Dr Leopoldo Santos-Argumedo

Country: Mexico

Institution: Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN)

Research Areas: Primary immunodeficiencies, immune responses against intracellular pathogens, cell biology of B lymphocytes

Lab Website: https://biomolen.cinvestav.mx/Academic-Staff/Leopoldo-Santos-Argumedo

Primary immunodeficiencies (IDP) are a diverse group of more than 300 genetic disorders that affect the development and the functionality of the immune system. Most are monogenic disorders, but the spectrum of the IDP is constantly expanding with the identification of new syndromes through sequencing and clinical understanding. In México, the study of these diseases is incipient, so our group is given the task of identify and characterize such patients. We hope these studies will contribute to a better diagnosis of the patients which may result in a timely and better oriented treatment. In addition, we hope to learn from these patients the molecular determinants that control various functions of the immune system in a natural environment.

Myosins comprise a family of motor proteins whose role in muscle contraction and motility in a large range of eukaryotic cells has been widely studied. Myosins expressed by cells from the immune response are involved in maintaining plasma membrane tension, moving and secreting vesicles, endo- and exocytotic processes, and promoting the adhesion and motility of cells. We are interested in increasing our current understanding of class I myosins in lymphocytes, with an emphasis on the emerging roles of these molecular motors in immune functions.