Toxoplasmosis and intestinal protozoa
Research Lines
Content with Investigacion .
Neisseria, Listeria y Bordetella
• Invasive Meningococcal Disease.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
o Study and evaluation of conventional (polysaccharide) and new-generation (protein) vaccines.
• Gonococcal Infection (Gonorrhea).
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• Listeriosis.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
• Pertussis.
o Development and application of molecular techniques for the diagnosis and characterization of Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. holmessi, and B. bronchiseptica.
Research projects
Content with Investigacion .
1. Project Title: Determination of the degree of identity of common antigens of N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae using genomic and immunological tools.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII. Program: Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI23CIII/00040
Period: 2024-2026
Amount Awarded: €68,500
2. Project Title: Meningococcal Disease and Molecular Epidemiology (MEMORY).
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca and Julio A. Vázquez Moreno
Funding Entity: Pfizer Inc.
Reference: MVP 352/21
Period: 2022-2024
Amount Awarded: €82,834.50
3. Project Title: Modelling Approaches to Guide Intelligent Surveillance for the Sustainable Introduction of Novel Antibiotics. MAGIcIAN.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / International Joint Action / Joint Programming Initiatives (JPI) Program
Reference: AC19CIII/00002
Period: 2020-2024
Amount Awarded: €46,000
4. Project Title: Epidemiological, Microbiological, and Clinical Analysis of the Listeriosis Outbreak in Andalusia. LISMOAN Study.
Principal Investigator: José Miguel Cisneros Herreros
Funding Entity: FISEVI (Andalusian Public Foundation for Health Research Management)/FPS2020 Call for Proposals
Reference: PI-0001-2020
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €114,954
5. Project Title: Population Structure of Neisseria meningitidis Using Massive Sequencing: A Potential Tool for Estimating Vaccine Effectiveness?
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI19CIII/00030
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €67,153
6. Project Title: Management agreement between the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (Directorate General of Public Health, Quality and Innovation) and the Carlos III Health Institute, for the laboratory determinations corresponding to the 2nd seroprevalence study in Spain.
Principal Investigator: Fernando de Ory and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Directorate General of Public Health, Ministry of Health
Reference: MEG151/17
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €565,663
7. Project Title: Effectiveness of the Meningococcal B Vaccine in Immunocompromised Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Foundation (SEHOP)
Reference: MVP 199/18
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €18,285
8. Project Title: Application of Massive Sequencing and Immunological Approaches in the Expression Analysis of New Vaccine Antigens in Meningococcal Populations
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI16CIII/00023
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €115,084
9. Project Title: fHbp variability over time and potential coverage of the new meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (bivalent rLP2086/fHbp) in Spain.
Principal Investigators: Raquel Abad and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Pfizer SLU
Reference: MVP 1273/16
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €125,350
10. Project Title: Estimation of protection of a conjugate vaccine against meningococcus serogroup C based on a mathematical model.
Principal Investigator: Julio A. Vázquez and Javier Díez
Funding Entity: Higher Center for Research in Public Health (CSISP)
Reference: MVP 1116/11
Period: 2011-2017
Amount awarded: €143,750
Publications
Sustained Cytotoxic Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Unvaccinated Individuals Admitted to the ICU Due to Critical COVID-19 Is Essential to Avoid a Fatal Outcome
Sustained Cytotoxic Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Unvaccinated Individuals Admitted to the ICU Due to Critical COVID-19 Is Essential to Avoid a Fatal Outcome. Casado-Fernández G, Corona M, Torres M, Saez AJ, Ramos-Martín F, Manzanares M, Vigón L, Mateos E, Pozo F, Casas I, García-Gutierrez V, Rodríguez-Mora S, Coiras M (AC). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan20;20(3):1947. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031947. PMID: 36767310.
PUBMED DOIDasatinib: effects on the macrophage phospho proteome with a focus on SAMHD1 and HIV-1 infection
Dasatinib: effects on the macrophage phospho proteome with a focus on SAMHD1 and HIV-1 infection. Williams ESCP, Szaniawski MA, Martins LJ, Innis EA, Alcamí J, Hanley TM, Spivak AM, Coiras M, Planelles V. Clin Res HIV AIDS.2022;8(1):1053. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36589263/. PMID: 36589263.
PUBMEDEarly Cellular and Humoral Responses Developed in Oncohematological Patients after Vaccination with One Dose against COVID-19
Early Cellular and Humoral Responses Developed in Oncohematological Patients after Vaccination with One Dose against COVID-19. Rodríguez-Mora S, Corona M, Torres M, Casado-Fernández G, García-Pérez J, Ramos-Martín F, Vigón L, Manzanares M, Mateos E, Martín-Moro F, Zurdo-Castronuño A, Murciano-Antón MA, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Jiménez J, García-Gutiérrez V, Coiras M (AC). J Clin Med. 2022 May 16;11(10):2803. doi: 10.3390/jcm11102803. PMID: 35628927.
PUBMED DOIChanges in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with severe COVID-19 treated with high dose of vitamin D
Changes in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with severe COVID-19 treated with high dose of vitamin D. Torres M, Casado G, Vigón L, Rodríguez-Mora S, Mateos E, Ramos-Martín F, López-Wolf D, Sanz-Moreno J, Ryan-Murua P, Taboada-Martínez ML, López-Huertas MR, Cervero M, Coiras M (AC). Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Apr 14;150:112965. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112965. PMID: 35468580.
PUBMED DOIStrong Cellular Immune Response, but Not Humoral, against SARS-CoV-2 in Oncohematological Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation after Natural Infection.
Strong Cellular Immune Response, but Not Humoral, against SARS-CoV-2 in Oncohematological Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation after Natural Infection. Vigón L, Sánchez-Tornero A, Rodríguez-Mora S, García-Pérez J, Corona de Lapuerta M, Pérez-Lamas L, Casado-Fernández G, Moreno G, Torres M, Mateos E, Murciano-Antón MA, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Jiménez J, García-Gutiérrez V, Coiras M (AC). J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 11;11(8):2137. doi: 10.3390/jcm11082137. PMID: 35456230.
PUBMED DOIPersistent overactive cytotoxic immune response in a Spanish cohort of individuals with Long-COVID: Identification of diagnostic biomarkers
Persistent overactive cytotoxic immune response in a Spanish cohort of individuals with Long-COVID: Identification of diagnostic biomarkers. Galán M, Vigón L, Fuertes D, Murciano-Antón MA, Casado-Fernández G, Domínguez-Mateos S, Mateos E, Ramos-Martín F, Planelles V, Torres M, Rodríguez-Mora S, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (CA). Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 25;13:848886. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.848886. PMID: 35401523
PUBMED DOIPharmacologic control of homeostatic and antigen-driven proliferation to target HIV-1 persistence
Pharmacologic control of homeostatic and antigen-driven proliferation to target HIV-1 persistence. Innis EA, Levinger C, Szaniawski MA, Williams ESCP, Alcamí J, Bosque A, Schiffer JT, Coiras M, Spivak AM, Planelles V. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021 Oct 26:114816. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114816. PMID: 34715067.
PUBMED DOIImpaired Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Spanish Cohort of Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU.
Impaired Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Spanish Cohort of Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the ICU. Vigón L, García-Pérez J, Rodríguez-Mora S, Torres M, Mateos E, Castillo de la Osa M, Cervero M, Malo De Molina R, Navarro C, Murciano-Antón MA, García-Gutiérrez V, Planelles V, Alcamí J, Pérez-Olmeda M, López-Huertas MR, Coiras M (AC). Front Immunol. 2021 Sep 20;12:742631. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742631. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34616404.
PUBMED DOIAdditional Information
Our group carries out research studies in the diagnosis, reference and epidemiology of zoonoses and emerging diseases, both indigenous and imported, caused by protozoa. Coordinates the study in the human field with the relevance of the animal field and the environment (One Health initiative), with special interest in Toxoplasmosis, a highly prevalent zoonosis (WHO lists it as the 3rd food-borne zoonosis in Europe), presents a complex epidemiological cycle and causes neurological, ocular and systemic symptoms. We carry out diagnostic and characterization studies of Toxoplasma gondii from human and animal cases, to obtain greater epidemiological information and analyze the possible relationship with virulence and pathology.
Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis and Entamoeba histolytica cause gastrointestinal diseases, affecting children, immunosuppressed people and travelers. They can cause outbreaks. We develop diagnostic and characterization studies of isolates from humans and animals, from different areas and countries, to establish the presence of the main species and genotypes and the epidemiological situation. We are beginning the study of associations between these parasites and the intestinal microbiota.
The pathogenic Free-Living Amoebas, Acanthamoeba, Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris, cause emerging diseases, highlighting the importance of the environment in transmission. They cause underdiagnosed neurological and ocular cases. The diagnostic and genotyping study of human and animal isolates that we are carrying out aims to establish the real prevalence, transmission routes and epidemiology.
Our group carries out research studies in the diagnosis, reference and epidemiology of zoonoses and emerging diseases, both indigenous and imported, caused by protozoa. Coordinates the study in the human field with the relevance of the animal field and the environment (One Health initiative), with special interest in Toxoplasmosis, a highly prevalent zoonosis (WHO lists it as the 3rd food-borne zoonosis in Europe), presents a complex epidemiological cycle and causes neurological, ocular and systemic symptoms. We carry out diagnostic and characterization studies of Toxoplasma gondii from human and animal cases, to obtain greater epidemiological information and analyze the possible relationship with virulence and pathology.
Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis and Entamoeba histolytica cause gastrointestinal diseases, affecting children, immunosuppressed people and travelers. They can cause outbreaks. We develop diagnostic and characterization studies of isolates from humans and animals, from different areas and countries, to establish the presence of the main species and genotypes and the epidemiological situation. We are beginning the study of associations between these parasites and the intestinal microbiota.
The pathogenic Free-Living Amoebas, Acanthamoeba, Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris, cause emerging diseases, highlighting the importance of the environment in transmission. They cause underdiagnosed neurological and ocular cases. The diagnostic and genotyping study of human and animal isolates that we are carrying out aims to establish the real prevalence, transmission routes and epidemiology.