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Investigation
Serology
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
The Laboratory of Medical Entomology (LME) develops an intense reference and research activity, focused on the field of disease vectors of interest in Public Health. The LME has an insectary where biological cycles of insect vectors are currently maintained, allowing the performance, among others, of vector competence and xenodiagnostic studies. The LME supports the national health system by offering techniques available in the portfolio of services for the taxonomic identification of arthropods of health interest. In addition, it performs entomological surveillance of outbreaks, supporting Surveillance Plans. In particular, the LME plays a leading role in the Entomological Surveillance Plan for Leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid. On the other hand, the LME offers scientific advice to the CCAES (Centro de Coordinación de Alertas y Emergencias Sanitarias, Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social), and participates in the elaboration of reports and rapid risk assessments.
The main research lines of the Laboratory of Medical Entomology are:
1. Maintenance of insect vector colonies: phlebotomine sand flies (Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus argentipes, vectors of Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani, respectively), Culex and Aedes mosquitoes (vectors of various arboviruses) and Rhodnius prolixus (vector of Trypanosoma cruzi).
2. Biology of disease vectors of public health interest: biology, vector competence, experimental infections. The CNM has a BSL3 safety laboratory to carry out vector competence studies with culicidae and phlebotomine sand flies.
3. Entomological sampling, infectivity of potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis.
4. Insecticides and repellents: evaluation of their efficacy.
5. Characterization of saliva proteins of hematophagous Diptera: genomics, proteomics, biochemistry and gene editing. Study of salivary proteins as markers of bite exposure, virulence factors and/or vaccines.
6. Xenodiagnosis of leishmaniasis.
7. Molecular biology and taxonomy of phlebotomine sand flies. Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in phlebotomine sand flies and characterization of Leishmania spp. Molecular identification of blood ingested by vectors.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
CURRENT PROJECTS
Project title: "Biochemical and functional characterisation of salivary proteins of Phlebotomus perniciosus and their role in infection by Leishmania infantum (PERNIPROT)"Reference: Project PID2023-147773NA-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.
Start date: 01/09/2024
End date: 31/08/2028
Funding: €175,000
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín.
Funding agency: Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Proyecto de Generación del Conocimiento 2023).
Project title: "Surveillance of leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid from a “One Health” perspective: study of the infectious capacity of patients with visceral leishmaniasis and their role as reservoirs"
Reference: PI24CIII/00026
Start date: 01/01/2025
End date: 31/12/2027
Funding: €60,000.00
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín.
Co-principal investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI).
Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: file no. 17/2024 (A/SER-008455/2024).
Start date: 26/06/2024
End date: 10/12/25, extendable to 2026
Total funding: €171,084
Principal Investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service Contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid
Project Title: CIBERINFEC Research Group (CB21/13/00110)
Start date: 2021
End date: currently active
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mª Paz Sánchez-Seco, Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases Unit.
Researchers from the Medical Entomology Laboratory: Maribel Jiménez (member), Inés Martín Martín (collaborator).
Funding: €108,134. File number: CB21/13/00110.
Funding agency: Consortium Centre for Biomedical Research in NETWORK (CIBER)
PAST PROJECTS
Service Contract: "Evaluation of the anti-leishmania effect of the bacteria Tc1 and its derivatives in the intravectorial cycle"
Reference: ISCIII-06896
Start date: 15/12/2022
End date: 15/04/2025
Funding: €71,265.67
Principal Investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín
Funding agency: Service Contract between the company GlaxoSmithKline R&D (GSK) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: 59/2020 (A/SER-040739/2020)
Start date: 10/12/2021
End date: 10/12/2023.
Funding: €42,612.17 per year Total 2021-2023: €127,836.51
Principal Investigators: Ricardo Molina /Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid
Project title: "Research and Integrated Surveillance of Emerging Arboviruses West Nile, Toscana and Dengue in some areas of Spain"
Reference: PI19CIII/00014
Start date: 2020
End date: 2022
Principal Investigator: Ana Vázquez González
Co-Principal Investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €60,000.00
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI).
Project title: "Characterisation of the concept of ‘asymptomatic carrier’ in leishmaniasis: implications for treatment".
Start date: 01/01/2015
End date: 31/12/2017
Principal investigators: Javier Moreno and Javier García
Funding: €159,940
Funding agency: Study Agreement between Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), the Spanish Foundation for International Cooperation, Health and Social Policy (FCSAI) and Fuenlabrada Hospital. Subcontractor: ISCIII Medical Entomology Unit (Maribel Jiménez and Ricardo Molina).
Project title: "Biology and control of vector-borne infections in Europe (EDENext Collaborative Project): Sandfly-borne diseases".
Reference: Subproject (PBD) (EU, FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage, contract No. 261504).
Start date: 2011
End date: 2014
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina General coordinator: Petr Volf
Funding: €140,000
Funding agency: EU-FP7
Project Title: "Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva as a source in the search for potential targets for the development of vaccines against Leishmania infantum"
Reference: AGL2008-01592/GAN (MICINN)
Start date: 2009
End date: 2011
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €70,180
Funding agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation
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 DOIRole of Toll-like receptor 4 in intravascular hemolisis-mediated injury
Vázquez-Carballo C, Herencia C, Guerrero-Hue M, García-Caballero C, Rayego-Mateos S, Morgado-Pascual JL, Opazo-Rios L, González-Guerrero C, Vallejo-Mudarra M, Cortegano I, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B, Egido J, Moreno JA. J Pathol. 2022 Nov; 258(3): 236–249.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types.
3. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Jiménez-Orellana M, Viedma E, Sánchez A, Alhambra A, Villa J, Delgado-Iribarren A, Bautista V, Lara N, García-Cobos S, Aracil B, Cercenado E, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 6;12(1):107.
DOIDistribution of Aspergillus Species and Prevalence of Azole Resistance in clinical and environmental Samples from a Spanish Hospital during a three-year study period
Lucio J, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Gil H, Cano-Pascual S, Hernandez-Egido S, Cuetara MS and Mellado E. Mycoses. 2024 Apr;67(4):e13719.
PUBMED DOIExploring the sequence diversity and surface expression of Factor H-Binding Protein among invasive serogroup B meningococcal strains from selected European countries
Clark SA, Willerton L, Claus H, Carannante A, Stefanelli P, Abad R, Vázquez JA, Borrow R. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2427471
PUBMED DOIEffects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response
4. Cicuendez M., Portolés P., Montes-Casado M., Izquierdo-Barba I., Vallet-Regı M., and Portolés M.T. Effects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response. J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2 (22), 3469-3479.
DOIBotulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019
Peñuelas M, Guerrero-Vadillo M, Valdezate S, Zamora MJ, Leon-Gomez I, Flores-Cuéllar Á, Carrasco G, Díaz-García O, Varela C. (2022). Botulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019. Toxins (Basel). 20;15(1):2
PUBMED DOIComparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
Hernández-González A, Noh J, Perteguer MJ, Gárate T, Handali S. Comparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Parasit Vectors. 2017 May 15;10(1):237.
PUBMED DOIAge-dependent nasal immune responses in non-hospitalized bronchiolitis children
Cortegano I, Rodríguez M, Hernángómez S, Arrabal A, Garcia-Vao C, Rodríguez J, Sandra Fernández S, Díaz J, de la Rosa B, Solís B, Arribas C, Garrido F, Zaballos A, Roa S, López V, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B. Front Immunol 2022 Dec 6:13:1011607.
PUBMED DOIAn increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020).
4. An increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020). Autores: El Mammery A, Ramírez de Arellano E, Cañada-García JE, Cercenado E, Villar-Gómara L, Casquero-García V, García-Cobos S, Lepe JA, Ruiz de Gopegui Bordes E, Calvo-Montes J, Larrosa Escartín N, Cantón R, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2023 Sep 26;14:1220286.
PUBMED DOIPermanent control of HIV-1 pathogenesis in exceptional elite controllers: a model of spontaneous cure
Casado C, Galvez C, Pernas M, Tarancon-Diez L, Rodriguez C, Sanchez-Merino V, Vera M, Olivares I, De Pablo-Bernal R, Merino-Mansilla A, Del Romero J, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Ruiz-Mateos E, Salgado M, Martinez-Picado J, Lopez-Galindez C; Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 5;10(1):1902
PUBMED DOIResultado falso negativo en diversas PCR multiplex y monoplex en un episodio de bacteriemia por Neisseria meningitidis. Implicaciones diagnósticas, terapéuticas y epidemiológicas [False negative result in both multiplex and monoplex PCR in a case of Neisseria meningitidis bacteremia. Diagnostic, therapeutic and epidemiological implications]
Monforte ML, Cebollada R, Escobar MJ, Abad R, Aspiroz C. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2024 Oct;37(5):427-428
PUBMED DOICharacteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo.
5. Rojo, J. M., G. Ojeda, Y. Y. Acosta, M. Montes-Casado, G. Criado, and P. Portoles. Characteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo. J. Leukoc. Biol. 2014, 95 (3): 441-450.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Tenured Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-5615-3087
Doctor in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid (1994) and Extraordinary Doctorate Award. She started her research activity at ISCIII in 1990 in the field of leishmaniasis. Currently, she is the head of the LEM where she develops her scientific work in the field of entomological surveillance of phlebotomine sandflies in the CM and other studies in the field of molecular biology, mainly applied to the model of Leishmania infantum and its vector Phlebotomus perniciosus. Member of the team of experts of the ISCIII that participates in the elaboration of Rapid Risk Assessments and in the working groups in charge of the elaboration of National Plans of Prevention, Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases of the CCAES, Ministry of Health. She is currently “Operational Focal Point” for vector-borne diseases at national level for the One Health-Vectornet network (EFSA and ECDC) and coordinator of the VectorNet-Spain network since July 2024. In addition, she is a member of the expert committee of the Network of Surveillance and Control of Vectors with public health interest in the Community of Madrid. In addition, she is part of a research group from CIBER (CIBERINFEC; CB21/13/00110).
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Inés Martín Martín
Tenured Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-0956-7324
Within Medical Entomology, my work focuses on the study of phlebotomine sand flies and culicidae as vectors of leishmaniasis and arbovirosis, respectively. In 2014 I obtained my PhD degree “cum laude” with European mention from the Complutense University of Madrid. My PhD Thesis (developed at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III), focused on the study of phlebotomine sandfly saliva. Subsequently, during my postdoctoral period, I worked on insect gene editing, molecular, biochemical and functional characterization of insect saliva proteins and their role in the infection and transmission of pathogens. Most of my scientific career has been developed at the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. Since 2021 I am a Senior Scientist at the Laboratory of Medical Entomology (ISCIII).
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Ricardo Molina Moreno
Doctor Ad Honorem
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6662-173X
Doctor in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (1994). In 1979 he began his professional career at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), where he became a researcher in 1985. He was in charge of the Medical Entomology Laboratory from that year until his retirement in 2023. He is currently a doctor linked “Ad Honorem”. He has extensive experience in medical entomology, advising the Ministry of Health (CCAES) and Health Departments of Autonomous Communities, on surveillance and control of arthropods transmitting vector-borne diseases. In recent years he has been involved in surveillance programs in Spain for leishmaniasis vectors, especially in the Fuenlabrada outbreak, and for viruses causing Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and dengue. Also in the surveillance of invasive exotic mosquitoes, especially Aedes albopictus, in ports and airports. In his last stage he has been part of the research group within the CIBER (CIBERINFEC; CB21/13/00110).
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Marcos López de Felipe Escudero
Predoctoral contract FPU
ORCID code: 0000-0002-2919-836X
Graduated in Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid and Master in Tropical Parasitic Diseases from the University of Valencia. He started his professional career in 2019 in surveillance and management of hematophagous diptera of veterinary-medical interest, as well as other urban pests. In 2024 he began his work at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) within the framework of the project “Evaluation of the anti-leishmanicidal effect of the bacterium Tc1 and its derivatives in the intravectorial cycle of the parasite” directed by Dr. Inés Martín Martín where he continues after the award of a FPU fellowship. He has extensive experience in medical entomology, especially in surveillance and vector control and taxonomic identification. Her career so far has focused mainly on the study of phlebotomine sand flies, simulids and culicidae, with special attention to citizen science.
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Eva Pérez Martínez
Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory Technician
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6553-9969
Graduated in 2019 from the Advanced Vocational Training Program in Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences. I began my professional career in 2020 at Eurofins Megalab laboratories. In 2024, I started working as a freelance professional on an international project focused on the bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies in urban environments across the Mediterranean Basin, conducting fieldwork in Spain, Italy, Greece, and southern France within the framework of citizen science. Since 2025, I have been part of the Medical Entomology Laboratory at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), where I work as a laboratory technician on the project “Biochemical and functional characterization of salivary proteins from Phlebotomus perniciosus and their role in Leishmania infantum infection (PERNIPROT)”, led by Dr. Inés Martín Martín.
List of staff
Additional Information
The main objective of the Serology Laboratory is to provide services to centers of the National Health System, through the offer in the service portfolio of the National Microbiology Center, in carrying out diagnosis and reference through the detection of antibodies, both for primary diagnosis and for reference activities.
For this, it has the appropriate serological methodologies, many of them accredited by ENAC in accordance with the ISO15189 standard. Conducts test validation studies through collaboration agreements with private entities.
Participates in seroprevalence studies, carried out through management assignments with the Ministry of Health and with the Public Health authorities of different autonomous communities.
On the other hand, it participates in research projects in relation to infectious diseases, in recent years on neurological diseases, on emerging diseases and on the viruses included in the MMR vaccine.
The main objective of the Serology Laboratory is to provide services to centers of the National Health System, through the offer in the service portfolio of the National Microbiology Center, in carrying out diagnosis and reference through the detection of antibodies, both for primary diagnosis and for reference activities.
For this, it has the appropriate serological methodologies, many of them accredited by ENAC in accordance with the ISO15189 standard. Conducts test validation studies through collaboration agreements with private entities.
Participates in seroprevalence studies, carried out through management assignments with the Ministry of Health and with the Public Health authorities of different autonomous communities.
On the other hand, it participates in research projects in relation to infectious diseases, in recent years on neurological diseases, on emerging diseases and on the viruses included in the MMR vaccine.