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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

De izquierad a derecha: Dr. Eduard Torrents, Dra. Núria Blanco, Dr. Víctor Campo, Joana Admella, Raphaelle Palau, Júlia Alcàcer, Joel Álvarez, Arnau Seguí, Angela Martínez, Albert Ripoll y 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.

El grupo de investigación, Infecciones bacterianas y terapias antimicrobianas (BIAT Group) (www.ibecbarcelona.eu/bactinf / www.torrentslab.eu /twitter @Torrentslab), liderado por el Dr. Eduard Torrents está formado por dos investigadores postdoctorales, 7 estudiantes pre-doctorales y diferentes estudiantes de máster y de grado. El grupo arrancó su andadura en la Universidad de Estocolmo (Suecia) y, tras la concesión de un contrato de investigación Ramón y Cajal al Dr. Torrents (2008), se trasladó al Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña (IBEC), centro con acreditación Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa por parte del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Actualmente también forma parte del Departamento de Genética, Microbiología y Estadística de la Universidad de Barcelona (UB) como Profesor Agregado.

Nuestra actividad científica se centra en: (i) comprender el mecanismo molecular de las infecciones bacterianas y la formación de biopelículas, (ii) identificar, caracterizar y estudiar nuevas moléculas y dianas antimicrobianas y (iii) aplicar la bioingeniería y nanomedicina a la microbiología, desarrollando terapias antimicrobianas basadas en nanopartículas y sistemas de diagnóstico basados en tecnología lab-on-a-chip.

LINES OF INTEREST AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY

  • Deciphering transcriptional regulation mechanisms durante la formación de biopelículas y la virulencia bacteriana, y entender la fisiología de las bacterias que crecen bajo estas condiciones
    This objective seeks to understand the role of different genes during biofilm formation and the infection process. It is subdivided into three different subgoals:

    • Estudiar diferentes genes involucrados en la síntesis del ADN bacteriano. Las RiboNucleotidil Reductasas (RNR) son enzimas vitales que catalizan la conversión de ribonucleótidos en desoxirribonucleótidos, esenciales para la síntesis y reparación del ADN. Hasta el momento se han descrito tres clases de RNR: clase I (subdividida en Ia, Ib, Ic y Id), II y III. La distribución de las RNR que presentan los microorganismos es muy compleja, pudiéndose encontrar cualquier combinación de las diferentes RNR en un mismo genoma. Por ejemplo, en Pseudomonas aeruginosa encontramos RNR de clase I, II y III, lo que le confiere al microorganismo una gran ventaja adaptativa. Nuestro grupo de investigación ha elucidado los factores transcripcionales involucrados en la transcripción de las distintas clases de RNR en Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa durante el crecimiento en condiciones de laboratorio, formación de biofilm y el proceso de infección en Galleria mellonella en cepas de laboratorio como en cepas de aislados clínicos.
    • Explorar la dependencia entre perfiles transcripcionales y gradientes de concentración de oxígeno. En la compleja estructura 3D de biofilm, aparece un gradiente de concentración de oxígeno, por lo que la adaptación bacteriana es esencial para la maduración completa del biofilm y el establecimiento de una infección bacteriana crónica. Para este fin, hemos desarrollado un biorreactor similar a un quimiostato acoplado a un sistema de detección de oxígeno basado en un microsensor, capaz de caracterizar la expresión de genes en condiciones variables y controladas de oxígeno.
  • Discover new antimicrobial therapies using nanomedicine techniques and nanoparticle design focused on the treatment of chronic infections
    Muchos medicamentos antibacterianos disponibles actualmente no son efectivos contra las infecciones crónicas, pues no pueden penetrar en los biofilms bacterianos. El objetivo del grupo es mejorar las estrategias de liberación de antibióticos para combatir infecciones, por ejemplo, modificando nanopartículas (NP) con capacidad disgregadora de biofilm y mejorar así la liberación de fármacos antibacterianos para su erradicación. Estamos desarrollando diversas NP (metálicas, sílice, dextrano, nanorrobots, grafeno, etc.) para combatir infecciones por Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Burkholderia, Candida y Mycobacterium y sus respectivas biopelículas. También estamos desarrollando terapias específicas para biofilms en heridas (wound healing).
    Finalmente, estamos desarrollando diferentes plataformas de microfluídica para analizar y tratar biopelículas bacterianas, lo que ayudará al tratamiento de infecciones bacterianas crónicas.
  • Develop co-cultivation systems bacterial in the form of biofilm and its interaction with the organism
    Estamos desarrollando sistemas para co-cultivar diferentes especies bacterianas que imitan las biopelículas formadas durante una infección pulmonar o un proceso de curación de heridas.
    Estos biofilms mixtos se combinan con células del epitelio pulmonar para cribar fármacos antibacterianos y encontrar la mejor terapia antimicrobiana.
    Además estudiamos in vivo como afecta la colonización crónica al sistema inmune del huésped.
  • Develop antibacterial vaccines
    Estamos desarrollando un nuevo método para engañar al sistema inmunitario y desencadenar una respuesta inmune protectora efectiva (tanto humoral como celular). Hemos seleccionado como prueba de concepto las infecciones causadas por S. aureus y P. aeruginosa, pero a priori, podría utilizarse con diversas patologías infecciosas o para prevenir el crecimiento y la acción de bacterias AMR. Este proyecto es en colaboración con el profesor Ruiz del grupo de Materiales nanoestructurados y funcionales (NONOSFUN-ICN2) del Instituto Catalán de Nanomedicina (ICN2).
  • We are developing systems to co-culture different bacterial species that mimic the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process.. Desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías para identificar la eficacia y toxicidad de compuestos antimicrobianos
    Para superar la situación actual con las bacterias multirresistentes y las infecciones crónicas no tratables, es esencial centrarse en el descubrimiento y desarrollo de nuevas moléculas antimicrobianas, antibiofilm y que tengan como diana diferentes componentes y enzimas bacterianos. Al mismo tiempo estamos identificando, caracterizando, secuenciado una librería de más de 200 fagos. Estamos optimizando el uso de Galleria mellonella para estudios de infección bacteriana y para identificar in vivo la actividad antimicrobiana de nuevas moléculas.

AFFILIATION

Parc Científic de Barcelona (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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