IBMB SEMINAR, Monday, March 24th 14:30h | JOAN RONCERO & ADRIÀ ALCAIDE

Date: Monday, March 24th | Felix Serratosa room | 24|03|2025

Time: 14:30h

Speaker: Joan Roncero
Hoijman Lab

Title: “Quantitative 4D-imaging of self-protection in the early embryo“

Abstract: In our lab, we study cell dynamics in natural environments. We use four-dimensional live imaging approaches to film early embryos and capture dynamics across biological scales. Our primary focus is on understanding how early embryos respond to perturbations before the formation of the immune system. Previously, we demonstrated that the epithelial layer on the embryo’s surface can eliminate defective stem cells through phagocytosis. In my project, I am investigating additional self-defense mechanisms in early embryos.

Speaker: Adrià Alcaide
Guerin Lab

Title: “Enzymatic initiation and polymerization of Group 2 bacterial capsules”

Abstract: Capsule polysaccharides (CPS) and wall teichoic acid (WTA) are the most important surface glycans in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively, and are essential for survival during host colonization. CPS present structurally diverse antigens key for the development of glycoconjugate vaccines against pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae. The enzymes catalyzing capsule assembly are potential drug targets and valuable biotechnological tools to synthesize vaccine antigens. It remains unknown how structurally variable capsule polymers of Gram-negative pathogens are linked to the conserved glycolipid that anchors these virulence factors to the bacterial membrane. During the seminar I will present the scientific landscape of the whole project involving the capsule polymers, future perspectives and, in detail, preliminar results regarding three structures of the first Transition Transferase enzyme solved by X-ray crystallography.

Seminar Room: Fèlix Serratosa