Studying the organisation of cellular membranes in microbial cells

We use advanced imaging techniques to
discover how to fight bacterial pathogens

Studying the organisation of cellular membranes in microbial cells

We use advanced imaging techniques to
discover how to fight bacterial pathogens

Research Lines

Microbial tips and tricks
to escape antibiotics

Studying how Staphylococcus aureus
became so virulent

Bacterial infections have become globally widespread due to the increasing ability of microbes to evade antibiotics. Among those pathogens, the life-threatening Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most successful, causing different types of severe infections.

In our laboratory, we use the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a model organism to investigate the cellular organisation of bacteria, the compartmentalization of specific cellular processes, and how these processes contribute to the virulence potential of bacterial pathogens.

Microbial tips and tricks
to escape antibiotics

Studying how Staphylococcus aureus became so virulent

Bacterial infections have become globally widespread due to the increasing ability of microbes to evade antibiotics. Among those pathogens, the life-threatening Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most successful, causing different types of severe infections.

In our laboratory, we use the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a model organism to investigate the cellular organisation of bacteria, the compartmentalization of specific cellular processes, and how these processes contribute to the virulence potential of bacterial pathogens.

From membranes to microdomains: a universal organisation principle

How membrane microdomains maintain cellular function and influence pathogenesis

Cellular membranes impact all cell processes, yet our understanding of their organisation remains incomplete. While traditional models proposed membrane proteins and lipids diffuse freely and distribute homogeneously, we now know cell membranes are heterogeneous mixtures of lipids and proteins, some of which are segregated into microdomains.

Our research has revealed that these microdomains are a universal organisational principle of cell membranes. In prokaryotic cells, these manifest as Functional Membrane Microdomains (FMMs) and gather specific proteins involved in cell signalling and trafficking. To comprehend the biological importance of FMMs, dissect their role in bacterial pathogenesis, and study the structural arrangement of protein complexes we use cryo-electron microscopy/tomography imaging techniques in combination with a diverse range of infection and molecular techniques.

From membranes to microdomains: a universal organisation principle

How membrane microdomains maintain cellular function and influence pathogenesis

Cellular membranes impact all cell processes, yet our understanding of their organisation remains incomplete. While traditional models proposed membrane proteins and lipids diffuse freely and distribute homogeneously, we now know cell membranes are heterogeneous mixtures of lipids and proteins, some of which are segregated into microdomains.

Our research has revealed that these microdomains are a universal organisational principle of cell membranes. In prokaryotic cells, these manifest as Functional Membrane Microdomains (FMMs) and gather specific proteins involved in cell signalling and trafficking. To comprehend the biological importance of FMMs, dissect their role in bacterial pathogenesis, and study the structural arrangement of protein complexes we use cryo-electron microscopy/tomography imaging techniques in combination with a diverse range of infection and molecular techniques.

New treatments for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections

Disrupting membrane structure to stop pathogens in their tracks

In our lab we study how to disrupt FFMs, leading to defects in multiple processes including bacterial pathogenesis, and inhibiting the pathogen’s capacity for infection. We then apply our knowledge to the disassembly of FMMs as a new strategy to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

New treatments formultidrug-resistant bacterial infections

Disrupting membrane structure to stop pathogens in their tracks

In our lab we study how to disrupt FFMs, leading to defects in multiple processes including bacterial pathogenesis, and inhibiting the pathogen’s capacity for infection. We then apply our knowledge to the disassembly of FMMs as a new strategy to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Flagship projects

Research projects

Understanding the inner workings of bacterial membranes
Ongoing projects
  • Protein stability in bacterial membrane microdomains

Reference: PID2020-115699GB-100
Funding entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation. EXCELLENCE Program.
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC)
Duration: from: 2022-024
Amount: ~250. 000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • Innovative anti-raft therapies to fight multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Reference: PDC2021-121862-I00
Funding entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation. PROOF OF CONCEPT Program.
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC)
Duration: from: 2022-2024
Amount: ~150. 000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • PBP2a oligomerization and antibiotic resistance in bacterial microdomains

Reference: INT-SE/-766
Duration:
2019-2026
Funding body: Swedish Research Council
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC); Umea University (Sweden) and Heidelberg University (Germany)
Duration: from: 2020-2026
Amount: ~2,500,000 EUR (~750K to MIB Lab)
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • Characterization of bacterial lipid rafts, inhibition of antibiotic resistance using anti-raft drugs

Reference: HR23-00050
Financing entity: La Caixa Health Call 2023 Foundation.
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC)
Duration: from: 2024 to: 2027
Amount: ~500. 000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

Flagship projects

Research projects

Understanding the inner workings of bacterial membranes

Ongoing projects

  • Protein stability in bacterial membrane microdomains

Duration: 2021-2024
Funding body: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation
Project number: PID2020-115699GB-100

  • Innovative anti-raft therapies to fight multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Duration: 2022-2024
Funding body: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation
Project number: PDC2021-121862-I00

  • Disassembly of membrane microdomains in MRSA to tame antibiotic resistance

Duration:2019-2026
Funding body: Swedish Research Council
Project number: VR 2018-05882
Consortium: Felipe Cava (Uni Umeå, Sweden), Daniel Lopez (CNB-CSIC, Spain), Rob Russel (Uni Heidelberg, Germany) and Anders F. Johansson (U. Umeå, Sweden).

Finished projects

Finished projects

  • Rafts4biotech | Synthetic bacterial lipid rafts to optimize industrial bioprocesses.

Funding body: Horizon 2020 Special Call Biotec-03-2016

  • Cell differentiation in pathogenic bacterial communities

Reference: ZINF-LOPEZ-1
Funding entity: ZINF University of Würzburg
Participating entities: University of Würzburg
Duration: from: 2011-2015
Amount: ~2,000,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • Cell differentiation in microbial communities of Staphylococcus aureus

Reference: Lo1802-1/1
Funding entity: (DFG) German Research Foundation. Project with PRIORITY SPP-1617
Participating entities: ZINF University of Würzburg
Duration: from: 2012-2015
Amount: ~180,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • BacRafts. Architecture of bacterial lipid islands. Inhibition of virulence and antibiotic resistance by raft-destabilizing compounds. ERC-Starting Grant-2013

Reference: 335568
Funding entity: European Union. ERC European Research Council (Seventh Framework Programme)
Participating entities: CSIC
Duration: from: 2014-2020
Amount: ~1,500,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • Isolation of cell types from a heterogeneous community of Staphylococcus aureus. Analysis of its transcriptome and connection to its physiology and role in the microbial community.

Reference: Lo1802-1/2
Funding entity: (DFG) German Research Foundation. Project with PRIORITY SPP-1617
Participating entities: ZINF University of Würzburg (Germany) – CSIC (Spain)
Duration: from: 2015-2018
Amount: ~190,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • Assembly of membrane complexes in bacterial lipid rafts of Staphylococcus aureus. New targets to control infections with new antimicrobial agents.

Reference: BFU2014-55601-P
Financing entity: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. EXCELLENCE Program.
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC)
Duration: from: 2016-2019
Amount: ~260,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López

  • StaphIN Staphylococcus aureus intracellular: Deciphering the bacterial and eukaryotic factors involved in the invasion of host cells by clinical isolates to define new antimicrobial strategies.

Reference: PCIN2015-151
Funding entity: European Union INFECT-ERA Program (Seventh Framework Programme)
Participating entities: CSIC (Spain), University of Lyon (France), University of Würzburg (Germany) and University of Coimbra (Portugal).
Duration: from: 2016-2019
Amount: ~1,000,000 EUR (0.15M to MIB Lab)
Principal Investigator: Daniel López (consortium coordinator)

  • Rafts4Biotech Lipid Synthetic Rafts on Bacterial Chassis to Optimize Industrial Processes

Reference: 720776
Funding entity: European Commission. Horizon2020 Program.

Action: RIA Research and Innovation Actions; BIOTEC-034 proposal
Participating entities: CSIC (Spain), ETZH (Switzerland), University of Greisfwald (Germany), University of Gottingen (Germany), University of Groningen (Holland), Pasteur Institute (France), University Hospital St. Anne of Brno (Rep. Czech), Naicons SRL (Italy), Biosyntia (Denmark), Engenes GmbH (Austria), Enantis (Czech Rep.) and Scienseed (Spain).
Duration: from: 2017-2021
Amount: ~8,000,000 EUR (~1.8M to MIB Lab)
Principal Investigator: Daniel López (consortium coordinator)

  • Functional and structural studies of the lipid rafts of Staphylococcus aureus.

Reference: BFU2017-87873-P
Financing entity: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. EXCELLENCE Program.
Participating entities: National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC)
Duration: from: 2018-2021
Amount: ~255,000 EUR
Principal Investigator: Daniel López