Carlos J. Blondel, Ph.D.

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Carlos J. Blondel, Ph.D.
Carlos Blondel
Title
Academic Researcher
Department
Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas
Institution
University of Chile
Address
Llano Subercaseaux, 2801
5th Floor
City, State
San Miguel, Santiago
Country
Chile
Phone
(617) 525.4650
Email
[email protected]
Website
https://www.blondel-lab.org/
Research field
Microbiology
Award year
2013
Country of origin
Chile
Mentor name
Matthew K. Waldor, M.D., Ph.D.

Research

The marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus, prevalent along the sea coast of Chile, is a leading cause of gastroenteritis linked to the consumption of contaminated seafood worldwide. In Dr. Waldor's lab, we are studying the molecular components and disease-causing properties of the pathogen's second Type III secretion system (T3SS2), a mechanism the bacterium uses to deliver small virulence proteins into eukaryotic cells in order to modulate host cellular functions and promote infection. The goal of this project is to understand how Vibrio parahaemolyticus acts at the molecular level to infect the gastrointestinal tract in humans and cause disease. Combining sequence analyses, genetics, molecular biology, microscopy, and animal infection studies I aim to pinpoint components of T3SS2's secretion machinery and to classify the roles of the proteins it delivers into host cells. This work would advance the understanding of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection and move clinicians closer to strategies to prevent and treat gastroenteritis.

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