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Investigation
Arbovirus and imported viral diseases
Research Lines
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B) Study of the distribution and dynamics of HPV infections in risk groups. There are some particularly vulnerable groups, some of them difficult to access (sex workers, transgender groups, etc.), in which HPV infections deserve special attention. The prevalence of HPV infection is especially high in people living with HIV and/or among men who have sex with men. Knowledge of the distribution and dynamics of infections is especially interesting in these groups, as they may help to improve current algorithms for the prevention of anogenital cancer.
C) Study of infection by HPV genotypes and their relationship with progression to neoplastic processes. The oncogenic capacity of some HPV genotypes and their involvement in the production of anogenital cancer is well known. In addition, there are other oncological processes, such as non-melanoma skin cancer, in which HPV could be implicated. Thus, members of the gamma-24 HPV species have recently been associated with skin cancer. It is to be hoped that the appearance of new genotypes and the performance of more extensive studies may lead to the identification of new associations between HPV and neoplastic processes.
D) Study of co-infections by different HPV genotypes. The presence of co-infections of different HPV genotypes is a very frequent finding, both in skin samples and in different mucous membranes. The great genetic diversity of HPV limits the ability of classical molecular methods to perform a comprehensive detection and study of the genotypes present. However, the use of massive sequencing makes it possible to eliminate some of these biases and to obtain more detailed information on the existing HPV populations, as well as to analyze interactions between the different genotypes.
E) Description of new HPV genotypes/variants. Currently at the International HPV Reference Center (Karolinska Institute, Sweden) more than 220 HPV genotypes are described, distributed in 5 different genera. However, improved molecular detection techniques, as well as the use of massive sequencing, are allowing this number to increase rapidly. The study of new genotypes and variants is essential for the validation and quality control of available diagnostic methods. Similarly, their characterization and the study of possible associations of HPV with pathologies other than those already known is a field of great interest for research.
Research projects
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Título: Impact of vaccination against Human Papillomavirus in Spain: Studye of the distribution of genotypes and its application in surveillance. Principal Investigator: Horacio Gil. Starting/End dates: 2024-2026. Funding Entity: Acción Estratégica de Salud Intramural (AESI) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Project Reference: PI23CIII/00006.
Título: Effect of feminizing therapy on immune response in transgender women. Principal Investigator: Victor Manuel Sánchez Merino. Collaborating Investigator: Horacio Gil. Starting/End dates:2025-2027. Funding Entity: Acción Estratégica de Salud Intramural (AESI) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Project Reference: PI24CIII/00031.
Publications
Identification and Analysis of Unstructured, Linear B-Cell Epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 Virion Proteins for Vaccine Development
Identification and Analysis of Unstructured, Linear B-Cell Epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 Virion Proteins for Vaccine Development. Corral-Lugo A, López-Siles M, López D, McConnell MJ, Martin-Galiano AJ. Vaccines. 2020 Jul 20;8(3):397. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030397.
PUBMEDUsing Omics Technologies and Systems Biology to Identify Epitope Targets for the Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Using Omics Technologies and Systems Biology to Identify Epitope Targets for the Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Martín-Galiano AJ, McConnell MJ.Front Immunol. 2019 Dec 10;10:2841. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02841. eCollection 2019.
PUBMEDA lipopolysaccharide-free outer membrane vesicle vaccine protects against Acinetobacter baumannii infection
A lipopolysaccharide-free outer membrane vesicle vaccine protects against Acinetobacter baumannii infection. Pulido MR, García-Quintanilla M, Pachón J, McConnell MJ.Vaccine. 2020 Jan 22;38(4):719-724. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.11.043.
PUBMEDA Live Salmonella Vaccine Delivering PcrV through the Type III Secretion System Protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
A Live Salmonella Vaccine Delivering PcrV through the Type III Secretion System Protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Aguilera-Herce J, García-Quintanilla M, Romero-Flores R, McConnell MJ, Ramos-Morales F. mSphere. 2019 Apr 17;4(2):e00116-19. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00116-19.
PUBMEDWhere are we with monoclonal antibodies for multidrug-resistant infections?
Where are we with monoclonal antibodies for multidrug-resistant infections? McConnell MJ. Drug Discov Today. 2019 May;24(5):1132-1138. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.03.002.
PUBMEDPeptidoglycan recycling contributes to intrinsic resistance to fosfomycin in Acinetobacter baumannii
Peptidoglycan recycling contributes to intrinsic resistance to fosfomycin in Acinetobacter baumannii. Gil-Marqués ML, Moreno-Martínez P, Costas C, Pachón J, Blázquez J, McConnell MJ. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2018 Nov 1;73(11):2960-2968. doi: 10.1093/jac/dky289.
PUBMEDImmunization with lipopolysaccharide-free outer membrane complexes protects against Acinetobacter baumannii infection
Immunization with lipopolysaccharide-free outer membrane complexes protects against Acinetobacter baumannii infection. Pulido MR, García-Quintanilla M, Pachón J, McConnell MJ. Vaccine. 2018 Jul 5;36(29):4153-4156. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.05.113.
PUBMEDPhenotypic changes associated with Colistin resistance due to Lipopolysaccharide loss in Acinetobacter baumannii
Phenotypic changes associated with Colistin resistance due to Lipopolysaccharide loss in Acinetobacter baumannii. Carretero-Ledesma M, García-Quintanilla M, Martín-Peña R, Pulido MR, Pachón J, McConnell MJ. Virulence. 2018 Dec 31;9(1):930-942. doi: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1460187.
PUBMEDContent with Investigacion .
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Horacio Gil Gil
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-7114-6686
Degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and PhD in Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from the University of Zaragoza. He did his PhD thesis at NEIKER Tecknalia (Derio, Vizcaya) and the National Center for Microbiology of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid) on the biological cycle of Lyme disease in the Basque Country. After that, he developed his postdoctoral training in different aspects of the pathogenesis of tularemia at the Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, New York (USA) for 3 years. In December 2005, he joined the Reference and Research Laboratory in Special Pathogens of the CNM-ISCIII where he developed diagnostic, reference and research activities, in Bartonella, Leptospira and pathogens of interest in bioterrorism. Between 2014-2016 he participated in the European Program for the Training of Microbiologists in Public Health (EUPHEM), organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. During this program, he participated in an international mission for the investigation of a cholera outbreak in Ghana, proposed by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Diseases in Hamburg (Germany). In December 2016, he worked as a laboratory consultant for the World Health Organization at their office in Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Subsequently, he worked one year with Médecins Sans Frontières as director and quality manager of the TB laboratory in Nukus (Uzbekistan).
In 2019, he joined the HIV Variability and Biology Unit at CNM-ISCIII, where he developed different reference and research activities, including his contribution to the molecular epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 in Spain and the study of HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance. Since September 2022 he has been leading the Human Papillomavirus Unit at the CNM-ISCIII. -
Alicia Inés García Señán
Predoctoral Student UNED
Degree in Pharmacy in 2013 from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed specialized health training in Microbiology and Parasitology at the Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca (2014-2018). During this period he studied a master's degree in Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (2016). She has developed her professional activity as a clinical microbiologist at the Hospital de Santa Bárbara (Soria) (2018), Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón (Barcelona) (2019-2022), and Hospital Central de la Defensa (Gómez Ulla) C.S.V.E, since 2022. In September 2024 she has started PhD studies at the Human Papillomavirus Unit of the CNM-ISCIII.
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Manuela Rodríguez Vargas
Técnico de Laboratorio
List of staff
Additional Information
Our objectives are research into well-established autochthonous viruses (Toscana, West Nile and Lymphocoriomeningitis), imported viruses with a vector in Spain (mainly Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya), and viruses that cause haemorrhagic fevers (such as Ebola, Lassa or Crimea Congo, which despite being autochthonous, we include in this category) without forgetting other viruses that, at any time, may become emerging viruses and cause public health alerts.
The group's main research objective is to identify and characterise the aforementioned viruses that cause disease and those circulating in our environment with pathogenic potential.
One of the cross-cutting objectives of the laboratory is to optimise methods for the detection of these viruses and their application to determine the incidence, prevalence and/or presence of the viruses in our environment.
However, in addition to methodological development, it is important to know the origin of the circulating viruses, their antigenic relationships with related viruses, the pathogenicity of the different isolates or the interactions of the agents with their host both in cell culture and in arthropod vectors when this is possible. The aim is to strengthen our role as a National Reference Laboratory for zoonoses through research.
Our objectives are research into well-established autochthonous viruses (Toscana, West Nile and Lymphocoriomeningitis), imported viruses with a vector in Spain (mainly Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya), and viruses that cause haemorrhagic fevers (such as Ebola, Lassa or Crimea Congo, which despite being autochthonous, we include in this category) without forgetting other viruses that, at any time, may become emerging viruses and cause public health alerts.
The group's main research objective is to identify and characterise the aforementioned viruses that cause disease and those circulating in our environment with pathogenic potential.
One of the cross-cutting objectives of the laboratory is to optimise methods for the detection of these viruses and their application to determine the incidence, prevalence and/or presence of the viruses in our environment.
However, in addition to methodological development, it is important to know the origin of the circulating viruses, their antigenic relationships with related viruses, the pathogenicity of the different isolates or the interactions of the agents with their host both in cell culture and in arthropod vectors when this is possible. The aim is to strengthen our role as a National Reference Laboratory for zoonoses through research.