Research Summary

The main objectives of our laboratory are directed to understand the molecular basis of the biology of infectious agents, their interaction with the host cell and immune mechanisms of virus control, as well as to use this knowledge in the development of vaccines that might be effective against emerging and reemerging viruses, like HIV, chikungunya, Ebola, Marburg, zika, hepatitis C, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, flaviviruses and monkeypox. The immune protocols will aid as vaccination strategies against cancer. As a model system of an infectious agent and as a delivery vector for expression of genes of interest, we used vaccinia virus (VACV) and the attenuated vaccine strains MVA and NYVAC, members of the poxvirus family, whether alone or in combination with other delivery vaccine vectors (mRNA, DNA and protein). Our goal is to develop the best-in-class immunogens and vaccination protocols to be apply as vaccines in preclinical and clinical studies against prevalent human diseases.

Research Lines

Emerging and reemerging pathogens represent a worldwide human health problem, as we experience with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our group at the CNB-CSIC on Poxvirus and Vaccines  has wide experience in a platform of poxvirus-based vaccines, alone or in combination with other vectors (mRNA, DNA, protein), and studies on the immune behavior in preclinical animal models and in human clinical trials; this together with our collaborations with national and international groups, with industries and funding from EU (four grants obtained in 2024), underscores our relevant contribution in the further development of vaccines against emerging and reemerging pathogens with epidemic/pandemic potential. Our current research lines are:

1. Stablish immunization procedures with the ability to induce highly effective broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1.
2. Develop vaccines with wide spectrum of action, durable and effective against pan-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
3. Develop vaccines with the ability to block transmission of flaviviruses
4. Develop vaccines highly effective against highly human pathogenic hemorrhagic disease viruses.
5. Optimization of poxvirus vaccines against monkeypox viruses.
6. Develop therapeutic procedures against prevalent human tumors.

Group Members

Postdoctoral Researchers

Laura Sin Díaz (CIBER)

Guillermo Albericio Bonilla

Daniel Rodríguez Martín

PhD candidates

David Astorgano López

Enrique Alvarez Coruña

Funding