María Alejandra Colombatti Olivieri

Dr
María Alejandra
Colombatti Olivieri

Research scientist
National Institute of Agricultural Technology
Biography

I am a Doctor in Veterinary Science, graduated with honors, with experience in research in the area of ​​animal health, mainly in bovine paratuberculosis (pTB). I evaluated the virulence of strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) in in-vitro models (cell lines and primary cultures) as well as in various animal species (mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, cattle and pigs).
I also evaluated the immune response and the development of live attenuated, inactivated and recombinant virus (MVA) vaccines. I also have experience in designing experiments and executing clinical trials, writing and execution of research projects, evaluation, writing and presentation of scientific papers (both in Spanish and English), analysis of results and reports presentations, diagnosis of infectious diseases and several laboratory techniques (including those requested for the vacancy).

I have worked in biosafety laboratories levels two and three for 8 years. I am in charge of the animal laboratory and part of the Institutional Committee for the care and use of experimental animals from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology. I am an assistant teacher at the University of Buenos Aires in Veterinary Microbiology, where I also work in other lines of research, such as the study of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors of other pathogens.

I am currently working as a co-researcher at the pTB laboratory in Argentina (INTA), where I am evaluating the virulence of mutant strains of Map, clinical vaccination trials in dairy herds with high prevalence of pTB, evaluation of an ex-vivo system of co-culture of macrophages and bovine lymphocytes of vaccinated animals as a system for evaluation of vaccine efficiency. I conduct a research project and I co-direct a master's degree

Research interests

Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and the innate and adaptive immune response involved in bovine paratuberculosis. Studying the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis virulence factors and pathogen-host interaction. Developing new prophylactic methods and vaccines against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Projects you're working on

Evaluation of the guinea pig model as a control of potency and safety of paratuberculosis vaccines

Clinical trial of vaccination against bovine paratuberculosis in an infected dairy herd and evaluation of the vaccine candidate using an ex-vivo model

Evaluation of local strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis as candidates for paratuberculosis vaccines and a prime-boost strategy using MVA85A

Evaluation of genomic and phenotypic differences associated with virulence in local strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Identification and characterization of biomarkers and antigens to improve control tools for animal tuberculosis and paratuberculosis

Antimicrobial resistance in isolated Staphylococcus spp. of infections in dogs and cats

Bovine Mastitis: Attributes of pathogenicity.

 

Discipline
Bacteriology Cellular biology Challenge model development Challenge study design Clinical trials – efficacy Clinical trials – safety Immunology – B-cells Immunology – T-cells Immunology – innate Molecular biology
Host species
Cats Cattle Dogs Poultry Small ruminants Zoonoses
Pathogen
Bacteria BacteriaClostridia BacteriaE. coli BacteriaLeptospira BacteriaMycobacteria bovis
Stage of vaccine development
Antigen discovery and immunogen design Clinical trials Correlates of protection – immunomonitoring Field trials Pre-clinical trials Vaccine delivery