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Investigación
Adaptation of pathogenic fungi to the host and development of new antifungal therapies
Líneas de investigación
Content with Investigacion .
Mechanisms of pathogenic fungal host adaptation: Morphogenesis in Cryptococcus neoformans
One of the main mechanisms by which fungi are able to cause disease in humans is their ability to evade the immune response and adapt to the environmental conditions found in the host. In this regard, one of the yeasts that has the greatest ability to adapt to the host is Cryptococcus neoformans. This fungus is found in the environment, and is acquired by inhalation, although the most typical picture is meningitis in immunocompromised patients, mainly HIV+. The main phenotypic characteristic is the presence of a polysaccharide capsule surrounding the cell, which is considered a virulence factor. In addition, C. neoformans is able to increase cell size significantly forming “titan” cells, which can reach a diameter of more than 70 microns. In the laboratory, we are interested in the role of these titan cells in the virulence of C. neoformans. Recently, we have described in vitro media in which C. neoformans forms pseudo-titan cells, which has allowed us to identify new factors and pathways involved in this process.
Mechanisms of action of antifungals
In parallel, we have a line whose main objective is to characterize the mechanisms of action of antifungals. Specifically, we have focused our work on the effect of Amphotericin B (AmB). For decades it has been thought that this antifungal causes cell death after binding to ergosterol and pore formation. Our results indicate that this antifungal also induces strong oxidative stress in the cell, which occurs before cell integrity is lost. Furthermore, we have shown that oxidative stress is necessary for the fungicidal action of AmB. These results open the door to design new strategies to improve its efficiency in patients.
New therapeutic strategies
Work with AmB has led to research aimed at improving antifungal therapies. In particular, we have used the strategy of “off-patent” drug repositioning to search for new activities. Using this approach, we have identified several drugs that increase the effectiveness of AmB against major pathogenic yeasts, such as the antibiotic erythromycin. This approach has allowed us to identify drugs with antifungal activity against emerging pathogens, such as Candida auris.
Proyectos de investigación
Content with Investigacion .
Projects with public funding
TITLE: Virulence factors of pathogenic yeasts and their influence on the host.
FUNDING ENTITY: Ministry of Education and Science.
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator, Contracted “Ramón y Cajal”.
START/FINISH: 2006-2007
AMOUNT: 15,000 EUROS
TITLE: Characterization of fungal giant cells and their role during infection in mammals.
FINANCING ENTITY: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator, Contracted “Ramón y Cajal”.
START/FINISH: 2006-2007
AMOUNT: 55,000 EUROS
TITLE: Search and identification of genes involved in the resistance to antifungal agents in
Cryptococcus neoformans
FUNDING ENTITY: Ministry of Science and Innovation.
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator, Contracted “Ramón y Cajal”.
START/FINISH: 2008-2010
AMOUNT: 25,000 EUROS
COLLABORATORS: Juan Luis Rodríguez Tudela (National Center of Microbiology, ISCIII. Madrid); Manuel Cuenca Estrella (National Center of Microbiology, ISCIII. Madrid); Maria Jose Gianinni (Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas-UNESP). Brazil
TITLE: Role of morphological changes of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans during host infection.
FUNDING ENTITY: Ministry of Science and Innovation. National Plan Program “Non-oriented Fundamental Research”, area of Biomedicine, SAF2008-03761.
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator, Contracted “Ramón y Cajal”.
START/END: 2009-2011
AMOUNT: 46,000 EUROS
PROJECT TITLE: Identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in the morphogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans and study of their function during infection.
FUNDING ENTITY: Ministry of Science and Innovation, National Plan for Non-Oriented Fundamental Research, Biomedicine Area, Referencia: SAF2011-25140
DURATION FROM: January 2012 UNTIL: December 2014
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Oscar Zaragoza Hernández
This project has an FPI grantee granted.
SUBSIDY: 90.000 euros
TITLE: Importance of morphogenesis in the virulence of pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and improvement of amphotericin B-based cryptococcosis therapy. Reference: SAF2014-25140
FUNDING ENTITY: MINECO (Call for R+D+I Projects “RETOS INVESTIGACION)
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/FINISH: 2015-2017
Funding: 100.000 €.
TITLE: Study of the molecular basis and factors inducing morphological changes in Cryptococcus neoformans and characterization of new therapeutic strategies. Reference: SAF2017-86912-R
FUNDING ENTITY: MINECO (Call for R+D+I Projects “RETOS INVESTIGACION)
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2018-2020
Funding: 106.000 €.
TITLE: Mechanisms of adaptation of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans to the lung. Reference: PID2020-114546RB
FUNDING ENTITY: Ministry of Science and Innovation, State Research Agency (Call “Proyectos I+D+I” 2020 - Modalities “Research Challenges” and “Knowledge Generation”).
POSITION HELD: Principal Researcher
START/END: 2021-2024
Funding: 117,000 €.
TITLE: Precision medicine against antimicrobial resistance. MePRAM Project.
FUNDING ENTITY: Research Projects on Precision Personalized Medicine of the Strategic Action in Health 2021-2023, under the PERTE for Vanguard Health and charged to the European funds of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
POSITION: Collaborator (Principal Investigator: Jesús Oteo Iglesias)
START/FINISH: 2023-2025
Funding: 4.339.500 €.
TITLE: Centre for Biomedical Research in Network. Infectious Diseases Area (CIBERINFEC)
Funding Agency: Insituto de Salud Carlos III. Reference: CB21/13/00105
Dates: 2022-2026 Funding: 85.000 € (first year)
PI: Emilia Mellado Terrado / CoPI: Óscar Zaragoza Hernández
TITLE: Study of the genetic, metabolic and cellular determinants that influence titan cell formation in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and correlation with antifungal exposure.
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Knowledge Generation Projects.
FUNDING ENTITY. State Research Agency. Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
REFERENCE: Project PID2023-148686OB-I00 Project funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Oscar Zaragoza Hernández
START/END: 2024-2027
FUNDING: 180.000 €.
TITLE: Characterization of azole-resistant Candida parapsilosis isolates associated with hospital outbreaks: New strategies for their detection and treatment.
CALL: Strategic Action in Intramural Health.
FUNDING ENTITY. Carlos III Health Institute.
REFERENCE: AESI-2024 PI24CIII/00051
PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER: Oscar Zaragoza Hernández / Laura Alcázar Fuoli
START/FINISH: /01/012025-31/12/2027
FUNDING: 70.000 €.
Projects financed by biotechnology companies
PROJECT TITLE: Amphores. Evaluation of the induction of oxidative damage by Amphoterin B in susceptible and resistant yeast species.
FUNDING ENTITY: Gilead
DURATION FROM: 2011 TO: 2012
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Oscar Zaragoza Hernández
GRANT: 55,000 euros
TITLE: Fungomics. Evaluation of the activity of amphotericin B and other antifungals against human pathogenic fungi.
FINANCING ENTITY: Gilead
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2019-2020
TITLE: Antifungal susceptibility testing of a set of Candida spp to CD101 and anidulafungin in five microdilution plates.
FUNDING ENTITY: Cidara
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2018
TITLE: Cidara MultiCentre EUCAST study
FUNDING ENTITY: Cidara
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2016
TITLE: Characterization of triazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis isolates from Spanish hospitals
FUNDING ENTITY: Gilead Science
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2022-2023
TITLE: EUCAST multicentre MIC testing of manogepix meeting EUCAST ECOFF setting criteria
FUNDING ENTITY: Pfizer
POSITION HELD: Principal Investigator
START/END: 2023
Publicaciones destacadas
Moure Z, Lara N, Marín M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bautista V, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Gómez-Dominguez C, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Campos J, Cercenado E, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Linezolid-Resistant Enterococci Collaborating Group. Interregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. Isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes. Int J Antimicrob Agents
Moure Z, Lara N, Marín M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Bautista V, Gómez-Bertomeu F, Gómez-Dominguez C, Pérez-Vázquez M, Aracil B, Campos J, Cercenado E, Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish Linezolid-Resistant Enterococci Collaborating Group. Interregional spread in Spain of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. Isolates carrying the optrA and poxtA genes. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jun;55(6):105977. PUBMED. DOI.
PUBMED DOIEpidemic of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Europe is driven by nosocomial spread
4. David S, Reuter S, Harris SR, Glasner C, Feltwell T, Argimon S, Abudahab K, Goater R, Giani T, Errico G, Aspbury M, Sjunnebo S; EuSCAPE Working Group; ESGEM Study Group, Feil EJ, Rossolini GM, Aanensen DM, Grundmann H et al. Epidemic of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Europe is driven by nosocomial spread. Nat Microbiol. 2019 Nov;4(11):1919-1929.
PUBMED DOISpanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program Collaborating Group. Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella oxytoca in Spain, 2016-2017
5. Pérez-Vazquez M, Oteo-Iglesias J*, Sola-Campoy PJ, Carrizo-Manzoni H, Bautista V, Lara N, Aracil B, Alhambra A, Martínez-Martínez L, Campos J. Spanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program Collaborating Group. Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella oxytoca in Spain, 2016-2017. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 May 24; 63(6).
PUBMED DOIOteo J, Mencía A, Bautista V, Pastor N, Lara N, González-González F, García-Peña FJ, Campos J. Colonization with Enterobacteriaceae-Producing ESBLs, AmpCs, and OXA-48 in Wild Avian Species
Oteo J, Mencía A, Bautista V, Pastor N, Lara N, González-González F, García-Peña FJ, Campos J. Colonization with Enterobacteriaceae-Producing ESBLs, AmpCs, and OXA-48 in Wild Avian Species, Spain 2015-2016. Microb Drug Resist. 2018. Sep;24(7):932-938. PUBMED. DOI.
PUBMEDBarrado L, Pérez-Vázquez M, Del Pozo JL, Martín-Salas C, Leiva J, Mazón A, Ezpeleta C, Oteo J. Clonal transmission of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli belonging to high-risk sequence type ST405
Barrado L, Pérez-Vázquez M, Del Pozo JL, Martín-Salas C, Leiva J, Mazón A, Ezpeleta C, Oteo J. Clonal transmission of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli belonging to high-risk sequence type ST405. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Jul;52(1):123-124. PUBMED. DOI.
PUBMEDGrundmann H, Glasner C, Albiger B, Aanensen DM, Tomlinson CT, Andrasević AT, Cantón R, Carmeli Y, Friedrich AW, Giske CG, Glupczynski Y, Gniadkowski M, Livermore DM, Nordmann P, Poirel L, Rossolini GM, Seifert H, Vatopoulos A, Walsh T, Woodford N, Monnet DL; European Survey of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) Working Group. Occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in the European survey of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE): a prospective, multinational study
Grundmann H, Glasner C, Albiger B, Aanensen DM, Tomlinson CT, Andrasević AT, Cantón R, Carmeli Y, Friedrich AW, Giske CG, Glupczynski Y, Gniadkowski M, Livermore DM, Nordmann P, Poirel L, Rossolini GM, Seifert H, Vatopoulos A, Walsh T, Woodford N, Monnet DL; European Survey of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) Working Group. Occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in the European survey of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE): a prospective, multinational study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017;17(2):153‐163. D1, IP:27,516. PUBMED. DOI.
PUBMEDThe Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Population Is Distinct and More Clonal than the Carbapenem-Susceptible Population.
7. Esteban-Cantos A, Aracil B, Bautista V, Ortega A, Lara N, Saez D, Fernández-Romero S, Pérez-Vázquez M, Navarro F, Grundmann H, Campos J, Oteo J*; EuSCAPE-Spain Network. The Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Population Is Distinct and More Clonal than the Carbapenem-Susceptible Population. Antimicrob Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 Mar 24;61(4). pii: e02520-16
PUBMED DOIThe spread of KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Spain: WGS analysis of the emerging high-risk clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11/KPC-2, ST101/KPC-2 and ST512/KPC-3
8. Oteo J*, Pérez-Vázquez M, Bautista V, Ortega A, Zamarrón P, Saez D, Fernández-Romero S, Lara N, Ramiro R, Aracil B, Campos J; Spanish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program Collaborating Group. The spread of KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Spain: WGS analysis of the emerging high-risk clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11/KPC-2, ST101/KPC-2 and ST512/KPC-3. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016; 71(12):3392-3399.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli is becoming more prevalent in Spain mainly because of the polyclonal dissemination of OXA-48
9. Ortega A, Sáez D, Bautista V, Fernández-Romero S, Lara N, Aracil B, Pérez-Vázquez M, Campos J, Oteo J*; Spanish Collaborating Group for the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Programme. Carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli is becoming more prevalent in Spain mainly because of the polyclonal dissemination of OXA-48. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016; 71(8):2131-8.
PUBMED DOICurso de Gestión de Calidad y Buenas Prácticas de Laboratorio. Ed. 3
Grammatico JP, Cuevas L (Edits.) y Grupo de expertos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud OPS/OMS. Curso de Gestión de Calidad y Buenas Prácticas de Laboratorio. Ed. 3. OPS/OMS;. Washington, D.C., 2016. Disponible en: “http://iris.paho.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/31168”. ISBN: 978-92-75-11906-8
Gestión de la Calidad para laboratorios de ensayo. 1ª ed.
Grammatico JP, Cuevas L (Edits.). Gestión de la Calidad para laboratorios de ensayo. 1ª ed. Conicet-Madri+d; Buenos Aires, 2011. Disponible en: “http://www.madrimasd.org/Laboratorios/Documentos/Red-Laboratorios/documentos/Gest_Calidad_Ensayo.pdf”. ISBN: 978-950-692-095-1
Curso de Gestión de Calidad y Buenas Prácticas de Laboratorio.
Grupo de expertos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud OPS/OMS. Curso de Gestión de Calidad y Buenas Prácticas de Laboratorio. OPS; Documentos Técnicos THR/HT 2009/001. Washington, D.C., 2009. ISBN: 978-92-75-32977-1
Guía Latinoamericana para la implementación de Código de Ética en los laboratorios de salud.
Grupo de expertos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS/OMS). Guía Latinoamericana para la implementación de Código de Ética en los laboratorios de salud. Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Documentos Técnicos. Políticas y Regulación. THS/EV-2007/001; 2007. ISBN: 92-7-532702-5
Characterization of broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1 in a cohort of long term non-progressors
Characterization of broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1 in a cohort of long term non-progressors. González N, McKee K, Lynch RM, Georgiev IS, Jimenez L, Grau E, Yuste E, Kwong PD, Mascola JR, Alcamí J. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0193773.
PUBMED DOIDiverse large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters are spreading among men who have sex with men in Spain
Delgado E, Benito S, Montero V, Cuevas MT, Fernández-García A, Sánchez-Martínez M, García-Bodas E, Díez-Fuertes F, Gil H, Cañada J, Carrera C, Martínez-López J, Sintes M, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM; Spanish Group for the Study of New HIV Diagnoses. Diverse large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters are spreading among men who have sex with men in Spain. Front Microbiol. 2019; 3;10:655.
PUBMED DOIImprovement of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism prediction by employing selected nucleotide positions of the env gene in a Bayesian network classifier.
Díez-Fuertes F, Delgado E, Vega Y, Fernández-García A, Cuevas MT, Pinilla M, García V, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Improvement of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism prediction by employing selected nucleotide positions of the env gene in a Bayesian network classifier. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013; 68:1471-1485.
PUBMED DOIPredominance of CXCR4 tropism in HIV-1 CRF14_BG strains from newly diagnosed infections.
Pérez-Álvarez L, Delgado E, Vega Y, Montero V, Cuevas T, Fernández-García A, García-Riart B, Pérez-Castro S, Rodríguez-Real R, López-Álvarez MJ, Fernández-Rodríguez R, Lezaun MJ, Ordóñez P, Ramos C, Bereciartua E, Calleja S, Sánchez-García AM, Thomson MM. Predominance of CXCR4 tropism in HIV-1 CRF14_BG strains from newly diagnosed infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014; 69:246-253.
PUBMED DOIMolecular epidemiology, phylogeny, and phylodynamics of CRF63_02A1, a recently originated HIV-1 circulating recombinant form spreading in Siberia.
Shcherbakova NS, Shalamova LA, Delgado E, Fernández-García A, Vega Y, Karpenko LI, Ilyichev AA, Sokolov YV, Shcherbakov DN, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Molecular epidemiology, phylogeny, and phylodynamics of CRF63_02A1, a recently originated HIV-1 circulating recombinant form spreading in Siberia. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2014; 30:912-919.
PUBMED DOIEpidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance in Spain in 2004-2012: relevance of transmission clusters in the propagation of resistance mutations.
Vega Y, Delgado E, Fernández-García A, Cuevas MT, Thomson MM, Montero V, Sánchez M, Sánchez AM, Pérez-Álvarez L; Spanish Group for the Study of New HIV-1 Diagnoses in Galicia and Basque Country. Epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance in Spain in 2004-2012: relevance of transmission clusters in the propagation of resistance mutations. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0125699.
PUBMED DOIPhylogeny and phylogeography of a recent HIV-1 subtype F outbreak among men who have sex with men in Spain deriving from a cluster with a wide geographic circulation in Western Europe.
Delgado E, Cuevas MT, Domínguez F, Vega Y, Cabello M, Fernández-García A, Pérez-Losada M, Castro MÁ, Montero V, Sánchez M, Mariño A, Álvarez H, Ordóñez P, Ocampo A, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, López-Álvarez MJ, Rodríguez R, Trigo M, Diz-Arén J, Hinojosa C, Bachiller P, Hernáez-Crespo S, Cisterna R, Garduño E, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Phylogeny and phylogeography of a recent HIV-1 subtype F outbreak among men who have sex with men in Spain deriving from a cluster with a wide geographic circulation in Western Europe. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0143325.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of an HIV-1 BG intersubtype recombinant form (CRF73_BG), partially related to CRF14_BG, which Is circulating in Portugal and Spain.
Fernández-García A, Delgado E, Cuevas MT, Vega Y, Montero V, Sánchez M, Carrera C, López-Álvarez MJ, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, Cilla G, Hinojosa C, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. Identification of an HIV-1 BG intersubtype recombinant form (CRF73_BG), partially related to CRF14_BG, which Is circulating in Portugal and Spain. PLoS One. 2016; 11:e0148549.
PUBMED DOISequence analysis of in vivo-expressed HIV-1 spliced RNAs reveals the usage of new and unusual splice sites by viruses of different subtypes
Vega Y, Delgado E, de la Barrera J, Carrera C, Zaballos Á, Cuesta I, Mariño A, Ocampo A, Miralles C, Pérez-Castro S, Álvarez H, López-Miragaya I, García-Bodas E, Díez-Fuertes F, Thomson MM. Sequence analysis of in vivo-expressed HIV-1 spliced RNAs reveals the usage of new and unusual splice sites by viruses of different subtypes. PLoS One. 2016; 11:e0158525.
PUBMED DOIHIV-1 genetic diversity in recently diagnosed infections in Moscow: predominance of AFSU, frequent branching in clusters, and circulation of the Iberian subtype G variant.
Karamov E, Epremyan K, Siniavin A, Zhernov Y, Cuevas MT, Delgado E, Sánchez-Martínez M, Carrera C, Kornilaeva G, Turgiev A, Bacqué J, Pérez-Álvarez L, Thomson MM. HIV-1 genetic diversity in recently diagnosed infections in Moscow: predominance of AFSU, frequent branching in clusters, and circulation of the Iberian subtype G variant. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2018; 34:629-634.
PUBMED DOIBayesian phylogeographic analyses clarify the origin of the HIV-1 subtype A variant circulating in former Soviet Union's countries.
Díez-Fuertes F, Cabello M, Thomson MM. Bayesian phylogeographic analyses clarify the origin of the HIV-1 subtype A variant circulating in former Soviet Union's countries. Infect Genet Evol. 2015; 33:197-205.
PUBMED DOIViruses from a cluster of HIV-1 Elite controllers inherit viral characteristics associated with the clinical non-progressor phenotype.
Casado C, Marrero-Hernández S, Márquez-Arce D, Pernas M, Marfil S, Borràs-Grañana F, Olivares I, Cabrera-Rodríguez R, Valera M-S, de Armas-Rillo L, Lemey P, Blanco J, Valenzuela-Fernández A, Lopez-Galíndez C. 2018. Viral characteristics associated with the clinical nonprogressor phenotype are inherited by viruses from a cluster of HIV-1 elite controllers. mBio 9:e02338-17.
PUBMED DOIFactors Leading to the Loss of Natural Elite Control of HIV-1 Infection.
María Pernas, Laura Tarancón-Diez, Esther Rodríguez-Gallego, Josep Gómez, Julia G. Prado, Concepción Casado, Beatriz Dominguez-Molina, Isabel Olivares, Maite Coiras, Agathe León, Carmen Rodriguez, Jose Miguel Benito, Norma Rallón, Montserrat Plana, Onofre Martinez-Madrid, Marta Dapena, Jose Antonio Iribarren, Jorge del Romero, Felipe García, José Alcamí, Mª Ángeles Muñoz-Fernández, Francisco Vidal, Manuel Leal, Cecilio Lopez-Galindeza, Ezequiel Ruiz-Mateos. On behalf of ECRIS integrated in the Spanish AIDS Research Network. (2018). Factors Leading to the Loss of Natural Elite Control of HIV-1 Infection. J.Virol. 92, 5 e01805-17.
PUBMED DOIImproved antibody cross-neutralizing activity in HIV-1 dual double infected LTNP patients.
María Pernas, Concepción Casado, Victor Sanchez-Merino, Alberto Merino-Mansilla, Isabel Olivares, Eloisa Yuste, Cecilio Lopez-Galindez. Improved antibody cross-neutralizing activity in HIV-1 dual double infected LTNP patients. (2015) PLoS One. Aug 10; 10 (8):e0134054. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134054. eCollection.
PUBMED DOIInfluence of Mutation and Recombination on HIV-1 in vitro Fitness Recovery.
Ramón Lorenzo-Redondo, Miguel Arenas, and Cecilio Lopez-Galindez. Influence of Mutation and Recombination on HIV-1 in vitro Fitness Recovery. (2015) Mol Phylogenet Evol. Sep 7. pii: S1055-7903(15)00259-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.001. PMID: 26358613
PUBMED DOIAnalysis of HIV-1 “in vitro” evolution through 3D real fitness landscapes constructed by Self Organizing Maps.
Ramón Lorenzo‐Redondo, Soledad Delgado, Federico Morán, and Cecilio Lopez‐Galindez. Analysis of HIV-1 “in vitro” evolution through 3D real fitness landscapes constructed by Self Organizing Maps. (2014) PLoS One. 9(2): e88579.
PUBMED DOIIdentification of a Spanish HIV-1 Long Term Non-Progressor cluster infected with a low replicating virus.
Concepción Casado, Maria Pernas, Virginia Sandonis, Tamara Alvaro-Cifuentes, Isabel Olivares, Rosa Fuentes, Lorena Martínez Prats, Eulalia Grau, Lidia Ruiz, Rafael Delgado, Carmen Rodríguez, Jorge del Romero, and Cecilio López-Galíndez. Identification of a Spanish HIV-1 Long Term Non-Progressor cluster infected with a low replicating virus. (2013). PLoS One. 8 (10):e77663.
PUBMED DOIA Genome-to-Genome Analysis of Associations between Human Genetic Variation, HIV-1 Sequence Diversity, and Retroviral Control.
Istvan Bartha Jonathan M Carlson, Chanson J Brumme, Paul J McLaren, Zabrina L Brumme, Mina John, David W Haas, Javier Martinez-Picado, Cecilio López Galíndez, Andri Rauch, Huldrych F Günthard, Enos Bernasconi, Pietro Vernazza, Thomas Klimkait, Sabine Yerly, Jennifer Listgarten, Nico Pfeifer, Zoltan Kutalik, Todd M Allen, Viktor Müller, P Richard Harrigan, David Heckerman, Amalio Telenti, and Jacques Fellay, for the HIV Genome-to-Genome Study and the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. A Genome-to-Genome Analysis of Associations between Human Genetic Variation, HIV-1 Sequence Diversity, and Retroviral Control. (2013). Elife. 2013;2:e01123.
PUBMED DOIPrevalence of HIV-1 dual infection in LTNP-Elite Controllers
María Pernas, Concepción Casado, Virginia Sandonis, Carolina Arcones, Carmen Rodríguez , Ezequiel Ruiz-Mateos , Eva Ramírez de Arellano , Norma Rallón , Margarita Del Val , Eulalia Grau, Mariola López-Vazquez , Manuel Leal , Jorge del Romero , Cecilio López Galíndez . Prevalence of HIV-1 dual infection in LTNP-Elite Controllers. (2013). J.of AIDS. 64, 3, 225-231. IF 4.262
PUBMED DOIEvidence of Ongoing Replication in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Persistently Infected Cell Line
Isabel Olivares, Carmen Sánchez-Jiménez, Catarina Reis Vieira, Víctor Toledano, Mónica Gutiérrez-Rivas, and Cecilio López-Galíndez. Evidence of Ongoing Replication in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Persistently Infected Cell Line. (2013). J. of General Virology. 94, 944-954.
PUBMED DOIPrevalence of pSCFS7-like vectors among cfr-positive staphylococcal population in Spain.
Prevalence of pSCFS7-like vectors among cfr-positive staphylococcal population in Spain. Nguyen LTT*, Román F*, Morikawa K, Trincado P, Marcos C, Rojo-Martín MD, Cafini F. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Aug;52(2):305-306.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae From Transplanted Patients in Brazil: Phylogeny, Resistome, Virulome and Mobile Genetic Elements Harboring blaKPC2 or blaNDM-1
Raro OHF, da Silva RMC, Filho EMR, Sukiennik TCT, Stadnik C, Dias CAG, Oteo, Iglesias J, Pérez-Vázquez M. Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae From Transplanted Patients in Brazil: Phylogeny, Resistome, Virulome and Mobile Genetic Elements Harboring blaKPC2 or blaNDM-1.Front Microbiol. 2020 jul 15;11:1563.
PUBMED DOICarbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high risk-clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2
Pérez-Vázquez M, Sola-Campoy PJ, Zurita ÁM, et al. Carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain: interregional dissemination of the high risk-clones ST175 and ST244 carrying blaVIM-2, blaVIM-1, blaIMP-8, blaVIM-20 and blaKPC-2.Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020;106026.
PUBMED DOIProspective multicenter study of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae from 83 hospitals in Spain: High in vitro susceptibility to colistin and meropenem
Oteo J*, Ortega A, Bartolomé R, Bou G, Conejo C, Fernández-Martínez M, González-López JJ, Martínez-García L, Martínez-Martínez L, Merino M, Miró E, Mora M, Navarro F, Oliver A, Pascual Á, Rodríguez-Baño J, Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Ruiz-Garbajosa P, Zamorano L, Bautista V, Pérez-Vázquez M, Campos J; GEIH-GEMARA (SEIMC) and REIPI. Prospective multicenter study of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae from 83 hospitals in Spain: High in vitro susceptibility to colistin and meropenem. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015; 59(6): 3406-12.
PUBMED DOIEmergence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Spain: phylogeny, resistome, virulence and plasmids encoding blaNDM-like genes as determined by WGS
Pérez-Vázquez M, Sola Campoy PJ, Ortega A, Bautista V, Monzón S, Ruiz-Carrascoso G, Mingorance J, González-Barberá EM, Gimeno C, Aracil B, Sáez D, Lara N, Fernández S, González-López JJ, Campos J, Kingsley RA, Dougan G,Oteo-Iglesias J; Spanish NDM Study Group. Emergence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Spain: phylogeny, resistome, virulence and plasmids encoding blaNDM-like genes as determined by WGS. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Dec 1; A 74(12):3489-3496.
PUBMED DOIZoonotic pathogens in fluctuating common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations: occurrence and dynamics
Rodriguez-Pastor, Ruth; Escudero, Raquel; Lambin, Xavier; Vidal, M Dolors; Gil, Horacio; Jado, Isabel; Rodriguez-Vargas, Manuela; Luque-Larena, Juan Jose; Mougeot, Francois. Zoonotic pathogens in fluctuating common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations: occurrence and dynamics. Parasitology. pp. 1 - 10. 24/09/2018.
PUBMED DOIContent with Investigacion .
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Óscar Zaragoza Hernández
Research Professor
ORCID code: 0000-0002-1581-0845
Dr. Oscar Zaragoza graduated in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1995 and obtained his PhD from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He completed his doctoral thesis (2000) at the CSIC under the direction of Dr. Juana María Gancedo on the topic of glucose catabolite repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. During this period, he was also tutored by Dr. Carlos Gancedo in collaborative projects, that allowed him to start working with the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans.
After a brief postdoctoral stay in the same laboratory, in 2001, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Arturo Casadevall (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York), where he specialized in research into virulence mechanisms of pathogenic fungi, mainly Cryptococcus neoformans. In 2006 he joined the National Center for Microbiology of the ISCIII thanks to a “Ramón y Cajal” contract and he became staff scientist in 2009. Currently, he occupies the rank of Research Professor of the OPIs.
During his career, he has published more than 140 articles, 4 book chapters and a popular book ("Microscopic fungi: Friends or Enemies?"). He has obtained public and private projects, and participates as CoIP of a CIBERINFEC group. He has supervised seven doctoral theses, and numerous master's thesis projects.
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Alba Torres Cano
PhD student (FPI contract)
ORCID code: 0009-0008-3151-1803
Alba Torres Cano has a degree in Health Biology from the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH), and completed the master's degree "Microbiology Applied to Public Health and Infectious Diseases" from the UAH. He completed his master's thesis at the CNM under the direction of Dr. Zaragoza in 2022, focusing on pathogenic yeasts. In that year, he joined the ISCIII with an FPI predoctoral contract under the direction of Dr. Óscar Zaragoza.
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Alejandra Lora Plaza
PhD student (FPI contract)
ORCID code: 0009-0004-4344-1583
Alejandra Lora Plaza graduated in Health Biology and completed the Master in Applied Microbiology in Public Health and Infectious Diseases Research (2021) at the University of Alcalá in both cases. She joined the Department of Microbiology of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona to carry out her internship and her final degree work. Subsequently, she did her Master's thesis at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias. In 2022 she joined the Public Health and Epidemiology group at the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, as a research support technician. In 2024 he joined Dr. Concha Gil's group in the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Complutense University of Madrid focusing on yeasts.
In 2025 she joined ISCIII with a predoctoral FPI fellowship under the direction of Dr. Óscar Zaragoza.
List of staff