All our research lines are related, in one way or another, to biological rhythms. Organisms coordinate their physiology and behaviour with the Earth's two main geophysical rhythms: the 24-hour rotational motion and the one-year translational motion. As an adaptation to these rhythms, organisms have circadian rhythms (repeated every 24 hours) and annual rhythms (usually seasonal) that are repeated every year.
- Sexuality- and diapause-inducing genes in aphids
The group mostly studies the molecular and cellular bases that control different polyphenisms present in the life cycles of aphids, with special emphasis on diapause. Our research is mainly focused on identifying which genes are involved in inducing the sexual reproductive phase, produced by a short-day photoperiod, and in ensuring parthenogenesis over seasons with long days. In order to achieve our objectives, we have been developing two types of approaches. On the one hand, “gene hunting” strategies through transcriptomic studies, with which we try to identify genes with photoperiod-dependent differential expression. On the other hand, we study the putative role of specific groups of candidate genes. Although we study different types of genes, over the last few years we have prioritised the study of the putative role of circadian clock genes as well as genes and molecules related to it. Among the methodologies used, real-time quantitative PCR, in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry methods, mainly focused on aphid brain, gene silencing by RNAi, transcriptome comparison by RNAseq, etc., are commonly used within the group.
- Mutualism and mimicry between aphids and ants
We also study the interaction of some aphid species with different ant species and which factors are responsible for the variation in this interaction. In particular, we are interested in characterising the molecular bases involved in a polyphenism linked to this interaction and which gives rise to two alternative (genetically identical) morphs. One of these morphs (green morph) exhibits the conventional trophobiotic relationship with ants (providing them with the sugar-rich honeydew they excrete and which ants use as a source of food), while the alternative morph (flat morph) mimics the ants' larvae in order to access (transported by the ants themselves) the brood chamber, where it parasitizes them.
- Phylogenetic and taxonomic studies
In collaboration with other groups, we carry out large-scale evolutionary or taxonomic studies on particular groups of aphids and ants using sequence data from different genes, both nuclear and mitochondrial.
