Néstor de la Visitación

My scientific career started at the University of Murcia, where I studied Biochemistry. Under the supervision of Dr. Antonio Caballero Pérez, I was responsible for testing new molecular sensors for oxoanions in vitro. Through this opportunity I was able to expand my knowledge of cell culture, toxicity assays, and confocal microscopy, culminating in a publication at the end of my undergraduate studies. My experience with cell culture made me develop an interest in the effects of xenobiotics in living organisms. For this reason, I decided to pursue a Master´s degree in Drug Research, Development, Control and Innovation at the University of Granada. For my final project, I joined the research group "Pharmacology of natural products/ Farmacología de productos naturales (CTS-164)" led by Prof. Dr. Juan Manuel Duarte Pérez. I participated in several projects investigating the therapeutic effects of probiotics in several animal models of hypertension and systemic lupus erythematosus, a topic that I pursued thoughout my PhD. In this period, my scientific interests were focused on the underlying mechanisms responsible for hypertension- specifically, the role of inflammation in endothelial dysfunction. Following this new interest, during my PhD, I spent three months as a visiting research intern at Vanderbilt University Medical Center under the supervision of Dr. David Harrison, one of the most prominent experts in the subject. My thesis focused on the link between the shifts in the composition of the gut microbiota and the development of cardiovascular complications in two models of systemic lupus erythematosus: a genetic model of NZWBF1 mice and an inducible model using the TLR7 agonist imiquimod. We were able to identify the crucial role of Th17 and the increased production of IL17a in the development of vascular ROS and endothelial dysfunction and its association with key populations of gut bacteria, independently of autoantibody production. We also identified specific probiotics that partially prevented the development of this pro-inflammatory response and the rise in blood pressure. After defending my thesis, I became a Postdoctoral Fellow under Dr. David Patrick at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where I researched the role of isolevuglandin-adducted proteins in the immunological alterations seen in primary and lupus-associated hypertension. I returned to the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Granada after 4 years at VUMC. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral researcher funded by the Junta de Andalucía, focusing on the link of microbiota and immune and vascular phenotypes. Finally, I have produced several publications in indexed international journals, including 30 original research papers and 1 review.

Papers in database

4

Primary author

2 papers

Years active

2018 – 2020