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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
Interregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes.
7. Interregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes. Autores: Moure Z, Lara N, Marín M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bautista V, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Gómez-Dominguez C, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Campos J, Cercenado E, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Linezolid-Resistant Enterococci Collaborating Group. Revista: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jun;55(6):105977.
PUBMED DOIAspergillus 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 DOIAntimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Europe in 2020 compared with in 2013 and 2018: a retrospective genomic surveillance study.
Golparian D, Cole MJ, Sánchez-Busó L, Day M, Jacobsson S, Uthayakumaran T, Abad R, Bercot B, Caugant DA, Heuer D, Jansen K, Pleininger S, Stefanelli P, Aanensen DM, Bluemel B, Unemo M; Euro-GASP study group. Lancet Microbe. 2024 May;5(5):e478-e488.
PUBMED DOIBiased binding of class IA phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase subunits to inducible costimulator (CD278)
8. Acosta Y.Y., Zafra M.P., Ojeda G., Bernardone I.S., Dianzani U., Portolés P., Rojo J.M. Biased binding of class IA phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase subunits to inducible costimulator (CD278). Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 2011 Sep;68(18):3065-79.
PUBMED DOIDynamics of a Sporadic Nosocomial Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii Complex Population
Villalón P, Ortega M, Sáez-Nieto JA, Carrasco G, Medina-Pascual MJ, Garrido N, Valdezate S. (2019). Dynamics of a Sporadic Nosocomial Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii Complex Population. 2019. Front Microbiol. 22;10:593
PUBMED DOIFasciola spp: Mapping of the MF6 epitope and antigenic analysis of the MF6p/HDM family of heme-binding proteins.
Martínez-Sernández V, Perteguer MJ, Mezo M, González-Warleta M, Gárate T, Valero MA, Ubeira FM. Fasciola spp: Mapping of the MF6 epitope and antigenic analysis of the MF6p/HDM family of heme-binding proteins. PLoS One. 2017 Nov 21;12(11):e0188520.
PUBMED DOIThe TLR4-MyD88 Signaling Regulates Lung Monocyte Differentiation Pathways in Response to Streptococcus pneumoniae
Sánchez-Tarjuelo R, Cortegano I, Manosalva J, Rodríguez M, Ruiz C, Alía M, Prado MC, Cano EM, Ferrándiz MJ, de la Campa A, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B. Front Immunol 2020 Sep 16:11:2120.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high-risk clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2.
8. Carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high-risk clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2. Autores: Pérez-Vázquez M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Zurita ÁM, Ávila A, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Solís S, López-Urrutia L, Gónzalez-Barberá EM, Cercenado E, Bautista V, Lara N, Aracil B, Oliver A, Campos J, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program collaborating Group. Revista: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jul;56(1):106026.
PUBMED DOIEvolution of broadly cross-reactive HIV-1-neutralizing activity: therapy-associated decline, positive association with detectable viremia, and partial restoration of B-cell subpopulations
Ferreira CB, Merino-Mansilla A, Llano A, Perez I, Crespo I, Llinas L, Garcia F, Gatell JM, Yuste E, Sanchez-Merino V; J Virol. 2013 Nov;87(22):12227-36
PUBMED DOICOVID-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 DOIEpidemiology and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of the main Nocardia species in Spain.
Valdezate S, Garrido N, Carrasco G, Medina-Pascual MJ, Villalón P, Navarro AM, Saéz-Nieto JA. Epidemiology and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of the main Nocardia species in Spain. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2017;72(3):754-761.
PUBMED DOIRevisiting the Ancylostoma caninum secretome provides new information on hookworm-host interactions.
Morante T, Shepherd C, Constantinoiu C, Loukas A, Sotillo J. Revisiting the Ancylostoma caninum secretome provides new information on hookworm-host interactions. Proteomics. 2017 Dec;17(23-24).
PUBMED DOINrf2 plays a protective role against intravascular hemolysis-mediated acute kidney injury.
Rubio-Navarro A, Vázquez-Carballo C, Guerrero-Hue M, García-Caballero C, Herencia C, Gutierrez E, Yuste C, Sevillano A, Praga M, Egea J, Cannata P, Cortegano I, de Andrés B, Gaspar ML, Cadenas S, Michalska P, León R, Ortiz, A, Egido J, Moreno JA. Front Pharmacol. 2019; 10: 740.
PUBMED DOIMultidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Spanish ICU patients: clinical and microbiological characterization (MURAN-UCI Project).
9. Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Spanish ICU patients: clinical and microbiological characterization (MURAN-UCI Project). Autores: Ramirez de Arellano E, López-Causapé C, Delgado-Valverde M, Arroyo Muñoz FJ, Alemparte-Pardavila E, Arca-Suárez J, Ayestarán I, Calvo Montes J, Cañada-Garcia J, Garcia-Cobos S, García-Fernández S, Gijón Cordero D, González-López JJ, Mir-Cros A, Nuvials X, Pérez-Vázquez M, Pomares-de la Peña A, Pampín-Garcia M, Riazzo C, Rodríguez-Gómez J, Rojo-Molinero E, Ruiz-Garbajosa P, Soriano C, Suberviola Cañas B, Taltavull B, Garnacho-Montero J, Oliver Palomo A, Oteo-Iglesias J; MURAN-UCI Spanish group. Revista: Microbiol Spectr. 2026 Feb 3;14(2):e0298725.
PUBMED DOIBroth microdilution protocol for determining antimicrobial susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila to clinically relevant antimicrobials
Sewell M, Farley C, Portal EAR, Lindsay D, Ricci ML, Jarraud S, Scaturro M, Descours G, Krøvel AV, Barton R, Boostom I, Ure R, Kese D, Gaia V, Golob M, Paukner S, Ginevra C, Afshar B, Nadarajah S, Wybo I, Michel C, Echahdi F, González-Rubio JM, González-Camacho F, Mentasti M, Flountzi AS, Petzold M, Moran-Gilad J, Uldum S, Winchell J, Wooton M, Bernard K, Jones LC, Chalker VJ, Spiller OB. J Microbiol Methods. 2025 Jan;228:107071.
PUBMED DOITrends in invasive bacterial diseases during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic: analyses of prospective surveillance data from 30 countries and territories in the IRIS Consortium
Shaw D, Abad R, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Bautista A, Bennett D, Broughton K, Cao B, Casanova C, Choi EH, Chu YW, Claus H, Coelho J, Corcoran M, Cottrell S, Cunney R, Cuypers L, Dalby T, Davies H, de Gouveia L, Deghmane AE, Demczuk W, Desmet S, Domenech M, Drew R, du Plessis M, Duarte C, Erlendsdóttir H, Fry NK, Fuursted K, Hale T, Henares D, Henriques-Normark B, Hilty M, Hoffmann S, Humphreys H, Ip M, Jacobsson S, Johnson C, Johnston J, Jolley KA, Kawabata A, Kozakova J, Kristinsson KG, Krizova P, Kuch A, Ladhani S, Lâm TT, León ME, Lindholm L, Litt D, Maiden MCJ, Martin I, Martiny D, Mattheus W, McCarthy ND, Meehan M, Meiring S, Mölling P, Morfeldt E, Morgan J, Mulhall R, Muñoz-Almagro C, Murdoch D, Murphy J, Musilek M, Mzabi A, Novakova L, Oftadeh S, Perez-Argüello A, Pérez-Vázquez M, Perrin M, Perry M, Prevost B, Roberts M, Rokney A, Ron M, Sanabria OM, Scott KJ, Sheppard C, Siira L, Sintchenko V, Skoczyńska A, Sloan M, Slotved HC, Smith AJ, Steens A, Taha MK, Toropainen M, Tzanakaki G, Vainio A, van der Linden MPG, van Sorge NM, Varon E, Vohrnova S, von Gottberg A, Yuste J, Zanella R, Zhou F, Brueggemann AB. Lancet Digit Health. 2023 Sep;5(9):e582-e593.
PUBMED DOIPaenibacillus spp. isolated from human and environmental samples in Spain: detection of 11 new species.
Sáez-Nieto JA, Medina-Pascual MJ, Carrasco G, Garrido N, Fernandez-Torres MA, Villalón P, Valdezate S. Paenibacillus spp. isolated from human and environmental samples in Spain: detection of 11 new species. New Microbes New Infect. 2017. 24;19:19-27.
PUBMED DOIGenomic analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causing infections in children-a Spanish multicenter study.
10. Genomic analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causing infections in children-a Spanish multicenter study. Autores: García-Cobos S, Seco Alberca N, Bravo-Queipo-de-Llano B, Casquero-García V, Ramírez de Arellano E, Calvo C, Ruíz-Carrascoso G, Falces-Romero I, Larrosa Escartín N, Viñado-Perez B, Martínez-López MÁ, Melendo Pérez S, Ruíz de Gopegui E, Pérez Vázquez S, Carrasco-Colom J, Aracil García B, Pérez-Vázquez M, Méndez-Echevarría A, Oteo Iglesias Revista: J. Front Microbiol. 2025 May 9;16:1534840.
PUBMED DOIDefinition of the viral targets of protective HIV-1-specific T cell responses
Mothe B, Llano A, Ibarrondo J, Daniels M, Miranda C, Zamarreno J, Bach V, Zuniga R, Perez-Alvarez S, Berger CT, Puertas MC, Martinez-Picado J, Rolland M, Farfan M, Szinger JJ, Hildebrand WH, Yang OO, Sanchez-Merino V, Brumme CJ, Brumme ZL, Heckerman D, Allen TM, Mullins JI, Gomez G, Goulder PJ, Walker BD, Gatell JM, Clotet B, Korber BT, Sanchez J, Brander C; J Transl Med. 2011 Dec 7;9:208
PUBMED DOIShortcomings of the commercial MALDI-TOF MS database and use of MLSA as an arbiter in the identification of Nocardia species
Carrasco G, de Dios Caballero J, Garrido N, Valdezate S, Cantón R, Sáez-Nieto JA. Shortcomings of the commercial MALDI-TOF MS database and use of MLSA as an arbiter in the identification of Nocardia species. Front Microbiol. 2016 21;7:542.
PUBMED DOIWidespread Detection of Yersiniabactin Gene Cluster and Its Encoding Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEKp) among Nonoutbreak OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from Spain and the Netherlands.
11. Widespread Detection of Yersiniabactin Gene Cluster and Its Encoding Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEKp) among Nonoutbreak OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from Spain and the Netherlands. Autores: Jati AP, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bosch T, Schouls LM, Hendrickx APA, Bautista V, Lara N, Raangs E, Aracil B, Rossen JWA, Friedrich AW, Navarro Riaza AM, Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Oteo-Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M, García-Cobos S; Dutch and Spanish Collaborative Working Groups on Surveillance on Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales; Sánchez AMF, Pulido MA, Armas M. Revista: Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Aug 17;11(4):e0471622.
PUBMED DOIBroadly cross-neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1 patients with undetectable viremia
Medina-Ramirez M, Sanchez-Merino V, Sanchez-Palomino S, Merino-Mansilla A, Ferreira CB, Perez I, Gonzalez N, Alvarez A, Alcocer-Gonzalez JM, Garcia F, Gatell JM, Alcami J, Yuste E; J Virol. 2011 Jun;85(12):5804-13.
PUBMED DOIEffectiveness of a Meningococcal Group B Vaccine (4CMenB) in Children
Castilla J, García Cenoz M, Abad R, Sánchez-Cambronero L, Lorusso N, Izquierdo C, Cañellas Llabrés S, Roig J, Malvar A, González Carril F, Boone ALD, Pérez Martín J, Rodríguez Recio MJ, Galmés A, Caballero A, García Rojas A, Juanas F, Nieto M, Viloria Raymundo LJ, Martínez Ochoa E, Rivas AI, Castrillejo D, Moreno Pérez D, Martínez A, Borràs E, Sánchez Gómez A, Pastor E, Nartallo V, Arteagoitia JM, Álvarez-Fernández B, García Pina R, Fernández Arribas S, Vanrell J, García Hernández S, Mendoza RM, Méndez M, López-Tercero MM, Fernández-Rodríguez Á, Blanco Á, Carrillo de Albornoz FJ, Ruiz Olivares J, Ruiz-Montero R, Limia A, Navarro-Alonso JA, Vázquez JA, Barricarte A. N Engl J Med. 2023 Feb 2;388(5):427-438
PUBMED DOIIncrease in isolation of Burkholderia contaminans from Spanish patients with cystic fibrosis.
Medina-Pascual MJ, Valdezate S, Carrasco G, Villalón P, Garrido N, Saéz-Nieto JA. (2015) Increase in isolation of Burkholderia contaminans from Spanish patients with cystic fibrosis. Clin Microbiol Infect. ;21(2):150-6
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)