URJC Team

URJC Team

PURPLE4LIFE Activities and Research Highlights

Amanda Prado de Nicolás

purple4life.eu

Activity Highlights

Key achievements, milestones, or updates on your ongoing activities/work

• Screening and kinetic evaluation of four Rhodopseudomonas strains under different cultivation conditions, identifying the strains with the highest growth rates, COD removal efficiencies, and inorganic carbon fixation.

• Development and optimization of an analytical protocol for Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) quantification in PPB samples, enabling comparative assessment of CoQ10 production among the studied strains.

• Identification of the most promising PPB strains for high-value compound production, combining metabolic performance, carbon assimilation potential, and CoQ10 biosynthesis.

• Initiation of bioelectrochemical experiments under cathodic conditions to enhance microbial electrosynthesis and stimulate CoQ10 production through electron-driven metabolic pathways.

This work is being carried out by María José García López under the supervision of Daniel Puyol and Amanda Prado de Nicolás. The poster and visual materials were prepared by María José García López.

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Events

Recent or upcoming workshops, webinars, conferences, or training sessions

Workshops

10th Workshop – Boosting the Use of PPB as Innovative Food and Feed Ingredients: From Metabolism to Health-Promoting Effects Location: Mons, Belgium Dates: 19–20 March 2026 Participation: Workshop attendance and scientific networking 2 Oral presentations URJC attendees:Javier Llama, María José García López, Daniel Puyol, and Amanda Prado de Nicolás Brief summary: The URJC team attended the 10th PPB Workshop focused on the use of purple phototrophic bacteria as innovative food and feed ingredients. The event brought together researchers working on PPB metabolism, biotechnology, sustainability, and health-promoting applications, fostering scientific exchange and collaboration opportunities within the PURPLE4LIFE consortium and related research networks.

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Workshops

10th Workshop – Boosting the Use of PPB as Innovative Food and Feed Ingredients: From Metabolism to Health-Promoting Effects Location: Mons, Belgium Dates: 19–20 March 2026 Participation: Oral presentation – Day 1, Session I Presentation title:Environmental Stress as a Driver of Pigment Modulation in Rhodobacter capsulatus Authors:Javier Llama, Amanda Prado, Víctor Galve, Emma Barahona, Sacha Maxime, Baptiste Leroy, Juan Antonio Melero, Daniel Puyol Brief summary: The presentation explored the modulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in Rhodobacter capsulatus under different environmental stress conditions, particularly oxygen availability and UV-C exposure. The study demonstrated how stress-driven metabolic adaptation influences pigment composition and antioxidant production in purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB). Spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses confirmed significant shifts in carotenoid profiles under oxidative stress conditions, reinforcing the relevance of controlled environmental regulation to optimize PPB-based bioprocesses within circular bioeconomy strategies.

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Workshops

10th Workshop – Boosting the Use of PPB as Innovative Food and Feed Ingredients: From Metabolism to Health-Promoting Effects Location: Mons, Belgium Dates: 19–20 March 2026 Participation: Oral presentation – Day 1, Session I Presentation title:Bioelectrochemical Production of Food-Grade Value-Added Compounds by Rhodopseudomonas during Biogas Upgrading Authors:María José García López, Emma Barahona, Daniel Puyol, Amanda Prado de Nicolás Brief summary: This work presented a bioelectrochemical photobiorefinery strategy based on Rhodopseudomonas spp. for simultaneous biogas upgrading and production of food-grade value-added compounds. The study focused on the ability of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) to fix CO₂ under photoheterotrophic and photoelectroautotrophic conditions while generating compounds of industrial interest such as Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Four PPB strains were evaluated under different metabolic regimes to identify the most promising candidates for inorganic carbon fixation and CoQ10 accumulation in photo-bioelectrochemical systems.

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Workshops

12th Workshop – Recent advances in design and modelling of PPB photobioreactors Location: Narbonne, France Dates: 6–7 July 2026 Participation: Workshop attendance and scientific networking 2 Oral presentations URJC attendees:Víctor Galve, María José García López, Daniel Puyol, and Amanda Prado de Nicolás Brief summary: The URJC team attended the 12th PPB Workshop focused on the design and optimization of Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB)-based photobioreactors for resource recovery and food or nutraceutical production. Topics included upscaled PPB reactors, innovative illumination and reactor configurations, modelling and simulation approaches, as well as process monitoring, control, and automation strategies to improve the efficiency and scalability of PPB systems.

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Training School

Fourth Training School – Follow the Thread of PPB Metabolic Versatility Location: University of Western Macedonia, Greece Dates: 11–13 May 2026 Participation: Training school attendance and scientific networking URJC attendees:Javier Llama, María José García López, Víctor Galve, Konstantinos Pispas, Carlos Lavesa, and Daniel Puyol Brief summary: The URJC team attended the Fourth Training School focused on the metabolic versatility of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB), organized within Cost Action PurpleGain activities. The training covered PPB microbiology, metabolic diversity, physiological and genomic aspects, as well as mathematical modelling approaches to predict PPB performance in pure and mixed cultures. The event promoted scientific exchange and collaboration opportunities among researchers working on PPB-based biotechnologies and circular bioeconomy applications.

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Conferences

19th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion (IWA AD19) Location: Valencia, SpainDates: 9–13 June 2026 Participation: Conference attendance and poster presentations URJC attendees:María José García López, Javier Llama, Daniel Puyol, and Amanda Prado de Nicolás Posters presented:

1. Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 as a Promising Driver for Biogas Upgrading and Production of Food-Grade Value-Added CompoundsAuthors: María José García-López, Maria Ventura, Emma Barahona, Daniel Puyol, Amanda Prado de Nicolás
2. Environmental Stress as a Driver of Pigment Modulation in Rhodobacter capsulatusAuthors: Javier Llama, Amanda Prado, Víctor Galve, Emma Barahona, Sacha Maxime, Baptiste Leroy, Juan Antonio Melero, Daniel Puyol
3. Coupling Wet Air Oxidation and PPB Bioelectrochemical Processes for Sustainable Refinery Sludge TreatmentAuthors: Víctor Galve, Raúl Molina, Daniel Puyol, Amanda Prado

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Conferences

EU-ISMET 2026 – European Meeting of the International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology Location: Toulouse, France Dates: 8–10 July 2026 Participation: Conference attendance, oral presentation, and poster presentation URJC attendees:Daniel Puyol, Víctor Galve, María José García López, and Amanda Prado de Nicolás Poster presentation: Electrochemical Control of CO₂ Fixation and High-Value Biomass Production in RhodopseudomonasAuthors: María José García-López, Emma Barahona, Daniel Puyol, Amanda Prado de Nicolás Oral presentation: Anodic Potential Modulates the Trade-Off Between Refinery Wastewater Treatment and Value-Added Metabolite Production in Purple Phototrophic BacteriaAuthors: Víctor Galve, Raúl Molina, Daniel Puyol, Amanda Prado de Nicolás

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Publications & Media

Scientific publications, news articles, or media coverage

News article

Type: Outreach article / scientific dissemination newsTitle: Cómo convertir bacterias en fábricas naturales de antioxidantesPlatform: The Conversation EspañaPublication date: 10 April 2026

Impact: More than 1,214 readers/views

1,200+

Authors:María José García López, Amanda Prado de Nicolás, Daniel Puyol

Radio interview

Type: Radio interview in Onda Cero Sur, within the section “Que la ciencia te acompañe”Objective: To promote scientific culture and increase the visibility of research and outreach activities developed at Universidad Rey Juan CarlosPlatform: https://ondaceromadridsur.es/ Date: 7 November 2025

Participants: Sara Jerez, Amanda Prado de Nicolás, and María Ventura

Dissemination Activities

Sharing scientific innovation with society through activities for school students.

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XXV Madrid Science and Innovation Week 2025 - Flying Towards Sustainability Location: Móstoles Campus – URJC, Madrid, Spain Dates: 3–16 November 2025 Format: On-site outreach activity Organized by:María Ventura, Sara Jerez and Amanda Prado de Nicolás Participants: Javier Llama, María José García López, Víctor Galve Expected audience: 60 students from 4th year of Secondary Education and 1st year of High School (15–17 years old). ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION This outreach activity aims to introduce students and the general public to innovative biotechnological solutions for sustainability and resource recovery. Through interactive workshops, demonstrations, and scientific dissemination activities, participants will learn how microorganisms such as Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB) can contribute to circular economy strategies, wastewater valorization, and sustainable production of value-added compounds. The activity will combine hands-on experiments, educational demonstrations, and direct interaction with researchers to promote scientific curiosity and environmental awareness among younger generations.

Science on Demand – Photobiorefineries: The Factories of the Future Location: Móstoles Campus – URJC, Madrid, Spain Dates: 24–25 March 2026 Format: On-site outreach activity Organized by:María Ventura, Sara Jerez, Amanda Prado de Nicolás and María José García López Expected audience: Up to 40 high school students per session from 1st and 2nd year of High School (16–18 years old). ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION “Science on Demand” is an educational outreach initiative aimed at promoting scientific and technological vocations among high school students through hands-on experiences in real research environments. During the activity, students become scientists for a day, exploring laboratories, scientific equipment, and experimental technologies while interacting directly with researchers and academic staff.Within the program Photobiorefineries: The Factories of the Future, participants will discover how photobiorefineries operate and how innovative microorganisms such as Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB) can be used to treat wastewater and generate value-added products through sustainable biotechnological processes.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science – URJC Women Scientists in the Classroom Location: Móstoles Campus – URJC, Madrid, Spain Dates: 12–13 February 2026 Format: On-site outreach talks in schools Organized by:Amanda Prado de Nicolás and María José García López Expected audience: Students from 4th year of Secondary Education and 1st year of High School at IES Villa de Valdemoro, and 5th year of Primary Education at Colegio San Saturio. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION As part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, researchers from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos will participate in the initiative “URJC Women Scientists in the Classroom”, delivering outreach talks in educational centres across Madrid. The main objective of this activity is to highlight the role of women in science, show the daily work carried out by female researchers, and inspire scientific vocations among younger generations, especially girls interested in STEM disciplines. The sessions will introduce students to environmental biotechnology, sustainability, and the potential of Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB) to transform waste into valuable resources.

VII URJC Science Communication Awards – “Flying Towards Sustainability” Location: Móstoles Campus – URJC, Madrid, Spain Dates: 2025 Format: On-site outreach talks in schools Organized by:Vice-Rectorate for Research, Doctoral Studies and Library – URJC Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I) Awarded participants:Sara Jerez Uriarte, María Ventura Sánchez-Hornero, Amanda Prado de Nicolás, and Nora Vidal Duarte Recognition:1st Prize – VII URJC Science Communication Awards ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION The outreach initiative “Flying Towards Sustainability” received the first prize at the VII URJC Science Communication Awards in recognition of its contribution to promoting scientific culture and environmental awareness through innovative dissemination activities. The project focused on bringing sustainability and environmental biotechnology closer to society through experimental workshops, educational talks, and interactive activities related to the research carried out by the Environmental Engineering Group (URJC). The initiative highlighted novel technologies based on sustainable processes and microorganism-driven systems capable of transforming waste into valuable resources.

Visual Material

Photos from your activities, meetings, or fieldwork

Internal Purple Group Meetings Frequency: Every two weeks Participants: PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior researchers involved in PPB-related projects Objective: To share research progress, discuss experimental results, and strengthen collaboration within the group Main activities: Presentation of PhD advances and ongoing experiments, project updates from senior researchers, discussion of scientific results and methodologies, and sharing of recently published group articles and scientific outputs Format: Internal research and coordination meetings focused on scientific exchange and collaborative learning