Our main research interest is unraveling how protective microbes from the root microbiome are able to stimulate the plant immune system, and thereby enhance the plant resistance capacity against different pathogens and pests.
We use a system biology approach to uncover novel elements in the plant immune system involved in microbe-induced resistance; and to model the response of microbe-induced resistance against insect pests. With this aim we apply a multi-omics approach – including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics –, bioinformatic tools, and genomic – including traditional genomic tools and CRISPR-Cas genome editing systems; together with bioassays with plants, microbes, and insects.
We further investigate the role of soil microbiomes as a whole, on plant immune responses against insect pests. With this aim, we steer microbiomes from the ecosystem «la dehesa», by using plants as microbiome engineers; and investigating physiological, molecular, and agroecological aspects of plant-microbiome-insect interactions.
