Diego Romero holds a degree in Biological Sciences and a PhD from the University of Malaga. After a post-doctoral stay at Harvard Medical School, he returned with a Ramón y Cajal contract to the UMA where he is currently University Professor in the Department of Microbiology. His research activity focuses on the study of the chemical and mechanical properties of the bacterial extracellular matrix and its implication in the ecology of bacteria in the context of the protection and sustainable production of crops. To carry out his research he works with strains of Bacillus subtlis and Bacillus cereus, two relevant species in the framework of sustainability: reduction of pesticide use and food safety.

Carlos joined the group in 2017 with the postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva Formación fellowship. He is performing his research and teaching holding a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación postdoctoral fellowship. He studies the intricacies that modulate bacterial populations between beneficial and pathogenic plant strains, highlighting the relevance of the extracellular matrix of Bacillus subtilis and the type VI secretion systems codified in Gram negative bacteria. For that, he is implementing a multidisciplinary approach using metabolomics, transcriptomics, microscopy and genetic engineering.

Mario obtained his Bsc in Biochemistry at the University of Sevilla, and has a Master’s degree in Investigation and Advances in Microbiology from the University of Granada. He joined the group in 2023 to work on a project focused on Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) and its biotechnological application for biocontrol of plant pathogens. His research is based on genetical engineering, trying to combine different effectors with T6SS structural components, providing new antibacterial and antifungal properties to different bacterial species in a T6SS-dependent way.

Luisa joined the group during her BSc thesis in Biochemistry. After attaining her Master’s Degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, she started her research in plant-bacteria interaction in 2023 as a predoctoral student. She aims to understand the physiological and ecological response of aboveground part of plant to Bacillus extracellular matrix using a multidisciplinary approach that includes transcriptomics, metabolomics, molecular biology, imaging and spatial -omics.

Laura obtained her BSc in Biochemistry in the University of Málaga in 2019. She received her Master degree in Biotechnology in 2020. Then, Laura joined the group as PhD student in 2021 with a FPI predoctoral fellowship supported by the Spanish Government. Her research is focused in the study and characterization of the main component protein of Bacillus subtilis extracellular matrix, TasA, which has an important function in the maintenance of the cell membrane and cellular homeostasis. During her PhD, multiapproach techniques will be applied mainly based in molecular and cell biology such as, Inmunocitochemistry, Transmision electronic microscopy, solid-state RMN spectroscopy done by Antoine Loquet’s Laboratory.

Miguel Ángel joined the group in 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher after completing his master's, PhD, and first postdoctoral position at the Max Planck Society in Germany. His research focuses on unraveling the role of the insect pest microbiome in resistance to plant defenses, exploring how gut microbes detoxify plant secondary metabolites present in the insect host's diet. To do so, he applies a combination of histology, mRNA-targeting FISH and super-resolution microscopy.

Graduated as a chemist at the University of Málaga in 2006. He received his Master in Advanced Chemistry and his Ph.D in Organic Chemistry from the same university in 2008 and 2013 respectively. Jesús joined the group in 2014 to work with the company Koppert Biological Systems (Koppert B.V., Netherlands). His area of study includes the chemical analysis of extracted samples from cultures of the biocontrol agent Bacillus velezensis. Moreover, he works on the improvement of natural antibiotics employing nanoparticles technology in collaboration with the Department of Organic chemistry of the University of Málaga.

Saray joined the group in 2015 at the beginning of the Starting Grant (ERC). She graduated in Biology from the University of Malaga and works as a laboratory technician in Microbiology. Since she joined, she has been in charge of the maintenance, management and administration of the laboratory. Among its tasks is the placing of orders, the management of hazardous waste, the growth and maintenance of plants for laboratory tests, the production of media and buffers, replacement of consumables... etc.

Miguel joined the group in 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher hired in the context of Junta de Andalucia PAIDI fellowships. He studied Pharmacy and did his PhD at the University of Granada focused on the ability of bacterial strains isolated from hypersaline environments to enhance crops production under biotic and abiotic stress. In 2022 he got his first postdoctoral position in the University of Leiden (The Netherlands) in which he studied the role of microbiomes in improving salt tolerance in crop plants. His expertise is mainly related to the interaction bacteria-bacteria and plant-bacteria for biocontrol and plant growth promotion. To this end, his work is carried out through the combination of microbiome analysis, metabolomic and spatial approaches together with microscopy techniques.

David joined the group in 2018 as a postdoc researcher after a few years abroad at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and University of Exeter. He was awarded with a fellowship from Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación of Junta de Andalucía to recruit talented researchers. Currently, he focuses on bacteria-nematode interkingdom interactions in the context of plant protection. To do that, he is implementing kernel microscopy techniques and proteomics in order to wide up his portfolio.