 | IHPE UMR 5244 Université de Montpellier Place Eugène Bataillon CC 80 F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5 Tel +33(0)4-67-14-41-21 Fax +33(0)4-67-14-46-22 email : Katherine.munoz.cerro@ifremer.fr |
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GRADE : Post-Doct Fellowship (Chile), Bourse Marie Curie
TEAM : MIA
SCIENTIFIC NETWORK :
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RESPONSIBILITY:
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at IFREMER, conducting research on immune priming and host–pathogen interactions in oysters within the SHIELD project.
AREA OF EXPERTISE:
I am a biochemist and marine biotechnology researcher specializing in marine invertebrate immunology, host–pathogen interactions, and host-associated microbiota. My research focuses on understanding the immune mechanisms involved in resistance to bacterial infections in marine bivalves, particularly scallops and oysters. During my PhD, I investigated the interactions between scallop larvae (Argopecten purpuratus), pathogenic Vibrio species, and their associated bacterial communities, with a particular focus on identifying beneficial bacteria with probiotic potential. My research combines microbiological, molecular, and immunological approaches to better understand host–microorganism interactions and their potential applications in sustainable aquaculture. In my current MSCA postdoctoral project, SHIELD, at IFREMER, I investigate the cellular, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms underlying immune priming in Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas). By integrating functional analyses of hemocytes using flow cytometry with advanced omics approaches. This research seeks to identify the mechanisms involved in innate immune memory in marine invertebrates and contribute to a better understanding of disease resistance in aquaculture species.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
2010–2016: Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry (Licenciatura en Bio-química), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile.
2010–2018: Professional Degree in Biochemistry (Biochemist), Ponti-ficia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile.
2019–2024: PhD in Biotechnology, joint doctoral program between Pon-tificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM), Chile.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2026–2028: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, European Union.
2024–2026: PUCV Internal Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile.
2024: National PhD Scholarship Extension, ANID, Chile.
2023: Growing Up: Execute Your Idea Science Up Grant and Second Place in the 9th PUCV–Banco Santander Lift Me Up Innovation Contest.
2022–2023: International Research Internship Grant, ANID, Chile (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand).
2021–2023: Research Expenses Grant, ANID, Chile.
2020–2023: National PhD Scholarship, ANID, Chile.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
Muñoz-Cerro, K., et al. (2024) Scallop larvae resistant to a pathogenic Vibrio harbor host-associated bacteria with probiotic potential. Aquaculture, 579.
Muñoz-Cerro, K., et al. (2024) Mitigation of Vibrio-induced metabolic perturbations in Argopecten purpuratus larvae via probiotic pretreatment. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.
Jorquera, A., Montecinos, C., Borregales, Y., Muñoz-Cerro, K., et al. (2024) A novel LPS binding/bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (LBP/BPI) from the scallop Argopecten purpuratus plays an essential role in host resistance to Vibrio infection. Fish & Shellfish Immunology.
Jeria, E., Oyanedel, D., Rojas, R., Farfola, R., Lira, G., Mercado, A., Muñoz-Cerro, K., et al. (2023) Resistance of Argopecten purpuratus scallop larvae to vibriosis is associated with the front-loading of immune genes and enhanced antimicrobial response. Frontiers in Immunology.
Muñoz, K., et al. (2019) The immune response of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus is associated with changes in the host microbiota structure and diversity. Fish & Shellfish Immunology.
González, R., Muñoz, K., Brokordt, K., Schmitt, P. (2019) Scallop Immunology. Reference Module in Life Sciences, Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-809633-8.