The past years (2020-2021) have underscored the critical importance of research in virology and immunology. Rapid responses to pandemic events depend on years of accumulated basic knowledge and ongoing technological advancements. Studying viruses that infect Bacteria, Archaea, or Eukaryotes—whether from basic, clinical, or translational perspectives—ultimately benefits society. The Abrescia Lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms governing viral pathogenesis through structural methods. Our research areas include virus assembly, virus cell entry, and virus-antibody recognition mechanisms.
By deciphering the principles of virus assembly, we aim to develop strategies to interfere with viral morphogenesis. Expanding our structural knowledge of the viral world (virosphere) helps uncover viral relationships that are not apparent at the sequence level. Understanding virus cell entry processes enables us to disrupt this key-lock mechanism, often using antibodies. By studying recognition and neutralization processes, we increase the potential for fine-tuning these mechanisms.
We employ an integrative approach based on X-ray crystallography and Electron Microscopy (EM) techniques, complemented by functional studies. Our access to high-end electron microscopy and crystallographic infrastructure allows us to resolve viral and viral protein structures at atomic detail. This knowledge helps elucidate molecular mechanisms and translates into molecular tools such as drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines to improve human and animal health.
Our group combines electron microscopy and tomography, X-ray crystallography, and biophysical methods with expertise in molecular and cell biology. Our structural studies are complemented by functional data. Our targets include:
Research line 1: Viruses with internal membranes and medically relevant human and animal enveloped viruses
Research line 2: Viral vectors for gene therapy, such as AAV
Research line 3: Prototype vaccines within the ONE HEALTH framework
Collaborations
Hanna M Oksanen (University of Finland). Alejandro Brun (CISA-INIA, Madrid). David I Stuart (University of Oxford). Santiago Elena (I2SysBio, CSIC – Universitat de València). Javier Ortego (CISA-INIA, Madrid). Viralgen biotech (San Sebastian). VIVEbiotech (San Sebastian).
Links
https://www.deia.eus/opinion/tribuna-abierta/2017/01/19/potente-mirada-euskadi-futuro/551456.html
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Group Leader
Nicola G A Abrescia
Ikerbasque Research Professor POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Antonela Soledad Stagnoli
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Ander Vidaurrazaga
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Esther Uribe-Echeverría Echeverri
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Irati Lacunza Elizalde
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Lifei Fu
Members
Latest Publications
Genomic and structural insights into Jyvaskylavirus, the first giant virus isolated from Finland
Almeida, GMD; Arriaga, I; de Azevedo, BL; Leppänen, M; Abrahao, JS; Andreani, J; Zabeo, D; Ravantti, JJ; Abrescia, NGA; Sundberg, LR;
ELIFE
2025-03-25
Engineering hyaluronic acid-based nanoassemblies for monoclonal antibody delivery - design, characterization, and biological insights
López-Estévez, AM; Zhang, Y; Medel, M; Arriaga, I; Sanjurjo, L; Huck-Iriart, C; Abrescia, NGA; Vicent, MJ; Ouyang, D; Torres, D; Alonso, MJ;
NANO RESEARCH
2024-10-01
Nanotechnology-assisted intracellular delivery of antibody as a precision therapy approach for KRAS-driven tumors
López-Estévez, AM; Sanjurjo, L; Turrero, A; Arriaga, I; Abrescia, NGA; Poveda, A; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Vidal, A; Torres, D; Alonso, MJ;
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
2024-07-15
Seroprevalence of adeno-associated virus types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in a Basque cohort of healthy donors
Navarro-Oliveros, M; Vidaurrazaga, A; Guerra, GS; Castellana, D; Embade, N; Millet, O; Marigorta, UM; Abrescia, NGA;
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
2024-07-10
SUMOylation controls Hu antigen R posttranscriptional activity in liver cancer
Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Simon, J; Lopitz-Otsoa, F; Delgado, TC; Mazan-Mamczarz, K; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Zapata-Pavas, LE; García-del Río, A; Guerra, P; Peña-Sanfélix, ...
CELL REPORTS
2024-03-26
Targeting the Spike: Repurposing Mithramycin and Dihydroergotamine to Block SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Stagnoli, S; Macari, G; Corsi, P; Capone, B; Vidaurrazaga, A; Ereño-Orbea, J; Ardá, A; Polticelli, F; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Abrescia, NGA; Coluzza, I;
ACS OMEGA
2023-11-13
Controlling the protein corona of polymeric nanocapsules: effect of polymer shell on protein adsorption
Berrecoso, G; Bravo, SB; Arriaga, I; Abrescia, N; Crecente-Campo, J; Alonso, MJ;
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
2023-10-08
Immunization with a small fragment of the Schmallenberg virus nucleoprotein highly conserved across the Orthobunyaviruses of the Simbu serogroup reduces viremia in SBV challenged IFNAR-/- mice
Guerra, GS; Barriales, D; Lorenzo, G; Moreno, S; Anguita, J; Brun, A; Abrescia, NGA;
VACCINE
2023-05-12
Molecular Recognition of Glycan-Bearing Glycomacromolecules Presented at Membrane Surfaces by Lectins: An NMR View
Lete, MG; Hoffmann, M; Schomann, N; Martínez-Castillo, A; Peccati, F; Konietzny, PB; Delgado, S; Snyder, NL; Jiménez-Oses, G; Abrescia, NGA; Ardá, A; Hartmann, L; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
ACS OMEGA
2023-05-03
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; Mínguez-Toral, M; Zalamea, JD; Franconetti, A; Abrescia, NGA; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Anguita, ...
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
2023-02-23
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; François, 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-Maciá, M; Delgado, TC; Simón, J; Ramos, DF; Barriales, D; Cornide, ME; Jiménez, M; Pérez-Redondo, M; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Rodríguez-Agudo, R; Bizkarguenaga, ...
HEPATOLOGY
2021-12-15
Bacteriophage PRD1 as a nanoscaffold for drug loading
Duyvesteyn, HME; Santos-Pérez, I; Peccati, F; Martinez-Castillo, A; Walter, TS; Reguera, D; Goñi, FM; Jiménez-Osés, G; Oksanen, HM; Stuart, D; Abrescia, NGA;
NANOSCALE
2021-12-01
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; Ardá, 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; Bláhová, M; Chytil, P; Kren, V; Abrescia, NGA; Ardá, A; Bojarová, P; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
2021-06-01
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, ...
GLYCOBIOLOGY
2021-04-28
Sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion by flow cytometry reveals the presence of nucleoprotein-reactive antibodies in unexposed individuals
Egia-Mendikute, L; Bosch, A; Prieto-Fernández, E; Lee, SY; Jiménez-Lasheras, B; del Río, AG; Antoñana-Vildosola, A; Bruzzone, C; Bizkarguenaga, M; Embade, N; Gil-Redondo, R; Martínez-Chantar, ...
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
2021-04-20
A novel Schmallenberg virus subunit vaccine candidate protects IFNAR-/- mice against virulent SBV challenge
Boshra, H; Lorenzo, G; Charro, D; Moreno, S; Guerra, GS; Sanchez, I; Garrido, JM; Geijo, M; Brun, A; Abrescia, NGA;
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
2020-11-23
Structural Characterization of N-Linked Glycans in the Receptor Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and their Interactions with Human Lectins
Lenza, MP; Oyenarte, I; Diercks, T; Quintana, JI; Gimeno, A; Coelho, H; Diniz, A; Peccati, F; Delgado, S; Bosch, A; Valle, M; Millet, O; Abrescia, NGA; Palazn, A; Marcelo, F; Jiménez-Osés, G; ...
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
2020-10-22