Jorge Alberto Cárdenas Pestana
Centre: Dpto. Física Teórica/IUI BIFI
Institution: University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza (Spain)
Position: PhD Student
E-mail: jacpestana@gmail.com / jorge.cardenas@bifi.es
Phone: 976762989
Profile: Ver
Personal statement
I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Physics in 2016, and in 2017 I completed a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics at the Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas. From 2021 to 2022 I completed my Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management at CICIMAR-IPN, Mexico. My career has included the application of physicochemical modeling of natural systems, along with the tools necessary for their simulation. In 2021, I joined BIFI, where my research has focused on the immune response and the development of mathematical and bioinformatic models to study tuberculosis infections.
Researcher profile identity
Currently, I am an R1 level researcher. My research focuses on the transcriptional and physiological responses of bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis under stress conditions, specifically iron deficiency. Iron is a key molecule for the bacteria, as it is involved in numerous biological processes essential for its survival and virulence. However, during infection, the host immune system actively restricts iron availability to curb bacterial growth, making iron acquisition and management a crucial challenge for M. tuberculosis survival. In my work, I use bioinformatics and transcriptomics (RNA-seq) analyses to understand how the bacterial system responds to this deficiency and adapts its metabolism and physiology to survive under these conditions. The study of these adaptive responses is not only relevant to understand the virulence and resistance of the pathogen, but also to identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the development of new therapies.
Why my research is important
Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, underlining the urgency of finding new ways to control it. Considering the above, my research is relevant insofar as it integrates the study of host and pathogen cell physiology in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. On the one hand, my work seeks to understand how the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus adapts to stress situations during infection, which may reveal weak points of the bacteria that could be exploited in the development of new antibiotics and therapeutic strategies targeting the pathogen. On the other hand, I also study how genetic variability among humans affected by the pathogen affects their ability to fight infection. A deep understanding of the causes and consequences of this variability could allow the design of personalized treatments that boost the host immune response, improving both the prevention and management of tuberculosis. Ultimately, by addressing both bacterial adaptation mechanisms and differences in the host immune response, my work can significantly contribute to reducing the global impact of this disease.
Know more about me and my research
– https://sanzlab.wordpress.com/
– LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jorge-a-cardenas-pestana
– https://github.com/George-Albert
