GIUV2026-020

Study of intercellular communications berween different organisms mediated by extracellular vesicles, including parasite-host, plant-pathogen, and plant-mammals.

https://www.uv.es/evikingcom/

• Nuestro grupo tiene amplia experiencia en estudios de interacciones moleculares entre helmintos parásitos, sus hospedadores y la microbiota de estos, utilizando técnicas -ómicas (genómica, transcriptómica y proteómica). En esta línea, hemos identificado, aislado y caracterizado vesículas extracelulares (EVs) en helmintos, describiendo su cargo (proteínas y RNAs pequeños) y analizado su papel en la interacción parásito-hospedador. Nuestros estudios se centran en la utilidad de dichas EVs en el control de helmintosis (diagnóstico, vacunación y tratamiento) y su posible aplicabilidad a otras patologías. Asimismo, otra línea de investigación se centra en el estudio de EVs de plantas y su papel en la interacción planta-patógeno, enfocándose en las EVs presentes en savia floemática. Una línea de investigación complementaria aborda la caracterización de nanovesículas de procedentes de plantas y alimentos (tejidos vegetales y residuos de industria alimentaria) y sus posibles aplicaciones biomédicas. Se analiza, tanto su aplicación directa (utilizando modelos experimentales de patologías con componente inflamatorio), como su potencial como vehículos de moléculas específicas con actividad inmunizante (vacunas) o terapéutica, frente helmintosis y otras patologías.

• Characterization of extracellular vesicles and their components. Applications in health..Isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in different helminth parasites. Identification of molecules present in EVs. Analysis for the usefulness of EVs in helminthiasis control and other diseases (diagnosis, vaccination and treatment).
• Nanovesicles derived from food.Characterization of nanovesicles from plants and food (plant tissues and food industry waste) and their potential biomedical applications. These studies analyze both, their direct application (using experimental models of pathologies with an inflammatory component), and their potential as vehicles for specific molecules with immunizing (vaccines) or therapeutic activity against helminthiasis and other diseases.
• Role of extracellular vesicles from microbiota as mediators in host-parasite relationships.Our group works to advance in the understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in communication between parasites, their hosts, and the hosts' microbiota, with a particular focus on interactions mediated by extracellular vesicles. Unraveling how parasite-host-microbiota interactions work is fundamental to advancing our knowledge of the basic biology of parasites, generating knowledge that will allow us to develop innovative strategies for controlling parasitic diseases of medical and veterinary interest. Furthermore, given the ability of some helminths (parasitic worms) to modulate the host's immune system toward anti-inflammatory phenotypes, and the role of the gut microbiota in these processes, identifying and characterizing the bacterial mediators responsible for these effects aims to pave the way for the discovery of new active ingredients for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, whose incidence in industrialized societies continues to rise.

• Higher education

• Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology

• Autenticidad-Contaminantes-Análisis-Profiling-Foodomics-Calidad alimentaria-Seguridad alimentaria-Estimación de las ingestas-Evaluación del riesgo
• Microbiota
• FOOD SAFETY
• BIOAVAILABILITY
• EXOSOMES
• FOOD
• BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS
• BIOACCESSIBILITY
• INFLAMMATORY DISEASES: HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH
• HELMINTHIASIS
• EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
• FUNCTIONAL FOODS