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Special Pathogens
Líneas de investigación
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Hepatitis
- Diseño de métodos diagnósticos para el estudio de los virus de las hepatitis (VH) A, B, C, D, E: Diseñamos sistemas de PCR para su detección y caracterización.
- Evaluación de métodos diagnósticos de los VH. Colaboramos con empresas para estudios de sensibilidad y especificidad de equipos diagnósticos.
- Estudios de Seroprevalencia de los virus de las hepatitis.
- Epidemiología genómica de genomas completos de VHA, VHB, VHC, VHD y VHE en colaboración con el ECDC. Estudios de trazabilidad del VHE.
- Caracterización molecular de virus de las hepatitis mediante secuenciación masiva: a) VHB: mutantes de escape HBsAg (prevalencia y efectos en la detección del HBsAg). Estudio de mutaciones en epítopos de estimulación inmune y mutaciones asociadas a evolución clínica desfavorable.
- b) VHC: resistencias a los antivirales de acción directa. Análisis molecular de subtipos poco frecuentes.
c) Estudios filogenéticos del VHD.
d) Análisis genómico del VHE.
e) Investigación etiológica de hepatitis no filiadas mediante estudios de metagenómica.
- b) VHC: resistencias a los antivirales de acción directa. Análisis molecular de subtipos poco frecuentes.
Publicaciones destacadas
In vitro activity of olorofim (F901318) against clinical isolates of cryptic species of Aspergillus by EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Jun 1
Rivero-Menendez O, Cuenca-Estrella M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A.* In vitro activity of olorofim (F901318) against clinical isolates of cryptic species of Aspergillus by EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Jun 1;74(6):1586-1590. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkz078. PMID: 30891600.
PUBMED DOIMolecular Identification, Antifungal Susceptibility Testing, and Mechanisms of Azole Resistance in Aspergillus Species Received within a Surveillance Program on Antifungal Resistance in Spain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Aug 23
Rivero-Menendez O, Soto-Debran JC, Medina N, Lucio J, Mellado E, Alastruey-Izquierdo A*. Molecular Identification, Antifungal Susceptibility Testing, and Mechanisms of Azole Resistance in Aspergillus Species Received within a Surveillance Program on Antifungal Resistance in Spain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Aug 23;63(9). doi: 10.1128/AAC.00865-19. PMID: 31285229.
PUBMED DOIClinical and Laboratory Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida glabrata: Molecular Characterization. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jul 11
Rivero-Menendez O, Navarro-Rodriguez P, Bernal-Martinez L, Martin-Cano G, Lopez-Perez L, Sanchez-Romero I, Perez-Ayala A, Capilla J, Zaragoza O, Alastruey-Izquierdo A*. Clinical and Laboratory Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida glabrata: Molecular Characterization. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jul 11;10:1585. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01585. PMID: 31354675.
PUBMED DOIIn vitro activity of olorofim against clinical isolates of Scedosporium species and Lomentospora prolificans using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Aug 28
Rivero-Menendez O, Cuenca-Estrella M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A.* In vitro activity of olorofim against clinical isolates of Scedosporium species and Lomentospora prolificans using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Aug 28. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkaa351. PMID:32856079.
PUBMED DOIEarly innate immune response triggered by the human respiratory syncytial virus and its regulation by ubiquitination/deubiquitination processes.
Martín-Vicente M*, Resino S#, Martínez I#*. Early innate immune response triggered by the human respiratory syncytial virus and its regulation by ubiquitination/deubiquitination processes. J Biomed Sci. 2022 Feb 13;29(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s12929-022-00793-3. PMID: 35152905 (R; FI= 12.771; D1 Medicine, Research & Experimental; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDHigh SARS-CoV-2 viral load and low CCL5 expression levels in the upper respiratory tract are associated with COVID-19 severity.
Pérez-García F, Martin-Vicente M, Rojas-García RL, Castilla-García L, Muñoz-Gomez MJ, Hervás Fernández I, González Ventosa V, Vidal-Alcántara EJ, Cuadros-González J, Bermejo-Martin JF, Resino S#, Martínez I#. High SARS-CoV-2 viral load and low CCL5 expression levels in the upper respiratory tract are associated with COVID-19 severity. J Infect Dis. 2022 Mar 15;225(6):977-982. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab604. PMID: 34910814 (A; FI= 7.759; Q1 Microbiology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDNeighborhood environmental factors linked to hospitalizations of older people for viral lower respiratory tract infections in Spain: a case-crossover study.
Álvaro-Meca A, Sepúlveda-Crespo D#, Resino R, Ryan P, Martínez I#, Resino S#. Neighborhood environmental factors linked to hospitalizations of older people for viral lower respiratory tract infections in Spain: a case-crossover study. Environ Health. 2022 Nov 8;21(1):107. doi: 10.1186/s12940-022-00928-x. PMID: 36348411.
PUBMEDDiagnostic Performance of the HCV Core Antigen Test To Identify Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Treviño-Nakoura A, Bellon JM, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Ryan P, Martínez I#, Fernández-Rodríguez A#, Resino S#. Diagnostic Performance of the HCV Core Antigen Test To Identify Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Microbiol. 2023 Jan 26; 61(1):e0133122. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01331-22. PMID: 36537787.
PUBMEDHCV Cure With Direct-Acting Antivirals Improves Liver and Immunological Markers in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients.
Brochado-Kith Ó, Martínez I*, Berenguer J, González-García J, Salgüero S, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Díez C, Hontañón V, Ibañez-Samaniego L, Pérez-Latorre L, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Ángeles Jiménez-Sousa M, Resino S*. HCV Cure With Direct-Acting Antivirals Improves Liver and Immunological Markers in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients. Front Immunol. 2021 Aug 23;12:723196. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723196. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34497613 (A; FI= 8.786; Q1 Immunology; JCR 2021).
PUBMEDHIV screening and retention in care in people who use drugs in Madrid, Spain: a prospective study
Ryan P, Valencia J, Cuevas G; Troya J; Torres-Macho J; Muñoz-Gómez MJ, Muñoz-Rivas N, Canorea I, Vázquez-Morón S (‡), Resino S (‡ *). HIV screening and retention in care in people who use drugs in Madrid, Spain: A prospective study. Infect Dis Poverty. 2021; 10(1): 111. (A; FI= 10.49; D1, Tropical Medicine; JCR 2021). PMID: 34412695. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-021-00894-5.
PUBMEDObesity-related SNPs and weight gain following first-line antiretroviral therapy.
Berenguer J (*), Jarrín I, Bellón JM, Díez C, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Roca C, González-García J, Dalmau D, Olalla J, Herrero C, Villarroya F, Domingo P, Resino S. Obesity-related SNPs and weight gain following first-line antiretroviral therapy. Clin Inf Dis. 2023; In press. (A; FI= 20.99; D1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2021).
PUBMED DOIMild profile improvement of immune biomarkers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who removed hepatitis C after HCV treatment: a prospective study.
García-Broncano P, Medrano LM, Berenguer J, Brochado O, González-García J, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Quereda C, Sanz J, Téllez MJ, Díaz L, Jiménez JL, Muñoz-Fernández MA, Resino S (*). Mild profile improvement of immune biomarkers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who removed hepatitis C after HCV treatment: a prospective study. J Infect 2020; 80(1):99-110. (A; FI= 6.07; Q1, Infectious Diseases; JCR 2020). PMID: 31585189. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.09.020.
PUBMEDEvaluation of the possible influence of trailing and paradoxical effects on the clinical outcome of patients with candidemia
Rueda C, Puig-Asensio M, Guinea J, Almirante B, Cuenca-Estrella M, Zaragoza O; CANDIPOP Project from GEIH-GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Evaluation of the possible influence of trailing and paradoxical effects on the clinical outcome of patients with candidemia. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2017 Jan;23(1):49.e1-49.e8.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of Off-Patent Drugs That Show Synergism with Amphotericin B or That Present Antifungal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp
Rossi SA, de Oliveira HC, Agreda-Mellon D, Lucio J, Mendes-Giannini MJS, García-Cambero JP, Zaragoza O. Identification of Off-Patent Drugs That Show Synergism with Amphotericin B or That Present Antifungal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Mar 24;64(4):e01921-19. PMCID: PMC7179310.
PUBMED DOIParadoxical Growth of Candida albicans in the Presence of Caspofungin Is Associated with Multiple Cell Wall Rearrangements and Decreased Virulence
Rueda C, Cuenca-Estrella M, Zaragoza O. Paradoxical growth of Candida albicans in the presence of caspofungin is associated with multiple cell wall rearrangements and decreased virulence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014;58(2):1071-83. PMCID: PMC3910852.
PUBMED DOIHCV cure with direct-acting antivirals improves liver and immunological markers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Brochado-Kith O, Martínez I, Berenguer J, González-García J, Salgüero S, Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Díez C, Hontañón V, Ibañez-Samaniego L, Pérez-Latorre L, Fernández-Rodríguez A (‡), Jiménez-Sousa MA (‡), Resino S (‡ *). HCV cure with direct-acting antivirals improves liver and immunological markers in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Front immunol. 2021; 12:723196. (A; FI= 8.79; Q1, Immunology; JCR 2021). PMID: 34497613. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723196.
PUBMEDCryptococcus neoformans induces antimicrobial responses and behaves as a facultative intracellular pathogen in the non mammalian model Galleria mellonella
Trevijano-Contador N, Herrero-Fernández I, García-Barbazán I, Scorzoni L, Rueda C, Rossi SA, García-Rodas R, Zaragoza O. Cryptococcus neoformans induces antimicrobial responses and behaves as a facultative intracellular pathogen in the non mammalian model Galleria mellonella. Virulence. 2015;6(1):66-74. PMCID: PMC4603429.
PUBMED DOIThe formation of titan cells in Cryptococcus neoformans depends on the mouse strain and correlates with induction of Th2-type responses
García-Barbazán I, Trevijano-Contador N, Rueda C, de Andrés B, Pérez-Tavárez R, Herrero-Fernández I, Gaspar ML, Zaragoza O. The formation of titan cells in Cryptococcus neoformans depends on the mouse strain and correlates with induction of Th2-type responses. Cell Microbiol. 2016 Jan;18(1):111-24.
PUBMED DOIPrevalence and undiagnosed fraction of hepatitis C infection in 2018 in Spain: results from a national population-based survey.
• Estirado Gómez A, Justo-Gil S, Limia A, Avellón A, Arce-Arnáez A, González-Rubio R, Diaz A, Del Amo J; Prevalence and undiagnosed fraction of hepatitis C infection in 2018 in Spain: results from a national population-based survey. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 30;8(1):1858.
PUBMED DOI-
Laura Alfonso Alarcón
PhD student
ORCID code: 0000-0003-1560-1100
Degree in Biochemistry in 2020 from National University of Asunción (Paraguay). Master in Microbiology and Health in 2024 from Pais Vasco University (Spain). Stays in Paraguay in Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas and Hospital Nacional de Itaugua. She is actually a predoctoral student of the Microbiología y Parasitología program of Complutense University of Madrid, with a “Don Carlos Antonio López” (BECAL) fellowship from Paraguay Goverment.
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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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Pablo Herrera Marcelino
Research Assistant
ORCID code: 0009-0003-5137-3712
Graduated in Biochemistry in 2022 from the University of Malaga, and in Master's degrees in Microbiology and Parasitology (2024) and Virology (2025) from the Complutense University of Madrid. He also holds degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science (2023) from the same university and in Biotechnology Applied to Health (2023) from the UNED. He currently has a research assistant contract focusing on the study of pneumococcal proteins involved in RNA interaction.
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Jorge Amich Elías
Tenure Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0002-8987-5115
Doctor en Microbiología y Genética Molecular, realizó su tesis doctoral (2010) en la Universidad de Salamanca bajo la dirección del Dr. José Antonio Calera Abad. Realizó estancias postdoctorales en la Universidad de Würzburg (Alemania) bajo la supervisión del Prof. Sven Krappmann (2011-2012) y en el Hospital Clínico de Würzbug bajo la supervisión del Prof. Andreas Beilhack (2013-2015). Entre 2016 y 2021 fue Investigador Principal en el Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG, Universidad de Manchester, Reino Unido) financiado con un MRC Career Development Award. En 2022 me he incorporado al Centro Nacional de Microbiología del ISCIII gracias a un contrato de Atracción de Talento de la Comunidad de Madrid. En 2024, pasó a ser Científico Titular de los OPIs en el CNM.
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Mª Cruz Sánchez Martínez
Técnico
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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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Mónica Amblar Esteban
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0003-3530-615X
Dr. Mónica Amblar obtained her degree in Biology in 1993 and her PhD in 2000 from the Complutense University of Madrid. She did her doctoral thesis in the laboratory of Dr. Paloma López at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas of CSIC. Subsequently, she worked for 5 and half years at the Instituto de Tecnología Química e Biológica/Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras (Portugal) in the laboratory of Prof. Cecilia M. Arraiano. After this postdoctoral stage he rejoined the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del CSIC where he worked for 2 years as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Paloma López. Subsequently, he joined the National Microbiology Center of the ISCIII with a Ramón y Cajal contract and in 2010 he obtained a position as a Full Scientist at the same center.
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Victor Arribas Antón
Contratado posdoctoral
ORCID code: 0000-0002-6079-8988
PhD in Functional Biology and Genomics from the University of Salamanca (2019) under the supervision of Dr. Pilar Pérez and Dr. Pedro Coll. He completed a short-term predoctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow in Glasgow Polyomics (United Kingdom). In 2020, he obtained a Torres Quevedo postdoctoral fellowship to support the hiring of early-career PhD researchers in industry, focusing on the production of recombinant antibodies with therapeutic applications. In 2022, he received a Margarita Salas postdoctoral fellowship to carry out a long-term research stay at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he worked on identifying novel antifungal targets for C. albicans using proteomics. In 2025, he joined ISCIII at National Center for Microbiology under a contract funded by a European project.
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Elena García Bodas
Ayudante de investigación
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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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María José Ferrándiz Avellano
Research Scientist
ORCID code: 0000-0003-1428-9506
Dr. María José Ferrández obtained her degree in Biology in 1990 and her PhD in 1997 from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed her doctoral thesis at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas of CSIC in the laboratory of Dr. Miguel Vicente. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Centro Nacional de Microbiología of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (1998-2001 and 2003-2006) and at the Institute of Infection and Immunity (University of Nottingham) from 2001- 2003. From 2007 to 2015, she participated as a researcher of the CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES). Since 2006, she is a Full Scientist at the National Microbiology Center of the ISCIII.
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Ramón Luis Díaz-Regañón Fernández
Facultativo
Licenciado en Veterinaria.
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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.
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María Dolores Pérez Vázquez
Científica Titular OPI
Licenciada y doctora en Farmacia (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad Complutense de Madrid). Especialista en Microbiología y Parasitología clínicas (F.I.R.). Mi trayectoria investigadora se ha centrado en la resistencia a los antibióticos y la epidemiología de patógenos resistentes, desarrollándose principalmente en el Centro Nacional de Microbiología (ISCIII), así como en el ámbito hospitalario (HU Ramón y Cajal) y en el Wellcome Sanger Institute (Cambridge). Desde 2012, tras mi formación en bioinformática, he consolidado una línea de investigación basada en la secuenciación masiva (WGS) aplicada a la vigilancia microbiológica, promoviendo la creación de la RedLabRA para la vigilancia nacional de bacterias multirresistentes. Mi producción científica alcanza 111 publicaciones (7056 citas; h-index 39/36) y he destacado por integrar investigación, vigilancia y transferencia al Sistema Nacional de Salud, junto con una sólida actividad docente y formadora.
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Maria Jesús Perteguer Prieto
Investigadora Titular, Jefa de grupo
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List of staff
Información adicional
1.- The study of non-gastrointestinal zoonoses, some of them transmitted by vectors and/or emerging, aims to:
- The development and validation of new diagnostic and genotyping techniques represent important scientific-technical support to the National Health System, acting as a reference laboratory.
- Research on the Molecular Epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii studies the circulating genotypes and their association with the different clinical presentations of Q fever.
- Discovery of new pathogens: especially relevant in the case of Francisella with the description of F. hispaniensis, as well as taxonomically unknown variants of Bartonella, Borrelia and Rickettsia, found in reservoirs, vectors and clinical samples.
- Surveillance in nature analyzes kinetics, transmission cycles and reservoirs.
• Genotyping techniques allow traceability studies to be carried out in the case of natural outbreaks or intentional release. • Method accreditation: ISO15189 standard (clinical samples), ISO17025 (environmental).
2.- The study of bacteria with potential use in bioterrorism through participation in European projects (Joint Actions: QUANDHIP, EMERGE, SHARP) allows us to respond appropriately to possible health alert situations. An important methodological development has been carried out for the detection of these agents and a Rapid Response System has been implemented.