I am a veterinarian and a molecular microbiologist with an extensive experience in the area of probiotics and microbiome. Over the last 10 years I’ve been working as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer for the School of Biosciences at University of Surrey, investigating how probiotics interact with innate immune cells and teaching various subjects in the area of animal infectious diseases, food microbiology (milk, meat, fish, honey, eggs…) and food security (e.g. environmental and animal production aspects). During this time I was also the programme director for Veterinary Biosciences BSc for nearly 8 years. Previously, I worked as a researcher for the Spanish National Research Council (Salamanca and Santander), National Research Council of Canada (Montreal), University of Groningen (The Netherlands), University College Dublin and Technological University Dublin (Ireland).
My current research focuses on optimizing the use of
probiotic bacteria such as Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) to tackle infectious
diseases and inflammatory disorders in humans and animals. Thanks to my
collaboration with virologists and immunologists at the School of Biosciences I
have discovered that LAB induce antiviral responses via cytosolic nucleic acid
sensors (Gutierrez-Merino et al., 2020. Gut Microbes). I have also published
that LAB isolated antagonize intracellular pathogenic bacteria as a consequence
of their antimicrobial activity and competitive phagocytic responses (Bravo et
al., 2021. Appl Environ Microbiol; Bravo et al., 2019. Front Microbiol). Very
recently I have directed my attention to the study of the microbiome of
beehives as an indicator of the health of the honeybees and their surrounding
environment (Santorelli et al. 2023. Environ Microbiome).
If you wonder about my private life… I like nature and
sports so when I have some time, which is not a lot due to my professional and
family commitments (a parent of 3 daughters)* I should say this is also fun… why
not???* I enjoy hiking, gardening, running and cycling. I also love listening
to folk, rock and country music and watching rugby. If we go further in my
past, I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain, so I’m very proud of being “Madrileño”.
When I’m asked if I support Real Madrid or Atletico de Madrid, my response would be “neither
of them”. I am a brand new Rayo Vallecano fan. I’m also proud of the region from my
parents, grandparents and great-grand parents come from. It is in the west of
Spain, the Atlantic part of Spain (not all Spain is Mediterranean) and is
called “Leon”, where the first example of European Parliamentarism took place (approved
by UNESCO). In this region we also have one of the oldest universities in
Europe (Salamanca). A beautiful city to visit indeed…
Long, long, long time ago I graduated as a Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad
Complutense de Madrid. Too long I would say. After some practical work at
abattoirs and the Zoological Park of Madrid (I know this is a very random
selection of practicals) I was offered to do a PhD in Microbiology and since
then I’ve been working as a scientist. Somehow, this opportunity to become
a new academic at the Vet School is closing the circle, so I’m very much
looking forward to working with my new colleagues!
