Pneumococcus
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
HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
10.1186/s40249-021-00894-5. 9. Brochado O, Martínez I (*), Berenguer J, Medrano L, González-García J, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Carrero A, Hontañón V, Navarro J, Guardiola JM, Pérez-Latorre L, Micán R, Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡), Resino S (* ‡). HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:23 (A; FI= 12.77; D1, Medicine, Research & Experimental; JCR 2021). PMID: 33785040. DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00718-6.
PUBMEDRelationship of vitamin D status with advanced liver fibrosis and response to hepatitis C virus therapy: A meta-analysis.
12. García-Álvarez M, Pineda-Tenor D, Jiménez-Sousa Ma, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Guzmán-Fulgencio M; Resino S (*). Relationship of vitamin D status with advanced liver fibrosis and response to hepatitis C virus therapy: A meta-analysis. Hepatology. 2014, 6(5):1541-1550. (A; FI= 11.05; D1, Gastroenterology & Hepatology; JCR 2014). PMID: 24975775. DOI: 10.1002/hep.27281.
PUBMEDFTO rs9939609 polymorphism is associated with metabolic disturbances and response to HCV therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
13. Pineda-Tenor D, Berenguer J, Jiménez-Sousa MA, García-Álvarez M, Aldamiz-Echevarría T, Carrero A, Vázquez-Morón S, García-Broncano P, Diez C, Tejerina F, Guzmán-Fulgencio M, Resino S (*). FTO rs9939609 polymorphism is associated with metabolic disturbances and response to HCV therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. BMC Med. 2014, 12:198. (A; FI= 7.34; D1, Medicine, General & Internal; JCR 2014). PMID: 25367448. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0198-y.
PUBMEDHLA-E variants are associated with sustained virological response in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients on hepatitis C virus therapy.
14. Guzmán-Fulgencio M, Berenguer J; Rallón N, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Miralles P, Soriano V, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Cosin J, Medrano J, García-Álvarez M, López JC, Benito JM, Resino S (*). HLA-E variants are associated with sustained virological response in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients on hepatitis C virus therapy. AIDS 2013; 27(8):1231-1238. (A; FI= 6.55; D1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2013). PMID: 23811951. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32835f5b9c.
PUBMEDEva Orviz, Anabel Negredo, Oskar Ayerdi, Ana Vázquez, Ana Muñoz-Gomez, Sara Monzón, Petunia Clavo, Angel Zaballos, Mar Vera, Patricia Sánchez, Noemi Cabello, Pilar Jiménez, Jorge A Pérez-García, Sarai Varona, Jorge Del Romero, Isabel Cuesta, Alberto Delgado-Iribarren, Montse Torres, Iñigo Sagastagoitia, Gustavo Palacios, Vicente Estrada, Maria Paz Sánchez-Seco, Grupo Viruela del Simio Madrid CNM/ISCIII/HCSC/Sandoval.
Eva Orviz, Anabel Negredo, Oskar Ayerdi, Ana Vázquez, Ana Muñoz-Gomez, Sara Monzón, Petunia Clavo, Angel Zaballos, Mar Vera, Patricia Sánchez, Noemi Cabello, Pilar Jiménez, Jorge A Pérez-García, Sarai Varona, Jorge Del Romero, Isabel Cuesta, Alberto Delgado-Iribarren, Montse Torres, Iñigo Sagastagoitia, Gustavo Palacios, Vicente Estrada, Maria Paz Sánchez-Seco, Grupo Viruela del Simio Madrid CNM/ISCIII/HCSC/Sandoval. Monkeypox outbreak in Madrid (Spain): Clinical and virological aspects. J Infect. 2022 Jul 10;S0163-4453(22)00415-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.07.005.
DOIEuropean mitochondrial haplogroups are associated with CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.
15. Guzmán-Fulgencio M; Berenguer J, Micheloud D, Fernández-Rodríguez A; García–Álvarez M, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Bellón JM, Campos Y, Cosin J, Aldámiz-Echevarría T, Catalán P, López JC, Resino S (*). European mitochondrial haplogroups are associated with CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy. J Antimicrob Chemoth 2013; 68 (10): 2349–2357 (A; FI= 5.44; D1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2013). PMID: 23749950. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkt206.
PUBMEDMaría Paz Sánchez-Seco, María José Sierra, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Félix Valcárcel, Ricardo Molina, Eva Ramírez de Arellano, Angeles Sonia Olmeda, Lucía García San Miguel, Maribel Jiménez, Luis J Romero, Anabel Negredo; Group for CCHFv Research. Widespread Detection of Multiple Strains of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks, Spain.
María Paz Sánchez-Seco, María José Sierra, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Félix Valcárcel, Ricardo Molina, Eva Ramírez de Arellano, Angeles Sonia Olmeda, Lucía García San Miguel, Maribel Jiménez, Luis J Romero, Anabel Negredo; Group for CCHFv Research. Widespread Detection of Multiple Strains of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks, Spain. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Feb;28(2):394-402. doi: 10.3201/eid2802.211308.
DOINegredo A, Sánchez-Ledesma M, Llorente F, Pérez-Olmeda M, Belhassen-García M, González-Calle D, Sánchez-Seco MP, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ. Retrospective Identification of Early Autochthonous Case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Spain, 2013
Negredo A, Sánchez-Ledesma M, Llorente F, Pérez-Olmeda M, Belhassen-García M, González-Calle D, Sánchez-Seco MP, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ. Retrospective Identification of Early Autochthonous Case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Spain, 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Jun;27(6):1754-1756. doi: 10.3201/eid2706.204643.
DOINegredo A, Sánchez-Arroyo R, Díez-Fuertes F, de Ory F, Budiño MA, Vázquez A, Garcinuño Á, Hernández L, la Hoz González C, Gutiérrez-Arroyo A, Grande C, Sánchez-Seco P. Fatal Case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Caused by Reassortant Virus, Spain, 2018.
Negredo A, Sánchez-Arroyo R, Díez-Fuertes F, de Ory F, Budiño MA, Vázquez A, Garcinuño Á, Hernández L, la Hoz González C, Gutiérrez-Arroyo A, Grande C, Sánchez-Seco P. Fatal Case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Caused by Reassortant Virus, Spain, 2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Apr;27(4):1211-1215. doi: 10.3201/eid2704.203462.
DOILaura Davó, Laura Herrero, Maria Paz Sánchez-Seco, Nuria Labiod, David Roiz, Elena Gómez-Díaz, Lourdes Hernandez, Jordi Figuerola and Ana Vázquez. Real-time PCR assay to detect Granada virus and the related Massilia and Arrabida phleboviruses
Laura Davó, Laura Herrero, Maria Paz Sánchez-Seco, Nuria Labiod, David Roiz, Elena Gómez-Díaz, Lourdes Hernandez, Jordi Figuerola and Ana Vázquez. Real-time PCR assay to detect Granada virus and the related Massilia and Arrabida phleboviruses. Davó et al. Parasit Vectors. 2020 May 29;13(1):270. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04110-5.
DOIMaría Velasco, María Paz Sánchez-Seco, Carolina Campelo, Fernando de Ory, Oriol Martin, Laura Herrero, Octavio J. Salmerón Béliz, Teodora Minguito, Mª Carmen Campos, Francisca Molero, Alejandro Algora and Ana Vázquez. Imported Human West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Infection in Spain
María Velasco, María Paz Sánchez-Seco, Carolina Campelo, Fernando de Ory, Oriol Martin, Laura Herrero, Octavio J. Salmerón Béliz, Teodora Minguito, Mª Carmen Campos, Francisca Molero, Alejandro Algora and Ana Vázquez. Imported Human West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Infection in Spain: Neurological and Gastrointestinal Complications. Viruses 2020 Jan 29;12(2):156. doi: 10.3390/v12020156.
DOINegredo A, Habela MÁ, Ramírez de Arellano E, Diez F, Lasala F, López P, Sarriá A, Labiod N, Calero-Bernal R, Arenas M, Tenorio A, Estrada-Peña A, Sánchez-Seco MP. Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Enzootic Focus, Spain, 2011-2015
Negredo A, Habela MÁ, Ramírez de Arellano E, Diez F, Lasala F, López P, Sarriá A, Labiod N, Calero-Bernal R, Arenas M, Tenorio A, Estrada-Peña A, Sánchez-Seco MP. Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Enzootic Focus, Spain, 2011-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Jun;25(6):1177-1184. doi: 10.3201/eid2506.180877.
DOIRamírez de Arellano E, Sanchez-Lockhart M, Perteguer MJ, Bartlett M, Ortiz M, Campioli P, Hernández A, Gonzalez J, Garcia K, Ramos M, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Tenorio A, Sánchez-Seco MP, González F, Echevarría JE, Palacios G, Negredo A. First Evidence of Antibodies Against Lloviu Virus in Schreiber's Bent-Winged Insectivorous Bats Demonstrate a Wide Circulation of the Virus in Spain
Ramírez de Arellano E, Sanchez-Lockhart M, Perteguer MJ, Bartlett M, Ortiz M, Campioli P, Hernández A, Gonzalez J, Garcia K, Ramos M, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Tenorio A, Sánchez-Seco MP, González F, Echevarría JE, Palacios G, Negredo A. First Evidence of Antibodies Against Lloviu Virus in Schreiber's Bent-Winged Insectivorous Bats Demonstrate a Wide Circulation of the Virus in Spain. Viruses. 2019 Apr 19;11(4):360. doi: 10.3390/v11040360.
DOIMeta-analysis: diagnostic accuracy of hepatitis C core antigen detection during therapy with direct-acting antivirals.
3. Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Treviño-Nakoura A, Bellon JM, Ardizone Jiménez B, Jiménez‑Sousa MA, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Martínez I (‡), Resino S (*‡). Meta-analysis: diagnostic accuracy of hepatitis C core antigen detection during therapy with direct-acting antivirals. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2022; 56 (8): 1224-1234 (A; FI= 9.52; D1, Pharmacology & Pharmacy; JCR 2021).
PUBMED DOIAntibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in mothers and children from delivery to six months later.
4. Martin-Vicente M, Carrasco I, Muñoz-Gomez MJ, Lobo AH, Mas V, Vigil-Vázquez S, Vázquez M, Manzanares A, Cano O, Alonso R, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Tarancón-Díez L, Muñoz-Fernández MÁ, Muñoz-Chapuli M, Resino S#*, Navarro ML#, Martinez I#*. Antibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in mothers and children from delivery to six months later. Birth. 2022 Jul 8:10.1111/birt.12667. doi: 10.1111/birt.12667. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35802776.
PUBMEDHepatitis E virus seroprevalence is associated with neurodegenerative disorders in older people with dementia: a case-control study.
5. Pérez-García F, Vázquez-Morón S, Burgueño-García I, José Muñoz-Gómez M, Zea-Sevilla MA, Calero M, Martínez I#, Rábano A#, Resino S#. Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence is associated with neurodegenerative disorders in older people with dementia: a case-control study. J Infect Dis. 2022 Jun 27:jiac268. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac268. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35759220 (A; FI= 7.759; Q1 Microbiology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDNegative impact of HIV infection on broad-spectrum anti-HCV neutralizing antibody titers in HCV-infected patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis.
6. Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Yélamos MB, Díez C, Gómez J, Hontañón V, Torresano-Felipe F, Berenguer J, González-García J, Ibañez-Samaniego L, Llop E, Olveira A, Martínez J, Resino S (‡ *), Martínez I (‡ *). Negative impact of HIV infection on broad-spectrum anti-HCV neutralizing antibody titers in HCV-infected patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2022, 150: 113024. (A; FI= 7.42; D1, Pharmacology & Pharmacy; JCR 2021).
PUBMED DOI. Environmental factors linked to hospital admissions in young children due to acute viral lower respiratory infections: A bidirectional case-crossover study.
7. Álvaro-Meca A, Goez MDC, 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 Sep; 212(Pt B):113319. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113319. PMID: 35447151. (A; FI= 8.431; D1 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDMisdiagnosis rate of among negative COVID-19 patients in real-life with Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test during 2021.
8. Ryan P, Pérez-García F, Torres-Macho J, Bibiano C, Ignacio Lazo J, Castaño-Ochoa G, Vidal-Alcántara EJ, Muñoz-Gómez MJ, Martínez I#, Resino S#. Misdiagnosis rate of among negative COVID-19 patients in real-life with Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test during 2021. J Infect. 2022 May; 84(5):e42-e44. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.03.013. PMID: 35306106 (L; FI= 38.637; D1 Infectious Diseases; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDSimilar humoral immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in HIV and non-HIV individuals after COVID-19.
11. Martín-Vicente M, Berenguer J, Muñoz-Gómez MJ, Díez C, Micán R, Pérez-Elías MJ, García-Fraile LJ, Peraire J, Suárez-García I, Jiménez-Sousa MÁ, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Vázquez M, Ryan P, González-García J, Jarrín I, Mas V, Martínez I#, Resino S#. Similar humoral immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in HIV and non-HIV individuals after COVID-19. J Infect. 2022 Mar;84(3):418-467. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.002. PMID: 34752819 (L; FI= 38.637; D1 Infectious Diseases; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDContent with Investigacion .
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María Cabrerizo Sanz
Tenure Scientist and Group Leader
ORCID code: 0000-0001-7054-5696
Doctor in Chemistry, specializing in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2000). Except for a postdoctoral period of 2 years at the Hospital de La Princesa, in which her research was related to onco-hematological diseases, the rest of her scientific career has focused on the study of infectious diseases caused by viruses and their surveillance. She joined the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in 2003, first in the Laboratory of Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases, then in the Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis and finally, in the Laboratory of Enterovirus (which is accredited as a National Polio Laboratory -LNP- for the WHO since 1998). She obtained the position of Tenure Scientist in 2016, at the same time she assumed the responsibility of the laboratory, currently of Enteric Viruses: Poliovirus/Enterovirus, Parechovirus and Gastroenteritis-producing Viruses, of the CNM. She has 4 scientific sexennials and 4 quinquennials recognized.
She has been and is PI of 4 consecutive research projects and 3 service contracts, from 2012 to the present, participating, in addition, in other 20 projects. As head of the LNP, she is part of the Working Group of the National Plan for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis and of the WHO European Polio Laboratory Network. She is also a member of the European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network (ENPEN), and of the national cooperation networks CIBERESP and RITIP (IdiPAZ). Since 2023 she is a Council Member from Spain of the European Society.
In total she has published 98 articles in WoS indexed journals (23 Q1 and 22 D1), being first author, senior author or correspondence author in 43 of them (H=27). She has supervised 1 PhD Thesis (2017) and 12 TFM. She is currently supervising another doctoral thesis (IMIENS-UNED). She participates as a teacher in three university masters (UCM, UAH and UV), being coordinator of the subject H2 of the Master of Virology at UCM.
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Mª Dolores Fernández García
Tenure Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0003-0336-6596
Degree in Pharmacy (2005) and PhD from the University VII Paris Diderot in Microbiology (2010). She completed her doctoral thesis at the Pasteur Institute in Paris characterizing the molecular and cellular basis of flavivirus entry into cells. Specialist in Public Health Microbiology (European Program EUPHEM coordinated by ECDC). She has worked 3 years for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar (Senegal) carrying out microbiological surveillance activities and research on polioviruses and non-polio enteroviruses in West Africa. She has obtained two Miguel Servet contracts: one to work at IMIBIC in Cordoba (2019) and an intramural one to work at CNM (2020). Both were awarded for the study of neurotropic viruses applying massive sequencing for their diagnosis. In 2021 he joined the CNM-ISCIII as a Tenure Research Scientist at the Enterovirus and Viral Gastroenteritis Unit of the CNM-ISCIII. Since then, she combines her scientific activity with the assistance to the National Health System in the microbiological research of outbreaks and in the Genomic Surveillance of Enteroviruses and Gastroenteritis-producing Viruses.
She is a researcher in the Epidemiology and Public Health Area of the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERESP-ISCIII). In addition, she is an evaluator and panelist for the HORIZON health program projects of the European Commission, the French National Agency ANRS-Emerging Infectious Diseases, R&D&I in HEALTH of the Strategic Action in Health (ISCIII) and the Andalusian Public Foundation Progreso y Salud. She has worked as scientific advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Health on Rotavirus and Polio. Since 2020 she has been teaching virology in different Spanish universities.
She has worked for WHO in the investigation of numerous outbreaks caused by viruses (Ebola, Zika, Yellow Fever, Dengue, etc.) in African and Asian countries strengthening laboratory capacities through technology transfer of diagnostic methods, training of laboratory personnel in these countries and scientific advisory tasks to the Ministries of Health. She has been the Health Coordinator of the START Project (Spanish Technical Aid Response Team) of the AECID, framed in the “Emergency Medical Teams” initiative of the WHO, participating in the establishment for Spain of a field hospital classified by the WHO as EMT Level 2 for interventions in humanitarian emergencies.
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Nerea García Ibáñez
Ayudante de Investigación de OPI. Técnico de laboratorio
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Vanesa Recio Huertas
Ayudante de Investigación de OPI. Técnico de laboratorio (apoyo)
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Ana Donoso Almenara
Contratada predoctoral pFIS
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Rubén González Sanz
Técnico Superior Especializado OPI
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Juan Camacho Padilla
Investigador predoctoral (PFIS)
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Clara Martín Martín
Investigador predoctoral (PFIS)
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Nazaret Díaz Sánchez
Técnico Superior Especializado OPI (apoyo)
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Carmen Serrano Risquez
Investigador predoctoral (CAM)
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Yasmin Biya Assiry
Técnico de laboratorio en formación (PEJ-CAM)
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Estrella Ruiz de Pedro
Técnico de laboratorio (PTA para Infraestructuras de I+D+I)
List of staff
Additional Information
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.