Ilaria Capua Explained

Ilaria Capua
Birth Place:Rome
Citizenship:Italian
Workplaces:Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie,
University of Florida
Alma Mater:University of Perugia,
Padua University
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Known For:politics, virologist,
avian influenza
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Ilaria Capua (born 21 April 1966 in Rome) is an Italian virologist and former politician, best known for her research on influenza viruses, particularly avian influenza, and her efforts promoting open access to genetic information on emerging viruses as part of pre-pandemic preparedness efforts.

Capua is currently a professor at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS), and has a joint appointment with the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, U.S. She was recruited to direct and lead the UF One Health Center of Excellence in research and training.[1]

A veterinarian by training, Capua has mainly worked in the field of veterinary virology and zoonotic viral infections.

She worked for over twenty years in the network of the Istituti Zooprofilattici in Italy, and headed the national and international reference laboratory for Newcastle disease and Avian Influenza at IZSVE for over ten years. In response to the 1999-2000 outbreak of avian flu in Italy, Capua and colleagues proposed and developed a novel strategy for vaccinating commercial poultry against the disease, which was adopted and enabled the industry to avoid a complete shutdown.

In February 2006, Capua drew international attention when she challenged the existing system for granting scientists access to genetic material sequenced from influenza viruses.[2] At the peak of the H5N1 panzootic, Capua decided to post the sequence of the first H5N1 African virus on a publicly accessible website (GenBank) rather than contribute the data to a password-protected database maintained in Los Alamos and accessible only to a small group of researchers.

During this time, Capua led an international campaign promoting free access to genetic sequences derived from influenza viruses and other viruses with pandemic potential.[3] [4] [5] [6] One observer described Capua as "belonging to a longstanding tradition of scientists rebelling against established ideas and the upper echelon among their colleagues" but also advocating a new outlook in which scientific cooperation is "enacted directly between scientists and not mediated by institutions."[7]

Biography

Training

Born in Rome in 1966, Ilaria Capua graduated with honors in veterinary medicine from the University of Perugia in 1989.[8] In 1991, she completed a post-graduate specialization course in animal health and hygiene at the University of Pisa. She obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Padua in 2007 on avian influenza epidemiology, inter-species transmission and control.[9]

Scientific activities

Prior to joining the Italian Parliament, Capua served as director of the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences for the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro in Padua. The department is home to the National FAO/OIE Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, and is the OIE Collaborating Centre for Diseases at the Animal/Human Interface.

In 1999-2000, responding to a persistent but relatively non-virulent strain of H7N1 avian flu hindering Italy’s commercial poultry industry, Capua and collaborators developed an innovative approach, which was dubbed the "DIVA" strategy (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) as a tool to support eradication practices.[10] This DIVA[11] strategy has been invented and developed already years earlier for the eradication of herpesviruses.[12] [13] The strategy involved inoculating poultry with an inactivated vaccine derived from an antigenically related H7N3 virus—coupled with a diagnostic test directed to identifying antibodies to the neuraminidase antigen, that revealed whether avian-flu antibodies present in a subject animal were caused by the H7N3 vaccine or by the field H7N1 virus. Once approved by the European Union, the program went live in November 2000. The strategy enabled Italy’s poultry industry to continue trade and the target pathogen was eradicated from Italy.[14] Today, DIVA is among the strategies recommended by the European Union to combat avian influenza on a global scale.[15]

During the outbreak of panzootic H5N1 influenza, which could be transmitted from birds to people, Capua's lab in Padua received a sample of the viral strain recently introduced in Nigeria for typing and characterization. Capua believed that broader circulation of knowledge related to genetic information on contemporary viruses was essential to improve preparedness and response, and declined the offer to submit the genetic sequence to a password-protected database as suggested by WHO. Instead, she decided to deposit the genetic sequences to GenBank, a publicly accessible database, to make it available to the entire scientific community. On February 16, 2006, Capua contacted about 50 of her colleagues and encouraged them to deposit avian influenza genetic sequences in publicly accessible databases.[16] The journal Science reported on Capua’s effort, stating that she had "renewed the debate about how to balance global health against scientists' needs to publish and countries’ demands for secrecy."[17]

Capua’s initiative was covered by the international press including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post.[18] [19] The English-language scientific press continued to cover the debate, as did mainstream European press.[20]

Recently, Capua has been coordinator of the workgroup on Avian Influenza of EPIZONE[21] scientific excellence network, which has been set up to improve the control of the epizootic diseases in Europe. It consists of more than 300 researchers from 16 international research centres – two of them outside Europe. Epizone is a new European Commission project under the sixth research framework programme (FP6), priority 5 (food quality and safety), and it has a budget of €14 million over five years.

Today, the WHO, FAO, and OIE promote and support better sharing mechanisms, data transparency, and an interdisciplinary approach to improve preparedness for pandemic events.[22]

Capua has authored and co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, mainly on viral diseases of animals and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people. She has also co-authored two scientific textbooks concerning influenza and authored four non-fiction books for general readership. Capua also serves on the editorial board of Pathogens and Global Health.

Since June 2016, Capua has been a faculty member with the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, U.S. At UF, she has continued to advocate for interdisciplinary work and open science, particularly open access to research data on pandemic diseases.

In 2021 she raised concerns on gain-of-function experiments.

Personal history

Ilaria Capua is married to a Scotsman, Richard, and has a daughter born in 2004.[23]

Political activities

In January 2013, Capua was asked to run for a seat on the Italian Parliament by Mario Monti, the Italian Prime Minister at the time, who sought to add scientists and academics to Parliament. Capua accepted, and in February 2013 was elected a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, one of the two divisions of the Italian Parliament.[24] Capua served for over two years as vice president of the Commission for Science, Culture, and Education of the Chamber of Deputies.[25]

Ilaria Capua resigned as a member of the Italian Parliament on September 28, 2016. Her resignation speech was published in the first page of Corriere della Sera.[26]

Legal proceedings

In 2014, while she was a parliamentarian, the Italian weekly magazine l'Espresso revealed that Capua had been the subject of a ten-year criminal investigation by Italian police. The magazine's cover article reported a conspiracy between scientists and pharmaceutical companies to increase the sales of vaccines by deliberately spreading viruses.[27]

In July 2016, Capua was cleared of all charges by the judge for preliminary investigation of the Court of Verona, because "there was no case to answer." The judge's decision mentioned that "there was evidence of fabrication of evidence against her."[28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Works and publications

Books

Publications

Ilaria Capua's publications in peer-reviewed journals can be found on PubMed.

Honors and awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ilaria Capua - Emerging Pathogens Institute - University of Florida. www.epi.ufl.edu. 8 May 2018. 9 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509013117/http://www.epi.ufl.edu/people/faculty-profiles/ilaria-capua/. dead.
  2. News: Scientist Rebels Against WHO Over Bird Flu. Zamiska. Nicholas. WSJ. 8 May 2018.
  3. March 16, 2006 . Dreams of flu data . Nature . 440 . 7082 . 255–256 . Editorial . 10.1038/440255b . 16541031 . 7095490 . 2006Natur.440R.255. . free .
  4. News: CDC Opens Up Flu Archives . Enserink . Martin . August 24, 2006 . Science Magazine . July 31, 2018.
  5. News: Avian Flu: global sharing of virus samples . Riddle . John . August 1, 2006 . FAONewsroom . July 31, 2018.
  6. Web site: OFFLU keeps its pace on global sharing of avian influenza virus samples. July 31, 2006. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). July 31, 2018.
  7. Book: Delfanti, Alessandro. Biohackers: The Politics of Open Science. Pluto Press. 2013. 9781849649063. London. 108, 97.
  8. Web site: Doctor Ilaria Capua . February 2006 . European Commission . 10 March 2019.
  9. Web site: Ilaria Capua - WVPA. www.wvpa.net . 10 March 2019.
  10. Enserink. Martin. 10 November 2006 . Italy's Influenza Diva. Science . 314 . 5801 . 918–919 . 10.1126/science.314.5801.918 . 0036-8075 . 17095672. 161378290.
  11. van Oirschot J.T.. Jan. 1999. Diva vaccines that reduce virus transmission. Journal of Biotechnology. 73. 2–3. 195–205. 10.1016/S0168-1656(99)00121-2. 10486928.
  12. van Oirschot, J.T., H.J. Rziha, P.J.L.M. Moonen, J.M.A. Pol, D. van Zaane. Jan. 1986. Differentiation of serum antibodies from pigs vaccinated or infected with Aujeszky's disease virus by a competitive enzyme immunoassay J. Gen. Virol., 67 (1986), pp. 1179-1182. Journal of General Virology. 67. 1179–1182.
  13. van Oirschot, A.L.J Gielkens, R.J.M Moormann, A.J.M Berns. Jan. 1990. Marker vaccines, virus protein-specific assays and the control of Aujeszky's disease. Veterinary Microbiology. 23. 1–4. 85–101. 10.1016/0378-1135(90)90139-M. 2169682.
  14. Capua . Marangon . Ilaria . Stefano . February 16, 2007 . The use of vaccination to combat multiple introductions of Notifiable Avian Influenza viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes between 2000 and 2006 in Italy . Vaccine . 25 . 27 . 4987–4995 . 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.01.113 . 17418460.
  15. 14 January 2006 . Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC. Official Journal of the European Union . 49F . 16–65 . 10 March 2019.
  16. Web site: ProMED-mail Anniversary Award for Excellence in Outbreak Reporting on the Internet . 2006 . ProMed: International Society for Infectious Diseases . 10 March 2019.
  17. Enserink . Martin . 3 March 2006 . As H5N1 Keeps Spreading, a Call to Release More Data . Science . 311 . 5765 . 1224 . 10.1126/science.311.5765.1224 . 0036-8075 . 16513948. 42843113 . free .
  18. News: Secret Avian Flu Archive . 15 March 2006 . The New York Times . 8 May 2018 . 0362-4331.
  19. News: Bird Flu Fears Ignite Debate on Scientists' Sharing of Data . The Washington Post and Times-Herald . Brown . David . 25 May 2006 . 10 March 2019 . 0190-8286.
  20. News: Appel pour la mise en commun des données sur le H5N1 . Nau . Jean-Yves . 10 April 2006 . Le Monde . 10 March 2019.
  21. https://www.epizone-eu.net/en/Home/show/Avian-influenza.htm EPIZONE
  22. News: Health Officials Urge Nations to Report Bird Flu Data Sooner . Altman . Lawrence K. . March 21, 2006. The New York Times. July 31, 2018.
  23. Book: Capua, Ilaria . Io, trafficante di virus - una storia di scienza e di amara giustizia . Rizzoli Libri S.p.A . 2017 . 9788817093873 . Rizzoli, Milano . 36.
  24. Abbott . Alison . February 21, 2013 . Reforms at stake in Italian election . Nature . 494 . 7437 . 293. 10.1038/494293a . 23426302 . 2013Natur.494..293A . free .
  25. Web site: XVII Legislatura - XVII Legislatura - Deputati e Organi - Scheda deputato - CAPUA Ilaria . XVII Legislature - Deputies and Organs - Member card - CAPUA Ilaria . 2015. Camera dei deputati . 10 March 2019.
  26. News: "Io, Ilaria Capua, lascio la Camera Questione di rispetto e credibilità" Ecco la lettera di dimissioni . Capua . Ilaria . September 28, 2016 . Corriere della Sera . July 31, 2018.
  27. News: Il business segreto della vendita dei virus che coinvolge aziende e trafficanti . Secret business of the sale of viruses involves companies and traffickers . Abbate . Lirio . 3 April 2014 . L'Espresso . 10 March 2019.
  28. News: Il caso Ilaria Capua: radiografia del suicidio italiano . The Ilaria Capua case: an X-ray of Italian suicide . Feltri . Mattia . 25 June 2017 . La Stampa . 10 March 2019.
  29. News: Un Paese che detesta la scienza . A country that hates science . Mieli . Paolo . 29 May 2016 . Corriere della Sera . 10 March 2019.
  30. News: Finisce il calvario di Ilaria: Ma ora mi sento sfregiata . Ilaria's ordeal ends 'But now I feel scarred' . Stella . Gian Antonio . 6 July 2016 . Corriere della Sera. 10 March 2019.
  31. News: Gli ozi di Capua del garantismo . Capone . Luciano . 7 July 2016. Il Foglio . 10 March 2019.
  32. News: Criminal charges against prominent Italian flu scientist dismissed . Barone . Luca Tancredi . 14 July 2016. Science . 10 March 2019 . 10.1126/science.aag0662.
  33. Web site: The Avian Pathology Lecture. 2018. Houghton Trust. July 31, 2018.
  34. News: SciAm 50: See-Through Technology and Better Sleep. Choi. Charles Q.. January 2008. Scientific American. July 31, 2018.
  35. Web site: The Revolutionary Mind of Dr. Capua. 2008. ISSNAF - Italian Scientists and Scholars of North American Foundation. July 31, 2018.
  36. Web site: Premio Grande Ippocrate. 2018. Unione Nazionale Medico Scientifica Di Informazione.
  37. News: Penn Vet Announces Recipients of World Leadership in Animal Health Award, Student Inspiration Award. Stratton. Kelly. September 14, 2011. Penn Today. July 31, 2018.
  38. News: Award winner recognized for forward thinking. Larkin. Malinda. September 14, 2011. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). July 31, 2018.
  39. Web site: Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana. November 9, 2012. Il sito ufficiale della Presidenza della Repubblica. July 31, 2018.
  40. Web site: Robert Fraser Gordon Memorial Lectures. 2012. The United Kingdom Branch of the WPSA. July 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20140412212206/http://www.wpsa-uk.com/meetings/robert-gordon-fraser-memorial-lecturers. April 12, 2014. dead.
  41. Web site: The WVPA Hall of Honour. 2018. The World Veterinary Poultry Association. July 31, 2018.
  42. Web site: Premio della Fondazione "Guido Lenghi e Flaviano Magrassi". June 21, 2013. Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (in Italian). July 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20140410070604/http://www.lincei.it/files/documenti/Premiati_2013.pdf. April 10, 2014. dead.
  43. News: L'accademia dei Lincei premia la virologa Ilaria Capua. Cerati. Francesca. June 21, 2013. Il Sole 24 Ore (In Italian). July 31, 2018.
  44. News: Scientific excellence award given to a woman for the first time in recognition of her leadership in the field of avian influenza. Hoffman; Bartley. Claire; Cathy. May 12, 2014. ESCMID - Press Releases 2014. July 31, 2018.
  45. Bosurgi. Raffaella. July 2014. Highlights from the 24th ECCMID. The Lancet. 14. 7. 557–558. 10.1016/S1473-3099(14)70816-3. 25101363.
  46. Web site: Premio Internazionale NordSud 2017. October 11, 2017. Fondazione Pescarabruzzo. July 31, 2018.
  47. Web site: One Health leader presents prestigious Schofield Lecture. November 29, 2017. The Veterinary Page. July 31, 2018.

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