes in the Adaptive Cellular Repertoire after Infection with Different SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in a Cohort of Vaccinated Healthcare Workers
Sara Caldrer, Silvia Accordini, Cristina Mazzi, Natalia Tiberti, Michela Deiana, Andrea Matucci, Eleonora Rizzi, Stefano Tais, Fabio Filippo, Matteo Verzè, Paolo Cattaneo, Gian Paolo Chiecchi, Concetta Castilletti, Massimo Delledonne, Federico Gobbi, Chiara Piubelli
Vaccines, 2024
Urine: A Pitfall for Molecular Detection of Toscana Virus? An Analytical Proof-of-Concept Study
Antonio Mori, Andrea Matucci, Elena Pomari, Silvia Accordini, Chiara Piubelli, Annalisa Donini, Lavinia Nicolini, Concetta Castilletti
Viruses, 2024
Isolation and characterization of an atypical Mycoplasma gallisepticum strain showing a new mgc2 variant
A. Matucci, E. Stefani, A. Tondo, V. Righetti, M. Bottinelli, L. Gavazzi, M. Merenda, S. Catania
Veterinary Microbiology, 2023
The Monitoring of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations during the Last Decade (2010–2020) Seems to Reveal a Comeback of Susceptibility to Macrolides, Tiamulin, and Lincomycin
Marco Bottinelli, Michele Gastaldelli, Micaela Picchi, Arianna Dall’Ora, Lorena Cristovao Borges, Ana Sofía Ramírez, Andrea Matucci, Salvatore Catania
Antibiotics, 2022
Detection of Mycoplasma columbinasale in Cases of Respiratory Disease in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica)
Giuseppe Giglia, Ilaria Porcellato, Maria Luisa Marenzoni, Elisa Rampacci, Marco Bottinelli, Andrea Matucci, Fabrizio Passamonti, Elvio Lepri
Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine, 2022
Isolation of Mycoplasma iowae in turkey flocks with skeletal abnormalities: a retrospective study
Marco Bottinelli, Elisabetta Stefani, Andrea Matucci, Mauro Dal Prà, Katia Capello, Alessandro Zotti, Salvatore Catania
Avian Pathology, 2021
Molecular differentiation of mycoplasma gallisepticum outbreaks: A last decade study on italian farms using gts and mlst
Andrea Matucci, Elisabetta Stefani, Michele Gastaldelli, Ilenia Rossi, Gelinda De Grandi, Miklós Gyuranecz, Salvatore Catania
Vaccines, 2020
Infection dynamics of Mycoplasma bovis and other respiratory mycoplasmas in newly imported bulls on italian fattening farms
Salvatore Catania, Michele Gastaldelli, Eliana Schiavon, Andrea Matucci, Annalucia Tondo, Marianna Merenda, Robin A. J. Nicholas
Pathogens, 2020
Autologous cellular vaccine overcomes cancer immunoediting in a mouse model of myeloma
Marta Mazzocco, Matteo Martini, Antonio Rosato, Elisabetta Stefani, Andrea Matucci, Silvia Dalla Santa, Francesco De Sanctis, Stefano Ugel, Sara Sandri, Giovanna Ferrarini, Tiziana Cestari, Sergio Ferrari, Paola Zanovello, Vincenzo Bronte, Silvia Sartoris
Immunology, 2015
Cloning, expression, and antigenic characterization of recombinant protein of Mycoplasma gallisepticum expressed in Escherichia coli
T.S. Rocha, C. Tramuta, S. Catania, A. Matucci, M.G. Giuffrida, C. Baro, M. Profiti, L. Bertolotti, S. Rosati
Poultry Science, 2014
HLA-C is necessary for optimal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of human peripheral blood CD4 lymphocytes
M. Baroni, A. Matucci, G. Scarlatti, E. Soprana, P. Rossolillo, L. Lopalco, D. Zipeto, A. G. Siccardi, C. De Santis
Journal of General Virology, 2010
The thiol redox state of lymphoid organs is modified by immunization: Role of different immune cell populations
Patrizia Castellani, Giovanna Angelini, Laura Delfino, Andrea Matucci, Anna Rubartelli
European Journal of Immunology, 2008
HLA-C increases HIV-1 infectivity and is associated with gp120
Andrea Matucci, Paola Rossolillo, Miriam Baroni, Antonio G Siccardi, Alberto Beretta, Donato Zipeto
Retrovirology, 2008
Induction of human immunodeficiency virus neutralizing antibodies using fusion complexes
Donato Zipeto, Andrea Matucci, Chiara Ripamonti, Gabriella Scarlatti, Paola Rossolillo, Marco Turci, Silvia Sartoris, Giuseppe Tridente, Umberto Bertazzoni
Microbes and Infection, 2006
Analysis of mammalian scrapie protein by novel monoclonal antibodies recognizing distinct prion protein glycoforms: An immunoblot and immunohistochemical study at the light and electron microscopic levels
Andrea Matucci, Gianluigi Zanusso, Matteo Gelati, Alessia Farinazzo, Michele Fiorini, Sergio Ferrari, Giancarlo Andrighetto, Tiziana Cestari, Maria Caramelli, Alessandro Negro, Michela Morbin, Roberto Chiesa, Salvatore Monaco, Giuseppe Tridente
Brain Research Bulletin, 2005
Studies on the joint cytotoxicity of Wheat Germ Agglutinin and monensin
Chiara Dalla Pellegrina, Andrea Matucci, Gianni Zoccatelli, Corrado Rizzi, Simone Vincenzi, Gianluca Veneri, Giancarlo Andrighetto, Angelo D.B. Peruffo, Roberto Chignola
Toxicology in Vitro, 2004
Temperature-dependent decay of wheat germ agglutinin activity and its implications for food processing and analysis
Andrea Matucci, Gianluca Veneri, Chiara Dalla Pellegrina, Gianni Zoccatelli, Simone Vincenzi, Roberto Chignola, Angelo D.B. Peruffo, Corrado Rizzi
Food Control, 2004
Induction of an antitumour adaptive immune response elicited by tumour cells expressing de novo B7-1 mainly depends on the anatomical site of their delivery: The dose applied regulates the expansion of the response
Silvia Sartoris, Maria G. Testi, Elisabetta Stefani, Roberto Chignola, Chiara Guerriero, Andrea Matucci, Tiziana Cestari, Aldo Scarpa, Anna P. Riviera, Giovanna Zanoni, Giuseppe Tridente, Giancarlo Andrighetto
Immunology, 2003

Andrea Matucci

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Scopus Publications