ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOMES AND RNA BIOTECHNOLOGY

Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria. University of Cantabria.

Marta Robledo Garrido (PI)

Researcher

Other members

Natalia García Tomsig

Postdoctoral Researcher

Miguel López-Belmonte Rivero

Predoctoral Student

Marina Serna Ostalaza

Predoctoral Student

Ana Cuevas Venero

Specialized Technician

Research lines

  • Coevolution mechanisms of the seed endophytic microbiome and its host plants
  • Functional, genomic, RNomic dynamics and structure of the seed “core” microbiome.
  • Application of specific control methods against bacterial pathogens within complex native bacterial communities.
  • Development of environmentally friendly solutions to prevent or treat the emerging global plague Xylella fastidiosa
  • Improvement of agricultural biostimulants through portable plant growth-promoting factors.

Selected publications

  • García-Tomsig NI, Guedes-García SK, Robledo M, Jiménez-Zurdo JI “A single small RNA shapes multiple symbiotic traits in rhizobia”, Microbiological Research.  Accepted for publication
  • Sanz-Puente I., Redondo-Salvo S., Torres-Cortés G., de Toro M, Fernandes S, Börner S, Lorenzo O, de la Cruz F, Robledo M “Seed-mediated vertical transmission of Pantoea core endophytes” The Isme Journal, Volume 19, Issue 1, January 2025, wraf192. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wraf192.
  • García-Tomsig NI, García-Rodriguez FM, Guedes-García SK, Millán V, Becker A, Robledo M, Jiménez-Zurdo JI “A double-negative feedback loop between NtrBC and a small RNA rewires nitrogen metabolism in legume symbionts”, mBio 2023 Dec 19;14(6):e0200323. doi: 10.1128/mbio.02003-23. Epub 2023 Oct 18.
  • Robledo M, Álvarez B, Cuevas A, González S, Ruano-Gallego D, Fernández LA and de la Cruz F “Targeted bacterial conjugation mediated by synthetic cell-to-cell adhesions” Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 50, Issue 22, 9 December 2022, Pages 12938–12950, https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkac1164 
  • Beroual W, Prévost K, Lalaouna D, Ben Zaina N, Valette O, Denis Y, Djendli M, Brasseur G, Brilli M, Robledo Garrido M, Jimenez-Zurdo JI, Massé E, Biondi EG. “The noncoding RNA CcnA modulates the master cell cycle regulators CtrA and GcrA in Caulobacter crescentus” ​PLoS Biol. 2022 Feb 22;20(2):e3001528. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001528
  • García-Tomsig NI, Robledo M, diCenzo GC, Mengoni A, Millán V, Peregrina A, Uceta A, Jiménez-Zurdo JI “Pervasive RNA regulation of metabolism enhances the root colonization ability of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic α- rhizobia” ASM Journals mBio February 2022 Vol. 13, No. 1 https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03576-21. 
  • Robledo M, Schlüter JP, Loehr LO, Linne U, Albaum SP, Jiménez-Zurdo JI, Becker A. “An sRNA and cold shock protein homolog-based feedforward loop post-transcriptionally controls cell cycle master regulator CtrA” Front. Microbiol., 24 April 2018 Sec. Microbial Physiology and Metabolism Volume 9 – 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00763 
  •  Jiménez-Zurdo JI, Robledo M. “RNA silencing in plant symbiotic bacteria: insights from a protein-centric view” ​RNA Biol. 2017 Dec 2;14(12):1672-1677.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15476286.2017.1356565. 
  • Robledo M, Peregrina A, Millán V, García-Tomsig NI, Torres-Quesada O, Mateos PF, Becker A, Jiménez-Zurdo JI “A conserved α-proteobacterial small RNA contributes to osmoadaptation and symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia on legume roots” Environ Microbiol. 2017 Jul;19(7):2661-2680. DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13757. 

Projects

  • IP: Marta Robledo (2025-2028) SEEDBIOSIS. “Coevolution of the Seed Symbiotic Microbiome with Host Plants”. Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento. Spanish National Research Plan PID2024-155420OB-I00
  • IP: Marta Robledo. (2026) DEEP-X. “AI-Driven Discovery of Encrypted Endogenous Peptides Targeting the Phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa.” Proyecto Intramural del MAX-CSIC para el IBBTEC. 
  • Marta Robledo y Fernando de la Cruz (2023-2026) BREED-SAGE. “Bacterial Breeding with Portable Plant Growth Traits for Sustainable Agriculture”. (CPP2022-009595). Public-private collaboration call of the Spanish National Research Plan. Biomar MT-Universidad de Cantabria. 
  • IP: Marta Robledo. Años 2024-2029 Ramón y Cajal research award. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competence. 
  • Marta Robledo y Fernando de la Cruz (2022-2025) “Microbiología y Genómica de microorganismos de interés biotecnológico” Research contract (Biomar MT-U. de Cantabria contract).

Patents

  • Sanz-Puente I, Redondo S, Romero F, Medarde A, de la Cruz F, ROBLEDO M “Advanced biostimulant for water conservation and nutrient optimization in agriculture“ .Biomar MT. In preparation. 
  • Cuevas A, Fernández A, de la Cruz F, ROBLEDO M “A treatment for controlling plant infections caused by Xylella fastidiosa“. Priority date: 10/06/21. European patent application No. 21382514.4. Biomar.

Highlighted methods

  • Molecular microbiology and bacterial genetics: genetic manipulation, mutant construction, gene expression studies, and functional analysis of bacteria–plant interactions.
  • Microbiome characterization: metagenomics, amplicon sequencing, community analyses, and in-house bioinformatics pipelines.
  • Advanced microscopy and microfluidics: spatial and temporal tracking of microbial populations using confocal microscopy and microfluidic devices, even under containment conditions.
  • Plant experimentation: controlled growth, colonization assays, phenotyping, and evaluation of PGP traits in models such as Arabidopsis and wheat.
  • Applied microbial biotechnology: formulation, stability, and validation of bioinoculants, in collaboration with industrial partners.

Collaborations with other national and international groups

  • Ronnie de Jonge (Utrecht University, Holanda)
  • César de la Fuente (U. Pennsylvania, USA)
  • Andrea Chini (CNB, Spain)
  • José I. Jiménez-Zurdo (EEZ, CSIC, España) 
  • Cecilia Arraiano (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal)
  • Andreas Börner (Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Germany)
  • Óscar Lorenzo, CIALE, U. Salamanca, España
  • Anke Becker (Marburg Universität, Germany)