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Investigation
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
Classical viral vaccines rely on the induction of neutralizing antibodies. In the case of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the viral spike has evolved to evade recognition by these antibodies. Despite these obstacles, certain monoclonal antibodies capable of neutralizing the majority of primary HIV-1 isolates have been successfully isolated and have demonstrated efficacy both in controlling viremia and in providing protection against infection in animal models. These are known as broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs).
In order to identify the factors involved in the induction of these antibodies and to develop preventive strategies based on bNAb induction, we are pursuing the following research lines:
- Determination of factors associated with the induction of effective humoral responses in different scenarios: recent infection, chronic infection, co-infection with hepatitis C virus, reinfection, and pediatric infection, among others.
- Study of the effect of feminizing hormone therapy on the immune system of transgender women.
- Development of HIV-1 vaccine prototypes based on viral spike proteins incorporated into Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) from two sources:
a) Selected from a library of randomly mutated spikes to enhance the accessibility of epitopes recognized by bNAbs.
b) Derived from viruses present in individuals with broad neutralizing responses in recent infection. - Isolation and characterization of new bNAbs against HIV-1 from individual B cells of individuals with an efficient neutralizing response. These antibodies could be used in both preventive and therapeutic strategies.
- Isolation of new monoclonal antibodies against other human pathogenic viruses, adapting the technology developed for HIV-1 antibody isolation, in collaboration with researchers from the National Center for Microbiology.
- Use of gene therapy vectors (Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viruses; rAAVs) to incorporate bNAbs and apply them in prophylactic and therapeutic strategies.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
Research Projects as Principal Investigators
Effect of Feminizing Hormone Therapy on the Immune Response in Transgender Women
Principal Investigator: Víctor Sánchez-Merino
Funding Agency: Intramural Health Strategic Action
Funding: €117,000
Participating Institutions: ISCIII, IRSICAIXA, 7 Infectious diseases units (Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM-INF), Hospital Universitario La Paz (HULP), Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor (HUIL), Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz (FJD), Fundación Universitario la Princesa (HUP), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (HURyC) y Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre (HU12O), Centro Sandoval, 1 Gender Identity Unit, Facultad de psicología (UAM), Facultad de Geografía e Historia (UCM) and three ONGs
Duration: 01/01/2025- 31/12/2027
Project Reference: PI24CIII/00031
Design of Vaccine Prototypes based on HIV-1 Envelope presented on Virus-Like Particles and Nanodiscs
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding agency: Knowledge Generation Projects. State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation.
Funding: €125,000
Participating Institutions: ISCIII and University of UNSW (Sydney, Australia)
Duration: 01/09/24–31/12/28
Reference: Project PID2023-148729OB-100 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, UE.
Funding for Research Assistant Position. Project: New Approaches to Immunogen Design for the Induction of Anti-HIV-1 Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bNAbs) Based on Viral Envelope Proteins Presented on VLPs
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Youth Employment Plan (Community of Madrid)
Funding: Hiring of a senior graduate for 2 years
Participating Institutions: ISCIII
Duration: 01/04/2024 – 31/03/2026
Project Reference: SAL-GL-28125
Generation of an Adenovirus-Associated Vector for the Delivery of a Broadly Neutralizing Antibody (bNAb) Against HIV-1 That Does Not Induce Anti-Antibody Responses. Funding for Research Assistant Position.
Principal Investigator: Víctor Sánchez Merino
Funding Agency: FUAX-Santander
Funding: €90,000
Participating Institutions: Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio and ISCIII
Duration: 01/04/2022 – 01/04/2025
Project Reference: 1.013.008
New Approaches to Immunogen Design for the Induction of Anti-HIV-1 Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bNAbs) Based on Viral Envelope Proteins Presented on Virus-Like Particles (VLPs).
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Intramural Health Strategic Action
Funding: €77,000
Participating Institutions: Fraunhofer Institute (Germany) and ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2021 – 30/06/2024
Project Reference: PI20CIII/00039
Development of Immunogens and Vaccination Strategies to Optimize the Induction of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bNAbs) Against HIV-1.
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Intramural Health Strategic Action
Funding: €117,000
Participating Institutions: Fraunhofer Institute (Germany) and ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2021
Personnel Hiring: One postdoctoral researcher for 3 years
Project Reference: PI17/00049
Isolation and Characterization of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Against HIV-1 from Recently Infected Patients.
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Health Strategic Action (ISCIII)
Funding: €57,475
Participating Institutions: IDIBAPS, Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), and ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2014 – 30/04/2017
Project Reference: PI13/01528
Development of an HIV Vaccine: Isolation and Characterization of New Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies.
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Health Research Fund (ISCIII)
Funding: €116,765
Participating Institutions: IDIBAPS and ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2010 – 31/12/2012
Project Reference: PI09/1459
Optimization of the HIV-1 Envelope Protein as an Immunogen.
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Spanish Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention (FIPSE)
Funding: €141,845
Participating Institutions: IDIBAPS
Duration: 30/10/2008 – 31/08/2012
Personnel Hiring: One senior graduate for 3 years
Project Reference: 36780/08
Optimization of the HIV-1 Envelope Protein as an Immunogen.
Principal Investigator: Eloísa Yuste Herranz
Funding Agency: Ramón y Cajal Program (Ministry of Education and Science)
Funding: 5-year Ramón y Cajal Researcher contract + 3 years as I3
Participating Institutions: IDIBAPS
Duration: 2008 – 2016
Project Reference: RYC-2007-00788
R&D projects as part of the research team
Determination of factors associated with protection against Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 Reinfection: Identification of protection correlates.
Principal Investigator: María Pernas Escario
Funding Agency: Gilead Sciences
Funding: €16,630
Participating Entities: Centro Sandoval and ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2023
Contract/Project File: GLD22/001144
EAVI2020: European AIDS Vaccine Initiative 2020
Principal Investigator: José Alcamí Pertejo
Funding Agency: Horizon 2020 (European Union; EU)
Funding: €403,829
Participating Entities: ISCIII and an EU consortium
Duration: 01/01/2015 - 30/04/2021
Contract/Project File: MPY1398/15
EHVA, European HIV Vaccine Alliance (EHVA): an EU platform for the discovery and evaluation of novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine candidates.
Principal Investigator: Felipe García Alcaide
Funding Agency: Horizon 2020 (European Union; EU)
Funding: €1,000,000
Participating Entities: IDIBAPS and an EU consortium
Duration: 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2020
Contract/Project File: 681032
Grup de Recerca VIH/SIDA
Principal Investigator: José María Gatell
Funding Agency: AGAUR_SGR14 (Generalitat de Catalunya-projects)
Funding: €63,000
Participating Entities: IDIBAPS
Duration: 01/01/2014 - 30/04/2017
Contract/Project File: 214_SGR_706
SIDA Vaccine Research Project (HIVACAT)
Principal Investigator: José María Gatell
Funding Agency: MINECO (INNPACTO Program)
Funding: €288,740
Participating Entities: IDIBAPS and Irsicaixa
Duration: 01/01/2013 - 31/03/2020
Contract/Project File: PT-2012-0325-010000
Design, synthesis, and anti-HIV-1 study of peptide domains of GB virus B
Principal Investigator: Isabel Haro
Funding Agency: Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention (FIPSE)
Funding: €33,000
Participating Entities: IQAC-CSIC and IDIBAPS
Duration: 09/03/2010 - 30/11/2014
Contract/Project File: 36-0735-09
Publications
Polymorphisms in Host Immunity-Modulating Genes and Risk of Invasive Aspergillosis: Results from the AspBIOmics Consortium
7. Lupiañez CB, Canet LM, Carvalho A, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Springer J, Lackner M, Segura-Catena J, Comino A, Olmedo C, Ríos R, Fernández-Montoya A, Cuenca-Estrella M, Solano C, López-Nevot MÁ, Cunha C, Oliveira-Coelho A, Villaescusa T, Fianchi L, Aguado JM, Pagano L, López-Fernández E, Potenza L, Luppi M, Lass-Flörl C, Loeffler J, Einsele H, Vazquez L; PCRAGA Study Group, Jurado M, Sainz J. Polymorphisms in Host Immunity-Modulating Genes and Risk of Invasive Aspergillosis: Results from the AspBIOmics Consortium. Infect Immun. 2015 Dec 14;84(3):643-57.
PUBMED DOICell Wall Changes in Amphotericin B-Resistant Strains from Candida tropicalis and Relationship with the Immune Responses Elicited by the Host.
9. Mesa-Arango AC, Rueda C, Román E, Quintin J, Terrón MC, Luque D, Netea MG, Pla J and Zaragoza O. Cell Wall Changes in Amphotericin B-Resistant Strains from Candida tropicalis and Relationship with the Immune Responses Elicited by the Host. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2016. 60(4):2326-35.
PUBMED DOIThe role of respiratory viruses in children with humoral immunodeficiency on immunoglobulin replacement therapy
Benavides-Nieto M, Méndez-Echevarría A, Del Rosal T, García-García ML, Casas I, Pozo F, de la Serna O, Lopez-Granados E, Rodriguez-Pena R, Calvo C. The role of respiratory viruses in children with humoral immunodeficiency on immunoglobulin replacement therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019 Feb;54(2):194-199. Indice Impacto: 3,157. Revista en Q1.
PUBMED DOISeasonality and geographical spread of respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in 15 European countries, 2010 to 2016.
Broberg EK, Waris M, Johansen K, Snacken R, Penttinen P; European Influenza Surveillance Network. Seasonality and geographical spread of respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in 15 European countries, 2010 to 2016. Euro Surveill. 2018 Feb;23(5). Indice Impacto: 5,983. Revista en Decil 1
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Eloisa Yuste Herranz
Staff Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9484-9974
She holds a Bachelor's and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed her first postdoctoral stay (1998–2001) at the “Severo Ochoa” Molecular Biology Center (Madrid). In 2001, she undertook a second postdoctoral stay at Harvard Medical School (USA), where she was promoted to Associate Researcher in 2005.
In 2008, she joined the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (Barcelona) as a Ramón y Cajal Researcher, later being promoted to I3 Researcher in 2011 at the same institution. In 2016, she joined the National Center for Microbiology at the Carlos III Health Institute (Madrid) as a Distinguished Researcher. In 2018, she was promoted to Tenured Scientist at the same institution.
Her research has focused on the study of humoral immunity against HIV-1 and the development of preventive HIV-1 vaccine prototypes. She is currently co-leading, alongside Dr. Víctor Sánchez Merino, the newly established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit.
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Victor Sánchez Merino
Distinguished Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0001-9400-427X
He holds a Bachelor's and a Ph.D. in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid, specializing in virology and molecular biology. His research has focused on the study of HIV and EBV. His doctoral thesis addressed the evolution of HIV-1 and the restoration of mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase function.
He completed a postdoctoral stay at Harvard University, investigating new viral interactions (2001–2003). At the University of Massachusetts, he explored CD8+ T lymphocyte responses in vertical HIV transmission (2003–2008).
In Spain, at the Hospital Clínico-IDIBAPS (Barcelona; 2008–2017) and the Carlos III Health Institute (Madrid; 2017–Present), he has led research on HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies and the design of preventive vaccines.He is currently co-leading, alongside Dr. Eloísa Yuste Herranz, the newly established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit. Additionally, he is a professor and principal investigator at Alfonso X el Sabio University (Madrid).
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Almudena Rubio Perez
Research Assistant
ORCID code: 0009-0006-4687-7555
Graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Córdoba (Andalusia, Spain) with a master's degree in Biomedicine from the University of Cádiz (Andalusia, Spain). She is currently part of the Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit (IHV) at the National Center for Microbiology (CNM) under a Youth Guarantee contract funded by the Community of Madrid and is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Microbiology and Parasitology program at the Complutense University of Madrid.
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Lorena Vigón Hernandez
Tenured Specialized Technician from OPIs
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6405-4054
Graduate in Health Biology and PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Alcalá de Henares. In 2016, she joined the CNM-ISCIII under a Youth Guarantee contract funded by the Community of Madrid, and in 2018 she was awarded a pFIS fellowship, which enabled her to remain at the same institution. Subsequently, in 2022, she was appointed as a Tenured Specialized Technical Staff of the Spanish Public Research Organizations (OPIs).
Her research has primarily focused on elucidating the mechanism of action of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in HIV-1 infection (PMID: 32828803; PMID: 34186065), as well as on the identification of biomarkers that could predict COVID-19 severity (PMID: 34616404; PMID: 34122423; PMID: 35960731).
She is currently a member of the recently established Humoral Immunity and HIV Vaccines Unit, led by Dr. Eloisa Yuste and Dr. Victor Sanchez-Merino.
Actualmente forma parte de la recientemente creada Unidad de Inmunidad Humoral y Vacunas frente al VIH, liderada por la Dra. Eloísa Yuste Herranz y el Dr. Víctor Sánchez Merino.
List of staff
Additional Information
Participation in research networks
Network Biomedical Research Center in Infectious Diseases
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Coordinator of the "Preventive Vaccines against HIV-1" working group, HIV Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 2023 - Present
Code: CIBERINFEC, group CB21/13/00015
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Head of the bNAbs Detection and Characterization Working Group, Vaccine Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2017-12/31/2021
Code: RETICS; RD16CIII/0002/0001
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Head of the Vaccine Development Working Group, Immunopathogenesis Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2013-12/31/2017
Code: RETICS; RD12/0017
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Members of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino and Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 04/04/2008-12/31/2013
Code: RETICS; RD12/0017
Supervised doctoral theses
Development of immunogens and vaccination strategies to optimize the induction of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. Student: Carolina Beltrán Pávez. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / ISCIII / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 11/26/2018. Grade obtained: Excellent Cum Laude
Characterization of the neutralizing response of patients with recent HIV-1 infection and isolation of antibodies. Student: Amanda Fabra García. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 07/20/2017. Grade obtained: Excellent Cum Laude
Broadly neutralizing antibody responses against HIV-1: Characterization and design of new immunogens. Student: Carolina Barbosa Ferreira. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 02/25/2013. Qualification obtained: Excellent Cum Laude (European Doctorate)
Participation in research networks
Network Biomedical Research Center in Infectious Diseases
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Coordinator of the "Preventive Vaccines against HIV-1" working group, HIV Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 2023 - Present
Code: CIBERINFEC, group CB21/13/00015
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Head of the bNAbs Detection and Characterization Working Group, Vaccine Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2017-12/31/2021
Code: RETICS; RD16CIII/0002/0001
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Member of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino); Head of the Vaccine Development Working Group, Immunopathogenesis Program (Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2013-12/31/2017
Code: RETICS; RD12/0017
AIDS Research Network
Participation: Members of the research team (Víctor Sánchez Merino and Eloísa Yuste Herranz)
Funding agency: ISCIII
Duration: 04/04/2008-12/31/2013
Code: RETICS; RD12/0017
Supervised doctoral theses
Development of immunogens and vaccination strategies to optimize the induction of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. Student: Carolina Beltrán Pávez. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / ISCIII / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 11/26/2018. Grade obtained: Excellent Cum Laude
Characterization of the neutralizing response of patients with recent HIV-1 infection and isolation of antibodies. Student: Amanda Fabra García. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 07/20/2017. Grade obtained: Excellent Cum Laude
Broadly neutralizing antibody responses against HIV-1: Characterization and design of new immunogens. Student: Carolina Barbosa Ferreira. Thesis co-director: Víctor Sánchez Merino; Eloísa Yuste Herranz. Implementation entity: IDIBAPS / Universitat de Barcelona. Defense date: 02/25/2013. Qualification obtained: Excellent Cum Laude (European Doctorate)