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Hire Dr. Fidel R.

United Kingdom

USD 200 /hr

Expert in Vaccinology, Molecular Biology, and Bioinformatics. Strong in leadership, collaboration and innovation

Profile Summary

As an Associate Researcher at The University of Manchester, I am part of the Gonococcal Vaccine Initiative, a multidisciplinary group working towards the development of a vaccine against gonorrhoea, a major global health challenge. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, this project aims to identify novel antigens and vaccine candidates using cutting-edge technologies and approaches. I contribute to the design, execution, and analysis of experiments, as well as the dissemination of results through publications and presentations. I finished my PhD at the same university, funded by GSK, where I was generating a protein microarray to study the contribution of minor proteins contained in the outer membrane vesicle of 4CMenB, a licensed meningococcal vaccine. This research has the potential to improve the understanding and evaluation of vaccine-induced immunity and protection. I hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Havana, where I was involved in several research projects on meningococcal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. I have also obtained the Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) certification, and have experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, mentoring and supporting students in various courses and projects.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Biostatistics
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Binding Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Biomarkers
• ☆ Microarrays
• ☆ Omics
• ☆ Proteomics
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Molecular Cloning
• ☆ DNA Sequencing
• ☆ Protein Sequencing
• ☆ Gene Expression Analysis
• ☆ Genome Sequencing
• ☆ Mutagenesis
• ☆ Recombinant DNA
• ☆ RNA Sequencing
• ☆ Oligonucleotide Synthesis
• ☆ Plasmid DNA
• ☆ Monoclonal Antibody Production
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Basic Immunology
• ☆ Adjuvant & Antigen Research
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Recombinant Protein Expression
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Data Processing
• ☆ Data Exploration
• ☆ Cluster Analysis
• ☆ Data Visualization
• ☆ Machine Learning
• ☆ Data Mining
• ☆ Data Cleaning
• ☆ Neural Networks
• ☆ Statistics
• ☆ Regression Analysis
• ☆ Multivariate Analysis
• ☆ Nonlinear Regression
• ☆ Correlation Analysis
• ☆ Bioinformatics
• ☆ Gene & Protein Expression Analysis
• ☆ Structural Bioinformatics
• ☆ Biomarker Discovery
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Primary Cells
• ☆ Biomolecular Engineering
• ☆ Gene Synthesis
• ☆ Protein/Enzyme Engineering
• ☆ Antibody Engineering
• ☆ Blotting
• ☆ Immunohistochemistry
• ☆ R

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing, Translation

Research Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Mining, Data Cleaning, Data Processing

Work Experience

The University of Manchester

- Present

Research Assistant

The University of Manchester

February 2023 - Present

Graduate Teaching Assistant

The University of Manchester

September 2019 - January 2023

Researcher

Finlay Vaccine Institute

September 2014 - December 2018

Education

The University of Manchester

- Present

PhD in Microbiology (Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics)

The University of Manchester

January 2019 - Present

BsC. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Faculty of Biology, University of Havana

September 2009 - July 2014

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Profiling IgG and IgA antibody responses during vaccination and infection in a high-risk gonorrhoea population @article{1362daf8d6de483cb3f6bea388b24618, title = "Profiling IgG and IgA antibody responses during vaccination and infection in a high-risk gonorrhoea population", abstract = "Development of a vaccine against gonorrhoea is a global priority, driven by the rise in antibiotic resistance. Although Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) infection does not induce substantial protective immunity, highly exposed individuals may develop immunity against re-infection with the same strain. Retrospective epidemiological studies have shown that vaccines containing Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) provide a degree of cross-protection against Ng infection. We conducted a clinical trial (NCT04297436) of 4CMenB (Bexsero{\textregistered}, GSK), a licensed Nm vaccine containing OMVs and recombinant antigens, comprising a single arm, open label study of two doses with 50 adults in coastal Kenya who have high exposure to Ng. Data from a Ng antigen microarray established that serum IgG and IgA reactivities against the gonococcal homologs of the recombinant antigens in the vaccine peaked at 10 but had declined by 24 weeks. For most reactive OMV-derived antigens, the reverse was the case. A cohort of similar individuals with laboratory-confirmed gonococcal infection were compared before, during, and after infection: their reactivities were weaker and differed from the vaccinated cohort. We conclude that the cross-protection of the 4CMenB vaccine against gonorrhoea could be explained by cross-reaction against a diverse selection of antigens derived from the OMV component.", keywords = "gonorrhoea, vaccine, Neisseria, microarray, antigen", author = "Lenka Stejskal and Angela Thistlethwaite and {Ramirez Bencomo}, Fidel and Smruti Rashmi and Odile Harrison and Feavers, {Ian M.} and Maiden, {Martin C J} and Ann Jerse and Grace Barnes and Oscar Chirro and James Chemweno and Eunice Nduati and Ana Cehovin and Christoph Tang and Sanders, {Eduard J.} and Jeremy Derrick", year = "2024", month = aug, day = "7", doi = "10.1038/s41467-024-51053-x", language = "English", volume = "15", journal = "Nature Communications", issn = "2041-1723", publisher = "Springer Nature", } . Nature Communications.

Lenka Stejskal, Angela Thistlethwaite, Fidel Ramirez-Bencomo, Smruti Rashmi, Odile Harrison, Ian M. Feavers, Martin C. J. Maiden, Ann Jerse, Grace Barnes, Oscar Chirro, et al. (2024). Profiling IgG and IgA antibody responses during vaccination and infection in a high-risk gonorrhoea population . Nature Communications.

Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and Fajardo-S{\'{a}}nchez, Abel and Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and N{\'{u}}{\~{n}}ez-Mart{\'{i}}nez, Darcy and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo(2018). Obtaining and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1, 5, 6B, 14 and 19F . Bionatura. 3. (1).

{Otero Alfaro}, Oscar and {Ram{\'{i}}rez Bencomo}, Fidel and {Gonz{\'{a}}lez Aznar}, Elizabeth and Falc{\'{o}}n, Rosabel and Acevedo, Reinaldo(2017). Evaluation of two-different affinity chromatographic columns based on Protein A for the purification of an IgG2a monoclonal antibody from ascites . Bionatura. 2. (2). p. 299--304.

Aznar, Elizabeth Gonz{\'{a}}lez and Fajardo-S{\'{a}}nchez, Abel Roscoe and Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and {Madariaga Zarza}, Sandra and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo(2017). Immunoagglutination Test Using Monoclonal Antibodies Coupled to Latex Particles to Identify the Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsular Polysaccharides Serotype 1, 5, 6B, 14 and 19F in Quimi-Vio Vaccine. International Journal of Vaccine Research. 2. (1). p. 7--12.

Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Cabrera-Arias, Rub{\'{e}}n Adonis and Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and {Fajardo S{\'{a}}nchez}, Abel Roscoe and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo(2017). Identity of the “Quimi-Vio” Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine using the Dot Blot technique using monoclonal antibodies against the capsular polysaccharides 1, 5, 6B, 14 and 19F of the bacterium . Bionatura. 2. (1). p. 248--253.

{Marrero Claro}, Grisel and Ramirez-Bencomo, Fidel and P{\'{e}}rez-Delgado, Lilian and Musacchio-Lasa, Alexis and Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo and Bada-Rivero, Nancy and Amey-Ram{\'{i}}rez, Yohanna and {Zald{\'{i}}var Silva}, Dionisio and Men{\'{e}}ndez-Medina, Tamara(2017). Polystyrene latex synthesis and application in Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W serotyping. Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomédicas. 36. (1).

Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and {Cabrera Cuello}, Dianeysi and Cabrera-Blanco, Osmir and Fajardo-S{\'{a}}nchez, Abel Roscoe and Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo(2017). Quantitative Dot Blot Assays to determine Vibrio cholerae O1 Lipopolysaccharide concentration using Monoclonal Antibody. Open Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 1. (1). p. 7--13.

Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Reyes-L{\'{o}}pez, F{\'{a}}tima and Am{\'{i}}n-Blanco, Nevis and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and Cuello-P{\'{e}}rez, Maribel and Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and Acevedo-Grogues, Reinaldo(2016). Quantification of polysaccharide Vi in the typhoid vaccine VaxTyViTM by sandwich ELISA using a monoclonal antibody. Bionatura. 1. (4). p. 190--195.

Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and Fajardo-S{\'{a}}nchez, Abel Roscoe and Cedr{\'{e}}-Marrero, B{\'{a}}rbara and Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth(2015). Reactivos Látex basados en Anticuerpos Monoclonales para la serotipificación de cepas de Neisseria meningitidis. Revista Bioprocesos. 1. (3). p. 1--8.

Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and Am{\'{i}}n-Blanco, Nevis and Reyes-L{\'{o}}pez, F{\'{a}}tima and Cuello-P{\'{e}}rez, Maribel and Ram{\'{i}}rez-Bencomo, Fidel(2015). Producción, purificación y caracterización del AcM contra polisacárido capsular Vi de Salmonella Typhi y su aplicabilidad en ensayos de identidad. Revista Bioprocesos. 1. (3). p. 1--12.

Gonz{\'{a}}lez-Aznar, Elizabeth and Otero-Alfaro, Oscar and Cabrera-Blanco, Osmir and Ram$\backslash$'$\backslash$irez-Bencomo, Fidel and Fajardo-S{\'{a}}nchez, Abel and Mandariote-Llanes, Aleida and Cuello-P{\'{e}}rez, Maribel(2015). Evaluación de los Anticuerpos Monoclonales anti-polisacárido capsular de Neisseria meningitidis serogrupos A, C, Y, W y X para su uso en los ensayos de identidad. Vaccimonitor. 24. (2). p. 0.

Reyes, F{\'{a}}tima and Otero, Oscar and Camacho, Frank and Amin, Nevis and Ram{\'{i}}rez, Fidel and Vald{\'{e}}s, Yolanda and Acevedo, Reynaldo and Garc{\'{i}}a, Luis and Cardoso, Daniel and Cuello, Maribel(2014). A novel monoclonal antibody to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X capsular polysaccharide and its potential use in quantitation of meningococcal vaccines . Biologicals. 42. (6). p. 312--315.

BOOK CHAPTER

Gonz{\'{a}}lez, Elizabeth and Reyes, F{\'{a}}tima and Otero, Oscar and Camacho, Frank and Cuello, Maribel and Ram{\'{i}}rez, Fidel and Acevedo, Reinaldo(2019). Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Capsular Polysaccharides A, C, Y, W, and X of Neisseria meningitidis: A Platform for the Quality Control of Meningococcal Vaccines . Neisseria meningitidis: Methods and Protocols. p. 181--203. Springer New York