Our group essentially studies the HIV envelope protein. This protein is the only viral protein exposed to the outside of the HIV particle. It is, therefore:
These two aspects of the viral envelope have shaped our activity in recent years. First, we have invested significant efforts in studying the humoral response to the viral envelope, particularly by developing new tests to identify protective and non-protective responses and by optimizing technologies to isolate and produce monoclonal antibodies.
We have also developed two platforms for virus-like particles and proteoliposomes in order to produce anti-HIV vaccines that generate protective antibodies.
CD4 cell destruction, chronic inflammation and immune system ageing (known as inflamm-ageing) have been addressed through the analysis of different cohorts of HIV-infected patients, for whom we have extensively characterized the function of the viral envelope and cell production and destruction mechanisms (thymic production, activation, immunosenescence and cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis and autophagy).
The ultimate goal of both research lines is to develop protective anti-HIV vaccines and therapeutic strategies (based on inflamm-ageing antibodies or modulators) for HIV-infected individuals that contribute to functional cure or eradication of HIV.
Julià Blanco (PhD in Biochemistry, University of Barcelona (UB), 1994) leads the Cell Virology and Immunology (VIC) group at IrsiCaixa. He has extensively studied the role of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) in virus-cell or cell-to-cell interactions and HIV cytopathicity in...
Curriculum
Principal Investigator
Julià Blanco
jblanco@irsicaixa.es
Laboratory technician
Silvia Marfil
smarfil@irsicaixa.es
Statistician
Víctor Urrea Gales
vurrea@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Montse Jiménez
mjimenez@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Ferran Tarrés
ftarres@irsicaixa.es
Post-doctoral researcher
Carmen Aguilar
caguilar@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Raquel Ortiz
rortiz@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Edwards Pradenas
epradenas@irsicaixa.es
Post-doctoral researcher
Benjamin Trinité
btrinite@irsicaixa.es
Senior laboratory technician
Ismael Varela Tang
ivarela@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Ana Barajas
abarajas@irsicaixa.es
Laboratory technician
Carla Rovirosa
crovirosa@irsicaixa.es
Pre-doctoral researcher
Anna Pons Grifols
apons@irsicaixa.es
