معرفی
Brandon Garcia, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Kansas State University. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of immune evasion by vector-borne pathogens, particularly Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi), and developing complement-directed therapeutics. He employs biophysical, biochemical, and structural biology approaches to study host-pathogen interactions.
Research Themes:
- Elucidating complement evasion strategies in spirochetes
- Structural analysis of host-complement-pathogen molecular interfaces
- Drug discovery targeting complement proteases (C1s/C1r)
- Outer surface lipoproteome characterization
- Translational applications for autoimmune and infectious diseases
2024-2025 Publications Trends: Recent work includes crystallographic studies of complement inhibitor complexes, molecular determinants of OspEF proteins, and small-molecule complement inhibitors. His team explores novel therapeutic avenues like fragment-based drug design and structural dynamics of immune evasion proteins.
Methodologies: Combines structural biology, surface plasmon resonance, and cheminformatics. Collaborates with experts in microbiology, immunology, and pharmacology across institutions like University of Missouri-Kansas City and Texas A&M University.
