Presentación
PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY, SYSTEMIC AND NEUROLOGICAL INFECTIONS
& HOST IMMUNE RESPONSE

infeccionespediatricasyrespuestainmune@idipaz.es

Excellent Group
Composition
Name
Position
Institution
Jefe de Sección del Servicio de Pediatría Hospitalaria, Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales
Hospital Universitario La Paz
María Rosa Albañil Ballesteros
Pediatra Titular
Centro de Salud de Cuzco. Atención Primaria
Sonia Alcolea Ruiz
Investigadora Predoctoral
Hospital Universitario La Paz
María Mercedes Bueno Campaña
Facultativo Especialista de Área en Pediatría
Hospital Fundación de Alcorclón
María Cabrerizo Sanz
Investigador titular
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Sara Camarero Serrano
Ayudante de Investigación
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Inmaculada Casas Flechas
Investigador Cientifico de OPIs
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Teresa del Rosal Rabes
Médico Adjunto de Pediatría Hospitalaria y Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales
Hospital Universitario La Paz
María Luz García  García
Jefe de Servicio de Pediatría
Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa
Paula García Sánchez
Médico Adjunto en Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Carlos Grasa Lozano
Contrato Río Hortega
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Jara Hurtado Gallego
Investigadora Postdoctoral
CIBER
María de la Montaña Iglesias Caballero
Técnica Superior Especializada de OPIs
Centro Nacional de Microbiología. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Ana María Méndez Echevarría
Facultativo Especialista de Área en Pediatría General
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Mar Molinero Calamita
Colaboradora I+D+I
Centro Nacional de Microbiología. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Juan Francisco Pozo Sánchez
Investigador Titular de OPIs
Unidad de Virus Respiratorios y Gripe. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Clara Udaondo Gascón
Facultativo Especialista en  Reumatologa Pediátrica
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Strategic Objective
Infectious diseases are the most frequent pathology in childhood. Our group is focused in the study of paediatric infections with special attention to those associated to viruses.
The acute respiratory infections (ARIs) of lower respiratory tract are the most frequent infectious diseases in humans and these suppose at least 4 million of deaths yearly in the world. A high proportion of these infections are related with viral aetiology and particularly in children. In our country, the viral ARIs are one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization in children less than 2 years old. Using the metagenomics and applying an adapted method designed and developed for ARIs study, we will have achieve an increased knowledge of viral infections in hospitalized children of all ages, as well as in outpatients. Metagenomics could allow recognizing new viruses and also permits a deeper knowledge of traditional respiratory virus groups. Any new technological tool and its application to respiratory infection will mean an improvement in the diagnosis and monitoring of these types of infections and their immediate use is specified for resolving alerts in public health associated with respiratory viral infections is like the case of MERS-CoV, avian flu, or other influenza pandemics. . The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease in childhood has occupied a large part of the research of our group since its appearance We are also interested in the study of the immunological response of the infants to the viral infections, and the mechanisms that allow develop recurrent wheezing, or asthma (the most frequent chronic disease in children).
Emerging viral infections have also an important role in the pathology in childhood. Recently picornaviruses, mainly human parechovirus and enterovirus are causing outbreaks and several neurological infections, morbidity and mortality. They were associated with a wide range of pathologies, from febrile syndrome to respiratory, neurological or systemic diseases. In newborns, these infections can be severe, even fatal.  Surveillance of these polio-like diseases is a public health concern and it is one of our group objectives. 
Finally, to study viral infections in high risk group of children (newborn, chronic lung diseases, immunodefiencies, oncologic patients…) is also a priority in our group.
Research Lines
• Respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children. Viral metagenomic methods applied to the severe infections of the lower respiratory tract. SARS-CoV-2 infections in children.
• Respiratory viral infections in children in Primary Care. Diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in Primary Care.   
• Respiratory viral infections in high risk group of children (newborn, chronic lung diseases, immunodefiencies, oncologic patients…). Torquteno virus in immunocompromised children.
• Applying of new technologies as echography to value risk conditions in viral infections.
• Immune response of the children and interleukins profile in infants with respiratory viral infections and correlation with the development of recurrent wheezing in the first years of life. Role of microbiome
• Detection and characterization of enterovirus (EV) and parechovirus (PeV) systemic and neurological infections in children. 
• Neurological development in children with EV and PeV infections.
• Kawasaki disease
• Osteoarticular infections
• Infections in children with rheumatic diseases.