El Instituto de Salud Carlos III utiliza cookies propias y de terceros para el correcto funcionamiento y visualización del sitio web por parte del usuario, así como la recogida de estadísticas. Si continúa navegando, consideramos que acepta su uso. Para más información visite nuestra Política de Cookies.
Ver más información

We protect your health through science

Search Bar

Usa comillas para buscar una secuencia de palabras exacta. Ej: "Proyectos Financiados"

Investigation

Medical Entomology

Research Lines

Content with Investigacion Virología Molecular .

Research

The Molecular Virology group focuses its research on the study of HIV-1 genetic variation and viral evolution using both in vitro and ex vivo approaches, structured around the following research lines:

- Non-progressor patients. These patients maintain control of the disease in the absence of antiretroviral therapy and have therefore been proposed as a model of functional cure. Our objective is to study the contribution of viral factors to disease control through biological characterization and analysis of viral evolution in individuals with undetectable viral loads (elite controllers, EC), compared with individuals showing other patterns of viral control.

- Viral envelope. This viral protein is key in determining viral fitness. Therefore, its functionality significantly affects infection progression. In collaboration with Dr. Blanco and Dr. Valenzuela, we study which specific events (CD4 binding, fusogenicity, etc.) are associated with envelope functionality. To this end, we have analyzed envelopes from individuals with different patterns of disease progression. Some of these have been contributed to the AIDS Research Network envelope biobank for broader use.

- Dual infection. Infection with more than one viral variant (either through co-infection or superinfection) may have consequences for infection pathogenesis. Within our group, different aspects of DI have been analyzed, including its detection in non-progressor patients, its prevalence and incidence in Spain, and its influence on the neutralizing antibody response.

- Molecular Epidemiology. The group has analyzed viral evolution throughout the epidemic in Spain and in other countries (the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Panama, Brazil, etc.).

- Role of amino acid residues in reverse transcriptase. We study the role of specific amino acid residues in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in enzymatic function and replication capacity using an infectious molecular clone previously obtained by the group.

- “In vitro” variability. Serial passage studies have been used to detect the mechanisms responsible for the gain or loss of viral fitness.

- Antiviral studies. We have analyzed the selection of resistance mutations in vitro against different antivirals, as well as the effect of these mutations on viral fitness, and the activity of new antivirals such as ATR inhibitors.

 

Virological Diagnosis and Reference in HIV and HTLV Infections

The research group provides diagnostic and reference activities through the service portfolio of the National Center for Microbiology to the entire Spanish National Health System.

These services include:

  • Diagnosis and reference of HIV infection (types 1 and 2) through detection of specific antibodies and detection of proviral DNA by PCR.

  • Diagnosis and reference of HTLV-I/II infection through detection of specific antibodies and detection of proviral DNA by PCR. Quantification of HTLV-1 proviral load by real-time PCR.

European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) in the field of in vitro diagnostic medical devices for microbiological diagnosis (IVD) of HIV and HTLV (Regulation 2023/2713 of December 5th, 2023). Our role is to confirm the reliability and effectiveness of devices for detecting these pathogens and to ensure their specific performance requirements through laboratory testing before they can be marketed within the European Union.

Research projects

Content with Investigacion Virología Molecular .

- Towards a functional cure: Implications of early antiretroviral therapy and hormonal changes on the HIV reservoir in perinatally infected adolescents. Health Research Fund (FIS) – Carlos III Health Institute (01/01/2026 – 31/12/2028). €72,000. PI: María Pernas, Concepción Casado.

- Determination of factors associated with protection against Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 reinfection: Identification of correlates of protection. 9th Gilead Fellowship Program for Biomedical Research, Gilead Sciences, S.L. (01/07/2023 – 30/06/2025). €16,330. PI: María Pernas.

- Impact of the envelope on HIV viral replication: New avenues for vaccine development. Health Research Fund (FIS) – Carlos III Health Institute (01/01/2020 – 31/12/2023). €53,000. PI: María Pernas, Concepción Casado.

- Study of HIV-1 virulence in recently infected patients and its contribution, together with clinical and epidemiological factors, to disease progression. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. State Program for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (30/12/2016 – 30/06/2021). €145,000. PI: Concepción Casado, Cecilio López-Galíndez.

-Contribution of HIV-1 dual infection to virological and clinical evolution in homo/bisexual men. Health Research Fund (FIS) – Carlos III Health Institute (01/01/2014 – 31/01/2016). €74,410. PI: Cecilio López-Galíndez.

- Characterization of non-pathogenic HIV variants obtained “ex vivo” and “in vitro” for the study of disease pathogenesis. Ministry of Science and Innovation (01/01/2011 – 31/01/2014). €169,400. PI: Cecilio López-Galíndez.

- Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS-RETIC). Carlos III Health Institute (02/01/2017 – 02/01/2022). €195,212. PI: Cecilio López-Galíndez, Concepción Casado.

RIS.jpg

Search Bar

Publications

Sort
Category

Systematic analysis of intracellular trafficking motifs located within the cytoplasmic domain of simian immunodeficiency virus glycoprotein gp41

Postler TS, Bixby JG, Desrosiers RC, Yuste E; PLoS One. 2014 Dec 5;9(12):e114753

PUBMED DOI

Evolution 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 DOI

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and related primate lentiviruses engage clathrin through Gag-Pol or Gag

Popov S, Strack B, Sanchez-Merino V, Popova E, Rosin H, Gottlinger HG; J Virol. 2011 Apr;85(8):3792-801

PUBMED DOI

Definition 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 DOI

Broadly 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 DOI

Vector-mediated gene transfer engenders long-lived neutralizing activity and protection against SIV infection in monkeys

Johnson PR, Schnepp BC, Zhang J, Connell MJ, Greene SM, Yuste E, Desrosiers RC, Clark KR; Nat Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):901-6

PUBMED DOI

Identification and characterization of HIV-1 CD8+ T cell escape variants with impaired fitness

Sanchez-Merino V, Farrow MA, Brewster F, Somasundaran M, Luzuriaga K; J Infect Dis. 2008 Jan 15;197(2):300-8

PUBMED DOI

Glycosylation of gp41 of simian immunodeficiency virus shields epitopes that can be targets for neutralizing antibodies

Yuste E, Bixby J, Lifson J, Sato S, Johnson W, Desrosiers R*. 2008. J Virol 82:12472-86.

PUBMED DOI

Simian immunodeficiency virus engrafted with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific epitopes: replication, neutralization, and survey of HIV-1-positive plasma

Yuste E, Sanford HB, Carmody J, Bixby J, Little S, Zwick MB, Greenough T, Burton DR, Richman DD, Desrosiers RC, Johnson WE*. 2006. J Virol 80:3030-41.

PUBMED DOI

Balancing selection and the evolution of functional polymorphism in Old World monkey TRIM5alpha

Newman RM, Hall L, Connole M, Chen GL, Sato S, Yuste E, Diehl W, Hunter E, Kaur A, Miller GM, Johnson WE; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 12;103(50):19134-9

PUBMED DOI

Virion envelope content, infectivity, and neutralization sensitivity of simian immunodeficiency virus

Yuste E, Johnson W, Pavlakis GN, Desrosiers RC; J Virol. 2005 Oct;79(19):12455-63.

PUBMED DOI

HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses and viral evolution in women and infants

Sanchez-Merino V, Nie S, Luzuriaga K*. 2005. J Immunol 175:6976-86.

PUBMED DOI

Modulation of Env content in virions of simian immunodeficiency virus: correlation with cell surface expression and virion infectivity

Yuste E, Reeves JD, Doms RW, Desrosiers RC*. 2004. J Virol 78:6775-85.

PUBMED DOI

The Association of HIV-1 Neutralization in Aviremic Children and Adults with Time to ART Initiation and CD4+/CD8+ Ratios

Sanchez-Merino V, Martin-Serrano M, Beltran M, Lazaro-Martin B, Cervantes E, Oltra M, Sainz T, Garcia F, Navarro ML, Yuste E; Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Dec 20;12(1):8;

PUBMED DOI

High-Resolution Melting Assay to Detect the Mutations That Cause the Y132F and G458S Substitutions at the ERG11 Gene Involved in Azole Resistance in Candida parapsilosis

Nuria Trevijano-Contador, Elena López-Peralta, Jorge López-López, Alejandra Roldán, Cristina de Armentia, Óscar Zaragoza. Mycoses 2024 Nov;67(11):e13811

PUBMED DOI

Broad Protection against Invasive Fungal Disease from a Nanobody Targeting the Active Site of Fungal β-1,3-Glucanosyltransferases

Redrado-Hernández S, Macías-León J, Castro-López J, Belén Sanz A, Dolader E, Arias M, González-Ramírez AM, Sánchez-Navarro D, Petryk Y, Farkaš V, Vincke C, Muyldermans S, García-Barbazán I, Del Agua C, Zaragoza O, Arroyo J, Pardo J, Gálvez EM, Hurtado-Guerrero R. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2024 Aug 19;63(34):e202405823.

PUBMED DOI

Toward the consensus of definitions for the phenomena of antifungal tolerance and persistence in filamentous fungi.

Amich J, Bromley M, Goldman GH, Valero C. mBio. 2025 Feb 25:e0347524

PUBMED DOI

Fungal burden assessment in hospital zones with different protection degrees

García-Gutiérrez L, Baena Rojas B, Ruiz M, Hernández Egido S, Ruiz-Gaitán AC, Laiz L, Pemán J, Cuétara-García MS, Mellado E & Martin-Sanchez PM. Build Environ, Volume 269, 1 February 2025, 112454

DOI

Distribution 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 DOI

Importance of the Aspergillus fumigatus mismatch repair protein Msh6 in antifungal resistance development

Lucio J, Gonzalez-Jimenez I, Roldan A, Amich J, Alcazar-Fuoli L and Mellado E. J Fungi (Basel). 2024 Mar 12;10(3):210

PUBMED DOI

Content with Investigacion Legionella .

List of staff

Additional Information

The Medical Entomology Laboratory has accumulated extensive experience in this field, especially in entomological field studies, biology of arthropods of medical interest, vector competence and vector control. Also, in the molecular detection of Leishmania infantum promastigotes in naturally parasitized phlebotomine sand flies, in the molecular identification of blood ingested by hematophagous arthropods and in the study of the immunomodulatory properties of proteins present in the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes. Our laboratory is currently co-leading the studies of vectors and wild reservoirs of leishmaniasis in the leishmaniasis focus of Fuenlabrada, Madrid. In this sense, we have studied the role of asymptomatic individuals as reservoirs in the outbreak by xenodiagnosis. On the other hand, we have participated since 2007 in the Entomological Surveillance Program in Airports and Ports against Potential Vectors of Exotic Infectious Diseases, a program that is allowing to develop the expansion map in Spain of Aedes albopictus. In 2016-2017, we carried out surveillance of Ae. albopictus in the Community of Castilla-La Mancha. On the other hand, we conducted studies on the role of patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the transmission of the parasite in Bangladesh and Sudan. In addition, we participate in research studying ticks transmitting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Spain.

Currently, it maintains confidentiality agreements with several companies participating in the evaluation of molecules with activity against pathogens in vectors (GSK), in the development of vector traps using artificial intelligence algorithms (Irideon, Spain), and in the evaluation of repellents against phlebotomine sand flies (IRSEA, France).

The laboratory actively participates in outreach activities such as the Science Week or the European Researchers' Night, among others, making medical entomology science available to the general population.

The Medical Entomology Laboratory has accumulated extensive experience in this field, especially in entomological field studies, biology of arthropods of medical interest, vector competence and vector control. Also, in the molecular detection of Leishmania infantum promastigotes in naturally parasitized phlebotomine sand flies, in the molecular identification of blood ingested by hematophagous arthropods and in the study of the immunomodulatory properties of proteins present in the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes. Our laboratory is currently co-leading the studies of vectors and wild reservoirs of leishmaniasis in the leishmaniasis focus of Fuenlabrada, Madrid. In this sense, we have studied the role of asymptomatic individuals as reservoirs in the outbreak by xenodiagnosis. On the other hand, we have participated since 2007 in the Entomological Surveillance Program in Airports and Ports against Potential Vectors of Exotic Infectious Diseases, a program that is allowing to develop the expansion map in Spain of Aedes albopictus. In 2016-2017, we carried out surveillance of Ae. albopictus in the Community of Castilla-La Mancha. On the other hand, we conducted studies on the role of patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the transmission of the parasite in Bangladesh and Sudan. In addition, we participate in research studying ticks transmitting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Spain.

Currently, it maintains confidentiality agreements with several companies participating in the evaluation of molecules with activity against pathogens in vectors (GSK), in the development of vector traps using artificial intelligence algorithms (Irideon, Spain), and in the evaluation of repellents against phlebotomine sand flies (IRSEA, France).

The laboratory actively participates in outreach activities such as the Science Week or the European Researchers' Night, among others, making medical entomology science available to the general population.

Content with Investigacion Legionella .