Chateando con la Ciencia: Juan Alfonso Ayala
Chateando con la Ciencia: “Los microbios que nos rodean, lo que hacen por nosotros. ¿Y cuántos son patógenos?” – Jueves 19 de enero
El jueves 19 de enero tendrá lugar una nueva sesión de la VII edición del Ciclo de coloquios “Chateando con la Ciencia”, organizado por el Real Zaragoza Club de Tenis con la colaboración del Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, INMA (CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza) con la conferencia de Juan Alfonso Ayala, Investigador del CSIC en el Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Madrid).
Chateando con la Ciencia: “The microbes around us, what they do for us – and how many are pathogenic? – Thursday 19 January
On Thursday 19th January a new session of the VII edition of the Cycle of colloquia “Chateando con Ciencia” will take place, organised by the Real Zaragoza Club de Tenis with the collaboration of the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, INMA (CSIC-University of Zaragoza) with the conference by Juan Alfonso Ayala, CSIC Researcher at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre (Madrid).
Abstract: The human microbiome is the set of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) that reside in our body, their genes and metabolites, as well as the environmental conditions that surround them in each of the locations, being able to consider it as another organ of the body. The talk will describe how this “organ” is essential for life and has a clear influence on health and disease. It has its own particularities and characteristics inherent to each individual, and can vary according to genetic background, diet and interaction with the environment. The basic functions of the microbiome in the metabolism of substances not directly absorbable by the intestine, the strengthening of the intestinal barrier, the regulation of the immune system, and the maturation and maintenance of the intestinal tract, as well as its close relationship with the central nervous system, will be discussed. The development of antibiotic resistance and the threat posed by extremely resistant “superbugs” will be discussed.
Juan Alfonso Ayala holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry) from the Complutense University of Madrid. Research Scientist of the CSIC at the “Severo Ochoa” Molecular Biology Centre. Former secretary of the Spanish Society of Microbiology. Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of the Republic, Uruguay. Expert in the analysis of bacterial growth and cell division under different molecular approaches, and the study of the mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in various clinical pathogens.
He has maintained intense and fruitful scientific relations with a large number of Latin American countries in terms of research training, joint publications, courses and conferences. It has led a European Union project with the participation of five Latin American and three European countries, and the exchange and training of a large number of doctoral students.
He has participated in and directed 34 International Cooperation Projects in the field of microbial resistance to antibiotics, both in basic aspects, such as the mechanisms of resistance of anaerobic strains and Gram-negative enteric bacteria; and in clinical aspects, analysis of resistant and virulent mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
He has participated in and directed 19 national and European funded research projects in the fields of bacterial cell division, the mechanisms of mobilisation, regulation and ancestral origin of beta-lactamases, and the identification of Penicillin-Binding Proteins (PBPs).
In order to access the talk, an access code must be requested to the following e-mail address: palacio@unizar.es.
