Gerardo R. Vasta Professor Center of Marine Biotechnology, Baltimore, MD Ph.D., National University LaPlata, Argentina. vasta@umbi.umd.edu
Research: Molecular aspects and evolution of innate immune response in vertebrates and invertebrates - Structure-function relationships in carbohydrate-binding proteins: role of galectins, F- and C-type lectins in development and internal defense - Molecular and biological aspects of host-parasite interactions - Disease prevention, diagnostic and control in fisheries and aquaculture.
Publications: Ahmed, H., Du, S.-J. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Galectin-1-like protein knockdown in zebrafish (Danio rerio) causes defects in heart development (In preparation) Bianchet, M. A., E. W. Odom, G. R. Vasta and L. M. Amzel (2008) Structure of an F-type lectin from striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in complex with its carbohydrate ligand. (In preparation) Ahmed, H. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Stage specific promoter methylation of galectin-3 in prostate cancer: Development of a novel marker for early diagnosis. (In preparation) Henrikson, D., Ahmed, H. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) A novel galectin from the striped bass striped bass (Morone saxatilis): Molecular, biochemical, and functional characterization. (In preparation) Ahmed, H., Robledo, J.A.F., and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Glycosidases from Perkinsus marinus: Purification and characterization of a β-glucosidase (In preparation) Schott, E.J. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Ascorbate peroxidases of the protistan parasite Perkinsus marinus are targeted to different cellular compartments. (In preparation Ahmed, H. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Three novel inducible galectins with unique domain organization from zebrafish (Danio rerio) (In preparation) Alavi, M.R., and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Mycobacterium spp associated with Eastern (Crassostrea virginica) and Suminoe (C. ariakensis) oysters. (In preparation) O’Leary, N., Ahmed, H. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Hemocyte galectins from the colonial ascidian Clavelina picta: Molecular, biochemical, and functional characterization in innate immunity. (In preparation) Alavi, M., Robledo, J.A., Saito, K. and Vasta, G.R. (2008) Intracellular survival of Perkinsus marinus in hemocytes of Crassostrea ariakensis and C. virginica: In vitro comparative studies. (In preparation)

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