Profile | Research Services | University of Exeter

Dr Alberto Munoz

Research Centre Manager for MRC Centre for Medical Mycology

A.Munoz-Rodriguez@exeter.ac.uk

7597

Geoffrey Pope 322

Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter , Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK

Overview

Alberto is the Research Centre Manager for the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. Alberto’s scientific background is in fungal cell biology. ln 2014, he moved into Research Project Management where he has project managed large EU funded projects as well as UKRI funded programmes, before joining the MRC CMM in September 2019.

Prior to this, Alberto carried out his PhD in the field of postharvest fungal infections and the development of new biotechnological methods for decay control based on synthetic rationally designed Antimicrobial Peptides, at the IATA-CSIC in Valencia, Spain. He then undertook his postdoctoral research at two leading UK laboratories in the field of mycology: the Fungal Cell Group at The University of Edinburgh and the Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG) at The University of Manchester, carrying out research in two different projects: the Wellcome Trust funded project ‘Calcium signalling and homeostasis in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus to provide new targets for antifungal therapy’; and on his postdoctoral fellowship project ‘Live-cell imaging and mode-of-action of the next generation of small, synthetic antimicrobial peptides as novel antifungal therapeutics’.

Qualifications

BSc, PhD

Career

Sept 2019 - Present: Research Centre Manager at MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter

2016-2019: Project Manager at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Leeds, based at the Met Office Hadley Centre

2013-2015: Project Manager and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG), University of Manchester

2009-2013: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Fungal Cell Biology Group, University of Edinburgh

2004-2008: PhD student at the Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), CSIC

Publications

Journal articles

Muñoz A, Bertuzzi M, Seidel C, Thomson D, Bignell EM, Read ND (2021). Live-cell imaging of rapid calcium dynamics using fluorescent, genetically-encoded GCaMP probes with Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 151, 103470-103470.

Alexander AJT, Munoz A, Marcos JF, Read ND (2020). Calcium homeostasis plays important roles in the internalization and activities of the small synthetic antifungal peptide PAF26. MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, 114(4), 521-535. Author URL.

Sonderegger C, Fizil Á, Burtscher L, Hajdu D, Muñoz A, Gáspári Z, Read ND, Batta G, Marx F (2017). D19S Mutation of the Cationic, Cysteine-Rich Protein PAF: Novel Insights into its Structural Dynamics, Thermal Unfolding and Antifungal Function. PLoS One, 12(1). Abstract. Author URL.

Zhang Y, Zheng Q, Sun C, Song J, Gao L, Zhang S, Muñoz A, Read ND, Lu L (2016). Palmitoylation of the Cysteine Residue in the DHHC Motif of a Palmitoyl Transferase Mediates Ca2+ Homeostasis in Aspergillus. PLOS Genetics, 12(4), e1005977-e1005977.

Juvvadi PR, Muñoz A, Lamoth F, Soderblom EJ, Moseley MA, Read ND, Steinbach WJ (2015). Calcium-Mediated Induction of Paradoxical Growth following Caspofungin Treatment is Associated with Calcineurin Activation and Phosphorylation in Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 59(8), 4946-4955. Abstract. Author URL.

Bertuzzi M, Schrettl M, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns TC, Muñoz A, Walker LA, Herbst S, Safari M, Cheverton AM, Chen D, et al (2015). Correction: the pH-Responsive PacC Transcription Factor of Aspergillus fumigatus Governs Epithelial Entry and Tissue Invasion during Pulmonary Aspergillosis. PLoS Pathog, 11(6). Author URL.

Muñoz A, Bertuzzi M, Bettgenhaeuser J, Iakobachvili N, Bignell EM, Read ND (2015). Different Stress-Induced Calcium Signatures Are Reported by Aequorin-Mediated Calcium Measurements in Living Cells of Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One, 10(9). Abstract. Author URL.

Gonçalves AP, Cordeiro JM, Monteiro J, Muñoz A, Correia-de-Sá P, Read ND, Videira A (2014). Activation of a TRP-like channel and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics during phospholipase-C-mediated cell death. J Cell Sci, 127(Pt 17), 3817-3829. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, Chu M, Marris PI, Sagaram US, Kaur J, Shah DM, Read ND (2014). Specific domains of plant defensins differentially disrupt colony initiation, cell fusion and calcium homeostasis in Neurospora crassa. Mol Microbiol, 92(6), 1357-1374. Abstract. Author URL.

Bertuzzi M, Schrettl M, Alcazar-Fuoli L, Cairns TC, Muñoz A, Walker LA, Herbst S, Safari M, Cheverton AM, Chen D, et al (2014). The pH-Responsive PacC Transcription Factor of Aspergillus fumigatus Governs Epithelial Entry and Tissue Invasion during Pulmonary Aspergillosis. PLoS Pathogens, 10(10). Abstract.

Harries E, Carmona L, Muñoz A, Ibeas JI, Read ND, Gandía M, Marcos JF (2013). Genes involved in protein glycosylation determine the activity and cell internalization of the antifungal peptide PAF26 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fungal Genet Biol, 58-59, 105-115. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, Harries E, Contreras-Valenzuela A, Carmona L, Read ND, Marcos JF (2013). Two functional motifs define the interaction, internalization and toxicity of the cell-penetrating antifungal peptide PAF26 on fungal cells. PLoS One, 8(1). Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, Gandía M, Harries E, Carmona L, Read ND, Marcos JF (2013). Understanding the mechanism of action of cell-penetrating antifungal peptides using the rationally designed hexapeptide PAF26 as a model. Fungal Biology Reviews, 26(4), 146-155.

Muñoz A, Marcos JF, Read ND (2012). Concentration-dependent mechanisms of cell penetration and killing by the de novo designed antifungal hexapeptide PAF26. Mol Microbiol, 85(1), 89-106. Abstract. Author URL.

Fischer-Harman V, Jackson KJ, Muñoz A, Shoji J-Y, Read ND (2012). Evidence for tryptophan being a signal molecule that inhibits conidial anastomosis tube fusion during colony initiation in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genet Biol, 49(11), 896-902. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, Read ND (2012). Live-cell imaging and analysis shed light on the complexity and dynamics of antimicrobial Peptide action. Front Immunol, 3 Author URL.

González-Ramos D, Muñoz A, Ortiz-Julien A, Palacios AT, Heras JM, González R (2010). A <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> wine yeast strain overproducing mannoproteins selected through classical genetic methods. OENO One, 44(4), 243-243. Abstract.

López-García B, Gandía M, Muñoz A, Carmona L, Marcos JF (2010). A genomic approach highlights common and diverse effects and determinants of susceptibility on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to distinct antimicrobial peptides. BMC Microbiol, 10 Abstract. Author URL.

Marcos JF, Muñoz A, Pérez-Payá E, Misra S, López-García B (2008). Identification and rational design of novel antimicrobial peptides for plant protection. Annu Rev Phytopathol, 46, 273-301. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, López-García B, Pérez-Payá E, Marcos JF (2007). Antimicrobial properties of derivatives of the cationic tryptophan-rich hexapeptide PAF26. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 354(1), 172-177. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, López-García B, Marcos JF (2007). Comparative study of antimicrobial peptides to control citrus postharvest decay caused by Penicillium digitatum. J Agric Food Chem, 55(20), 8170-8176. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, Marcos JF (2006). Activity and mode of action against fungal phytopathogens of bovine lactoferricin-derived peptides. J Appl Microbiol, 101(6), 1199-1207. Abstract. Author URL.

Muñoz A, López-García B, Marcos JF (2006). Studies on the mode of action of the antifungal hexapeptide PAF26. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 50(11), 3847-3855. Abstract. Author URL.

Chapters

Marcos JF, Gandía M, Harries E, Carmona L, Muñoz A (2012). Antifungal Peptides: Exploiting Non-Lytic Mechanisms and Cell Penetration Properties. In (Ed) ACS Symposium Series, American Chemical Society, 337-357.

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