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Professor
Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque
Bogota, Distrito Capital de Bogota, Colombia
I possess a broad experience as a microbiologist and have background in bacterial genetics and surveillance
projects coordination with emphasis in Gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci. Also
as a successful Principal Investigator for the last 5 years, I have guided a research effort that attempts to
understand the molecular basis of how Gram-positive bacteria develop the multidrug resistance phenotypes.
Since joining the Universidad El Bosque in 2000, I have worked in the characterization and antimicrobial
resistance determination of S. aureus and Enterococci in Latin America and specially in Colombia. I have
participated in antimicrobial resistance surveillance of S. aureus from bacteremia in nine countries in Latin
America, in this study, I was coordinated the whole characterization of S. aureus during 6 years. I have obtained
and made countless contributions to the study of bacterial resistance by multicentric surveillance involving
hospitals in Colombia and Latin America. Additionally, I have contributed to the elucidation of new mechanisms
of resistance to antibiotics described by first time in the world (like cfr – resistance to oxazodilinones, resistance
to Daptomycin in Enterococcus faecalis), how is the phenotype of high inoculum effect to cefazolin in MSSA,
epidemiological data on resistance profiles and genotypic characteristics of Gram positive pathogens in hospitals
in Colombia and Latin America. During my PhD, I acquired expertise in molecular genetics, and animal models
and my research contributed to the elucidation of the daptomycin resistance mechanism in Enterococci. I have
had the opportunity to participate as a Principal Investigator from South and Central America in a worldwide
project in Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) founded by Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group for the
study of the genomic epidemiology of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales, Multiresistant Pseudomonas
and Acinetobacter. Further, I have conducted several projects related to molecular epidemiology of clinical
isolates of relevant pathogens as S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, Enterobacterales as
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and Burkholderia pseudomallei in Latin
America. Also, I have been leading different studies focused on the molecular epidemiology and population
genetic structure of MRSA in Latin America, and I have participated in the studies of the discovery of the USA300
Latin-American variant is the predominant lineage in the north region of South America, and its further
characterization, unveiling unique genetic traits compared to North America USA300 variant. More recently, I
also expanded my research interest to the study of bacterial compositions in a rural river (Teusacá) and the
relationship with human health in a collaborative project with the Environmental Group of Universidad El Bosque.
Besides, I have participated and contributed in promotion of under graduated students in research field. I have
successfully trained faculty, fellows, doctoral, postdoctoral scientists from Colombia and Latin America.
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM US ET
Thursday, October 20, 2022
3:15 PM – 3:40 PM US ET