The MikroIker research group has for years been conducting studies on various microorganisms of sanitary, food-related and environmental interest, employing culture-based microbiological techniques as well as molecular approaches, including high-throughput sequencing methods. From a multidisciplinary perspective, encompassing fields such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Biology and Bioinformatics, we are currently developing several lines of research focused on the study of microorganisms in their different habitats, primarily concentrating on their characterisation, epidemiological analysis and distribution.

Study and characterisation of foodborne pathogens and clinically relevant microorganisms
Our research group focuses on the identification and characterisation of foodborne pathogens, primarily Salmonella and campylobacters, as well as other pathogens of particular clinical relevance such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We search for epidemiological markers that may be used in the fields of food safety and epidemiological surveillance. In addition, we concentrate on the study of antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence genes and other genetic factors that contribute to expanding our understanding of the pathogenesis, adaptation and evolution of the isolates under investigation.

Study of the diversity of environmental microorganisms
This line of research is primarily dedicated to examining the microbial diversity of the water from the Añana Salt Valley, employing both traditional culture-based techniques and sequencing approaches. This work is enabling the assessment of the richness and diversity of the microorganisms inhabiting this saline ecosystem, as well as the identification of potential biotechnological applications of the prokaryotic species present therein.