Laboratory of Bacterial Gene Regulation

Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are seriously challenging the healthcare systems and threatening our society. To deal with this problem, the World Health Organization recommends a steady development of new antibiotics and alternative strategies such as immuno-therapeutics and new-generation vaccines. In order to achieve such objectives, it is mandatory the identification of new potential targets for the design of specific antimicrobials and/or anti-virulence compounds.

Post-transcriptional regulation in bacteria has recently emerged as an essential layer to tightly control the expression of genes involved in bacterial growth, biofilm formation, pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance. Our laboratory is focused on the identification and characterization of novel RNA molecules and RNA-binding proteins participating in the post-transcriptional regulation of such relevant biological processes. We investigated on Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial model that is considered one of the most important pathogens worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involving regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding proteins would mean an excellent opportunity for the emergence of potential targets that would help fighting against pathogens.