Medical Entomology
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
PROYECTOS VIGENTES
Título del proyecto: "Vesículas extracelulares y otras moléculas de parásitos para el tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: PARATREAT-IBD"
Referencia: Proyecto PID2022-137661OB-I00 (MPY 341/23) financiado por MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ y por FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa
Fecha Inicio: 01/12/2023
Fecha Fin: 31/08/2026
Financiación: 162.500 Euros
Investigador principal: Javier Sotillo
Agencia Financiadora: Agencia Estatal de Investigación. MICINN.
Título del proyecto: "Desarrollo de nuevos métodos diagnósticos y de seguimiento de la infección por schistosoma haematobium"
Referencia: PI23CIII00034 / MPY 386/23
Fecha Inicio: 01/01/2024
Fecha Fin: 31/12/2026
Financiación: 131.500 Euros
Investigador principal: Javier Sotillo
Agencia Financiadora: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/AESI)
Título del proyecto: "Desarrollo de herramientas para el control de la teniosis / cisticercosis en zonas endémicas y vigilancia de las helmintosis humanas emergentes en España"
Referencia: PI22CIII/00010
Fecha Inicio: 01/01/2023
Fecha Fin: 31/12/2025
Financiación: 80.000 Euros
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer
Agencia Financiadora: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/AESI)
PROYECTOS PASADOS
Título del proyecto: "PERITAS: Molecular epidemiological studies on pathways of transmission and longlasting capacity building to prevent cystic echinococcosis infection."
Coordinador: Adriano Casulli. IP of ISCIII: Maria J. Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: EULAC Health JOINT CALL on Research and Innovation 016-2017
Periodo: 01/03/2019-31/12/2022.
Cuantía total: 1.083.580 €.
Título del proyecto: "Producción de antígenos y controles positivos recombinantes para el desarrollo y la estandarización de nuevos ensayos serológicos aplicados al diagnóstico y control de helmintosis olvidadas. "
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII-AESI. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Periodo: 02/11/2018 - 31/06/2022.
Cuantía total: 78.050 €.
Título del proyecto: "Diagnóstico serológico diferencial de helmintiasis asociadas a eosinofilia: desarrollo de ensayos multianalito (xMAP) con antígenos recombinantes de especies de interés clínico"
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII-AESI. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Periodo: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018 .
Cuantía total: 91.000 €.
Publications
Immunoescape of HIV-1 in Env-EL9 CD8 + T cell response restricted by HLA-B*14:02 in a Non progressor who lost twenty-seven years of HIV-1 control
Moyano A, Blanch-Lombarte O, Tarancon-Diez L, Pedreño-Lopez N, Arenas M, Alvaro T, Casado C, Olivares I, Vera M, Rodriguez C, Del Romero J, López-Galíndez C, Ruiz-Mateos E, Prado JG, Pernas M. Retrovirology. 2022 Mar 26,19(1):6
PUBMED DOIThe Characteristics of the HIV-1 Env Glycoprotein Are Linked with Viral Pathogenesis
Pérez-Yanes S, Pernas M, Marfil S, Cabrera-Rodríguez R, Ortiz R, Urrea V, Rovirosa C, Estévez-Herrera J, Olivares I, Casado C, Lopez-Galindez C, Blanco J, Valenzuela-Fernández A. Front Microbiol. 2022 Mar 24, 3:763039.
PUBMED DOIAnalysis of HIV-1 “in vitro” evolution through 3D real fitness landscapes constructed by Self Organizing Maps.
Ramón Lorenzo‐Redondo, Soledad Delgado, Federico Morán, and Cecilio Lopez‐Galindez. Analysis of HIV-1 “in vitro” evolution through 3D real fitness landscapes constructed by Self Organizing Maps. (2014) PLoS One. 9(2): e88579.
PUBMED DOICharacterizing carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from Spain: high genetic heterogeneity and wide geographical spread.
1. Characterizing carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from Spain: high genetic heterogeneity and wide geographical spread. Dahdouh E, Gómez-Marcos L, Cañada-García JE, de Arellano ER, Sánchez-García A, Sánchez-Romero I, López-Urrutia L, de la Iglesia P, Gonzalez-Praetorius A, Sotelo J, Valle-Millares D, Alonso-González I, Bautista V, Lara N, García-Cobos S, Cercenado E, Aracil B, Oteo-Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M; Spanish Eco-Carba Study Group. Revista: Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024 May 16;14:1390966.
PUBMED DOIAn increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020).
4. An increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020). Autores: El Mammery A, Ramírez de Arellano E, Cañada-García JE, Cercenado E, Villar-Gómara L, Casquero-García V, García-Cobos S, Lepe JA, Ruiz de Gopegui Bordes E, Calvo-Montes J, Larrosa Escartín N, Cantón R, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2023 Sep 26;14:1220286.
PUBMED DOIWidespread Detection of Yersiniabactin Gene Cluster and Its Encoding Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEKp) among Nonoutbreak OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from Spain and the Netherlands.
11. Widespread Detection of Yersiniabactin Gene Cluster and Its Encoding Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEKp) among Nonoutbreak OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from Spain and the Netherlands. Autores: Jati AP, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bosch T, Schouls LM, Hendrickx APA, Bautista V, Lara N, Raangs E, Aracil B, Rossen JWA, Friedrich AW, Navarro Riaza AM, Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Oteo-Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M, García-Cobos S; Dutch and Spanish Collaborative Working Groups on Surveillance on Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales; Sánchez AMF, Pulido MA, Armas M. Revista: Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Aug 17;11(4):e0471622.
PUBMED DOIClinical, microbiological, and molecular characterization of pediatric invasive infections by Streptococcus pyogenes in Spain in a context of global outbreak.
2. Clinical, microbiological, and molecular characterization of pediatric invasive infections by Streptococcus pyogenes in Spain in a context of global outbreak. Autores: Ramírez de Arellano E, Saavedra-Lozano J, Villalón P, Jové-Blanco A, Grandioso D, Sotelo J, Gamell A, González-López JJ, Cervantes E, Gónzalez MJ, Rello-Saltor V, Esteva C, Sanz-Santaeufemia F, Yagüe G, Manzanares Á, Brañas P, Ruiz de Gopegui E, Carrasco-Colom J, García F, Cercenado E, Mellado I, Del Castillo E, Pérez-Vazquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J, Calvo C; Spanish PedGAS-Net/CIBERINFEC GAS Study Group. Revista: mSphere. 2024 Mar 26;9(3):e0072923.
PUBMED DOIPhenotypic and molecular characterization of IMP-producing Enterobacterales in Spain: Predominance of IMP-8 in Klebsiella pneumoniae and IMP-22 in Enterobacter roggenkampii.
5. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of IMP-producing Enterobacterales in Spain: Predominance of IMP-8 in Klebsiella pneumoniae and IMP-22 in Enterobacter roggenkampii. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Grippo N, de Arellano ER, Bautista V, Lara N, Navarro AM, Cabezas T, Martínez-Ramírez NM, García-Cobos S, Calvo J, Cercenado E, Aracil B, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish IMP Study Group. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2022 Sep 28;13:1000787.
DOICARB-ES-19 Multicenter Study of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli From All Spanish Provinces Reveals Interregional Spread of High-Risk Clones Such as ST307/OXA-48 and ST512/KPC-3.
6. CARB-ES-19 Multicenter Study of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli From All Spanish Provinces Reveals Interregional Spread of High-Risk Clones Such as ST307/OXA-48 and ST512/KPC-3. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Moure Z, Sola-Campoy PJ, Delgado-Valverde M, Cano ME, Gijón D, González M, Gracia-Ahufinger I, Larrosa N, Mulet X, Pitart C, Rivera A, Bou G, Calvo J, Cantón R, González-López JJ, Martínez-Martínez L, Navarro F, Oliver A, Palacios-Baena ZR, Pascual Á, Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Vila J, Aracil B, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J; GEMARA/GEIRAS-SEIMC/REIPI CARB-ES-19 Study Group. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2022 Jun 30;13:918362.
DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types.
3. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Jiménez-Orellana M, Viedma E, Sánchez A, Alhambra A, Villa J, Delgado-Iribarren A, Bautista V, Lara N, García-Cobos S, Aracil B, Cercenado E, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 6;12(1):107.
DOIInterregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes.
7. Interregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes. Autores: Moure Z, Lara N, Marín M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bautista V, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Gómez-Dominguez C, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Campos J, Cercenado E, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Linezolid-Resistant Enterococci Collaborating Group. Revista: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jun;55(6):105977.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high-risk clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2.
8. Carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high-risk clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2. Autores: Pérez-Vázquez M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Zurita ÁM, Ávila A, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Solís S, López-Urrutia L, Gónzalez-Barberá EM, Cercenado E, Bautista V, Lara N, Aracil B, Oliver A, Campos J, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program collaborating Group. Revista: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jul;56(1):106026.
PUBMED DOIMultidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Spanish ICU patients: clinical and microbiological characterization (MURAN-UCI Project).
9. Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Spanish ICU patients: clinical and microbiological characterization (MURAN-UCI Project). Autores: Ramirez de Arellano E, López-Causapé C, Delgado-Valverde M, Arroyo Muñoz FJ, Alemparte-Pardavila E, Arca-Suárez J, Ayestarán I, Calvo Montes J, Cañada-Garcia J, Garcia-Cobos S, García-Fernández S, Gijón Cordero D, González-López JJ, Mir-Cros A, Nuvials X, Pérez-Vázquez M, Pomares-de la Peña A, Pampín-Garcia M, Riazzo C, Rodríguez-Gómez J, Rojo-Molinero E, Ruiz-Garbajosa P, Soriano C, Suberviola Cañas B, Taltavull B, Garnacho-Montero J, Oliver Palomo A, Oteo-Iglesias J; MURAN-UCI Spanish group. Revista: Microbiol Spectr. 2026 Feb 3;14(2):e0298725.
PUBMED DOIGenomic analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causing infections in children-a Spanish multicenter study.
10. Genomic analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causing infections in children-a Spanish multicenter study. Autores: García-Cobos S, Seco Alberca N, Bravo-Queipo-de-Llano B, Casquero-García V, Ramírez de Arellano E, Calvo C, Ruíz-Carrascoso G, Falces-Romero I, Larrosa Escartín N, Viñado-Perez B, Martínez-López MÁ, Melendo Pérez S, Ruíz de Gopegui E, Pérez Vázquez S, Carrasco-Colom J, Aracil García B, Pérez-Vázquez M, Méndez-Echevarría A, Oteo Iglesias Revista: J. Front Microbiol. 2025 May 9;16:1534840.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types.
13. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Jiménez-Orellana M, Viedma E, Sánchez A, Alhambra A, Villa J, Delgado-Iribarren A, Bautista V, Lara N, García-Cobos S, Aracil B, Cercenado E, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 6;12(1):107.
PUBMED DOIHypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiology outside Asian countries, antibiotic resistance association, methods of detection and clinical management
12. Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiology outside Asian countries, antibiotic resistance association, methods of detection and clinical management. Autores: García-Cobos S, Oteo-Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M. Revista: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2025 Feb;43(2):102-109.
PUBMED DOIRapid cross-border emergence of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli in the European Union/European Economic Area, 2012 to June 2022
15. Rapid cross-border emergence of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli in the European Union/European Economic Area, 2012 to June 2022. Autores: Linkevicius M, Bonnin RA, Alm E, Svartström O, Apfalter P, Hartl R, Hasman H, Roer L, Räisänen K, Dortet L, Pfennigwerth N, Hans JB, Tóth Á, Buzgó L, Cormican M, Delappe N, Monaco M, Giufrè M, Hendrickx AP, Samuelsen Ø, Pöntinen AK, Caniça M, Manageiro V, Oteo-Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M, Westmo K, Mäkitalo B, Palm D, Monnet DL, Kohlenberg A. Revista: Euro Surveill. 2023 May;28(19):2300209.
PUBMED DOICharacterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella oxytoca in Spain, 2016-2017.
18. Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella oxytoca in Spain, 2016-2017. Autores: Pérez-Vazquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J, Sola-Campoy PJ, Carrizo-Manzoni H, Bautista V, Lara N, Aracil B, Alhambra A, Martínez-Martínez L, Campos J; Spanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program Collaborating Group. Revista: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 May 24;63(6): e02529-18.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae From Transplanted Patients in Brazil: Phylogeny, Resistome, Virulome and Mobile Genetic Elements Harboring blaKPC-2 or blaNDM-1.
16. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae From Transplanted Patients in Brazil: Phylogeny, Resistome, Virulome and Mobile Genetic Elements Harboring blaKPC-2 or blaNDM-1. Autores: Raro OHF, da Silva RMC, Filho EMR, Sukiennik TCT, Stadnik C, Dias CAG, Oteo Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2020 Jul 15;11:1563.
PUBMED DOIDissemination of extensively drug-resistant NDM-producing Providencia stuartii in Europe linked to patients transferred from Ukraine, March 2022 to March 2023
17. Dissemination of extensively drug-resistant NDM-producing Providencia stuartii in Europe linked to patients transferred from Ukraine, March 2022 to March 2023. Autores: Witteveen S, Hans JB, Izdebski R, Hasman H, Samuelsen Ø, Dortet L, Pfeifer Y, Delappe N, Oteo-Iglesias J, Żabicka D, Cormican M, Sandfort M, Reichert F, Pöntinen AK, Fischer MA, Verkaik N, Pérez-Vazquez M, Pfennigwerth N, Hammerum AM, Hallstrøm S, Biedrzycka M, Räisänen K, Wielders CC, Urbanowicz P, de Haan A, Westmo K, Landman F, van der Heide HG, Lansu S, Zwittink RD, Notermans DW, Guzek A, Kondratiuk V, Salmanov A, Haller S, Linkevicius M, Gatermann S, Kohlenberg A, Gniadkowski M, Werner G, Hendrickx AP. Revista: Euro Surveill. 2024 Jun;29(23):2300616.
PUBMED DOISpread of the FAR-MRSA clone, a fusidic acid- and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST121, Europe, 2014 to 2024.
19. Spread of the FAR-MRSA clone, a fusidic acid- and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST121, Europe, 2014 to 2024. Autores: Roer L, Yin N, Denis O, Vendrik KE, Zwittink RD, Notermans DW, Perrin M, Khonyongwa K, Tristan A, Youenou B, Layer-Nicolaou F, Werner G, Enger H, Eikrem ECH, Darenberg J, Mäkitalo B, Paulsson M, Björkman J, Fang H, Hallbäck ET, Sundqvist M, Lindholm L, Moganeradj K, García-Cobos S, Cañada-García JE, Holzknecht BJ, Eriksen HB, Hoppe M, Bartels MD, Samaniego Castruita JA, Urth TR, Larsen AR, Petersen A. Revista: Euro Surveill. 2025 Jul;30(28):2500452.
DOICarbapenemase-producing Emergence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Spain: phylogeny, resistome, virulence and plasmids encoding blaNDM-like genes as determined by WGS. aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high risk-clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2
14. Emergence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Spain: phylogeny, resistome, virulence and plasmids encoding blaNDM-like genes as determined by WGS. Autores: Pérez-Vázquez M, Sola Campoy PJ, Ortega A, Bautista V, Monzón S, Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Mingorance J, González-Barberá EM, Gimeno C, Aracil B, Sáez D, Lara N, Fernández S, González-López JJ, Campos J, Kingsley RA, Dougan G, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish NDM Study Group. Revista: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Dec 1;74(12):3489-3496.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Sara Vázquez Ávila
Técnico de Laboratorio
Obtuve mi título como Técnico de Laboratorio Clínico y Biomédico en el año 2020 y en el 2021obtuve el Grado Superior de Anatomía Patológica y Citodiagnóstico. Trabajé en el Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (Sevilla) y en el Departamento de Farmacología de la Facultad de Medicina (Universidad Complutense de Madrid). Actualmente soy Técnico de Laboratorio en el Laboratorio de Helmintos del CNM (ISCIII).
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Maria Jesús Perteguer Prieto
Investigadora Titular, Jefa de grupo
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Javier Sotillo Gallego
Científico Titular
ORCID code: 0000-0002-1443-7233
En el año 2011 obtuve mi título de doctor “cum laude” por la Universidad de Valencia. Durante mi etapa postdoctoral en la James Cook University en Australia (2012-2019) me especialicé en estudiar las interacciones parásito-hospedador usando diferentes técnicas ómicas. En 2019 volví España y comencé a trabajar en el Laboratorio de Helmintos del CNM (ISCIII) primero como Investigador Miguel Servet y más adelante como Investigador Ramón y Cajal. Actualmente soy Científico Titular en el mismo laboratorio.
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Ana Hernández González
Laboral Fijo Doctor
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6762-8175
Licenciada en Biología y doctora en Enfermedades Tropicales por la Universidad de Salamanca. Puestos ocupados con anterioridad: investigadora predoctoral en el IRNASA-CSIC (contrato JAE predoc), investigadora postdoctoral en el CNM (contrato Sara Borrell) e investigadora contratada como técnico superior en el CNM (RICET). Actualmente, personal Laboral Fijo Doctor en el laboratorio de Helmintos del CNM.
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Esther Rodríguez Pérez
Técnico de Laboratorio
ORCID code: 0000-0002-3680-7733
Obtuve mi título como Graduada en Biología Sanitaria en el año 2015 y en el año 2019 obtuve el Grado Superior de Laboratorio de Diagnóstico Clínico. De 2019 a 2022 trabajé en el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), en el Departamento de Biogeoquímica y Ecología Microbiana. Actualmente trabajo como Técnico de Laboratorio en el Laboratorio de Helmintos del CNM (ISCIII).
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Lourdes Castro Companioni
Ayudante de Investigación
ORCID code: 0009-0003-2746-4067
Bióloga sanitaria graduada en la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (UAH), con master de Microbiología y Salud pública en la UAH en colaboración con el ISCIII.
List of staff
Additional 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.