New paper from the Cavalli’s lab: computational identification of an allosteric binding site in TMPRSS2

A new paper from the Cavalli’s lab describes the computational identification of a novel putative allosteric binding site in the protein TMPRSS2. The membrane bound serine protease TMPRSS2 is one of the proteases responsible for the proteolytic priming of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein which leads to the release of the fusion peptide. Its inhibition represents, therefore, […]
IRB Summer school “artificial intelligence methods applied to intravital imaging analysis” 14-18 June 2021

This program will cover theoretical and practical aspects regarding the application of new A.I. -based methods for the analysis of migration and interaction of immune cells captured by 4D intravital imaging data. Basic knowledge in imaging is recommended. Organizers: Santiago F. Gonzalez; Diego Pizzagalli; Pau Carrillo Mandatory registration by May 22nd 2021. Register here. More […]
2021 International Day of Immunology: April 29, 2021

To mark the enormous contributions of immunology to health and well-being, IUIS and EFIS celebrate every year since 2005 the International Day of Immunology on April 29. For this exceptional 2021 DoI, a series of special events around the theme COVID-19 has been organized, among them, a Webinar entitled “Immunology in the time of COVID-19: […]
ERC Advanced Grant to Petr Cejka

Prof. Petr Cejka, group leader at the IRB and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at USI, has been awarded a second highly competitive research fund by the European Union: an ERC Advanced Grant. This prestigious funding not only confirms the importance of his studies on DNA repair mechanisms in oncology, it also […]
New paper from the González’s lab

Bellinzona 13.04.2021 – A paper from the González’s lab studies how to modify the innate immune response to improve the adaptive immunity against a potential HIV vaccine. To study this mechanism, we have employed the revolutionary intravital 2-photon imaging available at the IRB in Bellinzona. Using this technique, we have studied the role of a […]
A single new weapon against multiple viruses transmitted by ticks

Bellinzona, 08.04.2021 – The bite of a tick can transmit Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV), which can cause brain infection, hospitalisation and long term neurologic problems. TBEV is only one among half a dozen viruses that ticks can transmit, causing for instance fulminant encephalitis (brain infection) or haemorrhagic disease (bleedings) for which there is no effective […]
Antiviral roles of CD8+ T cell in SIV and HIV infection
From: Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Comparative Pathology, Professor & Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Microbiology & Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta USA Host contact: Mariagrazia Uguccioni Date: 22.04.2021 16:00 Speakers: Guido Silvestri Virtual Conference
Sensing DNA as a danger signal through the cGAS-STING pathway
From: Associate Professor at EPFL, Head of Ablasser Lab – Innate Immunity EPFL Host contact: Silvia Monticelli, Federica Sallusto Date: 04.03.2021 12:00 Speakers: Andrea Ablasser Virtual Conference
The IRB joins international network for the study of emerging infectious diseases

23.02.2021 – The IRB announces it has joined the United World Antiviral Research Network (UWARN), the organisation that brings together researchers from leading institutions in several countries around the globe to spot and confront emerging pandemic viruses. The participation in this initiative will enable the IRB (an affiliated institute of USI Università della Svizzera italiana) […]
DNA-Based Ligands and Receptors for Immune Cell Signaling
From: Professor, Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Host contact: Andrea Cavalli Date: 11.02.2021 14:00 Speakers: Ronald D. Vale, PhD Virtual Conference
