We protect your health through science
Investigation
AIDS Immunopathology
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
Hepatitis
- Diseño de métodos diagnósticos para el estudio de los virus de las hepatitis (VH) A, B, C, D, E: Diseñamos sistemas de PCR para su detección y caracterización.
- Evaluación de métodos diagnósticos de los VH. Colaboramos con empresas para estudios de sensibilidad y especificidad de equipos diagnósticos.
- Estudios de Seroprevalencia de los virus de las hepatitis.
- Epidemiología genómica de genomas completos de VHA, VHB, VHC, VHD y VHE en colaboración con el ECDC. Estudios de trazabilidad del VHE.
- Caracterización molecular de virus de las hepatitis mediante secuenciación masiva: a) VHB: mutantes de escape HBsAg (prevalencia y efectos en la detección del HBsAg). Estudio de mutaciones en epítopos de estimulación inmune y mutaciones asociadas a evolución clínica desfavorable.
- b) VHC: resistencias a los antivirales de acción directa. Análisis molecular de subtipos poco frecuentes.
c) Estudios filogenéticos del VHD.
d) Análisis genómico del VHE.
e) Investigación etiológica de hepatitis no filiadas mediante estudios de metagenómica.
- b) VHC: resistencias a los antivirales de acción directa. Análisis molecular de subtipos poco frecuentes.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
1. Proyecto CIBEREPS 2022. Microbiological and genomic investigation of hepatitis in children by metagenomic approach in case and control subjects (IP: Ana Avellón).
2023-2024. En colaboración con el Hospital San Joan de Deu de Barcelona.
2. MPY 501-19: Tracking hepatitis E virus infection by means of epidemiological research and whole genome sequencing. Project TrazHE. (IP: Ana Avellón). 2020-2024.
3. Proyecto CIBEREPS 2021 Metagenomic sequencing to identify viral aetiologies in undiagnosed paediatric cases of meningitis and encephalitis (IP: D. Tarragó). 2021-2022.
4. MPY 383/19 (PEJ2018-004446-A). Ayudas para la promoción de empleo joven e implantación de la garantía juvenil en I+D+I. análisis de la complejidad de secuencias de los virus de la hepatitis A, B, C; D y E (VHA, VHB, VHC, VHD y VHE) mediante técnicas de secuenciación masiva. (IP: Ana Avellón). 2020-2021.
5. MPY 1285/16 Movilidad "Salvador de Madariaga" programa estatal de promoción de talento y su empleabilidad. (IP: Ana Avellón). 2016.
Publications
Epidemiological trend of hepatitis C-related liver events in Spain (2000-2015): A nationwide population-based study.
7. Rivero-Juárez A, Dashti A, López-López P, Salimo Muadica A, Risalde MA, Köster PC, Machuca I, Bailo B, Hernández de Mingo M, Dacal E, García-Bocanegra I, Saugar JM, Calero-Bernal R, González-Barrio D, Rivero A, Briz V, Carmena D. Protist enteroparasites in wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus) and black Iberian pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) in southern Spain: a protective effect on hepatitis E acquisition? Parasites & Vectors 2020, 13: 281
PUBMED DOIMultidisciplinary Group of viral coinfection HIV/Hepatitis (COVIHEP). HCV-coinfection is related to an increased HIV-1 reservoir size in cART-treated HIV patients: a cross-sectional study.
López-Huertas MR, Palladino C, Garrido-Arquero M, Esteban-Cartelle B, Sánchez-Carrillo M, Martínez-Román P, Martín-Carbonero L, Ryan P, Domínguez-Domínguez L, Santos ID, Moral SDLF, Benito JM, Rallón N, Alcamí J, Resino S, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Coiras M, Briz V*, on behalf of the Multidisciplinary Group of viral coinfection HIV/Hepatitis (COVIHEP). HCV-coinfection is related to an increased HIV-1 reservoir size in cART-treated HIV patients: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep 2019: 9 (1); 5606.
PUBMED DOIPersistent Low-Level Viremia in treatment HIV infection: An unresolved status.
3. Crespo-Bermejo C, Ramírez de Arellano E, Lara-Aguilar V, Martínez-Román P, Arca Lafuente S, Gómez-Lus ML, Martín-Carbonero L, Briz V. Persistent Low-Level Viremia in treatment HIV infection: An unresolved status. Virulencia 2021, 12: 2919-2931.
PUBMED DOIFull coding hepatitis E virus genotype 3 genome amplification method.
Muñoz-Chimeno M, Forero JE, Echevarría JM, Muñoz-Bellido JL, Vázquez-López L, Morago L, García-Galera MC, Avellón A. Full coding hepatitis E virus genotype 3 genome amplification method. J Virol Methods. 2016 Apr;230:18-23.
PUBMED DOIComparative sensitivity of commercial tests for hepatitis E genotype 3 virus antibody detection.
• Avellón A, Morago L, García-Galera del Carmen M, Muñoz M, Jose-Manuel Echevarría JM. Comparative sensitivity of commercial tests for hepatitis E genotype 3 virus antibody detection. J Med Virol. 2015 Nov;87(11):1934-9.
PUBMED DOIEpidemiology and predictive factors for early and late mortality in Candida bloodstream infections: a population-based surveillance in Spain
11: Puig-Asensio M, Padilla B, Garnacho-Montero J, Zaragoza O, Aguado JM, Zaragoza R, Montejo M, Muñoz P, Ruiz-Camps I, Cuenca-Estrella M, Almirante B; CANDIPOP Project; GEIH-GEMICOMED (SEIMC); REIPI. Epidemiology and predictive factors for early and late mortality in Candida bloodstream infections: a population-based surveillance in Spain. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 Apr;20(4):O245-54.
PUBMED DOIB Pérez de Val, B Romero, MT Tórtola, L Herrera-León, P Pozo, I Mercader, JL Sáez, M Domingo, E Vidal. Poly-resistant Mycobacterium bovis infection in a human and sympatric sheep, Spain, 2017-2018
B Pérez de Val, B Romero, MT Tórtola, L Herrera-León, P Pozo, I Mercader, JL Sáez, M Domingo, E Vidal. Poly-resistant Mycobacterium bovis infection in a human and sympatric sheep, Spain, 2017-2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Apr;27(4):1241-1243. doi: 10.3201/eid2704.204467. PMID: 33755008.
DOIL Bernal-Martínez; L Herrera-Leon; C Valero; P de la Cruz; L Ghimpu; AC Mesa-Arango; G Santoni; L Goterris; R Millán; MJ Buitrago. Differential Diagnosis of Fungal Pneumonias vs.Tuberculosis in AIDS Patients by Using Two New Molecular Methods.
L Bernal-Martínez; L Herrera-Leon; C Valero; P de la Cruz; L Ghimpu; AC Mesa-Arango; G Santoni; L Goterris; R Millán; MJ Buitrago. Differential Diagnosis of Fungal Pneumonias vs.Tuberculosis in AIDS Patients by Using Two New Molecular Methods. J. Fungi 2021, 7, 336. doi.org: 10.3390/jof7050336. PMID: 33925404.
DOIE Tagliani, RAnthony, TA Kohl, A de Neeling, V Nikolayevskyy, C Ködmön, FP Maurer, S Niemann, D van Soolingen, MJ van der Werf, D Cirillo, ECDC molecular surveillance project participants. Use of a whole genome sequencing-based approach for Mycobacterium tuberculosis surveillance in Europe in 2017-2019: an ECDC pilot study
E Tagliani, RAnthony, TA Kohl, A de Neeling, V Nikolayevskyy, C Ködmön, FP Maurer, S Niemann, D van Soolingen, MJ van der Werf, D Cirillo, ECDC molecular surveillance project participants. Use of a whole genome sequencing-based approach for Mycobacterium tuberculosis surveillance in Europe in 2017-2019: an ECDC pilot study. Eur Respir J. 2021 Jan 5;57(1):2002272. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02272-2020. Print 2021 Jan. PMID: 32732329.
DOIMJ Iglesias, D Ibarz, A Cebollada, J Comín, MS Jiménez, MC Vázquez, S Samper, Spanish Working Group on MDRTB. The value of the continuous genotyping of multidrug resistant tuberculosis over 20 years in Spain.
MJ Iglesias, D Ibarz, A Cebollada, J Comín, MS Jiménez, MC Vázquez, S Samper, Spanish Working Group on MDRTB. The value of the continuous genotyping of multidrug resistant tuberculosis over 20 years in Spain. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 24;10(1):20433. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77249-x. PMID: 33235225.
DOIS Campos-Gutierrez, MJ Ramos-Real, R Abreu, MS Jimenez, M Lecuona. Pseudo-ourbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum, in a hospital bronchoscopy unit.
S Campos-Gutierrez, MJ Ramos-Real, R Abreu, MS Jimenez, M Lecuona. Pseudo-ourbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum, in a hospital bronchoscopy unit. Am J Infect Control. 2020 Jul;48(7):765-769. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.11.019. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 31882175.
DOIGascha , Y Meijeb, M Espasac, B Fonta, MS Jiménez, N Fernández-Hidalgo. Disseminated Infection Due to Mycobacterium chimaera After Aortic Valve Replacement.
Gascha , Y Meijeb, M Espasac, B Fonta, MS Jiménez, N Fernández-Hidalgo. Disseminated Infection Due to Mycobacterium chimaera After Aortic Valve Replacement. Revista Española de cardiología. 2019. Vol 72 (6):502-503. DOI: 10.1016/j.rec.2018.06.026. PMID: 30029979
DOIPBMCs gene expression signature of advanced cirrhosis with high risk for clinically significant portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: A cross-control study
2. Salgüero S, Brochado-Kith O, Virseda Verdices A, Berenguer J, González-García J, Martínez I, Díez C, Hontañón V, Pérez-Latorre L, Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡), Jiménez-Sousa MA (‡,*), and Resino S (‡, *). PBMCs gene expression signature of advanced cirrhosis with high risk for clinically significant portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: A cross-control study. Biomed Pharmacother 2023, 159:114220. (A; FI= 7.42; D1, Pharmacology & Pharmacy; JCR 2021). PMID: 36628818. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114220.
PUBMEDLow anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels predict increased mortality and dissemination of viral components in the blood of critical COVID-19 patients
4. Martin-Vicente M, Almansa R, Martínez I, Tedim AP, Bustamante E, Tamayo L, Aldecoa C, Gómez JM, Renedo G, Berezo JA, Cedeño JA, Mamolar N, García Olivares P, Herrán-Monge R, Cicuendez R, Enríquez P, Ortega A, Jorge N, Doncel C, Fuente A, Bustamante-Munguira J, Muñoz-Gómez MJ, González-Rivera M, Puertas C, Más V, Vázquez M, Pérez-García F, Rico-Feijoo J, Martín S, Motos A, Fernandez-Barat L, Eiros JM, Domínguez-Gil M, Ferrer R, Barbé F, Trapiello W, Kelvin DJ (¥), Bermejo-Martin JF (* ¥), Resino S (¥), Torres A (* ¥). Low anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels predict increased mortality and dissemination of viral components in the blood of critical COVID-19 patients. J Intern Med. 2022, 291(2):232–240. (A; FI= 13.07; D1, Medicine, General & Internal; JCR 2021). PMID: 34611927. DOI: 10.1111/joim.13386.
PUBMEDPrevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in the Spanish HIV Research Network Cohort
5. Berenguer J (*), Díez C, Martín-Vicente M, Mican R, Pérez-Elías MJ, García-Fraile LJ, Vidal F, Suárez-García I, Podzamcer D, Del Romero J, Pulido F, Iribarren JA, Gutiérrez F, Poveda E, Galera C, Izquierdo R, Asensi V, Portilla J, López JC, Arribas JR, Moreno S, González-García J, Resino S (‡), Jarrín I (‡). Prevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in the Spanish HIV Research Network Cohort. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2021, 27(11):1678-1684. (A; FI= 13.31; D1, Microbiology; JCR 2021). PMID: 34186209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.06.023.
PUBMEDEnvironmental factors linked to hospital admissions in young children due to acute viral lower respiratory infections: A bidirectional case-crossover study
6. Álvaro-Meca A, Goez MC, Resino R, Matías V, Sepúlveda-Crespo D; Martínez I, Resino S (*). Environmental factors linked to hospital admissions in young children due to acute viral lower respiratory infections: a bidirectional case-crossover study. Environ Res. 2022. 212(Pt B), 113319. (A; FI= 8.43; D1, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; JCR 2021). PMID: 35447151. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113319.
PUBMEDDetection of active hepatitis C in a single visit and linkage to care among marginalized people using a mobile unit in Madrid, Spain
7. Ryan P, Valencia J, Cuevas G, Torres-Macho J, Troya J, Pueyo A, Muñoz-Gómez MJ, Muñoz-Rivas N, Vázquez-Morón S, Martínez, I, Lazarus JV, Resino S (*). Detection of active hepatitis C in a single visit and link-to-care among excluded people using a mobile unit in Madrid, Spain. Int J Drug Policy. 2021, 96:103424. (A; FI= 5.93; Q1, Substance Abuse; JCR 2021). PMID: 34429222 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103424.
PUBMEDMaría José Ruiz-Lopéz, Milagros Muñoz-Chimeno, Jordi Figuerola, Ana M. Gavilán, Sarai Varona, Isabel Cuesta, Josué Martínez-de la Puente, Angel Zaballos, Francisca Molero, Ramón C. Soriguer, Mª Paz Sánchez-Seco, Santiago Ruiz, Ana Vázquez. Genomic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 1 isolated from mosquitoes
María José Ruiz-Lopéz, Milagros Muñoz-Chimeno, Jordi Figuerola, Ana M. Gavilán, Sarai Varona, Isabel Cuesta, Josué Martínez-de la Puente, Angel Zaballos, Francisca Molero, Ramón C. Soriguer, Mª Paz Sánchez-Seco, Santiago Ruiz, Ana Vázquez. Genomic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 1 isolated from mosquitoes from 2020-2021 outbreak occurred in Andalusia, Spain. Viruses 2023, 15, 266. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020266
DOIJordi Figuerola, Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero, María José Ruíz-López, Francisco Llorente, Santiago Ruiz, Andreas Hoefer, Pilar Aguilera-Sepúlveda, Jéssica Jiménez Peñuela1, Olaya García-Ruiz, Laura Herrero, Ramón C. Soriguer, Raúl Fernández Delgado, Mari Paz Sánchez-Seco, Josué Martínez-de la Puente, Ana Vázquez. A One Health view of the West Nile virus outbreak in Andalusía (Spain) in 2020
Jordi Figuerola, Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero, María José Ruíz-López, Francisco Llorente, Santiago Ruiz, Andreas Hoefer, Pilar Aguilera-Sepúlveda, Jéssica Jiménez Peñuela1, Olaya García-Ruiz, Laura Herrero, Ramón C. Soriguer, Raúl Fernández Delgado, Mari Paz Sánchez-Seco, Josué Martínez-de la Puente, Ana Vázquez. A One Health view of the West Nile virus outbreak in Andalusía (Spain) in 2020. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 Dec;11(1):2570-2578. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2134055.
DOIAdditional Information
The AIDS Immunopathology Unit has been coordinated since 2000 by Dr. José Alcamí, bringing together during its history more than 20 independent researchers who collaboratively study different aspects of HIV infection. During this years, more than 30 visiting researchers and more than 50 national and international students have passed through the unit. From the beginning of the year 2025, Javier García Pérez and Francisco Díez Fuertes assumed the coordination of the AIDS Immunopathology Unit, with the aim of projecting its scientific competitiveness following multidisciplinary approaches and through the maintenance of the current close collaborations, as well as the promotion of participation in new national and international research networks.
Historically, the current members of the unit have focused on different lines of basic research that include the study of antibodies and the development of vaccines against HIV-1, the study of viral entry and tropism of the virus or the study of the host through the genomic characterization of populations with an extreme phenotype. Currently, the activity of our unit in the field of HIV-1 is focused on three main lines:
1. Mecanismos moleculares asociados a la protección de la infección por VIH-1 en pacientes con distrofia muscular de cinturas dominante D2 (LGMDD2).
2. Generación de anticuerpos neutralizantes de uso terapéutico basados en la respuesta neutralizante de amplio espectro frente a virus fundadores.
3. Cribado y caracterización de nuevos fármacos anti-latencia frente al VIH-1.
A partir del año 2020, nuestra unidad se vuelca con la investigación sobre COVID-19, participando y liderando diferentes proyectos de investigación aplicada y clínica. Fruto de esta fuerte implicación en el campo, en la actualidad se mantienen diferentes estudios sobre la caracterización de la respuesta inmune frente a SARS-CoV-2, integrando diferentes técnicas de virología molecular, estrategias de inteligencia epidemiológica y tecnologías de célula única.
We also participate in different research consortiums and networks, such as the Spanish AIDS Research Network or the Center for Biomedical Research in Infectious Diseases Network (CIBER-INFEC), in which we participate as researchers in different lines and work packages within the research programs “Global Health, emerging and re-emerging infections” as well as “HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections”.
Supervised doctoral theses
1. GENOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF HIV-1 PROTECTION PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH SLOW PROGRESSION OF INFECTION.
Student: Erick de la Torre Tarazona.
Supervisors: José Alcamí and Francisco Díez Fuertes.
Academic entity: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Defense date: July 14th, 2020.
2. ANALYSIS OF MIARN EXPRESSION PROFILES AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION IN HIV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT PROGRESSION TO AIDS.
Student: Rubén Ayala Suárez.
Supervisors: José Alcamí and Francisco Díez Fuertes.
Academic entity: Universidad de Alcalá.
Defense date: June 12nd, 2023.
The AIDS Immunopathology Unit has been coordinated since 2000 by Dr. José Alcamí, bringing together during its history more than 20 independent researchers who collaboratively study different aspects of HIV infection. During this years, more than 30 visiting researchers and more than 50 national and international students have passed through the unit. From the beginning of the year 2025, Javier García Pérez and Francisco Díez Fuertes assumed the coordination of the AIDS Immunopathology Unit, with the aim of projecting its scientific competitiveness following multidisciplinary approaches and through the maintenance of the current close collaborations, as well as the promotion of participation in new national and international research networks.
Historically, the current members of the unit have focused on different lines of basic research that include the study of antibodies and the development of vaccines against HIV-1, the study of viral entry and tropism of the virus or the study of the host through the genomic characterization of populations with an extreme phenotype. Currently, the activity of our unit in the field of HIV-1 is focused on three main lines:
1. Mecanismos moleculares asociados a la protección de la infección por VIH-1 en pacientes con distrofia muscular de cinturas dominante D2 (LGMDD2).
2. Generación de anticuerpos neutralizantes de uso terapéutico basados en la respuesta neutralizante de amplio espectro frente a virus fundadores.
3. Cribado y caracterización de nuevos fármacos anti-latencia frente al VIH-1.
A partir del año 2020, nuestra unidad se vuelca con la investigación sobre COVID-19, participando y liderando diferentes proyectos de investigación aplicada y clínica. Fruto de esta fuerte implicación en el campo, en la actualidad se mantienen diferentes estudios sobre la caracterización de la respuesta inmune frente a SARS-CoV-2, integrando diferentes técnicas de virología molecular, estrategias de inteligencia epidemiológica y tecnologías de célula única.
We also participate in different research consortiums and networks, such as the Spanish AIDS Research Network or the Center for Biomedical Research in Infectious Diseases Network (CIBER-INFEC), in which we participate as researchers in different lines and work packages within the research programs “Global Health, emerging and re-emerging infections” as well as “HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections”.
Supervised doctoral theses
1. GENOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF HIV-1 PROTECTION PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH SLOW PROGRESSION OF INFECTION.
Student: Erick de la Torre Tarazona.
Supervisors: José Alcamí and Francisco Díez Fuertes.
Academic entity: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Defense date: July 14th, 2020.
2. ANALYSIS OF MIARN EXPRESSION PROFILES AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION IN HIV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT PROGRESSION TO AIDS.
Student: Rubén Ayala Suárez.
Supervisors: José Alcamí and Francisco Díez Fuertes.
Academic entity: Universidad de Alcalá.
Defense date: June 12nd, 2023.