Biography

1992 - Medical Doctor (MD). Havana Medical School, Cuba.
1996 - First degree specialist in Clinical Immunology (FDSpCI), Havana Medical School, Cuba.
2000 - PhD in Medical Biochemistry & Immunology, University of Wales College of Medicine, UK.
2008 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). University of Surrey, UK.

Research Interests

Immune basis of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease with a demonstrated immunological component. Although multifactorial, the onset and development of atherosclerosis is promoted by antigen specific T-lymphocyte mediated immune responses mounted against a wide range of modified-self and foreign antigens such as lipoproteins, bacteria and/or viruses. Furthermore, antigen presentation plays a crucial role in immune responses leading to atherosclerotic plaque development. My research programme aims to study the role of innate and adaptive immunity in atherogenesis focusing on:

1. The mechanisms of antigen presentation and role of antigen presenting cells.
2. The contribution of T-lymphocytes subsets to atherosclerotic plaque development.
3. Role of microbial antigens in inflammation leading to atherosclerosis.
4. Development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat inflammation-linked to atherogenesis.

Gap junction channels and connexins in health and disease.

Gap junctions are intercellular conduits that communicate directly the cytoplasm of adjoining cells in tissues and organs allowing the bidirectional exchange of important molecules of approximately 1.2kDa such as cAMP, Ca2+ and IP₃. Connexins, the proteins assembled into gap junction channels, are tetra-pass membrane proteins that oligomerise into hexameric hemi-channels called connexons. In haematopoiesis, connexin 43 (Cx43), the most widely distributed gap junction protein, appears to be a key player in the development of progenitor cells and their communication with stromal cells. Cx43 is expressed by macrophages, neutrophils and mast cells. Lymphocytes also express Cx43, and inhibition of gap junction channels in these cells by using highly specific connexin mimetic reagents has profound effects on immunoglobulin secretion and synthesis of cytokines. Lymphocytes and leukocytes also communicate directly in vitro with endothelial cells via gap junctions. Connexins are implicated in inflammatory reactions in a range of tissues including the vasculature and the central nervous system. Our research interest focuses on the role of these intercellular conduits in:

1. Tissue inflammation.
2. Immunodeficiencies.
3. Mechanisms of lymphocyte activation and proliferation.

Research Collaborations

Prof. Jan Nilsson and Prof. Gunilla Nordin-Fredrikson - Experimental Cardiovascular Unit. University of Lund, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr Jerry Thomas and David Ashford - University of York. Department of Biology. Proteomics Technology Facility.

Dr Manuel L. Penichet - Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Prof. Max M. Wittenbrink and Dr. Ludwig Hölzle - Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology. University of Zürich, Switzerland.

Prof. W Howard Evans - Cardiff University, School of Medicine & Wales Heart Research Institute.

Dr Ilaria Potoliccio - Service d'Immunologie et d'Allergologie (IAL), DM - CHUV (Centre Hospitalier Univ Vaudois), Lausanne, Switzerland.

Prof. Maria de Lourdes Higuchi - InCor. Sao Paolo. Brazil.

Prof. Costas Ioannides - Toxicology.

Dr Gabriel Cavalli - Nanotechnology.

Prof. Susana Hourani - Pharmacology.

Dr J Bernadette Moore - Proteomics and Nutricion.

Dr Graham Stewart - Microbiology.

Dr. Roberto Marcello La Ragione and Prof Simon Cutting - Microbiology.

Publications

Bermudez-Fajardo A and Oviedo-Orta E. Flu vaccination does not prevents atherosclerotic plaque development but induces plaque stabilisation in apoE-deficient mice (In preparation).

Potolicchio I, Evans WH and Oviedo-Orta E. Control of the T cell proliferation by connexin hemichannels (Submitted)

Bermudez-Fajardo, A, Stark A-K, Penichet ML, Hölzle K, Wittenbrink MM, Hölzle L and Oviedo-Orta E. Chlamydia pneumoniae Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) inhibits T cell-mediated pro-inflammatory immune responses. (Submitted)

Pierides, C., Bermudez-Fajardo, A., Nordin Fredrickson, G., Nilsson, J and Oviedo-Orta E. Immunization of apoE-deficient mice with apoB-100-derived peptides or with peptide-loaded dendritic cells induces regulatory T cells and T-helper 2 type immune responses (Submitted)

Lopez-Mendez C., Bermudez-Fajardo A., Ioannides C and Oviedo-Orta E. Effect of 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC), a carcinogenic heterocyclic amine present in food, on atherosclerotic plaque development in apoE deficient mice. Toxicology Letters 185 (2009) 73–78.

Milioti N, Bermudez-Fajardo A, Penichet ML and Oviedo-Orta E. Antigen-induced immunomodulation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Clinical and Developmental Immunology 2008, Article ID 723539.

Oviedo-Orta E, Bermudez-Fajardo A, Karanam K, Benbow U and Andrew C Newby. Comparison of MMP-2 and –9 secretion from T helper 0, 1 and 2 lymphocytes alone and in co-culture with macrophages. Immunology 2008; 124(1): 42-50.

Bermudez-Fajardo A, Ylihärsilä M, Evans WH, Newby AC and Oviedo-Orta E. CD4+ T lymphocytes subsets express connexin 43 and establish gap junction channel communication with macrophages in vitro. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2007; 82(3): 608-612.

Oviedo-Orta E and Evans WH. Gap junctions and connexin-mediated communication in the immune system. Biochim Biophys Acta - Biomembranes 2004; 1662(1-2): 102-12.

Oviedo-Orta E and Evans WH. Gap junctions and Connexins: Potential contributors to the immunological synapse. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2002; 72(4): 636-642.

Oviedo-Orta E, Errington R and Evans WH. Gap junction intercellular communication during lymphocyte transendothelial migration. Cell Biology International 2002; 26(3): 253-263.

Oviedo-Orta E., Gasque P and Evans WH. Immunoglobulin and cytokine expression in mixed lymphocyte cultures is reduced by disruption of Gap Junction intercellular communication. FASEB Journal 2001; 15: 768-774.

Oviedo-Orta E, Hoy T, Evans WH. Intercellular communication in the immune system: Differential expression of connexin40 and connexin43, and perturbation of gap junction channel functions in peripheral and tonsil human lymphocyte subpopulations. Immunology 2000; 99 (4):578-590.

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching Modules
BMS2007 - Introductory Immunology (Module Organiser)
BMS2002 - Practical Biochemistry and Immunology
BMS2020 - Biomedical Sciences
BMS3006 - Clinical Immunology (Co-Module Organiser)
BMS3044 - Immunohaematology and Transfusion Science
New - Veterinary Immunology (Module Organiser)

Postgraduate Teaching Modules
MM104 - Introductory Immunology
MM109 - Practical Immunology and Bacteriology (Module Organiser)
Postgraduate skills course - Molecular Imaging Techniques and Flow Cytometry (Organiser)

Departmental Duties

Academic lead, Flow Cytometry and BioImaging Core Technology.
Microbial Sciences Division Seminar Organiser.
Secretary of Board of Studies – MSc Medical Microbiology.
Vice Chair of Board of Examiners - MSc Medical Microbiology.
FHMS Co-ordinator, Research triangle initiative “Univ. Sao Paolo – Univ. Surrey – North Carolina State Univ.”.
MSc Medical Microbiology Admissions Tutor

Affiliations

American Association of Immunologists
British Society for Immunology
Society for Leukocyte Biology
Biochemical Society
European Society of Atherosclerosis
American Heart Association
European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society

Research Group

Dr Alexandra Bermudez-Fajardo

Current PhD Students:

Miss Natalia Milioti

Miss Chrysoulla Pierides

Mrs Sama Attiyah 

Miss Rehab El Kadri

Miss Anne-Katrien Stark

Mr Rafeezul Mohamed

Mr Rueban Issac Jacob Anicattu

Miss Diletta Castellani

Mrs Carolina Stylianou

Co-supervision:

Miss Kylie Such - With Prof. Susana Hourani

Mr Chrystos Spanos - With Dr J Bernadette Moore

Mrs Minoo Shahidi - With Dr Kikki Bodman-Smith

Mr Alexander Walter - With Dr Simon Graham and Dr Falko Steinbach (VLA)

Miss Nathifa Moyo - With Dr Falko Steinbach (VLA)