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Legionella
Desde su creación hasta la actualidad, La Unidad de Legionella tiene como principal función dar apoyo científico-técnico a la Administración General del Estado, a las Comunidades Autónomas y al Sistema Nacional de Salud en el campo de la prevención y control de la legionelosis, así como llevar a cabo investigaciones científicas en el contexto de la legionelosis. Además, la Unidad de Legionella también actúa como Laboratorio de Referencia de España frente al European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), siendo miembro de la red europea de vigilancia de la legionelosis, “European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet). Finalmente, la unidad también realiza una actividad docente, participando en cursos de formación especializada, así como en Máster Universitarios.
Principales líneas de investigación
Vigilancia microbiológica
Búsqueda de marcadores moleculares con capacidad de predecir el riesgo de una instalación de provocar legionelosis. Factores de virulencia de Legionella spp.
Estudio de la capacidad formadora de biofilms de Legionella spp. Colonización y dispersión.
Búsqueda de marcadores fenotípicos capaces de discriminar especies del Género Legionella; grupos y subgrupos de Legionella pneumophila.
Diferentes estructuras de biofilms en función de la cepa formadora de Legionella pneumophila. En verde la biomasa bacteriana, en rojo el exopolisacárido de la matriz extracelular.
Apoyo al Sistema Nacional de Salud de la Unidad de Legionella
La Unidad de Legionella tambien desarrolla actividades con el fin de proporcionar asistencia al sistema nacional de salud a traves de la oferta disponible en la cartera de servicios del CNM, así como a través de programas de vigilancia microbiológica.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
1: Título del proyecto: Búsqueda de biomarcadores de patogenicidad en Legionella spp con interés predictivo de riesgo de infección.
Investigador principal: Fernando González Camacho
Entidad financiadora: ISCIII (AESI). Referencia: MPY 341/22
Periodo: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
Publications
Suppression of CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in vitro and experimental encephalomyelitis in vivo by the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase inhibitor PIK-75.
3. Acosta YY, Montes-Casado M, Aragoneses-Fenoll L, Dianzani U, Portoles P, Rojo JM. Suppression of CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in vitro and experimental encephalomyelitis in vivo by the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase inhibitor PIK-75. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 2014 Jan-Mar;27(1):53-67.
PUBMED DOIHorizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance.
Horizontal gene transmission of the cfr gene to MRSA and Enterococcus: role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a reservoir and alternative pathway for the spread of linezolid resistance. Cafini F, Nguyen le TT, Higashide M, Román F, Prieto J, Morikawa K. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016 Mar;71(3):587-92.
PUBMEDFocusing on Gordonia Infections: Distribution, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Phylogeny
Pino-Rosa S, Medina-Pascual MJ, Carrasco G, Garrido N, Villalón P, Valiente M, Valdezate S. (2023). Focusing on Gordonia Infections: Distribution, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Phylogeny. Antibiotics (Basel). 26;12(11):1568
PUBMED DOIAntibody responses to chimeric peptides derived from parasite antigens in mice and other animal species.
Orbegozo-Medina RA, Martínez-Sernández V, Folgueira I, Mezo M, González-Warleta M, Perteguer MJ, Romarís F, Leiro JM, Ubeira FM. Antibody responses to chimeric peptides derived from parasite antigens in mice and other animal species. Mol Immunol. 2018 Dec 17;106:1-11.
PUBMED DOIRole of Toll-like receptor 4 in intravascular hemolisis-mediated injury
Vázquez-Carballo C, Herencia C, Guerrero-Hue M, García-Caballero C, Rayego-Mateos S, Morgado-Pascual JL, Opazo-Rios L, González-Guerrero C, Vallejo-Mudarra M, Cortegano I, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B, Egido J, Moreno JA. J Pathol. 2022 Nov; 258(3): 236–249.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types.
3. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients: Identification of IncL-VIM-1 Plasmid in Previously Non-Predominant Sequence Types. Autores: Cañada-García JE, Ramírez de Arellano E, Jiménez-Orellana M, Viedma E, Sánchez A, Alhambra A, Villa J, Delgado-Iribarren A, Bautista V, Lara N, García-Cobos S, Aracil B, Cercenado E, Pérez-Vázquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 6;12(1):107.
DOIDistribution 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 DOIExploring the sequence diversity and surface expression of Factor H-Binding Protein among invasive serogroup B meningococcal strains from selected European countries
Clark SA, Willerton L, Claus H, Carannante A, Stefanelli P, Abad R, Vázquez JA, Borrow R. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2427471
PUBMED DOIEffects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response
4. Cicuendez M., Portolés P., Montes-Casado M., Izquierdo-Barba I., Vallet-Regı M., and Portolés M.T. Effects of 3D nanocomposite bioceramic scaffolds on the immune response. J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2 (22), 3469-3479.
DOIBotulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019
Peñuelas M, Guerrero-Vadillo M, Valdezate S, Zamora MJ, Leon-Gomez I, Flores-Cuéllar Á, Carrasco G, Díaz-García O, Varela C. (2022). Botulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997-2019. Toxins (Basel). 20;15(1):2
PUBMED DOIComparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
Hernández-González A, Noh J, Perteguer MJ, Gárate T, Handali S. Comparison of T24H-his, GST-T24H and GST-Ts8B2 recombinant antigens in western blot, ELISA and multiplex bead-based assay for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Parasit Vectors. 2017 May 15;10(1):237.
PUBMED DOIAge-dependent nasal immune responses in non-hospitalized bronchiolitis children
Cortegano I, Rodríguez M, Hernángómez S, Arrabal A, Garcia-Vao C, Rodríguez J, Sandra Fernández S, Díaz J, de la Rosa B, Solís B, Arribas C, Garrido F, Zaballos A, Roa S, López V, Gaspar ML, de Andrés B. Front Immunol 2022 Dec 6:13:1011607.
PUBMED DOIAn increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020).
4. An increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004-2020). Autores: El Mammery A, Ramírez de Arellano E, Cañada-García JE, Cercenado E, Villar-Gómara L, Casquero-García V, García-Cobos S, Lepe JA, Ruiz de Gopegui Bordes E, Calvo-Montes J, Larrosa Escartín N, Cantón R, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Oteo-Iglesias J. Revista: Front Microbiol. 2023 Sep 26;14:1220286.
PUBMED DOIPermanent control of HIV-1 pathogenesis in exceptional elite controllers: a model of spontaneous cure
Casado C, Galvez C, Pernas M, Tarancon-Diez L, Rodriguez C, Sanchez-Merino V, Vera M, Olivares I, De Pablo-Bernal R, Merino-Mansilla A, Del Romero J, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Ruiz-Mateos E, Salgado M, Martinez-Picado J, Lopez-Galindez C; Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 5;10(1):1902
PUBMED DOIResultado falso negativo en diversas PCR multiplex y monoplex en un episodio de bacteriemia por Neisseria meningitidis. Implicaciones diagnósticas, terapéuticas y epidemiológicas [False negative result in both multiplex and monoplex PCR in a case of Neisseria meningitidis bacteremia. Diagnostic, therapeutic and epidemiological implications]
Monforte ML, Cebollada R, Escobar MJ, Abad R, Aspiroz C. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2024 Oct;37(5):427-428
PUBMED DOICharacteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo.
5. Rojo, J. M., G. Ojeda, Y. Y. Acosta, M. Montes-Casado, G. Criado, and P. Portoles. Characteristics of TCR/CD3 complex CD3 chains of regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) lymphocytes: Role in Treg differentiation in vitro and impact on Treg in vivo. J. Leukoc. Biol. 2014, 95 (3): 441-450.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Almudena Cascajero Díaz
Técnico de laboratorio
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9654-3100
Técnico Superior de Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales (Unidades de Inmunopatología del SIDA y Legionella, Centro Nacional de Microbiología). Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Technician by IES Renacimiento de Madrid.
Experience in cloning techniques and characterization of neutralizing antibodies and participation in different projects on the pathogenesis of HIV by studying the viral envelope and the mechanisms of resistance to antiretroviral drugs. This experience has subsequently allowed me to participate in 5 multicenter clinical studies studying the immune response against different variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Since 2021, I also participate as a laboratory technician in the Legionella Unit as a support to the Spanish National Health System through the microbiological surveillance of the disease to contribute to the prevention and control of legionellosis.
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Laura del Estal Gómez
Ayudante de investigación
ORCID code: 0009-0000-2773-8986
Graduada en Biología Sanitaria por la Universidad de Alcalá. Máster Universitario en Microbiología Aplicada a la Salud Pública e Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas.
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Caroline Stephanie Crisóstomo Vergara
Técnico de Laboratorio
ORCID code: 0009-0008-0525-1737
Técnico de Laboratorio. Técnico superior de Laboratorio Clínico y Biomédico por la Escuela Técnica de Enseñanzas Especializadas de Madrid. Máster en Microbiología Clínica por el Instituto Europeo de Química, Física y Biología de Madrid.
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Fernando González Camacho
Científico Titular
ORCID code: 0000-0003-3175-9004
Licenciado en Ciencias Biológicas por la Universidad de Salamanca y Doctor por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Actualmente, es Científico Titular de plantilla en el Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). Responsable de la Unidad de Legionella del Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Enfermedades Bacterianas transmitidas por agua y alimentos.
A nivel europeo es sustituto (Alternate) al National Focal Point para la enfermedad del legionario en el ECDC y es OCP (Operational Contact Point) en microbiología para la legionelosis en la European Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet).
Coordina las líneas de investigación del laboratorio que se desarrollan en tres perspectivas diferentes: en las instalaciones colonizadas, estudios sobre la resistencia a los tratamientos y su persistencia; en la clínica, sobre factores de virulencia y su interacción con el sistema inmune; y en la vigilancia microbiológica, sobre la mejorar de los métodos de caracterización del microorganismo.
Es Investigador Principal en el proyecto “Búsqueda de biomarcadores de patogenicidad en Legionella spp con interés predictivo de riesgo de infección".
Es miembro de distintas sociedades científicas como son la Sociedad Española de Salud Ambiental (SESA), Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC) y la European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
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Juana María González Rubio
Científica Titular
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6979-2964
La Dra. Juana María González Rubio es Licenciada en Bioquímica por la Universidad de Salamanca y Doctora por la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Actualmente, es Científico Titular de plantilla en el Centro Nacional de Microbiología del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), donde trabaja en la Unidad de Legionella del Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Enfermedades Bacterianas transmitidas por agua y alimentos.
Dentro del laboratorio, realiza las actividades propias del Programa de Vigilancia Microbiológica de Legionella, y lleva las líneas de investigación del laboratorio sobre la caracterización de biofilms y la puesta a punto de nuevas técnicas para la caracterización de Legionella. También forma parte del equipo investigador del proyecto “Búsqueda de marcadores de patogenicidad para el análisis de riesgos en las instalaciones".
Anteriormente, ha trabajado en la Unidad de Biomonitorización humana del Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (ISCIII) participando en diferentes proyectos de investigación relacionados con la Sanidad Ambiental, siendo el último más destacado el proyecto “HBM4EU" en el que ha trabajado hasta junio de 2023.
List of staff
Additional Information
Contact Information
María Teresa Coiras
918223782
mcoiras@isciii.es
generic email: pirv.isciii@gmail.com
Scientific Societies
• Spanis Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC).
• AIDS Study Group (GeSIDA) of SEIMC.
• PIRV is member of the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC, group CB21/13/00015).
Other links
You can follow the activity of our group in Twitter (X), Instagram and Linkedin.
Collaboration in other projects
Project Title: Rectal microbiota as a factor associated with vulnerability to repeated sexually transmitted infections. Microsex Studio
Principal investigators: Vicente Estrada Pérez (San Carlos Clinical Hospital)
Financing agency: Strategic Action in Health (AES) 2023
Participating entities: San Carlos Clinical Hospital, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024-12/31/2026. Contract/project file: PI23/01545
Project title: Prospective, observational, longitudinal, multicenter study to evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and immunogenicity developed in individuals with Philadelphia-negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms treated with JAK inhibitors after receiving full vaccination with Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit vaccine (Shingrix)
Principal investigators: Valentín García Gutiérrez (Hospital Univ Ramón y Cajal)
Funding agency: GSK Glaxo Smithkline
Participating entities: IRYCIS, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024
Project title: Infection in Solid Organ Transplant recipients: correlation with immune function. Identification of predictive biomarkers and feasibility evaluation with CD45RAneg cell therapy
Principal investigators: Alejandro Luna de Abia, Jesús Fortún (Univ Ramón y Cajal Hospital)
Financing agency: Strategic Health Action (AES) 2023
Participating entities: IRYCIS, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024-12/31/2026
Contract/project file: PI23/01924
Project title: Evaluation of the levels of the System associated with BLyS in patients with post-infectious syndromes and dysautonomic alterations of the heart rhythm
Principal researcher: Pablo Guisado
Funding agency: Spanish Society of Internal Medicine SEMI.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Quironsalud Research Institute for Research and Innovation
Duration 2023-2025
Project title: HIV Open Science (dissemination project)
Principal researcher: Eva Poveda
Financing agency: Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), Call for aid for the Promotion of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Culture.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Fundación Biomédica Galicia Sur, IrsiCaixa, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Hospital de la Princesa, Fundación Imagina Más, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio)
Duration 2023-2024
Contract/project file: 17715
Project title: Identification of immunological biomarkers associated with the cellular and humoral immune response related to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with HIV (Annual renewal).
Principal investigator: Rafael Rodríguez Rosado
Funding agency: Alfonso X El Sabio University-Santander Universities. XIII Call for Research Projects.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Severo Ochoa University Hospital
Duration 04/01/2023 – 04/01/2024
Contract/project file: 1,013,006
Project title: Clinical and microbiological impact of the monkeypox virus outbreak in patients in Spain (2022): multicenter project MONKPOX-ESP22, Work package 4, virological research.
Principal researcher: Anabel Negredo (WP4 coordinator); Maria Paz Sánchez Seco (general coordinator)
Financing agency: CIBERINFEC/CIBERESP ISCIII Strategic Action.
Participating entities: ISCIII
Duration July 2022 - May 2023
Contract/project file: MONKPOX-ESP22
Project title: Biomarkers and underlying immunopathological mechanisms of post COVID-19 condition.
Principal investigator: Gemma Moncunill Piñas (IP); Marta Massanella (coIP); María Teresa Coiras López (co-PI)
Financing agency: CIBERINFEC Strategic Action.
Participating entities: ISCIII, IS-Global, IrsiCaixa
Duration 07/28/2022-07/29/2024
Contract/project file: IM22/INF/5
Project title: Identification of immunological biomarkers associated with the cellular and humoral immune response related to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with HIV.
Principal investigator: Rafael Rodríguez Rosado
Funding agency: Alfonso X El Sabio University-Santander Universities. XIII Call for Research Projects.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Severo Ochoa University Hospital
Duration 04/01/2022 – 04/01/2023
Contract/project file: 1,013,006
Project title: Characterization of the immune response developed after vaccination with COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies.
Principal researcher: Valentín García Gutiérrez
Funding agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation, PI21 - Health research projects (AES 2021). Health research project modality.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital
Duration 01/01/2022 – 12/31/2024
Contract/project file: PI21_00877
Contact Information
María Teresa Coiras
918223782
mcoiras@isciii.es
generic email: pirv.isciii@gmail.com
Scientific Societies
• Spanis Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC).
• AIDS Study Group (GeSIDA) of SEIMC.
• PIRV is member of the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC, group CB21/13/00015).
Other links
You can follow the activity of our group in Twitter (X), Instagram and Linkedin.
Collaboration in other projects
Project Title: Rectal microbiota as a factor associated with vulnerability to repeated sexually transmitted infections. Microsex Studio
Principal investigators: Vicente Estrada Pérez (San Carlos Clinical Hospital)
Financing agency: Strategic Action in Health (AES) 2023
Participating entities: San Carlos Clinical Hospital, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024-12/31/2026. Contract/project file: PI23/01545
Project title: Prospective, observational, longitudinal, multicenter study to evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and immunogenicity developed in individuals with Philadelphia-negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms treated with JAK inhibitors after receiving full vaccination with Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit vaccine (Shingrix)
Principal investigators: Valentín García Gutiérrez (Hospital Univ Ramón y Cajal)
Funding agency: GSK Glaxo Smithkline
Participating entities: IRYCIS, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024
Project title: Infection in Solid Organ Transplant recipients: correlation with immune function. Identification of predictive biomarkers and feasibility evaluation with CD45RAneg cell therapy
Principal investigators: Alejandro Luna de Abia, Jesús Fortún (Univ Ramón y Cajal Hospital)
Financing agency: Strategic Health Action (AES) 2023
Participating entities: IRYCIS, ISCIII
Duration: 01/01/2024-12/31/2026
Contract/project file: PI23/01924
Project title: Evaluation of the levels of the System associated with BLyS in patients with post-infectious syndromes and dysautonomic alterations of the heart rhythm
Principal researcher: Pablo Guisado
Funding agency: Spanish Society of Internal Medicine SEMI.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Quironsalud Research Institute for Research and Innovation
Duration 2023-2025
Project title: HIV Open Science (dissemination project)
Principal researcher: Eva Poveda
Financing agency: Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), Call for aid for the Promotion of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Culture.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Fundación Biomédica Galicia Sur, IrsiCaixa, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Hospital de la Princesa, Fundación Imagina Más, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio)
Duration 2023-2024
Contract/project file: 17715
Project title: Identification of immunological biomarkers associated with the cellular and humoral immune response related to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with HIV (Annual renewal).
Principal investigator: Rafael Rodríguez Rosado
Funding agency: Alfonso X El Sabio University-Santander Universities. XIII Call for Research Projects.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Severo Ochoa University Hospital
Duration 04/01/2023 – 04/01/2024
Contract/project file: 1,013,006
Project title: Clinical and microbiological impact of the monkeypox virus outbreak in patients in Spain (2022): multicenter project MONKPOX-ESP22, Work package 4, virological research.
Principal researcher: Anabel Negredo (WP4 coordinator); Maria Paz Sánchez Seco (general coordinator)
Financing agency: CIBERINFEC/CIBERESP ISCIII Strategic Action.
Participating entities: ISCIII
Duration July 2022 - May 2023
Contract/project file: MONKPOX-ESP22
Project title: Biomarkers and underlying immunopathological mechanisms of post COVID-19 condition.
Principal investigator: Gemma Moncunill Piñas (IP); Marta Massanella (coIP); María Teresa Coiras López (co-PI)
Financing agency: CIBERINFEC Strategic Action.
Participating entities: ISCIII, IS-Global, IrsiCaixa
Duration 07/28/2022-07/29/2024
Contract/project file: IM22/INF/5
Project title: Identification of immunological biomarkers associated with the cellular and humoral immune response related to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with HIV.
Principal investigator: Rafael Rodríguez Rosado
Funding agency: Alfonso X El Sabio University-Santander Universities. XIII Call for Research Projects.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Severo Ochoa University Hospital
Duration 04/01/2022 – 04/01/2023
Contract/project file: 1,013,006
Project title: Characterization of the immune response developed after vaccination with COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies.
Principal researcher: Valentín García Gutiérrez
Funding agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation, PI21 - Health research projects (AES 2021). Health research project modality.
Participating entities: ISCIII, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital
Duration 01/01/2022 – 12/31/2024
Contract/project file: PI21_00877