Espariz, Martín

Professional Career

  • Bachelor in Biotechnology, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. 2002.
    Bachelor Thesis: “Molecular analysis of microbicidal peptides sensitive strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium”.
    Supervisor: Dr. Fernando C. Soncini, PhD.
  • PhD (Biological Sciences), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. 2007.
    PhD Thesis: “Detoxification of transition metals in Salmonella”.
    Supervisor: Dr. Fernando C. Soncini, PhD.
  • Specialist of Biotechnological Business Administration. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. 2008.
    Project: Degradation and bioremediation of xenobiotics
    Tutor: Dr. Hugo Gramajo, PhD.
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship. 2009– 2011.
    Topic: “Biochemical, genetic and physiological studies of the decarboxylation pathways in lactic acid bacteria”.
    IBR-CONICET.
    Supervisor: Dr. Christian Magni, PhD.

Research positions:

  • Associate Researcher– CONICET. 2017 – Current.
  • Assistant Researcher – CONICET. 20011 – 2017.

University Teaching:

  • Adjunct professor. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas (FCByF), Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR). 2019 – Current.
  • Head of practical work. FCByF, UNR. 2017 – 2019.
  • 1st category Assistant. FCByF, UNR. 2012 – 2017.
  • 2nd category Assistant.  FCByF, UNR. 2006 – 2012.

Courses: Biotechnology and safety of Foods (undergraduate course), Biotechnology Project Management (undergraduate course), Bioinformatics (PhD course), and Science Business and Entrepreneurship (postgrad subject).

 Additional expertise and supplementary background:

  • Co-Director of Bachelor in Biotechnology School. , Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Since 2019.
  • Associate Editor of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
  • Provincial Mention to Doctoral Thesis awarded by the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation of the province of Santa Fe. 2008.
  • Best Scientific Work Award from “Sociedad de Biología de Rosario”. 2017.
  • Peer reviewer of Frontiers in Microbiology, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Open Bioinformatics Journal, Journal of Infection and Public Health and others.
  • Director of Biotechnological Business Administration Specialization. FCByF, UNR. 2011-2015
  • Awarded in 2002 for the best score at Bachelor in Biotechnology, FCByF, UNR
  • Best Scientific Work Award from “Sociedad de Biología de Rosario”. 2004.

Research Lines

The new DNA sequencing techniques are increasing the amounts of data that may contribute to improve the accuracy in species definitions and genome annotations. In our lab, we are developing and applying whole genome scale tools and pipelines in order to predict microbial behaviour and select microbial strains with outstanding capabilities. Our studies are applied in agronomic, clinical or industrial relevant strains. We are focused in two challenging topics:

 

Taxonomic resolution of highly phylogenetically related strains.

Despite the existence of guidelines and recommendations to ensure stability, reproducibility, and coherence in taxonomy, the methodology to circumscribe strains in species is still subjective and arbitrary. Moreover, species classification of many Firmicutes (Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus or Bacillus) is not defined by a theory-based concept but generally by a practical requirement or industrial praxis. However, an accurate species assignation extremely impacts the way agronomic or industrial strains are selected or are commercially or legally accepted. Hence, we perform species assignations of highly phylogenetically related strains based on the coherence of their phylogenetic, genomic, and phenotypic characteristics.

 

Genome funtional mining and microbial profiling

The biological encoded functions in an organism eventually determine its phenotype and behavior in the environment. However, protein function prediction is a daunting task and current in silico solutions focuses on orthology. We have recently developed a tool for bacterial profiling based on the encoded biological functions. We are mainly focused on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria of the genus Bacillus as well as bacteria involve in food fermentation and preservation, flavour enhancement, and/or human health like Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus.

 

PhD Fellows

  • Torres Manno, Mariano A.
  • Acciarri, Giuliana

Undergraduate Students

  • Petitti, Tomás

Selected Publications

  • Torres Manno MA, Repizo GD, Magni C, Dunlap CA, Espariz M. “The assessment of leading traits in the taxonomy of the Bacillus cereus group”. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2020 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s10482-020-01494-3. (link to the paper!)
    *Corresponding Author.
  • D’Angelo M, Martino GP, Blancato VS, Espariz M, Hartke A, Sauvageot N, Benachour A, Alarcón SH, Magni C. Diversity of volatile organic compound production from leucine and citrate in Enterococcus faecium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Feb;104(3):1175-1186. doi: 10.1007/s00253-019-10277-4.
  • Repizo GD, Espariz M, Seravalle JL, Díaz Miloslavich JI, Steimbrüch BA, Shuman HA, Viale AM. Acinetobacter baumannii NCIMB8209: a Rare Environmental Strain Displaying Extensive Insertion Sequence-Mediated Genome Remodeling Resulting in the Loss of Exposed Cell Structures and Defensive Mechanisms. mSphere. 2020 Jul 29;5(4):e00404-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00404-20.
  • Grand, M., Blancato, V., Espariz, M., Deutscher, J., Pikis, A., Hartke, A., Christian Magni, C., Sauvageot, N. “Enterococcus faecalis MalR acts as repressor of the maltose operons and additionally mediates their catabolite repression via direct interaction with seryl‐phosphorylated‐HPr”. Mol Microbiol (2019). https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14431
  • Repizo, G.D., Espariz, M., Seravalle, J.L., Salcedo, S.P. “Bioinformatic Analysis of the Type VI Secretion System and Its Potential Toxins in the Acinetobacter Genus”. Front. Microbiol. (2019). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02519.
  • Torres Manno, M., Pizarro, Prunello, M., Magni, C., Daurelio, L.D., Espariz, M. “GeM-Pro: A tool for genome functional mining and microbial profiling”. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol (2019); https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-09648-8 (link to the paper)
    *Corresponding Author
  • Quintana, I., Espariz, M., Villar, S., González, F.B., Pacini, F., Cabrera, G., Bontempi, I., Procheto, E., Stülke, J., Perez, A.R., Marcipar, I., Blancato, V.S., Magni, Ch. “Genetic engineering of Lactococcus lactis co-producing antigen and the mucosal adjuvant 3´ 5´- cyclic di adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) as a design strategy to develop a mucosal vaccine prototype”.  Front. Microbiol. (2018); Vol 9. Article 2100. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02100
  • Martino, G.P., Espariz, M., Gallina Nizo, G., Esteban, L., Blancato, V.S., Magni, Ch. “Safety assessment and functional properties of four enterococci strains isolated from regional Argentinean cheese”. J. Food. Microbiol. (2018). 277:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.04.012.
  • Torres Manno, M.A., Zuljan, F., Alarcón, S., Esteban, L., Espariz, M.*, Blancato, V.S., Magni, Ch*. “Genetic and phenotypic features defining industrial relevant Lactococcus lactis, cremoris and L. lactis biovar. diacetylactis strains”. J Biotechnol. (2018) 282:25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.06.345.
    *Corresponding Author
  • Repizo, G.D., Viale, A.M., Borges, V., Cameranesi, M.M., Taib, N., Espariz, M. Brochier-Armanet, C., Gomes, J.P., Salcedo, S.P. “The Environmental Acinetobacter baumannii Isolate DSM30011 Reveals Clues into the Preantibiotic Era Genome Diversity, Virulence Potential, and Niche Range of a Predominant Nosocomial Pathogen”. Genome Biology and Evolution (2017);9(9):2292-2307. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evx162
  • Joyet, P., Mokhtari, A., Riboulet-Bisson, E., Blancato, V.S., Espariz, M., Magni, C., Hartke, A., Deutscher, J., Sauvageot, N. The enzymes required for maltodextrin catabolism in Enterococcus faecalis exhibit several novel activities”. Appl Environ Microbiol. (2017) 83(13). pii: e00038-17. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00038-17.
  • Espariz, M.*, Zuljan, F.A., Esteban, L., Magni, Ch. “Taxonomic identity resolution of highly phylogenetically related strains and selection of phylogenetic markers by using genome-scale methods: The Bacillus pumilus group case“. (2016) PLoS One. 11(9):e0163098. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0163098.
    *Corresponding Author
  • Ficarra, F., Santecchia, I., Lagorio, S., Alarcón, S., Magni, Ch, Espariz, M*. “Genome mining of lipolytic exoenzymes from Bacillus safensis S9 and Pseudomonas alcaliphila ED1 isolated from a dairy wastewater lagoon”. (2016) Arch Microbiol. 198(9):893-904. doi: 10.1007/s00203-016-1250-4.
    *Corresponding Author
  • Zuljan, F., Mortera, P., Alarcón, S.H., Blancato, V.S., Espariz, M. and Magni, Ch. “Lactic acid bacteria decarboxylation reactions in cheese”. Review. (2016) International Dairy Journal. 62, pp. 53-62. DOI 10.1016/j.idairyj.2016.07.007
  • Martino, G., Quintana, I., Espariz, M, Blancato, V.S., Gallina Nizo, G., Esteban, L y Magni, Ch. “Draft genome sequences of four Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from Argentine cheese”. (2016) Genome Announc. 4(1). pii: e01576-15. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01576-15.
  • Zuljan, F., Espariz, M., Blancato, V.S., Esteban, L., Alarcon, S. y Magni, Ch. “Draft genome sequence of Lactococcus lactislactis biovar. diacetylactis CRL264 a citrate-fermenting strain” (2016) Genome Announc. 4(1). pii: e01575-15. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01575-15.
  • Martino, G., Quintana, I., Espariz, M., Blancato V.S y Magni, C. “Aroma compounds generation in citrate metabolism of Enterococcus faecium: Genetic characterization of type I citrate gene cluster” (2015) Int J Food Microbiol 218:27-37.
  • Repizo, G.D., Espariz, M., Blancato, V.S., Suárez, C.A., Esteban, L. y Magni, Ch. “Genomic comparative analysis of the environmental Enterococcus mundtii against enterococcal representative species” BMC Genomics. 2014 Jun 18; 15(1):489.
  • Suárez, C.*, Espariz, M.*, Blancato, V.S. y Magni, Ch. “Expression of the agmatine deiminase pathway in Enterococcus faecalis is activated by the AguR regulator and repressed by CcpA and PTSMan systems” (2013) PLOS One 8(10):e76170.
    * Both authors contributed equally to this study.

Collaborators

  • Dr. Christopher Dunlap. Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
  • Dr. Menzella, H. and Dr. Castelli, M.E. IPROBYQ-CONICET and Keclon SA
  • Dr. Lucas Daurelio. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal, Fac. Cs. Agrarias, UNL.
  • Dra. Silvia Toresani. Fac. de Cs. Agrarias. UNR.
  • Dr. Guillermo Repizo. IBR-CONICET.

Grants

  • PICT-2018-01872. 2020-23. IR: Martín Espariz.
  • PICT-2015-2361. 2016-2018. Responsible researcher.
  • VT12-UNL5664. 2016. Member of the responsible group.
  • PDTS N°150. Member of the responsible group.
  • ASACTEI 2014. Member of the responsible group.
  • PICT-2014-1513. Member of the responsible group.