Transcriptomic tools applied to the diagnosis and prognosis of infectious diseases
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
Legionella
Desde su creación hasta la actualidad, La Unidad de Legionella tiene como principal función dar apoyo científico-técnico a la Administración General del Estado, a las Comunidades Autónomas y al Sistema Nacional de Salud en el campo de la prevención y control de la legionelosis, así como llevar a cabo investigaciones científicas en el contexto de la legionelosis. Además, la Unidad de Legionella también actúa como Laboratorio de Referencia de España frente al European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), siendo miembro de la red europea de vigilancia de la legionelosis, “European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet). Finalmente, la unidad también realiza una actividad docente, participando en cursos de formación especializada, así como en Máster Universitarios.
Principales líneas de investigación
Vigilancia microbiológica
Búsqueda de marcadores moleculares con capacidad de predecir el riesgo de una instalación de provocar legionelosis. Factores de virulencia de Legionella spp.
Estudio de la capacidad formadora de biofilms de Legionella spp. Colonización y dispersión.
Búsqueda de marcadores fenotípicos capaces de discriminar especies del Género Legionella; grupos y subgrupos de Legionella pneumophila.
Diferentes estructuras de biofilms en función de la cepa formadora de Legionella pneumophila. En verde la biomasa bacteriana, en rojo el exopolisacárido de la matriz extracelular.
Apoyo al Sistema Nacional de Salud de la Unidad de Legionella
La Unidad de Legionella tambien desarrolla actividades con el fin de proporcionar asistencia al sistema nacional de salud a traves de la oferta disponible en la cartera de servicios del CNM, así como a través de programas de vigilancia microbiológica.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
1: Título del proyecto: Búsqueda de biomarcadores de patogenicidad en Legionella spp con interés predictivo de riesgo de infección.
Investigador principal: Fernando González Camacho
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII (AESI). Referencia: MPY 341/22
Periodo: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
Publications
Prolonged Zika Virus Viremia during Pregnancy
7. Anna Suy; Elena Sulleiro; Carlota Rodó; Élida Vázquez; Cristina Bocanegra; Israel Molina; Juliana Esperalba; María P Sánchez Seco; Hector Boix; Tomás Pumarola; Elena Carreras. Prolonged Zika Virus Viremia during Pregnancy. The New England journal of medicine. 375 - 26, pp. 2611 - 2613. 29/12/2016. ISSN 1533-4406
PUBMED DOIRibavirin 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 DOIContent with Investigacion .
-

Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Tenured Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-5615-3087
Doctor in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid (1994) and Extraordinary Doctorate Award. She started her research activity at ISCIII in 1990 in the field of leishmaniasis. Currently, she is the head of the LEM where she develops her scientific work in the field of entomological surveillance of phlebotomine sandflies in the CM and other studies in the field of molecular biology, mainly applied to the model of Leishmania infantum and its vector Phlebotomus perniciosus. Member of the team of experts of the ISCIII that participates in the elaboration of Rapid Risk Assessments and in the working groups in charge of the elaboration of National Plans of Prevention, Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases of the CCAES, Ministry of Health. She is currently “Operational Focal Point” for vector-borne diseases at national level for the One Health-Vectornet network (EFSA and ECDC) and coordinator of the VectorNet-Spain network since July 2024. In addition, she is a member of the expert committee of the Network of Surveillance and Control of Vectors with public health interest in the Community of Madrid. In addition, she is part of a research group from CIBER (CIBERINFEC; CB21/13/00110).
-

Inés Martín Martín
Tenured Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-0956-7324
Within Medical Entomology, my work focuses on the study of phlebotomine sand flies and culicidae as vectors of leishmaniasis and arbovirosis, respectively. In 2014 I obtained my PhD degree “cum laude” with European mention from the Complutense University of Madrid. My PhD Thesis (developed at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III), focused on the study of phlebotomine sandfly saliva. Subsequently, during my postdoctoral period, I worked on insect gene editing, molecular, biochemical and functional characterization of insect saliva proteins and their role in the infection and transmission of pathogens. Most of my scientific career has been developed at the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. Since 2021 I am a Senior Scientist at the Laboratory of Medical Entomology (ISCIII).
-

Ricardo Molina Moreno
Doctor Ad Honorem
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6662-173X
Doctor in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (1994). In 1979 he began his professional career at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), where he became a researcher in 1985. He was in charge of the Medical Entomology Laboratory from that year until his retirement in 2023. He is currently a doctor linked “Ad Honorem”. He has extensive experience in medical entomology, advising the Ministry of Health (CCAES) and Health Departments of Autonomous Communities, on surveillance and control of arthropods transmitting vector-borne diseases. In recent years he has been involved in surveillance programs in Spain for leishmaniasis vectors, especially in the Fuenlabrada outbreak, and for viruses causing Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and dengue. Also in the surveillance of invasive exotic mosquitoes, especially Aedes albopictus, in ports and airports. In his last stage he has been part of the research group within the CIBER (CIBERINFEC; CB21/13/00110).
-

Marcos López de Felipe Escudero
Predoctoral contract FPU
ORCID code: 0000-0002-2919-836X
Graduated in Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid and Master in Tropical Parasitic Diseases from the University of Valencia. He started his professional career in 2019 in surveillance and management of hematophagous diptera of veterinary-medical interest, as well as other urban pests. In 2024 he began his work at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) within the framework of the project “Evaluation of the anti-leishmanicidal effect of the bacterium Tc1 and its derivatives in the intravectorial cycle of the parasite” directed by Dr. Inés Martín Martín where he continues after the award of a FPU fellowship. He has extensive experience in medical entomology, especially in surveillance and vector control and taxonomic identification. Her career so far has focused mainly on the study of phlebotomine sand flies, simulids and culicidae, with special attention to citizen science.
-

Eva Pérez Martínez
Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory Technician
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6553-9969
Graduated in 2019 from the Advanced Vocational Training Program in Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences. I began my professional career in 2020 at Eurofins Megalab laboratories. In 2024, I started working as a freelance professional on an international project focused on the bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies in urban environments across the Mediterranean Basin, conducting fieldwork in Spain, Italy, Greece, and southern France within the framework of citizen science. Since 2025, I have been part of the Medical Entomology Laboratory at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), where I work as a laboratory technician on the project “Biochemical and functional characterization of salivary proteins from Phlebotomus perniciosus and their role in Leishmania infantum infection (PERNIPROT)”, led by Dr. Inés Martín Martín.
List of staff