Group photo. From left to right: Domingo Marchan, Joana Admella, Núria Blanco-Cabra, Alba Rubio-Canalejas, Eduard Torrents, Víctor Campo, Besty Verónica Arévalo, Julia Alcàzer, Laia Rocher, Ángela Martínez, Clàudia Lliso.
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 a postdoctoral researcher, 6 pre-doctoral students and different master's and undergraduate students. The group began its journey at the University of Stockholm (Sweden) and, after the award of a Ramón y Cajal research contract to Dr. Torrents (2008), moved to the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), a center that has recently received its second Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence accreditation 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 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.
Our lines of research are summarized below:
1-Decipher the 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:
1.1) Study different genes involved in the synthesis of bacterial DNA. The RiboNucleotidil Reductasas (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 RNRs that microorganisms present is very complex, being able to find any combination of the different RNRs in the same genome. For example in Pseudomonas aeruginosa We found class I, II and III RNR, 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. We are currently studying how the transcriptional regulators AlgR, NrdR, FNR, ANR, DNR, NarL affect the transcription of the genes encoding the RNR in both laboratory strains and clinical isolates. We have recently shown that laboratory bacterial strains have been misused throughout the world, as clinical isolates have greater diversity compared to laboratory strains.
1.2) 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.
2-Discover new antimicrobial therapies using nanomedicine techniques and nanoparticle design focused on the treatment of chronic infections
Many currently available antibacterial drugs are not effective against chronic infections as they cannot penetrate bacterial biofilms. The group's goal is to improve antibiotic release strategies to fight infections, for example, by modifying nanoparticles (NP) to degrade biofilm and thus enhance the release of antibacterial drugs. We are developing various NPs (metallic, silica, dextran, nanorobots, graphene, etc.) to combat infections by Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Burkholderia, Candida and Mycobacterium 1.3) Explore the dependence between transcriptional profiles and oxygen concentration gradients. In the complex 3D structure of biofilm, an oxygen concentration gradient appears, thus 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.
In collaboration with the Hospital de la Vall d'Hebrón we are developing therapies based on the use of NP together with heat and/or electricity to treat bacterial infections (two registered patents).
In collaboration with the Hospital de la Vall d'Hebrón we are developing therapies based on the use of NP together with heat and/or electricity to treat bacterial infections (two registered patents).
In collaboration with the Hospital de la Vall d'Hebrón we are developing therapies based on the use of NP together with heat and/or electricity to treat bacterial infections (two registered patents).
We are developing systems to co-culture different bacterial species that mimic the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process. These cultures are combined with lung epithelial cells to screen for antibacterial drugs.
We have started to develop a system to co-culture different bacterial species that mimics the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process. These cultures are combined with lung epithelial cells to screen for antibacterial drugs.
We have started to develop a system to co-culture different bacterial species that mimics the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process. These cultures are combined with lung epithelial cells to screen for antibacterial drugs. We have started to develop a system to co-culture different bacterial species that mimics the biofilms formed during a lung infection or wound healing process. These cultures are combined with lung epithelial cells to screen for antibacterial drugs. and P. aeruginosa, 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) in a project funded by BIST-IGNITE.
5-Identify and detect new drugs and new antibacterial therapies. Development of new technologies to identify the efficacy and toxicity of antimicrobial compounds
To overcome the current situation with multiresistant 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, 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 To overcome the current situation with multiresistant 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. We are optimizing the use of
Most relevant recent publications of the last 3 years
- 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. White-Goat 7:62.
- Cendra, MdM and Torrents, E. (2021). White-Goat biofilms and their partners in crime. White-Goat. 46:107734.
- 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. White-Goat. 266: 129235.
- 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.
- Pedraz, L., Blanco, N., Torrents, E. (2020). Gradual adaptation of facultative anaerobic pathogens to microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. into the lung epithelium intracellular lifestyle is mediated by the expression of class II ribonucleotide reductase. 34: 2912-2928. D1, Q1 (IF: 4.966).
- 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.
All posts: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-1609