Dr. Alfredo Menendez

2006 Research Trainee Award, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Nuclear liver X receptors in the pathogenesis of, and the innate immunity against Samonella enterica

Salmonella enterica infections represent a serious public health problem. This bacterium causes diseases ranging from typhoid fever to food poisoning, affecting millions of people each year. Currently, there is little understanding of how Salmonella causes disease and the role of the immune system during the infection. The innate immune system is the first line of defense against pathogens, and is considered to be very important in defining the outcome of Salmonella infection.

Recent evidences suggest that important components of the innate immune responses are modulated by some of the same elements involved in the control of various metabolic pathways. Previously, Alfredo Menendez was funded by MSFHR for his PhD research into the generation of a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1. Now, Alfredo is studying the innate immune response against Salmonella, and the interplay between the control of inflammation and metabolism in the setting of Salmonella typhimurium infection, in vitro and in vivo. Research in this field may lead to the development of improved or novel treatments or vaccines for Salmonella through the enhancement of the innate immune response.

Received 2002 MSFHR Trainee award
Read Alfredo Menendez's 2002 Trainee profile

Completed award term, May 2009

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