Beatriz Romero‐Hernández

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

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Mario Rodríguez-Domínguez

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Juan Carlos Galán

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

Rafael Cantón

Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria

Rosa del Campo

Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Daniel Marcos-Mencía

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Santiago Moreno

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Marina Fernández-Escribano

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Jesús Mateos‐Nozal

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Matilde Sánchez‐Conde

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Lin Lin

Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital

Cooperative Institutions

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria

Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Instituto Cajal

Universidad de Alcalá

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network

Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

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Association of Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus with colorectal cancer: Serological evidence

International Journal of Cancer (2015)

Julia Butt Beatriz Romero‐Hernández Beatriz Pérez‐Gómez Martina Willhauck‐Fleckenstein Dana Holzinger

The colonic opportunist Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus (SGG) is potentially associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). Large‐scale seroepidemiological data for SGG antibodies and their possible association with CRC is currently missing. Associations between CRC and antibody responses to SGG were examined in 576 CRC cases and 576 controls matched by sex, age and province from a population‐based multicase–control project (MCC‐Spain). MCC‐Spain was conducted between 2008 and 2013 in 12 Spanish provinces. Antibody responses to recombinant affinity‐purified SGG pilus proteins Gallo1569, 2039, 2178 and 2179 were analysed by multiplex serology. Polyomavirus (PyV) JC VP1 and PyV 6 VP1 proteins served as disease‐specificity controls. In the control population, antibody responses to pilus proteins were mostly weak. Antibody responses to individual pilus proteins Gallo2039 (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.09–2.28), Gallo2178 (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.09–2.30) and Gallo2179 (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.00–2.11) were significantly associated with CRC risk. The association was stronger for positivity to two or more pilus proteins of Gallo1569, Gallo2178 and Gallo2179 (OR:1.93, 95% CI: 1.04–3.56) and for double‐positivity to Gallo2178 and Gallo2179 (OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.49–8.44). The association between SGG infection and CRC risk was stronger among individuals younger than 65 years. For the first time we demonstrated a statistically significant association of exposure to SGG antigens and CRC in a large seroepidemiological study. These results should stimulate further studies on the role of SGG in CRC pathogenesis.

Multiplex

10.1002/ijc.29914

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Citations (46)

Low-Effort HIV Training in Spanish Primary Care: Long-Term Impact on Testing and Diagnosis

Alejandro García María Jesús Vivancos Beatriz Romero‐Hernández David Rial‐Crestelo Francisco Arnaíz de las Revillas

Background: Recent improvements in the HIV care cascade have reduced HIV incidence in high- and middle-income countries, yet late HIV diagnosis remains a critical issue. This study examines the impact of a two-hour training session on HIV testing and diagnosis rates in primary care centres in Madrid, Spain. Methods: In 2017, we conducted a non-mandatory, two-hour training session on updated HIV and HCV guidelines for primary care providers in 20 centres within the Ramón y Cajal Hospital area. We compared yearly HIV testing rates and late diagnosis rates in the five years before and after the intervention. We used data from Ramón y Cajal Hospital Microbiology Department’s electronic records and the CoRIS cohort, including demographic and clinical information. Results: Of the 630 target primary care providers, 454 (72%) attended the sessions. HIV testing rates increased from 1,780 to 2,155 tests per 100,000 inhabitants (p<0.0001) post-intervention, with a stable rate of positive tests. Late diagnosis rates in our area decreased from 58.9% to 48.7%, while rates in the rest of Madrid and Spain increased (AOR 1.22, p<0.001). The intervention area showed a significant reduction in advanced HIV disease (AOR 0.66, p=0.095), contrasting with the upward trend in other regions. Conclusion: A simple two-hour training session for primary care providers effectively increased HIV testing rates and reduced late diagnoses in our health area compared to national trends. Implementing similar strategies on a broader scale could help mitigate the rising rates of late HIV diagnosis and improve overall community health outcomes.

10.20944/preprints202502.1485.v1

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Pre-existing T cell immunity determines the frequency and magnitude of cellular immune response to two doses of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

Vaccine X (2022)

José L. Casado Pilar Vizcarra Johannes Häemmerle Héctor Velasco Adrián Martín-Hondarza

Little is known about the factors associated with lack of T-cell response to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. In a prospective cohort of 61 health care workers (HCWs), 21% and 16% after the first dose of mRNA BNT162b vaccine, and 12% and 7% after the second dose, showed lack of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell response, respectively. Pre-existing T-cell immunity, due to past infection (46%) or cross-reactive cellular response (26%), was significantly associated with T-cell response in frequency (CD4+ T-cell, 100% vs 82% after two doses; p = 0.049) and in the magnitude of T-cell response during follow up. Furthermore, baseline CD4+ T-cell correlated positively with the titer of specific IgG-antibodies after first and second vaccine dose. Our data demonstrate that cross-reactive T-cells correlate with a better cellular response as well as an enhanced humoral response, and we confirm the close correlation of humoral and cellular response after mRNA vaccination.

Cellular immunity

Humoral immunity

Antibody response

10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100165

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Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus from Human and Animal Origins: Genetic Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Characterization of a Vancomycin-Resistant Calf Isolate Carrying a vanA -Tn 1546 -Like Element

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2015)

Beatriz Romero‐Hernández Ana P. Tedim José Francisco Sánchez-Herrero Pablo Librado Julio Rozas

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to characterize the antibiotic susceptibility and genetic diversity of 41 Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus isolates: 18 isolates obtained from animals and 23 human clinical isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the semiautomatic Wider system and genetic diversity by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with SmaI. Animal isolates grouped separately in the PFGE analysis, but no statistical differences in antimicrobial resistance were found between the two groups. The LMG 17956 sequence type 28 (ST28) strain recovered from the feces of a calf exhibited high levels of resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin (MIC, ≥256 mg/liter). Its glycopeptide resistance mechanism was characterized by Southern blot hybridization and a primer-walking strategy, and finally its genome, determined by whole-genome sequencing, was compared with four closely related S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus genomes. Hybridization experiments demonstrated that a Tn 1546 -like element was integrated into the bacterial chromosome. In agreement with this finding, whole-genome sequencing confirmed a partial deletion of the vanY-vanZ region and partial duplication of the vanH gene. The comparative genomic analyses revealed that the LMG 17956 ST28 strain had acquired an unusually high number of transposable elements and had experienced extensive chromosomal rearrangements, as well as gene gain and loss events. In conclusion, S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus isolates from animals seem to belong to lineages separate from those infecting humans. In addition, we report a glycopeptide-resistant isolate from a calf carrying a Tn 1546 -like element integrated into its chromosome.

Insertion sequence

Teicoplanin

Enterococcus faecium

10.1128/aac.04083-14

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SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and utility of point of care testing in Health Care Workers from a spanish University Hospital in Madrid

Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2021)

Mario Rodríguez-Domínguez Beatriz Romero‐Hernández Daniel Marcos-Mencía Marina Fernández-Escribano Montserrat Ferré-Masferrer

Seroprevalence

Pandemic

10.1016/j.cmi.2021.03.018

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The Influence of Pre-Existing Immunity against Human Common Cold Coronaviruses on COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity

Microbiology Research (2023)

Humberto Erick de la Torre-Tarazona Daniel Jiménez Daniel Marcos-Mencía Alejandro Mendieta-Baro Alejandro Rivera-Delgado

The susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19 manifestations vary significantly among individuals, prompting the need for a deeper understanding of the disease. Our objective in this study was to investigate whether previous infections with human common cold coronaviruses (hCCCoV) might impact susceptibility to and the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We assessed the serum antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 and four hCCCoV (H-CoV-OC43, -NL63, -HKU1, and -229E) in three distinct populations: 95 uninfected individuals (COVID-19-negative), 83 individuals with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 (COVID-19-mild), and 45 patients who died due to COVID-19 (COVID-19-severe). The first two groups were matched in terms of their exposure to SARS-CoV-2. We did not observe any differences in the mean antibody levels between the COVID-19-mild and the COVID-19-negative participants. However, individuals in the COVID-19-mild group exhibited a higher frequency of antibody levels (sample/control) > 0.5 against H-CoV-HKU1, and >1 against H-CoV-229E and -OC43 (p < 0.05). In terms of severity, we noted significantly elevated H-CoV-NL63 IgG levels in the COVID-19-severe group compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest a potential mild influence of hCCCoV antibody levels on the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19. These observations could aid in the development of strategies for predicting and mitigating the severity of COVID-19.

Coronavirus

Common cold

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

10.3390/microbiolres14030093

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Smartphone-based platform assisted by artificial intelligence for reading and reporting SARS-CoV-2 lateral-flow immunoassays (Preprint)

David Bermejo-Peláez Daniel Marcos-Mencía Elisa Álamo Nuria Pérez-Panizo Adriana Mousa

BACKGROUND Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are being widely used to manage COVID-19 pandemic. However, many results remain unreported or unconfirmed altering a correct epidemiological surveillance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate an artificial intelligence-based smartphone application, connected to a web telemedicine platform, to automatically and objectively read rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results and assess its impact on COVID-19 pandemic management. METHODS Overall, 252 human sera from individuals with PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection were used to inoculate a total of 1,165 RDTs for training and validation purposes. We then conducted two field studies to assess the performance on real-world scenarios by testing 172 antibody RDTs at two nursing homes and 96 antigen RDTs at one hospital emergency department. RESULTS Field studies demonstrated high levels of sensitivity (100%) and specificity (94.4%, CI 92.8-96.1%) for reading IgG band of COVID-19 antibodies RDTs compared to visual readings from health workers. Sensitivity of detecting IgM test bands was 100% and specificity was 95.8%, CI 94.3-97.3%. All COVID-19 antigen RDTs were correctly read by the app. CONCLUSIONS The proposed reading system is automatic, reducing variability and uncertainty associated with RDTs interpretation and can be used to read different RDTs brands. The web platform serves as a real time epidemiological tracking tool and facilitates reporting of positive RDTs to relevant health authorities.

Pandemic

Gold standard (test)

10.2196/preprints.38533

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A Smartphone-Based Platform Assisted by Artificial Intelligence for Reading and Reporting Rapid Diagnostic Tests: Evaluation Study in SARS-CoV-2 Lateral Flow Immunoassays

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (2022)

David Bermejo-Peláez Daniel Marcos-Mencía Elisa Álamo Nuria Pérez-Panizo Adriana Mousa

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are being widely used to manage COVID-19 pandemic. However, many results remain unreported or unconfirmed, altering a correct epidemiological surveillance.Our aim was to evaluate an artificial intelligence-based smartphone app, connected to a cloud web platform, to automatically and objectively read RDT results and assess its impact on COVID-19 pandemic management.Overall, 252 human sera were used to inoculate a total of 1165 RDTs for training and validation purposes. We then conducted two field studies to assess the performance on real-world scenarios by testing 172 antibody RDTs at two nursing homes and 96 antigen RDTs at one hospital emergency department.Field studies demonstrated high levels of sensitivity (100%) and specificity (94.4%, CI 92.8%-96.1%) for reading IgG band of COVID-19 antibody RDTs compared to visual readings from health workers. Sensitivity of detecting IgM test bands was 100%, and specificity was 95.8% (CI 94.3%-97.3%). All COVID-19 antigen RDTs were correctly read by the app.The proposed reading system is automatic, reducing variability and uncertainty associated with RDTs interpretation and can be used to read different RDT brands. The web platform serves as a real-time epidemiological tracking tool and facilitates reporting of positive RDTs to relevant health authorities.

Pandemic

10.2196/38533

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Citations (12)

Chlamydia Trachomatis Prevalence in Asymptomatic Women in Madrid: Study Findings and Their Association with Risk Factors and Mental Health

Biomedicines (2024)

Marta Rosas Cancio-Suárez Esther Martín-Jiménez Mario Rodríguez-Domínguez Ana María García Da Silva Borja M. Fernández-Félix

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a sexually transmitted infection that requires early detection to prevent complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CT among asymptomatic women in Spain and investigate the relationship between CT and risk factors associated with sexual practices, as well as factors such as stress and depression. Results: We found that 3.8% of asymptomatic women tested positive for CT. Our findings suggested that having more than five sexual partners increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by 3.87 times when compared with having fewer partners (p = 0.005, OR: 3.87, 95% CI 1.24–11.65). Additionally, 4.5% of participants admitted to using drugs. We found that there was a slightly higher proportion of anxiety and depression among women who tested positive for CT. Conclusions: We aimed to establish a basis for the implementation of screening in asymptomatic women. Early identification and preventive measures are crucial in minimizing the long-term complications and transmission of the disease. Sexual behavior must be recognized as a risk factor, and women’s psychological well-being should be given top priority as a vital aspect of their sexual health.

Depression

10.3390/biomedicines12091999

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Performance of an artificial intelligence-based smartphone app for guided reading of SARS-CoV-2 lateral-flow immunoassays

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2022)

David Bermejo-Peláez Daniel Marcos-Mencía Elisa Álamo Nuria Pérez-Panizo Adriana Mousa

Abstract Objectives To evaluate an artificial intelligence-based smartphone application to automatically and objectively read rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results and assess its impact on COVID-19 pandemic management. Methods Overall, 252 human sera from individuals with PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection were used to inoculate a total of 1165 RDTs for training and validation purposes. We then conducted two field studies to assess the performance on real-world scenarios by testing 172 antibody RDTs at two nursing homes and 92 antigen RDTs at one hospital emergency department. Results Field studies demonstrated high levels of sensitivity (100%) and specificity (94.4%, CI 92.8-96.1%) for reading IgG band of COVID-19 antibodies RDTs compared to visual readings from health workers. Sensitivity of detecting IgM test bands was 100% and specificity was 95.8%, CI 94.3-97.3%. All COVID-19 antigen RDTs were correctly read by the app. Conclusions The proposed reading system is automatic, reducing variability and uncertainty associated with RDTs interpretation and can be used to read different RDTs brands. The platform can serve as a real time epidemiological tracking tool and facilitate reporting of positive RDTs to relevant health authorities.

Smartphone app

10.1101/2022.02.16.22271042

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Citations (2)