Medical Entomology
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
The Immunobiology group has been working for years on the following lines of research:
1) The mechanisms of haematopoietic cell generation throughout ontogeny and the influence that the first haematopoietic cells exert on the innate and adaptive immune system present in the adults. We have identified and characterised a new population of B lymphocytes called B1-Rel (B220lo), which produce high levels of natural IgG/IgA antibodies. We sought to understand their role in the immune response in animal models of infection, analysing their impact on immune cell populations and on the production of soluble mediators (cytokines and immunoglobulins). In this regard, we have evaluated the generation of embryonic megakaryocytes (and their differentiation niches), their functionality and that of platelets, and their influence on haematopoietic development. For lymphoid populations, we have carried out extensive characterisation by flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) methodology. To carry out these cellomic studies, we have designed complex panels for use in multiparametric phenotypic analysis, and single cell cytometry and RNAseq omics technologies on purified cell populations.
In parallel, we are interested in understanding local immune responses in respiratory infections at times of particular susceptibility due to the fragility of the immune system (childhood and old age), both in mouse animal models, which allow their manipulation, and in humans.
2) Mouse models studied during neonatal life, in which we evaluated the effect of antibiotic (AB) treatment and addressed the role of TLR receptors in innate, pseudo-innate and adaptive immune cell populations. In these models, we observed that AB administration was able to modulate B-lymphoid populations, as well as their ability to secrete proinflammatory cytokines in culture and their differentiation into plasma cells, with differentiated immunoglobulin repertoires. Furthermore. These effects were mediated through the Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2).
3) Mouse models with accelerated senescence (SAMP8) and senescent animals (over 20 months of age) to map lymphoid populations and soluble mediators of the immune response (immunoglobulins and cytokines). In these models, the B lymphoid populations (B1Rel and marginal zone B lymphocytes) are observed to be altered, accompanied by an increase in IgG1 with great restriction of their VDJ repertoires.
4) Role of the B1Rel population in animal models of local or systemic infection. We analysed the response to Streptoccoccus pneumoniae (SPN) locally in the lung and systemically in the spleen, as well as the role of TLR4 in these responses.
5) In humans, we are studying immune responses in children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) viral primo-infection. In this case we studied the immune response that occurs locally in the nasal mucosa (by analysis of nasal washings, NW) in a cohort of infected children versus healthy controls, stratified by age. We found that lymphomyeloid cells accumulate in these nasal washings in patients with diverse lymphocyte populations, as well as cytokines and immunoglobulins.
6) Analysis and characterisation of extracellular vesicles produced during respiratory infection both in lung supernatants from models of SPN infection and in LN in the case of children with RSV infection.
7) In parallel, we carry out studies of the genetic rearrangements of immunoglobulins and their use in the generation of chimeric receptors for possible use in immunotherapy.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
-Project “Induction, differentiation and modulation of resident B lymphocytes in the lung in response to pneumococcus (NEUBLUNG)”. Ministry of Science and Innovation, PID2022-141754OB-I00 Call 2022 "Knowledge Generation Projects". 09/01/2023-08/31/2026. Financed by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF, EU. PI: Belén by Andrés Muguruza. CoPI: María Luisa Gaspar Alonso-Vega.
-Project." Immune response of the nasal mucosa in childhood bronchiolitis” Instituto de Salud Carlos III-AESI. AESI-PI22CIII/00030 PI: Belén by Andrés Muguruza. CoPI Maria Luisa Gaspar Alonso-Vega. 01/01/2023-12/31/2025..
-Project. BenBedPhar. CA20121, European Union. Antonio Cuadrado. (CNM-ISCIII).10/19/2021-10/18/2025.
-Spanish Association Against Cancer Project “Novel comprehensive immunotherapy to specifically target the malignant clone in Sézary syndrome, an ultra-rare cancer of mature T lymphocytes”, number PROYE20084REGU. PI: José Ramón Regueiro, PI group Maria Luisa Gaspar. 01/01/2021-12/31/2023.
Project “The pulmonary immune system in homeostasis and infection: characterization and function of immature and pseudoinnate lymphoid populations.” MINECO-RETOS RTI2018-099114-B-100. PI: Maria Luisa Gaspar, CoPI: Belén de Andrés 01/01/2019-12/31/2022. Financed by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ and by FEDER A way of making Europe.
-Project “New B lymphoid populations: B1-rel pseudoinnate cells, homeostatic maintenance and their response under infection conditions.” MINECO-RETOS SAF2015-70880-R. PI: Maria Luisa Gaspar. 01/01/2016-12/31/2019.
-Project “Role of CD19+CD45R lymphocytes- in perinatal immune responses. Implications related to respiratory diseases in neonates. AESI PI14CIII/00049; PI Belén de Andrés. 2015-2018.
-Project “Study of the pseudo-innate population of CD19+CD45R- B lymphocytes in TLR-dependent infection models”. AESI PI11/01733FIS. PI Belén de Andrés. 2012-2015.
-Project." Cellular interactions in the establishment of B lymphoid differentiation niches: role of megakaryocytes and their implications in pathology. MINECO; SAF2012-33916. Maria Luisa Gaspar. 01/01/2013-12/31/2015.
-ISCIII Platforms Project to support R&D&I in Biomedicine and Health Sciences. PT23CIII/00006. 2023. Participating researcher: Isabel Cortegano.
-Research contracts between the Carlos III Health Institute and Inmunotek S.L. for the development of the Bactek-mv130 and Uromune-MV140 study in protection against S. pneumoniae infections. Immunotek. IP: Belen de Andrés 2019-2021.
-Research contract between the Carlos III Health Institute and Inmunotek S.L. “MV130 as a vaccine model based on trained immunity against respiratory infections due to pneumococcus and respiratory syncytial virus”, CAM Call. Industrial Doctorates. IND2023/BMD-27071. PI: Belén by Andrés Muguruza. 12/01/2023-11/30/2026.
Publications
In vitro activity of olorofim (F901318) against clinical isolates of cryptic species of Aspergillus by EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Jun 1
Rivero-Menendez O, Cuenca-Estrella M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A.* In vitro activity of olorofim (F901318) against clinical isolates of cryptic species of Aspergillus by EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Jun 1;74(6):1586-1590. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkz078. PMID: 30891600.
PUBMED DOIMolecular Identification, Antifungal Susceptibility Testing, and Mechanisms of Azole Resistance in Aspergillus Species Received within a Surveillance Program on Antifungal Resistance in Spain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Aug 23
Rivero-Menendez O, Soto-Debran JC, Medina N, Lucio J, Mellado E, Alastruey-Izquierdo A*. Molecular Identification, Antifungal Susceptibility Testing, and Mechanisms of Azole Resistance in Aspergillus Species Received within a Surveillance Program on Antifungal Resistance in Spain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Aug 23;63(9). doi: 10.1128/AAC.00865-19. PMID: 31285229.
PUBMED DOIClinical and Laboratory Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida glabrata: Molecular Characterization. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jul 11
Rivero-Menendez O, Navarro-Rodriguez P, Bernal-Martinez L, Martin-Cano G, Lopez-Perez L, Sanchez-Romero I, Perez-Ayala A, Capilla J, Zaragoza O, Alastruey-Izquierdo A*. Clinical and Laboratory Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida glabrata: Molecular Characterization. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jul 11;10:1585. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01585. PMID: 31354675.
PUBMED DOIIn vitro activity of olorofim against clinical isolates of Scedosporium species and Lomentospora prolificans using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Aug 28
Rivero-Menendez O, Cuenca-Estrella M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A.* In vitro activity of olorofim against clinical isolates of Scedosporium species and Lomentospora prolificans using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Aug 28. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkaa351. PMID:32856079.
PUBMED DOIEarly innate immune response triggered by the human respiratory syncytial virus and its regulation by ubiquitination/deubiquitination processes.
Martín-Vicente M*, Resino S#, Martínez I#*. Early innate immune response triggered by the human respiratory syncytial virus and its regulation by ubiquitination/deubiquitination processes. J Biomed Sci. 2022 Feb 13;29(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s12929-022-00793-3. PMID: 35152905 (R; FI= 12.771; D1 Medicine, Research & Experimental; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDHigh SARS-CoV-2 viral load and low CCL5 expression levels in the upper respiratory tract are associated with COVID-19 severity.
Pérez-García F, Martin-Vicente M, Rojas-García RL, Castilla-García L, Muñoz-Gomez MJ, Hervás Fernández I, González Ventosa V, Vidal-Alcántara EJ, Cuadros-González J, Bermejo-Martin JF, Resino S#, Martínez I#. High SARS-CoV-2 viral load and low CCL5 expression levels in the upper respiratory tract are associated with COVID-19 severity. J Infect Dis. 2022 Mar 15;225(6):977-982. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab604. PMID: 34910814 (A; FI= 7.759; Q1 Microbiology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDNeighborhood environmental factors linked to hospitalizations of older people for viral lower respiratory tract infections in Spain: a case-crossover study.
Álvaro-Meca A, Sepúlveda-Crespo D#, Resino R, Ryan P, Martínez I#, Resino S#. Neighborhood environmental factors linked to hospitalizations of older people for viral lower respiratory tract infections in Spain: a case-crossover study. Environ Health. 2022 Nov 8;21(1):107. doi: 10.1186/s12940-022-00928-x. PMID: 36348411.
PUBMEDDiagnostic Performance of the HCV Core Antigen Test To Identify Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Treviño-Nakoura A, Bellon JM, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Ryan P, Martínez I#, Fernández-Rodríguez A#, Resino S#. Diagnostic Performance of the HCV Core Antigen Test To Identify Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Microbiol. 2023 Jan 26; 61(1):e0133122. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01331-22. PMID: 36537787.
PUBMEDHCV Cure With Direct-Acting Antivirals Improves Liver and Immunological Markers in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients.
Brochado-Kith Ó, Martínez I*, Berenguer J, González-García J, Salgüero S, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Díez C, Hontañón V, Ibañez-Samaniego L, Pérez-Latorre L, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Ángeles Jiménez-Sousa M, Resino S*. HCV Cure With Direct-Acting Antivirals Improves Liver and Immunological Markers in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients. Front Immunol. 2021 Aug 23;12:723196. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723196. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34497613 (A; FI= 8.786; Q1 Immunology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDHIV screening and retention in care in people who use drugs in Madrid, Spain: a prospective study
Ryan P, Valencia J, Cuevas G; Troya J; Torres-Macho J; Muñoz-Gómez MJ, Muñoz-Rivas N, Canorea I, Vázquez-Morón S (‡), Resino S (‡ *). HIV screening and retention in care in people who use drugs in Madrid, Spain: A prospective study. Infect Dis Poverty. 2021; 10(1): 111. (A; FI= 10.49; D1, Tropical Medicine; JCR 2021). PMID: 34412695. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-021-00894-5.
PUBMEDObesity-related SNPs and weight gain following first-line antiretroviral therapy.
Berenguer J (*), Jarrín I, Bellón JM, Díez C, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Roca C, González-García J, Dalmau D, Olalla J, Herrero C, Villarroya F, Domingo P, Resino S. Obesity-related SNPs and weight gain following first-line antiretroviral therapy. Clin Inf Dis. 2023; In press. (A; FI= 20.99; D1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2021).
PUBMED DOIMild profile improvement of immune biomarkers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who removed hepatitis C after HCV treatment: a prospective study.
García-Broncano P, Medrano LM, Berenguer J, Brochado O, González-García J, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Quereda C, Sanz J, Téllez MJ, Díaz L, Jiménez JL, Muñoz-Fernández MA, Resino S (*). Mild profile improvement of immune biomarkers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who removed hepatitis C after HCV treatment: a prospective study. J Infect 2020; 80(1):99-110. (A; FI= 6.07; Q1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2020). PMID: 31585189. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.09.020.
PUBMEDEvaluation of the possible influence of trailing and paradoxical effects on the clinical outcome of patients with candidemia
Rueda C, Puig-Asensio M, Guinea J, Almirante B, Cuenca-Estrella M, Zaragoza O; CANDIPOP Project from GEIH-GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Evaluation of the possible influence of trailing and paradoxical effects on the clinical outcome of patients with candidemia. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2017 Jan;23(1):49.e1-49.e8.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of Off-Patent Drugs That Show Synergism with Amphotericin B or That Present Antifungal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp
Rossi SA, de Oliveira HC, Agreda-Mellon D, Lucio J, Mendes-Giannini MJS, García-Cambero JP, Zaragoza O. Identification of Off-Patent Drugs That Show Synergism with Amphotericin B or That Present Antifungal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Mar 24;64(4):e01921-19. PMCID: PMC7179310.
PUBMED DOIParadoxical Growth of Candida albicans in the Presence of Caspofungin Is Associated with Multiple Cell Wall Rearrangements and Decreased Virulence
Rueda C, Cuenca-Estrella M, Zaragoza O. Paradoxical growth of Candida albicans in the presence of caspofungin is associated with multiple cell wall rearrangements and decreased virulence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014;58(2):1071-83. PMCID: PMC3910852.
PUBMED DOIHCV cure with direct-acting antivirals improves liver and immunological markers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Brochado-Kith O, Martínez I, Berenguer J, González-García J, Salgüero S, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Díez C, Hontañón V, Ibañez-Samaniego L, Pérez-Latorre L, Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡), Jiménez-Sousa MA (‡), Resino S (‡ *). HCV cure with direct-acting antivirals improves liver and immunological markers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Front immunol. 2021; 12:723196. (A; FI= 8.79; Q1, Immunology; JCR 2021). PMID: 34497613. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723196.
PUBMEDCryptococcus neoformans induces antimicrobial responses and behaves as a facultative intracellular pathogen in the non mammalian model Galleria mellonella
Trevijano-Contador N, Herrero-Fernández I, García-Barbazán I, Scorzoni L, Rueda C, Rossi SA, García-Rodas R, Zaragoza O. Cryptococcus neoformans induces antimicrobial responses and behaves as a facultative intracellular pathogen in the non mammalian model Galleria mellonella. Virulence. 2015;6(1):66-74. PMCID: PMC4603429.
PUBMED DOIThe formation of titan cells in Cryptococcus neoformans depends on the mouse strain and correlates with induction of Th2-type responses
García-Barbazán I, Trevijano-Contador N, Rueda C, de Andrés B, Pérez-Tavárez R, Herrero-Fernández I, Gaspar ML, Zaragoza O. The formation of titan cells in Cryptococcus neoformans depends on the mouse strain and correlates with induction of Th2-type responses. Cell Microbiol. 2016 Jan;18(1):111-24.
PUBMED DOIPrevalence and undiagnosed fraction of hepatitis C infection in 2018 in Spain: results from a national population-based survey.
• Estirado Gómez A, Justo-Gil S, Limia A, Avellón A, Arce-Arnáez A, González-Rubio R, Diaz A, Del Amo J; Prevalence and undiagnosed fraction of hepatitis C infection in 2018 in Spain: results from a national population-based survey. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 30;8(1):1858.
PUBMED DOIComparative Analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus Strains: The Reference Genome as a Matter of Concern.
Buitrago MJ, Martín-Gómez T. Timely Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in Non-endemic Countries: A Laboratory Challenge. Front Microbiol. 2020 Mar 24; 11:467. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00467. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32269555.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of Novel Short C-Terminal Transcripts of Human SERPINA1 Gene.
Matamala N, Aggarwal N, Iadarola P, Fumagalli M, Gomez-Mariano G, Lara B, Martinez MT, Cuesta I, Stolk J, Janciauskiene S, Martinez-Delgado B. Identification of Novel Short C-Terminal Transcripts of Human SERPINA1 Gene. PLoS One. 2017 Jan 20;12(1):e0170533.
PUBMED DOIA case of respiratory toxigenic diphtheria: Contact tracing results and considerations following a 30-year disease-free interval, Catalonia, Spain, 2015.
Jané, M., Vidal, M.J., Camps, N., Campins, M., Martínez, A., Balcells, J., Martin-Gomez, M.T., Bassets, G., Herrera-Leon, S., Foguet, A., Maresma, M., Follia, N., Uriona, S., Pumarola, T. A case of respiratory toxigenic diphtheria: Contact tracing results and considerations following a 30-year disease-free interval, Catalonia, Spain, 2015. (2018) Eurosurveillance, 23 (13).
PUBMED DOIDevelopment of three multiplex PCR assays targeting the 21 most clinically relevant serogroups associated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection in humans
Sánchez, S., Llorente, M.T., Echeita, M.A., Herrera-León, S. Development of three multiplex PCR assays targeting the 21 most clinically relevant serogroups associated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection in humans (2015) PLoS ONE, 10 (1).
PUBMED DOIShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli infection in a Spanish household
Sánchez, S., Cenoz, M.G., Martín, C., Beristain, X., Llorente, M.T., Herrera-León, S. Cluster investigation of mixed O76:H19 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli infection in a Spanish household (2014) Epidemiology and Infection, 142 (5), pp. 1029-1033.
PUBMED DOIOff-label use of maraviroc in HIV-1-infected paediatric patients in clinical practice.
Palladino C, Navarro Gomez ML, Soler-Palacin P, Gonzalez-Tome MI, Jiménez de Ory S, Espiau M, Pérez-Hoyos S, León-Leal JA, Méndez M, Moreno-Pérez D, Fortuny C, uer A, Pocheville I, Moreno S, Briz V, on behalf of the CoRISpe Working Group. Off-label use of maraviroc in HIV-1-infected paediatric patients in clinical practice. AIDS 2015; 29-16, pp.2155-2159. (A; FI= 4,407; Q1 Infectious Disease).
PUBMED DOIComparative sensitivity of commercial tests for hepatitis E genotype 3 virus antibody detection.
Comparative sensitivity of commercial tests for hepatitis E genotype 3 virus antibody detection. Avellon A, Morago L, Garcia-Galera del Carmen M, Munoz M, Echevarría JM. J Med Virol. 2015 Nov;87(11):1934-9. Epub 2015 May 29.
PUBMED DOIRelative telomere length impact on mortality of COVID-19: sex differences.
Virseda-Berdices A, Concostrina-Martinez L, Martínez-González O, Blancas R, Resino S, Ryan P, De Juan C, Moreira-Escriche P, Martin-Vicente M, Brochado-Kith O, Blanca-López N, Jiménez-Sousa MA (‡,*), Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡). Relative telomere length impact on mortality of COVID-19: sex differences. J Med Virol 2023; 98 (1): e28368 (A; FI= 20.96; D1, Virology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDActivity of host antimicrobials against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii acquiring colistin resistance through loss of lipopolysaccharide
García-Quintanilla, M., Pulido, M. R., Moreno-Martínez, P., Martín-Peña, R., López-Rojas, R., Pachón, J. and McConnell, M.J.* Activity of host antimicrobials against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii acquiring colistin resistance through loss of lipopolysaccharide. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2014. May;58(5):2972-5.
PUBMED DOICharacterization of broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1 in a cohort of long term non-progressors
Characterization of broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1 in a cohort of long term non-progressors. González N, McKee K, Lynch RM, Georgiev IS, Jimenez L, Grau E, Yuste E, Kwong PD, Mascola JR, Alcamí J. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0193773.
PUBMED DOIDiverse large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters are spreading among men who have sex with men in Spain
Delgado E, Benito S, Montero V, Cuevas MT, Fernández-García A, Sánchez-Martínez M, García-Bodas E, Díez-Fuertes F, Gil H, Cañada J, Carrera C, Martínez-López J, Sintes M, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM; Spanish Group for the Study of New HIV Diagnoses. Diverse large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters are spreading among men who have sex with men in Spain. Front Microbiol. 2019; 3;10:655.
PUBMED DOIImprovement of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism prediction by employing selected nucleotide positions of the env gene in a Bayesian network classifier.
Díez-Fuertes F, Delgado E, Vega Y, Fernández-García A, Cuevas MT, Pinilla M, García V, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Improvement of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism prediction by employing selected nucleotide positions of the env gene in a Bayesian network classifier. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013; 68:1471-1485.
PUBMED DOIPredominance of CXCR4 tropism in HIV-1 CRF14_BG strains from newly diagnosed infections.
Pérez-Álvarez L, Delgado E, Vega Y, Montero V, Cuevas T, Fernández-García A, García-Riart B, Pérez-Castro S, Rodríguez-Real R, López-Álvarez MJ, Fernández-Rodríguez R, Lezaun MJ, Ordóñez P, Ramos C, Bereciartua E, Calleja S, Sánchez-García AM, Thomson MM. Predominance of CXCR4 tropism in HIV-1 CRF14_BG strains from newly diagnosed infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014; 69:246-253.
PUBMED DOIMolecular epidemiology, phylogeny, and phylodynamics of CRF63_02A1, a recently originated HIV-1 circulating recombinant form spreading in Siberia.
Shcherbakova NS, Shalamova LA, Delgado E, Fernández-García A, Vega Y, Karpenko LI, Ilyichev AA, Sokolov YV, Shcherbakov DN, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Molecular epidemiology, phylogeny, and phylodynamics of CRF63_02A1, a recently originated HIV-1 circulating recombinant form spreading in Siberia. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2014; 30:912-919.
PUBMED DOIEpidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance in Spain in 2004-2012: relevance of transmission clusters in the propagation of resistance mutations.
Vega Y, Delgado E, Fernández-García A, Cuevas MT, Thomson MM, Montero V, Sánchez M, Sánchez AM, Pérez-Álvarez L; Spanish Group for the Study of New HIV-1 Diagnoses in Galicia and Basque Country. Epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance in Spain in 2004-2012: relevance of transmission clusters in the propagation of resistance mutations. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0125699.
PUBMED DOIPhylogeny and phylogeography of a recent HIV-1 subtype F outbreak among men who have sex with men in Spain deriving from a cluster with a wide geographic circulation in Western Europe.
Delgado E, Cuevas MT, Domínguez F, Vega Y, Cabello M, Fernández-García A, Pérez-Losada M, Castro MÁ, Montero V, Sánchez M, Mariño A, Álvarez H, Ordóñez P, Ocampo A, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, López-Álvarez MJ, Rodríguez R, Trigo M, Diz-Arén J, Hinojosa C, Bachiller P, Hernáez-Crespo S, Cisterna R, Garduño E, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Phylogeny and phylogeography of a recent HIV-1 subtype F outbreak among men who have sex with men in Spain deriving from a cluster with a wide geographic circulation in Western Europe. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0143325.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of an HIV-1 BG intersubtype recombinant form (CRF73_BG), partially related to CRF14_BG, which Is circulating in Portugal and Spain.
Fernández-García A, Delgado E, Cuevas MT, Vega Y, Montero V, Sánchez M, Carrera C, López-Álvarez MJ, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, Cilla G, Hinojosa C, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Identification of an HIV-1 BG intersubtype recombinant form (CRF73_BG), partially related to CRF14_BG, which Is circulating in Portugal and Spain. PLoS One. 2016; 11:e0148549.
PUBMED DOISequence analysis of in vivo-expressed HIV-1 spliced RNAs reveals the usage of new and unusual splice sites by viruses of different subtypes
Vega Y, Delgado E, de la Barrera J, Carrera C, Zaballos Á, Cuesta I, Mariño A, Ocampo A, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, Álvarez H, López-Miragaya I, García-Bodas E, Díez-Fuertes F, Thomson MM. Sequence analysis of in vivo-expressed HIV-1 spliced RNAs reveals the usage of new and unusual splice sites by viruses of different subtypes. PLoS One. 2016; 11:e0158525.
PUBMED DOIHIV-1 genetic diversity in recently diagnosed infections in Moscow: predominance of AFSU, frequent branching in clusters, and circulation of the Iberian subtype G variant.
Karamov E, Epremyan K, Siniavin A, Zhernov Y, Cuevas MT, Delgado E, Sánchez-Martínez M, Carrera C, Kornilaeva G, Turgiev A, Bacqué J, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. HIV-1 genetic diversity in recently diagnosed infections in Moscow: predominance of AFSU, frequent branching in clusters, and circulation of the Iberian subtype G variant. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2018; 34:629-634.
PUBMED DOIBayesian phylogeographic analyses clarify the origin of the HIV-1 subtype A variant circulating in former Soviet Union's countries.
Díez-Fuertes F, Cabello M, Thomson MM. Bayesian phylogeographic analyses clarify the origin of the HIV-1 subtype A variant circulating in former Soviet Union's countries. Infect Genet Evol. 2015; 33:197-205.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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María Luisa Gaspar Alonso-Vega
Research Professor
ORCID code: 0000-0001-9858-3862
Dr. María Luis Gaspar Alons-Vega graduated in 1980 and obtained her PhD in 1985 in Medicine and Surgery from the Autonomous University of Madrid. She completed the specialty of Immunology (1981-1985), and her doctoral thesis under the direction of Dr. Carmen Gutierrez, in the Immunology laboratory of the Puerta de Hierro Clinic directed by Dr. Miguel Kreisler. She completed a predoctoral stay in the Cytogenetics Laboratory of the National Institute of Autoimmune, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, NIH), under the supervision of Dr. JH Tjio and Dr. E. Raveché. She joined the Immunology Service of the National Center for Health Microbiology, Virology and Immunology (CNMVIS, AISNA and later ISCIII) as a Physician-Specialist in 1986, in the Immunology Laboratory directed by Dr. Alfredo Toraño. She completed a postdoctoral stay (1989-1991) at the Immunogenetics Unit of the Pasteur Institute (Paris) directed by Dr. T. Meo. From 1991 to 2006 she was Head of the Immunology Section successively at the CNMVIS, at the National Center for Fundamental Biology (CNBF-ISCIII) and at the National Center for Microbiology (CNM-ISCIII). From 2006 to 2016 she has been a Senior Researcher and Senior Scientist of OPIs, in the Immunobiology laboratory of the CNM-ISCIII. From 2016 to 2018 she was a Scientific Researcher at OPIs and since 2018, she is a Research Professor at OPIs at the CNM.
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Belén de Andrés Muguruza
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-7391-2823
Graduated in Biology in 1987 and PhD in 1992 from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He completed his doctoral thesis in the laboratory of Dr. Carlos Lahoz in the Immunology department of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation with a pre-doctoral stay at the Institute Curie in Paris, in the laboratory of Dr. Wolf H. Fridman. Subsequently, he completed a two-year postdoctoral stay in the Department of Pathology of the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, USA, in the laboratory of Dr. Richard G. Lynch. After a year as an Adjunct in the Immunology department of the Jiménez Diaz Foundation, she worked for 2 years with a reinstatement contract from the Ministry of Science in the Immunobiology department of the CNM/ISCIII in the laboratory of Dr. Mª Luisa Gaspar and later with a Ramón y Cajal contract. In 2006 she obtained a position as Staff Senior Scientist.
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Isabel Cortegano Jimeno
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6504-6347
Graduated in Biology in 1995 (Specialty in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and PhD in 1999 from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He completed his doctoral thesis at the Jiménez Díaz Foundation in the Immunology laboratory directed by Dr. Carlos Lahoz. Later he obtained a postdoctoral fellowship in the Immunobiology laboratory of Dr. Mª Luisa Gaspar at the National Center of Microbiology (CNM) of the Carlos IIII Health Institute (ISCIII) (2002-2006). He then enjoyed an I3P contract from the CSIC in the laboratory of Professor Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Marcos (2007-2009). She has been a researcher associated with research projects in the ISCIII Immunobiology laboratory during the years 2010-2018. Since 2018 she has been an associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology of the UCM Faculty of Medicine. He coordinates the scientific dissemination group of the Spanish Society of Immunology (GESEI), is part of the editorial committee of the SEI magazine and is a member of the board of the CAM Immunology Society. She is a Senior Scientist of the ISCIII at the National Center for Microbiology since 2020.
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Carolina Ruiz Sánchez
Specialized Technician
ORCID code: 0000-0002-2177-8132
Graduated in Chemical Sciences (biochemistry specialty) in 1998 and PhD in 2022 from the Complutense University of Madrid. In 2008 he joined the OPIS Assistant in the Immunobiology laboratory of the National Center for Microbiology of the ISCIII, specializing in flow cytometry the first year and subsequently becoming part of the laboratory's technical team. In 2012 he was promoted to Intermediate Level Technician and in 2018 to Higher Specialized Technician of the OPIS, currently occupying this position in the same laboratory.
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Mercedes Rodríguez García
Specialized Higher Technician
Graduated in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2003, she began her doctoral studies in the Bone Metabolism laboratory of the La Paz University Hospital.
In 2007 he joined as a Research Assistant at the Carlos III Health Institute, at the CNM, in the Transplant Immunology laboratory. After 5 years, he began working in the Immunobilology laboratory where he was promoted in 2018 to Specialized Technician, in 2024 to Senior Specialized Technician and where he currently continues to develop his professional career. -

Alejandro Arrabal Sierra
Predoctoral Contract (Industrial Doctorate from CAM / Inmunotek).
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9354-9224
Graduated in Biotechnology in 2021 from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, carrying out his final degree project in the Immunobiology laboratory of the National Microbiology Center of the ISCIII. In 2021, he completed a Master's Degree in Research in Immunology at the Complutense University of Madrid and completed his master's thesis in the same CNM laboratory. Subsequently, he worked for a year as a Research Assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Elena Fernández Ruiz at the Hospital Universitario de la Princesa. Since the end of 2023, he has been a predoctoral fellow in the CNM Immunobiology laboratory with an Industrial Doctorate scholarship from the Community of Madrid in collaboration with the company Inmunotek.
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.