Person:
Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes

First Name

Susana Lourdes

Last Name

Serrano Barrero

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/74527

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Faculty / Institute

Ciencias Biológicas

Department

Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología

Area

Microbiología

Identifiers

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Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 13

Project number: 106
Diseño y utilización de unas prácticas de Regulación del Metabolismo como herramienta integradora de conocimientos multidisciplinares en el Grado en Biología (II)
(2017) Guillén Maestro, Alberto; Pérez Uz, María Blanca; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía; Callejas Hervás, Carmen; Linacero de la Fuente, Rosario; Acebal Sarabia, Carmen; Megías Fresno, Alicia; Gómez Miguel, Begoña
Se pretende la creación de espacios multidisdiplinares en el Grado en Biología,con prácticas integradas de asignaturas que se cursan simultáneamente, que pudieran servir de base a propuestas de Trabajos de Fin de Grado.
Selenium and tellurium-based nanoparticles as interfering factors in quorum sensing-regulated processes: violacein production and bacterial biofilm formation
(Metallomics, 2019) Gómez Gómez, Beatriz; Arregui García-Roves, Lucía; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Pérez Corona, María Teresa; Madrid Albarrán, María Yolanda
A cell-to-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS) promotes the transcription of certain target genes in bacterial cells leading to the activation of different cellular processes, some of them related to bacterial biofilm formation. The formation of bacterial biofilms favours antibiotic resistance, which is nowadays a significant public-health problem. In this study, the effect of selenium (SeNPs) and tellurium (TeNPs) nanoparticles was examined in two bacterial processes mediated by QS: violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum and biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For this purpose, quantification of the pigment production in the presence of these nanoparticles was monitored using the C. violaceum strain. Additionally, a combination of different microscopical imaging techniques was applied to examine the changes in the 3D biofilm structure of P. aeruginosa, which were quantified through performing architectural metric calculations (substratum area, cell area coverage and biovolume). SeNPs produce an 80% inhibition in the violacein production by C. violaceum and a significant effect on the P. aeruginosa biofilm architecture (a reduction of 80% in the biovolume of the bacterial biofilm was obtained). TeNPs similarly affect violacein production and the P. aeruginosa biofilm structure but at lower concentration levels. The results obtained suggest an important disruption of the QS signalling system by SeNPs and TeNPs, supporting nanotechnology as a promising tool to fight against the emerging problem of bacterial resistance related to bacterial biofilm formation.
Niche differentiation drives microbial community assembly and succession in full-scale activated sludge bioreactors
(npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 2022) Celis Rodríguez, Miguel de; Duque, Javier; Marquina Díaz, Domingo; Salvadó, Humbert; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Belda Aguilar, Ignacio
Network models and community phylogenetic analyses are applied to assess the composition, structure, and ecological assembly mechanisms of microbial communities. Here we combine both approaches to investigate the temporal dynamics of network properties in individual samples of two activated sludge systems at different adaptation stages. At initial assembly stages, we observed microbial communities adapting to activated sludge, with an increase in network modularity and co-exclusion proportion, and a decrease in network clustering, here interpreted as a consequence of niche specialization. The selective pressure of deterministic factors at wastewater treatment plants produces this trend and maintains the structure of highly functional and specialized communities responding to seasonal environmental changes.
Unravelling the interactions among microbial populations found in activated sludge with incidence on biofilm formation
(FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2016) Liébana, Raquel; Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Murciano Cespedosa, Antonio; Marquina Díaz, Domingo; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes
Microorganisms colonize surfaces and develop biofilms through interactions not yet thoroughly understood, with important implications in water and wastewater systems. This study has investigated the interactions between N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-producing bacteria, yeasts and protists, and their contribution to biofilm development. Sixty-one bacterial strains were isolated from activated sludge and screened for AHL production, with Aeromonas sp. found to be the dominant AHLproducer. Shewanella xiamenensis, Aeromonas allosaccharophila, Acinetobacter junii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa recorded the highest adherence capabilities, with S. xiamenensis being the most effective in surface colonization. Additionally, highly significant interactions (i.e., synergic or antagonistic) were described for dual and multistrain mixtures of bacterial strains (P. aeruginosa, S. xiamenensis, A. junii and P. stutzeri), as well as for strongly adherent bacteria co-cultured with yeasts. In this last case, the adhered biomass in co-cultures was lower than the monospecific biofilms of bacteria and yeast, with biofilm observations by microscopy suggesting that bacteria had an antagonist effect on the whole or part of the yeast population. Finally, protist predation by Euplotes sp. and Paramecium sp. on A. hydrophila biofilms not only failed to reduce biofilm formation, but also recorded unexpected results leading to the development of aggregates of high density and complexity.
Project number: 24
Diseño y utilización de unas prácticas de Regulación del Metabolismo como herramienta integradora de conocimientos multidisciplinares en el Grado en Biología
(2015) Guillén Maestro, Alberto; Acebal Sarabia, Carmen; Callejas Hervás, Carmen; Gómez Miguel, Begoña; Linacero de la Fuente, María Rosario; Megías Fresno, Alicia; Pérez Uz, María Blanca; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes
Con el diseño de estas prácticas de laboratorio se pretende la creación de espacios multidisdiplinares en el Grado en Biología que puedieran dar paso a un futuro modelo de prácticas integradas de asignaturas que se cursan simultáneamente.
Project number: 65
Creación del primer Grupo iGEM (Competición Internacional de Biología Sintética) de Madrid: Facultad de Biología-UCM
(2019) Marquina Díaz, Domingo; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Alonso Conde, Rafael Alejandro; González Jaén, María Teresa; Quero Lombardero, Francisco Javier; Gómez Flechoso, Mª de los Ángeles; Saiz Gonzalo, Gonzalo; Martín González, Ana María; Belda Aguilar, Ignacio; Armero Hernández, Laura; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes
En este Trabajo se describe la creación del primer Grupo iGEM de Madrid así como la elaboración de un biosensor que permite la detección de polen de olivo a tiempo real empleando metodos de ingeniería genética y robótica.
Project number: 110
La curación de contenidos científicos como estrategia didáctica y divulgativa en Microbiología y otras áreas afines
(2020) Gil-Serna, Jéssica; Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía; Guillen Maestro, Alberto; Martín Cereceda, María Mercedes; Pérez Uz, María Blanca; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Silóniz Jiménez, María Isabel de; Vázquez Estévez, María Covadonga Inmaculada; Patiño Álvarez, Aurora Belén
Ciliate contributions to bioaggregation: laboratory assays with axenic cultures of Tetrahymena thermophila
(INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY, 2007) Arregui García-Roves, Lucía; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Linares Gómez, María; Pérez Uz, María Blanca; Guinea Díaz, Almudena
Protists, mainly ciliates, play several essential roles in biological wastewater treatment, such as the transfer of matter and energy, bacterial predation, and the removal of organic material. Moreover, during the treatment process, the formation of bioaggregates—flocs and biofilms—is essential to obtaining high-quality effluents. In the present study, Tetrahymena thermophila was used as a model organism to demonstrate the contribution of ciliates to bioflocculation. Axenic cultures of this species were exposed to chemical and mechanical stimuli that promote bioaggregation. In either case, the secretion of a capsulate mucous material by the ciliates or by particle aggregation was detected. Numerous, small, loosely compacted flocs were observed under shaking conditions and in the presence of latex beads. The composition of the exopolymeric material secreted by ciliates was analyzed by a series of fluorochromes and colorimetric methods, which showed that carbohydrates and nucleic acids were the main components involved in matrix formation and particle adhesion.
Unravelling mechanisms of bacterial quorum sensing disruption by metal-based nanoparticles
(Science of the Total Environment, 2019) Gómez Gómez, Beatriz; Arregui García-Roves, Lucía; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Pérez Corona, María Teresa; Madrid Albarrán, María Yolanda
Nanoparticles are released in the environment causing a negative impact in several ecosystems such as microbial communities. To adapt to environmental changes some bacteria use a collective behaviour ruled by a cell-to-cell communication process called quorum sensing (QS). In this study, the impact of some of the most employed metal-based nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on bacterial QS has been assessed by using two different strains of the model organism Chromobacterium violaceum and by employing different experimental conditions. TiO2NPs were tested with and without applying a previous step of UV-irradiation while the effect of AgNPs of two diameter sizes (40 and 60 nm) and two different coating agents (PVP and citrate) was evaluated. Results evidenced that all nanoparticles produced a significant effect on violacein production and therefore, in the QS system. ZnONPs mainly disrupted the QS steps related to signal perception and response whereas TiO2NPs and AgNPs affected the autoinducer biosynthesis. AgNPs with the smallest size and citrate as capping agent produced the most deleterious effect while the impact of TiO2NPs was not affected by UV irradiation. The present study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which these commonly employed metal-based nanoparticles disturb bacterial QS-based communication and clearly evidences the potential risk of releasing nanoparticles to the environment, especially for microbial communities which play a key role in many environmental and technological processes.
Quorum Sensing versus Quenching Bacterial Isolates Obtained from MBR Plants Treating Leachates from Municipal Solid Waste
(International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018) Soler, Albert; Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía; Arroyo Sánchez, Miguel; Mendoza, José; Muras, Andrea; Álvarez, Cristina; García-Vera, Cristina; Marquina Díaz, Domingo; Santos de la Sen, Antonio; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes
Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism dependent on bacterial density. This coordinated process is mediated by the synthesis and the secretion of signal molecules, called autoinducers (AIs). N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are the most common AIs that are used by Gram-negative bacteria and are involved in biofilm formation. Quorum Quenching (QQ) is the interference of QS by producing hydrolyzing enzymes, among other strategies. The main objective of the present study was to identify QS and QQ strains from MBR wastewater treatment plants. A total of 99 strains were isolated from two Spanish plants that were intended to treat leachate from municipal solid waste. Five AHL producers were detected using AHL biosensor strains (Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NT1). Fifteen strains of seventy-one Gram-positive were capable of eliminating or reducing at least one AHL activity. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the importance of the Pseudomonas genus in the production of biofilms and the relevance of the genus Bacillus in the disruption of the QS mechanism, in which the potential activity of lactonase or acylase enzymes was investigated with the aim to contribute to solve biofouling problems and to increase the useful lifespan of membranes.