My research aims to better understand interactions between organisms in marine systems, particularly parasitic associations that involve microbial eukaryotes (protists). I mainly focus in the diversity, ecology and evolution of protists to improve our understanding of their role in the functioning of marine ecosystems. My current post-doctoral project aims to advance our knowledge on marine and food-borne diseases caused by protists associated to benthic invertebrates in shellfish aquaculture, using the farms of Ebro Delta as a case study. I will investigate the seasonal changes of the diversity and composition of the pathobiome of commercial bivalve species and also the molecular mechanisms involved in infection and disease.
Alacid Fernández, Elisabet
Post-doctoral researcher