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Investigation

Bacterial Taxonomy

Research Lines

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .

Toxoplasmosis y Protozoos intestinales

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Referencia e Investigación en Helmintos

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Malaria y Parasitosis Emergentes

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Leishmaniasis y Enfermedad de Chagas

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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.

Babesiosis

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Research projects

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .

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

PROYECTOS VIGENTES

Título del proyecto: "Vesículas extracelulares y otras moléculas de parásitos para el tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: PARATREAT-IBD"

Referencia: Proyecto PID2022-137661OB-I00 (MPY 341/23) financiado por MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ y por FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa
Fecha Inicio:    01/12/2023
Fecha Fin:    31/08/2026
Financiación: 162.500 Euros
Investigador principal: Javier Sotillo
Agencia Financiadora: Agencia Estatal de Investigación. MICINN.


 

Título del proyecto: "Desarrollo de nuevos métodos diagnósticos y de seguimiento de la infección por schistosoma haematobium"

Referencia: PI23CIII00034 / MPY 386/23
Fecha Inicio:    01/01/2024
Fecha Fin:    31/12/2026
Financiación: 131.500 Euros
Investigador principal: Javier Sotillo
Agencia Financiadora: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/AESI)

 

Título del proyecto: "Desarrollo de herramientas para el control de la teniosis / cisticercosis en zonas endémicas y vigilancia de las helmintosis humanas emergentes en España"

Referencia: PI22CIII/00010
Fecha Inicio: 01/01/2023
Fecha Fin: 31/12/2025
Financiación: 80.000 Euros
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer
Agencia Financiadora: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/AESI)

 

 

PROYECTOS PASADOS

Título del proyecto: "PERITAS: Molecular epidemiological studies on pathways of transmission and longlasting capacity building to prevent cystic echinococcosis infection."
Coordinador: Adriano Casulli. IP of ISCIII: Maria J. Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: EULAC Health JOINT CALL on Research and Innovation 016-2017
Periodo: 01/03/2019-31/12/2022.
Cuantía total: 1.083.580 €.

Título del proyecto: "Producción de antígenos y controles positivos recombinantes para el desarrollo y la estandarización de nuevos ensayos serológicos aplicados al diagnóstico y control de helmintosis olvidadas. "
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII-AESI. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Periodo: 02/11/2018 - 31/06/2022.
Cuantía total: 78.050 €.

Título del proyecto: "Diagnóstico serológico diferencial de helmintiasis asociadas a eosinofilia: desarrollo de ensayos multianalito (xMAP) con antígenos recombinantes de especies de interés clínico"
Investigador principal: María Jesús Perteguer.
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII-AESI. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Periodo: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018 .
Cuantía total: 91.000 €.

Publications

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Immunoinformatics lessons on the current COVID-19 pandemic and future coronavirus zoonoses

López D, García-Peydró M. “Immunoinformatics lessons on the current COVID-19 pandemic and future coronavirus zoonoses”. Frontiers in Immunology 14:1118267 (2023).

PUBMED DOI

Predicted HLA Class I and Class II Epitopes From Licensed Vaccines Are Largely Conserved in New SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern.

López, D. 2022. Predicted HLA Class I and Class II Epitopes From Licensed Vaccines Are Largely Conserved in New SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern. Front Immunol. 13:832889.

PUBMED

Garcia-Arriaza, J., M. Esteban, and D. López. 2021

Garcia-Arriaza, J., M. Esteban, and D. López. 2021. Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara as a Viral Vector for Vaccine Candidates against Chikungunya Virus. Biomedicines. 9.

PUBMED

Cross-Recognition of SARS-CoV-2 B-Cell Epitopes with Other Betacoronavirus Nucleoproteins

Tajuelo, A., M. López-Siles, V. Mas, P. Perez-Romero, J. M. Aguado, V. Briz, M. J. McConnell, A. J. Martín-Galiano, and D. López. 2022. Cross-Recognition of SARS-CoV-2 B-Cell Epitopes with Other Betacoronavirus Nucleoproteins. Int.J.Mol.Sci. 23.

PUBMED

Abundance, Betweenness Centrality, Hydrophobicity, and Isoelectric Points Are Relevant Factors in the Processing of Parental Proteins of the HLA Class II Ligandome.

Lorente, E., A. J. Martín-Galiano, D. M. Kadosh, A. Barriga, J. Garcia-Arriaza, C. Mir, M. Esteban, A. Admon, and D. López. 2022. Abundance, Betweenness Centrality, Hydrophobicity, and Isoelectric Points Are Relevant Factors in the Processing of Parental Proteins of the HLA Class II Ligandome. J.Proteome.Res. 21:164-171.

DOI

Prediction of Conserved HLA Class I and Class II Epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 Licensed Vaccines Supports T-Cell Cross-Protection against SARS-CoV-1.

López, D. 2022. Prediction of Conserved HLA Class I and Class II Epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 Licensed Vaccines Supports T-Cell Cross-Protection against SARS-CoV-1. Biomedicines. 10.

PUBMED DOI

Predicted Epitope Abundance Supports Vaccine-Induced Cytotoxic Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern.

Martín-Galiano, A. J., F. Diez-Fuertes, M. J. McConnell, and D. López. 2021. Predicted Epitope Abundance Supports Vaccine-Induced Cytotoxic Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Front Immunol. 12:732693.

PUBMED DOI

de la Sota, P. G., E. Lorente, L. Notario, C. Mir, O. Zaragoza, and D. López. 2021. Mitoxantrone Shows In Vitro, but Not In Vivo Antiviral Activity against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Biomedicines. 9.

de la Sota, P. G., E. Lorente, L. Notario, C. Mir, O. Zaragoza, and D. López. 2021. Mitoxantrone Shows In Vitro, but Not In Vivo Antiviral Activity against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Biomedicines. 9.

PUBMED DOI

Lorente, E., M. Marcilla, P. G. de la Sota, A. Quijada-Freire, C. Mir, and D. López. 2021. Acid Stripping after Infection Improves the Detection of Viral HLA Class I Natural Ligands Identified by Mass Spectrometry. Int.J.Mol.Sci. 22.

Lorente, E., M. Marcilla, P. G. de la Sota, A. Quijada-Freire, C. Mir, and D. López. 2021. Acid Stripping after Infection Improves the Detection of Viral HLA Class I Natural Ligands Identified by Mass Spectrometry. Int.J.Mol.Sci. 22.

PUBMED DOI

Redondo-Anton, J., M. G. Fontela, L. Notario, R. Torres-Ruiz, S. Rodriguez-Perales, E. Lorente, and P. Lauzurica. 2020. Functional Characterization of a Dual Enhancer/Promoter Regulatory Element Leading Human CD69 Expression. Front Genet. 11:552949.

Redondo-Anton, J., M. G. Fontela, L. Notario, R. Torres-Ruiz, S. Rodriguez-Perales, E. Lorente, and P. Lauzurica. 2020. Functional Characterization of a Dual Enhancer/Promoter Regulatory Element Leading Human CD69 Expression. Front Genet. 11:552949.

PUBMED DOI

Lorente, E., E. Barnea, C. Mir, A. Admon, and D. López. 2020. The HLA-DP peptide repertoire from human respiratory syncytial virus is focused on major structural proteins with the exception of the viral polymerase. J Proteomics. 221:103759.

Lorente, E., E. Barnea, C. Mir, A. Admon, and D. López. 2020. The HLA-DP peptide repertoire from human respiratory syncytial virus is focused on major structural proteins with the exception of the viral polymerase. J Proteomics. 221:103759.

PUBMED DOI

Lorente, E., M. G. Fontela, E. Barnea, A. J. Martín-Galiano, C. Mir, B. Galocha, A. Admon, P. Lauzurica, and D. López. 2020. Modulation of Natural HLA-B*27:05 Ligandome by Ankylosing Spondylitis-associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2). Mol.Cell Proteomics. 19:994-1004.

Lorente, E., M. G. Fontela, E. Barnea, A. J. Martín-Galiano, C. Mir, B. Galocha, A. Admon, P. Lauzurica, and D. López. 2020. Modulation of Natural HLA-B*27:05 Ligandome by Ankylosing Spondylitis-associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2). Mol.Cell Proteomics. 19:994-1004.

PUBMED DOI

Marquez, A., M. Gomez-Fontela, S. Lauzurica, R. Candorcio-Simon, D. Munoz-Martín, M. Morales, M. Ubago, C. Toledo, P. Lauzurica, and C. Molpeceres. 2020. Fluorescence enhanced BA-LIFT for single cell detection and isolation. Biofabrication. 12:025019.

Marquez, A., M. Gomez-Fontela, S. Lauzurica, R. Candorcio-Simon, D. Munoz-Martín, M. Morales, M. Ubago, C. Toledo, P. Lauzurica, and C. Molpeceres. 2020. Fluorescence enhanced BA-LIFT for single cell detection and isolation. Biofabrication. 12:025019.

PUBMED DOI

Lorente, E., C. Palomo, E. Barnea, C. Mir, V. M. Del, A. Admon, and D. López. 2019a. Natural Spleen Cell Ligandome in Transporter Antigen Processing-Deficient Mice. J.Proteome.Res. 18:3512-3520.

Lorente, E., C. Palomo, E. Barnea, C. Mir, V. M. Del, A. Admon, and D. López. 2019a. Natural Spleen Cell Ligandome in Transporter Antigen Processing-Deficient Mice. J.Proteome.Res. 18:3512-3520.

PUBMED

Lorente, E., J. Redondo-Anton, A. Martín-Esteban, P. Guasp, E. Barnea, P. Lauzurica, A. Admon, and J. A. López de Castro. 2019. Substantial Influence of ERAP2 on the HLA-B*40:02 Peptidome: Implications for HLA-B*27-Negative Ankylosing Spondylitis. Mol.Cell Proteomics. 18:2298-2309.

Lorente, E., J. Redondo-Anton, A. Martín-Esteban, P. Guasp, E. Barnea, P. Lauzurica, A. Admon, and J. A. López de Castro. 2019. Substantial Influence of ERAP2 on the HLA-B*40:02 Peptidome: Implications for HLA-B*27-Negative Ankylosing Spondylitis. Mol.Cell Proteomics. 18:2298-2309.

PUBMED DOI

Brait, V. H., F. Miro-Mur, I. Perez-de-Puig, L. Notario, B. Hurtado, J. Pedragosa, M. Gallizioli, F. Jimenez-Altayo, M. Arbaizar-Rovirosa, A. Otxoa-de-Amezaga, J. Monteagudo, M. Ferrer-Ferrer, l. R. de, X, E. Bonfill-Teixidor, A. Salas-Perdomo, A. Hernandez-Vidal, P. Garcia-de-Frutos, P. Lauzurica, and A. M. Planas. 2019. CD69 Plays a Beneficial Role in Ischemic Stroke by Dampening Endothelial Activation. Circ.Res. 124:279-291.

Brait, V. H., F. Miro-Mur, I. Perez-de-Puig, L. Notario, B. Hurtado, J. Pedragosa, M. Gallizioli, F. Jimenez-Altayo, M. Arbaizar-Rovirosa, A. Otxoa-de-Amezaga, J. Monteagudo, M. Ferrer-Ferrer, l. R. de, X, E. Bonfill-Teixidor, A. Salas-Perdomo, A. Hernandez-Vidal, P. Garcia-de-Frutos, P. Lauzurica, and A. M. Planas. 2019. CD69 Plays a Beneficial Role in Ischemic Stroke by Dampening Endothelial Activation. Circ.Res. 124:279-291.

DOI

López, D., A. Barriga, E. Lorente, and C. Mir. 2019. Immunoproteomic Lessons for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Design. J.Clin.Med. 8.

López, D., A. Barriga, E. Lorente, and C. Mir. 2019. Immunoproteomic Lessons for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Design. J.Clin.Med. 8.

PUBMED DOI

Lorente, E., A. Barriga, E. Barnea, C. Palomo, J. Garcia-Arriaza, C. Mir, M. Esteban, A. Admon, and D. López. 2019. Immunoproteomic analysis of a Chikungunya poxvirus-based vaccine reveals high HLA class II immunoprevalence. PLoS.Negl.Trop.Dis. 13:e0007547.

Lorente, E., A. Barriga, E. Barnea, C. Palomo, J. Garcia-Arriaza, C. Mir, M. Esteban, A. Admon, and D. López. 2019. Immunoproteomic analysis of a Chikungunya poxvirus-based vaccine reveals high HLA class II immunoprevalence. PLoS.Negl.Trop.Dis. 13:e0007547.

PUBMED DOI

Computational characterization of the peptidome in transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)-deficient cells.

Martin-Galiano, A. J. and Lopez, D. (2019) Computational characterization of the peptidome in transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)-deficient cells. PLoS.ONE. 14, e0210583.

PUBMED DOI

Proteomics analysis reveals that structural proteins of the virion core and involved in gene expression are the main source for HLA class II ligands in vaccinia virus-infected cells.

Lorente, E., Martin-Galiano, A. J., Barnea, E., Barriga, A., Palomo, C., Garcia-Arriaza, J., Mir, C., Lauzurica, P., Esteban, M., Admon, A., and Lopez, D. (2019) Proteomics analysis reveals that structural proteins of the virion core and involved in gene expression are the main source for HLA class II ligands in vaccinia virus-infected cells. J.Proteome.Res. 18(9):3512-3520

PUBMED DOI

CD69 targeting enhances anti-Vaccinia virus immunity

Notario L., Redondo-Antón J., Alari-Pahissa E., Albentosa A., Leiva M., López D., Sabio G., and Lauzurica P. (2019) CD69 targeting enhances anti-Vaccinia virus immunity. Journal of Virology 12;93(19). pii: e00553-19.

PUBMED DOI

Guasp, P., E. Lorente, A. Martín-Esteban, E. Barnea, P. Romania, D. Fruci, J. J. W. Kuiper, A. Admon, and J. A. López de Castro. 2019. Redundancy and Complementarity between ERAP1 and ERAP2 Revealed by their Effects on the Behcet's Disease-Associated HLA-B*51 Peptidome. Mol.Cell Proteomics.

Guasp, P., E. Lorente, A. Martín-Esteban, E. Barnea, P. Romania, D. Fruci, J. J. W. Kuiper, A. Admon, and J. A. López de Castro. 2019. Redundancy and Complementarity between ERAP1 and ERAP2 Revealed by their Effects on the Behcet's Disease-Associated HLA-B*51 Peptidome. Mol.Cell Proteomics.

PUBMED DOI

Fontela, M. G., L. Notario, E. Alari-Pahissa, E. Lorente, and P. Lauzurica. 2019

Fontela, M. G., L. Notario, E. Alari-Pahissa, E. Lorente, and P. Lauzurica. 2019. The Conserved Non-Coding Sequence 2 (CNS2) Enhances CD69 Transcription through Cooperation between the Transcription Factors Oct1 and RUNX1. Genes (Basel) 10.

PUBMED DOI

Content with Investigacion Parasitología .

List of staff

Additional Information

The research objectives focus on the areas of Bacterial Taxonomy and Microbiology in Public Health:

- Identification of pathogenic bacteria that are difficult to assign taxonomically
- Description of new species
- Study of bacterial population biology through typing
- Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors for certain bacterial pathogens in different nosocomial/community settings.

These objectives are addressed from the perspective of polyphasic taxonomy (phenotypic and genotypic taxonomy) through the study of targets for genus/species assignment and phylogenetic analyses. The analysis of the virulome and resistome of certain species is approached from the perspective of complete genome sequencing.

Research on invasive infection by Streptococcus pyogenes and other beta-hemolytic streptococci has been carried out since 1994, through the Surveillance Program of the National Center for Microbiology. The typing of invasive S. pyogenes strains circulating in Spain includes determination of: serotype (emm-type); the genetic profile of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins; the antimicrobial resistance phenotype; and the genotypes of epidemiologically related strains and/or outbreaks.

The research objectives focus on the areas of Bacterial Taxonomy and Microbiology in Public Health:

- Identification of pathogenic bacteria that are difficult to assign taxonomically
- Description of new species
- Study of bacterial population biology through typing
- Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors for certain bacterial pathogens in different nosocomial/community settings.

These objectives are addressed from the perspective of polyphasic taxonomy (phenotypic and genotypic taxonomy) through the study of targets for genus/species assignment and phylogenetic analyses. The analysis of the virulome and resistome of certain species is approached from the perspective of complete genome sequencing.

Research on invasive infection by Streptococcus pyogenes and other beta-hemolytic streptococci has been carried out since 1994, through the Surveillance Program of the National Center for Microbiology. The typing of invasive S. pyogenes strains circulating in Spain includes determination of: serotype (emm-type); the genetic profile of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins; the antimicrobial resistance phenotype; and the genotypes of epidemiologically related strains and/or outbreaks.

Content with Investigacion Presentación y Regulación Inmunes .