About The Speaker
José Penadés Casanova
José R. Penadés is a microbiologist specialising in the emergence and evolution of clinically significant bacteria. He is a Professor of Microbiology and served as the Director of the Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology at Imperial College London.
For over two decades, Prof. Penadés’ research has focused on the molecular mechanisms driving bacterial virulence, with Staphylococcus aureus as a primary model. His work has particularly explored the transfer of mobile genetic elements involved in pathogenesis.
His groundbreaking discoveries have redefined bacterial genetics, particularly in understanding genetic mobility. He identified lateral transduction, the most powerful mode of phage-mediated gene transfer described to date, demonstrating that bacterial chromosomal mobility far exceeds traditionally recognised mobile elements. This finding has led to a fundamental reevaluation of what constitutes a mobile genetic element. Additionally, he uncovered and characterised the transfer mechanisms of Phage-Inducible Chromosomal Islands, a widespread and clinically relevant family of mobile genetic elements, offering crucial insights into bacterial adaptation and virulence.
Professor Penadés is a Member of the European Academy of Microbiology, an EMBO Member, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Society..