Faculty
Jorge E. Vidal, PhD
 | Associate Professor Education |
Biography
Dr. Jorge Vidal studied Medical Laboratory Science (Honors) at the University of Puebla, Mexico, and then obtained a master's degree (Honors) in microbiology (2001, “Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas”) and a PhD in cellular microbiology (2006, Center for Research and Advanced Studies) both from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) in Mexico City after which he moved to the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine where he conducted post-doctoral research in bacterial genetics (2006-09) in the Laboratory of Professor Bruce A. McClane. Dr. Vidal was recruited as an assistant professor at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in September 2009 by Keith P. Klugman and promoted to associate professor. Dr. Vidal was recruited by Larry McDaniel to the UMMC Department of Microbiology and Immunology where he currently has his research laboratory. His research programs and academic activities have been generously funded through grants from the NIH, BMGF, Pfizer, Cempra pharmaceuticals, Melinta Pharmaceuticals, Nabriva Pharmaceuticals, NIH-sponsored ACTSI, and others.
Research interests
- Molecular pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)
- Molecular epidemiology of pneumococcal disease
- Acquisition of antibiotic resistance
Other activities
- Member: American Society for Microbiology (ASM), 2001-present.
- Associate Editor: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, (1) Clinical Microbiology, (2) Host Cells and Bacteria, and (3) Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis, 2016-present.
- Editorial Board: Infection and Immunity, 2015-2017, 2018-2020.
- Editorial Board: Pneumonia, 2019-Present.
- Member: Committee on Microbiological Issues Impacting Minorities of the ASM, 2017-Present.
- Member: Committee on Minority Education of the ASM, 2018-Present.
Selected publications
- A Connective Tissue Mast-Cell-Specific Receptor Detects Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Molecules and Mediates Antibacterial Immunity. Pundir P, Liu R, Vasavda C, Serhan N, Limjunyawong N, Yee R, Zhan Y, Dong X, Wu X, Zhang Y, Snyder SH, Gaudenzio N, Vidal JE, Dong X. Cell Host Microbe. 2019 Jul 10;26(1):114-122.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2019.06.003. PMID: 31278040
- A Mechanism of Unidirectional Transformation, Leading to Antibiotic Resistance, Occurs within Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Biofilm Consortia. Lattar SM, Wu X, Brophy J, Sakai F, Klugman KP, Vidal JE. MBio. 2018 May 15;9(3). pii: e00561-18. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00561-18.
- Dynamics of Colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains in Healthy Peruvian Children. Nelson KN, Grijalva CG, Chochua S, Hawkins PA, Gil AI, Lanata CF, Griffin MR, Edwards KM, Klugman KP, Vidal JE. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Feb 17;5(3):ofy039. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy039. eCollection 2018 Mar.
- Competitive Dominance within Biofilm Consortia Regulates the Relative Distribution of Pneumococcal Nasopharyngeal Density. Wu X, Jacobs NT, Bozio C, Palm P, Lattar SM, Hanke CR, Watson DM, Sakai F, Levin BR, Klugman KP, Vidal JE. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2017 Aug 1;83(16). pii: e00953-17. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00953-17.
- Novel role for the Streptococcus pneumoniae toxin pneumolysin in the assembly of biofilms. Shak JR, Ludewick HP, Howery KE, Sakai F, Yi H, Harvey RM, Paton JC, Klugman KP, Vidal JE. MBio. 2013 Sep 10;4(5):e00655-13. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00655-13.