معرفی
Vanessa Sperandio is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. She leads a dynamic research lab focused on understanding how enteric pathogens sense and respond to chemical signals from the host and gut microbiota to regulate virulence and colonization.
Her research centers on inter-kingdom chemical signaling, particularly the gut-brain axis, where bacterial pathogens like EHEC and Citrobacter rodentium detect host neurotransmitters (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin) and microbiota-derived molecules (e.g., AI-3, indole, fucose, galacturonic acid, arginine) to modulate virulence. Key discoveries include identifying bacterial receptors such as QseC, CpxA, and FusK, which integrate host and microbial signals, revealing novel mechanisms of pathogenesis and potential anti-virulence therapeutic strategies. Her work also explores how drug use, such as cocaine, alters gut microbiota and host metabolism, influencing neurobehavioral responses.
The recent publications highlight a strong focus on nutrient sensing (e.g., arginine, galacturonic acid), bacterial signal transduction, and the role of microbiota in modulating infection and behavior. Her research spans molecular microbiology, host-pathogen interactions, and neuroimmunology, with implications for infectious disease and addiction.
Dr. Sperandio mentors a diverse team of postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and undergraduates. Former lab members have advanced to faculty positions, indicating her strong mentorship. Her lab is equipped for molecular, cellular, and in vivo studies, supporting high-impact research.
She has made significant contributions to understanding how pathogens exploit host and microbial signals, translating basic science into potential therapies. Her work bridges microbiology, neuroscience, and immunology, positioning her at the forefront of interdisciplinary research in host-microbe interactions.
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