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Investigation
AIDS Immunopathology
Research Lines
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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
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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
Tarragó, D.; Mateos, M.-L.; Avellón, A.; Pérez-Vázquez, M.-D.; Tenorio, A.2004
Tarragó, D.; Mateos, M.-L.; Avellón, A.; Pérez-Vázquez, M.-D.; Tenorio, A.2004. Quantitation of Cytomegalovirus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Specimens from AIDS Patients Using a Novel Highly Sensitive Nested Competitive PCR and the Cobas Amplicor CMV Monitor™ Journal of Medical Virology. 72-2, pp.249-256. ISSN 01466615. 10. Tarragó, D.; Quereda, C.; Tenorio, A.2003. Different cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B genotype distribution in serum and cerebrospinal fluid specimens determined by a novel multiplex nested PCR Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41-7, pp.2872-2877. ISSN 00951137.
Fernandez-Garcia, Maria Dolores (AC); Kebe, Ousmane; Fall, Aichatou D.; Dia, Hamet; Diop, Ousmane M.; Delpeyroux, Francis; Ndiaye, Kader. 2016.
Fernandez-Garcia, Maria Dolores (AC); Kebe, Ousmane; Fall, Aichatou D.; Dia, Hamet; Diop, Ousmane M.; Delpeyroux, Francis; Ndiaye, Kader. (1/ 7). 2016. Enterovirus A71 Genogroups C and E in Children with Acute Flaccid Paralysis, West Africa EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 22-4, pp.753-755. ISSN 1080-6040.
Molecular epidemiology of coxsackievirus B3 infection in Spain, 2004-2015.
K Calderón, M Díaz-de Cerio, C Muñoz-Almagro, N Rabella, I Martínez-Rienda, A Moreno-Docón, G Trallero, M Cabrerizo*. Molecular epidemiology of coxsackievirus B3 infection in Spain, 2004-2015. Arch Virol 161: 1365-1370 (2016).
PUBMED DOIDevelopment and Evaluation of a Serological Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Alpacas and Llamas.
Development and Evaluation of a Serological Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Alpacas and Llamas. Infantes-Lorenzo, Jose A.; Whitehead, Claire E.; Moreno, Inmaculada; et ál..FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE Volumen: 5 Número de artículo: 189 Fecha de publicación: AUG 13 2018
PUBMED DOIInfluence of the Microenvironment in the Transcriptome of Leishmania infantum Promastigotes: Sand Fly versus Culture
Influence of the Microenvironment in the Transcriptome of Leishmania infantum Promastigotes: Sand Fly versus Culture. Alcolea, Pedro J.; Alonso, Ana; Dominguez, Mercedes; et ál..PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES Volumen: 10 Número: 5 Número de artículo: e0004693 Fecha de publicación: MAY 2016
PUBMED DOIFernandez-Garcia MD, Kebe O, Fall AD, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of non-polio enteroviruses from children with acute flaccid paralysis in West Africa, 2013-2014.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Kebe O, Fall AD, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of non-polio enteroviruses from children with acute flaccid paralysis in West Africa, 2013-2014. Scientific Reports. 2017 Jun 19; 7(1):3808. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03835-1 ISSN 2045-2322 PMID 28630462
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Manasi Majumdar, Ousmane Kebe, Kader Ndiaye, Javier Martin. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Manasi Majumdar, Ousmane Kebe, Kader Ndiaye, Javier Martin. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015. Scientific Reports. 2018 Feb; 8(1):2181. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20346-9. ISSN 2045-2322 PMID 29391547
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine- Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine- Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Jan;24(1):65-74. doi: 10.3201/eid2401.171174. PMID: 29260690; PMCID: PMC5749474.
Cabrerizo M, García-Iñiguez JP, Munell F, Amado A, Madurga-Revilla P, Rodrigo C, Pérez S, Martínez-Sapiña A, Antón A, Suárez G, Rabella N, Del Campo V, Otero A, Masa-Calles J. First Cases of Severe Flaccid Paralysis Associated With Enterovirus D68 Infection in Spain, 2015-2016.
Cabrerizo M, García-Iñiguez JP, Munell F, Amado A, Madurga-Revilla P, Rodrigo C, Pérez S, Martínez-Sapiña A, Antón A, Suárez G, Rabella N, Del Campo V, Otero A, Masa-Calles J. First Cases of Severe Flaccid Paralysis Associated With Enterovirus D68 Infection in Spain, 2015-2016. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2017 Dec;36(12):1214-1216. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001668. PMID: 28661963.
van Beek J, de Graaf M, Al-Hello H, Allen DJ, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, Brytting M, Buesa J, Cabrerizo M, Chan M, Cloak F, Di Bartolo I, Guix S, Hewitt J, Iritani N, Jin M, Johne R, Lederer I, Mans J, Martella V, Maunula L, McAllister G, Niendorf S, Niesters HG, Podkolzin AT, Poljsak-Prijatelj M, Rasmussen LD, Reuter G, Tuite G, Kroneman A, Vennema H, Koopmans MPG; NoroNet. Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005-16
van Beek J, de Graaf M, Al-Hello H, Allen DJ, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, Brytting M, Buesa J, Cabrerizo M, Chan M, Cloak F, Di Bartolo I, Guix S, Hewitt J, Iritani N, Jin M, Johne R, Lederer I, Mans J, Martella V, Maunula L, McAllister G, Niendorf S, Niesters HG, Podkolzin AT, Poljsak-Prijatelj M, Rasmussen LD, Reuter G, Tuite G, Kroneman A, Vennema H, Koopmans MPG; NoroNet. Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005-16: an epidemiological analysis of data collected from the NoroNet network. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 May;18(5):545-553. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30059-8. Epub 2018 Jan 26. PMID: 29396001.
González-Serrano L, Muñoz-Algarra M, González-Sanz R, Portero-Azorín MF, Amaro MJ, Higueras P, Cabrerizo M. Viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized patients: Evaluation of immunochromatographic methods for rapid detection in stool samples. J Clin Virol. 2020 Jul;
González-Serrano L, Muñoz-Algarra M, González-Sanz R, Portero-Azorín MF, Amaro MJ, Higueras P, Cabrerizo M. Viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized patients: Evaluation of immunochromatographic methods for rapid detection in stool samples. J Clin Virol. 2020 Jul; 128:104420. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104420. Epub 2020 May 15. PMID: 32454428.
Bubba L, Broberg EK, Jasir A, Simmonds P, Harvala H; Enterovirus study collaborators. Circulation of non-polio enteroviruses in 24 EU and EEA countries between 2015 and 2017
Bubba L, Broberg EK, Jasir A, Simmonds P, Harvala H; Enterovirus study collaborators. Circulation of non-polio enteroviruses in 24 EU and EEA countries between 2015 and 2017: a retrospective surveillance study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Mar;20(3):350-361. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30566-3. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870905.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Simon-Loriere E, Kebe O, Sakuntabhai A, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of the first complete genome sequence of Human Parechovirus type 15. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 21
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Simon-Loriere E, Kebe O, Sakuntabhai A, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of the first complete genome sequence of Human Parechovirus type 15. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 21;10(1):6759. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63467-w. PMID: 32317760; PMCID: PMC7174385.
Casas-Alba D, Valero-Rello A, Muchart J, Armangué T, Jordan I, Cabrerizo M, Molero-Luís M, Artuch R, Fortuny C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Launes C. Cerebrospinal Fluid Neopterin in Children With Enterovirus-Related Brainstem Encephalitis. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 Jul
Casas-Alba D, Valero-Rello A, Muchart J, Armangué T, Jordan I, Cabrerizo M, Molero-Luís M, Artuch R, Fortuny C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Launes C. Cerebrospinal Fluid Neopterin in Children With Enterovirus-Related Brainstem Encephalitis. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 Jul; 96:70-73. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.01.024. Epub 2019 Feb 7. PMID: 30935719.
González-Sanz R, Taravillo I, Reina J, Navascués A, Moreno-Docón A, Aranzamendi M, Romero MP, Del Cuerpo M, Pérez-González C, Pérez-Castro S, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Enterovirus D68-associated respiratory and neurological illness in Spain, 2014-2018.
González-Sanz R, Taravillo I, Reina J, Navascués A, Moreno-Docón A, Aranzamendi M, Romero MP, Del Cuerpo M, Pérez-González C, Pérez-Castro S, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Enterovirus D68-associated respiratory and neurological illness in Spain, 2014-2018. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2019;8(1):1438-1444. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1668243. PMID: 31571527; PMCID: PMC6781473.
Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Accumulate in Renal Transplant Patients and Mediate CD4(+) Foxp3(+) Treg Expansion
Luan Y, Mosheir E, Menon MC, Wilson D, Woytovich C, Ochando J, Murphy B. Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Accumulate in Renal Transplant Patients and Mediate CD4(+) Foxp3(+) Treg Expansion. 2013. Am J Transplant.13(12):3123-31.
PUBMED DOIRiquelme P, Haarer J, Kammler A, Walter L, Tomiuk S, Ahrens N, Goecze I, Wege A, Fändrich F, Schlitt H, Banas B, Lutz M, Sawitzki B, Ochando J, Geissler E and Hutchinson J. Generation of BTNL8+ TIGIT+ Tregs by Human Regulatory Macrophages Before Kidney Transplantation. Nat Commun.
Riquelme P, Haarer J, Kammler A, Walter L, Tomiuk S, Ahrens N, Goecze I, Wege A, Fändrich F, Schlitt H, Banas B, Lutz M, Sawitzki B, Ochando J, Geissler E and Hutchinson J. Generation of BTNL8+ TIGIT+ Tregs by Human Regulatory Macrophages Before Kidney Transplantation. Nat Commun. 2018; Jul 20;9(1):2858. PMID: 30030423.
Inhibiting Inflammation with Myeloid Cell-Specific Nanobiologics Promotes Organ Transplant Acceptance
Braza MS, Lameijer M, Sanchez-Gaytan B, Arts R, Pérez-Medina C, Conde P, Brahmachary M, van der Touw W, Fay F, Kluza E, Kossatz S, Stroes E, Kroon J, Dress R, Salem F, Rialdi A, Reiner T, Boros P, van Leent M, Strijkers G, Calcagno C, Ginhoux F, Marazzi I, Lutgens E, Nicolaes G, Weber C, Swirski F, Nahrendorf M, Fisher E, Fayad Z, Duivenvoorden R, Netea M, Mulder WJ, and Ochando J. Inhibiting Inflammation with Myeloid Cell-Specific Nanobiologics Promotes Organ Transplant Acceptance.Immunity. 2018; 20;49(5):819-828.e6. PMID: 30413362.
PUBMED DOIFernandez-Garcia MD, Volle R, Joffret ML, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Kebe O, Wiley MR, Majumdar M, Simon-Loriere E, Sakuntabhai A, Palacios G, Martin J, Delpeyroux F, Ndiaye K, Bessaud M. Genetic Characterization of Enterovirus A71 Circulating in Africa.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Volle R, Joffret ML, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Kebe O, Wiley MR, Majumdar M, Simon-Loriere E, Sakuntabhai A, Palacios G, Martin J, Delpeyroux F, Ndiaye K, Bessaud M. Genetic Characterization of Enterovirus A71 Circulating in Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Apr;24(4):754-757. doi: 10.3201/eid2404.171783. PMID: 29553325; PMCID: PMC5875259.
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
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.