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Biography |
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Martha J. Vives, Ph.D.
I am an associate professor at los Andes University, appointed to the Sciences Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences, since 1995. I directed the Microbiology undergraduate program for the last three years. My background formation is Microbiology, with a Master of Science in environmental microbiology and Doctorate in Biology.
In my academic role, I offer several graduate and undergraduate courses, advise students from different programs and levels, have been part of numerous evaluation committees, conferences and scientific meetings, and research publications.
My research interests are focused on microbial biospropection, in two main areas: the initial one, bioremediation of contaminated sites using native bacterial-fungi consortia; and a new field, that has developed quite fast in an important one, bacteriophage for phage-therapy. Fortunately, I have been very successful obtaining governmental and private funds to finance research. Recently, private industry in Colombia has shown interest in my research on bacteriophage bioprospection and several agreements are under analysis at present.
In 2010, I received the award Santander Bank Entrepreneur, Science and Innovation. In 2011, received the ASM-UNESCO Leadership Grant. This year my research group (co-directed with professor Jenny Dussan) was classified as one of the top-ranked research groups in Colombia by our national research fund agency, also categorizing me as a senior scientist (the highest category). These achievements have attracted to my lab very active, enthusiastic, young researchers and entrepreneurs; these young women and men have a very solid science background from different areas: microbiology, biology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering and medicine, a very enriching environment to develop new ideas and innovations.
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Abstract |
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Not all phages are equal; using infection parameters and genomics to select the most suitable phages for therapeutic purposes |
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Since the discovery of bacteriophages, these viruses were recognized as a potential alternative treatment against bacterial infections. However, they were not accepted in western countries as such for a variety of reasons, and phage-therapy remained marginal. Due to the rampaging increase in antibiotic resistance among clinically important bacteria, and the absence of new antibiotic molecules available, interest in phage-therapy has re-emerged. Bacteriophages are diverse, ubiquitous and numerous, but are all they suitable for phage-therapy? Clearly, the answer is no. Therefore, selection of the appropriate phages is a central key part for the success and accreditation of phage-therapy as a viable, efficient and safe alternative. Classic approaches like host range analysis, infection curves, one-step growth curves, biofilm removal assays and Transmission Electron Microscopy are used for efficacy estimation, activity spectrum and taxonomic identification; but modern tools, like genome sequencing and annotation, provide detailed information about the known or predicted functions of the phage genome, and give valuable insights into the subject of risk assessment for the safe use of phages. |
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