The main focus of M.A. Torres research is the study of the plant-pathogen response, specially focusing on early events after pathogen attack. He is especially interested in the role that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produce by NADPH oxidases play in recognition and early signaling. Using a functional genomics approach in the model plant Arabidopsis, he have characterized role of the NADPH oxidase in defense and other cellular processes. He is also studying the regulation of ROS production by these enzymes and the interaction between ROS and other early signaling events mediated by components such as the plant heterotrimeric G protein or the MAP kinase phosphatase MKP1.