Research/Areas of Interest:
HIV prevalence is increasing worldwide, with women from certain areas disproportionately affected by HIV infection. Although sexual intercourse is the main route of HIV acquisition in women, the transmission rate is low. This fact suggests a role for the local innate immune system in protection against HIV infection. Our laboratory previously reported that neutrophils can inactivate HIV in the genital mucosa by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), consisting of extracellular DNA fibers coated with proteins.
My research is focused on identifying the mechanisms that mediate HIV recognition by genital neutrophils, the subsequent release of NETs, and the NET-associated protein composition that inactivates HIV.
Education
BS, Biochemistry, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
MS, Research and Advances in Molecular and Cellular Immunology,
University of Granada, Granada, Spain
PhD Student, Biomedicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain