During 2021 and 2022, our research focused on: (i) further studying the role of the SLAMF1 immune receptor in Trypanosoma cruzi infection and identifying therapeutic target genes; (ii) assessing the prognostic value of the TCFL5 isoform sCha in Chagas disease patients; (iii) investigating cardiac remodeling in T. cruzi infection; (iv) exploring the mitochondrial genome, transcriptome, and proteome of T. cruzi. We also found autoantibodies predicting sudden death risk in Chagas cardiomyopathy and collaborated on TCFL5 studies in spermatogenesis and colorectal cancer with Dr.

The laboratory's research focuses on understanding the role of autophagy, a cellular degradation process, in various biological contexts. Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and protecting against diseases like cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders. The lab specifically investigates the functions of different components of the autophagic machinery, such as ATG16L1, which have both canonical and unconventional roles.

Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which T cells recognize antigens presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules and how this recognition activates immune responses. We investigate the organization of T cell receptors (TCRs) into nanoclusters, which allows T cells to become activated even with few peptide-bound MHC molecules. Our goal is to apply this knowledge to develop improved versions of recombinant immune receptors for cancer immunotherapy.

Microbial diversity is a rich source of genetic information with industrial potential, including biosynthetic gene clusters and novel enzyme catalysts. The synergy between biology-based and nanotechnology-based experimental tools is crucial for faster and more efficient gene discovery, particularly benefiting academic labs for screening campaigns. In the HT Discovery lab, we focus on methods to discover and engineer industrially relevant enzymes and biosynthetic gene clusters, utilizing biological selections and microfluidic screening.

Bacterial conjugation is the process by which a conjugative element is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell via a pore connecting both cells. Often, a conjugative element is located on a plasmid (then named conjugative plasmid). The conjugation process can be divided into four steps: (i) selection of and attachment to a suitable recipient cell, (ii) synthesis of the pore connecting both cells, (iii) processing of the DNA resulting in a single DNA strand (ssDNA) that is transferred into the recipient cell, and (iv) conversion of ss to dsDNA and establishment in the new host.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a complex pathogen that affects pigs and wild boars, threatening the global pork industry. Our group investigates how the virus evades the host immune response and aims to develop an effective vaccine. We have discovered that certain genes of the virus are linked to its ability to counteract the immune response. We are developing live attenuated vaccines that have proven to be safe and protective in pigs, which could be key in controlling the spread of the virus.

The group is focused on i) the biotechnological applications of small RNA molecules mimicking structural domains in the noncoding regions of the FMDV genome exerting a robust antiviral effect, which are being tested for their use as antiviral agents and vaccine adjuvants, and ii) the study of the interplay between FMDV and the host innate immunity system, involving the detection of the viral genome by cellular immune sensors and the characterization of the immune evasion mechanisms exerted by the virus to counteract the antiviral host response.

The Transformation and Metastasis group at IBBTEC investigates the signaling pathways involved in abnormalities during cancer and metastasis. The ultimate goal of these studies is to identify new modulators that can represent new therapeutic targets to stop metastasis and that can be directly translated into effective prevention or treatment strategies.