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.