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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

From CLSI to EUCAST, a necessary step in Spanish laboratories.

PMID: 30409509
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2020
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2020 Feb;38(2):79-83. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2018.09.014. Epub 2018 Nov 5.
Impact factor: 1.654
Publication type: Review in national publication
Authors: Lopez-Navas, Antonio, Moreno, Miguel Angel, Oliver, Antonio, Martinez-Martinez, Luis, Guinea, Jesus, Fernandez-Cuenca, Felipe, Cercenado, Emilia, Canut, Andres, Larrosa, Maria Nieves, Benito, Natividad et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2018.09.014

Contributions of molecular techniques in the chronic phase of Chagas disease in the absence of treatment.

PMID: 32087978
Journal: ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Year: 2020
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2020 Oct;38(8):356-360. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2020.01.003. Epub 2020 Feb 19.
Impact factor: 1.654
Publication type: Paper in national publication
Authors: Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Sulleiro, Elena, Salvador, Fernando, Martinez de Salazar, Pablo, Silgado, Aroa, Serre-Delcor, Nuria, Oliveira, Ines, Moure, Zaira, Molina, Israel, Pumarola, Tomas et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2020.01.003

Usefulness of real-time PCR during follow-up of patients treated with Benznidazole for chronic Chagas disease: Experience in two referral centers in Barcelona.

PMID: 32069287
Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Year: 2020
Reference: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Feb 18;14(2):e0008067. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008067. eCollection 2020 Feb.
Impact factor: 3.885
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Sulleiro, Elena, Silgado, Aroa, Serre-Delcor, Nuria, Salvador, Fernando, Tavares de Oliveira, Maykon, Moure, Zaira, Sao-Aviles, Augusto, Oliveira, Ines, Trevino, Begona, Goterris, Lidia et al.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008067

Microscopic examination after concentration techniques for Blastocystis sp. detection in serial faecal samples: How many samples are needed?

PMID: 32055721
Journal: Parasite epidemiology and control
Year: 2020
Reference: Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2020 Jan 10;9:e00137. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00137. eCollection 2020 May.
Impact factor: 0
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Not, Anna, Salvador, Fernando, Goterris, Lidia, Sulleiro, Elena, Lopez, Isabel, Balladares, Martha, Garcia, Elena, Paz, Carmen, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Bosch-Nicolau, Pau et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00137

Approach to amoebic colitis: Epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic considerations in a non-endemic context (Barcelona, 2007-2017).

PMID: 30789955
Journal: PLoS One
Year: 2019
Reference: PLoS One. 2019 Feb 21;14(2):e0212791. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212791. eCollection 2019.
Impact factor: 2.776
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Roure, Silvia, Valerio, Lluis, Soldevila, Laura, Salvador, Fernando, Fernandez-Rivas, Gema, Sulleiro, Elena, Manosa, Miriam, Sopena, Nieves, Mate, Jose Luis, Clotet, Bonaventura et al.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212791

Complicated pneumococcal pneumonia with pleural effusion or empyema in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era.

PMID: 30784235
Journal: PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019 May;54(5):517-524. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24279. Epub 2019 Feb 19.
Impact factor: 2.801
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Izquierdo, Conchita, Campins, Magda, de Sevilla, Mariona F, Gonzalez-Peris, Sebastia, Uriona, Sonia, Martinez-Osorio, Johanna, Sole-Ribalta, Anna, Codina, Gemma, Esteva, Cristina, Planes, Ana Maria et al.
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24279

Molecular epidemiology of an enterovirus A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological disease, Spain, 2016.

PMID: 30782267
Journal: Eurosurveillance
Year: 2019
Reference: Euro Surveill. 2019 Feb;24(7). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.7.1800089.
Impact factor: 7.421
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Calvo, Cristina, Anton, Andres, Imaz, Manuel, Aranzamendi, Maitane, Hernandez-Rodriguez, Agueda, Moreno-Docon, Antonio, Rey-Cao, Sonia, Navascues, Ana, Otero, Almudena, Cabrerizo, Maria et al.
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.7.1800089

Pregnancy outcomes after maternal Zika virus infection in a non-endemic region: prospective cohort study.

PMID: 30771526
Journal: CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
Year: 2019
Reference: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2019 May;25(5):633.e5-633.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Feb 14.
Impact factor: 6.425
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Garrido, Marta, Frick, Antoinette, Rodrigo, Carlos, Pumarola, Tomas, Carreras, Elena, Mendez, Elida Vazquez, Anton, Andres, Rando, Ariadna, Arevalo, Silvia, Rodo, Carlota et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.02.008

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.