I am the Director of Cinvestav – Irapuato, a major research institute in Mexico, and also lead the Research Group “Microbial Interactions”. I was trained as a (bio)chemical engineer at Tec de Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) and at the University of Birmingham (Birmingham, UK). During my Ph.D. studies at the Leibniz Institute and the University Friedrich-Schiller in Jena, Germany, I discovered microbial ecology and symbiosis as my favorite topics. My research focuses on deciphering the mechanisms and the ecological and evolutionary implications of plant-microbe interactions in arid environments, as well as in fungal-bacterial-viral symbioses. I am keen on developing solutions based on fundamental knowledge and have recently started a biotech company. I am also an enthusiastic teacher, lecturer and professor. I love art (ballet, piano) and spending time in nature.
ORCID: 0000-0001-8037-2856
Integrative plant holobiont studies for innovative and sustainable agricultureLaila P. Partida-Martínez
Departamento de Ingeniería Genética. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav) – Unidad Irapuato. Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, México
Plants do not live in isolation. Instead, they are holobionts that harbor a diverse and structured microbiota. Our research on the Agave and cacti microbiome shows that microorganisms influence these CAM perennial species' fitness, productivity, and tolerance to drought. These plant-microbe interactions allow us to understand plant and microbial biology while providing creative and sustainable solutions to the varied challenges imposed by climate change.