Dr. Carmen Aguilar

Research Topics

Interplay between UPEC and the urinary tract epithelium from a host perspective
New therapeutic approaches against recurrent UPEC infections
Organoid-based models to study urinary tract infections

MODEL ORGANISMS

Research

Our research group studies the interplay between UPEC and the urinary tract epithelium from a host perspective. We use adult stem cell derived-organoids and organoid-based models to closely mimic the natural infection site. We use these models to identify and functionally characterise specific host factors and/or pathways controlling the outcome of the infection. In addition, we will also focus on those that are involved in UPEC persistence to potentially exploit them as novel therapeutic drug targets. Overall, our group addresses this urgent medical challenge by gaining a deeper understanding of the signalling pathways involved in UPEC pathogenesis to develop novel host-based approaches to treat UTIs.

Aguilar C, Pauzuolis M, Pompaiah M, Vafadarnejad E, Arampatzi P, Fischer M, Narres D, Neyazi M, Kayisoglu Ö, Sell T, Blüthgen N, Morkel M, Wiegering A, Germer C-T, Kircher S, Rosenwald A, Saliba A-E, Bartfeld S (2022)
Helicobacter pylori shows tropism to gastric differentiated it cells dependent on urea chemotaxis
Nature Communications 13(1):5878

Aguilar C, Silva M, Saraiva M, Neyazi M, Olsson A, Bartfeld S (2021)
Organoids as host model for infection biology – a review of the methods
Experimental & Molecular Medicine 53(10):1471-1482

Aguilar C, Susana C, Maudet C, Vivek-Ananth R.P., Zaldívar-López S, Garrido JJ, Samal A, Mano M, Eulalio A (2021)
Reprogramming of microRNA expression via E2F1 downregulation promotes Salmonella infection both in infected and bystander cells
Nature Communications 7;12(1):3392

Aguilar C*, Cruz AR*, Rodrigues Lopes I, Maudet C, Sunkavalli U, Silva RJ, Sharan M, Lisowski C, Zaldívar-López S, Garrido JJ, Giacca M, Mano M, Eulalio A (2020)
Functional screenings reveal different requirements for host microRNAs in Salmonella and Shigella infection
Nature Microbiology 5(1):192-205
*Equally contributing authors

Aguilar C, Mano M, Eulalio A (2019)
Multifaceted Roles of microRNAs in Host-Bacterial Pathogen Interaction
Microbiology Spectrum 7(3)

Aguilar C, Mano M, Eulalio A (2019)
MicroRNAs at the host-pathogen interface: host defense or bacterial offense
Trends in Microbiology 27(3): 206-218