Aize Pellón Rodríguez

Aize Pellón Rodríguez

@aizepellon.bsky.social

#MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow at CIC bioGUNE (Bilbao, Spain) || Host-microbe interactions || Fungal Immunology || Innate immune memory || Trained immunity || Immunometabolism || Microbiota #SinCienciaNoHayFuturo #MycoSky https://linktr.ee/aizepellonrodriguez

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Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Happy to have contributed to this new paper published in @natmicrobiol.nature.com describing the role of IL-1 family signalling in controlling mucosal candidiasis and fungal dissemination. Congratulations to all the authors for the great work! @kingsdentistry.bsky.social @cicbiogune.bsky.social

Nature Microbiology@natmicrobiol.nature.com

Out Now! IL-1 family signalling drives mucosal defence against systemic Candida albicans infection #MicroSky

go.nature.comIL-1 family signalling drives mucosal defence against systemic Candida albicans infectionNature Microbiology, Published online: 05 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02431-2IL-1 family signalling drives host mucosal defence against Candida albicans and, together with neutrophils, prevents mucosal–systemic dissemination and life-threatening fungal disease.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Toni Gabaldón
@tonigabaldon.bsky.social

Our paper "Gene ancestries reveal diverse microbial associations during eukaryogenesis.” is finally out in Nature. Eukaryogenesis was likely a gradual process shaped by multiple microbial partners and virus-mediated gene transfer, rather than a single binary symbiosis. doi.org/10.1038/s415...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Happy to see this published! A fantastic collaboration with Yolanda Sanz and her team highlighting the importance of the gut microbiota and immunometabolism in obesity. Check out the paper 👉 @iatacsic.bsky.social @cicbiogune.bsky.social @anguitalab.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

tandfonline.comGut microbiota and immunometabolism in obesityThe gut microbiota plays a central role in modulating both immunity and metabolism. Obesity-associated microbiota configuration is a critical driver of persistent inflammatory activation and immune...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Cell Host & Microbe
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social

Featured Article: Metabolic flexibility allows neutrophils to fight Candida Upon C. albicans glucose consumption, neutrophils upregulate PYGL-mediated glycogenolysis through a dectin-1/PKA axis, thus sustaining antifungal function in glucose-low tissues www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

cell.comGlycogen phosphorylase L confers metabolic flexibility in neutrophils to fight fungal infections in nutrient-deprived tissuesNeutrophils depend on glucose for their antifungal activities. Candida albicans consumes glucose, thus posing metabolic challenges for neutrophils. Choi and colleagues show that neutrophils upregulate...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Marc Swidergall
@swidergall-lab.bsky.social

Excited to share our latest publication @natcomms.nature.com Non-canonical IL‑22 receptor signaling remodels the oral mucosal barrier during #Candida albicans immunosurveillance www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comNon-canonical IL‑22 receptor signaling remodels the oral mucosal barrier during Candida albicans immunosurveillance - Nature CommunicationsMucosal barriers play critical roles in the interaction with commensal and pathogenic microbes. Here the authors show non-canonical IL-22 signalling results in mucosal remodelling in a murine model du...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Microbiology Society
@microbiologysociety.org

It's Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Find out the differences in gut microbiome composition between colorectal cancer patients and healthy individuals in JMM: https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002042 #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth #JMM

doi.orgMeta-analysis of gut microbiome reveals patterns of dysbiosis in colorectal cancer patientsIntroduction. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumour in which dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is a contributing factor in the development of cancer. However, the species composition and species-specific changes in the gut microbiome related to CRC still require comprehensive investigation. Hypothesis. There is a significant difference in gut microbiome between CRC patients and healthy individuals. Aim. The microbiome-based association test methods are used for the association between the microbiome and host phenotypes, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis is...
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Nuestra compañera Naiara Gutiez estudia el papel de la microbiota intestinal y la dieta en la progresión y severidad del cáncer colorrectal, uno de los tipos de tumor más prevalentes. #DíaMundialContraElCáncerDeColon @contracancerinv.bsky.social @anguitalab.bsky.social @cicbiogune.bsky.social

CIC bioGUNE@cicbiogune.bsky.social

#DíaMundialContraElCáncerDeColon |🧬 La investigación es clave para entender el cáncer de colon y mejorar su prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento Naiara Gutiez, #CICbioGUNE @brtaeus.bsky.social avanza en este campo con apoyo de @contracancerinv.bsky.social 🔗 www.instagram.com/reel/DWirG5m...

instagram.comAsociación Contra el Cáncer en Bizkaia on Instagram: "En el Día Mundial Contra el Cáncer de Colon, Naiara Gutiez nos explica su investigación en este tipo de cáncer gracias a las ayudas a la investiga...8 likes, 1 comments - contraelcancer_bizkaia on March 31, 2026: "En el Día Mundial Contra el Cáncer de Colon, Naiara Gutiez nos explica su investigación en este tipo de cáncer gracias a las ayudas a l...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Cell Host & Microbe
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social

Metabolic flexibility allows neutrophils to fight Candida In response to C. albicans glucose consumption, neutrophils upregulate PYGL-mediated glycogenolysis through a dectin-1/PKA axis, thus sustaining antifungal function in glucose-deprived tissues www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

cell.comGlycogen phosphorylase L confers metabolic flexibility in neutrophils to fight fungal infections in nutrient-deprived tissuesNeutrophils depend on glucose for their antifungal activities. Candida albicans consumes glucose, thus posing metabolic challenges for neutrophils. Choi and colleagues show that neutrophils upregulate...

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Cancer Cell
@cp-cancercell.bsky.social

Online Now: Candida albicans synergizes with Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer progression via the Flo9-RadD interaction

dlvr.itCandida albicans synergizes with Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer progression via the Flo9-RadD interactionHow does other types of microbe like fungi influence tumor-promoting role of Fusobacterium nucleatum? In this study, Li et al. establish that commensal fungi facilitate translocation of pro-tumor bacteria across mucus barrier to drive colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, revealing a cross-kingdom collaboration between fungi and bacteria.
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

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Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

If you’re interested in host–microbe interactions, immunometabolism, mucosal biology, or fungal pathogenesis, I hope you’ll check out the full article. 👇 @science.org www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

science.orgFungal infection drives metabolic reprogramming in epithelial cells via aerobic glycolysis and an alternative TCA cycle shuntCandida hijacks epithelial metabolism via glycolysis and GOT1-dependent TCA shunt, influencing antifungal defense.
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

View full thread
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Blocking GOT1 with a specific inhibitor reduced epithelial damage and inflammatory cytokine release. This means the pathway is not just a marker — it’s functionally relevant. Targeting host metabolism may offer new ways to manage mucosal fungal infections.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

View full thread
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

In mice, reducing glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose actually reduced fungal burden and weight loss, whereas adding extra glucose made disease worse. This contrasts with macrophages and systemic candidiasis, showing that oral epithelial infections follow different metabolic rules.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We confirmed that GOT1 and pyruvate carboxylase are upregulated during infection, and TCA metabolites (citrate, malate, α-ketoglutarate, etc.) decrease. This aligns perfectly with the alternative pyruvate shunt predicted by our modelling.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

View full thread
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Our team used a multi-disciplinary approach combining: • transcriptomics • NMR-based metabolomics • genome scale metabolic modelling • epithelial infection assays • a mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis • human patient biopsies This gave us a full view of the epithelial metabolic shift.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

One of the most interesting outcomes: Sugar availability dramatically changes infection outcomes. High glucose → worse epithelial damage Alternative hexoses (galactose/fructose) → impaired cytokine production ❗Metabolism and the nutritional environment really matter.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

View full thread
Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Even more striking, we identified a previously unrecognized metabolic route activated during infection: a GOT1-dependent TCA cycle shunt. This pathway diverts carbon away from the normal TCA cycle, producing aspartate and ammonia instead.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Why is this important? 🤔 Because this shunt helps determine the fate of infected cells, influencing: • their ability to mount an immune response • how much damage the fungus can cause • the overall inflammatory landscape of the mucosa

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

We just published a new paper in Science Advances, where we uncover how #Candida albicans reprograms the metabolism of oral epithelial cells during infection. As first and corresponding author, I’m excited to share what we found — and why it matters. #Skytorial #Immunometabolism #MedMycoSky

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Most people carry C. albicans in their mouth without issues. But when immunity weakens or the oral niche is altered, this fungus can overgrow and cause oral candidiasis. Despite how common it is, we still lack a full picture of how epithelial cells react metabolically when infected.

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

Our key finding: C. albicans forces epithelial cells to shift into aerobic glycolysis — a fast but inefficient way of generating energy, similar to the “Warburg effect" observed in cancer cells. This happens early in infection and shapes how cells survive and respond.

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Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

🔚 Bottom line: SAS induces a context-dependent innate immune memory that enhances protection but is reversible. This opens doors to smarter vaccine design using adjuvants as immune trainers. Read the full paper 👉 doi.org/10.1111/imm.... #Vaccines #TrainedImmunity 🧵5/6

doi.orgChallenge Specific Modulation of Responses to Adjuvant‐Induced Innate Immune MemoryWe utilised a commercially available adjuvant formulation to study the induction, maintenance, and consequences of innate immune memory. Using functional assays on bone marrow-derived innate cells, e...
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Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

🧬 SAS-trained mice showed: -Reduced proinflammatory TNF production by macrophages -Increased circulating monocytes and altered HSPC population dynamics -Enhanced neutrophil antimicrobial activity This suggests functional reprogramming of innate cells. #Macrophages #Neutrophils 🧵3/6

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

📊 Bone marrow single-cell transcriptomic (scRNAseq) analyses revealed: -Upregulation of immune genes (e.g. Elane, Gzmb, Fc receptors) -Downregulation of epigenetic regulators and metabolic genes → A shift toward immune activation and metabolic rewiring. #RNAseq #Immunometabolism 🧵4/6

Aize Pellón Rodríguez
@aizepellon.bsky.social

💉 We used the Sigma Adjuvant System (SAS), which contains MPLA (TLR4 agonist) and TDCM (MINCLE agonist). We treated mice and tracked long-term changes in bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Result: SAS shifted HSPC populations toward myeloid-biased progenitors. 🧵2/6

Aize Pellón Rodríguez reposted

Victor de Lorenzo (CNB, Madrid)
@vdlorenzo.bsky.social

Spain is on fire. Italy, Greece, Portugal — all burning. We have had summer fires before, but never like this. This is climate breakdown in real time. It is killing people, animals, and our future. DAMN the climate deniers. DAMN those who know and could do but do NOTHING www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.comWildfires rage across southern Europe as temperatures pass 40CThe heatwave has led to red alerts being issued in parts of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Balkans.