Paola Zucchi

Paola Zucchi, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. She is affiliated with the Romo Lab, which is part of the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), focusing on complex host-fungal-bacterial dynamics in the gastrointestinal tract.

Her research centers on understanding how commensal microbes influence opportunistic infections, particularly through trans-kingdom interactions among fungi, bacteria, and the host. This work has implications for microbial ecology, infectious disease mechanisms, and immunomodulation in the gut environment.

The trends in her research, as inferred from lab focus, span microbial pathogenesis, host immunity, and interspecies microbial communication. These areas reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach combining molecular microbiology, immunology, and systems-level analysis of the microbiome.

• No scientific awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Zucchi contributes to a research team within the Romo Lab, collaborating on projects related to emerging infectious diseases. While specific advising roles or grants are not mentioned, her position suggests active participation in research mentorship and scientific inquiry within UTSA's broader infectious disease research infrastructure.

The Romo Lab, where Dr. Zucchi is based, is dedicated to investigating host-fungal-bacterial interactions in the gastrointestinal tract, operating under the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. This environment fosters collaborative, cutting-edge research on microbial colonization and infection dynamics.