Jaime Tomé
Born in Gijon (1983). I obtained my degree in Biochemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid (2007) and my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the same university (2012).
My doctorate studies, led by Javier Lacadena, were focused on the in vitro and in vivo characterization of immunotoxins, based on the scFvA33 as binding domain and ribotoxins or RNases as toxic domain. My first PostDoc took me to Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA), to Carl Batt’s Lab, where I focused my research on the design and production of Norovirus Virus-like Particles (NoVLPs) and their in vitro and in vivo characterization as antigen displayed platforms to be used as potential vaccine, in this case using the NY-ESO-1 antigen. The work developed in Cornell helped me to obtain a PostDoctoral position in the Mount Sinai Hospital (NY, USA) in the prestigious department of Microbiology. There, in the lab of Joseph Ashour, I had the chance to learn how to obtain alpaca derived nanobodies (a.k.a. VHHs), working tightly with an alpaca farm close to NY. Different VHHs directed against viral RNA were obtained and nowadays are being used in research. As an example, VHHs directed against the IAV- NP (influenza nucleoprotein) were used in our lab to study different requirements for influenza replication and different aspects of the first steps during cell infection.
In 2017, I started working in Araceli Diaz Perales´s Lab, at the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP, UPM-INIA) as a PostDoctoral Researcher. This lab studies the molecular bases of allergenicity and cross-reactivity in plant food. Within this context, I focus my research on the development of an in vivo model of sensitization in mice.
During these years, I was fortunate to work at different Universities. Therefore, I had the chance to work on research and academia, helping students during their final degree research, giving seminars, and when possible, participating in divulgation activities.