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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

Justification for 24/7 clinical microbiology services.

PMID: 34991847
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2022
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2022 Jan;40(1):1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.eimce.2021.08.014.
Impact factor: 1.731
Publication type: Editorail in international publication
Authors: Gonzalez, Julia, Larrosa, Nieves, Martinez-Martinez, Luis, Navarro, David, Ramon Pano, Jose, Rivero, Antonio, Carlos Rodriguez, Juan, Tomas, Maria, Vilaj, Jordi, Gonzalez-Garcia, Juan et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimce.2021.08.014

Sophisticated viral quasispecies with a genotype-related pattern of mutations in the hepatitis B X gene of HBeAg-ve chronically infected patients.

PMID: 33603102
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2021
Reference: Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 18;11(1):4215. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83762-4.
Impact factor: 4.38
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Pacin Ruiz, Beatriz, Garcia-Garcia, Selene, Esteban-Mur, Rafael, Tabernero, David, Buti, Maria, Rodriguez-Frias, Francisco, Lopez-Martinez, Rosa, Rando, Ariadna, Quer, Josep, Yll, Marcal et al.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83762-4

Severe SARS-CoV-2 placenta infection can impact neonatal outcome in the absence of vertical transmission.

PMID: 33497369
Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
Year: 2021
Reference: J Clin Invest. 2021 Mar 15;131(6). pii: 145427. doi: 10.1172/JCI145427.
Impact factor: 14.808
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Nuciforo, Paolo, Cribiu, Fulvia Milena, Erra, Roberta, Pugni, Lorenza, Rubio-Perez, Carlota, Alonso, Lidia, Simonetti, Sara, Croci, Giorgio A, Serna, Garazi, Ronchi, Andrea et al.
DOI: 10.1172/JCI145427

Gestation and COVID-19: clinical and microbiological observational study (Gesta-COVID19).

PMID: 33482757
Journal: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Year: 2021
Reference: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):78. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03572-4.
Impact factor: 3.007
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Molina, Francisca Sonia, Sulleiro, Elena, Anton, Andres, Esperalba, Juliana, Fernandez-Hidalgo, Nuria, Frick, Marie Antoinette, Camba, Fatima, Pumarola, Tomas, Carreras, Elena, Mendoza, Manel et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03572-4

Detection of Viruses and Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies Using Synthetic Erythrocytes: Toward a Tuneable Tool for Virus Surveillance.

PMID: 33427446
Journal: ACS Sensors
Year: 2021
Reference: ACS Sens. 2021 Jan 22;6(1):83-90. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.0c01830. Epub 2021 Jan 11.
Impact factor: 7.711
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Sanchez-Cano, Ana, Andres, Cristina, Herance, Jose R, Pumarola, Tomas, Baldrich, Eva, Anton, Andres et al.
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c01830

Recommendations of the Spanish Antibiogram Committee (COESANT) for selecting antimicrobial agents and concentrations for in vitro susceptibility studies using automated systems.

PMID: 30878313
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2020
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2020 Apr;38(4):182-187. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2019.01.017. Epub 2019 Mar 14.
Impact factor: 1.654
Publication type: Review in national publication
Authors: Oteo, Jesus, Pascual, Alvaro, Perez-Trallero, Emilio, Perez-Vazquez, Maria, Soriano, Alex, Torres, Carmen, Vila, Jordi, Martinez-Martinez, Luis, Navarro, Ferran, Morosini, Maria Isabel et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2019.01.017

Routine Bile Culture From Liver Donors as Screening of Donor-Transmitted Infections in Liver Transplantation.

PMID: 32289870
Journal: LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Year: 2020
Reference: Liver Transpl. 2020 Sep;26(9):1121-1126. doi: 10.1002/lt.25778. Epub 2020 Aug 4.
Impact factor: 4.57
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Perez-Cameo, Cristina, Bilbao, Itxarone, Lung, Mayli, Caralt, Mireia, Vargas, Victor, Pont, Teresa, Nuvials, Xavier, Los-Arcos, Ibai, Castells, Lluis, Len, Oscar et al.
DOI: 10.1002/lt.25778

Parvovirus B19 Myocarditis: Looking Beyond the Heart.

PMID: 31335286
Journal: PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
Year: 2020
Reference: Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2020 Mar-Apr;23(2):158-162. doi: 10.1177/1093526619865641. Epub 2019 Jul 23.
Impact factor: 0.885
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Izquierdo-Blasco, Jaume, Salcedo Allende, Maria Teresa, Codina Grau, Maria Gemma, Gran, Ferran, Martinez Saez, Elena, Balcells, Joan et al.
DOI: 10.1177/1093526619865641

Mycoplasma genitalium macrolide resistance update: Rate among a 2016-2017 cohort of patients in Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 31445815
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2020
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2020 Mar;38(3):99-104. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2019.06.008. Epub 2019 Aug 21.
Impact factor: 1.654
Publication type: Paper in national publication
Authors: Fernandez-Huerta, Miguel, Vall, Marti, Fernandez-Naval, Candela, Barbera, Maria-Jesus, Arando, Maider, Lopez, Luis, Andreu, Antonia, Pumarola, Tomas, Serra-Pladevall, Judit, Esperalba, Juliana et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2019.06.008

Molecular influenza surveillance at a tertiary university hospital during four consecutive seasons (2012-2016) in Catalonia, Spain.

PMID: 30926297
Journal: VACCINE
Year: 2019
Reference: Vaccine. 2019 Apr 24;37(18):2470-2476. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.03.046. Epub 2019 Mar 27.
Impact factor: 3.269
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Andres, Cristina, Peremiquel-Trillas, Paula, Gimferrer, Laura, Pinana, Maria, Codina, Maria Gema, Rodrigo-Pendas, Jose Angel, Campins-Marti, Magda, Carmen Martin, Maria, Fuentes, Francisco, Rubio, Susana et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.03.046

Acute spinal implant infection treated with debridement: does extended antibiotic treatment improve the prognosis?

PMID: 30904996
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Year: 2019
Reference: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 May;38(5):951-958. doi: 10.1007/s10096-019-03537-8. Epub 2019 Mar 23.
Impact factor: 2.591
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Bosch-Nicolau, Pau, Rodriguez-Pardo, Dolors, Pigrau, Carles, Pellise, Ferran, Haddad, Sleiman, Lung, Mayli, Almirante, Benito et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03537-8

Screening for Zika virus infection in 1057 potentially exposed pregnant women, Catalonia (northeastern Spain).

PMID: 30885699
Journal: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Year: 2019
Reference: Travel Med Infect Dis. 2019 May - Jun;29:69-71. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.03.006. Epub 2019 Mar 15.
Impact factor: 4.868
Publication type: Letter whit IF
Authors: Pumarola, Tomas, Sulleiro, Elena, Rando, Ariadna, Alejo, Izaskun, Suy, Anna, Gonce, Anna, Rodo, Carlota, Torner, Nuria, Bardaji, Azucena, Fumado, Victoria et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.03.006

Evaluation of risk factors associated to detection of Blastocystis sp. in fecal samples in population from Barcelona, Spain: a case-control study.

PMID: 30879163
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Year: 2019
Reference: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 Jul;38(7):1241-1247. doi: 10.1007/s10096-019-03532-z. Epub 2019 Mar 16.
Impact factor: 2.591
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Hidalgo, Laura, Salvador, Fernando, Sulleiro, Elena, Lopez, Isabel, Balladares, Martha, Garcia, Elena, Paz, Carmen, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Sao-Aviles, Augusto, Molina, Israel et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03532-z

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.