Skip to main content

Microbiology

The Microbiology research group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) focuses on the study of microbiological aspects —in basic, translational and clinical research— that could improve the outcome of patients with infectious diseases.

Our priority research areas are:

  • Microbiological surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
    • Diseases due to viral infections of the respiratory tract
    • Microorganisms that cause vaccine-preventable diseases
    • Infectious diseases of sexual transmission
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Sepsis
  • Development and validation of rapid microbiological diagnostic devices.
  • International Health
  • Hepatitis 

We actively collaborate with other microbiology laboratories, health services, national and international centres and organizations, as well as with the different research networks of the Carlos III Health Institute in Spain.

In addition, we carry out an important activity in the surveillance of the genotypic and phenotypic evolution of microorganisms present in the community in terms of their virulence, transmissibility, antigenic escape and antimicrobial resistance, in collaboration with public administrations, both at the national and international level.
 

Publications

Study protocol for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection and its determinants in Catalonia (Spain): an observational and participatory research approach in a Sentinel Network of Schools.

PMID: 35078847
Journal: BMJ Open
Year: 2022
Reference: BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 25;12(1):e055649. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055649.
Impact factor: 2.692
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Blanco, Ignacio, Bordas, Anna, Soriano-Arandes, Antoni, Subirana, Maria, Malagrida, Rosina, Reyes-Uruena, Juliana Maria, Folch, Cinta, Soler-Palacin, Pere, Gascon, Mireia, Sunyer, Jordi et al.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055649

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant spread: The wastewater surveillance approach.

PMID: 35074352
Journal: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Year: 2022
Reference: Environ Res. 2022 May 15;208:112720. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112720. Epub 2022 Jan 22.
Impact factor: 6.498
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Carcereny, Albert, Garcia-Pedemonte, David, Martinez-Velazquez, Adan, Quer, Josep, Garcia-Cehic, Damir, Gregori, Josep, Anton, Andres, Andres, Cristina, Pumarola, Tomas, Chacon-Villanueva, Carme et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112720

Epidemiological and clinical profile of adult patients with diarrhoea after international travel attended in an International Health referral center.

PMID: 34839009
Journal: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Year: 2022
Reference: Travel Med Infect Dis. 2022 Jan-Feb;45:102216. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102216. Epub 2021 Nov 25.
Impact factor: 6.211
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Salvador, Fernando, Oliveira, Ines, Goterris, Lidia, Trevino, Begona, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Serre-Delcor, Nuria, Sulleiro, Elena, Rodriguez, Virginia, Aznar, Maria Luisa, Bosch-Nicolau, Pau et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102216

Management of Hospitalized Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis in the Pediatric Ward in Spain: Assessing the Impact of a New Clinical Practice Protocol.

PMID: 34936054
Journal: PEDIATRIC DRUGS
Year: 2022
Reference: Paediatr Drugs. 2022 Jan;24(1):63-71. doi: 10.1007/s40272-021-00488-6. Epub 2021 Dec 22.
Impact factor: 3.022
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Vila, Jorgina, Lera, Esther, Peremiquel-Trillas, Paula, Martinez, Laia, Barcelo, Irene, Andres, Cristina, Rodrigo-Pendas, Jose Angel, Anton, Andres, Rodrigo, Carlos et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s40272-021-00488-6

Emergence and dissemination of three mild outbreaks of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with high-level resistance to azithromycin in Barcelona, 2016-18.

PMID: 33367806
Journal: JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
Year: 2021
Reference: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Mar 12;76(4):930-935. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkaa536.
Impact factor: 5.79
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Pumarola, T, Hoyos-Mallecot, Y, Serra-Pladevall, J, Gonzalez-Lopez, J J, Arando, M, Barbera, M J, Cornejo-Sanchez, T, Salmeron, P, Moreno-Mingorance, A, Trejo, J et al.
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa536

Prescription quality of prolonged antibiotherapy in pediatrics. Impact of ASP program interventions.

PMID: 32229130
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2021
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2021 Mar;39(3):134-138. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2020.02.015. Epub 2020 Mar 27.
Impact factor: 1.731
Publication type: Paper in national publication
Authors: Melendo, Susana, Fernandez-Polo, Aurora, Castellnou Asens, Ivette, Mendoza-Palomar, Natalia, Barnes-Mayolas, Meritxell, Soler-Palacin, Pere, Soler Palacin, Pere, Melendo Perez, Susana, Mendoza Palomar, Natalia, Nieves Larrosa Escartin, M et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2020.02.015

Detection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in 1 h using a simplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

PMID: 33648654
Journal: ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
Year: 2021
Reference: Anal Chim Acta. 2021 Apr 1;1152:338254. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338254. Epub 2021 Jan 30.
Impact factor: 6.558
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: de la Serna, Erica, Arias-Alpizar, Kevin, Borgheti-Cardoso, Livia Neves, Sanchez-Cano, Ana, Sulleiro, Elena, Zarzuela, Francesc, Bosch-Nicolau, Pau, Salvador, Fernando, Molina, Israel, Ramirez, Miriam et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338254

Does Routine Abdominal Drain Tip Culture Anticipate Post-Operative Infection in Liver Transplantation?

PMID: 32429799
Journal: Surgical Infections
Year: 2021
Reference: Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2021 Mar;22(2):222-226. doi: 10.1089/sur.2020.031. Epub 2020 May 20.
Impact factor: 2.15
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Perez-Cameo, Cristina, Lung, Mayli, Hidalgo, Ernesto, Gomez-Gavara, Concepcion, Vargas, Victor, Nuvials, Xavier, Los-Arcos, Ibai, Castells, Lluis, Len, Oscar et al.
DOI: 10.1089/sur.2020.031

mcr-Colistin Resistance Genes Mobilized by IncX4, IncHI2, and IncI2 Plasmids in Escherichia coli of Pigs and White Stork in Spain.

PMID: 32010114
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
Year: 2020
Reference: Front Microbiol. 2020 Jan 17;10:3072. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03072. eCollection 2019.
Impact factor: 4.235
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Migura-Garcia, Lourdes, Gonzalez-Lopez, Juan J, Martinez-Urtaza, Jaime, Aguirre Sanchez, J R, Moreno-Mingorance, A, Perez de Rozas, A, Hofle, Ursula, Gonzalez-Escalona, Narjol, Ramiro, Y et al.
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03072

Two multi-fragment recombination events resulted in the beta-lactam-resistant serotype 11A-ST6521 related to Spain9V-ST156 pneumococcal clone spreading in south-western Europe, 2008 to 2016.

PMID: 32347199
Journal: Eurosurveillance
Year: 2020
Reference: Euro Surveill. 2020 Apr;25(16). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.16.1900457.
Impact factor: 6.454
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Cercenado, Emilia, Larrosa, Nieves, Quesada, Maria Dolores, Fontanals, Dionisia, El-Mniai, Assiya, Cubero, Meritxell, Carrico, Joao A, Marti, Sara, Ramirez, Mario, Ardanuy, Carmen et al.
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.16.1900457

Diagnostic Accuracy of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Assays in Children and Adolescents with Tuberculosis Disease.

PMID: 32334890
Journal: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
Year: 2020
Reference: J Pediatr. 2020 Aug;223:212-215.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.02.025. Epub 2020 Apr 22.
Impact factor: 3.7
Publication type: Letter or abstract
Authors: Peromingo, Estrella, Santiago, Begona, Monsonis, Manuel, Calvo, Cristina, Cobo, Elvira, Colino, Elena, Espiau, Maria, Guerrero-Laleona, Carmelo, Lobato, Zulema, Martin-Nalda, Andrea et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.02.025

Efficacy and safety assessment of different dosage of benznidazol for the treatment of Chagas disease in chronic phase in adults (MULTIBENZ study): study protocol for a multicenter randomized Phase II non-inferiority clinical trial.

PMID: 32293523
Journal: Trials
Year: 2020
Reference: Trials. 2020 Apr 15;21(1):328. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4226-2.
Impact factor: 1.883
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Molina-Morant, D, Fernandez, M L, Bosch-Nicolau, P, Sulleiro, E, Bangher, M, Salvador, F, Sanchez-Montalva, A, Ribeiro, A L P, de Paula, A M B, Eloi, S et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-4226-2

Epidemiology and diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis in a low incidence country with high rate of immigrant population: A retrospective study.

PMID: 30449728
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Year: 2019
Reference: Int J Infect Dis. 2019 Jan;78:34-38. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.10.005. Epub 2018 Oct 25.
Impact factor: 3.538
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Macias, Antonio, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Salvador, Fernando, Villar, Ana, Tortola, Teresa, Saborit, Nuria, Molina, Israel et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.10.005

Characterization of hepatitis B virus X gene quasispecies complexity in mono-infection and hepatitis delta virus superinfection.

PMID: 30983817
Journal: WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: World J Gastroenterol. 2019 Apr 7;25(13):1566-1579. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i13.1566.
Impact factor: 3.411
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Godoy, Cristina, Tabernero, David, Sopena, Sara, Gregori, Josep, Cortese, Maria Francesca, Gonzalez, Carolina, Casillas, Rosario, Yll, Marcal, Rando, Ariadna, Lopez-Martinez, Rosa et al.
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i13.1566

Novel tp0548 sequence-type of Treponema pallidum identified in Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 30461599
Journal: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Year: 2019
Reference: Sex Transm Dis. 2019 May;46(5):e50-e52. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000947.
Impact factor: 2.27
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arando, Maider, Espasa, Mateu, Anton, Andres, Gimferrer, Laura, Pinana, Maria, Fernandez-Huerta, Miguel, Gonzalez-Lopez, Juan Jose, Serra-Pladevall, Judit, Pumarola, Tomas, Vall-Mayans, Marti et al.
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000947

Plasmodium malariae in a Spanish traveller returning from Colombia.

PMID: 30924870
Journal: JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
Year: 2019
Reference: J Travel Med. 2019 Jun 1;26(4). pii: 5423127. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taz022.
Impact factor: 4.155
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Oliveira, I, Aznar, M L, Zarzuela, F, Sulleiro, E, Trevino, B, Serre, N, Pou, D, Salvador, F, Sanchez-Montalva, A, Bosch-Nicolau, P et al.
DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz022

Blog

News

On European Antibiotic Awareness Day, we highlight the importance of using these medications responsibly and finding innovative solutions to combat this issue.

The new diagnostic method, designed for use in endemic regions, combines a mobile application with a low-cost robotic microscope.

The European network EUPertStrain celebrates its annual meeting, focused on the study of the evolution of Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for this disease that can be very serious in children under one year.