Microbial Populations and Comparative Genomics

RESEARCH GROUP

Zulema Udaondo
Zulema Udaondo

Group Leader

Research Summary

Our research group focuses on the comparative genomics and population genomics of microorganisms to understand their diversity, evolution, and functional potential. By studying microbial populations across different environments, we aim to uncover the genetic basis of microbial adaptability, resilience, and specialization. Comparative genomic approaches allow us to identify key genetic traits that drive these processes, offering valuable insights into microbial ecology and evolution.

In addition to these genomic studies, our group is particularly interested in the interactions between microorganisms and plants. Microbes play crucial roles in plant health and growth, influencing nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and stress tolerance. By exploring how microbial populations interact with plant hosts, we aim to uncover mechanisms that could lead to sustainable agricultural practices and improve plant resilience in diverse ecosystems. Our research brings together the power of genomics with the complexity of plant-microbe interactions to address key challenges in both microbial ecology and plant science.

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Research Lines

Recent advancements in whole-genome sequencing and the exponential growth of genomic data in public databases have revolutionized the field of microbial population studies. The application of novel computational typing methods, such as FastANI and Mash, has facilitated the high-resolution comparison of bacterial genomes, offering an effective alternative to traditional experimental methods. These computational techniques allow for accurate species demarcation and provide insight into the genetic relationships among microorganisms, playing a crucial role in microbial classification and identification. As a result, they have become integral to polyphasic taxonomic strategies that combine genomic data with traditional methods to enhance the accuracy of microbial species identification. By focusing on whole-genome comparisons, these tools offer valuable insights into the population structure and evolutionary trajectories of microbial species, contributing to a deeper understanding of microbial diversity.
In parallel, pangenome analyses have become a cornerstone in microbial genomics, offering insights into the complete repertoire of gene families across microbial populations. These analyses enable the classification of genomes into core, accessory, and unique gene categories, shedding light on the genetic variability and adaptive mechanisms of microbial populations. The study of the accessory genome, in particular, is crucial for understanding niche specialization, pathogenicity, and resistance mechanisms, as these genes are often linked to environmental adaptation and horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

Moreover, by analyzing the population structure of microbial species, it is possible to identify patterns of genetic variation across different ecological niches, helping to elucidate the evolutionary processes shaping microbial communities. As high-performance computational tools and sequencing technologies continue to evolve, comparative genomics has become an indispensable approach for exploring microbial populations and their ecological dynamics, contributing to fields such as microbial epidemiology, evolution, and synthetic biology.

Scientific Publications

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Group Members

Group Leader

Zulema Udaondo

Funding

Our research is funded by national and international institutions as indicated below. For more details, please check the general Funding Section at the CNB website.

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