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Reference and Research on Helminths
Publications
Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Rivero-Menéndez O, Ayats J, Castro C, García-Rodríguez J, Goterris-Bonet L, Ibáñez-Martínez E, Linares-Sicilia MJ, Martin-Gomez MT, Martín-Mazuelos E, Pelaez T, Peman J, Rezusta A, Rojo S, Tejero R, Anza DV, Viñuelas J, Zapico MS, Cuenca-Estrella M; the FILPOP2 Project from GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Molecular Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Molds Isolated in a Prospective Surveillance of Triazole Resistance in Spain (FILPOP2 Study). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Aug 27;62(9):e00358-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00358-18. PMID: 29941643; PMCID: PMC6125503.
Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Rivero-Menéndez O, Ayats J, Castro C, García-Rodríguez J, Goterris-Bonet L, Ibáñez-Martínez E, Linares-Sicilia MJ, Martin-Gomez MT, Martín-Mazuelos E, Pelaez T, Peman J, Rezusta A, Rojo S, Tejero R, Anza DV, Viñuelas J, Zapico MS, Cuenca-Estrella M; the FILPOP2 Project from GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Molecular Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Molds Isolated in a Prospective Surveillance of Triazole Resistance in Spain (FILPOP2 Study). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Aug 27;62(9):e00358-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00358-18. PMID: 29941643; PMCID: PMC6125503.
PUBMED DOIGonçalves SM, Lagrou K, Rodrigues CS, Campos CF, Bernal-Martínez L, Rodrigues F, Silvestre R, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Maertens JA, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Evaluation of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Cytokines as Biomarkers for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in At-Risk Patients. Front Microbiol. 2017 Nov 29;8:2362. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.02362. PMID: 29238334; PMCID: PMC5712575.
Gonçalves SM, Lagrou K, Rodrigues CS, Campos CF, Bernal-Martínez L, Rodrigues F, Silvestre R, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Maertens JA, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Evaluation of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Cytokines as Biomarkers for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in At-Risk Patients. Front Microbiol. 2017 Nov 29;8:2362. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.02362. PMID: 29238334; PMCID: PMC5712575.
PUBMED DOIAlcazar-Fuoli L, Buitrago M, Gomez-Lopez A, Mellado E. An alternative host model of a mixed fungal infection by azole susceptible and resistant Aspergillus spp strains. Virulence. 2015;6(4):376-84. doi: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1025192. PMID: 26065322; PMCID: PMC4601236.
Alcazar-Fuoli L, Buitrago M, Gomez-Lopez A, Mellado E. An alternative host model of a mixed fungal infection by azole susceptible and resistant Aspergillus spp strains. Virulence. 2015;6(4):376-84. doi: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1025192. PMID: 26065322; PMCID: PMC4601236.
PUBMED DOIAlcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns T, Lopez JF, Zonja B, Pérez S, Barceló D, Igarashi Y, Bowyer P, Bignell E. A modified recombineering protocol for the genetic manipulation of gene clusters in Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One. 2014 Nov 5;9(11):e111875. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111875. PMID: 25372385; PMCID:PMC4221250.
Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns T, Lopez JF, Zonja B, Pérez S, Barceló D, Igarashi Y, Bowyer P, Bignell E. A modified recombineering protocol for the genetic manipulation of gene clusters in Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One. 2014 Nov 5;9(11):e111875. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111875. PMID: 25372385; PMCID:PMC4221250.
PUBMED DOIBertuzzi M, Schrettl M, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns TC, Muñoz A, Walker LA, Herbst S, Safari M, Cheverton AM, Chen D, Liu H, Saijo S, Fedorova ND, Armstrong-James D, Munro CA, Read ND, Filler SG, Espeso EA, Nierman WC, Haas H, Bignell EM. The pH-responsive PacC transcription factor of Aspergillus fumigatus governs epithelial entry and tissue invasion during pulmonary aspergillosis. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Oct 16;10(10):e1004413. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004413.
Bertuzzi M, Schrettl M, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns TC, Muñoz A, Walker LA, Herbst S, Safari M, Cheverton AM, Chen D, Liu H, Saijo S, Fedorova ND, Armstrong-James D, Munro CA, Read ND, Filler SG, Espeso EA, Nierman WC, Haas H, Bignell EM. The pH-responsive PacC transcription factor of Aspergillus fumigatus governs epithelial entry and tissue invasion during pulmonary aspergillosis. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Oct 16;10(10):e1004413. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004413.
DOIYasmin S, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Gründlinger M, Puempel T, Cairns T, Blatzer M, Lopez JF, Grimalt JO, Bignell E, Haas H. Mevalonate governs interdependency of ergosterol and siderophore biosyntheses in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 21;109(8):E497-504. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1106399108. Epub 2011 Nov 21. PMID: 22106303; PMCID: PMC3286978.
Yasmin S, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Gründlinger M, Puempel T, Cairns T, Blatzer M, Lopez JF, Grimalt JO, Bignell E, Haas H. Mevalonate governs interdependency of ergosterol and siderophore biosyntheses in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 21;109(8):E497-504. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1106399108. Epub 2011 Nov 21. PMID: 22106303; PMCID: PMC3286978.
PUBMED DOIImpaired Cytotoxic Response in PBMCs From Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU: Biomarkers to Predict Disease Severity.
Impaired Cytotoxic Response in PBMCs From Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU: Biomarkers to Predict Disease Severity. Vigón L, Fuertes D, García-Pérez J, Torres M, Rodríguez-Mora S, Mateos E, Corona M, Saez-Marín AJ, Malo R, Navarro C, Murciano-Antón MA, Cervero M, Alcamí J, García-Gutiérrez V, Planelles V, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (AC). Front Immunol. 2021 May 26;12:665329. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.665329. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34122423.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of Immunological Parameters as Predictive Biomarkers of Relapse in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia on Treatment-Free Remission
Identification of Immunological Parameters as Predictive Biomarkers of Relapse in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia on Treatment-Free Remission. Vigón L, Luna A, Galán M, Rodríguez-Mora S, Fuertes D, Mateos E, Piris-Villaespesa M, Bautista G, San José E, Rivera-Torres J, Steegmann JL, de Ory F, Pérez-Olmeda M, Alcamí J, Planelles V, López-Huertas MR, García-Gutiérrez V, Coiras M (AC). J Clin Med. 2020 Dec 25;10(1):42. doi: 10.3390/jcm10010042. PMID: 33375572.
PUBMED DOICytotoxic cell populations developed during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors protect autologous CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infection
Cytotoxic cell populations developed during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors protect autologous CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infection. Vigón L, Rodríguez-Mora S, Luna A, Sandonís V, Mateos E, Bautista G, Steegmann JL, Climent N, Plana M, Pérez-Romero P, de Ory F, Alcamí J, García-Gutierrez V, Planelles V, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (AC). Biochem Pharmacol. 2020 Dec;182:114203. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114203. PMID: 32828803.
PUBMED DOITyrosine Kinase Inhibition: a New Perspective in the Fight against HIV
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition: a New Perspective in the Fight against HIV. Rodríguez-Mora S, Spivak AM, Szaniawski MA, López-Huertas MR, Alcamí J, Planelles V, Coiras M (AC). Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2019 Oct;16(5):414-422. doi: 10.1007/s11904-019-00462-5. PMID: 31506864. Review.
PUBMED DOIDasatinib protects humanized mice from acute HIV-1 infection
Dasatinib protects humanized mice from acute HIV-1 infection. Salgado M, Martinez-Picado J, Gálvez C, Rodríguez-Mora S, Rivaya B, Urrea V, Mateos E, Alcamí J, Coiras M (AC). Biochem Pharmacol. 2020 Apr;174:113625. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.113625. PMID: 31476293.
PUBMED DOIEvaluation of resistance to HIV-1 infection ex vivo of PBMCs isolated from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with different tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Evaluation of resistance to HIV-1 infection ex vivo of PBMCs isolated from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with different tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Bermejo M, Ambrosioni J, Bautista G, Climent N, Mateos E, Rovira C, Rodríguez-Mora S, López-Huertas MR, García-Gutiérrez V, Steegmann JL, Duarte R, Cervantes F, Plana M, Miró JM, Alcamí J, Coiras M (AC). Biochem Pharmacol. 2018 Oct;156:248-264. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.08.031. PMID: 30142322.
PUBMED DOIStaphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization in Spanish Children. The COSACO Nationwide Surveillance Study.
Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization in Spanish Children. The COSACO Nationwide Surveillance Study. Del Rosal T, Méndez-Echevarría A, Garcia-Vera C, Escosa-Garcia L, Agud M, Chaves F, Román F, Gutierrez-Fernandez J, Ruiz de Gopegui E, Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Ruiz-Gallego MDC, Bernet A, Quevedo SM, Fernández-Verdugo AM, Díez-Sebastian J, Calvo C; COSACO Study Group.
PUBMEDAntimicrobial Resistance and Distribution of Staphylococcus spp. Pulsotypes Isolated from Goat and Sheep Bulk Tank Milk in Southern Spain
Antimicrobial Resistance and Distribution of Staphylococcus spp. Pulsotypes Isolated from Goat and Sheep Bulk Tank Milk in Southern Spain. Barrero-Domínguez B, Luque I, Galán-Relaño Á, Vega-Pla JL, Huerta B, Román F, Astorga RJ. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2019 Oct;16(10):723-730. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2018.2593. Epub 2019 Jun 3.Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2019. PMID: 31157980
PUBMEDPrevalence of pSCFS7-like vectors among cfr-positive staphylococcal population in Spain
Prevalence of pSCFS7-like vectors among cfr-positive staphylococcal population in Spain. Nguyen LTT*, Román F*, Morikawa K, Trincado P, Marcos C, Rojo-Martín MD, Cafini F. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Aug;52(2):305-306.
PUBMEDMethodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus.
Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus. Cafini F, Thi Le Thuy N, Román F, Prieto J, Dubrac S, Msadek T, Morikawa K. J Vis Exp. 2017 Mar 10;(121).
PUBMEDEmergence of cfr-Mediated Linezolid Resistance in a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Epidemic Clone Isolated from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
Emergence of cfr-Mediated Linezolid Resistance in a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Epidemic Clone Isolated from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. de Dios Caballero J, Pastor MD, Vindel A, Máiz L, Yagüe G, Salvador C, Cobo M, Morosini MI, del Campo R, Cantón R; GEIFQ Study Group. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Dec 14;60(3):1878-82.
PUBMEDMolecular epidemiology of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Spain: 2004-12.
Molecular epidemiology of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Spain: 2004-12. Vindel A, Trincado P, Cuevas O, Ballesteros C, Bouza E, Cercenado E. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014 Nov;69(11):2913-9.
PUBMEDDraft Genome Sequence of Strain SA_ST125_MupR of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST125, a Major Clone in Spain.
Draft Genome Sequence of Strain SA_ST125_MupR of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST125, a Major Clone in Spain. Barrado L, Viedma E, Vindel A, Otero JR, Chaves F. Genome Announc. 2013 Aug 8;1(4).
PUBMEDDetection of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with 23S rRNA and novel L4 riboprotein mutations in a cystic fibrosis patient in Spain.
Detection of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with 23S rRNA and novel L4 riboprotein mutations in a cystic fibrosis patient in Spain. Román F, Roldán C, Trincado P, Ballesteros C, Carazo C, Vindel A. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 May;57(5):2428-9.
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Leticia Bernal Martínez
Staff Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-1694-5522
Dr. Bernal-Martínez obtained her degree in Biochemistry from the University of Zaragoza in 2005. She joined the Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory (LRIM) in 2006 under a trainee contract and completed her PhD within the Official Doctoral Program in Microbiology and Parasitology at the Complutense University of Madrid, defending her thesis in 2010 with highest honors (Cum Laude). In 2007, she continued her research activity at LRIM within the framework of the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI). In 2016, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Promotion and Management of International Projects (Technical University of Madrid) and undertook a research stay at the Microbiology and Infection Research Domain, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho (Braga, Portugal). She was subsequently appointed as a PhD researcher within the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC). Since 2024, she serves as Specialist Scientist at the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and is responsible for the Diagnostic and Serology Section for Endemic Fungi at the Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory.
Dr. Bernal-Martínez has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and two book chapters. She has actively participated in over 12 research projects and has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific conferences. Her research has focused on human fungal infections, antifungal resistance, therapeutic drug monitoring, genetic variants associated with antifungal metabolism, and the identification of predictive biomarkers of invasive fungal infections. However, her primary expertise lies in the diagnostic field, particularly in the design, optimization, and validation of real-time PCR–based methodologies.
She is currently Principal Investigator of a research project aimed at improving current diagnostic techniques for invasive fungal infections, evaluating emerging diagnostic technologies, and studying primary fungal pathogens. A substantial part of her work has been transferred to the Spanish National Health System and to research centers in Latin America. Many of the diagnostic methodologies developed have been incorporated into the official service portfolio of ISCIII. She has collaborated with multiple hospitals through research projects and clinical trials applying these technologies, as well as with the ISCIII spin-off company Micomol S.L.
Dr. Bernal-Martínez has supervised several Master’s and Undergraduate Final Degree Projects from students at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Alcalá. She is a member of the teaching staff of the UNED-ISCIII PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health and serves as lecturer in the Master’s Program in Public Health and Research in Infectious Diseases at the University of Alcalá. -
Laura Alcázar Fuoli
Research Scientist
Graduated in Biochemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid and PhD in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2006. She completed her doctoral thesis at the National Center of Microbiology (CNM) under the direction of Dr. Emilia Mellado, in the study of the synthesis of Ergosterol in Aspergillus fumigatus. In 2012 Laura joined the reference laboratory in mycology with a researcher contract for the “Miguel Servet” program after having worked for three years as an associate researcher at Imperial College London. During that period his research focused on host adaptation mechanisms and virulence factors of A. fumigatus. In 2014 he obtained the position of Senior Scientist of Public Research Organizations carrying out his research work at the CNM.
List of staff
Additional Information
The research group that makes up the Helminth Reference and Research Laboratory (RIHE) of the CNM-ISCIII works on different aspects of helminth immunobiology, taking advantage of recombinant DNA approaches, omics sciences, bioinformatics tools and biochemical assays. The research is basically oriented towards:
- The biochemical and molecular characterization of parasitic antigens of interest.
- The analysis of the immune response produced in the host against these antigens and the molecular mechanisms of these diseases.
- To the development and improvement of diagnostic systems.
- The definition of helminth allergenic candidates.
- The design of possible vaccines and participation in helminthosis control and surveillance strategies.
- Search for antiparasitic drugs.
- Research into new therapeutic alternatives for autoimmune diseases using helminth molecules.
The group works on helminthosis projects caused by species of Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., Trichinella spp., Filarias, O. volvulus, Anisakis spp., Ancylostoma spp., Opisthorchis spp., Schistosoma spp. and with experimental models such as Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Trichuris muris, among others.
The research group that makes up the Helminth Reference and Research Laboratory (RIHE) of the CNM-ISCIII works on different aspects of helminth immunobiology, taking advantage of recombinant DNA approaches, omics sciences, bioinformatics tools and biochemical assays. The research is basically oriented towards:
- The biochemical and molecular characterization of parasitic antigens of interest.
- The analysis of the immune response produced in the host against these antigens and the molecular mechanisms of these diseases.
- To the development and improvement of diagnostic systems.
- The definition of helminth allergenic candidates.
- The design of possible vaccines and participation in helminthosis control and surveillance strategies.
- Search for antiparasitic drugs.
- Research into new therapeutic alternatives for autoimmune diseases using helminth molecules.
The group works on helminthosis projects caused by species of Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., Trichinella spp., Filarias, O. volvulus, Anisakis spp., Ancylostoma spp., Opisthorchis spp., Schistosoma spp. and with experimental models such as Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Trichuris muris, among others.