(Madrid, 13-01-1962 - Alicante, 09-10-2015).
Professor at University Miguel Hernández in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Area.
She graduated and PhD in Biological Sciences at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her PhD thesis studied the development of recombinant vaccines against viral haemorrhagic septicemia produced by Rhabdovirus (VHSV) and was defended in 1992. Subsequently, Professor Amparo Estepa joined the high security laboratory of Dr. Julio Coll at the Center for Research on Animal Health (CISAINIA, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain). At this stage, Professor Amparo Estepa worked on the delineation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the viral immune response of fish as well as the understanding of the first steps that take place in the infections of rhabdovirus in fish. During this stage he held research stays at the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands, and at INRA, France. In 1997 she joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Miguel Hernández University, first as a full professor and later as professor in 2010. She was also a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC), formed from Of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology (CBMC). In 2011 she was appointed deputy director of the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Miguel Hernández University. Professor Amparo Estepa led the research group "Strategies antivirales" of the IBMC, a group that was formed since its incorporation. The main lines of the research group of Professor Amparo Estepa have focused on the development of DNA and antiviral vaccines derived from effector molecules of the innate immune system of fish against specific viruses of fish in order to prevent and control their infections. Other scientific interests focus on the study of the structure and function of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the first steps of rhabdoviral infections as well as the development of genomic and proteomic tools to improve biotechnological production. The research activities of Professor Amparo Estepa's research group have been supported by numerous research projects, both national and foreign. Professor Amparo Estepa has been principal investigator for most of them. Among others, the main achievements of these projects have been: (i) the development of safer and more efficient viral DNA vaccines for cultured fish; (ii) the development of viral models of fish in vivo; (iii) identification and characterization Of the antiviral and immunomodulatory activities of fish and mollusc AMPs and iv) identification of the major regions of the surface antigen of VHSV (glycoprotein G) involved in the induction of antiviral defense responses (autophagy, interferon induction, response Anamnestic immune, etc.). Directly derived from these results, numerous publications have been published in high-impact journals (over 85), as well as several book chapters. During the last ten years of her research period, Professor Amparo Estepa has directed 9 doctoral theses and her research team has obtained two research awards. Finally, the participation of Professor Amparo Estepa in different technology transfer activities with numerous research contracts with different biotechnology companies.