Dr. Susan Bueno
Principal Investigator
P. Universidad Católica
Laboratory summary
The Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis is located in the School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and is run by Dr. Susan Bueno. Our laboratory is primarily focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and its impact on the host as well as the response to an infective process. For this, we used two pathogens of high public health impact as model of infection: Salmonella enterica and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Research projects
In the Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis the following research areas are in progress:
I. Lateral gene transfer in Salmonella and its role in virulence.
This research focuses on the identification of genetic elements acquired for Salmonella enterica from other bacteria. By analysis of the complete genome of the bacteria, we have identified unstable pathogenicity islands and prophages that can be transferred to bacteria, which do not have these elements. We are currently evaluating the role of these genetic elements in the virulence of Salmonella and their interaction with cells of the immune system of the host
II. Role of Salmonella infection in the onset of inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic bowel disease, characterized by persistent immune disorder that promotes inflammation. In our laboratory we are evaluating if the infection caused by Salmonella enterica, a genus of pathogenic bacteria to mammals, results in accelerated IBD onset and if it is possible to prevent IBD using vaccines.
III. Role of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in host susceptibility to infectious diseases.
In our laboratory we are evaluating whether individuals that have increased or decreased production of pro or anti-inflammatory cytokine are more or less susceptible to infectious diseases, using pneumonia and bacterial gastroenteritis as model. Currently, in the lab we are evaluating two murine models susceptible to inflammation: mice gestated under altered levels of thyroid hormones and mice deficient in the cytokine IL-10.
IV Identifying antigens from respiratory pathogens and human pro-inflammatory cytokines that are useful for diagnosis of severe respiratory disease.
In our laboratory we are generating monoclonal antibodies against antigens from virus and bacteria causing respiratory infections, useful for diagnosing respiratory infections in samples from human patients. We are also identifying cytokines produced by the patient during the infective process, which should determine the severity of the inflammatory response to the respiratory infection, in order to identify those patients at risk for severe respiratory symptoms generated against infections caused by respiratory pathogens.
Members
Director: Susan Bueno – Medical Technologist, PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate students:
– Geraldyne Salazar – Biochemistry student PUCV -
– Felipe Padilla – Biochemistry student PUC
– Lorena Navarrete – Biology student PUC
– Carolina Paduro – Biology student PUC
– Isidora Suazo – Biology student PUC
– Omar Vallejos Biology student PUC
Graduate students
– Pamela Nieto – Biochemistry, MSc, PhD (c)
– Sebastian Riquelme – Biochemistry, MSc, PhD (c)
– Hernán Peñaloza – Biologist PUC, PhD (s)
– Valentina Sebastian – Biologist PUC, PhD (s).
– Daniela Pizarro - Biologist PUC, PhD (s).
– Irenice Coronado – Biologist UMSS, PhD (s).
– Catalina Pardo – Veterinary, PhD(s).
Post doctorates
– Christian Palavecino – Medical Technologist, MSc, PhD.
– Pablo Céspedes – Veterinarian, MSc, PhD.
Technician
– – Francisco Salazar – Biologist, MSc.
Recientes Laboratory Publications.
*Bueno SM, Riquelme SA, Riedel CA, *Kalergis AM. Mechanisms used by virulent Salmonella to impair dendritic cell function and evade adaptive immunity. Immunology, in press (*co-corresponding authors).
Cespedes, P. F., Bueno, S. M., Ramirez, B. A. & other authors (2014). Surface expression of the hRSV nucleoprotein impairs immunological synapse formation with T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111, E3214-3223.
Wozniak, A., P. Garcia, E. A. Geoffroy, D. B. Aguirre, S. A. Gonzalez, V. A. Sarno, J. B. Dale, F. J. Salazar-Echegarai, A. Vera, S. M. Bueno, and A. M. Kalergis.2014. A novel live vector group A streptococcal emm type 9 vaccine delivered intranasally protects mice against challenge infection with emm type 9 group A streptococci. Clin Vaccine Immunol.
Ahn, D. S., D. Parker, P. J. Planet, P. A. Nieto, S. M. Bueno, and A. Prince. 2014. Secretion of IL-16 through TNFR1 and calpain-caspase signaling contributes to MRSA pneumonia. Mucosal Immunol.
Salazar-Echegarai, F. J., H. E. Tobar, P. A. Nieto, C. A. Riedel, and S. M. Bueno.2014. Conjugal transfer of the pathogenicity island ROD21 in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis depends on environmental conditions. PLoS One 9:e90626.
Palavecino, C. E., P. F. Cespedes, R. S. Gomez, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2014. Immunization with a recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guerin strain confers protective Th1 immunity against the human metapneumovirus. J Immunol 192:214-223.
Gomez, R. S., J. E. Mora, C. M. Cortes, C. A. Riedel, M. Ferres, S. M. Bueno, and A. M. Kalergis.2014. Respiratory syncytial virus detection in cells and clinical samples by using three new monoclonal antibodies. J Med Virol 86:1256-1266.
Alvarez-Lobos, M., D. P. Pizarro, C. E. Palavecino, A. Espinoza, V. P. Sebastian, J. C. Alvarado, P. Ibanez, C. Quintana, O. Diaz, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2013. Role of Salmonella enterica exposure in Chilean Crohn’s disease patients. World J Gastroenterol 19:5855-5862.
Albornoz, E. A., L. J. Carreno, C. M. Cortes, P. A. Gonzalez, P. A. Cisternas, K. M. Cautivo, T. P. Catalan, M. C. Opazo, E. A. Eugenin, J. W. Berman, S. M. Bueno, A. M. Kalergis, and C. A. Riedel.2013. Gestational hypothyroidism increases the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in adult offspring. Thyroid 23:1627-1637.
Tobar, H. E., F. J. Salazar-Echegarai, P. A. Nieto, C. E. Palavecino, V. P. Sebastian, C. A. Riedel, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2013. Chromosomal excision of a new pathogenicity island modulates Salmonella virulence in vivo. Curr Gene Ther 13:240-249.
Gonzalez, P. A., L. J. Carreno, P. F. Cespedes, S. M. Bueno, C. A. Riedel, and A. M. Kalergis.2013. Modulation of tumor immunity by soluble and membrane-bound molecules at the immunological synapse. Clin Dev Immunol 2013:450291
Nieto, P. A., S. A. Riquelme, C. A. Riedel, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2013. Gene elements that regulate Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence and immunity evasion. Curr Gene Ther 13:51-64
Gonzalez, P. A., L. J. Carreno, S. M. Bueno, C. A. Riedel, and A. M. Kalergis. 2013. Understanding respiratory syncytial virus infection to improve treatment and immunity. Curr Mol Med 13:1122-1139.
Cortes, C., E. Eugenin, E. Aliaga, L. J. Carreno, S. M. Bueno, P. A. Gonzalez, S. Gayol, D. Naranjo, V. Noches, M. P. Marassi, D. Rosenthal, C. Jadue, P. Ibarra, C. Keitel, N. Wohllk, F. Court, A. M. Kalergis, and C. A. Riedel. 2012. Hypothyroidism in the adult rat causes incremental changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuronal and astrocyte apoptosis, gliosis, and deterioration of postsynaptic density. Thyroid 22:951-963
Bueno, S. M., S. Riquelme, C. A. Riedel, and A. M. Kalergis.2012. Mechanisms used by virulent Salmonella to impair dendritic cell function and evade adaptive immunity. Immunology 137:28-36
Riquelme, S. A., S. M. Bueno, and A. M. Kalergis.2012. IgG keeps virulent Salmonella from evading dendritic cell uptake. Immunology 136:291-305.
Riquelme, S. A., A. Wozniak, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno. 2011. Evasion of host immunity by virulent Salmonella: implications for vaccine design. Curr Med Chem 18:5666-5675.
Quiroz, T. S., P. A. Nieto, H. E. Tobar, F. J. Salazar-Echegarai, R. J. Lizana, C. P. Quezada, C. A. Santiviago, D. V. Araya, C. A. Riedel, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2011. Excision of an unstable pathogenicity island in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is induced during infection of phagocytic cells. PLoS One 6:e26031.
Cautivo, K. M., S. M. Bueno, C. M. Cortes, A. Wozniak, C. A. Riedel, and A. M. Kalergis.2010. Efficient lung recruitment of respiratory syncytial virus-specific Th1 cells induced by recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guerin promotes virus clearance and protects from infection. J Immunol 185:7633-7645
Araya, D. V., T. S. Quiroz, H. E. Tobar, R. J. Lizana, C. P. Quezada, C. A. Santiviago, C. A. Riedel, A. M. Kalergis, and S. M. Bueno.2010. Deletion of a prophage-like element causes attenuation of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and promotes protective immunity. Vaccine 28:5458-5466.
Bueno, S. M., A. Wozniak, E. D. Leiva, S. A. Riquelme, L. J. Carreno, W. D. Hardt, C. A. Riedel, and A. M. Kalergis.2010. Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 differentially modulates bacterial entry to dendritic and non-phagocytic cells. Immunology 130:273-287.
Bueno, S. M., C. A. Riedel, L. J. Carreno, and A. M. Kalergis.2010. Virulence mechanisms displayed by Salmonella to impair dendritic cell function. Curr Med Chem 17:1156-1166.
Bueno, S. M., P. A. Gonzalez, and A. M. Kalergis. 2009. Use of genetically modified bacteria to modulate adaptive immunity. Curr Gene Ther 9:171-184.
Bueno, S. M., P. A. Gonzalez, L. J. Carreno, J. A. Tobar, G. C. Mora, C. J. Pereda, F. Salazar-Onfray, and A. M. Kalergis.2008. The capacity of Salmonella to survive inside dendritic cells and prevent antigen presentation to T cells is host specific. Immunology 124:522-533
Bueno, S. M., P. A. Gonzalez, J. R. Schwebach, and A. M. Kalergis. 2007. T cell immunity evasion by virulent Salmonella enterica. Immunol Lett 111:14-20