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Pneumococcus

Líneas de investigación

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.

Proyectos de investigación

Content with Investigacion Neumococos .

1: Título del proyecto: Desarrollo de enzibióticos para combatir infecciones en pacientes con fibrosis quística provocadas por los patógenos Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Staphylococcus aureus: CF-TREAT

Referencia: CPP2022-009574 / MPY 375/23

Agencia Financiadora: Agencia Estatal de Investigación. MICINN.

Fecha Inicio:    01/12/2023
Fecha Fin:    30/11/2026
Financiación: 238.938 Euros
Investigadores principales: Roberto Díez Martínez, José E. Yuste Lobo y Pilar García Suárez

 

2: Título del proyecto: Desarrollo de enzibióticos para combatir infecciones humanas producidas por Enterococcus faecium resistente a vancomicina (ANTI‐VRE).
Ayuda CPP2021-009054 financiada por Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Investigadores principales: Roberto Díez Martínez, Jose Yuste Lobo y Mirian Domenech

Periodo: 18/11/2022 - 17/11/2025

Cuantía total: 231.455 €

3: Título del proyecto: Mecanismos de virulencia en patógenos respiratorios.
Entidad financiadora: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Convocatoria «Proyectos I+D+I» 2020 - Modalidades «Retos Investigación» y «Generación de Conocimiento»). Referencia: PID2020-119298RB-I00

Investigador principal: Jose Yuste Lobo

Periodo: 01/09/2021 - 30/08/2024

Cuantía total: 121.000 €

4: Título del proyecto: Efectividad de la vacuna antineumocócica conjugada 13-valente frente a la hospitalización por neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en adultos de 60 años o mayores, mediante un estudio de casos y controles modificado. Estudio CIBELES.

Investigadores principales: Jose Yuste Lobo y Ángel Gil de Miguel
Entidad financiadora: PFIZER. Referencia: MVP 249/20
Periodo: 23/02/2021 - 22/02/2025
Cuantía total: 168.000 €

5: Título del proyecto: Evolution of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Spain with special focus on the pathogenesis of serotypes 3, 8, 11A, 19A, 22F and 33F. Investigadores principales: Jose Yuste Lobo y Mirian Domenech.
Entidad financiadora: Merck Sharp & Dohme USA. Referencia: MVP 132/21
Período: 16/06/2021 - 15/12/2023
Cuantía total: 157.448€

6: Título del proyecto: Mecanismos de patogenicidad y protección en bacterias Gram-positivas causantes de enfermedad respiratoria y bacteriemia
Investigador principal: Jose Yuste Lobo
Entidad financiadora: MINECO. Referencia: SAF2017-83388-R
Periodo: 31/12/2017 - 30/06/2021
Cuantía total: 145.200 €

7: Título del proyecto: Characterization of susceptibility to cefditoren investigating penicillin resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Investigadores: Jose Yuste Lobo y Mirian Domenech Lucas
Entidad financiadora: Tedec Meiji Farma, S.A. Referencia: MVP 119/20
Periodo: 11/07/2020 – 10-07-2022
Cuantía total: 76.517 €

8: Título del proyecto: Impact of clinical isolates of serotypes 22F and 33F in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Investigador principal: Jose Yuste Lobo
Entidad financiadora: Merck Sharp & Dohme España, S.A. Referencia: MVE 213/18
Periodo: 10/05/2018 - 30/05/2021
Cuantía total: 157.604 €

Publicaciones destacadas

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High-Quality Draft Genome of Babesia divergens, the Etiological Agent of Cattle and Human Babesiosis.

8. Cuesta I; González LM; Estrada K; Grande R; Zaballos A; Lobo CA; Barrera J; Sanchez-Flores A; Montero E. 2014. High-Quality Draft Genome of Babesia divergens, the Etiological Agent of Cattle and Human Babesiosis. Genome Announcement. 2: e01194-14.

PUBMED DOI

Co-occurrence of the cephalosporinase cepA and carbapenemase cfiA genes in a Bacteroides fragilis division II strain, an unexpected finding

Valdezate S, Medina-Pascual MJ, Villalón P, Garrido N, Monzón S, Cuesta I, Cobo F (2024). Co-occurrence of the cephalosporinase cepA and carbapenemase cfiA genes in a Bacteroides fragilis division II strain, an unexpected finding. J Antimicrobial Chem. 2024 Jul 1;79(7):1683-1687

PUBMED DOI

Hookworm secreted extracellular vesicles interact with host cells and prevent inducible colitis in mice.

Eichenberger RM, Ryan S, Jones L, Buitrago G, Polster R, Montes de Oca M, Zuvelek J, Giacomin PR, Dent LA, Engwerda CR, Field MA, Sotillo J, Loukas A. Hookworm secreted extracellular vesicles interact with host cells and prevent inducible colitis in mice. Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 30;9:850.

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T-Cell-Specific Loss of the PI-3-Kinase p110α Catalytic Subunit Results in Enhanced Cytokine Production and Antitumor Response.

1. Aragoneses-Fenoll L, Ojeda G, Montes-Casado M, Acosta-Ampudia Y, Dianzani U, Portolés P, Rojo JM. T-Cell-Specific Loss of the PI-3-Kinase p110α Catalytic Subunit Results in Enhanced Cytokine Production and Antitumor Response. Front. Immunol. 2018 Feb 27;9:332.

PUBMED DOI

Pneumoviridae fusion proteins as immunogens to induce cross-neutralizing antibody responses

Olmedillas E, Cano O, Martinez I, Luque D, Terron MC, McLellan JS, et al. Chimeric Pneumoviridae fusion proteins as immunogens to induce cross-neutralizing antibody responses. EMBO Mol Med. 2018;10(2):175-87.

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Toll-like receptor signaling-deficient cells enhance antitumor activity of cell-based immunotherapy by increasing tumor homing

A. Morales-Molina, M.A. Rodríguez-Milla, S,. Gambera, T. Cejalvo, B. de Andrés M.L. Gaspar, J. Garcia-Castro. Cancer Res Commun 2023 Mar 1;3(3):347-360. eCollection 2023 Mar

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StaR Is a positive regulator of topoisomerase I activity involved in supercoiling maintenance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

de Vasconcelos Junior AA, Tirado-Vélez JM, Martín-Galiano AJ, Megias D, Ferrándiz MJ, Hernández P, Amblar M, de la Campa AG. Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24:5973.

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Antiretroviral Therapy with Ritonavir-Boosted Atazanavir- and Lopinavir-Containing Regimens Correlates with Diminished HIV-1 Neutralization.

Yuste E, Gil H, Garcia F, Sanchez-Merino V; Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Oct 17;12(10):1176.

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Toward the consensus of definitions for the phenomena of antifungal tolerance and persistence in filamentous fungi.

Amich J, Bromley M, Goldman GH, Valero C. mBio. 2025 Feb 25:e0347524

PUBMED DOI

Structure and Immunogenicity of the Human Metapneumovirus F Protein in the Postfusion Conformation.

5. Mas V, Rodriguez L, Olmedillas E, Cano O, Palomo C, Terron MC, et al. Engineering, Structure and Immunogenicity of the Human Metapneumovirus F Protein in the Postfusion Conformation. PLoS Pathog. 2016;12(9):e1005859.

PUBMED DOI

Godet C, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Flick H, Hennequin C, Mikilps-Mikgelbs R, Munteanu O, Page I, Seidel D, Salzer HJF. A CPAnet consensus statement on research priorities for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a neglected fungal infection that requires attention. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2018 ​

Godet C, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Flick H, Hennequin C, Mikilps-Mikgelbs R, Munteanu O, Page I, Seidel D, Salzer HJF. A CPAnet consensus statement on research priorities for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a neglected fungal infection that requires attention. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2018 Feb 1;73(2):280-286. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx390. PMID: 29126309.​

PUBMED DOI

Ultrastructure of the Babesia divergens free merozoite

Terrón M.C, González-Camacho F., González L.M., Luque D.*, Montero E. 2016. Ultrastructure of the Babesia divergens free merozoite. Ticks Tick Borne Diseases. 7(6):1274-1279. *Corresponding author. IF: 3.23, Q1.

PUBMED DOI

Exploring the genetic background of the botulism neurotoxin BoNT/B2 in Spain

Valdezate S, Carrasco G, Medina MJ, Garrido N, Del Pino S, Valiente M, Pallarés MP, Villalon P. (2023). Exploring the genetic background of the botulism neurotoxin BoNT/B2 in Spain. Microbiol Spectr. Sep 26;11(5):e0238023

PUBMED DOI

HDP2: a ribosomal DNA (NTS-ETS) sequence as a target for species-specific molecular diagnosis of intestinal taeniasis in humans.

Flores MD, Gonzalez LM, Hurtado C, Motta YM, Domínguez-Hidalgo C, Merino FJ, Perteguer MJ, Gárate T. HDP2: a ribosomal DNA (NTS-ETS) sequence as a target for species-specific molecular diagnosis of intestinal taeniasis in humans. Parasit Vectors. 2018 Feb 27;11(1):117. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2646-6.

PUBMED DOI

ETP-46321, a dual p110α/δ class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor modulates T lymphocyte activation and collagen-induced arthritis.

2. Aragoneses-Fenoll L, Montes-CasadoM, Ojeda G, Acosta YY, Herranz J, Martínez S, Blanco-Aparicio C, Criado G, Pastor J, Dianzani U, Portolés P, Rojo JM. ETP-46321, a dual p110α/δ class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor modulates T lymphocyte activation and collagen-induced arthritis. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2016 Apr 15;106:56-69. Epub 2016 Feb 13.

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Immune stress suppresses innate immune signaling in preleukemic precursor B-cells to provoke leukemia in predisposed mice

Isidro-Hernández M, Casado-García A, Oak N, Alemán-Arteaga S, Ruiz-Corzo B, Martínez-Cano J, Mayado A, G. Sánchez E, Blanco O, Gaspar ML, Orfao A, Alonso-López D, De las Rivas J, Riesco S, Prieto-Matos P, González-Murilo A, García Criado FJ, García Cenador MB, Ramírez-Orellana M, De Andrés B, Vicente-Dueñas C, Cobaleda C, Nichols KE, Sánchez-García I. Nat Commun 2023 Aug 24;14(1):5159.

PUBMED DOI

The balance between gyrase and topoisomerase I activities determines levels of supercoiling, nucleoid compaction, and viability in bacteria

García-López M, Megias D, Ferrándiz MJ, de la Campa AG. Front Microbiol. 2023; 11;1094692.

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The Association of HIV-1 Neutralization in Aviremic Children and Adults with Time to ART Initiation and CD4+/CD8+ Ratios

Sanchez-Merino V, Martin-Serrano M, Beltran M, Lazaro-Martin B, Cervantes E, Oltra M, Sainz T, Garcia F, Navarro ML, Yuste E; Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Dec 20;12(1):8;

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The sulfur-related metabolic status of Aspergillus fumigatus during infection reveals cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase as a promising antifungal target

Alharthi R, Sueiro-Olivares M, Storer I, Bin Shuraym H, Scott J, Al-Shidhani R, Fortune-Grant R, Bignell E, Tabernero L, Bromley M and Amich J. 2025. Virulence, 16(1):2449075

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Horizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance.

Horizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance. Cafini F, Nguyen le TT, Higashide M, Román F, Prieto J, Morikawa K. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016 Mar;71(3):587-92.

PUBMED

Focusing on Gordonia Infections: Distribution, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Phylogeny

Pino-Rosa S, Medina-Pascual MJ, Carrasco G, Garrido N, Villalón P, Valiente M, Valdezate S. (2023). Focusing on Gordonia Infections: Distribution, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Phylogeny. Antibiotics (Basel). 26;12(11):1568

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Antibody responses to chimeric peptides derived from parasite antigens in mice and other animal species.

Orbegozo-Medina RA, Martínez-Sernández V, Folgueira I, Mezo M, González-Warleta M, Perteguer MJ, Romarís F, Leiro JM, Ubeira FM. Antibody responses to chimeric peptides derived from parasite antigens in mice and other animal species. Mol Immunol. 2018 Dec 17;106:1-11.

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Suppression of CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in vitro and experimental encephalomyelitis in vivo by the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase inhibitor PIK-75.

3. Acosta YY, Montes-Casado M, Aragoneses-Fenoll L, Dianzani U, Portoles P, Rojo JM. Suppression of CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in vitro and experimental encephalomyelitis in vivo by the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase inhibitor PIK-75. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 2014 Jan-Mar;27(1):53-67.

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Role of Toll-like receptor 4 in intravascular hemolisis-mediated injury

Vázquez-Carballo C, Herencia C, Guerrero-Hue M, García-Caballero C, Rayego-Mateos S, Morgado-Pascual JL, Opazo-Rios L, González-Guerrero C, Vallejo-Mudarra M, Cortegano I, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B, Egido J, Moreno JA. J Pathol. 2022 Nov; 258(3): 236–249.

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Role of PatAB transporter in efflux of levofloxacin in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Amblar M, Zaballos A, de la Campa AG. Antibiotics. 2022; 17:1837.

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Potent Induction of Envelope-Specific Antibody Responses by Virus-Like Particle Immunogens Based on HIV-1 Envelopes from Patients with Early Broadly Neutralizing Responses

Beltran-Pavez C, Bontjer I, Gonzalez N, Pernas M, Merino-Mansilla A, Olvera A, Miro JM, Brander C, Alcami J, Sanders RW, Sanchez-Merino V, Yuste E; J Virol. 2022 Jan 12;96(1):e0134321.

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Fungal burden assessment in hospital zones with different protection degrees

García-Gutiérrez L, Baena Rojas B, Ruiz M, Hernández Egido S, Ruiz-Gaitán AC, Laiz L, Pemán J, Cuétara-García MS, Mellado E & Martin-Sanchez PM. Build Environ, Volume 269, 1 February 2025, 112454

DOI

Botulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019

Peñuelas M, Guerrero-Vadillo M, Valdezate S, Zamora MJ, Leon-Gomez I, Flores-Cuéllar Á, Carrasco G, Díaz-García O, Varela C. (2022). Botulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019. Toxins (Basel). 20;15(1):2

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Comparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

Hernández-González A, Noh J, Perteguer MJ, Gárate T, Handali S. Comparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Parasit Vectors. 2017 May 15;10(1):237.

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Effects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response

4. Cicuendez M., Portolés P., Montes-Casado M., Izquierdo-Barba I., Vallet-Regı M., and Portolés M.T. Effects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response. J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2 (22), 3469-3479.

DOI

Age-dependent nasal immune responses in non-hospitalized bronchiolitis children

Cortegano I, Rodríguez M, Hernángómez S, Arrabal A, Garcia-Vao C, Rodríguez J, Sandra Fernández S, Díaz J, de la Rosa B, Solís B, Arribas C, Garrido F, Zaballos A, Roa S, López V, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B. Front Immunol 2022 Dec 6:13:1011607.

PUBMED DOI

Seconeolitsine, the novel inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I, protects against invasive pneumococcal disease caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant strains.

Tirado-Vélez JM, Carreño D, Sevillano D, Alou L, Yuste J, de la Campa AG. Antibiotics 2021; 10:573.

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Evaluation of the Thermal Stability of a Vaccine Prototype Based on Virus-like Particle Formulated HIV-1 Envelope

Aguado-Garcia D, Olvera A, Brander C, Sanchez-Merino V, Yuste E; Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Mar 22;10(4):484

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Distribution of Aspergillus Species and Prevalence of Azole Resistance in clinical and environmental Samples from a Spanish Hospital during a three-year study period

Lucio J, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Gil H, Cano-Pascual S, Hernandez-Egido S, Cuetara MS and Mellado E. Mycoses. 2024 Apr;67(4):e13719.

PUBMED DOI

Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Spain: a microbiological and epidemiological study covering the period 2007-2019

Villalón P, Sáez-Nieto JA, Rubio-López V, Medina-Pascual MJ, Garrido N, Carrasco G, Pino-Rosa S, Valdezate S. (2021). Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Spain: a microbiological and epidemiological study covering the period 2007-2019. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Nov;40(11):2295-2303

PUBMED DOI

Characterization of Trichuris muris secreted proteins and extracellular vesicles provides new insights into host-parasite communication.

Eichenberger RM, Talukder MH, Field MA, Wangchuk P, Giacomin P, Loukas A, Sotillo J. Characterization of Trichuris muris secreted proteins and extracellular vesicles provides new insights into host-parasite communication. J Extracell Vesicles. 2018 Jan 21;7(1):1428004.

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Characteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo.

5. Rojo, J. M., G. Ojeda, Y. Y. Acosta, M. Montes-Casado, G. Criado, and P. Portoles. Characteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo. J. Leukoc. Biol. 2014, 95 (3): 441-450.

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TREM1 regulates antifungal immune responses in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

Bernal-Martinez L, Gonçalves S, de Andres B, Cunha C, Gonzalez Jimenez I, Lagrou K, Mellado E, Gaspar ML, Maertens J, Carvalho A, and Alcazar-Fuoli L. Virulence 2021 Dec;12(1):570-583.

PUBMED DOI

Genome-wide proximity between RNA polymerase and DNA topoisomerase I supports transcription in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Ferrándiz M-J, Hernández P, de la Campa AG. PLoS Genet. 2021; 17:e1009542.

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Permanent control of HIV-1 pathogenesis in exceptional elite controllers: a model of spontaneous cure

Casado C, Galvez C, Pernas M, Tarancon-Diez L, Rodriguez C, Sanchez-Merino V, Vera M, Olivares I, De Pablo-Bernal R, Merino-Mansilla A, Del Romero J, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Ruiz-Mateos E, Salgado M, Martinez-Picado J, Lopez-Galindez C; Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 5;10(1):1902

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Content with Investigacion Neumococos .

List of staff

Información adicional

The Pneumococcus Unit is in charge of two very important aspects related to pneumococcus infections, such as epidemiological surveillance and basic and translational research of diseases caused by this pathogen. Our unit contributes to the epidemiological surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), characterizing the serotypes and genotypes of invasive pneumococci circulating in Spain, as well as the evolution of antibiotic resistance in this pathogen. 

Identification of culture-negative samples (CSF and pleural fluids) is performed using real-time PCR. Serotyping is performed using the Dot-blot and PCR-sequencing technique. Genotyping for the study of outbreaks and characterization of clones associated with hypervirulent and/or multiresistant strains is performed using the MLST technique and the analysis of complete genomes by massive sequencing. In addition, antibiotic susceptibility is determined following the EUCAST criteria. 

Our unit belongs to the IBD-labnet network of the ECDC and annually notifies all cases of IPD to the ECDC and also to the IRIS (Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance) network. At the level of basic and translational research, our unit is responsible for studying and characterizing different molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and protection related to pneumococcal infection. Among the main objectives are the molecular characterization of virulence factors, the study of different vaccine candidate proteins and determining the possible impact that tobacco smoke and the formation of biofilms have on the colonization of the respiratory tract.

The Pneumococcus Unit is in charge of two very important aspects related to pneumococcus infections, such as epidemiological surveillance and basic and translational research of diseases caused by this pathogen. Our unit contributes to the epidemiological surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), characterizing the serotypes and genotypes of invasive pneumococci circulating in Spain, as well as the evolution of antibiotic resistance in this pathogen. 

Identification of culture-negative samples (CSF and pleural fluids) is performed using real-time PCR. Serotyping is performed using the Dot-blot and PCR-sequencing technique. Genotyping for the study of outbreaks and characterization of clones associated with hypervirulent and/or multiresistant strains is performed using the MLST technique and the analysis of complete genomes by massive sequencing. In addition, antibiotic susceptibility is determined following the EUCAST criteria. 

Our unit belongs to the IBD-labnet network of the ECDC and annually notifies all cases of IPD to the ECDC and also to the IRIS (Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance) network. At the level of basic and translational research, our unit is responsible for studying and characterizing different molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and protection related to pneumococcal infection. Among the main objectives are the molecular characterization of virulence factors, the study of different vaccine candidate proteins and determining the possible impact that tobacco smoke and the formation of biofilms have on the colonization of the respiratory tract.

Content with Investigacion Neumococos .

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