Research Interests and Accomplishments

Dr. Liliana Losada is an Infectious Disease Investigator at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). Dr. Losada received her Ph.D. studying the role of type III secretion systems in host-pathogen interactions using the plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae as a model system. Since then, she has applied whole-genome technologies, including genomics and transcritpomics to characterize the evolution and molecular interactions of Gram-negative pathogens with their host. Her research has focused primarily on the respiratory pathogens including Burkholderia cenocepacia complex, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkolderia mallei and Bordetella pertussis. In addition to bacterial pathogens, Dr. Losada’s research expanded to include the fungal respiratory pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus gattii, especially in elucidating the transcriptional mechanisms that lead to invasive disease or fungal clearance. As a natural extension of her research focus on respiratory pathogens, Dr. Losada is currently investigating the role of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in establishment and prevention of pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, and how these respond to vaccine pressure.

Dr. Losada received her doctoral degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2004. After graduation, she was awarded a Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship from Trinity (Washington) University, where she was an Assistant Professor of Biology while continuing her research in collaboration with scientists at TIGR/JCVI. She joined JCVI as a full time researcher and Assistant Professor in 2010.

Select Publications