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Fernando Villalta, PhD

Fernando Villalta, PhD Professor & Chair Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immune Response Department of Biomedical Sciences 615.327.6667 West Basic Sciences Building, Rm. 4101 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Boulevard Nashville, TN 37208 fvillalta@mmc.edu Lab URL CV or Bio (PDF)

Professional Education
Ph.D., Microbiology, Federal University Rio de Janeiro Postdoc, Microbiology & Immunology, Michigan State University

Research Interests
Dr. Villalta and his colleagues focus on the molecular mechanisms of host cell invasion of mammalian cells by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas, heart disease or American trypanosomiasis. Currently, they are investigating the structure-function of trypanosome ligands and their host cell receptors that mediate trypanosome attachment relationships and entry, leading to disease. The team has also been elucidating the signaling pathways required for trypanosome entry mediated by T. cruzi ligands and their host cell receptors, as well as the trypanosome invasive genes and host cell receptor genes required for the early infection process. These studies will provide a comprehensive molecular analysis of the early process of T. cruzi invasion, and foster development of novel means for therapeutic intervention.

Selected Publications
Augustine, A.J., Kleschchenko, Y.Y., Nde, P., Pratap, S., Ager, E.A., Burns, J.M. Jr., Lima, M.F. and Villalta, F. 2006. Molecular cloning of a Trypanosoma cruzi cell surface casein kinase II substarte, Tc-1, involved in cellular infection. Infection and Immunity. 74: 3922-3929. Nde, P.N., Simmons, K. Kleschchenko, Y.Y., Pratap , S., Lima, M.F., and Villalta, F. 2006. Silencing of laminin γ-1 blocks Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Infection and Immunity 74: 1643-1648. Simmons, K., Nde, P., Kleschchenko, Y.Y., Lima, M.F. and Villalta, F. 2006. Stable RNA interferance of host thrombospindin-1 blocks Trypanosoma cruzi infection. FEBS Letters 50: 2365-2370. Moody, T.N., Kleschenko, Y., Furtak, F.A., Ochieng, J. Lima, M. F., and Villalta, F. 2004. Human Galectin-3 promotes Trypanosoma cruzi adhesion to human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Infection and Immunity 72: 6717-6721. Alexander, A.D., Villalta, F., and Lima, M.F. 2003. TGF-α binds to Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes to induce signaling and cellular proliferation. Infection and Immunity 71: 4201-4205.