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Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Therapies (BIAT)

Specialized Group:

Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Therapies (BIAT)

Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and University of Barcelona (UB)
Eduard Torrents

From left to right: Dr. Eduard Torrents, Dr. Núria Blanco, Dr. Víctor Campo, Joana Admella, Raphaelle Palau,
Júlia Alcàcer, Joel Álvarez, Arnau Seguí, Angela Martínez, Albert Ripoll and Elisabeth Arnander.

 

Infectious diseases are a serious and persistent public health problem. The emergence and prevalence of antibiotic multi-resistant (AMR) bacterial strains implore the discovery of new therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to detect bacterial infections quickly and reliably, and to understand the processes of antibiotic resistance, infection and biofilm formation.

The research group, Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies (BIAT Group) (www.ibecbarcelona.eu/bactinf / www.torrentslab.eu /twitter @Torrentslab), led by Dr. Eduard Torrents is made up of two postdoctoral researchers, 7 students pre-doctoral and different master's and undergraduate students. The group began its journey at the University of Stockholm (Sweden) and, after the awarding of a Ramón y Cajal research contract to Dr. Torrents (2008), it moved to the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), a center with Center accreditation. of Excellence Severo Ochoa from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. He is currently also part of the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics of the University of Barcelona (UB) as an Associate Professor.

Our scientific activity focuses on: (i) understanding the molecular mechanism of bacterial infections and biofilm formation, (ii) identifying, characterizing and studying new antimicrobial molecules and targets and (iii) applying bioengineering and nanomedicine to microbiology, developing antimicrobial therapies based on nanoparticles and diagnostic systems based on lab-on-a-chip technology.

LINES OF INTEREST AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY

  • Deciphering transcriptional regulation mechanisms during biofilm formation and bacterial virulence, and understand the physiology of bacteria that grow under these conditions
    This objective seeks to understand the role of different genes during biofilm formation and the infection process. It is subdivided into three different subgoals:

    • Study different genes involved in the synthesis of bacterial DNA. RiboNucleotidyl Reductases (RNR) are vital enzymes that catalyze the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides, essential for DNA synthesis and repair. To date, three classes of RNR have been described: class I (subdivided into Ia, Ib, Ic and Id), II and III. The distribution of the RNRs presented by microorganisms is very complex, and any combination of the different RNRs can be found in the same genome. For example, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa we find RNR of class I, II and III, which gives the microorganism a great adaptive advantage. Our research group has elucidated the transcriptional factors involved in the transcription of the different classes of RNR in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during growth under laboratory conditions, biofilm formation and the infection process in Galleria mellonella in laboratory strains as in clinical isolate strains.
    • Explore the dependence between transcriptional profiles and oxygen concentration gradients. In the complex 3D structure of biofilm, an oxygen concentration gradient appears, so bacterial adaptation is essential for the complete maturation of the biofilm and the establishment of chronic bacterial infection. To this end, we have developed a chemostat-like bioreactor coupled to a microsensor-based oxygen detection system, capable of characterizing gene expression under variable and controlled oxygen conditions.
  • Discover new antimicrobial therapies using nanomedicine techniques and nanoparticle design focused on the treatment of chronic infections
    Many antibacterial medications currently available are not effective against chronic infections, as they cannot penetrate bacterial biofilms. The group's goal is to improve antibiotic release strategies to combat infections, for example, by modifying nanoparticles (NPs) with biofilm-disintegrating capacity and thus improve the release of antibacterial drugs for eradication. We are developing various NPs (metallic, silica, dextran, nanorobots, graphene, etc.) to combat infections by Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Burkholderia, Candida and Mycobacterium and their respective biofilms. We are also developing specific therapies for biofilms in wounds (wound healing).
    Finally, we are developing different microfluidics platforms to analyze and treat bacterial biofilms, which will help in the treatment of chronic bacterial infections.
  • Develop co-cultivation systems bacterial in the form of biofilm and its interaction with the organism
    We are developing systems to co-culture different bacterial species that mimic biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process.
    These mixed biofilms are combined with lung epithelial cells to screen antibacterial drugs and find the best antimicrobial therapy.
    We also study in vivo how chronic colonization affects the host's immune system.
  • Develop antibacterial vaccines
    We are developing a new method to trick the immune system and trigger an effective protective immune response (both humoral and cellular). We have selected infections caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa as a proof of concept, but a priori, it could be used with various infectious pathologies or to prevent the growth and action of AMR bacteria. This project is in collaboration with Professor Ruiz from the Nanostructured and Functional Materials group (NONOSFUN-ICN2) of the Catalan Institute of Nanomedicine (ICN2).
  • We are developing systems to co-culture different bacterial species that mimic the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process.. Development of new technologies to identify the efficacy and toxicity of antimicrobial compounds
    To overcome the current situation with multidrug-resistant bacteria and untreatable chronic infections, it is essential to focus on the discovery and development of new antimicrobial, antibiofilm molecules that target different bacterial components and enzymes. At the same time we are identifying, characterizing, and sequencing a library of more than 200 phages. We are optimizing the use of Galleria mellonella for bacterial infection studies and to identify in vivo antimicrobial activity of new molecules.

AFFILIATION

Barcelona Science Park (PCB)
c/ Baldiri Reixac 10-12
08028 Barcelona
www.ibecbarcelona.eu/bactinf
www.torrentslab.eu
twitter @Torrentslab

 

CONTRIBUTION AND SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Arévalo-Jaimes, BV., Admella, J., Blanco-Cabra, N and Torrents, E. (2023). Culture media influences Candida parapsilosis growth, susceptibility, and virulence. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 13: 1323619.
2. Admella, J. and Torrents, E. (2023). Investigating Bacterial Infections in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Insights into Pathogen Dissemination and Behavior. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 200:107975.
3. Alcàcer-Almansa, J., Arévalo-Jaimes, BV., Blanco-Cabra, N. and Torrents, E. (2023). Chapter 7. Methods for studying biofilms: microfluidics and translation into the clinical context. Methods in Microbiology. Biofilms. Vol 53: 195-233
4. Rubio-Canalejas, A., Admella, J., Pedraz, L. and Torrents, E. (2023). Pseudomonas aeruginosa nonphosphorylated AlgR induces ribonucleotide reductase expression under oxidative stress infectious conditions. mSystems. 8(2):e01005-22.
5. Vukomanovic, M., Gazvoda, L., Kurtjak, M., Hrescak, J., Jaklic, B., Moya-Andérico, L., Cendra, MdM., Torrents, E. (2022). Development of a ternary cyclodextrin–arginine–ciprofloxacin complex with enhanced stability. Communications Biology. 5:1234.
6. Blanco-Cabra, N., Movellan, J., Marradi, M., Gracia, R., Salvador, C., Dupin, D., Loinaz, I., Torrents, E. (2022). Neutralization of ionic interactions by dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles improves tobramycin diffusion into a mature biofilm. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. 8:52.
7. Blanco-Cabra, N., López-Martínez, MJ., Arévalo-Jaimes, BV., Martín-Gómez, MT., Samitier, J. and Torrents, E. (2021). A new BiofilmChip device as a personalized solution for testing biofilm antibiotic resistance. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 7:62.
8. Cendra, MdM and Torrents, E. (2021). Pseudomonas aeruginosa’s biofilms and their partners in crime. Biotechnology Advance. 46:107734.
9. Moya-Andérico, L., Vukomanovic, M., Cendra, MdM., Segura-Feliu, M., Gil, V., del Río, J.A., Torrents, E. (2021). Utility of Galleria mellonella larva for evaluating nanoparticle toxicology. Chemosphere. 266: 129235.
10. Cendra, MdM. And Torrents, E. (2020). Adaptation of clinically evolved Pseudomonas aeruginosa into the lung epithelium intracellular lifestyle is mediated by the expression of class II ribonucleotide reductase. Virulence. 11(1):862-876.
11. Pedraz, L., Blanco, N., Torrents, E. (2020). Gradual adaptation of facultative anaerobic pathogens to microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. FASEB Journal. 34: 2912-2928. D1, Q1 (IF: 4.966).
12. Cendra, MdM., Blanco-Cabra, N., Pedraz, L., Torrents, E. (2019). Optimal environmental and culture conditions allow the in vitro coexistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in stable biofilms. Scientific Reports. 9:16284.
13. Vukomanovic,M and Torrents, E. (2019). High time resolution and high signal-to-noise monitoring of the bacterial growth kinetics in the presence of plasmonic nanoparticles. Journal of Nanobiotechnology. 17(1):21.

into the lung epithelium intracellular lifestyle is mediated by the expression of class II ribonucleotide reductase: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-1609

 

 

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