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The Burgos University (UBU) has established a relationship of strategic genomics investigation with the University of Warwick, in Coventry, which will allow investigations on human evolution and microbiology to advance which the UBU has developed.
Mar 14, 2016 - 2:04 PM
The Burgos and Warwick Universities are to study the microbial genome at Atapuerca
The Burgos University (UBU) has established a relationship of strategic genomics investigation with the University of Warwick, in Coventry, which will allow investigations on human evolution and microbiology to advance which the UBU has developed.
Mar 14, 2016 - 2:04 PM
Professors David Rodríguez Lázaro, from the area of Microbiology, and José Miguel Carretero from Palaeontology in Burgos, are to collaborate in different researches with Mark Pallen, Professor of microbial genome and director of the Warwick University Medicine Faculty Infection and Microbiology Unit, an eminence at an international level in the research into of the human genome.
His studies will centre on two fundamental aspects. On the one hand, the integral characterisation of the fauna, flora and microbial community in our prehistoric remains at the archaeological site in the Sierra de Atapuerca – in direct collaboration with Professor José Miguel Carretero from the Laboratory of Human Evolution and David Rodríguez.
On the other hand, the integral characterisation of the resistance to antibiotics along the chain of production of foodstuffs, from farm to table, and also within the environment and in hospital centres, in collaboration with David Rodríguez.
The scientific work in the area of microbiology in UBU by professor Rodríguez with a research group from the United Kingdom who offer ‘a high added value’ and will allow the UBU to position itself internationally in the ambit of microbial genomics. Also, it will facilitate the effective implementation of latest generation equipment for massive sequencing acquired recently by the UBU in their Investigation Centre for Alimentary Biotechnology (CIBA).
The Warwick University is among the best British universities (occupying sixth place in the classifications of The Guardian and The Times), only behind the prestigious and ancient Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial College.
Currently, Professor Mark Pallen is professor of Microbial Genomics, and coordinator of the Division of Transactional and Systems Medicine, and director of the Microbiology and Infection Unit in the Medicine Faculty in said University.
The two parallel lines of research are going to be ‘of special interest’ according to David Rodríguez. On the one hand ‘the clear understanding of the microbial communities have evolved in association with hominids populations across different epochs of prehistory until today which will allow us to understand the socialisation and industrialisation of the same, and how related sociological aspects affect different social activities in these populations’
In addition, a study into the pathologic injuries in human bone structure and of the associated animals will be carried out which will allow us to understand ‘the evolution of distinct infectious agents suffered over time until now’. Finally the study of the animal bones found in the digs in the Sierra de Atapuerca would provide ‘very valuable’ information on the evolution of the said animals and their adaptation to domestication.
Investigation on the resistance to antibiotics
Both universities are investigating the role played in the food chain of animal origin into the dispersion and resistance of distinct antibiotics in the population, in the hospital environment and its persistence and propagation of resistant antibiotics in the environment.
Here the new technique of massive sequencing which gives integral results on the environmental situation, in each of the stages of the food chain until the consumer.
To instrument this collaboration, when professor Pallen was in Burgos he defined a road plan which starts this spring with the preparation of distinct samples and their later analysis in both universities.
Likewise professor Rodríguez will be visiting Coventry to analyse the first data and to interchange several doctorate students in the continuation of the joint research for a period of between two or three months in the professor Pallen laboratory.

![]() Recent finds at Atapuerca - archive photo
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His studies will centre on two fundamental aspects. On the one hand, the integral characterisation of the fauna, flora and microbial community in our prehistoric remains at the archaeological site in the Sierra de Atapuerca – in direct collaboration with Professor José Miguel Carretero from the Laboratory of Human Evolution and David Rodríguez.
On the other hand, the integral characterisation of the resistance to antibiotics along the chain of production of foodstuffs, from farm to table, and also within the environment and in hospital centres, in collaboration with David Rodríguez.
The scientific work in the area of microbiology in UBU by professor Rodríguez with a research group from the United Kingdom who offer ‘a high added value’ and will allow the UBU to position itself internationally in the ambit of microbial genomics. Also, it will facilitate the effective implementation of latest generation equipment for massive sequencing acquired recently by the UBU in their Investigation Centre for Alimentary Biotechnology (CIBA).
The Warwick University is among the best British universities (occupying sixth place in the classifications of The Guardian and The Times), only behind the prestigious and ancient Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial College.
Currently, Professor Mark Pallen is professor of Microbial Genomics, and coordinator of the Division of Transactional and Systems Medicine, and director of the Microbiology and Infection Unit in the Medicine Faculty in said University.
The two parallel lines of research are going to be ‘of special interest’ according to David Rodríguez. On the one hand ‘the clear understanding of the microbial communities have evolved in association with hominids populations across different epochs of prehistory until today which will allow us to understand the socialisation and industrialisation of the same, and how related sociological aspects affect different social activities in these populations’
In addition, a study into the pathologic injuries in human bone structure and of the associated animals will be carried out which will allow us to understand ‘the evolution of distinct infectious agents suffered over time until now’. Finally the study of the animal bones found in the digs in the Sierra de Atapuerca would provide ‘very valuable’ information on the evolution of the said animals and their adaptation to domestication.
Investigation on the resistance to antibiotics
Both universities are investigating the role played in the food chain of animal origin into the dispersion and resistance of distinct antibiotics in the population, in the hospital environment and its persistence and propagation of resistant antibiotics in the environment.
Here the new technique of massive sequencing which gives integral results on the environmental situation, in each of the stages of the food chain until the consumer.
To instrument this collaboration, when professor Pallen was in Burgos he defined a road plan which starts this spring with the preparation of distinct samples and their later analysis in both universities.
Likewise professor Rodríguez will be visiting Coventry to analyse the first data and to interchange several doctorate students in the continuation of the joint research for a period of between two or three months in the professor Pallen laboratory.

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