Dean, School of Health and Sciences, Assistant Professor
Dr. Valdés-Fernández completed her Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, focusing her research on protein crystallization and purification, X-ray crystallography, immunology, and microbiology. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Human Biology from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Bayamón. From 2019 to 2021, she coordinated scientific policy work and co-chaired the Puerto Rico Science Policy Action Network (PRSPAN), an initiative affiliated with Ciencias Puerto Rico. From 2021 to 2023, she served as a postdoctoral researcher in immunology and parasitology within a project of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus to generate new agents against inflammatory diseases based on molecules derived from F. hepatica.
Dr. Valdés-Fernández's professional scientific skills include scientific policy and communication, cell culture, biomedical, virology and molecular biology laboratories, immunological assays (ELISA) and animal models (sepsis, ulcerative colitis, addiction).
Research Projects
Fasciola hepatica Glutathione S-Transferase (nFhGST): its role in macrophage activation and regulation of proteins involved in inflammatory pathways (Advisor: Dr. Ana Espino Hernandez)
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus (2018-2021)
High-throughput crystallographic screening device for the Torpedo Californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) (Advisor: Dr. José Lasalde-Dominicci)
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (2014-2017)
Immunoassays of excretory-secretory products of Fasciola hepatica (Advisor: Dr. Ana Espino Hernández)
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus (2013-2014)
Peer-reviewed publications
Valdes-Fernandez, Bianca & Ruiz-Jiménez, Caleb & Armina, Albersy & Méndez, Loyda & Espino, Ana. (2023). Fasciola hepatica GST mu-class suppresses the cytokine storm induced by E. coli -lipopolysaccharide, whereas it modulates the dynamics of peritoneal macrophages in a mouse model and suppresses the classical activation of macrophages. Microbiology Spectrum. 10.1128/spectrum.03475-23.
Valdés-Fernández, BN, Duconge, J., Espino, AM, & Ruaño, G. (2021). Personalized health and the coronavirus vaccines-Do individual genetics matter? BioEssays, 43, e2100087
Ruiz-Jimenez C, Celias D, Valdés-Fernández B, Ramos W, Cervi L, Espino AM. (2021) Fasciola hepatica fatty acid binding protein induces apoptosis and tolerogenic properties in myeloid dendritic cells. Experimental Parasitology.
Aguayo, V., Valdés Fernandez, BN, Rodríguez-Valentín, M., Ruiz-Jiménez, C., Ramos-Benítez, MJ, Méndez, LB, & Espino, AM (2019). Fasciola hepatica GST down-regulates NF-κB pathway effectors and inflammatory cytokines while promoting survival in a mouse septic shock model. Nature Scientific Reports, 9(1), 2275.
Aguayo V, Valdés-Fernández B and Espino AM. (2018) Assessment of Fasciola hepatica glutathione S-transferase as an antigen for serodiagnosis of human chronic fascioliasis. Acta Tropica 186 41-49.