Immunobiology
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
B) Study of the distribution and dynamics of HPV infections in risk groups. There are some particularly vulnerable groups, some of them difficult to access (sex workers, transgender groups, etc.), in which HPV infections deserve special attention. The prevalence of HPV infection is especially high in people living with HIV and/or among men who have sex with men. Knowledge of the distribution and dynamics of infections is especially interesting in these groups, as they may help to improve current algorithms for the prevention of anogenital cancer.
C) Study of infection by HPV genotypes and their relationship with progression to neoplastic processes. The oncogenic capacity of some HPV genotypes and their involvement in the production of anogenital cancer is well known. In addition, there are other oncological processes, such as non-melanoma skin cancer, in which HPV could be implicated. Thus, members of the gamma-24 HPV species have recently been associated with skin cancer. It is to be hoped that the appearance of new genotypes and the performance of more extensive studies may lead to the identification of new associations between HPV and neoplastic processes.
D) Study of co-infections by different HPV genotypes. The presence of co-infections of different HPV genotypes is a very frequent finding, both in skin samples and in different mucous membranes. The great genetic diversity of HPV limits the ability of classical molecular methods to perform a comprehensive detection and study of the genotypes present. However, the use of massive sequencing makes it possible to eliminate some of these biases and to obtain more detailed information on the existing HPV populations, as well as to analyze interactions between the different genotypes.
E) Description of new HPV genotypes/variants. Currently at the International HPV Reference Center (Karolinska Institute, Sweden) more than 220 HPV genotypes are described, distributed in 5 different genera. However, improved molecular detection techniques, as well as the use of massive sequencing, are allowing this number to increase rapidly. The study of new genotypes and variants is essential for the validation and quality control of available diagnostic methods. Similarly, their characterization and the study of possible associations of HPV with pathologies other than those already known is a field of great interest for research.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
Título: Impact of vaccination against Human Papillomavirus in Spain: Studye of the distribution of genotypes and its application in surveillance. Principal Investigator: Horacio Gil. Starting/End dates: 2024-2026. Funding Entity: Acción Estratégica de Salud Intramural (AESI) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Project Reference: PI23CIII/00006.
Título: Effect of feminizing therapy on immune response in transgender women. Principal Investigator: Victor Manuel Sánchez Merino. Collaborating Investigator: Horacio Gil. Starting/End dates:2025-2027. Funding Entity: Acción Estratégica de Salud Intramural (AESI) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Project Reference: PI24CIII/00031.
Publications
Off-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 DOIAlcazar-Fuoli L, Clavaud C, Lamarre C, Aimanianda V, Seidl-Seiboth V, Mellado E, Latgé JP. Functional analysis of the fungal/plant class chitinase family in Aspergillus fumigatus.
Alcazar-Fuoli L, Clavaud C, Lamarre C, Aimanianda V, Seidl-Seiboth V, Mellado E, Latgé JP. Functional analysis of the fungal/plant class chitinase family in Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol. 2011 Apr;48(4):418-29. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2010.12.007. Epub 2010 Dec 22. PMID: 21184840.
PUBMED DOIImpact of DARC rs12075 Variants on Liver Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Retrospective Study.
Jiménez-Sousa MA (AC); Gómez-Moreno AZ; Pineda-Tenor D; et al. (1/9) Impact of DARC rs12075 Variants on Liver Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Retrospective Study. Biomolecules 2019; 9(4).
DBP rs16846876 and rs12512631 polymorphisms are associated with progression to AIDS naïve HIV-infected patients: a retrospective study.
Jiménez-Sousa MA (AC); Jiménez JL; Fernández-Rodríguez A; et al. (1/10). DBP rs16846876 and rs12512631 polymorphisms are associated with progression to AIDS naïve HIV-infected patients: a retrospective study. Journal of Biomedical Science. 2019; 23;26(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s12929-019-0577-y.
TRPM5 rs886277 Polymorphism Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis Progression in Non-Cirrhotic HCV-Infected Patients.Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Resino S; Fernández-Rodríguez A; Pineda-Tenor D; et al; Jiménez-Sousa MA. (11/11). 2021. TRPM5 rs886277 Polymorphism Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis Progression in Non-Cirrhotic HCV-Infected Patients.Journal of Clinical Medicine. 10-3, pp.483. ISSN 2077-0383. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10030483.
Plasma metabolomic fingerprint of advanced cirrhosis stages among HIV/HCV-coinfected and HCV-monoinfected patients
Salguero, Sergio; Rojo, David; Berenguer, Juan; et al; Jimenez-Sousa, Maria A. (AC) (15/15). 2020. Plasma metabolomic fingerprint of advanced cirrhosis stages among HIV/HCV-coinfected and HCV-monoinfected patients LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 40-9, pp.2215-2227. ISSN 1478-3223. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14580 3
Content with Investigacion .
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Horacio Gil Gil
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-7114-6686
Degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and PhD in Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from the University of Zaragoza. He did his PhD thesis at NEIKER Tecknalia (Derio, Vizcaya) and the National Center for Microbiology of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid) on the biological cycle of Lyme disease in the Basque Country. After that, he developed his postdoctoral training in different aspects of the pathogenesis of tularemia at the Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, New York (USA) for 3 years. In December 2005, he joined the Reference and Research Laboratory in Special Pathogens of the CNM-ISCIII where he developed diagnostic, reference and research activities, in Bartonella, Leptospira and pathogens of interest in bioterrorism. Between 2014-2016 he participated in the European Program for the Training of Microbiologists in Public Health (EUPHEM), organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. During this program, he participated in an international mission for the investigation of a cholera outbreak in Ghana, proposed by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Diseases in Hamburg (Germany). In December 2016, he worked as a laboratory consultant for the World Health Organization at their office in Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Subsequently, he worked one year with Médecins Sans Frontières as director and quality manager of the TB laboratory in Nukus (Uzbekistan).
In 2019, he joined the HIV Variability and Biology Unit at CNM-ISCIII, where he developed different reference and research activities, including his contribution to the molecular epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 in Spain and the study of HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance. Since September 2022 he has been leading the Human Papillomavirus Unit at the CNM-ISCIII. -
Alicia Inés García Señán
Predoctoral Student UNED
Degree in Pharmacy in 2013 from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed specialized health training in Microbiology and Parasitology at the Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca (2014-2018). During this period he studied a master's degree in Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (2016). She has developed her professional activity as a clinical microbiologist at the Hospital de Santa Bárbara (Soria) (2018), Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón (Barcelona) (2019-2022), and Hospital Central de la Defensa (Gómez Ulla) C.S.V.E, since 2022. In September 2024 she has started PhD studies at the Human Papillomavirus Unit of the CNM-ISCIII.
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Manuela Rodríguez Vargas
Técnico de Laboratorio
List of staff
Additional Information
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”