Proyectos internacionales de investigación

H2020-MSCA-IF-2018   

Supervisor:
Salvador Conejero Iglesias, Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas

Fellow:
Pablo Ríos Moreno

Abstract: MUSYCA – Multimetallic Systems for C-H Activation processes – is a project designed to obtain a better understanding of the key factors governing C-H activation phenomena in multinuclear copper-based cores present in the most efficient frameworks such as enzymes or zeolites like methane monooxygenases (MMOs) or Cu-ZSM-5, respectively. One of the main goals of the project is to obtain complexes containing Cu2O entities, which have not yet been interrogated and are reactive enough to oxidize C-H bonds.

These will be employed in the stoichiometric and catalytic transformation of hydrocarbon bonds of numerous substrates, from easily convertible to extremely challenging ones, being methane the stretch goal. The reactivity patterns and the corresponding mechanisms underlying the formation of Cu-O fragments as well as those involving the formation of C-O bonds will be studied by using a wide variety of analytical techniques. To this end, robust 2,7-substituted [1,8]naphthyridine scaffolds will be employed as dinucleating ligands, since they resemble the environment surrounding dinuclear active sites in natural enzymes and they facilitate a close interaction between the metals, at the same time that the chelating groups in positions 2 and 7 help to stabilize the resulting complexes.

These ligands will also be employed in the other major target of the project, which consists of the development of dinuclear Pt-Cu compounds so as to evaluate the metal cooperativity in a modified Shilov system for C-H activation. Only a few studies have been carried out on the role of copper in the Shilov-type C-H functionalization reaction, showing its great potential for improving the catalytic performance of the active species involved in the process. However, the role of Pt as active catalyst and Cu as oxidant in the same complex has never been investigated, and the aforementioned frameworks developed in the labs of Prof. Tilley are ideal for this purpose.

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H2020-SC1-DTH-2018-1 36 – RIA                  

Coordinator:
Ramón González Carvajal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros

Abstract: See Far project aims to develop and validate a digitally enabled adaptive solution supporting ageing workforce with vision loss, an age-related condition, to remain actively involved in professional life, helping them to sustain and renew their work and personal life related skills and support independent active and healthy lifestyles.

The See Far solution consists of two components: (i) See Far smart glasses where the display lenses are adapted to the needs of the users and optimize their view. In order this to be achieved a personalized visual assistant is developed capturing the condition of the eye, detecting the problem and provide the appropriate adjustment through the integration of augmented reality technologies. See Far smart glasses empower older adults to solve the most meaningful problems, transform how they design, build, maintain and collaborate in their organization, perceive the world conveniently and enjoy a safer exploration in an indoor/outdoor environment. (ii) See Far mobile application allowing monitoring of the central vision evolution and prediction of the risk for the presence of diseases (i.e. diabetes risk, cardiovascular risk). It will capture retinal images, through a digital direct ophthalmoscope attached in the smartphone, analyze the images (Image Analysis Component), and detect the type and the stage of vision impairment (Decision Support Component).

The combination of the output of the See Far mobile application (indicator of the presence of a visual or not problem) with the output of the See Far smart glasses (type of daily visual issues the user has and his/her behavior) will lead to the provision of suggestions, through augmented reality, to the user supporting independent active and healthy lifestyles. The suggestions will be adaptive to the profile of the user through the Personalized visual recommendation service.

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ERC-2018-STG   

Coordinator:
Eleonora Viezzer

Abstract. Wave-particle interactions are ubiquitous in nature and play a fundamental role in astrophysical and fusion plasmas. In solar plasmas, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluctuations are thought to be responsible for the heating of the solar corona and the generation of the solar wind. In magnetically confined fusion (MCF) devices, enhanced particle transport induced by MHD fluctuations can deteriorate the plasma confinement, and also endanger the device integrity. MCF devices are an ideal testbed to verify current models and develop mitigation / protection techniques.

The proposed project paves the way for providing active control techniques to tame the MHD induced particle transport in a fusion plasma. A solid understanding of the interaction between energetic particles and MHD instabilities in the presence of electric fields and plasma currents is required to develop such techniques. I will pursue this goal through innovative diagnosis techniques with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. Combined with state-of-the-art hybrid MHD codes, a deep insight into the underlying physics mechanism will be gained. The outcome of this research project will have a major impact for next-step MCF devices as I will provide ground-breaking control techniques for mitigating MHD induced particle transport in magnetized plasmas.

The project consists of 3 research lines which follow a bottom-up approach:

(1) Cutting-edge instrumentation, aiming at the new generation of energetic particle and edge current diagnostics.

(2) Unravel the dynamics of energetic particles, electric fields, edge currents and MHD fluctuations.

(3) From lab to space weather: The developed models will revolutionize our understanding of the observed particle acceleration and transport in the solar corona.

Based on this approach, the project represents a gateway between the fusion, astrophysics and space communities opening new avenues for a common basic understanding.

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H2020-MSCA-IF-2018   

Supervisor:
Francisco Ramos Morales, Facultad de Biología

Fellow:

Abstract: Type III secretion systems (T3SS) are sophisticated “molecular needles” that many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria use to establish infection. Salmonella enterica encodes two T3SS that are able to translocate a number of proteins, called effectors, from bacteria to the cytosol of the infected eukaryotic cell. These proteins manipulate host signal transduction pathways and cellular processes to the pathogen’s advantage.

During the last two decades, many studies have importantly contributed to the identification and characterization of many of these effectors. However, the subcellular localization, host target and biological role of an important number of them remain unknown. The majority of findings of T3SS effectors come from studies using surrogate in vitro models, like epithelial cells or macrophages. In these cases, the extrapolation of results to an in vivo scenario is not always possible. On the other hand, important mammalian models to study Salmonella infection, like mice, do not allow tracking the pathogen once inside its host. Here, we propose an innovative approach using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a relevant vertebrate model to dissect the biological role of Salmonella T3SS effectors during host infection.

Zebrafish embryo model allow for rapid, non-invasive and real-time analysis of bacterial infections. We will take advantage of the small size and optical transparency of larval zebrafish for live-cell imaging of host-pathogen interaction experiments. This approach allows real-time cell-resolution monitoring of T3SS effectors. This will significantly improve our understanding of infectious diseases in an relevant in vivo context. This project not only will stablish a new in vivo model in the hosting laboratory and open new posibilities in the study of T3SS effectors, but also it will contribute to strengthen my previous experience boosting my future scientific career.

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H2020-MSCA-IF-2018   

Coordinator:
Cecilia Gotor Martínez,
Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis

Fellow:
Ángeles Aroca Aguilar 

Abstract: The researcher will address the contribution of sulfide to regulation of selective autophagy in plants through persulfidation. This fellowship will be carried out at Iowa State University under the supervision of Prof. Bassham. The researcher will return to the European host, the University of Seville for 12 months under the supervision of Dr.Gotor at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (IBVF).

This project aims at understanding of selective autophagy regulation by sulfide in plants. Autophagy has conserved functions in development, cellular homeostasis, and stress responses from yeast to plants and mammals. In plants, autophagy is critically important in many aspects of plant life, including seedling establishment, plant development, stress resistance, metabolism and reproduction. It contributes to intracellular homeostasis in cells by selectively degrading aggregated proteins, damaged mitochondria, ribosomes, toxic macromolecules, and pathogens to prevent toxicity. This selective autophagy is mediated by the binding of adaptor proteins, which links a cargo targeted for degradation to the autophagosome machinery.

An increasing number of targets for selective autophagy under different stress conditions have emerged in recent years, but the underlying mechanisms of their regulation are still so far unknown. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as an inhibitor of autophagy induced by nutrient deprivation and its mechanism has been proposed to be through persulfidation of specific targets. Several autophagy (ATG)-related proteins have been identified as modified by persulfidation in previous studies. The overall aim of this project is to shed light to the role of sulfide in the regulation of selective autophagy, mainly of mitochondria and ER, through persulfidation, and to broaden the range of plant targets for mitophagy and reticulophagy that are signaled by sulfide.

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H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

Supervisor:
Alfonso M. Gañan Calvo,
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería

Fellow:
Francisco Cruz Mazo       

Abstract: X-MIXING is an interdisciplinary project aimed at conceiving an efficient mixing method at the microscale suitable for triggering not-light sensitive biochemical reactions in the application of Time-Resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography. Nowadays, the temporal resolution of this type of dynamic structural biology analysis with X-ray Free-Electron Lasers is limited by the minimum mixing time that current methods can produce. As it is shown in a proof-of-concept, an exciting combination of electrohydrodynamic fields and momentum transfer lead to a significant variation of the spatiotemporal scales within the convection-diffusion mechanism.

So, this configuration can potentially generate mixing from 100 to 1000 faster than current means do. Besides, its versatility would enable not only to reduce the mixing time substantially, but also to induce jumps in PH and temperature that would additionally open horizons concerning new types of triggering reactions in the field. These critical features have the potential to become this original configuration in a key to take full advantage of the recent significant investment, over 1,22 billion euro (2005 value), paid by European Union and partners for the construction of the European XFEL (Germany), whose user operation started in September 2017. To explore and elucidate the underlying physical limits of the proposed method, the research methodology of this project will embrace different approaches such as micro-PIV experiments, numerical simulations, and scaling analysis.

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H2020-ICT-2019-2 – RIA

Coordinator:
Anibal Ollero Baturone,
Escuela Técnica Superior de ingenieros

Abstract:

Web:

H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

Supervisor:
Juan Antonio Caballero Carretero

Fellow:
Guillermo Daniel Mejías Vázquez             

Abstract: NEUTON is an interdisciplinary project aimed at getting a better knowledge of the NEUTrino OscillatioN phenomenon through the development and implementation of innovative neutrino interaction models in long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, while reducing experimental uncertainties, and shortening running time and experimental operation costs. This proposal will be jointly developed in collaboration with the renowned Super-Kamiokande and T2K experiments, the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR, University of Tokyo) and the University of Seville.

The research objectives are focused on: 1) the implementation of realistic neutrino-nucleus reactions models into experimental event generators to improve the determination of neutrino oscillation parameters and mass hierarchy, and 2) the discovery and measurement of CP-symmetry violation in the neutrino sector. The achievement of these objectives will be a crucial input towards understanding the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe and other open questions in Physics, such as the search for dark matter through sterile neutrinos, the proton decay and the analysis of supernovae explosions. The precise knowledge of these properties in long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments largely depends on an accurate description of neutrino interactions, which constitutes one of the largest experimental uncertainties.

Accordingly, in NEUTON we will improve and implement the sophisticated SuSAv2-MEC neutrino interaction model in event generators (NEUT and GENIE), which has proved its capability to describe neutrino data in a wide energy range, being a promising candidate to reduce the experimental systematics needed to answer the above mentioned open questions in Physics as well as to significantly shorten the required running time and the experimental costs of current and next-generation neutrino experiments.

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