معرفی
Dr. Andrea Castillo is a Professor in the Biology Department at Eastern Washington University (EWU). Her research focuses on molecular microbiology, particularly the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori, antimicrobial mechanisms, and genetic engineering of probiotics to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for therapeutic applications. She explores how bacterial metabolites like GABA can modulate neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, as well as the effects of natural products like manuka honey on bacterial viability and virulence.
Dr. Castillo holds a PhD from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with postdoctoral training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work bridges microbiology, genetics, and clinical applications, emphasizing translational research in microbial pathogenesis and probiotic development.
Her recent studies include optimizing bacterial co-cultures to enhance GABA production, investigating the role of small RNAs in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, and analyzing iron regulation in bacterial pathogens treated with manuka honey. This research highlights interdisciplinary approaches to understanding microbial interactions and their implications for human health.
