Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Prof Bengoechea is keen to PhD applications from candidates with a basic or clinical background.
My laboratory focus is to understand the host-pathogen interface, with major focus on multidrug reistant pathogens, to develop new therapeutics. We employ in vitro and in vivo models of disease, and exploit a multidisciplinary approach bridging Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Biology.
Previous research experience is desirable although not essential.

1995 …2024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Interests

My research has been influenced by the dual need to decipher infection as microbe-cell cross-talks, and to analyse infectious diseases in an integrative dimension encompassing host responses. The long term goal of the laboratory is to decipher the network of interactions between pathogenic bacteria and various cell types contributing to the onset of the innate immunity responses by applying a multidisciplinary approach interfacing immunology, cell biology, and molecular microbiology. We are keen in defining the mechanisms by which pathogens manipulate for their own benefit early innate immune responses.

Our work involves the use of animal and tissue culture models of infection (mice, macrophages and epithelial cells) using Y. enterocolitica, nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, and K. pneumoniae as bacterial models. The diseases of interest to us include Yersinia-induced gastroenteritis, chronic diseases associated to smoking (COPD), and Klebsiella-induced pneumonia.

Overall, our research strategy is leading to the identification of novel pathogen-specific signatures implicated in manipulating the immune response as well as to define the elements belonging to a common host response against Gram negative pathogens, which could be targeted for therapeutic manipulation. This knowledge should speed up the development of new tools to control infectious diseases, the discovery of new antibacterial targets as well as the development of novel immunoadjuvants.

Please visit the lab web page for details.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

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