Behavioral and synaptic circuit analysis in models of neuropsychiatric disorders: Dissecting the in vivo role of the postsynaptic density proteins nArgBP2 and Shank3 using genetic engineered mice

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

The role of Di-iron proteins in pathogen resistance

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry

Production and Characterization of the biological activity of peptides obtained via hydrolysis from whey proteins by cardosins

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry, Engineering and Technological Sciences

Peptidoglycan assembly machines: The Staphylococcus aureus Penicillin-Binding Proteins

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

The grapevine defences

Grapevine is one of the most cultivated fruit crop worldwide with Vitis vinifera being the species with the highest economical importance due to the high quality standards of its berries. Nonetheless, it is also the most susceptible Vitis species to fungal pathogens. Among others, relevant fungal diseases currently threatening grapevine cultures are powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator, and esca, a disease complex comprised of several fungi in which Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum participate.(...)

Functional characterization and directed engineering of redox proteins for a rational improvement of Bioelectrochemical systems

In recent years, new methods of clean and environmentally friendly energy production have been the focus of intense research efforts. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that utilize naturally occurring microorganisms that feed on organic matter, like waste water, while producing electrical energy. The natural habitats of bacteria thriving in microbial fuel cells are usually marine and freshwater sediments. These microorganisms are called dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria (DMRB), but in addition to metals like iron and manganese, they can use organic compounds like DMSO or TMAO, radionuclides and electrodes as terminal electron acceptors in their metabolic pathways.(...)

Fungal communities in archives: assessment strategies and impact on paper conservation and human health

The main results presented in this PhD Dissertation have been published in interna-tional journals included in the Science Citation Index (SCI)