VISAVET

The general aims of the Center are i) research and training, ii) technology transfer, and iii) activities of scientific and technical advice (aimed at the public and private sector) in the areas of animal health, public health and food safety.
The Centre's expertise has been endorsed, among other achievements, through accreditation by ENAC according to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 and the designation of its laboratories as reference laboratories worldwide for different diseases (e.g., European Union Reference Laboratory for Bovine Tuberculosis, WOAH Reference Laboratories for Mammalian tuberculosis, African swine fever and African horse sickness, Reference Laboratory of Biological Alert Network of Spain (RE-LAB), Official Laboratory for Food Control and Detection of Salmonella of the Region of Madrid, Official control laboratory for food products and materials in contact with food from third countries and member of the Laboratory Network of Public Research in the Region of Madrid).
With a total area of 2700 m2 the facilities of VISAVET comprise laboratories of both Biosafety levels (BSL) 2 and 3, including BSL-3 animal facilities thus allowing working with a wide range of pathogens of different BSL-risk level. Members of the VISAVET center have participated in a large number of EU research projects and EU Tenders, such as imdiTBap, AVANT, KryptonInt, HARMONY, OHEJP, GAP-ONE, NEAR-AMR, EFFORT, RISKSUR, TB-STEP, VENoMYC, EuropeAid/136285/IH/SER/AL and EuropeAid/139852/DH/SER/UA. Since its inception the team has participated in over 190 research projects for over 26 M€ and research contracts with the industry for over 13 M€.

Several research lines headed by different investigators are proposed (researcher leading the project is listed at the end of each line along with their ORCID ID):

1. Novel immunization strategies for infectious diseases in domestic and wild swine (ASF, porcine circovirus type II, tuberculosis)
Exploration of mucosal immunity and immune response dynamics following oral vaccine administration, focusing on long-term protection, safety and booster immunization efficacy. Innovative strategies for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) to improve disease monitoring and control by oral route, optimizing oral bait-based vaccination programs, considering the use of Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs). OMVs hold great potential in novel immunization strategies for infectious diseases in domestic and wild swine, including African Swine Fever (ASF), porcine circovirus type II, and tuberculosis (Jose Angel Barasona; 0000-0003-4066-8454)

2. Biosecurity and disease transmission mitigation in extensive livestock systems
Development of evidence-based biosecurity programs tailored for Mediterranean extensive farming, integrating wildlife population dynamics, pathogen transmission risks, and novel preventive measures (Jose Angel Barasona; 0000-0003-4066-8454).

3. Spatial and quantitative epidemiology of emerging pathogens in the livestock-wildlife-human interface
Application of advanced modeling techniques to characterize and predict the spread of re-emerging infectious diseases at the livestock-wildlife interface, integrating real-time data and risk assessment tools (Jose Angel Barasona; 0000-0003-4066-8454; Julio Alvarez; 0000-0002-8999-9417).

4. One health approach to multi-pathogen surveillance in livestock and wildlife
Implementation of integrated surveillance frameworks to detect and control multiple pathogens (ASF virus, Mycobacterium bovis, Salmonella enterica, porcine circovirus type II, etc.), utilizing genomics and immunological markers to enhance early detection and response strategies (Jose Angel Barasona; 0000-0003-4066-8454; Julio Alvarez; 0000-0002-8999-9417).

5. Development of comprehensive approaches to vector surveillance and detection of arboviruses in Spain: Climate change and globalization are increasing the risk of outbreaks, highlighting the urgent need for integrated surveillance to track the circulation of arboviruses in mosquitoes, animals, and humans. Our team aims to monitor the diversity and spatial distribution of mosquitoes across urban-wildlife gradients, detect viruses in mosquitoes, and assess exposure in both animals and humans to prevent future outbreaks, strengthen public health strategies, and deepen our understanding of these emerging threats in Spain (Tania Ayllon; 0000-0002-1195-5078)

6. Epidemiological surveillance and characterization of pathogens in ticks
Monitoring and characterization of pathogens in ticks collected from wildlife using molecular techniques (PCR, sequencing) with a focus on Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) considering coinfections and their potential role in disease transmission. This research line will also analyze the ecology and distribution of tick vectors, considering environmental and climatic factors influencing their abundance, as well as of wildlife species (deer, wild boars, foxes, and small mammals) and their potential role as sources of transmission to humans and livestock (Nerea García; 0000-0001-7376-4237)

7. Molecular epidemiology of foodborne pathogens with a focus on AMR determinants
Use of whole genome sequencing and modeling approaches to characterize the epidemiology of foodborne pathogens and AMR determinants of relevance in public health (e.g., Salmonella enterica, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, etc.) in livestock, food products and humans (Julio Alvarez; 0000-0002-8999-9417)

8. Integrons at the crossroads of antibiotics resistance and phage defence:
We have recently shown that mobile integrons can encode genes conferring resistance to antibiotics and phage infection. We want to explore the interplay between these two phenomena within this platform to reveal and anticipate how selection in one front can affect resistance in the other. We will use a genetics approach with cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology to study how phage infection and antibiotic treatment can trigger the bacterial SOS response to activate integrons and generate genetic diversity that confers enhanced evolvability to the host against any or both of these environmental insults (Jose Antonio Escudero; 0000-0001-8552-2956)

9. Study of the host response to tuberculosis in domestic ruminants using novel approaches and identification of infection biomarkers useful for the development of innovative diagnostic platforms.
Domestic ruminants are the main reservoirs of zoonotic tuberculosis, and controlling and eradicating the disease in these species is essential to achieve the eradication of human tuberculosis. The application of immunological techniques, both cell- and humoral-based, as well as non-immunological approaches such as metabolomics, enables the identification of new infection biomarkers that may serve as the basis for the development of novel diagnostic platforms, being a key research line in the study of tuberculosis (Javier Bezos; 0000-0003-1913-0545).

10. Environmental samplings as complementary tool for Animal Health.
Exploring the use of environmental samplings for assessing i) the presence, circulation and transmission of pathogens and relevant factors (e.g. ARG) in different settings as farms or domestic animal – wildlife interphase and ii) potential ecological interactions between domestic and wild animals combining sponge-based approach and high-throughput sequencing (Marta Pérez-Sancho; 0000-0002-1493-8978).

Provide a CV along with a letter of interest detailing research interests and expected fit in the selected research line.
Letter of reference will be also considered.