Research
Our long-term goal is to predict genetic invasion: which invaders are likely to succeed, and in which communities. Antibiotic resistance is our starting point, but the same questions apply to other mobile genes and microbial systems.
We combine microbial community experiments, genomics and ecological models. Our current research is supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI).
What makes an invader successful?
Plasmids, bacterial strains, and plasmid-host associations differ in their invasion potential. We investigate which biological properties enable some invaders to establish and spread, and why these advantages may disappear in different ecological contexts. Invaders also keep evolving after they arrive, and we follow how plasmids and their hosts adapt to the community they have entered.
How does the community shape invasion?
Invaders encounter resident species that can create both barriers and opportunities. We study how ecological interactions cause the same invader to succeed in one community but fail in another, with a particular interest in communities derived from the human gut.
Can invasion outcomes be predicted?
We use ecological models to look for principles that explain variation across invaders and recipient communities. We aim to determine how much of an invasion outcome can be predicted from the properties of the invader and the community, and when general rules break down.