science

My research focus consists of exploring host-pathogen interactions and pathogenic effects on tissue repair, and I currently study this in a disease called Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (IE).

S. aureus IE is a bacterial infection in the endothelium or inner lining of the heart. It is known for vegetative lesions that develop along the heart valves paired with inflammatory tissue damage. While many microbes can cause IE, S. aureus is the most common and the most tissue destructive. When the disease progresses, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as strokes, organ failure, and toxic shock.

In the Salgado-Pabón lab, I study specific toxins (superantigens) that are secreted by S. aureus to determine how they affect endothelial cell biology and contribute to IE. I use cardiac cell lines and aortic organ explants to understand how these toxins affect endothelial cell behaviors needed for wound healing and measure how toxins impair the new capillary growth that is necessary to repair IE tissue damage.

To see some recent papers published on this work, head over to the publications section in my CV!