Manolito G. Torralba

Laboratory Research and Development Manager

858-200-1853

mtorralba@jcvi.org

Microbial Forensics

GCID Parasite Projects

Human Microbiome Studies

Mammalian Genomics

Microbial & Environmental Genomics

Bio

Manolito Torralba studied biology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. He started his scientific career in clinical microbiology and expanded his research interests working as a Research Associate II (RAII) at the J. Craig Venter Institute. His contributions to JCVI include optimizing various approaches in extracting nucleic acids from unique environmental and clinical sample types. Several standardized protocols have resulted from this work and are used in various laboratories worldwide.

With encouragement from his mentor, Dr. Karen Nelson, along with his own interests in genomics research, he decided to pursue a doctoral degree at Catholic University while continuing to work as an RAII. Through the years of his doctoral program, he moved into a leadership role at JCVI and is currently the Laboratory Research and Development Manager for the Department of Genomic Medicine. Currently, Mr. Manolito is on track to successfully defend his research on identifying novel virulence factors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In addition to his work on MRSA, his broad range of research interests include genomics approaches to studying microbial ecology in unique and previously unexplored environments as well as in host-pathogen interactions as associated with autoimmune diseases.

Research Priorities

Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens

Identifying novel virulence factors in antibiotic resistant pathogens using genomics approaches
Long term goals include predicting mobility of gene elements that can spread resistance

Host Pathogen Interactions

Characterizing microbial shifts in the human microbiome as it is associated with health and disease
Using genomics approaches to identify variations in gene expression as associated with health or disease

Microbial Ecology in Unique Environments

Characterizing the microbial populations in unique and previously unexplored environments
Identifying metabolic processes that allow microbial communities to survive in poor conditions

Projects

Characterizing the Microbial Communities in Caribbean Environments	Gut Microbiome Sysbiosis in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Patients
The Effect of Xylitol Consumption on the Oral Microbiome	Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project
A Study of the Relationship Between the Oral Microbiome and Caries Status of Young Twins	Seasonal Succession in the High Arctic
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria: Microbiome and Metaproteome	Gastrointestinal Microbial Community Composition and Habitat Structure in Howler Monkeys (Alouatta pigra)
The Gastrointestinal Microbiota Composition and Function of Free Range Wild Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) Mirrors Macro-Ecological Patterns

Select Publications

Gomez A, Espinoza JL, Harkins DM, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Torralba M, Kuelbs C, Kodukula R, Inman J, Hughes T, Craig JM, Highlander SK, Jones MB, Dupont CL, Nelson KE

Host Genetic Control of the Oral Microbiome in Health and Disease.

Cell host & microbe. 2017-09-13; 22.3: 269-278.e3.

PMID: 28910633

Torralba MG, Franks JS, Gomez A, Yooseph S, Nelson KE, Grimes DJ

Effect of Macondo Prospect 252 Oil on Microbiota Associated with Pelagic Sargassum in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Microbial ecology. 2017-01-01; 73.1: 91-100.

PMID: 27815589

Shilts MH, Rosas-Salazar C, Tovchigrechko A, Larkin EK, Torralba M, Akopov A, Halpin R, Peebles RS, Moore ML, Anderson LJ, Nelson KE, Hartert TV, Das SR

Minimally Invasive Sampling Method Identifies Differences in Taxonomic Richness of Nasal Microbiomes in Young Infants Associated with Mode of Delivery.

Microbial ecology. 2016-01-01; 71.1: 233-42.

PMID: 26370110

Fouts DE, Torralba M, Nelson KE, Brenner DA, Schnabl B

Bacterial translocation and changes in the intestinal microbiome in mouse models of liver disease.

Journal of hepatology. 2012-06-01; 56.6: 1283-92.

PMID: 22326468

Yan AW, Fouts DE, Brandl J, Stärkel P, Torralba M, Schott E, Tsukamoto H, Nelson KE, Brenner DA, Schnabl B

Enteric dysbiosis associated with a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease.

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). 2011-01-01; 53.1: 96-105.

PMID: 21254165

Tian Y, He X, Torralba M, Yooseph S, Nelson KE, Lux R, McLean JS, Yu G, Shi W

Using DGGE profiling to develop a novel culture medium suitable for oral microbial communities.