Research
Interests
Our group is interested in the molecular mechanisms
of resistance to antimicrobials (antibiotics and disinfectants) in Gram
negative bacteria. This includes characterization of Outer membrane proteins,
efflux machinery and eventually others. We are also interested in the
mechanism of spread in bacterial populations of such mechanisms. Particular
interest focuses the interaction between proteins and lipid bilayer
by means of AFM and other biophysical methods.
Current
Projects
BFU2006-12268/BFI: Molecular mechanisms of emergence and
selection of bacteria with
low susceptility to antibiotics: the
role of biocides.
Selected
Recent Publications
Martinez-Garriga B, Vinuesa T, Hernandez-Borrell J, Vinas M.
The contribution of efflux pumps to quinolone
resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical
isolates. Int
J Med Microbiol. 2007 Mar
Merino S, Domenech
O, Vinas M, Montero MT, Hernandez-Borrell
J. Effects of lactose permease on the phospholipid environment in which it is reconstituted: a
fluorescence and atomic force microscopy study. Langmuir. 2005 21:4642-4647
Ruiz N, Merino S, Vinas M, Domenech O, Montero MT, Hernandez-Borrell J. Preliminary studies of the 2D crystallization of Omp1
of Serratia marcescens:
observation by atomic force microscopy in native membranes environment and
reconstituted in proteolipid sheets.
Biophys Chem. 2004 111:1-7
Berlanga M, Montero
MT, Hernandez-Borrell J, Vinas
M. Influence of the cell wall on ciprofloxacin
susceptibility in selected wild-type Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2004 23:627-30.
Serra J, Vinas
M. Laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis in a rural endemic area in northeastern Spain. Int Microbiol.
2004 7:53-8.
Ruiz L, Dominguez MA, Ruiz N, Vinas M. Relationship between clinical
and environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in a hospital setting.
Arch Med Res. 2004 35:251-257
Merino, S.; Domènech, Ò.; Díez, I.; Sanz, F.; Viñas, M.; Montero, M.T.; Hernández-Borrell,J. Effects of ciprofloxacin on Escherichia coli Lipid Bilayers: An Atomic Force Microscopy Study. Langmuir (2004) 19:
6922-6927
Ruiz N, Maier E, Andersen C, Benz R,
Vinas M. Molecular and functional
characterisation of the Serratia marcescens
outer membrane protein Omp1.
Biophys Chem. 2004 109:215-227.
Merino, S.; Vázquez, J.L.; Domènech, Ò.; Berlanga, M.; Viñas, M.; Montero, M.T.;Hernández-Borrell,
J. Fluoroquinolone-Biomembrane
Interaction at the DPPC/PG Lipid-Bilayer Interface. Langmuir (2002)
18: 3288-3292
Grancelli, A.; Morros, A.; Cabañas, M.; Domènech, Ò.; Merino, S.; Vázquez,
J.L.; Montero, M.T.; Viñas, M.; Hernández-Borrell,
J. Interaction
of 6-fluoroquinolones with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
monolayers and liposomes. Langmuir (2002)
18: 9177-9182
Ruiz N, Montero
T, Hernandez-Borrell J, Vinas
M. The role of Serratia marcescens porins in antibiotic
resistance. Microb Drug Resist. 2003 9:257-264
Vázquez, J.L.; Montero, M.T.; ; Merino, S.; Doménech, O.; Berlanga, M. Viñas, M.;Hernández-Borrell, J. Location and nature of the surface membrane
binding site of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin: a fluorescence study. Langmuir
(2001) 17: 1009-1014
Vázquez, J.L.; Berlanga, M.; Merino,
S.; Doménech, O.; Viñas,
M.; Montero, M.T.;Hernández-Borrell, J. Determination
by fluorimetric titration of the ionization constants
of ciprofloxacin in solution and in the presence of liposomes.
Photochemistry and Photobiology 2001. 73: 14-19
