About
Positions
Postdoc Nov 2018 - Aug 2020
Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CSIC
During my postdoc, I worked in the Bacterial Gene Regulation laboratory, headed by Dr. Alejandro Toledo-Arana, in Mutilva (Spain). This postdoc allowed me to continue working on infectious diseases by studying RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in vivo in S. aureus and their role in the bacterial adaptation to different environments. I started with a set of four staphylococcal proteins identified as potentially related with S. aureus virulence, and tested mutants lacking these proteins in several culture conditions. My results identified the SA_00892 protein as an upstream regulator of the Sigma B factor, a major effector in the environmental stress response in S. aureus . I furthermore collaborated in the study of two RNA thermoswitches that modulate S. aureus adaptation to different temperatures, which resulted in the publication Catalan-Moreno et al. , 2021.
Education
University of Strasbourg 2014 - 2018
Field of study: Molecular Biology
Degree: PhD
I obtained my PhD in September 2018 in the tRNA biology and pathogenicity team, headed by Dr. Magali Frugier, in Strasbourg (France). My research was focused on the interaction specificity between two proteins from the malaria parasite (Plasmodium spp): tRip (tRNA import protein) and the apicoplastic tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), with tRNAs. A part of my thesis was then focused on the identity elements in the apicoplastic tRNATyr important for the specificity of the recognition by its cognate TyrRS. The apicoplast is an essential organelle conserved in all Plasmodium species. This, together with its prokaryotic origin, makes this tyrosylation system a promising target for new antimalarial drug design. This study led to the publication Cela et al., 2018.
Additionally, I worked with tRip, a protein located at the Plasmodium surface allowing the import of exogenous tRNAs from the host cells into the malaria parasite (Bour et al., 2016). During an internship at Dr. Renaud Geslain’s laboratory, in the College of Charleston (USA), I showed that not all tRNAs are recognized uniformly. My work suggests that post-transcriptional modifications of tRNAs define the affinity of tRip, and potentially, the import rate of each tRNA. This study will soon lead to a publication already submitted to NAR.
Skills
Here I detail my experience in molecular and cellular biology. If more information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me.
During my thesis I managed mice infections with P. berghei frozen stocks and sporozoites. Therefore, I was trained in Anopheles stephensi breeding, purification of sporozoites from mosquitoe’s salivary glands, and bloodstages from mice using a percoll gradient. In addition, as responsible of mice infections, I was led to do a follow-up of the parasitemia using Giemsa smears and then recover the infected blood by doing a cardiac puncture. In addition, in a side project, I tried to purify plasmodial tRNAs from bloodstages. Although the resulting plasmodial tRNA sample was not pure enough, this project refined my plasmodial RNA purification technique.
Following with a more molecular field, I have a wide experience in RNA, from generation to structural and functional techniques. During my PhD I studied in vitro the affinity and specificity of two plasmodial proteins for specific tRNAs. I was therefore led to produce and purify in vitro and in vivo tRNAs, radiolabel them and study their 3-D conformation (probing technique) and their binding to the specific protein (footprint, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA), tRNA aminoacylation assay). I also employed the SELEX technique (Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) to select an RNA sequence interacting with the target protein (tRip), and the MIST technique (Microarray Identification of Shifted tRNAs) in order to identify those tRNA with high affinity for the protein (tRip). In addition, I was trained in protein production and purification: gene sequences of both studied proteins (tRip and api-TyrRS) were adapted to E. coli usage of codons before generating several genetic tools to produce single domains, mutant or fused -His-tag proteins.
My postdoctoral position studying RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) in vivo in Staphylococcus aureus improved my genetic and cell biology training. I acquired expertise in genetic tools, such as gene replacement or suppression by homologous recombination, plasmid construction and cloning, to describe RBPs implication in a regulation pathway. Consequences of these mutations and deletions were then studied using Western and Northern Blot, different culture techniques (changing temperatures, media, pH) to reveal a phenotype, and monitoring certain key staphylococcal processes such as biofilm formation or staphyloxanthin production.
All these techniques give me a strong background in molecular and cell biology, and are complemented with my by my enthousiasm, my fast-learning, and my social skills. My international experience working in different teams and cultures, significantly developed my teamworking and adaptability. Moreover, I appreciate a good atmosphere within the team, so I give my best to positively contribute to it.
Professional interests
I am looking for a position where I can apply my knowledge of molecular biology. I would like to work on human pathogens, unravelling regulatory pathways responsible for the adaptation of the microorganism to the environment or stress conditions, or for the diversion of host resources.
Keywords: Molecular BiologyCV
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