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Investigation
Medical Entomology
Research Lines
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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
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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
Outbreak of brainstem encephalitis associated with enterovirus-A71 in Catalonia, Spain (2016): a clinical observational study in a children’s reference centre in Catalonia
6. D Casas-Alba, M de Sevilla, A Valero-Rello, C Fortuny, JJ Garcia, C Ortez, J Muchart, T Armangue, I Jordan, C Luaces-Cubells, I Barrabeig, R González-Sanz, M Cabrerizo, C Munoz-Almagro, C Launes. Outbreak of brainstem encephalitis associated with enterovirus-A71 in Catalonia, Spain (2016): a clinical observational study in a children’s reference centre in Catalonia. Clin Microbiol Infect 23: 874-881 (2017)
PUBMED DOIMolecular epidemiology of enterovirus and parechovirus infections according to patient age over a 4-year period in Spain.
7. M Cabrerizo*, M Díaz-Cerio, C Muñoz-Almagro, N Rabella, D Tarragó, MP Romero, MJ Pena, C Calvo, S Rey-Cao, A Moreno-Docón, I Martínez-Rienda, A Otero, G Trallero. Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus and parechovirus infections according to patient age over a 4-year period in Spain. J Med Virol 89: 435-442 (2017).
PUBMED DOIMolecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71, coxsackievirus A16 and A6 associated with hand, foot and mouth disease in Spain
9. M Cabrerizo*, D Tarragó, C Muñóz-Almagro, E del Amo, M Domínguez-Gil, JM Eiros, I López-Miragaya, C Pérez, J Reina, A Otero, I González, JE Echevarría, G Trallero. Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71, coxsackievirus A16 and A6 associated with hand, foot and mouth diease in Spain. Clin Microbiol Infect; 20: O150–O156 (2014).
PUBMED DOIImpact of pretransplant CMV-specific T-cell immune response in the control of CMV infection after solid organ transplantation: a prospective cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect.
Molina-Ortega A, Martín-Gandul C, Mena-Romo JD, Rodríguez-Hernández MJ, Suñer M, Bernal C, Sánchez M, Sánchez-Céspedes J, Pérez Romero P*, Cordero E. Impact of pretransplant CMV-specific T-cell immune response in the control of CMV infection after solid organ transplantation: a prospective cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2019 Jun;25(6):753-758.
PUBMED DOIKinetic of the CMV-specific T-cell immune response and CMV infection in CMV-seropositive kidney transplant recipients receiving rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin induction therapy: A pilot study.
Martín-Gandul C, Pérez-Romero P*, Mena-Romo D, Molina-Ortega A, González-Roncero FM, Suñer M, Bernal G, Cordero E; Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI). Kinetic of the CMV-specific T-cell immune response and CMV infection in CMV-seropositive kidney transplant recipients receiving rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin induction therapy: A pilot study. Transpl Infect Dis. 2018 Jun;20(3):e12883.
PUBMED DOICMV-specific T-cell immunity in solid organ transplant recipients at low risk of CMV infection. Chronology and applicability in preemptive therapy.
Mena-Romo JD, Pérez Romero P*, Martín-Gandul C, Gentil MÁ, Suárez-Artacho G, Lage E, Sánchez M, Cordero E. CMV-specific T-cell immunity in solid organ transplant recipients at low risk of CMV infection. Chronology and applicability in preemptive therapy. J Infect. 2017 Oct;75(4):336-345.
PUBMED DOITwo Doses of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Improve Immune Response in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Results of TRANSGRIPE 1-2, a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
Cordero E, Roca-Oporto C, Bulnes-Ramos A, Aydillo T, Gavaldà J, Moreno A, Torre-Cisneros J, Montejo JM, Fortun J, Muñoz P, Sabé N, Fariñas MC, Blanes-Julia M, López-Medrano F, Suárez-Benjumea A, Martinez-Atienza J, Rosso-Fernández C, Pérez-Romero P*. Two Doses of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Improve Immune Response in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Results of TRANSGRIPE 1-2, a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr 1;64(7):829-838.
PUBMED DOIApplying lessons learned from cytomegalovirus infection in transplant patients to vaccine design.
Blanco-Lobo P, Bulnes-Ramos Á, McConnell MJ, Navarro D, Pérez-Romero P*. Applying lessons learned from cytomegalovirus infection in transplant patients to vaccine design. Drug Discov Today. 2016 Apr;21(4):674-81.
PUBMED DOIUse of antibodies neutralizing epithelial cell infection to diagnose patients at risk for CMV Disease after transplantation.
Blanco-Lobo P, Cordero E, Martín-Gandul C, Gentil MA, Suárez-Artacho G, Sobrino M, Aznar J, Pérez-Romero P*. Use of antibodies neutralizing epithelial cell infection to diagnose patients at risk for CMV Disease after transplantation. J Infect. 2016 May;72(5):597-607.
PUBMED DOITiming of CMV-specific effector memory T cells predicts viral replication and survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Espigado I, de la Cruz-Vicente F, BenMarzouk-Hidalgo OJ, Gracia-Ahufinger I, Garcia-Lozano JR, Aguilar-Guisado M, Cisneros JM, Urbano-Ispizua A, Perez-Romero P*. Timing of CMV-specific effector memory T cells predicts viral replication and survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Transpl Int. 2014 Dec;27(12):1253-62.
PUBMED DOIClinical impact of neutropenia related with the preemptive therapy of CMV infection in solid organ transplant recipients.
Martín-Gandul C, Pérez-Romero P*, González-Roncero FM, Berdaguer S, Gómez MA, Lage E, Sánchez M, Cisneros JM, Cordero E; Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases REIPI. Clinical impact of neutropenia related with the preemptive therapy of CMV infection in solid organ transplant recipients. J Infect. 2014 Nov;69(5):500-6.
PUBMED DOIViral load, CMV-specific T-cell immune response and cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients at higher risk for cytomegalovirus infection during preemptive therapy.
Martín-Gandul C, Pérez-Romero P*, Blanco-Lobo P, Benmarzouk-Hidalgo OJ, Sánchez M, Gentil MA, Bernal C, Sobrino JM, Rodríguez-Hernández MJ, Cordero E; Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI). Viral load, CMV-specific T-cell immune response and cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients at higher risk for cytomegalovirus infection during preemptive therapy. Transpl Int. 2014 Oct;27(10):1060-8.
PUBMED DOIHCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
9. Brochado O, Martínez I (*), Berenguer J, Medrano L, González-García J, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Carrero A, Hontañón V, Navarro J, Guardiola JM, Pérez-Latorre L, Micán R, Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡), Resino S (* ‡). HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:23 (A; FI= 12.77; D1, Medicine, Research & Experimental; JCR 2021).
PUBMED DOIDynamics of HIV Reservoir and HIV-1 Viral Splicing in HCV-Exposed Individuals after Elimination with DAAs or Spontaneous Clearance.
Martínez-Román P, Crespo-Bermejo C, Valle-Millares D, Lara-Aguilar V, Arca-Lafuente S, Martín-Carbonero, Ryan P, De los Santos I, López-Huertas MR, Palladino C, Muñoz-Muñoz M, Fernández-Rodríguez A*, Coiras M, Briz V, on behalf of COVIHEP network. Dynamics of HIV Reservoir and HIV-1 Viral Splicing in HCV-Exposed Individuals after Elimination with DAAs or Spontaneous Clearance. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2022, 11: 3579.
PUBMED DOIProtein Saver® cards: the best alternative for DBS storage at room temperature for HCV RNA.
Arca-Lafuente S, Casanueva-Benítez C, Crespo-Bermejo C, Lara-Aguilar V, Martín-Carbonero L, De los Santos I, Madrid R, Briz V*. Protein Saver® cards: the best alternative for DBS storage at room temperature for HCV RNA. 903 Scientific Report 2022, 12: 10124.
PUBMED DOIDiarrhoea-causing enteric protist species in intensively and extensively raised pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) in Southern Spain. Part II: Association with Hepatitis E virus susceptibility.
Rivero-Juarez A, Dashti A, Santín M, George, Köster PC, Lopez-Lopez P, Risalde MA, García-Bocanegra I, Gomez-Villamandos JC, Caballero-Gómez J, Frías M, Bailo B, Ortega S, Muadica AS, Calero-Bernal R, González-Barrio D, Rivero A, Briz V*, Carmena D. Diarrhoea-causing enteric protist species in intensively and extensively raised pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) in Southern Spain. Part II: Association with Hepatitis E virus susceptibility. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2021, 69: e1172-e1178.
PUBMED DOIHepatitis C virus influences HIV-1 viral splicing in coinfected patients.
Martínez-Román P, López-Huertas MR, Crespo-Bermejo C, Arca-Lafuente S, Cortegano I, Valle-Millares D, Gaspar ML, Martín-Carbonero, Domínguez-Domínguez L, Ryan P, De los Santos I, De la Fuente Moral S, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Coiras M, Briz V, on behalf of COVIHEP. Hepatitis C virus influences HIV-1 viral splicing in coinfected patients. J Clin Med 2020, 9 (7): 2091.
PUBMED DOIrotist enteroparasites in wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus) and black Iberian pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) in southern Spain: a protective effect on hepatitis E acquisition?
Rivero-Juárez A, Dashti A, López-López P, Salimo Muadica A, Risalde MA, Köster PC, Machuca I, Bailo B, Hernández de Mingo M, Dacal E, García-Bocanegra I, Saugar JM, Calero-Bernal R, González-Barrio D, Rivero A, Briz V, Carmena D. Protist enteroparasites in wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus) and black Iberian pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) in southern Spain: a protective effect on hepatitis E acquisition? Parasites & Vectors 2020, 13: 281
PUBMED DOIAdditional Information
The Medical Entomology Laboratory has accumulated extensive experience in this field, especially in entomological field studies, biology of arthropods of medical interest, vector competence and vector control. Also, in the molecular detection of Leishmania infantum promastigotes in naturally parasitized phlebotomine sand flies, in the molecular identification of blood ingested by hematophagous arthropods and in the study of the immunomodulatory properties of proteins present in the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes. Our laboratory is currently co-leading the studies of vectors and wild reservoirs of leishmaniasis in the leishmaniasis focus of Fuenlabrada, Madrid. In this sense, we have studied the role of asymptomatic individuals as reservoirs in the outbreak by xenodiagnosis. On the other hand, we have participated since 2007 in the Entomological Surveillance Program in Airports and Ports against Potential Vectors of Exotic Infectious Diseases, a program that is allowing to develop the expansion map in Spain of Aedes albopictus. In 2016-2017, we carried out surveillance of Ae. albopictus in the Community of Castilla-La Mancha. On the other hand, we conducted studies on the role of patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the transmission of the parasite in Bangladesh and Sudan. In addition, we participate in research studying ticks transmitting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Spain.
Currently, it maintains confidentiality agreements with several companies participating in the evaluation of molecules with activity against pathogens in vectors (GSK), in the development of vector traps using artificial intelligence algorithms (Irideon, Spain), and in the evaluation of repellents against phlebotomine sand flies (IRSEA, France).
The laboratory actively participates in outreach activities such as the Science Week or the European Researchers' Night, among others, making medical entomology science available to the general population.
The Medical Entomology Laboratory has accumulated extensive experience in this field, especially in entomological field studies, biology of arthropods of medical interest, vector competence and vector control. Also, in the molecular detection of Leishmania infantum promastigotes in naturally parasitized phlebotomine sand flies, in the molecular identification of blood ingested by hematophagous arthropods and in the study of the immunomodulatory properties of proteins present in the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes. Our laboratory is currently co-leading the studies of vectors and wild reservoirs of leishmaniasis in the leishmaniasis focus of Fuenlabrada, Madrid. In this sense, we have studied the role of asymptomatic individuals as reservoirs in the outbreak by xenodiagnosis. On the other hand, we have participated since 2007 in the Entomological Surveillance Program in Airports and Ports against Potential Vectors of Exotic Infectious Diseases, a program that is allowing to develop the expansion map in Spain of Aedes albopictus. In 2016-2017, we carried out surveillance of Ae. albopictus in the Community of Castilla-La Mancha. On the other hand, we conducted studies on the role of patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the transmission of the parasite in Bangladesh and Sudan. In addition, we participate in research studying ticks transmitting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Spain.
Currently, it maintains confidentiality agreements with several companies participating in the evaluation of molecules with activity against pathogens in vectors (GSK), in the development of vector traps using artificial intelligence algorithms (Irideon, Spain), and in the evaluation of repellents against phlebotomine sand flies (IRSEA, France).
The laboratory actively participates in outreach activities such as the Science Week or the European Researchers' Night, among others, making medical entomology science available to the general population.