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Elsio Wunder Jr

PhD, MS, DVM
Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Lecturer - Water, Sanitation and Public Health, EMD; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Contact Information

Elsio Wunder Jr, PhD, MS, DVM

Lab Location

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases

    60 College Street, LEPH 319A

    New Haven, CT 06510

    United States

Research Summary

  • Pathogenesis of leptospirosis
  • Vaccine development for leptospirosis
  • Natural-acquired immunity against Leptospira infection
  • Motility of the spirochete Leptospira spp.
  • Clinical diagnostic of leptospirosis

Extensive Research Description

Dr. Wunder has an extensive research experience in Brazil and the US working on the pathogenesis of Leptospira sp. and vaccine development. His research is focused on understanding the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, and, more specifically, identifying virulence factors in the spirochetal pathogen, which may in turn serve as the basis for novel approaches for diagnostics and vaccines.

Currently he is evaluating the hamster immune response to immunization with an attenuated Leptospira strain, to identify potential protein candidates for subunit vaccine design. More recent his work has been focus also on understanding the motility of the pathogen and its ability to penetrate and disseminate within host-tissues.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Vaccines, Attenuated; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Translational Research, Biomedical

Public Health Interests

Disease Transmission; Global Health; Infectious Diseases; Zoonotic Diseases

Research Image

Selected Publications

  • Corrigendum: Escape of TLR5 recognition by Leptospira spp.: A rationale for atypical endoflagellaHolzapfel M, Bonhomme D, Cagliero J, Vernel-Pauillac F, d’Andon M, Bortolussi S, Fiette L, Goarant C, Wunder E, Picardeau M, Ko A, Werling D, Matsui M, Boneca I, Werts C. Corrigendum: Escape of TLR5 recognition by Leptospira spp.: A rationale for atypical endoflagella Frontiers In Immunology 2022, 13: 932151. PMCID: PMC9682272, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.932151.
  • An asymmetric structure of the filament is key to inducing flagellar curvature and enabling motility in the Leptospira spirocheteSan Martin F, San Martin F, Gibson K, Trajtenberg F, Trajtenberg F, Brady M, Brady M, Wunder E, Picardeau M, Picardeau M, Mechaly A, Mechaly A, Ko A, Sindelar C, Buschiazzo A, Buschiazzo A. An asymmetric structure of the filament is key to inducing flagellar curvature and enabling motility in the Leptospira spirochete Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations And Advances 2021, 77: c291-c291. DOI: 10.1107/s0108767321093910.
  • Novel Architecture and Composition of a Bacterial Flagellum in the Spirochete Leptospira biflexaGibson K, Wunder E, Liu J, Liu J, Trajtenberg F, Trajtenberg F, Buschiazzo A, Buschiazzo A, Ko A, Sindelar C. Novel Architecture and Composition of a Bacterial Flagellum in the Spirochete Leptospira biflexa Biophysical Journal 2018, 114: 371a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.2056.
  • Mastitis with systemic lesions due to Staphylococus aureus subesp. aureus in rabbitsTraverso S, da Cunha L, Fernandes J, Loretti A, Rhoden A, Wunder E, Driemeier D. Mastitis with systemic lesions due to Staphylococus aureus subesp. aureus in rabbits Ciência Rural 2003, 33: 373-376. DOI: 10.1590/s0103-84782003000200031.