Rosina GIRONES

Description: Professor / Researcher

Organizative Unit: Department of Microbiology

Address

Department of Microbiology
Faculty Biology. University of Barcelona
Diagonal, 645
08028 Barcelona, Spain

Room 18

Floor 0
Faculty of Biology, Annex building

Laboratory 8

Floor 0
Faculty of Biology, Annex building

Telephone: +34 93 403 90 43

 

Educational activities:

Coordinator of the course "Virology" in the Degree of Biology and Biochemistry.

Coordinator of the course "Diagnostic of viruses and other microorganisms in food" in the degree of Science and Technology of food.

Post-graduated curses as: "Microbiological contamination of the environment" and "Seminars" in the program of  PhD. studies "Environmental Microbiology and Biotecnology".
 
 

Research:

She is responsible of the laboratory of research "Virus transmitted through water and food". The main studied pathogens are  hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV and HEV), enteroviruses, adenoviruses, noroviruses, the polyomaviruses JCV, BKV and SV40 and are working at the present also in a project on prionic proteins.

The members of this research group are (left to right, top to bottom in the picture):

- Ayalkibet Hundesa , ahundesa@ub.edu Veterinarian and PhD student mainly involved in source tracking  of  fecal contamination in water through the study of diverse animal viruses in the environment.

- Byron Calgua de León, byroncalgua@ub.edu Microbiologist and PhD student involved in detection and quantitation of adenoviruses and noroviruses in bathing water.

- Néstor Albiñana-Gimenez, nealbinana@ub.edu Biologist and PhD student involved in detection and quantitation of adenovirus and human poliomavirus in drinking water as a method for evaluating the water purification plant processes and molecular biology of human polyomaviruses.

- Carlos Maluquer de Motes, cmaluquer@ub.edu Biologist and PhD student involved in the study of prionic proteins in the environment and caracterization of animal adenoviruses.

- Dr. Sílvia Bofill-Mas, sbofill@ub.edu PhD mainly involved in the study of mechanisms of transmission of polyomaviruses and the use of adenoviruses and polyomaviruses as indicators of human viral contamination.

- Dr. Rosina Girones, rgirones@ub.edu Head of the research group.

- Dr. Pilar Clemente-Casares, pclemente@ub.edu PhD mainly involved in the study of the molecular epidemiology of HEV, HAV and their transmission through the environment and food.

Susana Calle (Technician)

Participates in the "Consolidated group of research" as defined by the Catalan government:  Microbiology of water related with health . Is a member of the Center of Reference of Biotecnology of the Catalan Government: "Centre de Referència d'R+D en Biotecnologia, CERBA"

Principal research projects and contracts:    

- 2002-present.

Catalan Government, Health Department, Public Health Laboratory.

Contracts for the analysis of HAV and Noroviruses in shellfish.

Role: PI

-2002-2005                  

Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (EET2001-4814-C02-01)

Excretion and transmission of prionic proteins through sewage water and fecal contamination.

The goal of this study is the evaluation of the excretion by animals or humans of prions and their potential accumulation in sewage or sludge. Collaboration with the Center for research on Animal Sanity (CRESA).

Role: PI and Coordinator

-2005-2007

Catalan Government, (Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca, 1997SGR00069)

Health-related water Microbiology

This is a grant for the support of the research of consolidated research groups with the objective of developing and apply new technologies for the detection and study of micro organism present in the environment

Role: Co-Investigator

-2005-2008

Spanish ministry of Education and Science (AGL2005-07776-C03-02)

Development of molecular methods for the detection and epidemiological typing of pathogenic human emergent viruses of interest in food safety.

The goal is to develop and validate methods for the study of emergent viruses, including adenoviruses, noroviruses, hepatitis A, hepatitis E and the polyomavirus JCV and to analyze the epidemiological implications and the specific food-related transmission mechanisms.

Role: PI

-2004-2006

Foundation AGBAR.

Emergent viruses in water and the use of polyomaviruses and adenoviruses as indicators of the quality of water.

The goal is to analyze the presence of HEV, adenoviruses, the human polyomaviruses BKV and JCV in water and provide tools by developing quantitative real-time PCR techniques for the control and evaluation of the efficiency of water purification treatments.

Role: PI

-2005-2007:

European Commission, Policy-oriented research, (513648 (SSPI)).

Methods for the concentration and detection of adenoviruses and noroviruses in European bathing waters with reference to the revision of the bathing water directive 76/160/EEC -VIROBATHE-  

The goal of this study has been the development of validated methods for the concentration, detection, quantification and typification of adenoviruses and noroviruses in bathing waters,

Role: PI of the University of Barcelona, leader of the work package for quantification by Real-time PCR and typification of viruses in the project.

Link to VIROBATHE site.

Completed Research Support of last few years

-1997-2003:     

CBER, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (FDA 122987 00 97 GF 00)              

Detection and recovery of field strains of SV40

The goal of this study is to study the potential infection of SV40 in humans, isolating SV40 strains from urban sewage of wide divergent geographical areas

Role: PI

-1998-2001:

FAIR-CT98-4039                                            

European Union, Program: AGRI - Agriculture and agro-industry including fisheries. AIR.

Development of techniques for monitoring and control of human viral contamination of shellfish

The goal of this study has been the development of methods for the detection, quantification and typification of human viruses: adenoviruses, enteroviruses, virus of hepatitis A and Norwalk-like viruses in shellfish, the distribution of these viruses in diverse geographical areas in Europe and their relation with potential indicators of viral contamination

Role: PI and Coordinator

- 1998-2001:

European Union, Program: COPE - INCO-COPERNICUS (IC18CT98 0282 )  

Evaluation of the usefulness of bacteriophages as model micro organisms for the assessment of water treatment process and water quality

The goal of this study is the evaluation of the water treatment processes for the elimination of viruses using bacteriophages as indicators

Role: Co-investigator

-2000-2002:                                                    

Spanish Ministry of Sanity and Consumption (FIS 00/1123)

Identification of new strains of the virus of hepatitis E (HEV) causing acute hepatitis and of their potential animal reservoirs

The goal of this research project is the study of the molecular epidemiology of the HEV infections in the population of industrialized countries, evaluating excretion, transmission, pathology and potential animal reservoirs of the virus.

Role: PI

Selected bibliography:

A. Bosch, F. Lucena, R. Girones & J. Jofre. 1986. Survey of viral pollution in Besos river. Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, 58 (1), 87-91.

 J. Jofre, A. Bosch, F. Lucena, R. Girones & C. Tartera. 1986. Evolution of bacteriophages active against Bacteroides fragilis as indicators of the Virological Quality of Water. Water, Science and Technology, 18 (10), 167-173.

 A. Bosch, F. Lucena, R. Girones & J. Jofre. 1988. Occurrence of enteroviruses in deep marine sediment. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 34 (7), 921-924.

 R. Girones, J. Jofre & A. Bosch. 1989. Natural inactivation of enteric viruses in seawater. Journal of Environmental Quality, 18 (1), 34-39.

 R. H. Miller, S. Kaneko, C. Chung, R. Girones & R. H. Purcell. 1989. Compact Organization of the hepatitis B virus genome. Hepatology, 9 (2), 322-327.

 R. Girones, Cote, P.J., Hornbuckle, W.E., Tennant, B.C.,Gerin, R. H. Purcell & R. H. Miller. 1989. Complete nucleotide sequence of a molecular clone of WHV that is infectious in the natural host. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. USA. 86, 1846-1849.

 R. Girones & R. H. Miller. 1989. Mutation rate of the hepadnavirus genome. Virology, 170, 595-597.

 L. Schwartzbrod, A. Bosch, F. Lucena, R. Girones, C. Beril, & J. Jofre. 1989. Recovery of solid-associated virus: evaluation of different procedures. Zentralblatt für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin. 188, 559-565.

 R. Girones, J. Jofre & A. Bosch. 1989. Isolation of marine bacteria with antiviral properties. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 35 (11), 1015-1021.

 R. H. Miller, R. Girones, P. J. Cote, W. E. Hornbuckle, T. Chestnut, B. H. Baldwin, B. E. Korba, B. C. Tennant, J. L. Gerin & R. H. Purcell. 1990. Evidence against a requisite role for defective virus in the establishment of persistent hepadnavirus infections. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. USA, 87, 9329-9332.

 A. Allard, R. Girones, P. Juto & G. Wadell. 1990. Polymerase chain reaction for detection of adenovirus in stool samples. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 28 (12), 2659-2667.

 R. Girones, M. Divizia & R. Deloince. 1991. Techniques de mise en évidence des adénovirus. In: Virologie des Milieux Hydriques. Chapitre 9, 237-251. Ed. Lavoisier. Paris.

 H-S, Chen, S. Kaneko, R. Girones, R. W. Anderson, W.E. HornbucklE, B. C. Tennant, P. J. Cote, J. L. Gerin, R. H. Purcell & R. H. Miller. 1993. The woodchuck hepatitis virus X gene is important for establishment of virus infection in woodchucks. Journal of Virology, 67 (3), 1218-1226.

 R. Girones, A. Allard, G. Wadell & J. Jofre. 1993. Application of PCR to the detection of adenovirus in polluted waters. Water Science and Technology,  27 (3-4), 235-241.

 M. Puig, J. Jofre, F. Lucena, A. Allard, G. Wadell & R. Girones. 1994. Detection of adenovirus and enterovirus in polluted waters by nested PCR amplification. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 60 (8), 2963-2970.

 R. Girones, M. Puig, A. Allard, F. Lucena, G. Wadell & J. Jofre. 1995. Detection of adenovirus and enterovirus by PCR amplification in polluted waters. Water, Science and Technology, 31, 351-357.

 R. Girones, M. Puig, F. Lucena, A. Allard, G. Wadell & J. Jofre. 1995. PCR in the detection of viruses in the environment. Wiener Mitteilungen. Wasser. Abwasser. Gewässer, 128 : 93-97.

 Pina, S., M. Puig, F. Lucena, J. Jofre, R. Girones. 1998. Viral pollution in the environment and in shellfish; detection of human adenovirus by PCR as an index of human viruses. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(9):3376-3382.

 Pina S., A. Creus, N.González, R. Girones, M. Felip, R. Sommaruga. 1998. Abundance, morphology and distribution of planktonic virus-like particles in two high-mountain lakes. Journal of Plankton Research, 20 (12):2413-2421.

 Pina S., J. Jofre, S.U. Emerson, R.H. Purcell, R. Girones. 1998. Characterization of a strain of infectious hepatitis E virus isolated from sewage in an area where hepatitis E is not endemic. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(11):4485-4488.

 Pina S., M. Puig, F. Lucena, J. Jofre, R. Girones. 1999. Detection of human pathogen viruses in waters with fecal pollution. Analytical Methodology in the Environmental Field, 177-186. D. Prada and V. Cerda eds. A Coruña (Spain).

 Puig M., R. Girones. 1999. Genomic structure of a phage B40-8 of Bacteroides fragilis. Microbiology, 145: 1661-1670.

 Sommaruga R., B. Sattler, A. Oberleiter, A. Willw., S. Wögrath-Sommaruga, R. PSENNER, M. Felip, L.Camarero, S. Pina, R. Girones, J. Catalan. 1999. An in situ enclosure experiment to test the solar UVB impact on plankton in a high-altitude mountain lake. II. Effects on the microbial food web. Journal of Plankton Research, 21(5): 859-876.

 Bofill-Mas S., S. Pina, R. Girones. 2000. Documenting the epidemiologic patterns of polyomaviruses in human populations by studying their presence in urban sewage. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 66(1): 238-245.

 Puig M., J. Jofre, R. Girones. 2000. Detection of phages infecting Bacteroides fragilis HSP40 using a specific DNA probe. Journal of Virological Methods, 88: 163-173.

 Pina S., M. Buti, M. Cotrina, J. Piella, R. Girones. 2000. HEV identified in serum from humans with acute hepatitis and in sewage of animal origin in Spain. Journal of Hepatology, 33:826-833.

 Puig M., S. Pina, F. Lucena, J. Jofre, R. Girones. 2000. Description of a DNA amplification procedure for the detection of bacteriophages of Bacteroides fragilis HSP40 in environmental samples. Journal of Virological Methods, 89:159-166.

 Muniain-Mujika I., R. Girones, F. Lucena. 2000. Viral contamination of shellfish: evaluation of methods and analysis of bacteriophages and human viruses. Journal of Virological Methods, 89: 109-118.

 H.T. Agostini, A. Deckhut, D. V. Jobes, R. Girones, G. Schlunck, M.G. Prost, C. Frias, E. Pérez-Trallero, C.F. Ryschkewitsch and G. L. Stoner. 2001. Genotypes of JC Virus in East, Central and Southwest Europe. Journal of General Virology. 82:1221-1331.

 Bofill-Mas, S., R. Girones. 2001. Excretion and transmission of JCV in human populations. Journal of. Neurovirology, 7(4): 345-349.

 Bofill-Mas, S., M. Formiga-Cruz, P. Clemente-Casares, F. Calafell, R. Girones. 2001. Potential Transmisión of Human Polyomaviruses through the Gastrointestinal Tract after Exposure to Virions or Viral DNA. Journal of Virology 75:10290-10299.

Pina S., Buti M., Jardí R., Clemente–Casares P. Jofre J., Girones R. 2001. Genetic analysis of the hepatitis A virus strains recovered from the environment and from acute hepatitis patients. Journal of General Virology. 82:2955-2963.

 Muniain-Mujika, I., Girones, R., Tofiño-Quesada, G., Calvo, M., Lucena, F. 2002. Depuration dynamics of viruses in shellfish. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 77:125-133.

 Hernroth, B.E., Conden-Hansson, A-C., Rehnstam-Holm, A-S., S., Girones, R., Allard A.K. 2002. Environmental Factors Influencing Human Viral Pathogens and Their Potential Indicator Organisms in the Blue Mussel, Mytilus edulis: the First Scandinavian Report. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68 (9): 4523-4533.  

 Formiga-Cruz, M., Tofiño-Quesada, G.,  Bofill-Mas, S., Lees, D.N., Henshilwood, K., Allard A.K., Condin-Hansson, A-C., Hernroth, B.E., Vantarakis, A., Tsibouxi, A., Papapetropoulou, M., Furones, D., Girones, R. 2002. Distribution of human viral contamination in shellfish from different growing areas in Greece, Spain, Sweden and UK. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68(12): 5990-5998.

Formiga-Cruz, M., Allard A.K., Condin-Hansson, A-C., Henshilwood, K., Hernroth, B.E., Jofre, J., Lees, D.N., Lucena, F., Papapetropoulou, M., Rangdale, R.E., A., Tsibouxi, Vantarakis, A., Girones, R. 2003. Evaluation of Potential Indicators of Viral Contamination in Shellfish with Applicability to Diverse Geographical Areas. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69(3):1556-1563.

 Muniain-Mujika, I., Calvo, M., Lucena, F.,  Girones R. 2003. Comparative analysis of viral pathogens and potential indicators in shellfish. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 83:75-85.

 Bofill-Mas, S., Girones, R. 2003. Role of the Environment in the Transmission of JCV. Journal of Neurovirology, 9(Suppl.1):54-58.

 Clemente-Casares, P., Pina, S., Buti, M., Jardi, R., Martín, M., Bofill-Mas, S., Girones, R.. 2003. Epidemiological pattern of Hepatitis E Virus infection in industrialized countries. Emerging Infectious Diseases 9(4):448-454.

 Bofill-Mas, S., Clemente-Casares, P., Major, E.O., Curfman, B.,  Girones, R. 2003. Analysis of the excreted JC Virus strains and their potential oral transmission. Journal of Neurovirology, 9(4):498-507.

 Maluquer de Motes, C., Clemente-Casares, P., Hundesa, A., Martín, M., Girones, R. 2003. Detection of bovine and porcine adenovirus in fecal and environmental samples. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70: 1448-1454.

Banks M., G.S. Heath, S.S. Grierson, D.P. King, A. Gresham, R. Girones, F. Widen,  T.J. Harrison. 2004. Evidence for the presence of Hepatitis E virus in pigs in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Record, 154:223-227.

 Brion, G., S. Lingeriddy, T.R. Neelakantan, M. Wang, R. Girones, D. Lees, A. Allard, A. Vantarakis. 2004. Probing Norwalk-like virus presence in shellfish with artificial neural networks. Water, Science and Technology, 50(1):125-9.

 Bofill-Mas, S., N. Albiñana-Giménez, P.A. Pipkin, P.D. Minor, R. Girones. 2004. Isolation of SV40 from the environment of a colony of cynomolgus monkeys naturally infected with the virus. Virology, 330:1-7.

 Buti, M., Clemente-Casares, P., Jardí, R., Formiga-Cruz, M., Schaper, M., Valdes, A., Rodríguez-Frias, F., Esteban, R., Girones R. 2004. Sporadic cases of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Spain. Journal of Hepatology 41:126-131.

 Formiga-Cruz, M.; Hundesa, A.; Clemente-Casares, P.; Albiñana-Giménez, N.; Allard, A.; Girones, R. 2005. Nested Multiplex PCR assay for detection of human enteric viruses in shellfish and sewage. Journal of Virological Methods, 125:111-115.

 Bofill-Mas, S; Clemente-Casares, P., Albiñana-Giménez, N., Maluquer de Motes Porta, C., Hundesa Gonfa, A., Girones Llop, R. 2005. Efectos sobre la salud de la contaminación de agua y alimentos por virus emergentes humanos. Rev. Esp. Salud Pública, 79:253-269.

 Girones, R. 2005. Human viruses in the environment. Editorial. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science. In press.

 Brion G, Viswanathan C, Neelakantan TR, Lingireddy S, Girones R, Lees D, Allard A, Vantarakis A.  2005. Artificial neural network prediction of viruses in shellfish.  Appl Environ Microbiol. 71(9):5244-53