Automating IHC and RNAscope® ISH for academic research – Lessons from equine arteritis virus & COVID-19

Dr. Mariano Carossino is an Assistant Professor (appointed) at the Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL), Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. As a virologist and pathologist, he has extensive experience in virus-host interactions and viral pathogenesis. His research is focused on understanding virus-host interactions that govern viral pathogenesis and determine disease outcome, and comparative pathology models to study viral diseases of animals and humans. Dr. Carossino has also experience in the development and validation of molecular diagnostic assays, such as ISH and real-time PCR assays for the detection of animal and human pathogens, and established the Chronic Wasting Disease program at the LADDL as well as expanded the immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assays offered through LADDL. Most recently, he has been involved in SARS-CoV-2 research, particularly in determining susceptibility of animal models of COVID-19, characterization of the K18-hACE2 murine and hamster models, and assessment of the efficacy of therapeutics. His future independent research will be focused on models of comorbidity and COVID-19. He also conducts collaborative projects related to tumor biology.