Laboratory authorised to work with quarantine plant pathogenic bacteria (biosafety level 2 conditions).
Lines of research:
- Characterisation and diagnosis of plant pathogenic bacteria.
- Description: Conventional and molecular diagnosis, characterisation and identification of plant pathogenic bacteria (phytopathogens). Molecular typing and epidemiology.
- Activities: Use of rapid and specific molecular methods for the detection and diagnosis of plant pathogenic bacteria (quarantine bacteria such as Erwinia amylovora and Ralstonia solanacearum and other plant pathogens in general such as Lonsdalea quercina, Brenneria spp. etc.).Molecular epidemiology studies to determine intraspecific variability and pathways of introduction/dissemination of bacterial pathogens. Virulence and/or pathogenicity tests with different phytopathogenic bacteria.
- Survival strategies of plant pathogenic bacteria.
- Description: Bacterial survival strategies in different environments [survival in oligotrophic conditions, viable non-culturable state (VNC) and inducing factors], reservoirs and transmission pathways. Recovery of bacteria in VNC state. Gene expression and obtaining mutants in bacterial genes of interest.
Activities: Studies of survival of phytopathogenic bacteria in natural water microcosms and/or other environmental reservoirs.Studies of reservoirs of phytopathogenic bacteria and transmission pathways. Studies of factors inducing entry into the VNC state. Studies of recovery and/or resuscitation of VNC cells. Studies on the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the survival and pathogenicity of phytopathogenic bacteria. Studies of the effect of different stress factors on the expression of genes related to the survival and/or virulence of phytopathogenic bacteria. Obtaining mutants in genes related to the survival and/or virulence of phytopathogenic bacteria. Studies of the survival and virulence of bacterial mutants of plant pathogens Characterisation of bacterial mutants of plant pathogens by microbiological, microscopic, molecular and/or omic techniques.
- Biotechnological applications of environmental micro-organisms.
- Description: Isolation and characterisation of environmental micro-organisms of biotechnological interest: bacteriophages, micro-organisms producing antimicrobial compounds, siderophores, degrading micro-organisms. Biological control of bacteriosis in plants.
- Activities: Isolation and characterisation of specific bacteriophages of phytopathogenic bacteria. Survival studies of specific bacteriophages of phytopathogenic bacteria. Isolation and characterisation of microorganisms producing antimicrobials and other metabolites of interest. Biological control of bacterial plant diseases. Isolation and characterisation of hydrocarbon-degrading environmental microorganisms. Study of possible applications in bioremediation.
- Bacteriology of lichens. Biotechnological applications.
- Description: Isolation and characterisation of lichen-associated bacteria: diversity, contribution to lichen symbiosis, and biotechnological applications.
- Activities: Isolation of bacteria associated with lichens. Obtaining lichen extracts. Optimisation of the recovery of lichen bacteria. Diversity of lichen bacteria. Role of lichen-associated bacteria in lichen symbiosis. Biotechnological characterisation of lichen bacteria and their applications: plant growth promoting microorganisms, waste degraders, producers of new polymers, pigments, etc.
Main research lines:
- Symbiosis evolution: The Symbiosis is an important factor for the promotion of evolutionary novelties. Studying it requires a joint analysis of the eukaryote host and its closely associated microorganisms by employing genomics and metagenomics. Moreover, the symbiosis of insects and humans is studied in a fundamental manner.
- Synthetic biology. The study of genomes of a microorganism variety offers clues for the comprehension and synthesis of minimal cells with applications in biomedicine, bioremediation and biotechnology.
- Genetic study of aphids: Taxonomy and reproductive polyphenism. Identification of genes and regulating channels for aphid reproduction (parthenogenesis vs sexuality).
Materials science and technology covers a wide range of disciplines, techniques and methods designed for the development of materials in the service of society’s new challenges.
In this context, the INNOMAT group, integrated in the Institute of Material Science of the Universitat de València, focuses its research around two subjects with a clear complementarity. The first deals with the development of innovative protocols for preparing porous, mesoporous or nanostructured materials with characteristics that allow its use in a wide variety of applications: sensors, catalysts, coatings, analysis, restoration and preservation of historical heritage, etc. These materials are specifically designed either to amplify some of the physical or chemical properties of their components, or to devise new ones from an intelligent design. This goal requires the monitoring of many parameters related to the physical, chemical and structural nature of the compounds obtained. Thus the use of the appropriate characterisation techniques is needed, as well as the development of other techniques of innovative nature, distinguished by their specific properties and high added value: high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, versatility or portability. The analysis of the physical and chemical properties of materials and the development of new characterisation techniques is therefore the second main activity of the group. This double purpose on characterisation and development combines the collaborative effort of physics and chemistry researchers, by whom it is integrated. Then, it provides the group with a clear multidiscipliinary nature. More specifically, the group develops the following activities:
- Design and synthesis of innovative materials:
- Oxidic and non-oxific materials: preparation and characterisation of oxidic materials with variable-sized particles.
- Massive and porous nanoparticles with the incorporation of several multifunctional groups for applications in diagnosis and drug delivery.
- Mesoporous nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles for the catalytic decomposition of CO and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- • Silica-polymer nanocomposites for controlled delivery applications, remediation (CO2 capture) and sensors.
- Porous silica modified with inorganic species, organic groups and coordination complexes, as heterogeneous catalysts for green chemistry.
- Hybrid functionalised silica for detecting VOCs.
- Materials for the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage.
- Development of material characterisation innovative techniques
- Adaptation of a spectrometer Ramar to use it on the research of cultural heritage items, allowing measures in situ, without simple taking.
- Adaptation of a portable spectrometer EDXRF to use it on the research of cultural heritage items, allowing measures in situ, without simple taking.
- Adaptation of an atomic force microscope for the optical and electric characterisation of high spatial resolution nanomaterials.
The Networks and Virtual Environments (GREV) group focuses its research on distributed systems interconnection networks, distributed virtual environments and the development of scalable multi-agent systems. These three types of systems are transversal to different types of applications, but we have mainly applied them to areas as diverse as archaeology, urban mobility, online videogames, computational genetics and social sciences.
Since its foundation, the GREV has been conducting its research integrated and in permanent collaboration with the Consolideer ACCA team, composed by research groups from four Spanish universities (the GREV and groups from the UPV, UCLM and UMU). Over the past few years, the group has initiated interdisciplinary collaborations with research groups in the fields of Computational Genomics and Social Sciences.
Our research is focused on the neurobiological mechanisms of addictive disorders, specifically the environmental factors that influence cocaine-associated psychiatric comorbidities (including stress) and their impact on the different stages of development (prenatal, infancy, adolescence and adulthood), as well as gender differences. Cocaine remains the second most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain. The age at which initial consumption takes place is of special significance, as well as the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate an overt clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic consumption of cocaine can lead not only to addiction but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attentional deficits/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders.
Cocaine remains the second most widely used illicit drug in Europe and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain.
The age at which initial use takes place is of particular importance, as are the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate the clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic cocaine use can lead not only to addiction, but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attention deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders).
As part of our work, we develop animal models for translational research in humans. In addition, we assess the influence of cannabis, alcohol, heroin and MDMA use on the occurrence of comorbid disorders in cocaine addiction. Our specific objectives are:
a. To identify the neurobiological substrates underlying the increase in drug seeking triggered by social stress (brief and repeated social defeat), as numerous studies indicate that different types of physical and social stress are risk factors in the onset, escalation and relapse of psychostimulant use.
b. To identify the contribution of individual traits underlying the propensity for drug addiction, such as a high novelty-seeking phenotype
c. To study the long-term effects of drug use in adolescence, as this is a critical period in the maturation and final development of the CNS.
d. To study the neurobiological mechanisms of relapse in order to understand addictive disorders as a chronic and persistent disease.
We are currently working in collaboration with other groups of the Addictive Disorders Network (RTA), specifically with Dr. Consuelo Guerri, Dr. Jorge Manzanares, Dr. Olga Valverde, Dr. María L. Laorden, Dr. Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca and Dr. Paz Viveros. We have the following behavioural procedures in our laboratory: conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration (SA), open field, elevated maze, water maze, active and passive avoidance boxes, ethopharmacological evaluation system (social interaction), prepulse inhibition (PPI), recognition test, computerised measurement of motor activity. The following neurochemical techniques are also frequently used in our research: high-precision liquid chromatography system to detect catecholamines in brain tissue; western blot to determine monoamine transporters; corticosterone and ELISA determination.
