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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

Characterisation of the sewage virome: comparison of NGS tools and occurrence of significant pathogens.

PMID: 31955099
Journal: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Year: 2020
Reference: Sci Total Environ. 2020 Apr 15;713:136604. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136604. Epub 2020 Jan 8.
Impact factor: 6.551
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Martinez-Puchol, Sandra, Rusinol, Marta, Fernandez-Cassi, Xavier, Timoneda, Natalia, Itarte, Marta, Andres, Cristina, Anton, Andres, Abril, Josep F, Girones, Rosina, Bofill-Mas, Silvia et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136604

Single-locus-sequence-based typing of the mgpB gene reveals transmission dynamics in Mycoplasma genitalium.

PMID: 31941694
Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
Year: 2020
Reference: J Clin Microbiol. 2020 Mar 25;58(4). pii: JCM.01886-19. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01886-19. Print 2020 Mar 25.
Impact factor: 5.897
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Fernandez-Naval, Candela, Barbera, Maria-Jesus, Aparicio, David, Pich, Oscar Q, Pumarola, Tomas, Jensen, Jorgen S, Espasa, Mateu, Moreno-Mingorance, Albert, Esperalba, Juliana, Serra-Pladevall, Judit et al.
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01886-19

Biomarkers and clinical scores to aid the identification of disease severity and intensive care requirement following activation of an in-hospital sepsis code.

PMID: 31940096
Journal: Annals of Intensive Care
Year: 2020
Reference: Ann Intensive Care. 2020 Jan 15;10(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s13613-020-0625-5.
Impact factor: 4.124
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Baldira, Jaume, Ruiz-Rodriguez, Juan Carlos, Wilson, Darius Cameron, Ruiz-Sanmartin, Adolf, Cortes, Alejandro, Chiscano, Luis, Ferrer-Costa, Roser, Comas, Inma, Larrosa, Nieves, Fabrega, Anna et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s13613-020-0625-5

Serum IL-10 Levels and Its Relationship with Parasitemia in Chronic Chagas Disease Patients.

PMID: 31701864
Journal: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
Year: 2020
Reference: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Jan;102(1):159-163. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0550.
Impact factor: 2.126
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Molina, Israel, Silgado, Aroa, Moure, Zaira, Bosch-Nicolau, Pau, Salvador, Fernando, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Martinez-Gallo, Monica, Sulleiro, Elena, Franco-Jarava, Clara, Sao Aviles, Augusto et al.
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0550

Label-free Bacteria Quantification in Blood Plasma by a Bioprinted Microarray Based Interferometric Point-of-Care Device.

PMID: 30525470
Journal: ACS Sensors
Year: 2019
Reference: ACS Sens. 2019 Jan 25;4(1):52-60. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.8b00789. Epub 2018 Dec 20.
Impact factor: 6.944
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Dey, Priyanka, Fabri-Faja, Nuria, Calvo-Lozano, Olalla, Terborg, Roland A, Belushkin, Alexander, Yesilkoy, Filiz, Fabrega, Anna, Ruiz-Rodriguez, Juan Carlos, Ferrer, Ricard, Gonzalez-Lopez, Juan Jose et al.
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.8b00789

Prevalence and risk factors of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Cubal, Angola: a prospective cohort study.

PMID: 30674377
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
Year: 2019
Reference: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2019 Jan 1;23(1):67-72. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.18.0231.
Impact factor: 2.024
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Gabriel, E, Aznar, M L, Rando-Segura, A, Moreno, M M, Soley, M E, Igual, E S, Bocanegra, C, Olivas, E G, Eugenio, A Ninda, Zacarias, A et al.
DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.18.0231

The Role of Molecular Techniques for the Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex in Paraffin-embedded Biopsies.

PMID: 28549036
Journal: APPLIED IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR MORPHOLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2019 Jan;27(1):77-80. doi: 10.1097/PAI.0000000000000533.
Impact factor: 1.863
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Castellvi, Josep, Moure, Zaira, Tortola, M Teresa, Pumarola, Tomas, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian et al.
DOI: 10.1097/PAI.0000000000000533

Is antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients a risk factor for developing cytomegalovirus or BK virus infection? Results from a case-control study.

PMID: 30537648
Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: J Clin Virol. 2019 Jan;110:45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.11.010. Epub 2018 Dec 1.
Impact factor: 3.02
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Len, Oscar, Perello, Manel, Torres, Irina B, Codina, Gemma, Esperalba, Juliana, Sellares, Joana, Moreso, Francesc, Seron, Daniel, Gavalda, Joan, Los-Arcos, Ibai et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.11.010

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.