We protect your health through science
Investigation
Antibiotic Resistance
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
Neisseria, Listeria y Bordetella
• Invasive Meningococcal Disease.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
o Study and evaluation of conventional (polysaccharide) and new-generation (protein) vaccines.
• Gonococcal Infection (Gonorrhea).
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• Listeriosis.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
• Pertussis.
o Development and application of molecular techniques for the diagnosis and characterization of Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. holmessi, and B. bronchiseptica.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
1. Project Title: Determination of the degree of identity of common antigens of N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae using genomic and immunological tools.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII. Program: Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI23CIII/00040
Period: 2024-2026
Amount Awarded: €68,500
2. Project Title: Meningococcal Disease and Molecular Epidemiology (MEMORY).
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca and Julio A. Vázquez Moreno
Funding Entity: Pfizer Inc.
Reference: MVP 352/21
Period: 2022-2024
Amount Awarded: €82,834.50
3. Project Title: Modelling Approaches to Guide Intelligent Surveillance for the Sustainable Introduction of Novel Antibiotics. MAGIcIAN.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / International Joint Action / Joint Programming Initiatives (JPI) Program
Reference: AC19CIII/00002
Period: 2020-2024
Amount Awarded: €46,000
4. Project Title: Epidemiological, Microbiological, and Clinical Analysis of the Listeriosis Outbreak in Andalusia. LISMOAN Study.
Principal Investigator: José Miguel Cisneros Herreros
Funding Entity: FISEVI (Andalusian Public Foundation for Health Research Management)/FPS2020 Call for Proposals
Reference: PI-0001-2020
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €114,954
5. Project Title: Population Structure of Neisseria meningitidis Using Massive Sequencing: A Potential Tool for Estimating Vaccine Effectiveness?
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI19CIII/00030
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €67,153
6. Project Title: Management agreement between the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (Directorate General of Public Health, Quality and Innovation) and the Carlos III Health Institute, for the laboratory determinations corresponding to the 2nd seroprevalence study in Spain.
Principal Investigator: Fernando de Ory and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Directorate General of Public Health, Ministry of Health
Reference: MEG151/17
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €565,663
7. Project Title: Effectiveness of the Meningococcal B Vaccine in Immunocompromised Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Foundation (SEHOP)
Reference: MVP 199/18
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €18,285
8. Project Title: Application of Massive Sequencing and Immunological Approaches in the Expression Analysis of New Vaccine Antigens in Meningococcal Populations
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI16CIII/00023
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €115,084
9. Project Title: fHbp variability over time and potential coverage of the new meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (bivalent rLP2086/fHbp) in Spain.
Principal Investigators: Raquel Abad and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Pfizer SLU
Reference: MVP 1273/16
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €125,350
10. Project Title: Estimation of protection of a conjugate vaccine against meningococcus serogroup C based on a mathematical model.
Principal Investigator: Julio A. Vázquez and Javier Díez
Funding Entity: Higher Center for Research in Public Health (CSISP)
Reference: MVP 1116/11
Period: 2011-2017
Amount awarded: €143,750
Publications
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.
PUBMED DOIHorizontal 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.
PUBMEDFocusing 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
PUBMED DOIAntibody 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.
PUBMED DOIAdditional Information
Our general objective is to provide early knowledge about any emerging antibiotic resistance mechanism in our country. This contribution of knowledge is based on transversal objectives that we consider key, such as 1) the ability to adapt research to emerging resistance problems, 2) the promotion of cooperative and multidisciplinary research studies working in networks with different Spanish and foreign centers, 3) the transfer of research results in an agile way to the clinical practice of the national health system, and 4) the promotion of the interrelation of research with reference, advice, training and dissemination seeking the empowerment of all.
More specifically, our main scientific objectives are the characterization of the molecular bases of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria, the study of the molecular epidemiology and population structure of resistant bacteria, the characterization of the mobile genetic elements that carry resistance genes, and the development of diagnostic techniques and therapeutic alternatives against bacteria with extensive resistance to antibiotics. In this sense, research into the dissemination pathways of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (as a paradigm of extensive resistance and pan-resistance) is one of our current priority objectives.
Our general objective is to provide early knowledge about any emerging antibiotic resistance mechanism in our country. This contribution of knowledge is based on transversal objectives that we consider key, such as 1) the ability to adapt research to emerging resistance problems, 2) the promotion of cooperative and multidisciplinary research studies working in networks with different Spanish and foreign centers, 3) the transfer of research results in an agile way to the clinical practice of the national health system, and 4) the promotion of the interrelation of research with reference, advice, training and dissemination seeking the empowerment of all.
More specifically, our main scientific objectives are the characterization of the molecular bases of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria, the study of the molecular epidemiology and population structure of resistant bacteria, the characterization of the mobile genetic elements that carry resistance genes, and the development of diagnostic techniques and therapeutic alternatives against bacteria with extensive resistance to antibiotics. In this sense, research into the dissemination pathways of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (as a paradigm of extensive resistance and pan-resistance) is one of our current priority objectives.