Cell Structure

RNA viruses are devastating pathogens for humans, animals and plants. Our team investigates the cell factors used by RNA viruses to assemble their viral factories, replication organelles and new infectious viral particles. We also study virus egress and propagation.

The Bunyavirales is a very large and diversified order of RNA viruses, many of them transmitted by arthropod vectors. Together with other Arboviruses (Arthropod-borne viruses) such as Dengue or Chikunguya, Bunyaviruses pose a major global public health threat, given their continuous and rapid (re)-emergence. The list of priority diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) includes three illnesses caused by Bunyaviruses. These diseases, that require urgent development of medical countermeasures are Rift Valley Fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Lassa Fever.

We are looking for non-toxic molecules that inhibit cell factors used by Bunyaviruses. To that purpose, we work with collections of medicines that have been already used to treat other pathologies and that can be repurposed to treat bunyaviral infections. Our work with cultured cell lines is followed by validation of antivirals in organoids and organ-on-chip devices. We are currently working with pharmaceutical companies to characterize the mechanism of action of a variety of therapeutic compounds using transmission electron microscopy.

Transmission electron microscopy of Bunyavirus replication organelle in cells processed by high-pressure freezing and freeze-substitution.

Group Leader

Cristina Risco Ortíz

Staff Scientists

Isabel Fernández de Castro Martín

Raquel Tenorio Vela

Lab assistant

Sara Yolanda Fernández Sánchez