We protect your health through science
Investigation
Organ Transplant
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
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Kebe O, Fall AD, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of non-polio enteroviruses from children with acute flaccid paralysis in West Africa, 2013-2014.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Kebe O, Fall AD, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of non-polio enteroviruses from children with acute flaccid paralysis in West Africa, 2013-2014. Scientific Reports. 2017 Jun 19; 7(1):3808. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03835-1 ISSN 2045-2322 PMID 28630462
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Manasi Majumdar, Ousmane Kebe, Kader Ndiaye, Javier Martin. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Manasi Majumdar, Ousmane Kebe, Kader Ndiaye, Javier Martin. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015. Scientific Reports. 2018 Feb; 8(1):2181. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20346-9. ISSN 2045-2322 PMID 29391547
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine- Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine- Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Jan;24(1):65-74. doi: 10.3201/eid2401.171174. PMID: 29260690; PMCID: PMC5749474.
Cabrerizo M, García-Iñiguez JP, Munell F, Amado A, Madurga-Revilla P, Rodrigo C, Pérez S, Martínez-Sapiña A, Antón A, Suárez G, Rabella N, Del Campo V, Otero A, Masa-Calles J. First Cases of Severe Flaccid Paralysis Associated With Enterovirus D68 Infection in Spain, 2015-2016.
Cabrerizo M, García-Iñiguez JP, Munell F, Amado A, Madurga-Revilla P, Rodrigo C, Pérez S, Martínez-Sapiña A, Antón A, Suárez G, Rabella N, Del Campo V, Otero A, Masa-Calles J. First Cases of Severe Flaccid Paralysis Associated With Enterovirus D68 Infection in Spain, 2015-2016. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2017 Dec;36(12):1214-1216. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001668. PMID: 28661963.
van Beek J, de Graaf M, Al-Hello H, Allen DJ, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, Brytting M, Buesa J, Cabrerizo M, Chan M, Cloak F, Di Bartolo I, Guix S, Hewitt J, Iritani N, Jin M, Johne R, Lederer I, Mans J, Martella V, Maunula L, McAllister G, Niendorf S, Niesters HG, Podkolzin AT, Poljsak-Prijatelj M, Rasmussen LD, Reuter G, Tuite G, Kroneman A, Vennema H, Koopmans MPG; NoroNet. Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005-16
van Beek J, de Graaf M, Al-Hello H, Allen DJ, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, Brytting M, Buesa J, Cabrerizo M, Chan M, Cloak F, Di Bartolo I, Guix S, Hewitt J, Iritani N, Jin M, Johne R, Lederer I, Mans J, Martella V, Maunula L, McAllister G, Niendorf S, Niesters HG, Podkolzin AT, Poljsak-Prijatelj M, Rasmussen LD, Reuter G, Tuite G, Kroneman A, Vennema H, Koopmans MPG; NoroNet. Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005-16: an epidemiological analysis of data collected from the NoroNet network. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 May;18(5):545-553. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30059-8. Epub 2018 Jan 26. PMID: 29396001.
González-Serrano L, Muñoz-Algarra M, González-Sanz R, Portero-Azorín MF, Amaro MJ, Higueras P, Cabrerizo M. Viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized patients: Evaluation of immunochromatographic methods for rapid detection in stool samples. J Clin Virol. 2020 Jul;
González-Serrano L, Muñoz-Algarra M, González-Sanz R, Portero-Azorín MF, Amaro MJ, Higueras P, Cabrerizo M. Viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized patients: Evaluation of immunochromatographic methods for rapid detection in stool samples. J Clin Virol. 2020 Jul; 128:104420. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104420. Epub 2020 May 15. PMID: 32454428.
Bubba L, Broberg EK, Jasir A, Simmonds P, Harvala H; Enterovirus study collaborators. Circulation of non-polio enteroviruses in 24 EU and EEA countries between 2015 and 2017
Bubba L, Broberg EK, Jasir A, Simmonds P, Harvala H; Enterovirus study collaborators. Circulation of non-polio enteroviruses in 24 EU and EEA countries between 2015 and 2017: a retrospective surveillance study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Mar;20(3):350-361. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30566-3. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870905.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Simon-Loriere E, Kebe O, Sakuntabhai A, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of the first complete genome sequence of Human Parechovirus type 15. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 21
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Simon-Loriere E, Kebe O, Sakuntabhai A, Ndiaye K. Identification and molecular characterization of the first complete genome sequence of Human Parechovirus type 15. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 21;10(1):6759. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63467-w. PMID: 32317760; PMCID: PMC7174385.
Casas-Alba D, Valero-Rello A, Muchart J, Armangué T, Jordan I, Cabrerizo M, Molero-Luís M, Artuch R, Fortuny C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Launes C. Cerebrospinal Fluid Neopterin in Children With Enterovirus-Related Brainstem Encephalitis. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 Jul
Casas-Alba D, Valero-Rello A, Muchart J, Armangué T, Jordan I, Cabrerizo M, Molero-Luís M, Artuch R, Fortuny C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Launes C. Cerebrospinal Fluid Neopterin in Children With Enterovirus-Related Brainstem Encephalitis. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 Jul; 96:70-73. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.01.024. Epub 2019 Feb 7. PMID: 30935719.
González-Sanz R, Taravillo I, Reina J, Navascués A, Moreno-Docón A, Aranzamendi M, Romero MP, Del Cuerpo M, Pérez-González C, Pérez-Castro S, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Enterovirus D68-associated respiratory and neurological illness in Spain, 2014-2018.
González-Sanz R, Taravillo I, Reina J, Navascués A, Moreno-Docón A, Aranzamendi M, Romero MP, Del Cuerpo M, Pérez-González C, Pérez-Castro S, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Enterovirus D68-associated respiratory and neurological illness in Spain, 2014-2018. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2019;8(1):1438-1444. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1668243. PMID: 31571527; PMCID: PMC6781473.
Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Accumulate in Renal Transplant Patients and Mediate CD4(+) Foxp3(+) Treg Expansion
Luan Y, Mosheir E, Menon MC, Wilson D, Woytovich C, Ochando J, Murphy B. Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Accumulate in Renal Transplant Patients and Mediate CD4(+) Foxp3(+) Treg Expansion. 2013. Am J Transplant.13(12):3123-31.
PUBMED DOIRiquelme P, Haarer J, Kammler A, Walter L, Tomiuk S, Ahrens N, Goecze I, Wege A, Fändrich F, Schlitt H, Banas B, Lutz M, Sawitzki B, Ochando J, Geissler E and Hutchinson J. Generation of BTNL8+ TIGIT+ Tregs by Human Regulatory Macrophages Before Kidney Transplantation. Nat Commun.
Riquelme P, Haarer J, Kammler A, Walter L, Tomiuk S, Ahrens N, Goecze I, Wege A, Fändrich F, Schlitt H, Banas B, Lutz M, Sawitzki B, Ochando J, Geissler E and Hutchinson J. Generation of BTNL8+ TIGIT+ Tregs by Human Regulatory Macrophages Before Kidney Transplantation. Nat Commun. 2018; Jul 20;9(1):2858. PMID: 30030423.
Inhibiting Inflammation with Myeloid Cell-Specific Nanobiologics Promotes Organ Transplant Acceptance
Braza MS, Lameijer M, Sanchez-Gaytan B, Arts R, Pérez-Medina C, Conde P, Brahmachary M, van der Touw W, Fay F, Kluza E, Kossatz S, Stroes E, Kroon J, Dress R, Salem F, Rialdi A, Reiner T, Boros P, van Leent M, Strijkers G, Calcagno C, Ginhoux F, Marazzi I, Lutgens E, Nicolaes G, Weber C, Swirski F, Nahrendorf M, Fisher E, Fayad Z, Duivenvoorden R, Netea M, Mulder WJ, and Ochando J. Inhibiting Inflammation with Myeloid Cell-Specific Nanobiologics Promotes Organ Transplant Acceptance.Immunity. 2018; 20;49(5):819-828.e6. PMID: 30413362.
PUBMED DOIFernandez-Garcia MD, Volle R, Joffret ML, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Kebe O, Wiley MR, Majumdar M, Simon-Loriere E, Sakuntabhai A, Palacios G, Martin J, Delpeyroux F, Ndiaye K, Bessaud M. Genetic Characterization of Enterovirus A71 Circulating in Africa.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Volle R, Joffret ML, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Kebe O, Wiley MR, Majumdar M, Simon-Loriere E, Sakuntabhai A, Palacios G, Martin J, Delpeyroux F, Ndiaye K, Bessaud M. Genetic Characterization of Enterovirus A71 Circulating in Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Apr;24(4):754-757. doi: 10.3201/eid2404.171783. PMID: 29553325; PMCID: PMC5875259.
Leon KE, Schubert RD, Casas-Alba D, Hawes IA, Ramachandran PS, Ramesh A, Pak JE, Wu W, Cheung CK, Crawford ED, Khan LM, Launes C, Sample HA, Zorn KC, Cabrerizo M, Valero-Rello A, Langelier C, Muñoz-Almagro C, DeRisi JL, Wilson MR. Genomic and serologic characterization of enterovirus A71 brainstem encephalitis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020
Leon KE, Schubert RD, Casas-Alba D, Hawes IA, Ramachandran PS, Ramesh A, Pak JE, Wu W, Cheung CK, Crawford ED, Khan LM, Launes C, Sample HA, Zorn KC, Cabrerizo M, Valero-Rello A, Langelier C, Muñoz-Almagro C, DeRisi JL, Wilson MR. Genomic and serologic characterization of enterovirus A71 brainstem encephalitis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020 Mar 5;7(3):e703. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000703. PMID: 32139440; PMCID: PMC7136061.
González-Sanz R, Casas-Alba D, Launes C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Ruiz-García MM, Alonso M, González-Abad MJ, Megías G, Rabella N, Del Cuerpo M, Gozalo-Margüello M, González-Praetorius A, Martínez-Sapiña A, Goyanes-Galán MJ, Romero MP, Calvo C, Antón A, Imaz M, Aranzamendi M, Hernández-Rodríguez Á, Moreno-Docón A, Rey- Cao S, Navascués A, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Molecular epidemiology of an enterovirus A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological disease, Spain, 2016. Euro Surveill. 2019
González-Sanz R, Casas-Alba D, Launes C, Muñoz-Almagro C, Ruiz-García MM, Alonso M, González-Abad MJ, Megías G, Rabella N, Del Cuerpo M, Gozalo-Margüello M, González-Praetorius A, Martínez-Sapiña A, Goyanes-Galán MJ, Romero MP, Calvo C, Antón A, Imaz M, Aranzamendi M, Hernández-Rodríguez Á, Moreno-Docón A, Rey- Cao S, Navascués A, Otero A, Cabrerizo M. Molecular epidemiology of an enterovirus A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological disease, Spain, 2016. Euro Surveill. 2019 Feb;24(7):1800089. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.7.1800089. PMID: 30782267; PMCID: PMC6381658.
Spanish Afp Surveillance Working Group. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance: challenges and opportunities from 18 years' experience, Spain, 1998 to 2015. Euro Surveill.
Spanish Afp Surveillance Working Group. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance: challenges and opportunities from 18 years' experience, Spain, 1998 to 2015. Euro Surveill. 2018 Nov;23(47):1700423. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.47.1700423. PMID: 30482263; PMCID: PMC6341937.
Molecular Epidemiology of Human Parechoviruses in Children With Acute Respiratory Infection in Spain
M Cabrerizo*, C Calvo, G Trallero, ML García-García, M Arroyas, V Sánchez, F Pozo, I Casas. Molecular epidemiology of human parechoviruses children with acute respiratory infection in Spain. Pediatric Infect Dis J 32:802-3 (2013).
PUBMED DOIIdentification of novel Betaherpesviruses in iberian bats reveals parallel evolution
Pozo F, Juste J, Vázquez-Morón S., Aznar-López C, Ibáñez C, Garin I, Aihartza J, Casa I, Tenorio A, Echevarría JE. Identification of novel Betaherpesviruses in iberian bats reveals parallel evolution. PLoS ONE. 2016. 11(12): e0169153. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169153
PUBMED DOIAdditional Information
Induction of allograft tolerance remains a goal to be achieved in organ transplantation. Most therapeutic strategies focus on inhibition of the adaptive immune system, but recent data demonstrate that allogeneic recognition of myeloid cells initiates transplant rejection. Therapies targeting myeloid cells “in vivo” represent a potential target to induce immunological tolerance, but remain clinically unexplored.
Our laboratory uses a revolutionary nanoimmunotherapy of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin (mTORi-HDL) that prevents epigenetic modifications associated with trained immunity, a recently discovered functional state of macrophages. Using an experimental mouse transplant model, our results demonstrate that the administration of this immunotherapy with mTORi-HDL prevents the immune response and promotes tolerance to the transplanted organ.
Our laboratory shows a multidisciplinary research approach articulated in three different objectives to evaluate the clinical relevance and therapeutic effects of immunotherapy in preparation for a clinical trial in organ transplantation. The general objectives will be aimed at confirming the identification of trained immunity as a biomarker and analytical value to predict the risk of rejection in transplant patients under three conditions: prolonged periods of ischemic reperfusion (IRI) (objective 1), allosensitization (objective 2) and infection (objective 3).
Induction of allograft tolerance remains a goal to be achieved in organ transplantation. Most therapeutic strategies focus on inhibition of the adaptive immune system, but recent data demonstrate that allogeneic recognition of myeloid cells initiates transplant rejection. Therapies targeting myeloid cells “in vivo” represent a potential target to induce immunological tolerance, but remain clinically unexplored.
Our laboratory uses a revolutionary nanoimmunotherapy of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin (mTORi-HDL) that prevents epigenetic modifications associated with trained immunity, a recently discovered functional state of macrophages. Using an experimental mouse transplant model, our results demonstrate that the administration of this immunotherapy with mTORi-HDL prevents the immune response and promotes tolerance to the transplanted organ.
Our laboratory shows a multidisciplinary research approach articulated in three different objectives to evaluate the clinical relevance and therapeutic effects of immunotherapy in preparation for a clinical trial in organ transplantation. The general objectives will be aimed at confirming the identification of trained immunity as a biomarker and analytical value to predict the risk of rejection in transplant patients under three conditions: prolonged periods of ischemic reperfusion (IRI) (objective 1), allosensitization (objective 2) and infection (objective 3).