Research focuses in our group in two main areas in grapevine breeding: the genetic analysis of agronomic and oenological traits relevant for grapevine and the study of grapevine-powdery mildew interaction with special focus on powdery mildew genetic diiversity. The ultimate goal is the selection of elite genotypes better adapted to climate change in collaboration with breeding nurseries-and the development of sustainable strategies against powdery mildew.

This research group studies interrelated issues on the origin and early evolution of life (including experimental and theoretical approaches to the RNA world hypothesis), genetics of RNA viruses (dynamics of viral quasispecies and sequence-structure-function relationships in viral genomic RNA), in vitro evolution of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA aptamers), and biosensor development (DNA microarray technology, aptamers and peptide nucleic acids-based biosensors, bionanotechnology-inspired sensors).

The Group's research is oriented to the study and resolution of problems related to the use and conservation of soil and water resources in agro-forest systems.

Bacterial infections are a serious public health problem, which has been exacerbated by the emergence of pathogens that are resistant to most of the antibiotics used in hospitals. The prevention and treatment of infectious diseases are key objectives of all national and international action policies. Aligned with these health needs, it is required to understand the molecular bases of the infections to advance in the design, development and implementation of effective treatments.

The main objective of the activities of this research group is the development of novel materials based on electroactive oxides (ferroelectrics, multiferroics, ionic conductors) aimed at their integration in smart devices related not only to EMERGENT information and communication TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) but also to HEALTH monitoring applications, not forgetting the contribution of these materials to a relevant complementary aspect such as self-powering of these devices through ENERGY harvesting.

At the Tuberculosis Genomics Unit (TGU) we combine evolutionary, epidemiological, functional and genomic analyses to understand the biology pathogens of global health importance. We very much focis on the causative agents of human tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Furthermore, we are also moving towards integrated host-pathogen “omics” approaches. Our final aim is to find new ways to fight the disease.

The protein design and engineering group is focused in the study and optimization of proteins for different biotecnological applications. We are mainly interested in proteins involved in the synthesis of triglycerides and fatty acids.These added-value compounds for human as well as animal comsumption. We are also interested in DNA-modifiying proteins that could be used in the lab for the genetic modification of bacteria and other organisms. These studies will be mainly undertaken by protein crystallography. Protein engineering tools are being used for protein optimization.

It is a multidisciplinary team composed of physicists, engineers, and chemists. The group's activities are focused on the synthesis and processing of new nanomaterials applied to the fields of photovoltaics, photonics, optoelectronics, and renewable energy.

The members of the group are experts in food microbiology, microbial biotechnology of filamentous fungi and yeasts, and in the characterization of peptides and bioactive proteins.

The group bases her activity in establishing the structure-activity relationships of the catalytic solids using in situ and operando X-ray by spectroscopic and diffraction methods, that is, by using techniques fundamentally based on synchrotron radiation.