Isolation and characterisation of environmental microorganisms of biotechnological interest: bacteriophages, microorganisms producing antimicrobial compounds, siderophores, degrader microorganisms. Biological control of bacteriosis in plants.
Diagnosis, characterisation, and conventional and molecular identification of plants phatogenic bacteria (phytopathogen). Molecular typing and epidemiology.
Identification of B. thuringiensis toxin receptors. Ligand-receptor binding assays. Gene silencing experiments. Performance of toxicity assays. Analysis of insect immune response to B. thuringiensis intoxication.
Isolation and characterisation of bacteria associated to lichen: diversity, contribution to lichen symbiosis and biotechnological applications.
Study of the mechanisms of resistance to synthetic pesticides and promotion of their selectivity.
Identification of new plant defence proteins against pathogens through massive and targeted proteomic analysis. Analysis of the potentiating effect of natural inducers of plant defences on the action of B. thuringiensis toxins.
Bacterial survival strategies in different environments [survival in oligotrophic conditions, viable non-culturable state (VNC) and inducer factors], reservoirs and transmission routes. Recovery of bacteria in VNC state. Gene expression and obtaining mutants in bacterial genes.
