Immunology

Streptococcal antigens (Streptococcus pyogenes) might be directly involved in the pathological mechanisms that result in the appearance of psoriasis lesions. Psoriasis is a chronic cutaneous inflammatory disease. Its prevalence is high and it affects considerably patients' quality of life. 

This is the main conclusion of the scientific paper published by the translational research group on immunodermatology led by Luis Francisco Santamaria Babí, tenure-track lecturer of Immunology of the Department of Physiology and Immunology at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and the Barcelona Science Park. The paper has been selected by the International Psoriasis CouncIL  (IPC) as one of the top five papers published on 2013 about the disease.

Biomedical research on psoriasis is a highly active and competitive area. In 2013, a total of 1,908 papers on the disease were published, according to data obtained from the portal PubMed. IPC is a dermatology-led, global non-profit organization dedicated to innovation across the full spectrum of psoriasis through research, education and treatment.

IPC selected the study led by Santamaria as one of the top five papers published from January to June 2013. The article was published on the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the highest impact factor journal in dermatology. Santamaria, who is also consultant at the Dermatology Service of Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, affirms that "although many research studies have been focused on psoriasis, immunopathogenic mechanisms are essential but remain hardly known".