Kevin Vergara

Kevin Vergara

Contact

Campus: The Assembly, 5051 Centre Ave

KEV28@pitt.edu

Education

  • B.S. Microbiology - University of Hawai'i, Manoa (2019)

Academic Affiliation

  • PMI Graduate Student, Atianand Lab

About Research

Areas of interest: I am interested in understanding the complexities of gene regulation with a focus on long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and their role in creating tightly controlled biological systems. These are RNA molecules larger than 200 base pairs that exert their molecular function as RNA molecules alone and do not code for proteins. It is estimated that there are approximately 15,000 lncRNA encoded in the human genome and less than 1% have been characterized, most were studied within the context of cancer and development. There is a wealth of information to be discovered within the context of immunity and I think filling these gaps are important to fully visualize how gene expression and cellular responses are regulated.

Selected Publications

Dow A, Sule P, O’Donnell TJ, Burger A, Mattila JT, Antonio B, Vergara K, Marcantonio E, L. Garry Adams, James N, Williams PG, Cirillo JD, Prisic S (2021). Zinc limitation triggers anticipatory adaptations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS Pathog 17(5): e1009570. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009570

Abstract

Vergara K, Lal S, Cattley R, Hawse W, Atianand M (2022). The long noncoding RNA LUCAT1 promotes immune gene expression in human macrophages. American Association of Immunologists 2022. Portland, OR.

Vergara K, Bautista C (2018). Characterization and genome sequencing of bacteriophages CB1 and IFB Isolated in Hawai‘i. ASM Hawai‘i Chapter Spring Meeting 2018. Honolulu, HI.

Research Interests

  • RNA and RNA complexes (long noncoding RNA), RNA-binding proteins, Inflammation and immunity, Cytokines, Epigenetics, Gene regulation, Macrophages and other immune cells