Tania Dominguez-Flores

Current Project

I am currently working in Biotic and abiotic stress responses in forest tree species (Quercus rubra and Fraxinus excelsior) facing global and climate change.
The term of climate change makes reference to long-term changes in weather patterns. Recent extreme climate events include severe heatwaves, long drought periods or flooding, and may provoke a high decline of the global forest health status with important ecological and economic impacts. For instance, the extreme 2018 summer that affected Central Europe, including a long lasting heatwave and drought, had a great adverse impact on some of the most important forest tree species in temperate forests of Germany, among other countries (Schuldt et al. 2020). Nonetheless, prolonged stressful conditions have not only a direct negative effect on trees, they may also ease the spread of severe pests and diseases among weak trees (Ayres and Lombardero 2000; Breshears et al. 2005; Netherer and Schopf 2010) and the rise of epidemics caused by introduced species, e.g. forest pathogens (Ayres and Lombardero 2000; Camarero 2021; Moore and Allard 2011). The interconnection of both types of stressors, biotic and abiotic, makes it necessary to conduct investigations that include the impact of biotic and abiotic stress factors on forest tree species. Therefore, this study will focus on the response to biotic stress in one European native species, Fraxinus excelsior, and on the response to abiotic stress in a non-native species in Europe, Quercus rubra.

Work experience

• Technical University of Madrid. Spain. Feb 2016 - Jul 2020
Participation in two projects; “LIFE elm – Restoration of Iberian elms (Ulmus minor and Ulmus laevis) in Tagus River basin” (European Research Project LIFE13 BIO/ES/00556), and “Conservation of Iberian elms (Ulmus minor and Ulmus laevis)” founded by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment (BOE-A-2018-46). Performed in vitro culture and propagation of the forestry species (Ulmus sp.) and genetic characterization of Ulmus sp. and Fagus sylvatica by meaning of microsatellite and AFLP analysis.

• University of Granada. Spain. Sep 2011 - Jan 2014
Research Assistant in a Scientific Excellence Project Funded by the Andalusian Regional Government (AGR-6409). Trained in Molecular Biology techniques such as PCR, qRT-PCR, DNA and protein electrophoresis, DNA, RNA and protein extraction and quantification, ELISA assays, immunoblots. High experience on Bacterial and Phage techniques, and on bioassays with mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), flies (Ceratitis capitata) and kissing bugs (Rhodnius pallescens).

Education

• MSc in Biotechnology. University of Granada. Spain. Sep 2008 - Mar 2010
Research work “Use of phage display technique for in vivo selection of Cry toxin active against Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) from a phage display library”. MSc. Thesis Supervisors: Dr. S. Vílchez Tornero and Prof. Dr. A. Osuna Carrillo de Albornoz
• Teaching certificate. University of Extremadura. Spain. 2008
• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. University of Extremadura. Spain. 2007

Publications

• Victor Chano, Tania Domínguez-Flores, María Dolores Hidalgo-Gálvez, Jesús Rodríguez-Calcerrada, Ignacio Manuel Pérez-Ramos. “Epigenetic responses of hare barley (Hordeum murinum subsp. Leporium L.) to climate change: an experimental, trait-bases approach". Heredity. Feb 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00415-y

• Jesús Rodríguez Calcerrada, Clara M. Arias, Juan Sobrino Plata, David Medel, Natalie Aguirre, Tania Domínguez, Carlos Magro, Carmen Collada, Luís Gil and Juan A. Martín. “Caracterización morfológica y del crecimiento en su primer año de cinco clones de olmos resistentes a la grafiosis”. Foresta 2018 July. 71:58-64

• Tania Domínguez-Flores, María Dolores Romero Bosquet, Diana Marcela Gantiva Díaz, María José Luque Navas, Colin Berry, Antonio Osuna y Susana Vílchez. “Using phage display technology to obtain Crybodies active against non-target insects”. Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 2;7(1):14922. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09384-x