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Research Group on Evolution and Health: Experimental Evolution and Epidemiology - EVOSALUD

Description

Our research group is dedicated to a multi-scale study of evolutionary processes and the application of acquired knowledge to improve the health status of human collectives. This description is necessarily generic and ambiguous, and it focuses on a series of research activities that are detailed below:

  • Epidemiology and evolution of pathogenic microorganisms. We take advantage of the research capability granting us access to genetic information (gene sequences and genomes) on recent history and evolutionary processes that act and have acted on microorganisms, normally bacteria and viruses, and enable follow-up and monitoring as a way to track the origin of transmission paths, the introduction and expansion of genes and drug-resistant variants, etc.
  • Evolutionary systems biology. The recent developments in massive sequencing techniques and bioinformatics allow a rebuild of the evolutionary history of organisms, their genes and genomes, as well as that of components formed by all the various systems. The implementation of these methodologies in pathogenic organisms and their hosts makes us reach a better understanding on pathogenesis as well as alternatives and possibilities to act against them.
  • Mutation and viral evolution (VIRMUT). A mutation represents the ultimate source for genetic variation and, as such, a key factor that clarifies the great variability and rapid evolution of ARN viruses. In this field, we estimated the virus mutation rate in animals, plants and bacteriophages (RNA as well as DNA ones). As of today, we are working on an in vitro and in vivo mutation rates estimate of different, biomedically relevant human viruses, such as HIV-1 or hepatitis C. With the use of different experimental approximations, we count on being able to detect mechanisms yet unknown in the creation of RNA diversity.
  • Biologic complexity and robustness. The organisms’ capacity to withstand mutations (genetic or mutational robustness) determines the strength of natural selection and plays an important role in evolution. With the directed mutagenesis technique, we characterised the distribution of mutational effects based on the biological efficacy of various RNA viruses. This allowed us to observe notoriously low robustness levels. Moreover, our group pointed out the existence of a correlation between epistasis (interaction between genes or loci) and genomic complexity. The Systems Biology currently offers tools that allow to test these predictions.
  • Experimental evolution of oncolytic viruses. Different RNA viruses show a certain degree of spontaneous selectiveness towards cancer cells, which is convenient in potential candidates for the development of therapeutic applications. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a RNA virus with natural oncolytic activity and it’s usually used in our laboratory for studies on experimental evolution. The VSV adaptation to different cancer cell lines by experimental evolution will enable the obtainment of potential oncolytics, provided it results in a relevant decrease of its efficacy in primary cells. The virus candidates will be tested in vivo through infections in mice.
Goals CT

Study of evolutionary processes and its implementation in commonly pathogenic microorganisms to prevent and cure illnesses.

Research lines
  • Evolutionary Systems Biology

    Study of the evolution of complete genomes and the genes present in them, with special emphasis on bacteria and viruses.

  • Viral mutation and evolution

    Using various experimental approaches, we aim to identify and characterise mechanisms in the generation of RNA virus diversity, and to obtain quantitative estimates of mutation rates in RNA viruses.

  • Molecular epidemiology

    Use of genetic and genomic information of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) to study their spread in human populations and in their natural reservoirs, complementing the tasks of epidemiological care and control.

  • Experimental evolution of viruses

    We use viruses as model organisms in the laboratory to study evolutionary processes on an experimental basis.

Management
  • GONZALEZ CANDELAS, FERNANDO
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
View details
 Contactefernando.gonzalez@uv.es
Collaborators
  • LOPEZ LABRADOR, FRANCISCO JAVIER
  • PDI-Titular d'Universitat
View details
 Contactef.xavier.lopez@uv.es
Non-UV research staff

Partners

  • María Alma Bracho Lapiedra - FISABIO-Valencia
  • Iñaki Comas Espadas - FISABIO-Valencia
  • María Ester Lázaro Lázaro - INTA-CSIC-Madrid
  • Francisco Xavier López Labrador - FISABIO-Valencia
  • Antonio Mas López - UCLM-Castilla-La Mancha
  • Matteo Negroni - FRA-UStrasbourg
  • Marco Vignuzzi - FRA-IPASTEUR
  • Ruiz Roldán, Lidia.
  • Martinez Priego, Lucia.
  • Corpa Arenas, Juan Manuel.
  • Sanz Carbonell, Alejandro.

Work team

  • Juan Ángel Patiño Galindo - FISABIO-Valencia
  • Paula Ruiz Hueso - FISABIO-Valencia
  • Leonor Sánchez Buso - FISABIO-Valencia
Scientific production by UV researcher
  • GONZALEZ CANDELAS, FERNANDO
    PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
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CNAE

Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering

Associated structure
Institut de Biologia Integrativa de Sistemes (I2SYSBIO)

i2sysbio.uv.es

iu.i2sysbio@uv.es

Contact group details
Molecular Epidemiology (EVOSALUD)

Burjassot/Paterna Campus

Avda. De Cataluña, 21

46020 Valencia (Valencia)

963 543 653

Geolocation

www.uv.es/evosalud

fernando.gonzalez@uv.es

Contact people
  • GONZALEZ CANDELAS, FERNANDO
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
View details
 Contactefernando.gonzalez@uv.es