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Investigation
Viral Biology
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
The Laboratory of Medical Entomology (LME) develops an intense reference and research activity, focused on the field of disease vectors of interest in Public Health. The LME has an insectary where biological cycles of insect vectors are currently maintained, allowing the performance, among others, of vector competence and xenodiagnostic studies. The LME supports the national health system by offering techniques available in the portfolio of services for the taxonomic identification of arthropods of health interest. In addition, it performs entomological surveillance of outbreaks, supporting Surveillance Plans. In particular, the LME plays a leading role in the Entomological Surveillance Plan for Leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid. On the other hand, the LME offers scientific advice to the CCAES (Centro de Coordinación de Alertas y Emergencias Sanitarias, Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social), and participates in the elaboration of reports and rapid risk assessments.
The main research lines of the Laboratory of Medical Entomology are:
1. Maintenance of insect vector colonies: phlebotomine sand flies (Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus argentipes, vectors of Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani, respectively), Culex and Aedes mosquitoes (vectors of various arboviruses) and Rhodnius prolixus (vector of Trypanosoma cruzi).
2. Biology of disease vectors of public health interest: biology, vector competence, experimental infections. The CNM has a BSL3 safety laboratory to carry out vector competence studies with culicidae and phlebotomine sand flies.
3. Entomological sampling, infectivity of potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis.
4. Insecticides and repellents: evaluation of their efficacy.
5. Characterization of saliva proteins of hematophagous Diptera: genomics, proteomics, biochemistry and gene editing. Study of salivary proteins as markers of bite exposure, virulence factors and/or vaccines.
6. Xenodiagnosis of leishmaniasis.
7. Molecular biology and taxonomy of phlebotomine sand flies. Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in phlebotomine sand flies and characterization of Leishmania spp. Molecular identification of blood ingested by vectors.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
CURRENT PROJECTS
Project title: "Biochemical and functional characterisation of salivary proteins of Phlebotomus perniciosus and their role in infection by Leishmania infantum (PERNIPROT)"Reference: Project PID2023-147773NA-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.
Start date: 01/09/2024
End date: 31/08/2028
Funding: €175,000
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín.
Funding agency: Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Proyecto de Generación del Conocimiento 2023).
Project title: "Surveillance of leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid from a “One Health” perspective: study of the infectious capacity of patients with visceral leishmaniasis and their role as reservoirs"
Reference: PI24CIII/00026
Start date: 01/01/2025
End date: 31/12/2027
Funding: €60,000.00
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín.
Co-principal investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI).
Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: file no. 17/2024 (A/SER-008455/2024).
Start date: 26/06/2024
End date: 10/12/25, extendable to 2026
Total funding: €171,084
Principal Investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service Contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid
Project Title: CIBERINFEC Research Group (CB21/13/00110)
Start date: 2021
End date: currently active
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mª Paz Sánchez-Seco, Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases Unit.
Researchers from the Medical Entomology Laboratory: Maribel Jiménez (member), Inés Martín Martín (collaborator).
Funding: €108,134. File number: CB21/13/00110.
Funding agency: Consortium Centre for Biomedical Research in NETWORK (CIBER)
PAST PROJECTS
Service Contract: "Evaluation of the anti-leishmania effect of the bacteria Tc1 and its derivatives in the intravectorial cycle"
Reference: ISCIII-06896
Start date: 15/12/2022
End date: 15/04/2025
Funding: €71,265.67
Principal Investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín
Funding agency: Service Contract between the company GlaxoSmithKline R&D (GSK) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: 59/2020 (A/SER-040739/2020)
Start date: 10/12/2021
End date: 10/12/2023.
Funding: €42,612.17 per year Total 2021-2023: €127,836.51
Principal Investigators: Ricardo Molina /Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid
Project title: "Research and Integrated Surveillance of Emerging Arboviruses West Nile, Toscana and Dengue in some areas of Spain"
Reference: PI19CIII/00014
Start date: 2020
End date: 2022
Principal Investigator: Ana Vázquez González
Co-Principal Investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €60,000.00
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI).
Project title: "Characterisation of the concept of ‘asymptomatic carrier’ in leishmaniasis: implications for treatment".
Start date: 01/01/2015
End date: 31/12/2017
Principal investigators: Javier Moreno and Javier García
Funding: €159,940
Funding agency: Study Agreement between Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), the Spanish Foundation for International Cooperation, Health and Social Policy (FCSAI) and Fuenlabrada Hospital. Subcontractor: ISCIII Medical Entomology Unit (Maribel Jiménez and Ricardo Molina).
Project title: "Biology and control of vector-borne infections in Europe (EDENext Collaborative Project): Sandfly-borne diseases".
Reference: Subproject (PBD) (EU, FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage, contract No. 261504).
Start date: 2011
End date: 2014
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina General coordinator: Petr Volf
Funding: €140,000
Funding agency: EU-FP7
Project Title: "Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva as a source in the search for potential targets for the development of vaccines against Leishmania infantum"
Reference: AGL2008-01592/GAN (MICINN)
Start date: 2009
End date: 2011
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €70,180
Funding agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation
Publications
Ribavirin Had Demonstrable Effects on the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) Population and Load in a Patient With CCHF Infection
9. Nicole Espy; Unai Pérez-Sautu; Eva Ramírez de Arellano; Anabel Negredo; MR Wiley; S Bavari; Marta Díaz Manéndez; María Paz Sánchez-Seco; Gustavo Palacios. Ribavirin Had Demonstrable Effects on the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) Population and Load in a Patient With CCHF Infection. J Infect Dis. 217 - 12, pp. 1952 - 1956. 25/05/2018.
PUBMED DOIAcute respiratory distress syndrome after convalescent plasma use: treatment of a patient with Ebola virus disease contracted in Madrid, Spain.
10. M Mora-Rillo, M Arsuaga, G Ramírez-Olivencia, F de la Calle, A M Borobia, P Sánchez-Seco, M Lago, J C Figueira, B Fernández-Puntero, A Viejo, A Negredo, C Nuñez, E Flores, A J Carcas, V Jiménez-Yuste, F Lasala, A García-de-Lorenzo, F Arnalich, J R Arribas, for the La Paz-Carlos III University Hospital Isolation Unit. Acute respiratory distress syndrome after convalescent plasma use: treatment of a patient with Ebola virus disease contracted in Madrid, Spain. Lancet Respir Med. 3-7, pp:554-562. 31/05/2015
PUBMED DOIViral infections of the central nervous system in Spain: a prospective study.
1. F. de Ory, A. Avellón, J.E. Echevarría, M.P. Sánchez-Seco, G. Trallero, M. Cabrerizo, I. Casas, F. Pozo, G. Fedele, D. Vicente, M. J. Pena, A. Moreno, J. Niubo, N. Rabella, G. Rubio, M. Pérez Ruiz, M. Rodríguez-Iglesias, C. Gimeno, J.M. Eiros, S. Melón, M. Blasco, I. López-Miragaya, E. Varela, A. Martinez-Sapiña, G. Rodríguez, M.Á. Marcos, M.I. Gegúndez, G. Cilla, I. Gabilondo, J.M. Navarro, J. Torres, C. Aznar, A. Castellanos, M.E. Guisasola, A.I. Negredo, A. Tenorio, S. Vázquez-Morón (2013). Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System in Spain: a prospective Study. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY 85: 554-562.
PUBMED DOIFirst case of imported Zika virus infection in Spain
4. P. Bachiller-Luque, M. Dominguez-Gil-González, J. Alvarez-Manzanares, A. Vázquez, F. de Ory, M.P. Sánchez-Seco Fariñas (2016). First case of Zika virus infection imported to Spain (original breve). ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGÍA CLÍNICA, 34: 243-246.
PUBMED DOIChikungunya virus infections among travellers returning to Spain, 2008 to 2014.
5. M.D. Fernandez-Garcia, M. Bangert, F. de Ory, A. Potente, L. Hernández, F. Lasala, L. Herrero, F. Molero, A. Negredo, A. Vázquez, T. Minguito, P. Balfagón, J. de la Fuente, S. Puente, E. Ramírez de Arellano, M. Lago, M.J. Martinez, J. Gascón, F. Norman, R. Lopez-Velez, E. Sulleiro, D. Pou, N. Serre, R. Fernández-Roblas, A. Tenorio, L. Franco, M.P. Sánchez-Seco (2016). Chikungunya virus infections among travelers returning to Spain, 2008-2014. EUROSURVEILLANCE 2016; 21(36):pii=30336.
PUBMED DOIComparison of commercial methods of immunoblot, ELISA, and chemiluminescent immunoassay for detecting type-specific herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2 IgG.
7. F. de Ory, M.E. Guisasola, P. Balfagón, J.C. Sanz. 2018. Comparison of commercial methods of immunoblot, ELISA, and chemiluminescent immunoassay for detecting type-specific herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2 IgG. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS; 32:e22203.
PUBMED DOIGenomic non-coding regions reveal hidden patterns of mumps virus circulation in Spain, 2005 to 2015.
8. A.M. Gavilán, A. Fernández-García, A. Rueda, A. Castellanos, J. Masa-Calles, N. López-Perea, M.V. Torres de Mier, F. de Ory, J.E. Echevarría. 2018. Genomic non-coding regions reveal hidden patterns of mumps virus circulation in Spain, 2005 to 2015. EUROSURVEILLANCE, 2018;23(15):pii=17-00349.
PUBMED DOIComparative evaluation of indirect immunofluoresecence and NS-1 based ELISA for the determination of Zika virus specific IgM.
9. F. de Ory, M.P. Sánchez-Seco, A. Vázquez, M.D. Montero, E. Sulleiro, M.J. Martinez, L. Matas, F.J. Merino, and Working Group for the Study of Zika Virus Infections (WGSZVI). 2018. Comparative evaluation of indirect immunofluoresecence and NS-1 based ELISA for the determination of Zika virus specific IgM. VIRUSES 10, 379
PUBMED DOIMeasles virus genotype D4 strains with non-standard genome lengths circulated during the large outbreaks in Spain in 2011-2012
10. H. Gil, A. Fernández-García, M.M. Mosquera, J.M. Hübschen, A. Castellanos, F. de Ory, J. Masa, J.E. Echevarria. 2018. Measles virus genotype D4 strains with non-standard length M-F non-coding region circulated during the major outbreaks of 2011-2012 in Spain. PLOS ONE July 16, 2018.
PUBMED DOIHepatitis E genotype 3 genome: A comprehensive analysis of entropy, motif conservation, relevant mutations, and clade-associated polymorphisms
• Muñoz-Chimeno M, Rodríguez-Paredes V, García-Lugo MA, Avellón A. Hepatitis E genotype 3 genome: A comprehensive analysis of entropy, motif conservation, relevant mutations, and clade-associated polymorphisms. Front Microbiol. 2022 Oct 6;13:1011662.
PUBMED DOIFrecuencia de sustituciones relevantes asociadas a resistencia en la región NS5A a elbasvir en el virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con genotipo 1a en España
Palladino C, Esteban-Cartelle B, Mate-Cano I, Sánchez-Carrillo M, Resino S, Briz V. Frecuencia de sustituciones relevantes asociadas a resistencia en la región NS5A a elbasvir en el virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con genotipo 1a en España Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2018; 36 (5): 262-267
PUBMED DOIProline-Rich Hypervariable Region of Hepatitis E Virus: Arranging the Disorder.
• Muñoz-Chimeno M, Cenalmor A, García-Lugo MA, Hernandez M, David Rodríguez-Lazaro D, Avellón A. Proline-Rich Hypervariable Region of Hepatitis E Virus: Arranging the Disorder. Microorganisms. 2020 Sep 15;8(9):1417.
PUBMED DOIClinical performance of Determine HBsAg 2 rapid test for Hepatitis B detection.
• Avellón A, Ala A, Diaz A, Domingo D, González R, Hidalgo L, Kooner L, Loganathan S, Martin D, McPherson S, Muñoz-Chimeno M, Ryder S, Gabrielle Slapak G, Ryan P, Valbuena M, Kennedy PT. Clinical performance of Determine HBsAg 2 rapid test for Hepatitis B detection. J Med Virol. 2020 Apr 9.
PUBMED DOIHepatitis E virus genotype 3 microbiological surveillance by the Spanish Reference Laboratory: geographic distribution and phylogenetic analysis of subtypes from 2009 to 2019.
• Muñoz-Chimeno M, Bartúren S, García-Lugo MA, Morago L, Rodríguez A, Galán JC, Pérez-Rivilla A, Rodríguez M, Millán R, Del Álamo M, Alonso R, Molina L, Aguinaga A, Avellón A. Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 microbiological surveillance by the Spanish Reference Laboratory: geographic distribution and phylogenetic analysis of subtypes from 2009 to 2019. Euro Surveill. 2022 Jun;27(23):2100542.
PUBMED DOIHepatitis E virus: Assessment of the epidemiological situation in humans in Europe
• Adlhoch C, Avellón A, Baylis SA, Ciccaglione AR, Couturier E, de Sousa R, Epštein J, Ethelberg S, Faber M, Fehér A, Ijaz S, Lange H, Manďáková Z, Mellou K, Mozalevskis A, Rimhanen-Finne R, Rizzi V, Said B, Sundqvist L, Thornton L, Tosti ME, van Pelt W, Aspinall E, Domanovic D, Severi E, Takkinen J, Dalton HR. Hepatitis E virus: Assessment of the epidemiological situation in humans in Europe, 2014/15. J Clin Virol. 2016 Sep;82:9-16.
PUBMED DOIEmergence of linezolid-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in an intensive care unit
2. Emergence of linezolid-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in an intensive care unit. Balandin B, Lobo B, Orden B, Román F, García E, Martínez R, Valdivia M, Ortega A, Fernández I, Galdos P. Infect Dis (Lond). 2016;48(5):343-9.
PUBMED DOIHorizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance.
3. Horizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance. Cafini F, Nguyen le TT, Higashide M, Román F, Prieto J, Morikawa K. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016 Mar;71(3):587-92.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Concepción Casado Herrero
Tenure Scientist of Public Research Organizations (OPIs)
ORCID code: 0000-0003-3412-2877
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Javier García Pérez
Investigador Doctor
ORCID code: 0000-0001-7551-7803
Graduated in Biochemistry (1999) and Molecular Biology (2000) from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), he obtained a predoctoral fellowship “ISCIII” in the AIDS Immunopathology laboratory, where he developed new techniques based on recombinant viruses. His doctoral thesis focused on the application of this technological development to the study of the replicative capacity of HIV-1 and its resistance to antiretroviral drugs, obtaining the degree of Doctor of Science from the UAM in 2007.
Thanks to a short postdoc in 2008 and several stays between 2009 and 2015 at the Viral Pathogenesis Unit of the Institut Pasteur in Paris he extended his training in the study of HIV-1 envelope and tropism. Between 2015 and 2019 he rejoins the AIDS Immunopathology Unit at ISCIII, focusing his work on the study of the functional capacity of founder viruses, as well as variants of the virus with interest in Public Health due to its recent expansion in our country. He is currently leading a project on the study of a mutation in transportin 3 observed in patients with a very rare muscular dystrophy (LGMDD2) that confers protection against HIV-1 infection.
During the last 5 years he combines this activity in HIV-1 with the participation and leadership of different clinical trials and studies investigating the immunity generated in people vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Since 2024 he is a “Investigador Doctor fuera de Convenio” at the Spanish National Centre of Microbiology and he currently coordinates together with Dr. Francisco Díez Fuertes the AIDS Immunopathology Unit.
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Miguel Thomson
Research Professor. Head of Unit
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Eloisa Yuste Herranz
Staff Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9484-9974
She holds a Bachelor's and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed her first postdoctoral stay (1998–2001) at the “Severo Ochoa” Molecular Biology Center (Madrid). In 2001, she undertook a second postdoctoral stay at Harvard Medical School (USA), where she was promoted to Associate Researcher in 2005.
In 2008, she joined the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (Barcelona) as a Ramón y Cajal Researcher, later being promoted to I3 Researcher in 2011 at the same institution. In 2016, she joined the National Center for Microbiology at the Carlos III Health Institute (Madrid) as a Distinguished Researcher. In 2018, she was promoted to Tenured Scientist at the same institution.
Her research has focused on the study of humoral immunity against HIV-1 and the development of preventive HIV-1 vaccine prototypes. She is currently co-leading, alongside Dr. Víctor Sánchez Merino, the newly established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit.
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Francisco Díez Fuertes
Investigador Doctor Indefinido
ORCID code: 0000-0003-2413-9229
Degree in Biology from the University of León, PhD specialized in molecular virology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2010 and master's degree in bioinformatics and computational biology from the same university in 2012. He has done research stays at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (USA) in 2010, Nebraska Center for Virology (USA) in 2011, Institut Pasteur (France) in 2013 and J. Craig Venter Institute (USA) in 2015-2016.
He joined the AIDS Immunopathology Unit in 2013 with a contract from the “Sara Borrell” postdoctoral program. After a period at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute in Barcelona he rejoins the AIDS Immunopathology Unit in 2020 as a PhD researcher.
His lines of research have focused on the genomic and transcriptomic characterization of extreme phenotypes in HIV-1 infection, including long-term non-progressors and elite controllers. He collaborates with other laboratories of the center in the analysis of outbreaks caused by viruses with interest in Public Health, as well as in evolutionary studies on genomic epidemiology. Since 2020 he has led different clinical studies on COVID-19. Currently, he combines omics sciences with different bioinformatics tools to answer different scientific questions in the field of virology, especially in HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 research. He currently coordinates together with Dr. Javier García Pérez the AIDS Immunopathology Unit.
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María Pernas Escario
Senior Specialized Technician of Public Research Organizations (OPIs)
ORCID code: 0000-0003-2966-0160
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Victor Sánchez Merino
Distinguished Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0001-9400-427X
He holds a Bachelor's and a Ph.D. in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid, specializing in virology and molecular biology. His research has focused on the study of HIV and EBV. His doctoral thesis addressed the evolution of HIV-1 and the restoration of mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase function.
He completed a postdoctoral stay at Harvard University, investigating new viral interactions (2001–2003). At the University of Massachusetts, he explored CD8+ T lymphocyte responses in vertical HIV transmission (2003–2008).
In Spain, at the Hospital Clínico-IDIBAPS (Barcelona; 2008–2017) and the Carlos III Health Institute (Madrid; 2017–Present), he has led research on HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies and the design of preventive vaccines.He is currently co-leading, alongside Dr. Eloísa Yuste Herranz, the newly established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit. Additionally, he is a professor and principal investigator at Alfonso X el Sabio University (Madrid).
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Nuria González Fernández
Investigadora Contratada indefinida
ORCID code: 0000-0002-0087-5144
She completed her PhD in 2007 (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), focused on the development of an envelope recombinant virus system to characterize HIV-1 tropism, as well as on the study of the role of the chemokine CXCL12 in virus propagation at the infectious synapse. Part of this work was carried out in the laboratory of Dr. Quentin Sattentau at the University of Oxford.
During her postdoctoral period, she expanded her research on the mechanisms of HIV entry and specialized in the study of the neutralizing response. She developed a system to measure neutralizing activity, which has been used in clinical trials of HIV vaccine candidates. During a stay at the Vaccine Research Center, NIH (USA), she acquired experience in various techniques for the characterization of broadly neutralizing antibodies, leading to new collaborations and research projects, which she is currently developing in the AIDS Immunopathology Unit of the Carlos III Health Institute.
She has participated in research networks such as EAVI2020 (co-PI), CIBERINFEC, RIS and EUROPRISE (EU). Since 2014 she is a professor of the Master in Microbiology applied to Public Health and Infectious Diseases Research at the University of the University of Alcalá and, since 2023, of the Master in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection at the University Rey Juan Carlos.
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Almudena Rubio Perez
Research Assistant
ORCID code: 0009-0006-4687-7555
Graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Córdoba (Andalusia, Spain) with a master's degree in Biomedicine from the University of Cádiz (Andalusia, Spain). She is currently part of the Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit (IHV) at the National Center for Microbiology (CNM) under a Youth Guarantee contract funded by the Community of Madrid and is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Microbiology and Parasitology program at the Complutense University of Madrid.
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Virginia Sandonís Martín
Senior Specialized Technician of Public Research Organizations (OPIs)
ORCID code: 0000-0001-5762-7531
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Mercedes Bermejo Herrero
Investigadora post-doctoral contratada
ORCID code: 0000-0001-9909-8578
Degree and PhD in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) from the Autonoma University of Madrid. Her doctoral thesis studied the expression of CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCL12 in lymphocytes and dendritic cells and their implications in HIV-1 infection.
She has completed internships in various laboratories: the Immunology Department of the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid, the Research Center of the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid (where she was head of the flow cytometry service) and is currently at the CNM (National Research Center) of the Carlos III Health Institute.
Her research interests have focused on the study of HIV biology and its interaction with the immune system. She has currently participated in clinical trials, CombiVacs and ENE-Covid Senior, and in collaboration with Hipra.
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Rosa Fuentes Fernández
Laboratory Technician
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Rubén Ayala Suárez
Técnico Superior Especializado OPI
ORCID code: 0000-0002-1271-646.
Graduated in Biotechnology from the University of Cadiz (2015), Master in Microbiology of Infectious Diseases (2016) and PhD in Functional Biology from the University of Alcalá (2023). He carried out his PhD Thesis at the AIDS Immunopathology laboratory (CNM) on post-translational epigenetic mechanisms of natural control of HIV infection. In the same period, he completed a Diploma in Bioinformatics at Pablo de Olavide University (2021).
In 2023 he joined as a postdoctoral researcher in the HIV and AIDS research group at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (Barcelona), where he worked on the relationship of HIV and senescence until his incorporation as a Técnico Superior Especializado in the AIDS Immunopathology unit of the Spanish National Center of Microbiology (ISCIII) in 2025.
The main research projects in which he participates focus on resistance and natural control to HIV infection, as well as the evaluation of the immune response in vaccine trials, using mainly bioinformatics techniques focused on massive sequencing (RNA-Seq, single-cell, genome sequencing), the application of biostatistics and machine learning in data management.
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Almudena Cascajero Díaz
Técnico de laboratorio
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9654-3100
Técnico Superior de Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales (Unidades de Inmunopatología del SIDA y Legionella, Centro Nacional de Microbiología). Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Technician by IES Renacimiento de Madrid.
Experience in cloning techniques and characterization of neutralizing antibodies and participation in different projects on the pathogenesis of HIV by studying the viral envelope and the mechanisms of resistance to antiretroviral drugs. This experience has subsequently allowed me to participate in 5 multicenter clinical studies studying the immune response against different variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Since 2021, I also participate as a laboratory technician in the Legionella Unit as a support to the Spanish National Health System through the microbiological surveillance of the disease to contribute to the prevention and control of legionellosis.
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Manuela Beltrán Vicente
Técnico de Laboratorio Indefinido
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6185-2280
Senior Technician of Technical and Professional Activities (AIDS Immunopathology Unit, Spanish National Center of Microbiology).
Clinical Analysis Laboratory Specialist Technician by IES Las Musas (Madrid, 1996). Demonstrated experience in the development of strategies against HIV, focused on the screening of compounds of both natural and synthetic origin with antiviral activity and identification and evaluation of potential therapeutic agents, as well as the screening of serological samples for the study of immunity for the identification of possible strategies for the development of vaccines against HIV. -
Silvia Jara Herrera
Técnico de Laboratorio Contratado CIBERINFEC
ORCID code: 0009-0001-2842-2040
Clinical and Biomedical Diagnostic Laboratory Technician.
She is currently working in the AIDS Immunopathology Unit of the Spanish National Center of Microbiology (ISCIII) with a contract through the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Infectious Diseases (CIBER-INFEC).
She worked from March 2020 to September 2024 at the Department of Animal Health (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
She has experience in serological techniques (ELISA, Western Blot and IFA), cell culture and molecular biology.
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Irene Díaz Marín
Técnico de laboratorio contratado
Clinical and Biomedical Diagnostics laboratory technician by CIFP Politécnico de Murcia-CESUR and graduated in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid.
She is currently at the AIDS Immunopathology Unit of the Spanish National Center of Microbiology with a contract of the “Garantía Juvenil” program (Community of Madrid), where she performs technical tasks in several research projects about HIV-1 and COVID-19.
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Lorena Vigón Hernandez
Tenured Specialized Technician from OPIs
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6405-4054
Graduate in Health Biology and PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Alcalá de Henares. In 2016, she joined the CNM-ISCIII under a Youth Guarantee contract funded by the Community of Madrid, and in 2018 she was awarded a pFIS fellowship, which enabled her to remain at the same institution. Subsequently, in 2022, she was appointed as a Tenured Specialized Technical Staff of the Spanish Public Research Organizations (OPIs).
Her research has primarily focused on elucidating the mechanism of action of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in HIV-1 infection (PMID: 32828803; PMID: 34186065), as well as on the identification of biomarkers that could predict COVID-19 severity (PMID: 34616404; PMID: 34122423; PMID: 35960731).
She is currently a member of the recently established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit, led by Dr. Eloisa Yuste and Dr. Victor Sanchez-Merino.
Actualmente forma parte de la recientemente creada Unidad de Inmunidad Humoral y Vacunas frente al VIH, liderada por la Dra. Eloísa Yuste Herranz y el Dr. Víctor Sánchez Merino.
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Laura Capa Muñoz
Investigadora post-doctoral contratada
ORCID code: 0000-0002-0234-331X
Degree in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and PhD from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, she has a master's degree in AIDS (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and a master's degree in HIV infection (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid).
Professional activity developed mainly in the study of infectious diseases, both in the field of basic research in public research centers and in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in the field of public health and scientific management. She has worked in the international response to the HIV pandemic, representing the Ministry of Health as an expert in meetings of the European Commission and collaborated with the WHO. At the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, she has led the scientific management of national and European projects in the AIDS Immunopathology Unit and has been part of the Institute's Data Protection Working Group. Currently, she continues to coordinate the Cohort of Long-Term Non-Progressing Patients created by the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS), is part of the coordination team of the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health IMIENS-UNED-ISCIII and of the Institute's Working Group on Equality.
List of staff
Additional Information
The research activity of the Viral Biology group since its beginnings in the 1980s has focused on respiratory viruses, especially on the study of the mechanisms of virus entry into the cell, evolutionary aspects, antigenic properties and vaccine development.
Currently, the group's objectives are focused on the characterisation of the immune response and the development of vaccines against human pneumoviruses: human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
Both viruses are considered to be important respiratory pathogens of high clinical relevance, especially in the paediatric population.
Safe and effective vaccines against these viruses are currently not available. Soluble protein subunits based on the fusion protein (F-protein) of hRSV and hMPV are being developed in the laboratory by protein engineering for use as vaccines against human pneumoviruses.
On the other hand, and thanks to the characterisation of the type of humoral response induced by the F proteins of these viruses, the laboratory is also involved in the isolation of monoclonal antibodies and nanoantibodies for use as treatments against these viruses.
The research activity of the Viral Biology group since its beginnings in the 1980s has focused on respiratory viruses, especially on the study of the mechanisms of virus entry into the cell, evolutionary aspects, antigenic properties and vaccine development.
Currently, the group's objectives are focused on the characterisation of the immune response and the development of vaccines against human pneumoviruses: human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
Both viruses are considered to be important respiratory pathogens of high clinical relevance, especially in the paediatric population.
Safe and effective vaccines against these viruses are currently not available. Soluble protein subunits based on the fusion protein (F-protein) of hRSV and hMPV are being developed in the laboratory by protein engineering for use as vaccines against human pneumoviruses.
On the other hand, and thanks to the characterisation of the type of humoral response induced by the F proteins of these viruses, the laboratory is also involved in the isolation of monoclonal antibodies and nanoantibodies for use as treatments against these viruses.