Alejandra Falla Castillo
Personal Information
Date and place of birth: May 5, 1985. Bogota, Colombia
Languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish (native).
Work address: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue. Rm 16-378. Cambridge, MA 02139
Work phone: (617) 324-3998
E-mail: afalla@mit.edu
Education
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Cambridge, MA. USA
PhD Student. Second Year – Microbiology Graduate Program. Advisor: Jacquin Niles
April 2012 - Present
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia.
Master of Science in Biological Sciences – Microbiology. September 2006 - March 2008.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia.
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. January 2002 - September 2006
Professional Experience
DARTMOUTH
Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Lebanon, NH. EU
.
August 2009-August 2011.
Research Associate: Darmouth Medical School
Supervisor: Dr. David Bzik, PhD
Project: ��Biology of
Toxoplasma gondii cysts��
QUINDIO UNIVERSITY
Department of Biological Sciences. Armenia- Colombia
December 2008 – July 2009
Research Associate: Molecular Biology and Epidemiology groups
Project: ��National multicenter study of neonatal toxoplasmosis��.
Supervisor: Dr. Jorge Enrique Gomez, PhD.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES
Department of Biological Sciences. Bogota- Colombia
January 2007 – July 2009
Research Associate: Molecular Parasitology Group. CIMPAT. UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES
Project: ��Genetic Variability in
Trypanosoma cruzi isolates in Colombia��
��Identifying subgroups within
Trypanosoma cruzi I in ancient DNA from Human
Mummies��
��Identifying subgroups in
Trypanosoma cruzi I isolates from humans, vectors and
reservoirs��.
Supervisor: Felipe Guhl M.Sc.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES
Department of Biological Sciences. Bogota- Colombia
January 2006 – January 2008
Masters Degree Student: Molecular Parasitology Group. CIMPAT. UNIVERSITY OF THE
ANDES
Thesis work: ��Subgroups identification in
Trypanosoma cruzi I isolates from humans, vectors and
reservoirs in Colombia��.
Supervisor: Felipe Guhl M.Sc.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES - FIDIC (Colombian Immunology Institute)
Department of Biological Sciences. FIDIC. Bogota- Colombia
March- August 2006
Research Assistant: Molecular Parasitology Group.
Project: ��Antigenic characterization in
Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from Colombia and Brasil��
Supervisors: Dr. Manuel A Patarroyo PhD and Felipe Guhl M.Sc.
UNIVERSITY OF THE ANDES
Department of Biological Sciences. Bogota- Colombia
May 2004 – December 2005
Research Assistant: Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Groups CIMPAT. UNIVERSITY OF
THE ANDES.
Project: ��Preliminar study in characterization of
Trypanosoma cruzi strains from humans, vectors
and reservoirs in different regions in Colombia in TcI and TcII groups��
Supervisors: Dr. Claudia Herrera PhD and Felipe Guhl M.Sc.
Teaching Experience
Cellular Biology Laboratory. Graduate Teaching Assistant. August 18, 2006-December 18, 2007.
Department of Biological Sciences. University of the Andes. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia
Cellular Biology Laboratory. Teaching Assistant. August 2004-June 2006.
Department of Biological Sciences. University of the Andes. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia
Immunology and Microbiology. Teaching Assistant. August-December 2005
Faculty of Medicine. University of the Andes. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia
Molecular Biology in Ancient DNA. Teaching Assistant. February, 2007
Graduate Program. Department of Biological Sciences. University of the Andes. Bogot�� D.C.,
Colombia
Bioinformatics. Teaching Assistant. September, 2007
Graduate Program. Faculty of Sciences. National University. Bogot�� D.C., Colombia
Leadership
Member of the
��Colombian Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine��. November 2007-
Present.
Member of the
��Colombian Society of Infectology��. September 2009-Present.
Advising and Professional Activities
Planning Committee. 2008. International Seminary: Trends and Future of parasitology research and
Trends and Future of Natural Products Research. Colombian Academy of Physical and Natural
Sciences. National Academy of Medicine. Colombian Association of science faculties. University of
the Andes. Bogot��, Colombia.
Planning Committee. 2007
. XIII Colombian Meeting of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine.
Colombian Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine. Ibague, Colombia.
Mentor of Undergraduate Academics. 2007-2008. Microbiology Program. Department of
Biological Sciences. University of the Andes. Bogot��, Colombia.
Publications
Rommereim LM, Hortua Triana MA,
Falla A, Sanders KL, Guevara RB, Bzik DJ, Fox BA. Genetic
manipulation in ��
ku80 strains for functional genomic analysis of
Toxoplasma gondii. 2012.
Submitted
Fox BA,
Falla A, Rommereim LM, Tomita T, Gigley JP, Mercier C, Cesbron-Delauw MF, Weiss
LM, Bzik DJ. 2011. Type II
Toxoplasma gondii KU80 knockout strains enable functional analysis of
genes required for cyst development and latent infection.
Eukaryot Cell. 10(9):1193-206
G��mez-Marin JE, de-la-Torre A, Angel-Muller E, Rubio J, Arenas J, Osorio E, Nuñez L, Pinzon L,
Mendez-Cordoba LC, Bustos A, de-la-Hoz I, Silva P, Beltran M, Chacon L, Marrugo M, Manjarres
C, Baquero H, Lora F, Torres E, Zuluaga OE, Estrada M, Moscote L, Silva MT, Rivera R, Molina A,
Najera S, Sanabria A, Ramirez ML, Alarcon C, Restrepo N,
Falla A, Rodriguez T, Castaño G. 2011.
First Colombian multicentric newborn screening for congenital toxoplasmosis.
Plos Negl Trop Dis.
5(5):e1195
Urrea DA, Guhl F, Herrera CP,
Falla A, Carranza JC, Cuba-Cuba C, Triana-Chavez O, Grisard EC,
Vallejo GA. 2011. Sequence analysis of the spliced-leader intergenic region (SL-IR) and random
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of
Trypanosoma rangeli strains isolated from
Rhodnius
ecuadoriensis,
R. colombiensis,
R. pallescens and
R. prolixus suggests a degree of co-evolution
between parasites and vectors.
Acta Trop. 120(1-2):59-66
Tomasini N, Lauthier JJ, Rumi MM, Ragone PG, D��Amato AA, Brandan CP, Cura CI, Schijman
AG, Barnabe C, Tibayrenc M, Basombrio MA,
Falla A, Herrera C, Guhl F, Diosque P. 2010.
Interest and limitations of Spliced Leader Intergenic Region sequences for analyzing
Trypanosoma
cruzi I phylogenetic diversity in the Argentinean Chaco.
Infec Genet Evol. 11(2):300-7.
Falla A. 2010. Molecular Biology: Principles and Applications. First Edition. CIB Editorial.
Chapters 29 and 32. Colombia.
Falla A, Herrera C, Fajardo A, Montilla M, Vallejo G, Guhl F. 2009. Haplotype identification within
Trypanosoma cruzi I in Colombian isolates from several reservoirs, vectors and humans.
Acta Trop.
2008, 110:1
Herrera C, Bargues MD,
Falla A, Fajardo A, Vallejo GA, Guhl F. 2009. Genetic Variability and
Phylogenetic relationships within
Trypanosoma cruzi I isolates in Colombia based on minexon gene
sequences. Journal of Parasitology Research
; 2009. pii: 897364. Epub 2010 Feb 1.
Herrera C, Guhl F,
Falla A, Fajardo A, Montilla M, Adolfo Vallejo G, Bargues MD. 2009. Genetic
Variability and Phylogenetic Relationships within
Trypanosoma cruzi I Isolated in Colombia Based
on Miniexon Gene Sequences.
J Parasitol Res. pii: 897364. doi: 10.1155/2009/897364.
Poster Presentations
Falla A. 2008. Subgroups identification within
Trypanosoma cruzi I in Colombian isolates
isolates from several reservoirs, vectors and humans. Sciences Faculty. Department of Biological
Sciences. University of the Andes. Bogota DC, Colombia.
Falla A, Herrera C, Fajardo A, Montilla M, Vallejo G, Guhl F. 2008. Molecular Identification of
subgroups within
Trypanosoma cruzi I in Colombia. Program for the Study and Control in Tropical
Diseases (PECET) IX Symposium. Advances in Research of Tropical Diseases. Antioquia
University.Medell��n, Colombia.
Falla A, Fox BA, Rommereim LM, Tomita T, Gigley JP, Mercier C, Cesbron-Delauw M, Weiss
LM, Bzik DJ. 2011. Analysis of genes required for cyst development and latent infection in Type II
Toxoplasma gondii KU80 knockout strains. 11th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis. June 25-
29. Ottawa, Canada.
Talks given at Meetings
Falla A, Guhl F, Herrera C, Fajardo A, Montilla M, Vallejo G, Triana O. 2007. Identification of
subgroup 4 in
Trypanosoma cruzi I colombian isolates from vectors and reservoirs. XIII Colombian
Meeting of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine. Colombian Society for Parasitology and Tropical
Medicine. Ibague, Colombia.
Biomedica 27, Supl.2
Falla A. 2009. Urbanization of Chagas Disease. IX Colombian Meeting of Infectious diseases.
Colombian Society of Infectology. May, 2009. Cali, Colombia.
Falla A , Guhl F, Herrera C, Fajardo A, Acero D, Bargues MD, Vallejo G. 2008. Molecular
Epidemiology of
Trypanosoma cruzi I. International Seminary: Trends and Future of parasitology
research and Trends and Future of Natural Products Research. Colombian Academy of Physical and
Natural Sciences. National Academy of Medicine. Colombian Association of science faculties.
University of the Andes. Bogot��, Colombia.
Awards and Honors
Best Poster Award. ��Analysis of genes required for cyst development and latent infection in Type II
Toxoplasma gondii KU80 knockout strains�� 11th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis. June 25-
29, 2011. Ottawa, Canada.
Courses and Training
May 2008.Course: Introduction to the management of databases GARSA and Protozoa DB.
Javeriana University, Bogota D.C.. Colombia. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
March, 2008. Course: Bioinformatics applied to Tropical Diseases. Antioquia University. Medellin,
Colombia.
June, 2007. Course: Tropical Medicine. First International Course of Tropical Medicine and
Neglected Diseases. Switzerland Tropical Institute. National University, Bogota D.C., Colombia.
TDR. Panamerican Health Organization (OPS). Social Protection Ministry. Bogota D.C., Colombia.
March,2006. Course: Geographic Information Systems. Use of Geographic Information Systems and
Remote Sensores in Public Health. Los Andes University. Bogota D.C., Colombia.
May, 2005. Course: Diagnosis and Treatment in Chagas Disease. International Course of Control
Programs in Chagas Disease, Treatment and Diagnosis course in Chagas Disease. VI Meeting for
Andean Initiative in Control Programs of Chagas Disease. University of the Andes, National Institute
Health (INS), Social Protection Ministry, World Health Organization (WHO), CDIA-EC.
March 5- June 18, 2005. Course: Molecular Biology and Immunology. El Bosque University. Bogota
D.C., Colombia.
Professional References
Jacquin Niles, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Pfizer-Laubach Career Development Chair
Department of Biological Engineering
Phone: 617-324-3701
jcniles@mit.edu
David Bzik, Ph.D
Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Dartmouth Medical School
Phone: 603-650-7951
David.J.Bzik@Dartmouth.EDU
Jose Conejo-Garcia, Ph.D
Associate Professor
The Wistar Institute
Phone: 215 495-6826
jrconejo@Wistar.org
Felipe Guhl M.Sc.
Professor
Sciences Faculty. University of the Andes
Diretor
CIMPAT.Los Andes University
Phone: (+57-1)- 3324540
fguhl@uniandes.edu.co
Gustavo A. Vallejo, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Sciences Faculty. Tolima University
Director
Laboratory of Tropical Parasitology
Phone: (+57-1)-2669176
gvallejo@ut.edu.co
Jorge Enrique G��mez, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Sciences Faculty. Quindio University
Director
Molecular Parasitology Group (GEPAMOL)
Phone: (+57-6)- 7460168
gepamol2@uniquindio.edu.co