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Investigation
Bacterial Genetics
Publications
The global meningitis genome partnership
Rodgers E, Bentley SD, Borrow R, Bratcher HB, Brisse S, Brueggemann AB, Caugant DA, Findlow J, Fox L, Glennie L, Harrison LH, Harrison OB, Heyderman RS, van Rensburg MJ, Jolley KA, Kwambana-Adams B, Ladhani S, LaForce M, Levin M, Lucidarme J, MacAlasdair N, Maclennan J, Maiden MCJ, Maynard-Smith L, Muzzi A, Oster P, Rodrigues CMC, Ronveaux O, Serino L, Smith V, van der Ende A, Vázquez J, Wang X, Yezli S, Stuart JM. J Infect. 2020; 81(4): 510-520
PUBMED DOIThe importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance
Shaw D, Torreblanca RA, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Bautista A, Bennett D, Broughton K, Casanova C, Choi EH, Claus H, Corcoran M, Cottrell S, Cunney R, Cuypers L, Dalby T, Davies H, de Gouveia L, Deghmane AE, Desmet S, Domenech M, Drew R, Plessis MD, Duarte C, Fuursted K, Golden A, Almeida SCG, Henares D, Henriques-Normark B, Hilty M, Hoffmann S, Humphreys H, Jacobsson S, Johnson C, Jolley KA, Kawabata A, Kozakova J, Kristinsson KG, Krizova P, Kuch A, Ladhani S, Lâm TT, Ayala MEL, Lindholm L, Litt D, Maiden MCJ, Martin I, Martiny D, Mattheus W, McCarthy ND, Meehan M, Meiring S, Mölling P, Morfeldt E, Morgan J, Mulhall R, Muñoz-Almagro C, Murdoch D, Musilek M, Novakova L, Oftadeh S, Perez-Arguello A, Pérez-Vázquez MD, Perrin M, Prevost B, Roberts M, Rokney A, Ron M, Sanabria OM, Scott KJ, Sempere J, Siira L, de Lemos APS, Sintchenko V, Skoczyńska A, Slotved HC, Smith AJ, Taha MK, Toropainen M, Tzanakaki G, Vainio A, van der Linden MPG, van Sorge NM, Varon E, Moreno JV, Vohrnova S, von Gottberg A, Yuste J, Brueggemann AB. Lancet Digit Health. 2025 Apr;7(4):e275-e281.
PUBMED DOIAntimicrobial resistance and epidemiological aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the province of Lleida, Spain (2017-2024).
Cumplido A, Aramburu J, Font M, Montes M, Abad R, López E, Bernet A, Mormeneo S, Prats I, García M, Sánchez E, Bellés A. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2025 Mar;43(3):156-161.
PUBMED DOIExploring the sequence diversity and surface expression of Factor H-Binding Protein among invasive serogroup B meningococcal strains from selected European countries
Clark SA, Willerton L, Claus H, Carannante A, Stefanelli P, Abad R, Vázquez JA, Borrow R. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2427471
PUBMED DOIResultado falso negativo en diversas PCR multiplex y monoplex en un episodio de bacteriemia por Neisseria meningitidis. Implicaciones diagnósticas, terapéuticas y epidemiológicas [False negative result in both multiplex and monoplex PCR in a case of Neisseria meningitidis bacteremia. Diagnostic, therapeutic and epidemiological implications]
Monforte ML, Cebollada R, Escobar MJ, Abad R, Aspiroz C. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2024 Oct;37(5):427-428
PUBMED DOIGlobal Meningococcal Initiative: Insights on antibiotic resistance, control strategies and advocacy efforts in Western Europe
Borrow R, Campbell H, Caugant DA, Cherkaoui A, Claus H, Deghmane AE, Dinleyici EC, Harrison LH, Hausdorff WP, Bajanca-Lavado P, Levy C, Mattheus W, Mikula-Pratschke C, Mölling P, Sáfadi MA, Smith V, van Sorge NM, Stefanelli P, Taha MK, Toropainen M, Tzanakaki G, Vázquez J. . J Infect. 2024; 89(6): 106335
PUBMED DOIMeningococcal disease in the Middle East: A report from the Global Meningococcal Initiative
Al-Abri SS, Abuhasan MY, Albayat SSA, Bai X, Bastaki H, Borrow R, Caugant DA, Dbaibo G, Deghmane AE, Dinleyici EC, Ghuneim N, Sheek-Hussein M, Lucidarme J, Leng S, Koliou MG, Sáfadi MAP, Salman JA, Al-Sanouri T, Smith V, Taha MK, Vázquez J, Wright C, Yezli S. J Infect. 2024; 88(2):71-76.
PUBMED DOIAntimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Europe in 2020 compared with in 2013 and 2018: a retrospective genomic surveillance study.
Golparian D, Cole MJ, Sánchez-Busó L, Day M, Jacobsson S, Uthayakumaran T, Abad R, Bercot B, Caugant DA, Heuer D, Jansen K, Pleininger S, Stefanelli P, Aanensen DM, Bluemel B, Unemo M; Euro-GASP study group. Lancet Microbe. 2024 May;5(5):e478-e488.
PUBMED DOIAdditional Information
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human pathogen that, despite the development of vaccines, continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. We investigate the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. On the one hand by identifying new therapeutic targets and on the other hand by investigating the molecular basis of the action of antibiotics already used in clinical practice (the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) or not yet used (seconeolitsine). For this purpose, we used a multidisciplinary analysis involving genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand the organization of the S. pneumoniae chromosome and the identification of the factors that stabilize this organization, including ncRNAs. Changes in the level of global supercoiling, either by inhibition of gyrase (decrease) or by inhibition of topoisomerase I (increase) alter the transcriptome. The modulated genes are located in domains, whose genes show specific functional characteristics. The aim is to identify new factors essential for S. pneumoniae physiology and to characterize transcriptional regulation in response to topological stress. In addition, RNA interference technology and CRISPR systems will be used as novel antibacterials. These studies will establish the bases for translational research aimed at the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human pathogen that, despite the development of vaccines, continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. We investigate the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. On the one hand by identifying new therapeutic targets and on the other hand by investigating the molecular basis of the action of antibiotics already used in clinical practice (the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) or not yet used (seconeolitsine). For this purpose, we used a multidisciplinary analysis involving genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand the organization of the S. pneumoniae chromosome and the identification of the factors that stabilize this organization, including ncRNAs. Changes in the level of global supercoiling, either by inhibition of gyrase (decrease) or by inhibition of topoisomerase I (increase) alter the transcriptome. The modulated genes are located in domains, whose genes show specific functional characteristics. The aim is to identify new factors essential for S. pneumoniae physiology and to characterize transcriptional regulation in response to topological stress. In addition, RNA interference technology and CRISPR systems will be used as novel antibacterials. These studies will establish the bases for translational research aimed at the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.