Ramos D’ Elía, Natalia

Research interests

My research involves the study of veterinary, human, and environmental viruses.
1.Study of emerging swine viruses: Identification, molecular surveillance and vaccine development. Due to the lack of information on swine diseases of viral origin in Uruguay, my research has focused for more than 10 years on the study of emerging swine viral infections, especially Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), two emerging viruses with a significant economic impact on the global swine industry, both associated with multifactorial diseases. We identified for the first time the circulation of both viruses in Uruguay, findings that led to the initiation of PCV2 vaccination in commercial farms in the country and the mandatory notification of PRRSV to the OIE, which has had a significant impact on both regional and global swine production. My research also includes the genetic characterization and analysis of the evolutionary dynamics of these viruses in Uruguay, their surveillance in wild boar, the adaptation of field strains to growth in cell culture and the expression of viral proteins in eukaryotic systems for localization and functional studies. In the last 4 years, I have extended the research to other swine viruses, such as Porcine influenza, Porcine circovirus type 3 and Porcine enteric viruses, with the aim of providing additional knowledge and tools to the swine sector or improving existing molecular detection techniques. The information generated will also allow us to carry out surveillance studies and genetic characterization of viruses in order to assess the health status of pigs in commercial or family farms in our country with regard to viruses causing the Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex, one of the most important health problems facing the pig industry today. Finally, this line of research also includes the development of veterinary vaccines that can be used on the national market, with the aim of reducing costs and simplifying vaccination programs, carried out in collaboration with other institutions or private companies.
2.Human Torque Teno Virus (TTV): study of a virus as a biotechnological tool. Since TTVs are believed not to directly cause disease but to be available to participate in normal physiological processes, this line of research aims to contribute to the understanding of these viruses as biomarkers for monitoring immune status in transplant patients. Additionally, we have conducted studies on the identification and molecular characterization of anelloviruses in various human populations, and we have obtained complete genomes and intra-host variants using next-generation sequencing technology.
3. Identification and isolation of Giant Viruses in Uruguay from environmental matrices. The discovery of Mimivirus two decades ago challenged the concept of viruses, as they have a size close to 1 micron, making them visible under a light microscope, and their genome encodes proteins involved in functions such as metabolism and translation. This line of research aims to explore the presence and diversity of Mimivirus and other giant viruses in various samples of water across different regions of Uruguay, which will continue to provide useful information about the understanding of these unique viruses, which play a crucial role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems.

Working area

My area of work is virology, particularly focusing on emerging and zoonotic viruses with importance in human and animal health, with an emphasis on molecular surveillance. Additionally, my area of work has a significant focus on the research and development of veterinary vaccines and new biotechnological tools. Lastly, another area explored is the study of the diversity and distribution of giant viruses in environmental matrices.