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Research Lines

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .

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 Entomología Médica .

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

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The role of methionine synthases in fungal metabolism and virulence

Scott J and Amich J. Essays Biochem (2023) 67 (5): 853-863.

PUBMED DOI

Potential implication of azole persistence in the treatment failure of two haematological patients infected with Aspergillus fumigatus

Peláez-García de la Rasilla T, Mato-López A, Pablos-Puertas CE, González-Huerta AJ, Gómez-López A, Mellado E, Amich J. Journal of Fungi, 2023 Jul 30;9(8):805.

PUBMED DOI

Aspergillus fumigatus can exhibit persistence to the fungicidal drug voriconazole

Valero C., Á Mato-López, I J. Donaldson, A. Roldán, H. Chown, N. Van-Rhijn, S. Gago, T. Furukawa, A. Mogorovsky, R. Ben Ami, P. Bowyer, N. Osherov, T. Fontaine, G.H. Goldman, E. Mellado, M. Bromley and J. Amich. Microbiology Spectrum.2023 13;11(2):e0477022

PUBMED DOI

COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA): Hospital or Home Environment as a source of life-threatening Aspergillus fumigatus infection?

Peláez-García de la Rasilla T, González-Jiménez I, García-Fernández Arroyo A, Roldán A, Carretero-Ares JL, Clemente-García M,, Martínez-Suarez M, Vázquez Valdés F, Melón-Garcia S, Mellado E, Sánchez-Nuñez ML on behalf HUCAPA group. Journal of Fungi, 2022 Mar 19;8(3):316.

PUBMED DOI

An expanded agar base secreening method for azole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus

Lucio J, Gonzalez-Jimenez I, Garcia-Rubio R, Cuetara MS and Mellado E. Mycoses 2022, 65 (2): 178-185.

PUBMED DOI

Are point mutations in HMG-CoA reductases (Hmg1 and Hmg2) a step towards azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus?

Gonzalez-Jimenez I., Lucio J., Roldan A, Alcazar-Fuoli L. and Mellado E. Molecules, 2021, 26(19):5975.

PUBMED DOI

Multi-resistance to non-azole fungicides in Aspergillus fumigatus TR34/L98H azole resistant isolates

Gonzalez-Jimenez I, Garcia-Rubio R, Monzon S, Lucio J, Cuesta I, and Mellado E. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 17;65(9):e0064221

PUBMED DOI

The sulfur-related metabolic status of Aspergillus fumigatus during infection reveals cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase as a promising antifungal target

Alharthi R, Sueiro-Olivares M, Storer I, Bin Shuraym H, Scott J, Al-Shidhani R, Fortune-Grant R, Bignell E, Tabernero L, Bromley M and Amich J. 2025. Virulence, 16(1):2449075

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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., 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

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

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 Entomología Médica .

List of staff

Additional Information

La inducción de la tolerancia al aloinjerto sigue siendo una meta por alcanzar en el trasplante de órganos. La mayoría de las estrategias terapéuticas se centran en la inhibición del sistema inmunológico adaptativo, pero datos recientes demuestran que el reconocimiento alogénico de las células mieloides inicia el rechazo al trasplante. Terapias dirigidas hacia las células mieloides “in vivo” representan un objetivo potencial para inducir tolerancia inmunológica, pero permanece inexplorado clínicamente.Nuestro laboratorio utiliza una nanoinmunoterapia revolucionaria de nanopartículas de lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL) cargadas con rapamicina (mTORi-HDL) que previenen las modificaciones epigenéticas asociadas con la inmunidad entrenada, un estado funcional de los macrófagos recientemente descubierto. Usando un modelo experimental de trasplante en ratón, nuestros resultados demuestran que la administración de esta inmunoterapia con mTORi-HDL previene la respuesta inmunológica y promueve la tolerancia al órgano trasplantado.Nuestro laboratorio muestra un enfoque de investigación multidisciplinar articulado en tres objetivos diferentes para evaluar la relevancia clínica y los efectos terapéuticos de la inmunoterapia como preparación para un ensayo clínico en trasplante de órganos. Los objetivos generales estarán orientados a confirmar la identificación de la inmunidad entrenada como biomarcador y valor analítico para predecir el riesgo de rechazo en pacientes trasplantados bajo tres condiciones: periodos prolongadas de reperfusión isquémica (IRI) (objetivo 1), alosensibilización (objetivo 2) e infección (objetivo 3).

Induction of allograft tolerance remains a goal to be achieved in organ transplantation. Most therapeutic strategies focus on inhibition of the adaptive immune system, but recent data demonstrate that allogeneic recognition of myeloid cells initiates transplant rejection. Therapies targeting myeloid cells “in vivo” represent a potential target to induce immunological tolerance, but remain clinically unexplored. 

Our laboratory uses a revolutionary nanoimmunotherapy of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin (mTORi-HDL) that prevents epigenetic modifications associated with trained immunity, a recently discovered functional state of macrophages. Using an experimental mouse transplant model, our results demonstrate that the administration of this immunotherapy with mTORi-HDL prevents the immune response and promotes tolerance to the transplanted organ. 

Our laboratory shows a multidisciplinary research approach articulated in three different objectives to evaluate the clinical relevance and therapeutic effects of immunotherapy in preparation for a clinical trial in organ transplantation. The general objectives will be aimed at confirming the identification of trained immunity as a biomarker and analytical value to predict the risk of rejection in transplant patients under three conditions: prolonged periods of ischemic reperfusion (IRI) (objective 1), allosensitization (objective 2) and infection (objective 3).

Induction of allograft tolerance remains a goal to be achieved in organ transplantation. Most therapeutic strategies focus on inhibition of the adaptive immune system, but recent data demonstrate that allogeneic recognition of myeloid cells initiates transplant rejection. Therapies targeting myeloid cells “in vivo” represent a potential target to induce immunological tolerance, but remain clinically unexplored. 

Our laboratory uses a revolutionary nanoimmunotherapy of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin (mTORi-HDL) that prevents epigenetic modifications associated with trained immunity, a recently discovered functional state of macrophages. Using an experimental mouse transplant model, our results demonstrate that the administration of this immunotherapy with mTORi-HDL prevents the immune response and promotes tolerance to the transplanted organ. 

Our laboratory shows a multidisciplinary research approach articulated in three different objectives to evaluate the clinical relevance and therapeutic effects of immunotherapy in preparation for a clinical trial in organ transplantation. The general objectives will be aimed at confirming the identification of trained immunity as a biomarker and analytical value to predict the risk of rejection in transplant patients under three conditions: prolonged periods of ischemic reperfusion (IRI) (objective 1), allosensitization (objective 2) and infection (objective 3).

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .