Biology subjects

Lorca-Oro, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Lorca-Oro, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

First outbreak of Lumpy Skin disease in Catalonia, Spain, 2025-2026

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging cattle disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), with major impacts on the industry, being classified as a Category A disease. Although it was historically confined to Africa, LSD has expanded into the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Here, we report two LSDV genomes from the first outbreak detected in Catalonia, Spain, in October 2025. The genomes were assembled from high-throughput sequencing data generated from two homogenized skin nodules. Comparative phylogenetic analyses were performed using all available complete LSDV genomes and rpo30 gene sequences. These analyses placed the LSDV isolates detected in Catalonia within clade 1.2, closely related to the isolates recently reported in Sardinia, Italy. Our findings also support a connection between recent south-western Europe and central African strains, possibly through northern Africa, and highlight the need for more complete genomes to clarify the origin and connections among recent LSDV outbreaks.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Preclinical efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of PHH-1V, a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on a novel recombinant RBD fusion heterodimer of SARS-CoV-2.

Current C0VID-19 vaccines have been associated with a decline in infection rates, prevention of severe disease and a decrease in mortality rates. However, SARS-CoV-2 variants are continuously evolving, and development of new accessible COVID-19 vaccines is essential to mitigate the pandemic. Here, we present data on preclinical studies in mice of a receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based recombinant protein vaccine (PHH-1V) consisting of an RBD fusion heterodimer comprising the B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variants formulated in SQBA adjuvant, an oil-in-water emulsion. A prime-boost immunisation with PHH-1V in BALB/c and K18-hACE2 mice induced a CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response and RBD-binding antibodies with neutralising activity against several variants, and also showed a good tolerability profile. Significantly, RBD fusion heterodimer vaccination conferred 100% efficacy, preventing mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infected K18-hACE2 mice, but also reducing Beta, Delta and Omicron infection in lower respiratory airways. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of this recombinant vaccine strategy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

The HIV-1 ribonucleoprotein dynamically regulates its condensate behavior and drives acceleration of protease activity through membrane-less granular phase-separation

A growing number of studies indicate that mRNAs and long ncRNAs can affect protein populations by assembling dynamic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules. These phase separated molecular sponges, stabilized by quinary (transient and weak) interactions, control proteins involved in numerous biological functions. Retroviruses such as HIV-1 form by self-assembly when their genomic RNA (gRNA) traps Gag and GagPol polyprotein precursors. Infectivity requires extracellular budding of the particle followed by maturation, an ordered processing of ~2400 Gag and ~120 GagPol by viral protease (PR). This leads to a condensed gRNA-NCp7 nucleocapsid and a CAp24-self-assembled capsid surrounding the RNP. The choreography by which all of these components dynamically interact during virus maturation is one of the missing milestones to fully depict the HIV life cycle. Here, we describe how HIV-1 has evolved a dynamic RNP granule with successive weak-strong-moderate quinary NC-gRNA networks during the sequential processing of the GagNC domain. We also reveal two palindromic RNA-binding triads on NC, KxxFxxQ and QxxFxxK, that provide quinary NC-gRNA interactions. Consequently, the nucleocapsid complex appears properly aggregated for capsid reassembly and reverse transcription, mandatory processes for viral infectivity. We show that PR is sequestered within this RNP and drives its maturation/condensation within minutes, this process being most effective at the end of budding. We anticipate such findings will stimulate further investigations of quinary interactions and emergent mechanisms in crowded environments throughout the wide and growing array of RNP granules.

molecular biology↗