Never as the past two years (2020-2021) have manifested the importance of the research in virology (and immunology). Readiness of action when such pandemic events occur rely on years of basic knowledge accumulated in time and constant technology development. The study of viruses infecting either Bacteria, Archaea or Eukaryotes – and whether from the basic, clinical or translation point of views – is always beneficial to society soon or later. The Abrescia Lab focuses on determining the molecular mechanisms governing viral pathogenesis using structural methods. We study virus assembly, virus cell entry, and virus-antibody recognition mechanisms. Deciphering the principles governing virus assembly allows developing molecular strategies for interfering with its morphogenesis. Expanding our structural knowledge of the virus world (Virosphere) also contributes to establish viral relationships that are undetected at sequence level. Elucidating the virus cell-entry processes provide the possibility of jamming this key-lock mechanism. Antibodies are often used to this purpose and understanding the recognition and neutralization processes greatly increase the possibility of tuning such mechanisms.
To this end, we use an integrative approach based on X-ray crystallography and Electron Microscopy (EM) techniques and complemented with functional studies. Specifically, access to high-end electron microscopy and crystallographic infrastructure is routinely available which allows the group to resolve viruses and viral protein structures to atomic detail. The generated knowledge is intended not only to elucidate molecular mechanisms but also to translate this knowledge into molecular tools (eg. drugs, diagnostics, vaccines) that would improve human and animal health.
Our research fulfils the ONE HEALTH concept and approach to societal challenges enabling the development of new intervention strategies.
Since 2014 the Abrescia Lab has been advocating the democratization of the cryo-EM technique and promoting it in the Basque Country:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27467721/
- https://www.deia.eus/opinion/tribuna-abierta/2017/01/19/potente-mirada-euskadi-futuro/551456.html
Finally, Dr. Abrescia is the coordinator of the BAG-Bilbao for the Basque EM community to access state-of-the-art cryo-EM infrastructures at eBIC-Diamond (UK) for performing high-resolution cryo-EM studies on the topic of molecular recognition and host pathogens interactions.
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Principal Investigator
Nicola G A Abrescia
Ikerbasque Research Professor POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Antonela Soledad Stagnoli
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Juan Diego Riveros Zalamea
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Ander Vidaurrazaga
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Borja Abascal Imizcoz
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Miguel Navarro Oliveros
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Iker Arriaga Saez
Members
Latest Publications
New Glucosamine-Based TLR4 Agonists: Design, Synthesis, Mechanism of Action, and In Vivo Activity as Vaccine Adjuvants
Romerio, A;Gotri, N;Franco, AR;Artusa, V;Shaik, MM;Pasco, ST;Atxabal, U;Matamoros-Recio, A;Minguez-Toral, M;Zalamea, JD;Franconetti, A;Abrescia, NGA;Jimenez-Barbero, J;Anguita, J;Martin-Santamaria, ...
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
2023-02-02
New Glucosamine-Based TLR4 Agonists: Design, Synthesis, Mechanism of Action, and In Vivo Activity as Vaccine Adjuvants
Romerio, A;Gotri, N;Franco, AR;Artusa, V;Shaik, MM;Pasco, ST;Atxabal, U;Matamoros-Recio, A;Minguez-Toral, M;Zalamea, JD;Franconetti, A;Abrescia, NGA;Jimenez-Barbero, J;Anguita, J;Martin-Santamaria, ...
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
2023-02-02
Topical systems for the controlled release of antineoplastic Drugs: Oxidized Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogel/Unilamellar vesicles
Stagnoli, S;Garro, C;Ertekin, O;Heid, S;Seyferth, S;Soria, G;Correa, NM;Leal-Egana, A;Boccaccini, AR
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
2023-01-01
Cellular and Structural Characterization of VP1 and VP2 Knockout Mutants of AAV3B Serotype and Implications for AAV Manufacturing
Arriaga, I;Navarro, A;Etxabe, A;Trigueros, C;Samulski, RJ;Moullier, P;Francois, A;Abrescia, NGA
HUMAN GENE THERAPY
2022-11-01
Assessing the Mobility of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Spike Protein Glycans by Structural and Computational Methods
Stagnoli, S;Peccati, F;Connell, SR;Martinez-Castillo, A;Charro, D;Millet, O;Bruzzone, C;Palazon, A;Arda, A;Jimenez-Barbero, J;Ereno-Orbea, J;Abrescia, NGA;Jimenez-Oses, G
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
2022-04-15
Mitochondrial bioenergetics boost macrophage activation, promoting liver regeneration in metabolically compromised animals
Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N;Serrano-Macia, M;Delgado, TC;Simon, J;Ramos, DF;Barriales, D;Cornide, ME;Jimenez, M;Perez-Redondo, M;Lachiondo-Ortega, S;Rodriguez-Agudo, R;Bizkarguenaga, M;Zalamea, ...
HEPATOLOGY
2021-12-15
Bacteriophage PRD1 as a nanoscaffold for drug loading
Duyvesteyn, HME;Santos-Perez, I;Peccati, F;Martinez-Castillo, A;Walter, TS;Reguera, D;Goni, FM;Jimenez-Oses, G;Oksanen, HM;Stuart, DI;Abrescia, NGA
NANOSCALE
2021-12-01
Minimal epitope for Mannitou IgM on paucimannose-carrying glycoproteins
Robakiewicz, S;Bridot, C;Serna, S;Gimeno, A;Echeverria, B;Delgado, S;de Ruyck, J;Semwal, S;Charro, D;Dansercoer, A;Verstraete, K;Azkargorta, M;van Noort, K;Wilbers, RHP;Savvides, SN;Abrescia, ...
GLYCOBIOLOGY
2021-08-01
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Complex N-Glycans of the Parasite S. mansoni to Examine the Importance of Epitope Presentation on DC-SIGN recognition
Srivastava, AD;Unione, L;Bunyatov, M;Gagarinov, IA;Delgado, S;Abrescia, NGA;Arda, A;Boons, GJ
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
2021-07-16
Cross-Linking Effects Dictate the Preference of Galectins to Bind LacNAc-Decorated HPMA Copolymers
Bertuzzi, S;Gimeno, A;Martinez-Castillo, A;Lete, MG;Delgado, S;Airoldi, C;Tavares, MR;Blahova, M;Chytil, P;Kren, V;Abrescia, NGA;Arda, A;Bojarova, P;Jimenez-Barbero, J
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
2021-06-01