Sara Belén Hernández Piñero

ORCID: 0000-0002-8349-360X

Group: Regulatory RNAs in cyanobacteria

Position: Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow

Contact:

Office: DS119

Phone: 954139175 ext. 446060

Email:

Formation

BSc in Biology, University of Seville, 2007

MSc in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Seville, 2008

PhD in Biology, University of Seville, 2013

Postdoctoral Researcher, MIMS – Umeå University, Sweden, 2014–2022

María Zambrano Research Fellow, University of Seville – IBVF, 2022–2024

PPIT FEDER 2023 (Young Researchers) Research Fellow, University of Seville – IBVF, 2024–2025

Ramón y Cajal Fellow, University of Seville – IBVF, 2025–2027

Research Interests

After completing my PhD in Microbial Genetics, focused on studying bile resistance mechanisms in Salmonella, I oriented my postdoctoral research in Sweden towards bacterial cell wall biology, with particular emphasis on the structure and plasticity of peptidoglycan, a key component in processes such as antibiotic resistance. My current research interests focus on deciphering peptidoglycan remodeling processes in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria, with special attention to mechanisms regulated by non-coding RNAs. In addition, I investigate the potential of peptidoglycan-remodeling enzymes in cyanobacteria as possible tools to address bacterial resistance.

Publications

Control of bacterial cell wall autolysins by peptidoglycan crosslinking mode.Alvarez L, Hernandez SB, Torrens G, Weaver AI, Dörr T, Cava F.Nat Commun. 2024 Sep 11;15(1):7937.

Peptidoglycan editing in non-proliferating intracellular Salmonella as source of interference with immune signaling. Hernández SB, Castanheira S, Pucciarelli MG, Cestero JJ, Rico-Pérez G, Paradela A, Ayala JA, Velázquez S, San-Félix A, Cava F, García-Del Portillo F.PLoS Pathog. 2022 Jan 25;18(1):e1010241.

Modulation of Peptidoglycan Synthesis by Recycled Cell Wall Tetrapeptides. Hernández SB, Dörr T, Waldor MK, Cava F.Cell Rep. 2020 Apr 28;31(4):107578.

Regulation of AmpC-Driven beta-Lactam Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Different Pathways, Different Signaling. Torrens G, Hernández SB, Ayala JA, Moya B, Juan C, Cava F, Oliver A.mSystems. 2019 Dec 3;4(6):e00524-19

Bile-induced peptidoglycan remodelling in Salmonella enterica. Hernández SB, Cava F, Pucciarelli MG, García-Del Portillo F, de Pedro MA, Casadesús J.Environ Microbiol. 2015 Apr;17(4):1081-9.