The Viral & Human Genomics BSL-3 Laboratory
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Emerging and Re-emerging infectious diseases are those that have recently appeared within a human population or those whose incidence or geographic range has rapidly increased or threatens to increase in the near foreseeable future. Environmental changes due to human activity, increased international mobility, globalization, ecological changes and gaps in public health system infrastructure, and microbial adaptations are some of the main drivers of this problem. Addressing this burden often requires a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious threats. We abelieve that an in-depth understanding of the origins, transmission mechanisms, genetical features, host interactions and preventive measures related to these viruses will enable us to effectively translate our research findings into actionable strategies, thereby mitigating the global impact of these formidable diseases.

The BSL-3 Human and Viral Genomics Laboratory is a highly specialized, multidisciplinary scientific and academic group applying state-of-the-art technological infrastructure profoundly involved in the training of human resources as well as in generating, applying and communicating scientific knowledge linked to the academic, private business, social and governmental sectors to address national health priorities which contribute to the social development of Mexico and Latin America.


(Last updated: February 14, © 2024.)

Our mission

To pioneer cutting-edge research, diagnostics, and interventions in the field of emerging infectious diseases, committed to safeguarding local and global health through innovative scientific approaches, collaboration, the training of highly specialized professionals and the pursuit of knowledge.

Our vision

To be a global leader as a trainer of highly-specialized human resources in the field of biosafety and in the proactive identification, understanding, and mitigation of emerging infectious diseases affecting the worlds most vulnerable populations, striving for a world where our scientific advancements contribute to a resilient and healthier future for all communities.

History

The Viral and Human Genomics Laboratory was created on the 7th of June, 2007 by Dr. JE Noyola, Provost for the Faculty of Medicine and Lic. Mario García Valdez Dean of the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi. In 2015 the lab moved to occupy the first floor of the Faculty's "D Building" with the support of the new provost for the Faculty of Medicine Dr. Alejandro J. Zermeño Guerra and the University Dean M.Arch. Manuel F. Villar Rubio. Dr. CA García has been the principal investigator of the laboratory since its foundation.

The laboratory was envisioned as a research propossal addressing regional health priorities through basic and applied biomedical research. The laboratory has been equipped and maintained through grants provided by the Mexican Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), the UASLP through its Programa Integral de Fortalecimiento Institucional (PIFI) and by the Mexican Education Secretariat through its Programa para el Mejoramiento del Profesorado (PROMEP).

Research interests

Research at the laboratory is focused on addressing emerging infectious diseases of regional concern through molecular epidemiology and virology techniques employing CDC-compliant biosafety guidelines within a BSL-3 biological containment facility. Infectious diseases represent a worldwide public health burden for which molecular biologists can bring about tangible and immediate tools and knowledge capable of improving the quality of life of millions.

Historically our lab has worked towards characterizing the genetic features of locally circulating Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) strains, including those of the pol region and accessory proteins encoding regions such as Vif. We have also worked towards establishing the frequency of anti-retroviral drug resistance mutations (ARVM) in Mexican HIV/AIDS cohorts and provided specialized diagnostic services, viral load quantitation and ARVM detection to vulnerable groups. Additionally, we have also worked towards developing DNA-based molecular methods for the detection and genetic characterization of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), other human retroviruses (HTLV) as well as for Cytomegalovirus (CMV).


Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses)
Our lab has been working towards developing innovative tools for the surveillance of mosquito vectors and arboviruses with particular focus on epidemiological surveillance applications of molecular methods in resource limited settings. We have developed RNA-based molecular methods for the detection of Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and West Nile viruses in mosquitoes and human samples as well as a novel design adult mosquito collection trap which incorporates several chemoattractants to enhance mosquito surveillance. In addition, we have recently described a DNA-based ITS-2 region-centered mosquito molecular taxonomy approach capable of providing genus (Aedes, Anopheles and Culex) typing through PCR-SSP and species level identification of specimens through sequencing. Our study into mosquito population dynamics throughout the year of 2021 was crucial at describing critical mosquito breeding zones, yearly mosquito range expansion and the circulation of the four previously mentioned arboviruses in the city of San Luis Potosi.


Hantaviruses
Our lab has been working towards assessing the risk that hantaviruses represent for Mexico’s human population through the study of rodent host distribution, New World Hantavirus (Sin Nombre, El Moro Canyon, Limestone Canyon, Montano, Huitzilac and Carrizal viruses) prevalence in wild rodents (Peromyscus maniuclatus and others), Old World Hantavirus (Seoul) prevalence in laboratory rats as well as anti-hantavirus antibody seroprevalence in humans involved in high-risk occupations. We have identified the presence of Sin Nombre Virus, Limestone Canyon, New York, Monongahela and Montano viruses in wild rodents as well as a surprisingly high seroprevalence of IgG/IgM antibodies against hantaviruses among veterinarians, biologist and scientists involved in both laboratory and field work with rodents.


Bat-borne viruses
Since 2010, our lab has been working closely with the State Committee for Livestock Promotion and Protection Rabies Prevention Program to provide fast and reliable rabies diagnostics through nucleic acid based molecular methods as well as through Direct Immunofluorescent assays (IFD). During this time, we have participated in the study of bat-borne virus burden including the screening for DENV, ZIKV, CHIKV, WNV, Tacaribe complex arenaviruses, Lyssaviruses, Hantaviruses, and others. By studying the prevalence of these special pathogens having outbreak potential, we seek to establish a statewide risk assessment of the overall viral burden present in bats.


Bioinformatics tools and artificial intelligence algorithms
Our sixteen year long work with epidemiologically relevant viruses has allowed us to compile large datasets of information relating to patient clinical variables, virologic and immunologic profiles and demographics coupled to highly detailed information relating to both viral and human genomic features. As a result, we have established a rich collaboration with UASLP’s Faculty of Engineering to apply and develop artificial intelligence algorithms capable of analyzing this information in a novel way. We have applied support vector machines (SVM) to the search of associations between Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR) genes and leukemia. We have developed web search term outbreak prediction algorithms, have applied Deep Neural Networks to the search of associations between HIV’s Vif region features and HIV viral load and CD4 T cell counts in a Mexican HIV/AIDs cohort. In addition, we have participated through this collaboration in the development of local bioinformatics tools such as the Sequence Unanimity Reformatting eTool (SURe) and more recently, the Mexican Infectious Disease Analysis and Surveillance (MIDAS) Map application. Our experience at applying molecular modeling tools for tha anlysis of the 3D distribution of human and viral gene polymorphism has provided us with the opportunity to be involved in the teaching and training of this discpline.


Biosafety and biosecurity
The Viral and Human Genomics Laboratory of the UASLP Faculty of Medicine has participated for 16 years in epidemiological research projects related to emerging viral pathogens such as HIV, HBV, HCV, Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, West Nile Virus and Rabies. During 2009, our laboratory in collaboration with the Department of Mircobiology of the UASLP Faculty of Medicine played an important role in the study of the influenza A(H1N1)2009 outbreak. During this time, our laboratory generated some of the first genomic sequences of the new virus and implemented several molecular assays for its detection. During 2020, our laboratory again played an important role during the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV2. During this event, we became the first public university laboratory with the capacity and federal authorization to provide human diagnosis. Importantly, in the last 6 years, our laboratory has been involved in the study of betacoronavirus in bats and hantavirus in wild rodents. During this time we have incorporated architectural infrastructure, instruments, personal protective equipment and work discipline corresponding to biosafety level 3 (BSL-3). Currently, we have become the second laboratory nationwide to receive official certification for meeting the design, construction, equipment and operations criteria as a high biological containment facility, biosafety level 3 according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). and the National Institute of Health (NIH). This path has led us to become recognized as regional and national experts on biosafety, operations in high biological containment facilities, biosecurity and secure field work.