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Research Lines

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .

The Laboratory of Medical Entomology (LME) develops an intense reference and research activity, focused on the field of disease vectors of interest in Public Health. The LME has an insectary where biological cycles of insect vectors are currently maintained, allowing the performance, among others, of vector competence and xenodiagnostic studies. The LME supports the national health system by offering techniques available in the portfolio of services for the taxonomic identification of arthropods of health interest. In addition, it performs entomological surveillance of outbreaks, supporting Surveillance Plans. In particular, the LME plays a leading role in the Entomological Surveillance Plan for Leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid. On the other hand, the LME offers scientific advice to the CCAES (Centro de Coordinación de Alertas y Emergencias Sanitarias, Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social), and participates in the elaboration of reports and rapid risk assessments.


 

The main research lines of the Laboratory of Medical Entomology are:

1. Maintenance of insect vector colonies: phlebotomine sand flies (Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus argentipes, vectors of Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani, respectively), Culex and Aedes mosquitoes (vectors of various arboviruses) and Rhodnius prolixus (vector of Trypanosoma cruzi). 
2. Biology of disease vectors of public health interest: biology, vector competence, experimental infections. The CNM has a BSL3 safety laboratory to carry out vector competence studies with culicidae and phlebotomine sand flies.
3. Entomological sampling, infectivity of potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis.
4. Insecticides and repellents: evaluation of their efficacy. 
5. Characterization of saliva proteins of hematophagous Diptera: genomics, proteomics, biochemistry and gene editing. Study of salivary proteins as markers of bite exposure, virulence factors and/or vaccines.
6. Xenodiagnosis of leishmaniasis.
7. Molecular biology and taxonomy of phlebotomine sand flies. Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in phlebotomine sand flies and characterization of Leishmania spp. Molecular identification of blood ingested by vectors.

Research projects

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .

CURRENT PROJECTS

Project title: "Biochemical and functional characterisation of salivary proteins of Phlebotomus perniciosus and their role in infection by Leishmania infantum (PERNIPROT)"
Reference: Project PID2023-147773NA-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.
Start date: 01/09/2024
End date: 31/08/2028
Funding: €175,000
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín. 
Funding agency: Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Proyecto de Generación del Conocimiento 2023).


 

Project title: "Surveillance of leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid from a “One Health” perspective: study of the infectious capacity of patients with visceral leishmaniasis and their role as reservoirs"
Reference: PI24CIII/00026
Start date: 01/01/2025
End date: 31/12/2027
Funding: €60,000.00
Principal investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín. 
Co-principal investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI). 

Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: file no. 17/2024 (A/SER-008455/2024).
Start date: 26/06/2024
End date: 10/12/25, extendable to 2026
Total funding: €171,084
Principal Investigator: Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service Contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid 

Project Title: CIBERINFEC Research Group (CB21/13/00110)
Start date: 2021
End date: currently active
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mª Paz Sánchez-Seco, Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases Unit. 
Researchers from the Medical Entomology Laboratory: Maribel Jiménez (member), Inés Martín Martín (collaborator).
Funding: €108,134. File number: CB21/13/00110.
Funding agency: Consortium Centre for Biomedical Research in NETWORK (CIBER)


 

PAST PROJECTS

Service Contract: "Evaluation of the anti-leishmania effect of the bacteria Tc1 and its derivatives in the intravectorial cycle"
Reference: ISCIII-06896
Start date: 15/12/2022
End date: 15/04/2025
Funding: €71,265.67
Principal Investigator: Inés Elena Martín Martín
Funding agency: Service Contract between the company GlaxoSmithKline R&D (GSK) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Service Contract: "Analysis for the surveillance of the vector and wild reservoirs that transmit leishmaniasis in the Community of Madrid"
Reference: 59/2020 (A/SER-040739/2020)
Start date: 10/12/2021
End date: 10/12/2023.   
Funding: €42,612.17 per year   Total 2021-2023: €127,836.51
Principal Investigators: Ricardo Molina /Maribel Jiménez Alonso
Funding agency: Service contract between the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Directorate-General for Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid

Project title: "Research and Integrated Surveillance of Emerging Arboviruses West Nile, Toscana and Dengue in some areas of Spain"
Reference: PI19CIII/00014
Start date: 2020
End date: 2022
Principal Investigator: Ana Vázquez González
Co-Principal Investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €60,000.00
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Strategic Action in Intramural Health, AESI).

Project title: "Characterisation of the concept of ‘asymptomatic carrier’ in leishmaniasis: implications for treatment".
Start date: 01/01/2015
End date: 31/12/2017
Principal investigators: Javier Moreno and Javier García
Funding: €159,940
Funding agency: Study Agreement between Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), the Spanish Foundation for International Cooperation, Health and Social Policy (FCSAI) and Fuenlabrada Hospital. Subcontractor: ISCIII Medical Entomology Unit (Maribel Jiménez and Ricardo Molina).

Project title: "Biology and control of vector-borne infections in Europe (EDENext Collaborative Project): Sandfly-borne diseases".  
Reference: Subproject (PBD) (EU, FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage, contract No. 261504).
Start date: 2011
End date: 2014
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina     General coordinator: Petr Volf
Funding: €140,000
Funding agency: EU-FP7

Project Title: "Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva as a source in the search for potential targets for the development of vaccines against Leishmania infantum"
Reference: AGL2008-01592/GAN (MICINN)
Start date: 2009
End date: 2011
Principal investigator: Ricardo Molina
Funding: €70,180
Funding agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation

Publications

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Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Cuenca-Estrella M, Sanglard D. Probing the role of point mutations in the cyp51A gene from Aspergillus fumigatus in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Med Mycol. 2011 Apr

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E, Cuenca-Estrella M, Sanglard D. Probing the role of point mutations in the cyp51A gene from Aspergillus fumigatus in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Med Mycol. 2011 Apr;49(3):276-84. doi: 10.3109/13693786.2010.512926. Epub 2010 Sep 10. PMID: 20831364.

PUBMED DOI

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cuesta I, Rodriguez-Tudela JL, Cuenca-Estrella M, Sanglard D, Mellado E. Three-dimensional models of 14α-sterol demethylase (Cyp51A) from Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus fumigatus: an insight into differences in voriconazole interaction. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011 Nov

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cuesta I, Rodriguez-Tudela JL, Cuenca-Estrella M, Sanglard D, Mellado E. Three-dimensional models of 14α-sterol demethylase (Cyp51A) from Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus fumigatus: an insight into differences in voriconazole interaction. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011 Nov;38(5):426-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.06.005. Epub 2011 Aug 25. PMID: 21871783.

PUBMED DOI

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E. Ergosterol biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus: its relevance as an antifungal target and role in antifungal drug resistance.

Alcazar-Fuoli L, Mellado E. Ergosterol biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus: its relevance as an antifungal target and role in antifungal drug resistance. Front Microbiol. 2013 Jan 10;3:439. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00439. PMID: 23335918; PMCID: PMC3541703.

PUBMED DOI

Bernal-Martínez L, Alcazar Fuoli L, Miguel-Revilla B, Carvalho A, Cuétara Garcia MS, Garcia-Rodriguez J, Cunha C, Gómez-García de la Pedrosa E, Gomez-Lopez A. High-Resolution Melting Assay for Genotyping Variants of the CYP2C19 Enzyme and Predicting Voriconazole Effectiveness. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 May 24

Bernal-Martínez L, Alcazar Fuoli L, Miguel-Revilla B, Carvalho A, Cuétara Garcia MS, Garcia-Rodriguez J, Cunha C, Gómez-García de la Pedrosa E, Gomez-Lopez A. High-Resolution Melting Assay for Genotyping Variants of the CYP2C19 Enzyme and Predicting Voriconazole Effectiveness. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 May 24;63(6):e02399-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02399-18. PMID: 30910893; PMCID:PMC6535561.

PUBMED DOI

Lupiañez CB, Martínez-Bueno M, Sánchez-Maldonado JM, Badiola J, Cunha C, Springer J, Lackner M, Segura-Catena J, Canet LM, Alcazar-Fuoli L, López-Nevot MA, Fianchi L, Aguado JM, Pagano L, López-Fernández E, Alarcón-Riquelme M, Potenza L, Gonçalves SM, Luppi M, Moratalla L, Solano C, Sampedro A, González-Sierra P, Cuenca-Estrella M, Lagrou K, Maertens JA, Lass-Flörl C, Einsele H, Vazquez L; PCRAGA Study Group, Loeffler J, Ríos-Tamayo R, Carvalho A, Jurado M, Sainz J. Polymorphisms within the ARNT2 and CX3CR1 Genes Are Associated with the Risk of Developing Invasive Aspergillosis. Infect Immun. 2020 Mar 23

Lupiañez CB, Martínez-Bueno M, Sánchez-Maldonado JM, Badiola J, Cunha C, Springer J, Lackner M, Segura-Catena J, Canet LM, Alcazar-Fuoli L, López-Nevot MA, Fianchi L, Aguado JM, Pagano L, López-Fernández E, Alarcón-Riquelme M, Potenza L, Gonçalves SM, Luppi M, Moratalla L, Solano C, Sampedro A, González-Sierra P, Cuenca-Estrella M, Lagrou K, Maertens JA, Lass-Flörl C, Einsele H, Vazquez L; PCRAGA Study Group, Loeffler J, Ríos-Tamayo R, Carvalho A, Jurado M, Sainz J. Polymorphisms within the ARNT2 and CX3CR1 Genes Are Associated with the Risk of Developing Invasive Aspergillosis. Infect Immun. 2020 Mar 23;88(4):e00882-19. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00882-19. PMID: 31964743; PMCID: PMC7093133.

PUBMED DOI

Are Reduced Levels of Coagulation Proteins Upon Admission Linked to COVID-19 Severity and Mortality? Front Med (Laussane).

Ceballos FC; Ryan P; Blancas R; et al; Jiménez-Sousa MÁ (20/20). Are Reduced Levels of Coagulation Proteins Upon Admission Linked to COVID-19 Severity and Mortality? Front Med (Laussane). 2021; 8:718053. PMID: 34660629. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.718053.

T allele was linked to non-AIDS progression in ART-naïve HIV-infected patients: a retrospective study.

Jiménez-Sousa MA; Jiménez JL; Bellón JM; et al (1/10). CYP27B1 rs10877012 T allele was linked to non-AIDS progression in ART-naïve HIV-infected patients: a retrospective study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2020 ;85(5):659-664. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002485.

PBMCs gene expression signature of advanced cirrhosis with high risk for clinically significant portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfected patients

Salguero, Sergio; Brochado-Kith, Oscar; Verdices, Ana Virseda; et al; Jiménez-Sousa María A (‡, AC); Resino, Salvador (‡, AC). (12/12). 2023. PBMCs gene expression signature of advanced cirrhosis with high risk for clinically significant portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: A cross-control study. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy. 159, pp.114220. ISSN 1950-6007.

Relative telomere length impact on mortality of COVID-19: Sex differences.Journal of medical virology.

Virseda-Berdices, Ana; Concostrina-Martinez, Leyre; Martinez-Gonzalez, Oscar; et al; Fernandez-Rodriguez, Amanda (‡), Jiménez-Sousa María A (‡). (14/14). 2023. Relative telomere length impact on mortality of COVID-19: Sex differences.Journal of medical virology. 95-1, pp.e28368. ISSN 1096-9071.

Plasma miRNA profile at COVID-19 onset predicts severity status and mortality.

Fernandez-Pato, Asier; Virseda-Berdices, Ana; Resino, Salvador; et al; Jiménez-Sousa María A (‡, AC); Fernandez-Rodriguez, Amanda (‡). (20/20). 2022. Plasma miRNA profile at COVID-19 onset predicts severity status and mortality. EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS. 11(1):676-688. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2038021.

Blood microbiome is associated with changes in portal hypertension after successful direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy.

Virseda-Berdices, Ana; Brochado-Kith, Oscar; Diez, Cristina; et al; Jimenez-Sousa, Maria Angeles. (16/16). 2021. Blood microbiome is associated with changes in portal hypertension after successful direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. 77(3):719-726. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkab444. ISSN 1460-2091.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis update: A year in review. Med Mycol. 2019 Apr 1

Barac A, Kosmidis C, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Salzer HJF; CPAnet. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis update: A year in review. Med Mycol. 2019 Apr 1;57(Supplement_2):S104-S109. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myy070. PMID: 30816975.

PUBMED DOI

Laursen CB, Davidsen JR, Van Acker L, Salzer HJF, Seidel D, Cornely OA, Hoenigl M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Hennequin C, Godet C, Barac A, Flick H, Munteanu O, Van Braeckel E. CPAnet Registry-An International Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Registry. J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Jun

Laursen CB, Davidsen JR, Van Acker L, Salzer HJF, Seidel D, Cornely OA, Hoenigl M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Hennequin C, Godet C, Barac A, Flick H, Munteanu O, Van Braeckel E. CPAnet Registry-An International Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Registry. J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Jun 29;6(3):E96. doi: 10.3390/jof6030096. PMID: 32610566.

PUBMED DOI

Project from GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Molecular identification and susceptibility testing of molds isolated in a Prospective Surveillance of Triazole Resistance in Spain (FILPOP2 study). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Jun

Alastruey-Izquierdo A*, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Rivero-Menéndez O, Ayats J, Castro C, García-Rodríguez J, Goterris-Bonet L, Ibáñez-Martínez E, Linares-Sicilia MJ, Martin-Gomez MT, Martín-Mazuelos E, Pelaez T, Peman J, Rezusta A, Rojo S, Tejero R, Vicente Anza D, Viñuelas J, Zapico MS, Cuenca-Estrella M; members of the FILPOP2 Project from GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and REIPI. Molecular identification and susceptibility testing of molds isolated in a Prospective Surveillance of Triazole Resistance in Spain (FILPOP2 study). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Jun 25. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00358-18. PMID: 29941643.

PUBMED DOI

In vitro activity of APX001A against rare moulds using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 May 1

Rivero-Menendez O, Cuenca-Estrella M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A.* In vitro activity of APX001A against rare moulds using EUCAST and CLSI methodologies. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 May 1;74(5):1295-1299. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkz022. PMID: 30753499.

PUBMED DOI

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 DOI

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

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 DOI

Clinical 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 DOI

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

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 DOI

Early 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).

PUBMED

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .

List of staff

Additional Information

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human pathogen that, despite the development of vaccines, continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. We investigate the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. On the one hand by identifying new therapeutic targets and on the other hand by investigating the molecular basis of the action of antibiotics already used in clinical practice (the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) or not yet used (seconeolitsine). For this purpose, we used a multidisciplinary analysis involving genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand the organization of the S. pneumoniae chromosome and the identification of the factors that stabilize this organization, including ncRNAs. Changes in the level of global supercoiling, either by inhibition of gyrase (decrease) or by inhibition of topoisomerase I (increase) alter the transcriptome. The modulated genes are located in domains, whose genes show specific functional characteristics. The aim is to identify new factors essential for S. pneumoniae physiology and to characterize transcriptional regulation in response to topological stress. In addition, RNA interference technology and CRISPR systems will be used as novel antibacterials. These studies will establish the bases for translational research aimed at the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human pathogen that, despite the development of vaccines, continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. We investigate the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. On the one hand by identifying new therapeutic targets and on the other hand by investigating the molecular basis of the action of antibiotics already used in clinical practice (the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) or not yet used (seconeolitsine). For this purpose, we used a multidisciplinary analysis involving genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand the organization of the S. pneumoniae chromosome and the identification of the factors that stabilize this organization, including ncRNAs. Changes in the level of global supercoiling, either by inhibition of gyrase (decrease) or by inhibition of topoisomerase I (increase) alter the transcriptome. The modulated genes are located in domains, whose genes show specific functional characteristics. The aim is to identify new factors essential for S. pneumoniae physiology and to characterize transcriptional regulation in response to topological stress. In addition, RNA interference technology and CRISPR systems will be used as novel antibacterials. These studies will establish the bases for translational research aimed at the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.

Content with Investigacion Entomología Médica .