Fernando Almazan
Research areas: Medicine · Infectious Diseases · Animal Virus Infections Studies · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Virology and Viral Diseases
0000-0002-5752-8469
About
During the last 30 years, my research interest has focused on the molecular biology, immunology, and pathogenesis of complex DNA viruses (ASFV and vaccinia virus) and positive-stranded RNA viruses, including coronaviruses (TGEV, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43 and FIPV) and flaviviruses (Dengue and Zika viruses), with a high impact in human and/or animal health. Since my appointment as an independent investigator in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the National Centre for Biotechnology of the Spanish National Research Council, my research has focused mainly on the study of virus-host interaction, using human coronaviruses (CoVs), and more recently flaviviruses, as experimental models. I have made important scientific contributions. I was pioneer in the molecular characterization of the transcription mechanism of ASFV and the development of a reverse genetic systems to manipulate the virus. I have extensive knowledge in state-of-the-art reverse genetic techniques for positive-stranded RNA viruses that have provided novel and powerful tools for the investigation of several aspect of the biology of these viruses. In this sense, I developed the first reverse genetic system for CoV, which is based on the use of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). Using this reverse genetic approach, I have generated infectious clones for other 6 CoVs (including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV), dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), which have been used to study the molecular bases of replication, virus-host interaction and viral pathogenesis of these viruses in vitro and in vivo. In addition, I have developed CoV-based viral vectors susceptible to be used as candidate vaccines.
During my scientific career I participated in 30 research projects (8 as PI) and published more than 60 papers in prestigious international journals, 3 patents and 6 book chapters. H index: 32.
Employment
Employment history is unavailable.
Education
Education history is unavailable.
Projects & Funding
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Control de la infección del SARS-CoV-2 mediante la modulación del metabolismo energético celular Fundación General CSIC2020 - 2021
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CBRNE Detection in containers European Commission2018 - 2021
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Single-cycle infectious Zika virus for the development of a live attenuated vaccine National Institutes of Health2017 - 2019
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Heterogeneidad no genética y sus implicaciones fisiopatológicas Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad2017 - 2020
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NIAID Centers of Excellence for influenza research and Surveillance, MERS-CoV pathogenic factors and attenuation National Institutes of Health2013 - 2014
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Estudio de las bases moleculares de la replicación de coronavirus Fundación General CSIC2010 - 2010
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Interacción virus-huesped: identificación de nuevas dianas de actuación antiviral Comunidad de Madrid2007 - 2010
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Desarrollo de sistemas de potenciación de la respuesta inmune en vacunas recombinantes Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria2005 - 2008
Publications (87)
- Synergistic Anti-Zika Activity of Repurposed Statin and Clofibrate Combinations: Evidence from Oleic Acid-Mediated Metabolic Complementation Save
- Viral transport in evaporating sessile model respiratory droplets Save
- Essential Envelope Spike Motifs for Cell Entry of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus and Its Evolution in Coronavirus Save
- Viral transport in evaporating sessile model respiratory droplets Save
- Editorial for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Topical Collection Save
- Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Reverse Genetics Approaches for SARS-CoV-2. Save
- Reverse Genetics of Zika Virus Using a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome. Save
- A high resolution differential mobility analyzer for the study of large virus particles Save
- Spontaneous Interconversion between Different Narrowly Defined Shapes of Rotavirus Double-Layered Particles Studied in Real Time by High-Resolution Mobility Analysis Save
- Chemotherapy induces cell plasticity; controlling plasticity increases therapeutic response. Save
- SARS-CoV-2-encoded small RNAs are able to repress the host expression of SERINC5 to facilitate viral replication Save
- Rescue of SARS-CoV-2 from a Single Bacterial Artificial Chromosome. Save
- Identification of Inhibitors of ZIKV Replication Save
- Rescue of SARS-CoV-2 from a single bacterial artificial chromosome Save
- In vivo rescue of recombinant Zika virus from an infectious cDNA clone and its implications in vaccine development. Save
- A natural polymorphism in Zika virus NS2A protein responsible of virulence in mice. Save
- Rescue of Recombinant Zika Virus from a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome cDNA Clone. Save
- Potent Inhibition of Zika Virus Replication by Aurintricarboxylic Acid. Save
- New Advances on Zika Virus Research Save
- An Alanine-to-Valine Substitution in the Residue 175 of Zika Virus NS2A Protein Affects Viral RNA Synthesis and Attenuates the Virus In Vivo. Save