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Investigation
Reference and Research on Helminths
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
Sustained Cytotoxic Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Unvaccinated Individuals Admitted to the ICU Due to Critical COVID-19 Is Essential to Avoid a Fatal Outcome
Sustained Cytotoxic Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Unvaccinated Individuals Admitted to the ICU Due to Critical COVID-19 Is Essential to Avoid a Fatal Outcome. Casado-Fernández G, Corona M, Torres M, Saez AJ, Ramos-Martín F, Manzanares M, Vigón L, Mateos E, Pozo F, Casas I, García-Gutierrez V, Rodríguez-Mora S, Coiras M (AC). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan20;20(3):1947. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031947. PMID: 36767310.
PUBMED DOIDasatinib: effects on the macrophage phospho proteome with a focus on SAMHD1 and HIV-1 infection
Dasatinib: effects on the macrophage phospho proteome with a focus on SAMHD1 and HIV-1 infection. Williams ESCP, Szaniawski MA, Martins LJ, Innis EA, Alcamí J, Hanley TM, Spivak AM, Coiras M, Planelles V. Clin Res HIV AIDS.2022;8(1):1053. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36589263/. PMID: 36589263.
PUBMEDEarly Cellular and Humoral Responses Developed in Oncohematological Patients after Vaccination with One Dose against COVID-19
Early Cellular and Humoral Responses Developed in Oncohematological Patients after Vaccination with One Dose against COVID-19. Rodríguez-Mora S, Corona M, Torres M, Casado-Fernández G, García-Pérez J, Ramos-Martín F, Vigón L, Manzanares M, Mateos E, Martín-Moro F, Zurdo-Castronuño A, Murciano-Antón MA, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Jiménez J, García-Gutiérrez V, Coiras M (AC). J Clin Med. 2022 May 16;11(10):2803. doi: 10.3390/jcm11102803. PMID: 35628927.
PUBMED DOIChanges in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with severe COVID-19 treated with high dose of vitamin D
Changes in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with severe COVID-19 treated with high dose of vitamin D. Torres M, Casado G, Vigón L, Rodríguez-Mora S, Mateos E, Ramos-Martín F, López-Wolf D, Sanz-Moreno J, Ryan-Murua P, Taboada-Martínez ML, López-Huertas MR, Cervero M, Coiras M (AC). Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Apr 14;150:112965. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112965. PMID: 35468580.
PUBMED DOIStrong Cellular Immune Response, but Not Humoral, against SARS-CoV-2 in Oncohematological Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation after Natural Infection.
Strong Cellular Immune Response, but Not Humoral, against SARS-CoV-2 in Oncohematological Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation after Natural Infection. Vigón L, Sánchez-Tornero A, Rodríguez-Mora S, García-Pérez J, Corona de Lapuerta M, Pérez-Lamas L, Casado-Fernández G, Moreno G, Torres M, Mateos E, Murciano-Antón MA, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Jiménez J, García-Gutiérrez V, Coiras M (AC). J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 11;11(8):2137. doi: 10.3390/jcm11082137. PMID: 35456230.
PUBMED DOIPersistent overactive cytotoxic immune response in a Spanish cohort of individuals with Long-COVID: Identification of diagnostic biomarkers
Persistent overactive cytotoxic immune response in a Spanish cohort of individuals with Long-COVID: Identification of diagnostic biomarkers. Galán M, Vigón L, Fuertes D, Murciano-Antón MA, Casado-Fernández G, Domínguez-Mateos S, Mateos E, Ramos-Martín F, Planelles V, Torres M, Rodríguez-Mora S, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (CA). Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 25;13:848886. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.848886. PMID: 35401523
PUBMED DOIPharmacologic control of homeostatic and antigen-driven proliferation to target HIV-1 persistence
Pharmacologic control of homeostatic and antigen-driven proliferation to target HIV-1 persistence. Innis EA, Levinger C, Szaniawski MA, Williams ESCP, Alcamí J, Bosque A, Schiffer JT, Coiras M, Spivak AM, Planelles V. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021 Oct 26:114816. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114816. PMID: 34715067.
PUBMED DOIImpaired Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Spanish Cohort of Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU.
Impaired Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Spanish Cohort of Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU. Vigón L, García-Pérez J, Rodríguez-Mora S, Torres M, Mateos E, Castillo de la Osa M, Cervero M, Malo De Molina R, Navarro C, Murciano-Antón MA, García-Gutiérrez V, Planelles V, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (AC). Front Immunol. 2021 Sep 20;12:742631. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742631. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34616404.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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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.