Amanda Sierra

Ikerbasque Research Professor, UPV/EHU and Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience

Group leader of the Laboratory of Glial Cell Biology at Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience and the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of the Basque Country, in Leioa, Bizkaia.

Research line:

Microglial cells at the interplay between phagocytosis and inflammation in the diseased brain. The research involves the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the efficiency of microglial phagocytosis.

More than 10 years of experience in Neurobiology in research centers in Spain (Cajal Institute) and USA (Rockefeller University, Stony Brook University and Baylor College of Medicine).

Doctor in neurosciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) in 2003.

2024

Article / Microglia in Health and Diseases: Integrative Hubs of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

Sierra, A.; Miron, V.E.; Paolicelli, R.C.; Ransohoff, R.M.

Article / A bottom-up approach identifies the antipsychotic and antineoplastic trifluoperazine and the ribose derivative deoxytubercidin as novel microglial phagocytosis inhibitors

GLIA

Rodriguez-Iglesias, N.; Paris, I.; Valero, J.; Cañas-Zabala, L.; Carretero, A.; Hatje, K.; Zhang, J.D.; Patsch, C.; Britschgi, M.; Gutbier, S.; Sierra, A.

Note / Interferons: Invited guests at the brain's gala banquet

Neuron

Márquez-Ropero, M.; Sierra, A.

2023

Article / Microglia and meningeal macrophages depletion delays the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Cell Death Dis

Montilla A, Zabala A, Er-Lukowiak M, Rissiek B, Magnus T, Rodriguez-Iglesias N, Sierra A, Matute C, Domercq M.

Article / Microglial phagocytosis dysfunction in stroke is driven by energy depletion and induction of autophagy

Autophagy

Beccari, S.; Sierra-Torre, V.; Valero, J.; Pereira-Iglesias, M.; García-Zaballa, M.; Soria, F.N.; De Las Heras-Garcia, L.; Carretero-Guillen, A.; Capetillo-Zarate, E.; Domercq, M.; Huguet, P.R.; Ramonet, D.; Osman, A.; Han, W.; Dominguez, C.; Faust, T.E.; Touzani, O.; Pampliega, O.; Boya, P.; Schafer, D.; Mariño, G.; Canet-Soulas, E.; Blomgren, K.; Plaza-Zabala, A.; Sierra, A.

Article / Microglia and meningeal macrophages depletion delays the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Cell Death and Disease

Montilla, A.; Zabala, A.; Er-Lukowiak, M.; Rissiek, B.; Magnus, T.; Rodriguez-Iglesias, N.; Sierra, A.; Matute, C.; Domercq, M.

Review / Studying Autophagy in Microglia: Overcoming the Obstacles

Methods Mol Biol .

Plaza-Zabala A, Sierra A.

2022

Article / Microglial phagocytosis dysfunction during stroke is prevented by rapamycin.

Autophagy (in press)

Beccari S, Sierra-Torre V, Valero J, Garcia-Zaballa M, Carretero-Guillen A, Capetillo-Zarate E, Domercq M, Huguet-Rodriguez PR, Ramonet D, Umekawa T, Osman A, Han W, Dominguez C, Faust T, Touzani O, Boya P, Schaffer D, Mariño G, Canet-Soulas E, Blomgren K,* Plaza-Zabala A, *Sierra A

Article / Susceptibility of Female Mice to the Dietary Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty-Acid Ratio: Effects on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Glia

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Rodríguez-Iglesias, N.; Nadjar, A.; Sierra, A.; Valero, J.

Review / Microglia states and nomenclature: a field at its crossroads

Neuron

Paolicelli R*, *Sierra A, *Stevens B, *Tremblay ME et al.

Review / Microglia states and nomenclature: A field at its crossroads

Neuron

Paolicelli, R.C.; Sierra, A.; Stevens, B.; Tremblay, M.E.; Aguzzi, A.; Ajami, B.; Amit, I.; Audinat, E.; Bechmann, I.; Bennett, M.; Bennett, F.; Bessis, A.; Biber, K.; Bilbo, S.; Blurton-Jones, M.; Boddeke, E.; Brites, D.; Brône, B.; Brown, G.C.; Butovsky, O.; Carson, M.J.; Castellano, B.; Colonna, M.; Cowley, S.A.; Cunningham, C.; Davalos, D.; De Jager, P.L.; de Strooper, B.; Denes, A.; Eggen, B.J.L.; Eyo, U.; Galea, E.; Garel, S.; Ginhoux, F.; Glass, C.K.; Gokce, O.; Gomez-Nicola, D.; González, B.; Gordon, S.; Graeber, M.B.; Greenhalgh, A.D.; Gressens, P.; Greter, M.; Gutmann, D.H.; Haass, C.; Heneka, M.T.; Heppner, F.L.; Hong, S.; Hume, D.A.; Jung, S.; Kettenmann, H.; Kipnis, J.; Koyama, R.; Lemke, G.; Lynch, M.; Majewska, A.; Malcangio, M.; Malm, T.; Mancuso, R.; Masuda, T.; Matteoli, M.; McColl, B.W.; Miron, V.E.; Molofsky, A.V.; Monje, M.; Mracsko, E.; Nadjar, A.; Neher, J.J.; Neniskyte, U.; Neumann, H.; Noda, M.; Peng, B.; Peri, F.; Perry, V.H.; Popovich, P.G.; Pridans, C.; Priller, J.; Prinz, M.; Ragozzino, D.; Ransohoff, R.M.; Salter, M.W.; Schaefer, A.; Schafer, D.P.; Schwartz, M.; Simons, M.; Smith, C.J.; Streit, W.J.; Tay, T.L.; Tsai, L.H.; Verkhratsky, A.; von Bernhardi, R.; Wake, H.; Wittamer, V.; Wolf, S.A.; Wu, L.J.; Wyss-Coray, T.

2021

Article / A two-step model of autophagy: autophagosome formation, degradation and net turnover.

Frontiers in Immunology

Plaza-Zabala A, Sierra-Torre V, Sierra A

Article / Role of mitochondrial dynamics in microglial activation and metabolic switch.

Immunohorizons

Montilla A, Ruiz A, Marquez-Ropero M, Sierra A, Matute C, Domercq M.

Article / Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Microglial Activation and Metabolic Switch

ImmunoHorizons

Montilla, A.; Ruiz, A.; Marquez, M.; Sierra, A.; Matute, C.; Domercq, M.

Article / Assessing Autophagy in Microglia: A Two-Step Model to Determine Autophagosome Formation, Degradation, and Net Turnover

Frontiers in Immunology

Plaza-Zabala, A.; Sierra-Torre, V.; Sierra, A.

Editorial / Editorial: Assessing Microglial Function and Identity

Frontiers in Immunology

Sierra, A.; Paolicelli, R.C.

2020

Article / Fast SARS-CoV-2 detection protocol based on RNA precipitation and RT-qPCR in nasopharyngeal swab samples

medRxiv

Xabier Guruceaga, Amanda Sierra, Daniel Marino, Izortze Santin, Jon Ander Nieto-Garai, Jose Ramón Bilbao, Maier Lorizate, Patricia Aspichueta, Adhara Gaminde-Blasco, Adrian Bozal-Leorri, Agustín Marín-Peña, Ainara Castellanos- Rubio, Ainhoa Iglesias-Ara, Aitor Rementeria1D, Ana Bernal-Chico1E,3,7, Andoni Ramirez-Garcia1D, Ane Olazagoitia-Garmendia1C,4, Asier Benito-Vicente1A,8, César Martín1A,8, Eider Bilbao Castellanos1I,10, Eneritz Rueda-Alaña1E,3, Fabio Cavaliere1E,3,7, Guiomar Perez de Nanclares1,9, Igor Aurrekoetxea1F,4, Iraia Garcia-Santisteban1C,4, Irantzu Bernales1H, Itziar Gonzalez-Moro1A,4, Jan Tønnesen1E,3, Jimena Baleriola1B,2,3, Jon Vallejo-Rodríguez1C, Leire Aparicio-Fernandez1D, Leire Martin-Souto1D, Luis Manuel Mendoza1C, Maialen Areitio1D, Maialen Sebastian-delaCruz1C,4, Maren Ortiz- Zarragoitia1I,10, Mari Paz Serrano-Regal1E,3,7, Miren Basaras1D, Nora Fernandez- Jimenez1C,4, Olatz Pampliega1E,3, Santos Alonso Alegre1C, Susi Marcos1, Teresa Fuertes-Mendizabal1G, Unai Galicia-Garcia5,8, Uxue Perez-Cuesta1D, Verónica Torrano1,8, Virginia Sierra-Torre1E,3, Xabier Buqué1F,4 and Ugo Mayor1A,2

Article / Microglial phagocytosis dysfunction is related to local neuronal activity in a genetic model of epilepsy.

Epilepsia

Sierra-Torre V, Plaza-Zabala A, Bonifaci P, Abiega O, Diaz-Aparicio I, Tejelberg S, Lehesjoki AE, Valero J, Sierra A.

Article / Essential omega-3 fatty acids tune microglial phagocytosis of synaptic elements in the mouse developing brain

Nature Communications

Madore, C.; Leyrolle, Q.; Morel, L.; Rossitto, M.; Greenhalgh, A.D.; Delpech, J.C.; Martinat, M.; Bosch-Bouju, C.; Bourel, J.; Rani, B.; Lacabanne, C.; Thomazeau, A.; Hopperton, K.E.; Beccari, S.; Sere, A.; Aubert, A.; De Smedt-Peyrusse, V.; Lecours, C.; Bisht, K.; Fourgeaud, L.; Gregoire, S.; Bretillon, L.; Acar, N.; Grant, N.J.; Badaut, J.; Gressens, P.; Sierra, A.; Butovsky, O.; Tremblay, M.E.; Bazinet, R.P.; Joffre, C.; Nadjar, A.; Layé, S.

Article / Microglial phagocytosis dysfunction in the dentate gyrus is related to local neuronal activity in a genetic model of epilepsy

Epilepsia

Sierra-Torre, V.; Plaza-Zabala, A.; Bonifazi, P.; Abiega, O.; Díaz-Aparicio, I.; Tegelberg, S.; Lehesjoki, A.E.; Valero, J.; Sierra, A.

Article / Microglia actively remodel adult hippocampal neurogenesis through the phagocytosis secretome

Journal of Neuroscience

Diaz-Aparicio, I.; Paris, I.; Sierra-Torre, V.; Plaza-Zabala, A.; Rodríguez-Iglesias, N.; Márquez-Ropero, M.; Beccari, S.; Huguet, P.; Abiega, O.; Alberdi, E.; Matute, C.; Bernales, I.; Schulz, A.; Otrokocsi, L.; Sperlagh, B.; Happonen, K.E.; Lemke, G.; Maletic-Savatic, M.; Valero, J.; Sierra, A.

Review / Microglial Corpse Clearance: Lessons From Macrophages

Frontiers in Immunology

Márquez-Ropero, M.; Benito, E.; Plaza-Zabala, A.; Sierra, A.

2019

Article / Essential omega-3 fatty acids tune microglial phagocytosis of synaptic elements in the developing brain

Nat Commun

Madore C, Leyrolle Q, Morel L, Delpech JC, Greenhalgh AD, Lacabanne C, Bosch-Bouju C, Bourel J, Thomazeau A, Hopperton KE, Beccari S, Sere A, Aubert A, De Smedt-Peyrusse V, Lecours C, Bisht K, Fourgeaud L, Gregoire S, Bretillon L, Grant NJ, Badaut J, Gr

Article / C1q is related to microglial phagocytosis in the hippocampus in physiological conditions.

Science Matters

Diaz-Aparicio I, Sierra A.

Article / Reactive Disruption of the Hippocampal Neurogenic Niche After Induction of Seizures by Injection of Kainic Acid in the Amygdala

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

Muro-García, T.; Martín-Suárez, S.; Espinosa, N.; Valcárcel-Martín, R.; Marinas, A.; Zaldumbide, L.; Galbarriatu, L.; Sierra, A.; Fuentealba, P.; Encinas, J.M.

Editorial / Editorial for the Special Issue: Microglia-Neuron interactions in health and disease - novel perspectives for translational research

Neuroscience

Sierra, A.; Denes, A.

Review / Cien Años de Microglía: Milestones in a Century of Microglial Research

Trends in Neurosciences

Sierra, A.; Paolicelli, R.C.; Kettenmann, H.

Review / Rewiring of memory circuits: Connecting adult newborn neurons with the help of microglia

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

Rodríguez-Iglesias, N.; Sierra, A.; Valero, J.

2018

Article / ProMoIJ: a new tool for automatic analysis of microglial processes motility.

Glia

Paris I, Escobar L, Savage JC, Hui, CW, Tremblay ME, Sierra A, Valero J

Article / ProMoIJ: A new tool for automatic three-dimensional analysis of microglial process motility

GLIA

Paris, I.; Savage, J.C.; Escobar, L.; Abiega, O.; Gagnon, S.; Hui, C.W.; Tremblay, M.È.; Sierra, A.; Valero, J.

Review / Development and maintenance of the brain's immune toolkit: Microglia and non-parenchymal brain macrophages

Developmental Neurobiology

Lopez-Atalaya, J.P.; Askew, K.E.; Sierra, A.; Gomez-Nicola, D.

2017

Article / Multiple Bellman-Harris branching model provides biological predictors of early stages of adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

BMC Syst Biol

Li B, Sierra A, Semerci F, Deudero JJ, Laitman A, Kimmel M, Maletic-Savatic M.

Article / El sistema de autolimpieza falla en la epilepsia

Mente y Cerebro

Sierra A, Valero J.

Article / Quantifying microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in the brain in health and disease.

Current Protocols in Immunology

Beccari S, Diaz-Aparicio I, Sierra A

Article / A simulation model of neuroprogenitor proliferation dynamics predicts age-related loss of hippocampal neurogenesis but not astrogenesis

Scientific Reports

Beccari, S.; Valero, J.; Maletic-Savatic, M.; Sierra, A.

Article / A standardized protocol for stereotaxic intrahippocampal administration of kainic acid combined with electroencephalographic seizure monitoring in mice

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Bielefeld, P.; Sierra, A.; Encinas, J.M.; Maletic-Savatic, M.; Anderson, A.; Fitzsimons, C.P.

Article / Coupled Proliferation and Apoptosis Maintain the Rapid Turnover of Microglia in the Adult Brain

Cell Reports

Askew, K.; Li, K.; Olmos-Alonso, A.; Garcia-Moreno, F.; Liang, Y.; Richardson, P.; Tipton, T.; Chapman, M.A.; Riecken, K.; Beccari, S.; Sierra, A.; Molnár, Z.; Cragg, M.S.; Garaschuk, O.; Perry, V.H.; Gomez-Nicola, D.

Review / Autophagy and microglia: Novel partners in neurodegeneration and aging

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Plaza-Zabala, A.; Sierra-Torre, V.; Sierra, A.

2016

Article / Lifestyle shapes hippocampal memory function: the dialog between environment, microglia, and adult neurogenesis

ACS Chemical Neuroscience

Valero J, Paris I, Sierra A

Article / The `big-bang´ for modern glial biology: translation and comments on Pío del Río-Hortega 1919 series of papers on microglia.

Glia

Sierra A, de Castro F, del Río-Hortega J, Iglesias-Rozas JR, Garrosa M, Kettenmann H

Article / Hiding the corpses: microglial phagocytosis efficiency determines apoptosis dynamics in health and disease

Neural Regeneration Research

Diaz –Aparicio I, Beccari S, Abiega O, Sierra A

Article / The “Big-Bang” for modern glial biology: Translation and comments on Pío del Río-Hortega 1919 series of papers on microglia

GLIA

Sierra, A.; de Castro, F.; del Río-Hortega, J.; Rafael Iglesias-Rozas, J.; Garrosa, M.; Kettenmann, H.

Article / Neuronal Hyperactivity Disturbs ATP Microgradients, Impairs Microglial Motility, and Reduces Phagocytic Receptor Expression Triggering Apoptosis/Microglial Phagocytosis Uncoupling

PLoS Biology

Abiega, O.; Beccari, S.; Diaz-Aparicio, I.; Nadjar, A.; Layé, S.; Leyrolle, Q.; Gómez-Nicola, D.; Domercq, M.; Pérez-Samartín, A.; Sánchez-Zafra, V.; Paris, I.; Valero, J.; Savage, J.C.; Hui, C.W.; Tremblay, M.È.; Deudero, J.J.P.; Brewster, A.L.; Anderson, A.E.; Zaldumbide, L.; Galbarriatu, L.; Marinas, A.; Vivanco, M.d.M.; Matute, C.; Maletic-Savatic, M.; Encinas, J.M.; Sierra, A.

Review / Clearing the corpses: Regulatory mechanisms, novel tools, and therapeutic potential of harnessing microglial phagocytosis in the diseased brain

Neural Regeneration Research

Diaz-Aparicio, I.; Beccari, S.; Abiega, O.; Sierra, A.

Review / Lifestyle Shapes the Dialogue between Environment, Microglia, and Adult Neurogenesis

ACS Chemical Neuroscience

Valero, J.; Paris, I.; Sierra, A.

2015

Article / From the Cajal alumni Achúcarro and del Río Hortega to the rediscovery of never-resting microglia.

Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

Tremblay ME, Samson L, Sánchez-Zafra V, Sierra A

Article / Longitudinal variations of brain functional connectivity: A case report study based on a mouse model of epilepsy

F1000Research

Erramuzpe, A.; Encinas, J.M.; Sierra, A.; Maletic-Savatic, M.; Brewster, A.L.; Anderson, A.E.; Stramaglia, S.; Cortes, J.M.

Article / Neuronal hyperactivity accelerates depletion of neural stem cells and impairs hippocampal neurogenesis

Cell Stem Cell

Sierra, A.; Martín-Suárez, S.; Valcárcel-Martín, R.; Pascual-Brazo, J.; Aelvoet, S.A.; Abiega, O.; Deudero, J.J.; Brewster, A.L.; Bernales, I.; Anderson, A.E.; Baekelandt, V.; Maletić-Savatić, M.; Encinas, J.M.

Review / From the Cajal alumni Achúcarro and Río-Hortega to the rediscovery of never-resting microglia

Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

Tremblay, M.È.; Lecours, C.; Samson, L.; Sánchez-Zafra, V.; Sierra, A.

2014

Book / Microglia in health and disease

Microglia in Health and Disease

Tremblay, M.È.; Sierra, A.

Article / Accelerated Depletion of Neural Stem Cells and Impairment of Hippocampal neurogenesis by Neuronal Hyperactivity

Cell Stem Cell

Sierra A, Martín-Suárez S, Valcárcel-Martín R, Pascual-Brazo J, Aelvoet S-A, Abiega O, Deudero JJP, Brewster AL, Anderson AE, Baekelandt V, Maleti?-Savati? M, Encinas JM

Editorial / Never-resting microglia: Physiological roles in the healthy brain and pathological implications

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

Sierra, A.; Tremblay, M.E.; Wake, H.

Editorial / Preface

Microglia in Health and Disease

Tremblay, M.È.; Sierra, A.

Editorial / Introduction

Microglia in Health and Disease

Sierra, A.; Tremblay, M.È.

Review / Surveillance, phagocytosis, and inflammation: How never-resting microglia influence adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Neural Plasticity

Sierra, A.; Beccari, S.; Diaz-Aparicio, I.; Encinas, J.M.; Comeau, S.; Tremblay, M.E.

2013

Article / Microglial control of adult hippocampal neurogenesis,memory, and learning: moving forward from the inflammatory paradigm

Neural Plasticity

Sierra A, Beccari S, Diaz I, Encinas JM, Comeau S, Tremblay

Review / A developmental perspective on adult hippocampal neurogenesis

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience

Encinas, J.M.; Sierra, A.; Valcárcel-Martín, R.; Martín-Suárez, S.

Review / Janus-faced microglia: Beneficial and detrimental consequences of microglial phagocytosis

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

Sierra, A.; Abiega, O.; Shahraz, A.; Neumann, H.

2012

Review / Neural stem cell deforestation as the main force driving the age-related decline in adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Behavioural Brain Research

Encinas, J.M.; Sierra, A.

2011

Article / The role of microglia in the healthy brain

Journal of Neuroscience

Tremblay, M.E.; Stevens, B.; Sierra, A.; Wake, H.; Bessis, A.; Nimmerjahn, A.

Metabolic, transcriptional and functional adaptations to phagocytosis in microglia