Viral and Bacterial Infections

Although mortality from infectious disease has declined globally, viral and bacterial infections still disproportionately impact the world's most vulnerable populations. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are major killers in young children while syphilis is the main cause of stillbirth and perinatal mortality. HIV, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis are among the leading causes of deaths due to infectious disease in adults living in low and middle income countries.

Treatment for these devastating diseases exists, but their use and effectiveness face numerous challenges including timely diagnosis, drug resistance and access to healthcare.

Multi-resistant bacteria are found in all regions of the world and spread easily, thus constituting one of the most serious threats to global health. In the last decades, emerging infectious diseases, especially those related to emerging viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, have become an increasingly important area of concern in public health at a global level. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 70% of the world’s people living with HIV and the highest tuberculosis burden in the world. Although treatment has saved many lives, daunting challenges in reaching, diagnosing and treating patients hamper their control.

Main research lines

At ISGlobal, we use our experience to improve the diagnosis and treatment of viral and bacterial diseases, to understand the causes of antibiotic resistance, and to find novel ways of reaching underserved populations in the following areas:

Head

Jordi Vila Research Professor, Director of the Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative and Head of the Viral and Bacterial Infections Programme

Co-chair

Denise Naniche Research Professor, Co-Chair of the Viral and Bacterial Infections Programme

Our Team

Quique Bassat ICREA Research Professor, Head of the Malaria Programme
Climent Casals-Pascual Associate Research Professor
Alberto García-Basteiro Assistant Research Professor
Jeffrey Lazarus Associate Research Professor
Emili Letang Assistant Research Professor
Mª Angeles Marcos Maeso
Miguel J. Martínez Associated Researcher
Oriol Mitjà Assistant Research Professor
Ignasi Roca Assistant Research Professor
Sara Soto Associate Research Professor
Antoni Trilla Research Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Medicina and Health Sciences, UB