We are interested in the structural and physical principles that govern assembly and stabilization of complex viruses. As a model system we use adenovirus, a challenging specimen of interest both in basic virology and nanobiomedicine, as well as other structurally related viruses. We approach the problem from an interdisciplinary point of view, combining Biophysics, Computational, Structural and Molecular Biology techniques. Sharing expertise and resources is a key pillar in our work.

Middle size Structural Biology group studying cell surface molecules that regulate the immune system and mediate virus entry into host cells. We investigate protein families linked to immune disorders such as allergic inflammation and asthma. We analyze receptor-ligand interactions related to immune processes, as well as virus binding to cells. In addition, we characterize virus neutralization by humoral immune responses and its correlation with virus entry into cells.

Studying virus factories as scaffolds for viral replication and morphogenesis. Development of new imaging technologies to study viruses in cells and to visualize macromolecular complexes in their natural environment. New antivirals and drug repurposing.

Application of state-of-the-art methodolgies in electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction to study viruses, mainly influenza A virus; and macromolecuar aggregates.

Functional proteomics aspires to draw a complete map of protein dynamics, interactions and posttranslational modifications that take place in the cell. Our goals within the CNB Functional Proteomics Group is to develop and apply state of the art tools to monitor proteins involved in molecular interactions and pathways relevant to pathologies in a variety of tissues, cell types and organisms upon various experimental treatments/conditions.

Activation, proliferation and apoptosis are basic mechanisms for regulation of activated/memory T cell expansion, known as homeostasis. Our research is focused on the identification of differences in the control of expansion between autoimmune and normal memory T cells. The unique characteristics of autoimmune memory T cells might be of therapeutic relevance for autoimmunity treatment.

The overall objective of our group is to understand nanomedicines-mediated molecular and cellular mechanisms in distinct biomedical applications oriented to cancer and autoimmunity treatment, and to use this knowledge to improve nanomedicines functional design for antitumour and autoinmune disease therapies.

The complexity of the B lymphocyte immune response involves changes in cell behavior, switching from highly motile states to stable cell-to-cell interactions (immune synapse), adjustments of the cell mechanical properties (flexibility, stiffness) and cell polarity (MTOC and organelle distribution). Gene mutations or functional alterations in proteins related with these events are frequent in B lymphocyte-pathologies (immunodeficiency, lymphomas), stressing their relevance for B cell function.