{"id":1656,"date":"2021-12-22T13:07:02","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T13:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/?p=1656"},"modified":"2024-02-14T13:24:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T13:24:43","slug":"new-mfig-member-welcome-to-sebastien-ortiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2021\/12\/22\/new-mfig-member-welcome-to-sebastien-ortiz\/","title":{"rendered":"New MFIG member: Welcome to S\u00e9bastien Ortiz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; next_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_module=&#8221;322&#8243;][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=&#8221;322&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; menu_id=&#8221;7&#8243; submenu_direction=&#8221;downwards&#8221; fullwidth_menu=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; module_class=&#8221;main-navigation&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; next_background_color=&#8221;#1d1d1d&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243;][et_pb_row_inner locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243;][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; title=&#8221;on&#8221; meta=&#8221;on&#8221; author=&#8221;on&#8221; date=&#8221;on&#8221; categories=&#8221;on&#8221; comments=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_placement=&#8221;above&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_background=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>S\u00e9bastien is a new Research Associate with the Manchester Fungal Infection Group under the direction of Margherita Bertuzzi. In his upcoming research S\u00e9bastien aims to help elucidate the key interactions between the fungal pathogen <em>Aspergillus fumigatus <\/em>and lung epithelial cells. Through this work he hopes to better understand how different fungal morphotypes affect host-pathogen interactions and to identify key microbial factors and host receptors essential for pathogenesis. By understanding the initial host-pathogen interactions that lead to disease, we may be able to develop preventative therapeutics, an area of disease management that is severely lacking with fungal diseases.<\/p>\n<p>S\u00e9bastien recently received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied the spores of the human fungal pathogen <em>Cryptococcus neoformans <\/em>in the Hull Lab. His research mainly focused on the characterization of the molecular mechanisms controlling <em>Cryptococcus <\/em>spore germination. This work involved the development of an automated quantitative <em>Cryptococcus <\/em>spore germination assay that has enabled the extensive characterization of this key differentiation process necessary for spore-mediated disease, the identification and characterization of ~200 novel inhibitors of spore germination, the identification of novel fungal-specific targets for antifungal development, and the development <em>Cryptococcus <\/em>as a model for studying fungal spore germination.<\/p>\n<p>S\u00e9bastien hopes that his work characterizing the fundamental properties of pathogens will allow for the development of novel diagnostic tools and antifungal therapeutics to help those most affected by neglected infectious diseases.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; in_same_term=&#8221;off&#8221; show_prev=&#8221;on&#8221; show_next=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Previous&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; show_avatar=&#8221;on&#8221; show_reply=&#8221;on&#8221; show_count=&#8221;on&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;51&#8243; header_line_height_tablet=&#8221;2&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; \/][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Related posts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Related<\/h1>\n<!-- relpost-thumb-wrapper --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\"><h3>Related posts:<\/h3><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><!-- relpost-block-container --><div class=\"relpost-block-container relpost-block-column-layout\" style=\"--relposth-columns: 3;--relposth-columns_t: 2; --relposth-columns_m: 2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2024\/02\/16\/meet-the-phd-student-dr-felix-bongomin\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-label=\"PhD student Dr Felix Bongomin smiling for the camera.\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2024\/03\/Dr-Felix-Bongomin-Crop-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">Meet the PhD student: Dr Felix Bongomin<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2025\/10\/08\/meet-the-phd-student-natalie-shores\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2025\/10\/Natalie-Shores-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">Meet the PhD Student: Natalie Shores<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2024\/07\/18\/mfig-graduation-celebrations\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2024\/07\/PHOTO-2024-07-11-11-03-34-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">MFIG Graduation celebrations<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><!-- close relpost-block-container --><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><\/div><!-- close filter class --><\/div><!-- close relpost-thumb-wrapper -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; 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In his upcoming research S\u00e9bastien aims to help elucidate the key interactions between the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and lung epithelial cells. Through this work he hopes to better understand how different fungal morphotypes affect host-pathogen interactions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":1654,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meet-the-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1656"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1674,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656\/revisions\/1674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}