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We are a group of 12 scientists, including senior researchers and trainee staff, and we work at the Centre for Biotechnology and Plant Genomics (CBPG) on the Montegancedo Campus (Pozuelo de Alarcón) at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
Our group, which has existed wince 2008, is multi-disciplinary and made up of specialists in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Cellular Biology and Microscopy.
Our aim consists of generating knowledge about the molecular mechanisms for defence in plants against phytophagous pests (insects and mites) and discover new molecules as an alternative to chemical control for use in agricultural crops.
The work we do mainly focusses on two lines of research:
Study of the molecular bases for the plant's response to phytophagous mites. Our intention is to get to know how the plant detects the phytophage, in particular highly damaging mites in the "Tetranychidae" family, by identifying and profiling the receptors involved in recognition, signal transduction for defence, regulating factors and hormones, and the molecules with acaricide properties that are synthesised by the plant. We study the compounds of interest and analyse their potential as plant acaricides.
Computational study of genetic families involved in the defence against phytophagous pests. We use bioinformatics tools, ins silico prediction, comparative genomics and phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis to study families of genes defending against pests. We also integrate genome, transcriptome and metabolomic data in order to clarify the network of signals and molecules taking part in the plant-phytophage interaction.
Our interest centres on generating knowledge and developing biotechnology tools with potential use for controlling phytophagous pests.
We carry out scientific and technical research projects funded by competitive public tenders with a regional, national and international scope. We have highly active collaborations with other national and international research groups and we belong to consortia and networks of excellence related to the subject of our research.
We collaborate with companies in public/private projects with the aim of knowledge transfer.
As teachers, we take part in several degrees and masters at the HTSE for Agronomy, Food and Biosystems at the UPM, with the Degree in Biotechnology being noteworthy, where we also hold management posts. We give seminars and conferences, we attend national and international congresses and meetings and we contribute to outreach activities.
Proyecto OI2018/KAIRÓS-5156 cofinanciado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional de la Unión Europea y de la Comunidad de Madrid
