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Investigation
Hepatitis C and other RNA virus
Publications
Mycobacterium mageritense meningitis in an immunocompetent patient with an intrathecal catheter.
9. Muñoz-Sanz A, Rodríguez Vidigal FF, Vera-Tome A, Jimenez MS. Mycobacterium mageritense meningitis in an immunocompetent patient with an intrathecal catheter. Enfer Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2013; 31:59-6
PUBMED DOIMeasles virus genotype D4 strains with non-standard length M-F non-coding region circulated during the major outbreaks of 2011-2012 in Spain.
2. Gil H, Fernández-García A*, Mosquera MM, Hübschen JM, Castellanos AM, de Ory F, Masa-Calles J, Echevarría JE.Measles virus genotype D4 strains with non-standard length M-F non-coding region circulated during the major outbreaks of 2011-2012 in Spain. PLoS One. 2018 Jul. 16;13(7):e0199975. * Corresponding author.
PUBMED DOIIsolation, antigenicity and immunogenicity of Lleida Bat Lyssavirus
3. Banyard AC, Selden D, Wu G; Thorne L, Jennings D, Marston D, Finke S, Freuling CM, Mueller T, Echevarria JE, Fooks AR. Isolation, antigenicity and immunogenicity of Lleida Bat Lyssavirus. Journal of General Virology, 2018. 99(12):1590-1599
PUBMED DOIShift within age-groups of mumps incidence, hospitalizations and severe complications in a highly vaccinated population
6. López-Perea N, Masa-Callesa J, Torres de Miera MV, Fernández-García A, Echevarría JE, de Ory F, Martínez de Aragón MV. Shift within age-groups of mumps incidence, hospitalizations and severe complications in a highly vaccinated population. Spain, 1998–2014. Vaccine, 2017, 35(34): 4339-4345.
PUBMED DOIThe Complexity of Antibody Responses Elicited against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Glycoproteins in Hospitalized Children Younger than 2 Years
2. Trento A, Rodriguez-Fernandez R, Gonzalez-Sanchez MI, Gonzalez-Martinez F, Mas V, Vazquez M, et al. The Complexity of Antibody Responses Elicited against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Glycoproteins in Hospitalized Children Younger than 2 Years. Front Microbiol. 2017;8:2301.
PUBMED DOIPotent single-domain antibodies that arrest respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein in its prefusion state.
3. Rossey I, Gilman MS, Kabeche SC, Sedeyn K, Wrapp D, Kanekiyo M, et al. Potent single-domain antibodies that arrest respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein in its prefusion state. Nat Commun. 2017;8:14158.
PUBMED DOIRapid profiling of RSV antibody repertoires from the memory B cells of naturally infected adult donors
6. Gilman MS, Castellanos CA, Chen M, Ngwuta JO, Goodwin E, Moin SM, et al. Rapid profiling of RSV antibody repertoires from the memory B cells of naturally infected adult donors. Sci Immunol. 2016;1(6).
PUBMED DOICharacterization of a Prefusion-Specific Antibody That Recognizes a Quaternary, Cleavage-Dependent Epitope on the RSV Fusion Glycoprotein.
8. Gilman MS, Moin SM, Mas V, Chen M, Patel NK, Kramer K, et al. Characterization of a Prefusion-Specific Antibody That Recognizes a Quaternary, Cleavage-Dependent Epitope on the RSV Fusion Glycoprotein. PLoS Pathog. 2015;11(7):e1005035.
PUBMED DOIPolyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the six-helix bundle of the human respiratory syncytial virus fusion glycoprotein as probes of the protein post-fusion conformation.
9. Palomo C, Mas V, Vazquez M, Cano O, Luque D, Terron MC, et al. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the six-helix bundle of the human respiratory syncytial virus fusion glycoprotein as probes of the protein post-fusion conformation. Virology. 2014;460-461:119-27.
PUBMED DOIBiophysical properties of single rotavirus particles account for the functions of protein shells in a multilayered virus
Jiménez-Zaragoza M., Yubero M.L., Martín-Forero E., Castón J.R., Reguera D., Luque D.*, de Pablo P.J., Rodríguez J.M. 2018. Biophysical properties of single rotavirus particles account for the functions of protein shells in a multilayered virus. eLife 7: e37295. *Corresponding author.
PUBMED DOIAcquisition of functions on the outer capsid surface during evolution of double-stranded RNA fungal viruses
Mata C.P., Luque D., Gómez-Blanco J., Rodríguez J.M., González J.M., Suzuki N., Ghabrial S.A., Carrascosa J.L., Trus B.L., Castón J.R. 2017. Acquisition of functions on the outer capsid surface during evolution of double-stranded RNA fungal viruses. PLoS Pathog. 13(12):e1006755.
PUBMED DOIStructural Insights into the Assembly and Regulation of Distinct Viral Capsid Complexes
Sarker S., C. Terrón M., Khandokar Y., Aragão D., Hardy J.M., Radjainia M., Jiménez-Zaragoza M., de Pablo P.J., Coulibaly F., Luque D., Raidal D.R., Forwood J.K. 2016. Structural Insights into the Assembly and Regulation of Distinct Viral Capsid Complexes. Nat. Commun. 7:13014. IF: 12.124; D1.
PUBMED DOIHeterodimers as the structural unit of the T=1 capsid of the fungal dsRNA Rosellinia necatrix quadrivirus 1
Luque D., Mata C.P., González-Camacho F., González J.M., Gómez-Blanco J., Alfonso C., Rivas G., Havens W.M., Kanematsu S., Suzuki N., Ghabrial S.A., Trus B.L., Castón J.R. 2016. Heterodimers as the structural unit of the T=1 capsid of the fungal dsRNA Rosellinia necatrix quadrivirus 1. J Virol. 90(24):11220-11230. IF: 4.666, Q1.
PUBMED DOISelf-assembly and characterization of small and monodisperse dye nanospheres in a protein cage
Luque D., de la Escosura A., Snijder J., Brasch M., Burnley R.J, Koay M.S.T., Carrascosa J.L., Wuite G.J.L., Roos W.H., Heck A.J.R., J.J.L.M Cornelissen, Torres T., Castón J.R. 2014. Self-assembly and characterization of small and monodisperse dye nanospheres in a protein cage. Chem. Sci.,5, 575-581. IF: 9.211, D1.
DOICryo-EM near-atomic structure of a dsRNA fungal virus shows ancient structural motifs preserved in the dsRNA viral lineage.
Luque D., Gómez-Blanco J., Garriga D., Brilot A.F., González J.M., Havens W.M., Carrascosa J.L., Trus B.L., Verdaguer N., Ghabrial S.A., Castón J.R. 2014. Cryo-EM near-atomic structure of a dsRNA fungal virus shows ancient structural motifs preserved in the dsRNA viral lineage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111(21):7641-7646. IF: 9.674, D1
PUBMED DOINew insights into rotavirus entry machinery: stabilization of rotavirus spike conformation is independent of trypsin cleavage
Rodríguez J.M., Chichón F.J., Martín-Forero E., González-Camacho F., Carrascosa J.L., Castón J.R., Luque D*. 2014. New insights into rotavirus entry machinery: stabilization of rotavirus spike conformation is independent of trypsin cleavage. PLoS Pathog. 10(5):e1004157. IF: 7.562, D1. * Corresponding autor.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Leticia Bernal Martínez
Staff Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-1694-5522
Dr. Bernal-Martínez obtained her degree in Biochemistry from the University of Zaragoza in 2005. She joined the Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory (LRIM) in 2006 under a trainee contract and completed her PhD within the Official Doctoral Program in Microbiology and Parasitology at the Complutense University of Madrid, defending her thesis in 2010 with highest honors (Cum Laude). In 2007, she continued her research activity at LRIM within the framework of the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI). In 2016, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Promotion and Management of International Projects (Technical University of Madrid) and undertook a research stay at the Microbiology and Infection Research Domain, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho (Braga, Portugal). She was subsequently appointed as a PhD researcher within the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC). Since 2024, she serves as Specialist Scientist at the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and is responsible for the Diagnostic and Serology Section for Endemic Fungi at the Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory.
Dr. Bernal-Martínez has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and two book chapters. She has actively participated in over 12 research projects and has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific conferences. Her research has focused on human fungal infections, antifungal resistance, therapeutic drug monitoring, genetic variants associated with antifungal metabolism, and the identification of predictive biomarkers of invasive fungal infections. However, her primary expertise lies in the diagnostic field, particularly in the design, optimization, and validation of real-time PCR–based methodologies.
She is currently Principal Investigator of a research project aimed at improving current diagnostic techniques for invasive fungal infections, evaluating emerging diagnostic technologies, and studying primary fungal pathogens. A substantial part of her work has been transferred to the Spanish National Health System and to research centers in Latin America. Many of the diagnostic methodologies developed have been incorporated into the official service portfolio of ISCIII. She has collaborated with multiple hospitals through research projects and clinical trials applying these technologies, as well as with the ISCIII spin-off company Micomol S.L.
Dr. Bernal-Martínez has supervised several Master’s and Undergraduate Final Degree Projects from students at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Alcalá. She is a member of the teaching staff of the UNED-ISCIII PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health and serves as lecturer in the Master’s Program in Public Health and Research in Infectious Diseases at the University of Alcalá. -
Laura Alcázar Fuoli
Research Scientist
Graduated in Biochemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid and PhD in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2006. She completed her doctoral thesis at the National Center of Microbiology (CNM) under the direction of Dr. Emilia Mellado, in the study of the synthesis of Ergosterol in Aspergillus fumigatus. In 2012 Laura joined the reference laboratory in mycology with a researcher contract for the “Miguel Servet” program after having worked for three years as an associate researcher at Imperial College London. During that period his research focused on host adaptation mechanisms and virulence factors of A. fumigatus. In 2014 he obtained the position of Senior Scientist of Public Research Organizations carrying out his research work at the CNM.
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