
Marcelo Andres Lopez Lastra
Profesor Titular
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile
Virologia Molecular; Virus de RNA; Interaccion virus-hospedero; Mecanismos de iniciacion de la traduccion de mRNAs virales.
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Biochemist, UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL DE CHILE. Chile, 1994
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Microbiology, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 1999
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Clinical Research, UNIVERSITE CLAUDE BERNARD LYON I. Francia, 1999
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Post-Doctoral Fellow Full Time
ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DE LYON
Unité de Virologie Humaine
Lyon, Francia
1999 - 2000
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Post-Doctoral Fellow Full Time
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Medicine
Montreal, Canada
2000 - 2004
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Assistant Professor Full Time
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Medicine
Santiago, Chile
2004 - 2010
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Associated Professor Full Time
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Medicine
Santiago, Chile
2011 - 2018
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Full Professor Full Time
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Medicina
Santiago, Chile
2018 - A la fecha
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ANRS Post-Doctoral Fellow Full Time
Ecole Normal Superior de Lyon
Lyon, Francia
1999 - 2000
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Professor Full Time
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile
2004 - A la fecha
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CIHR Post-Doctoral Fellow Full Time
McGill University
Montreal, Canada
2000 - 2004
Training of Students:
a- Supervised Undergraduate theses or dissertations.
1- Alejandra Vásquez. Use of DNA shuffling as a tool to identify functional domains required for IRES activity. Biologist, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Awarded June 2007.
2- Karla Tapia. Study of the 5'UTR of the MMTV retrovirus possible role in translation initiation. Biochemist. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded
December 2008.
3- Cristian Holzmann. The function of the HIV-1 REV protein on translation initiation of the full-length viral mRNA. Biochemist. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de
Chile. Awarded May 2009.
4- Pablo Rambohr. Development of an in vitro system to study HIV-1 IRES activity. Biochemist. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded March 2010.
5- Matías Rivero. Study of the translation initiation mechanism of the full-length HIV-1 mRNA; characterization of a dual mechanism of initiation. Biochemist. Universidad de Chile. Awarded September
2011.
6- Carla del Barrio. Study of the putative Gag-IRES in the context of the full-length HIV-1 mRNA. Biologist, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded in June
2011.
7- Fernando Lowy. Characterization of the IRES activity present within the full-length mRNA of MMTV. Biochemist. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded
April 2012.
8- Felipe Carvajal. Study of the HIV-1 IRES activity in mRNAs isolated from clinical samples. Biochemist. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded
September 2012.
9- Federico Rossi. Study of cap-independent translation initiation of the full-length HIV-1 mRNA. Biologist, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, July 4,
2012.
10- Carlos Joaquin Caceres. IRES activity as a target for the development of novel antiviral strategies. Biochemist, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded,
April 19, 2013.
11- Hade Ramos. Staufen-1 and snRNP70 play a role in HIV-1 IRES-mediated translation initiation. Biochemist, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded,
September 3, 2020.
b- Supervised Medical Residence Thesis:
Patricio Astudillo. Correlation between IL28B genotype and the clinical severity of bronchiolitis in pediatric patients. Residency thesis in Pediatrics. Awarded, April 2018.
c- Supervised Master Thesis:
1- Constanza Pino. PTB is an ITAF for the MMTV-IRES. Biochemist/Master’s Degree. Awarded in September 2011. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Andrés Bello.
2- Patricio Astudillo. Clinical phenotyping of viral bronchiolitis patients at hospitalization: clinical characteristics and associated outcomes. Master’s in medical research, School of Medicine, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded on October 12, 2022.
d- Supervised Graduate Thesis (Ph.D.):
1- Maria Inés Barría. "Study of the HCV IRES identifying novel targets for developing antiviral compounds". Doctor en Ciencias, mención Microbiología. Universidad de Chile. Awarded in November
2008. Current position: Professor Universidad San Sebastian, Puerto Montt, Chile.
2- Andrea Rivas-Aravena. "Study of the mechanism of translation initiation of the full-length HIV-1 mRNA; the role of cellular protein on IRES activity". Doctor en Biología mención Biología Molecular y
Celular. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded in May 2009. Current position: Professor Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile.
3- Jorge Vera-Otarola. "Study of the mechanism of translation initiation of the small Andes virus mRNA". Doctor en Microbiología, Universidad de Santiago. Awarded in March 2010. Current position:
Research Associate, Applied Virology Unit, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
4- Fernando Valiente-Echeverría. "Regulation of the HIV-1 IRES by INS elements present within the Gag coding region". Doctor en Microbiología, Universidad de Santiago. Awarded in May 2010.
Current position: Professor Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
5- Maricarmen Vallejos García. "Structural and functional study of 5'UTR of the full-length HIV-1 mRNA". Doctor en Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Awarded in September 2011. Current position: Post-Doctoral fellow, Institut Curi, France.
6- Alejandro Letelier. "Identifying novel Cis-acting elements that modulate retroviral IRES activity". Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded in October 2013.
7- Jenniffer Angulo. "Host-virus relationship in the context of an HCV infection". Awarded on May 13, 2014. Doctorado en Microbiología, Universidad de Santiago. Current position: Professor, School
of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
8- Eduardo Olivares. "Study of the mechanism of translation initiation driven by the 5'UTR of the HTLV-1 full-length mRNA". Doctorado en Microbiología, Universidad de Santiago. Awarded on April 1,
2015. Current position: Senior Oncology Medical Science Liaison (MSL), AstraZeneca Oncology and Immunotherapy Medical Science Liaison (MSL), AstraZeneca, Santiago, Chile.
9- Estefanía Castillo. "Study of the mechanism of translation initiation of the Small Andes virus mRNA". Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, 19-Agosto. 2015. Current Position: Oncology Medical Science Liaison, AstraZeneca.
10- Loretto Solis. "The Small RNA of ANDV encodes for the NSs protein; A possible role as an antagonist of Type I INF response". Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Microbiología. Universidad de Chile.
Awarded, 5-October, 2015.
11- Fernando Lowy. "ANDV NSs protein induces eIF2-alfa phosphorylation and stress granule formation". Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, October 26, 2016.
12- Carlos Joaquin Caceres. "Study of the mechanism of translation initiation of the HTLV-1 mRNAs encoding the HBZ proteins". Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Microbiología. Universidad de Chile.
Awarded, June 30, 2017. Current Position: Research Associate, University of Georgia, USA.
13- Natalia Contreras. "Implications of cellular proteins PTB, nucleolin, and hnRNP U on IRES-mediated translation initiation of retroviral mRNAs". Doctorado en Biología, mención Microbiología.
Universidad de Chile. Awarded, April 27, 2018. Current position: Professor Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
14- Felipe Carvajal. "RNA structures and their impact on translation initiation of the HIV-1 and ANDV mRNAs". Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, March 28, 2019. Post-Doctoral Fellow.
15- Valeria Olguín. "The heterogeneous ribonuclear protein K (hnRNP K) is an IRES trans-acting factor for the HIV-1, HTLV-1, and MMTV internal ribosome entry sites". Doctorado en Ciencias
Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, January 15, 2020. Current position: Research Associate, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
16- Leandro Fernández. "Characterization of Dengue virus mRNA IRES-dependent translation initiation; the role of PTB as an ITAF". Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Microbiología. Universidad de
Chile. Awarded, August 31, 2020. Current position: Research Associate, University of Virginia
17- Aldo Barrera. "Post-translational modifications of IRES trans-acting factors hnRNP A1 and HuR impact on the activity of retroviral IRESs". Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención Genética
Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, November 4, 2020. Current position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chil.
18- Fabian Díaz. "Development of recombinant BCG vaccines targeting Andes orthohantaviruses and Respiratory syncytial virus: Evaluation on murine and bovine models. Doctorado en Ciencias
Biológicas mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, August 3, 2021. Co-Tutor together with Dr. Alexis Kalergis.
19- Yazmin Fuentes. "HnRNPK post-translational modifications regulate HIV-1 IRES activity". Doctorado en Microbiología, Universidad de Santiago. Awarded, May 12, 2023. Postdoctoral fellow
Universidad de Concepción.
20- Brenda López-Ulloa. “HnRNPA1 and HuR differentially modulate cap-independent translation initiation from the HTLV-1 IRES and the sHBZ IRES”. Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas mención
Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Awarded, October 10, 2023. Current position: Professor, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, UPS, Grupo de
Investigación en Aplicaciones Biotecnologicas, GIAB, Carrera de Biotecnología,
21- Dafne Mendonca (in progress). Doctorado en Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
22- Patricio Astudillo (in progress). Doctorado en Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
e- Post-Doctoral trainees:
1- Dr. Delphine Marsac. "Ex vivo infection of human dendritic cells (DCs) with Andes Hantavirus: Effect on the production of cytokines and matrix metalloproteases by DCs" FONDECYT-
POSTDOCTORADO-2008–3085029 (November 2007-November 2010).
2- Dr. Maricarmen Vallejos García. "Translational control of HIV-1 gene expression", IMII-Post-Doctoral fellow (September 2011-March 2013).
3- Dr. Julio Cartagena "Characterization of cytoplasmic granules associated with the expression of the ANDV NSs protein". IMII-post-doctoral fellow (March 2012-April 2013).
4- Dr. Jenniffer Angulo. "Mechanism of translation initiation on the ANDV SmRNA; selection of the initiation codon". ACT 1408 Post-Doctoral Fellow (November 2016-November 2018).
5- Dr. Barbara Rojas "Evaluation of the impact of lncRNAs on retroviral IRES function" (April 2023-April 2024).
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Abraham Stekel fellowship
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Chile, 1993
Talented young scientist award granted by Nestle International Corporation and Universidad de Chile (INTA)
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Abraham Stekel fellowship
INTA
Chile, 1994
Talented young scientist award granted by Nestle International Corporation and Universidad de Chile (INTA)
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Abraham Stekel fellowship
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Chile, 1995
Talented young scientist award granted by Nestle International Corporation and Universidad de Chile (INTA)
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Doctoral Fellowship
COMISION NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACION CIENTIFICA Y TECNOLOGICA
Chile, 1995
CONICYT Doctoral fellowship
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Rhone-Alpes Doctoral Fellowship
Rhone-Alpes
Francia, 1996
Fellowship given by the Rhone-Aples region. Lyon, France.
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Post-Doctoral followship
Agence national de recherches sur le Sida
Francia, 1999
Post-Doctoral fellowship granted by the Frence Agence national de recherches sur le Sida.
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Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canada, 2001
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Post-Doctoral fellowship (#MFE–47704), Canada [Ranked 11th from 350 total applicants].
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Visiting Professor
FIOCRUZ Institute at Rio de Janeiro
Brasil, 2013
Visisting Professor at the Fiocruz Institute at Rio de Janairo, Brasil.
Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana |
Virus Hepatitis C |
EGULATING THE REGULATORS; THE IMPACT OF IRES-TRANSACTING FACTORS AND THEIR POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS ON RETROVIRAL-IRES ACTIVITY. |
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Haitian immigrants in Chile=> Determination of HBV genotypes, viral escape mutants and host factors influencing response to vaccination. |
Laboratoire International Associé/CNRS International Associated Laboratory |
Identifying RNA-Binding Proteins (RBP) that act as Transacting factors for retroviral internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs); role RBP in retroviral IRES-mediated protein synthesis |
Understanding the role of the DEAD-box helicase DDX3 in viral and cellular messenger RNA metabolism. |
Patogeneis Molecular de Virus Emergentes. |
Mejoramiento del equipamiento estratégico del laboratorio de bioseguridad de nivel 3 (BSL-3) de la Escuela de Medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile |
Hepatitis C virus exploits the hepatic lipid pathways=> Role of NPC1L1 in HCV infection |
Laboratoire International Associé/CNRS International Associated Laboratory |
Study of the mechanism of translation initiation of retroviral mRNAs; the role of cellular proteins and RNA structure |
The atlas of the HIV-1 genomic messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex |
Characterization of cellular factors involved in HIV-1 and HIV-2 genomic RNA translational control |
Investigación y desarrollo de herramientas bioinformáticas para el diseño costo‐efectivo de biosensores y biointerruptores moleculares |
Andes virus transmission and pathogenesis in Chile. |
Institito de Inmunologia e Inmunoterapia |
Characterization and inhibition of the Gc multistep fusion mechanism used by Hantavirases to infect target cells |
Molecular mechanism ruling HIV and HCV translation initiation |
Núcleo Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia |
Translation of the HIV-1 full length mRNA is regulated by cellular proteins that modulate the shift from cap-dependent to an IRES-dependent mode of initiation=> unveiling the basis of HIV-1 mRNA translational control |
Rol de la replicación extrahepática del virus de hepatitis C en la predicción de la respuesta a la terapia antiviral |
IDENTIFICACION DE LAS PROTEINAS Y LOS ELEMENTOS CIS QUE PARTICIPAN EN LA REGULACION DE LA INICIACION DE LA TRADUCCION DEPENDIENTE DE SITIO INTERNO DE ENTRADA DE RIBOSOMAS (IRES) DEL VIRUS DE LA INMUNODEFICIENCIA HUMANA |
CAPTURE AND ENRICHMENT OF EMERGING PATHOGENS FOR MULTIPLE AND ULTRA-SENSITIVE DIAGNOSTIC (USDEP) |
Development of lead compounds as fusion inhibitors for Dengue virus. |
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) internal ribosome entry segment (IRES); Identification of trans-acting factors and cis-acting elements involved in IRES function |
Investigating and Targeting the mechanism of HIV-1 protein synthesis. |
Recherches sur le plans diagnostic et physiopathologique chez les Virus Emergents |
Rol de la replicación extra-hepática del virus de la hepatitis C en la expresión clinica e historia natural de la enfermedad |
Translation initiation of viral mRNAs |
Translational control of retroviruses |
Hepatitis C en Chile: Magnitud del problema |

MARCO ARRESE
FULL PROFESSOR
GASTROENTEROLOGY
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Juan Miquel
Full Professor
Gastroenterology
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Marcela Ferres
Head of Department
Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Pablo Vial
Professor
School of Medicine
ICIM/UNIVERSIDAD DEL DESARROLLO - CLÍNICA ALEMANA
Santiago, Chile

Alexis Kalergis
Full Professor
Microbiología
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE. FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS
Santiago, Chile

Octavio Monasterio
Profesor Titular
Departamento de Biología
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS, DEPARTAMENTO DE BIOLOGÍA
Santiago, Chile

Maria Vial
Associate Professor/Profesor Asociado
Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación de Medicina
UNIVERSIDAD DEL DESARROLLO
Santiago, Chile

Arnoldo Riquelme
Profesor titular
Gastroenterología
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE, DEPARTAMENTO DE GASTROENTEROLOGÍA
Santiago, Chile

Marcelo Lopez
Profesor Titular
Infectologia e Inmunologia Pediatrica
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Tomas Perez-Acle
Full Professor
Computational Biology Lab
Fundación Ciencia para la Vida
Santiago, Chile

Monique Le Corre
Assistant Professor
Faculty of medicine, Pediatric division
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Arnoldo Riquelme
Director UDA Ciencias de la Salud (Carreras de Nutrición y dietética, Fonoaudiología y Kinesiología)
Gastroenterología
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Jose Ignacio Vargas
Assistant Professor
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile

Rodrigo Fuentealba
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología / Facultad de Medicina
Pontificia Universidad Católica
Santiago, Chile

Jose Castro
Profesor Asociado
Cardiologia y Neumologia Pediatrica
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Estefania Castillo
Asistente de Investigación
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Nicole Tischler
Investigadora Titular
Molecular Virology Laboratory
Fundación Ciencia para la Vida
Santiago, Chile

Claudia Marco
Jefe de Unidad
Gerencia de Innovación y transformación Digital
Red de Salud UC CHRISTUS
Santiago, Chile

Hugo Monrroy
Instructor Adjunto
Gastroenterología
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Pablo Ferrer
Jefe Laboratorio
Medicina Interna
Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Francisco Barrera
Profesor Asociado
Gastroenterología
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Constanza Martinez
Investigador asistente
Enfermedades infecciosas e inmunologia pediatrica
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Jenniffer Angulo
Asistente de Investigación
Pediatría e Inmunologia Pediátrica
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Katherine Rivera
PhD (c) student in Medical Science
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile
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Aldo Barrera
Postdoctor
Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología pediátrica
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile