We protect your health through science
Investigation
Antibiotic Resistance
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
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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
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.