Welcome to the Abel- Santos Lab!
The Abel-Santos Research Group at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) specializes in integrating organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and animal models to address critical challenges in microbial research. Led by Dr. Ernesto Abel-Santos, the group is renowned for its pioneering work in the mechanisms of spore germination, particularly in pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). The lab uses a quantitative approach to study spore biology, having developed innovative methods to evaluate and influence the germination of bacterial spores.
In addition to its focus on C. difficile the lab has contributed to significant studies on other pathogens such as Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood disease in honeybees, and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungus affecting amphibians. More recently, the lab has focused on gastrointestinal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, applying its interdisciplinary methods to investigate infection mechanisms and potential therapeutic approaches.
Through these diverse areas of focus, the Abel-Santos Research Group continues to expand the frontiers of microbiological science, using advanced biochemistry and microbiology techniques to develop new solutions for public health challenges, particularly in the face of growing antibiotic resistance.
