About Me:
Post-doctoral Research Associated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph. D. in 2007 University of Arizona
M. S. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus
BS. Microbiology University of Puerto Rico, Humacao campus
Project Info:
Enteric viruses are transmitted via fecal-oral route, mainly associated with gastroenteritis, they also infect other organs in the body resulting in hepatitis, diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory diseases, meningitis and conjunctivitis. They are commonly detected in surfaces waters and sometimes in the absent of indicators of fecal contamination such as coliforms and coliphages; highlighting the importance of their monitoring in waters.
My research is focused on methods for concentrate viruses from water and in the combined use of cell culture and PCR for the detection of infectious viruses. In addition, our team collaborates with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project in determining the presence of adenovirus and norovirus in California beaches and their relationship with the onset of illness in swimmers.