My main research area is focused on the molecular mechanisms used by bacteria to adhere, colonize the host and cause disease.I'm particularly interested in deepen our understanding of the strategies used by the opportunistic pathogens of the Burkholderia cepacia complex, that cause severe diseases particularly in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The study of the type 5 secretion system (T5SS) also known as the autotransporter system, has been the core of my work, first with the study of adhesins translocated by this system and more recently with a new type of passenger domain that has lipolytic activity. The elucidation of B. cenocepacia-host cells interactions is a key step to develop new tools to control infections by this pathogen. Moreover, I have extensive experience using and developing the invertebrate wax-moth larva Galleria mellonella as a model host of human pathogens. This model has been used exploring not only the survival effects on larvae but also to characterize the progress of infections inside the animal, its immune response, the screening of alternative antimicrobial compounds efficacy and/or toxicity and the test of probiotics and prophylactic compounds.