Research Lines
The current research lines of the Lipidomics group are focused on using sensitive high-resolution mass spectrometry-based approaches for the development of untargeted and targeted methods suitable for different applications.
Lipidomics in Health & Disease
High throughput lipidomic analysis of biological samples (cells, tissues, biofluids, organelles) has been used to study the lipid metabolism alterations in health and disease. It is a promising approach to identify potential disease biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic and new therapeutic strategies. At the Lipidomics Lab, we have used untargeted LC-MS to analyse biological samples related to several diseases such as cardiovascular, autoimmune and metabolic diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, among others. Samples include biofluids (plasma, serum, blood, amniotic fluid), cell lines (keratinocytes, cardiomyocytes, macrophages, monocytes, mesenchyme, dendritic and endothelial cells), mitochondria, and tissues (myocardium, brain, liver, kidney, adipose tissue).
Epilipidomics
Epilipidomics, including oxidative lipidomics and nitrative lipidomics, is one of the leading research lines at the Lipidomics Lab. We have identified mass spectrometry specific fragmentation fingerprints of distinct oxidised lipid classes (phospholipids, sphingolipids, triglycerides, and esterified sterols) and nitrated and nitroxidized phospholipids and triglycerides. The developed targeted mass spectrometry-based approaches have been used to screen these epilipids in vitro and in vivo in health and disease conditions to understand their role in pathophysiology and find potential biomarkers. Epilipids have been studied in inflammation response models and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune conditions.
Algae Lipidomics
The growing interest in algae, especially cultured macroalgae and microalgae, as sustainable biomass sources for food, feed, cosmetics, and pharma in Western countries demands a new knowledge on their constituents and the development of new tools for traceability. Algal lipids, especially polar lipids, have nutritional and bioactive properties associated with health-promoting benefits, contributing to algae valorisation, boosting consumers’ engagement, and increasing consumption of algae products, in line with the sustainable development goals. In the last years, we have performed an in-depth characterisation of the lipidome of several marine macroalgae (e.g., Ulva rigida, Codium tomentosum, Chondrus crispus, Gracilaria gracilis, Palmaria palmata, Porphyra dioica, Fucus vesiculosus, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Sargassum muticum, Grateloupia turuturu) and microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorococcum amblystomatis, Emiliania huxleyi, Scenedesmus obliquus, Spirulina sp., Nannochloropsis oceanica, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Tetraselmis chui). In addition, we study the polar lipid plasticity of macroalgae and microalgae and the bioprospection of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities to foster the use of lipid profiles for product identification origin certification and quality control of raw algae and/or algae-based products.
Food Lipidomics
Marine Lipidomics
Our current research within marine lipids integrates projects in different areas and collaboration with the Marine Lipidomics Laboratory at CESAM. Our objective is to valorise many marine organisms such as macroalgae, invertebrates or seafood using polar lipids. We also aim to apply this knowledge to create opportunities for high-value products, implementation of fatty acid signature for geographic traceability of seafood products, and use fatty acid trophic markers to unravel marine food webs and bioprospection of bioactive polar lipids from marine organisms.
Microbial Lipidomics
Microbial lipids are pretty diverse. In our Lab, we study the lipidome of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi and yeast, and the lipidome’s adaptation to different medium conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, stress) and growth stages. Aiming for new antimicrobial strategies, we have studied bacterial lipid photooxidation upon antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as a new antimicrobial therapy. The lipidome of bacteria grown in the presence of antibiotics has also been studied to help to unveil antibiotic resistance mechanisms.