The major challenges facing future generations, such as climate change, demographic growth and food security, require new research approaches committed to ecosystem sustainability. The agrobiotechnology group uses the knowledge acquired in physiology, pathology, soil microbiology, molecular biology, natural products and organic chemistry, which interact in a transversal way, to respond to these societal challenges.

Learning and executing everyday tasks, such as walking, drinking, or playing the saxophone, requires our brain to form and reshape its connections. Even the slightest mistake in this process can cause devastating consequences for controlling such basic voluntary behaviors. Indeed, genetic mutations, brain degeneration, stroke, and inflammation cause the insurgence of cognitive and motor diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and frontotemporal dementia.

Our research focuses on the engineering of intestinal pathogens to better understand the infection processes that follow and how the immune response associated with infection occurs. In particular, we study the effect caused by proteins injected through the Type 3 Secretion System, which act as a network within infected cells. We also develop biotechnological tools in probiotic strains, which allow their beneficial action to be enhanced and serve as a chassis for the development of new therapies.

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the aberrant molecular changes underlying cognitive deficits in physiological and pathological brain ageing, with particular interest in Alzheimer’s disease. We hypothesise that the interaction between the environment and genetics favours long-lasting cell-type molecular changes in the brain, which will impact cognitive function with time. Thus, our laboratory is interested in studying the contribution of cell-type neuro-epigenetics to cognitive function in the ageing brain.

Our research focuses on understanding the effects of different environmental disturbances and global change factors on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, with a specific interest in the functioning of soil microorganisms, nutrient cycling, and the exchange of greenhouse gases between the soil and the atmosphere. We participate in or lead scientific projects involving various types of ecosystems (agricultural, forest, and natural), at different spatial scales (from local to global), and with different approaches (from observational to experimental studies).

Plant Signaling in Stress and Development group (PSSD) is focused on the study of the mechanisms that regulate plant immunity in Brassica crops. We aim to identify and characterize new immunomodulators (compounds, genes, and molecular networks) that allow a better understanding of plant stress responses and help to build up more resilient crops.

The research activity of the group focusses on the study of the molecular action of dietary phyochemicals, mainly phenolic compounds and their metabolites, and their potential effect on health and the prevention of highly prevalent chronic diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation. The group is also interested in investigating the beneficial effects of these natural compounds on gut microbiome and their potential impact on the metabolome.

The research activity focuses on studying complementary aspects of disease prevention by consuming bioactive compounds present in the diet, plant extracts, or nutraceuticals, mainly phenolic compounds. Using a comprehensive approach, an exhaustive characterization of the phytochemical compounds in the raw material is carried out, and their bioavailability and metabolism are evaluated through metabolomic analysis. Additionally, their effects on health are studied, with particular emphasis on cardiometabolic diseases.