Dr. Abel-Santos is interested in research that combines the areas of organic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. The Abel-Santos laboratory is currently applying enzymology approaches to the process of Bacillus spore germination. Due to its potential as a bioterrorism weapon, new methods to control B. anthracis (a.k.a ANTHRAX) infections are needed. B. anthracis spores are resistant to most type of antiseptic and antibiotic treatments. Although anthrax spores are resilient, they have to “taste” their environment to determine when conditions are right to germinate (e.g. your lungs) Using the information gathered from the kinetic models, we have developed nucleoside inhibitors against anthrax spore germination. These compounds have proven to be effective in protecting macrophage form anthrax-mediated killing.
Jinho Jung
Zoe Harrold
Dr. Zoe Harrold has a Ph.D. in Geomicrobiology with 10 years of experience working in a laboratory setting, designing and executing experiments that quantify the thermodynamics of geochemical and biogeochemical processes occurring in microbe-water-rock systems, including microbe-metal surface adsorption and biogeochemical sulfur, iron and nitrogen cycling. She is passionate about teaching science and strive to create collaborative work environments where students can thrive.
Her research interests include:
Geomicrobiology, low-temperature aqueous geochemistry, microbially mediated mineral dissolution, biogeochemical cycling, heavy metal adsorption and speciation, and metabolic efficiency
Christine Cremo
Dr. Christine Cremo has worked in the field of muscle proteins since her doctoral work on the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in the heart. After working on fluorescent nucleotide derivatives for studies on skeletal myosin structure and function, she moved on to try to understand the regulation of the smooth muscle myosin ATPase by phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain. The focus has been on structure-function relationships. This work is ongoing, as well as a new focus on structure-function relationships of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase. This work has high relevance to several human diseases such as asthma, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Heather Burkin
Dr. Heath Burkin’s research is focused on signaling pathways in the pregnant uterus. She has been involved in a variety of research topics related to understanding fertility and fetal, infant and child health problems at the molecular level during a career spanning approximately 10 years. This topic is extremely relevant today when 12.8% of births in the United States are premature. Since preterm birth is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, it is distressing that this number is so much higher than in other developed countries.
Her research is focused on signaling pathways activated by stretch in human myometrium. An estimated 10% of preterm births can be attributed to abnormal uterine distension and mechanical forces regulate myometrial gene expression, cell growth, and contractility. Further defining the signaling pathways that regulate stretch-induced activation of the human myometrium will have important implications for the treatment of preterm labor.
Dylan Kosma
Dr. Dylan Kosma is a Plant Physiologist & Molecular Geneticist. He is an Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno.
The aerial organs of all higher plants are covered with a lipid-rich cuticle that serves to protect plants from their environment. The cuticle is comprised of a lipid polymer, cutin, that is embedded and covered with aliphatic waxes. Suberin is a biosynthetically-related lipid polymer that is found in tree bark, seed coats, the surface of mature roots and surrounding the vasculature of young roots. Suberin production is a ubiquitous response to wounding. Collectively, cutin and suberin comprise the most abundant, naturally occurring lipid polymers on the planet. It is estimated that leaf cuticles alone represent a surface area twice that of the earth’s land surface.
The Kosma lab is focused on understanding the complex plant lipid polymers cutin and suberin. We use a multidisciplinary approach combining biochemistry, analytical techniques and molecular genetics to comprehend the macromolecular structure and functional significance of these polymers with an emphasis on their role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
Patricia Ferreira dos Santos
Dr. Patricia Santos is an Assistant Research Professor in Molecular Biosciences, University of Nevada, Reno.
Sergey Varganov
Our research centers on application and development of electronic structure theory and molecular dynamics. The main areas of interest are catalytic properties of metal nanoclusters, coherent control of chemical reactions and electronic structure methods for strongly correlated electrons.
Laina Geary
developing strategies to synthesize complex organic molecules and biologically relevant structures from the simplest precursors, and understanding the mechanistic details. Essentially, we are interested in developing highly chemoselective reactions to minimize substrate preactivation and waste generation and maximize functional group compatibility.
Students will get training in organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, and asymmetric catalysis within the broad goal of simplicity to complexity via C-C bond formation.