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Immunobiology

Research Lines

Content with Investigacion Neumococos .

Neumococos

Vigilancia epidemiológica de los serotipos y genotipos que causan enfermedad neumocócica invasiva (ENI) en España. Caracterización molecular de factores de virulencia de neumococo. Identificación y caracterización de proteínas de neumococo candidatas a vacuna. Evaluación de mecanismos de evasión de la respuesta inmune en Streptococcus pneumoniae. Impacto de los biofilms bacterianos en la persistencia del tracto respiratorio. Mecanismos de cronicidad de aislados clínicos de neumococo en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

Research projects

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .

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

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

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HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

Brochado-Kith; Martínez I; Berenguer J; et al; Fernández-Rodríguez A (AC); Resino S. (11/12). 2021. HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Journal of Biomedical Sciences. Springer Nature. 28-1.

DOI

OLFM4 polymorphisms predict septic shock survival after major surgery. Eur J Clin Invest.

Pérez-García F; Resino S; Gómez-Sánchez E; et al; Jiménez-Sousa MÁ (10/10). OLFM4 polymorphisms predict septic shock survival after major surgery. Eur J Clin Invest. 2021. 51(4):e13416. doi: 10.1111/eci.13416.

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Garcia-Effron G, Buitrago MJ, Lopez JF, Grimalt JO, Cuenca-Estrella JM, Rodriguez-Tudela JL. Aspergillus fumigatus C-5 sterol desaturases Erg3A and Erg3B: role in sterol biosynthesis and antifungal drug susceptibility. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 Feb

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Garcia-Effron G, Buitrago MJ, Lopez JF, Grimalt JO, Cuenca-Estrella JM, Rodriguez-Tudela JL. Aspergillus fumigatus C-5 sterol desaturases Erg3A and Erg3B: role in sterol biosynthesis and antifungal drug susceptibility. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 Feb;50(2):453-60. doi: 10.1128/AAC.50.2.453-460.2006. PMID: 16436696; PMCID: PMC1366924.

PUBMED

14. Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Cuenca-Estrella M, Rodriguez-Tudela JL. Aspergillus section Fumigati: antifungal susceptibility patterns and sequence-based identification. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Apr

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Cuenca-Estrella M, Rodriguez-Tudela JL. Aspergillus section Fumigati: antifungal susceptibility patterns and sequence-based identification. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Apr;52(4):1244-51. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00942-07. Epub 2008 Jan 22. PMID: 18212093; PMCID: PMC2292508.

PUBMED DOI

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .

List of staff

Additional Information

Our group is interested in the mechanisms of generation of hematopoietic cells throughout ontogeny and the influence that the first hematopoietic cells, belonging to the innate/pseudoinnate immune system, exert on the adaptive immune system in the adult individual. Our lines of research include the analysis of pseudoinnate lymphoid populations, which connect the innate and adaptive immune systems, and whose origin is in progenitors of early ontogeny. We are trying to understand its role in the immune response through TLR receptors (“Toll-like receptors”) throughout life, particularly in animal models of bacterial infection, with the aim of designing new vaccine therapies. We analyze immune diversity in animal models and in human samples of children and elderly people diagnosed with respiratory disease, by: a) analyzing the lymphoid subpopulations of the local response. b) the study of the genetic rearrangements of the immunoglobulins that are produced. c) the systemic effector response and in peripheral organs. These approaches, carried out both in the mouse model and in human samples, will facilitate the design of more effective therapies and the characterization of biomarkers, adapted to the pediatric and elderly population, useful for the health field and technological innovation.rupo está interesado en los mecanismos de generación de células hematopoyéticas a lo largo de la ontogenia y la influencia que las primeras células hematopoyéticas, pertenecientes al sistema inmune innato/pseudoinnato, ejercen sobre el sistema inmune adaptativo en el individuo adulto. Nuestras líneas de investigación incluyen el análisis de poblaciones linfoides pseudoinnatas, que conectan el sistema inmune innato y adaptativo, y cuyo origen está en progenitores de la ontogenia temprana. Intentamos entender su papel en la respuesta inmune a través de receptores TLR (“Toll-like receptors”) a lo largo de la vida, en particular en modelos animales de infección bacteriana, con objeto de diseñar nuevas terapias vacunales. Analizamos la diversidad inmune en modelos animales y en muestras humanas de niños y ancianos diagnosticados de enfermedad respiratoria, mediante: a) el análisis de las subpoblaciones linfoides de la respuesta local. b) el estudio de los reordenamientos genéticos de las inmunoglobulinas que se producen. c) la respuesta efectora sistémica y en órganos periféricos. Estas aproximaciones, realizadas tanto en el modelo de ratón como en muestras humanas, facilitarán el diseño de terapias más eficaces y la caracterización de biomarcadores, adaptados a la población infantil y envejecida, de utilidad para el ámbito sanitario y de innovación tecnológica.

Doctoral theses

“Expression and functionality of tlr2 and tlr4 in lymphomyeloid populations present in the lung and lymphoid organs during embryonic and neonatal life in mouse models.”  Carolina Ruiz Sánchez. Complutense University of Madrid, 2022

Master's thesis

Detection and characterization of extracellular vesicles of platelet origin in lung supernatants from SPN-infected animals. Marta Paris, Alcalá University, 2024

Study of TLR-dependent activation in the RAW 264.7 macrophage line. Iñigo Merino de Saracho, Alcalá University, 2023

Study of the functionality of TLR receptors in the lung and other lymphoid organs in B cell populations using the neonatal mouse model. Yolanda Campanero, Alcalá University, 2023

Exploratory study of T lymphoid progenitors in the neonatal mouse lung. Alejandro Arrabal, Complutense University of Madrid, 2022

Study of B lymphoid differentiation in mice deficient for CD5 and CD6 molecules. Cristina Martín, Alcalá University, 2022

Role of platelets and their progenitor cells in two animal models of infection: SPN and RSV. Ana de Lucas Rius, Alcalá University, 2020

Pilot study of RSV infection in the mouse model: cellular phenotype of myeloid and lymphoid populations in the lung in two animal models of infection: SPN and RSV. Juan Antonio Martín Quesada, Alcalá University, 2020

B cell response during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Eva Castro, 2020

Study of the hematopoietic potential of neonatal lung cells in the mouse model. Ana Cogollo García, Alcalá University, 2018

Innate immune response to S. pneumoniae in the lung. Rodrigo Sánchez, Complutense University of Madrid, 2018

Neonatal immunity in the mouse model: localization and function of the innate and adaptive response. Alba Ezequiel Fernández, Alcalá University, 2017

Characterization of immunoglobulin gene diversity in the mouse model of TLR4 homeostasis and activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Cristina García Caballero, Alcalá University, 2017

Altered lymphopoiesis and splenic B cell subsets on Telomerase Activity Deficient Mice (TERC-/-). Juliana Manosalva, Complutense University of Madrid, 2017

Study of the Immune Response in Nasopharyngeal Washings of Infants with Bronchiolitis. Isabel Martín Barrios, Complutense University of Madrid, 2016

Dynamics of B1-REL lymphocytes in the in vivo immunization model with DNP-LPS. Inmaculada Sanz Ramos University Alcalá, 2015

Megakaryocyte differentiation pathways in the mouse model. Marta Cobos Briz, Alcalá University, 2015

Role of megakaryocytes in infectious processes. Melania Guerrero Hue, Complutense University of Madrid, 2015

 

Final degree projects

Study of new bacterial vaccines in the mouse (Mus musculus) infection model due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Alejandro Arrabal, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 2021

Megakaryocytes and platelets in SPN respiratory infection: Role of TLR4. Óscar González Hervás, Complutense University of Madrid, 2021

Study of the immune response mediated by pseudo-innate B lymphocytes against TLR4-dependent immunization models. Rodrigo Sánchez, Complutense University of Madrid, 2017.

Study of the diversity in the immunoglobulin repertoire in healthy individuals. Isabel Martín, Francisco de Vitoria University, 2015.

Dynamics of hematopoietic populations in the perinatal spleen. Inmaculada Sanz, Alcalá University, 2014

Teaching in training courses

Training course: Introduction to Flow Cytometry (from 2015 to present)
Training Course: Flow Cytometry Data Analysis (2018 to present)

Outreach / Citizen Science

• Collaboration in the 4th+Company CAM program.

• Collaboration with the ISCIII Scientific Culture Unit in Science Week at the ISCIII

• Scientific Dissemination Project "Talking about Science", carried out in Majadahonda primary, secondary and high school schools, since 2015 in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth of the Majadahonda City Council: “How your Immune System works and healthy lifestyle habits to take care of it”

Doctoral theses

“Expression and functionality of tlr2 and tlr4 in lymphomyeloid populations present in the lung and lymphoid organs during embryonic and neonatal life in mouse models.”  Carolina Ruiz Sánchez. Complutense University of Madrid, 2022

Master's thesis

Detection and characterization of extracellular vesicles of platelet origin in lung supernatants from SPN-infected animals. Marta Paris, Alcalá University, 2024

Study of TLR-dependent activation in the RAW 264.7 macrophage line. Iñigo Merino de Saracho, Alcalá University, 2023

Study of the functionality of TLR receptors in the lung and other lymphoid organs in B cell populations using the neonatal mouse model. Yolanda Campanero, Alcalá University, 2023

Exploratory study of T lymphoid progenitors in the neonatal mouse lung. Alejandro Arrabal, Complutense University of Madrid, 2022

Study of B lymphoid differentiation in mice deficient for CD5 and CD6 molecules. Cristina Martín, Alcalá University, 2022

Role of platelets and their progenitor cells in two animal models of infection: SPN and RSV. Ana de Lucas Rius, Alcalá University, 2020

Pilot study of RSV infection in the mouse model: cellular phenotype of myeloid and lymphoid populations in the lung in two animal models of infection: SPN and RSV. Juan Antonio Martín Quesada, Alcalá University, 2020

B cell response during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Eva Castro, 2020

Study of the hematopoietic potential of neonatal lung cells in the mouse model. Ana Cogollo García, Alcalá University, 2018

Innate immune response to S. pneumoniae in the lung. Rodrigo Sánchez, Complutense University of Madrid, 2018

Neonatal immunity in the mouse model: localization and function of the innate and adaptive response. Alba Ezequiel Fernández, Alcalá University, 2017

Characterization of immunoglobulin gene diversity in the mouse model of TLR4 homeostasis and activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Cristina García Caballero, Alcalá University, 2017

Altered lymphopoiesis and splenic B cell subsets on Telomerase Activity Deficient Mice (TERC-/-). Juliana Manosalva, Complutense University of Madrid, 2017

Study of the Immune Response in Nasopharyngeal Washings of Infants with Bronchiolitis. Isabel Martín Barrios, Complutense University of Madrid, 2016

Dynamics of B1-REL lymphocytes in the in vivo immunization model with DNP-LPS. Inmaculada Sanz Ramos University Alcalá, 2015

Megakaryocyte differentiation pathways in the mouse model. Marta Cobos Briz, Alcalá University, 2015

Role of megakaryocytes in infectious processes. Melania Guerrero Hue, Complutense University of Madrid, 2015

 

Final degree projects

Study of new bacterial vaccines in the mouse (Mus musculus) infection model due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Alejandro Arrabal, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 2021

Megakaryocytes and platelets in SPN respiratory infection: Role of TLR4. Óscar González Hervás, Complutense University of Madrid, 2021

Study of the immune response mediated by pseudo-innate B lymphocytes against TLR4-dependent immunization models. Rodrigo Sánchez, Complutense University of Madrid, 2017.

Study of the diversity in the immunoglobulin repertoire in healthy individuals. Isabel Martín, Francisco de Vitoria University, 2015.

Dynamics of hematopoietic populations in the perinatal spleen. Inmaculada Sanz, Alcalá University, 2014

Teaching in training courses

Training course: Introduction to Flow Cytometry (from 2015 to present)
Training Course: Flow Cytometry Data Analysis (2018 to present)

Outreach / Citizen Science

• Collaboration in the 4th+Company CAM program.

• Collaboration with the ISCIII Scientific Culture Unit in Science Week at the ISCIII

• Scientific Dissemination Project "Talking about Science", carried out in Majadahonda primary, secondary and high school schools, since 2015 in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth of the Majadahonda City Council: “How your Immune System works and healthy lifestyle habits to take care of it”

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .