Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, Spain
Degree in Biology and PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Oviedo (Spain), followed by a 2-years position as Research Associate at University of Manchester (UK). Currently Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Oviedo as part of the H2020-funded project "SynBio4Flav". Experience in up-to-date molecular techniques like CRISPR or MAGE, bioinformatics and metabolomics. Have participated in two other collaborative European Research Projects, GENODRUG and TOPCAPI. Interested in data science and molecular biology.
By using synthetic biology, the SynBio4Flav project aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to current flavonoid production. SynBio4Flav’s scientific challenge is to produce flavonoids by breaking down their complex biosynthetic pathways into standardized specific parts, which can be transferred to engineered microorganisms within Synthetic Microbial Consortia to promote flavonoid assembly through distributed catalysis. SynBio4Flav’s groundbreaking approach has great potential beyond the production of flavonoids. The project’s ultimate goal is to deliver a paradigm shift in biotechnological manufacturing of complex natural chemicals. https://synbio4flav.eu/
TOPCAPI is a Horizon 2020 funded project focus on developing Streptomyces strains as chassis for the production of high-value pharmaceutical ingredientes. As part of this project, I am in charge of genetic engineer one of this strains by using synthetic biology approaches and based on targets predicted by systems biology approaches (integration of 'omics analysis in a genome scale model).
Genome mining of a Streptomyces strain collection looking for new bioactive compounds sharing a common scaffold not previously clearly associated to secondary metabolites gene clusters. Principal investigators: Dr. José Antonio Salas and Carmen Méndez.
Thesis title: Genome mining of Streptomyces argillaceus: identification and characterization of a new biosynthetic gene cluster for argimycins production Supervisors: Dr. José Antonio Salas and Carmen Méndez. Output: 2 published papers as first author, 1 submitted paper as first author, 1 national patent.