Giancarlo Cuadra
Education
- B.A. in Biology, Binghamton University
- Ph.D. in Microbiology, Binghamton University
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Host-Bacteria Interactions, University of Florida
Teaching Interests
I teach BIO 160, Foundations in Biological Inquiry, because it is a crucial course that provides every student the basics to be well prepared, regardless of their high school experiences, for majors in the natural sciences. This course allows me to impact the college career of students from underserved backgrounds within their first year at Muhlenberg. My goal is to increase retention of underrepresented groups in the sciences.
I teach BIO 175, From Organisms to Molecules, because this course provides an excellent foundation in molecular biology for upper-level courses. My goal is to make this beautiful science as understandable and enjoyable as possible so that students move on to upper-level courses well prepared.
I teach BIO 225, Microbiology, because this course allows me to share so many aspects of microbial life with students. One of my main goals in this course is to change the reputation of bacteria away from “bad organisms” to a cool group of living things to learn about.
I teach BIO 334, Immunology, because this course allows me to share with students all the intricate ways in which the immune system takes care of us and also, sometimes revolts against us.
Research and Scholarship
I am interested in the effects of electronic cigarettes (vaping) on the oral environment. In the mouth, we have a lot of different good bacteria, and also some bad ones. They interact with each other and with us in a way that we remain healthy (homeostasis). However, if we bring random chemicals into the oral microenvironment, these interactions can be disrupted, away from homeostasis. Therefore, vaping could lead to potential scenarios for disease. Little knowledge on this important topic is available to date, and my laboratory is mostly attentive to this area of research.
- Biology Independent Study/Research - Cuadra Lab
- Biology Independent Study/Research - Orthognathic Research
- Biology Independent Study/Research: Cuadra Lab
- Biology Independent Study/Research: E-liquids and Biofilms
- Biology Independent Study/Research: E-Liquids/Oral Bacteria
- Biology Independent Study/Research: OKF6 & Commensals
- Biology Independent Study/Research: Pg Phagocytosis
- Medicine as a Human Endeavor
- Microbiology
- MUHLES Research Apprenticeship: E-liquids & Oral Biology
- MUHLES Research Apprenticeship: E-liquids & Phagocytosis
- Spc: CUE: Host Bact Interactns
* denotes student researcher
- Cuadra GA, *Shamim A (’20), *Shah R (’23), Morgan J, Palazzolo DL. Comparison of culture media for in-vitro expansion of oral epithelial keratinocytes: Implications for testing E-liquid flavors. In preparation
- *Xu C (‘22), Palazzolo DL, Cuadra GA. Mechanistic Effects of E-Liquids on Biofilm Formation and Growth of Oral Commensal Streptococcal Communities: Effect of Flavoring Agents. Dentistry. 2022 May 13;10(5):85. doi: 10.3390/dj10050085.
- *Fischman JS (‘20), Sista S, Lee D, Cuadra GA, Palazzolo DL. Flavorless vs. Flavored Electronic Cigarette-Generated Aerosol and E-Liquid on the Growth of Common Oral Commensal Streptococci. Front Physiol. 2020 Nov 23;11:585416. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.585416. eCollection 2020. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.585416. eCollection 2020.
- *Werheim E (’19), *Senior K (’20), *Shaffer C (’21), Cuadra GA. Oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis can escape phagocytosis of mammalian macrophages. Microorganisms. 2020 Sep 18;8(9):1432. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8091432.
- *Hannel A (’18), *Herzog H (’21), *James M (’21), Cuadra GA. Effects of oral commensal streptococci on Porphyromonas gingivalis invasion into oral epithelial cells. Dent J (Basel). 2020 May 2;8(2):39. doi: 10.3390/dj8020039.
- Nelson JM, Cuadra GA, Palazzolo DL. A Comparison of Flavorless Electronic Cigarette-Generated Aerosol and Conventional Cigarette Smoke on the Planktonic Growth of Common Oral Commensal Streptococci. Int J Envir Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 9; 16(24). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16245004.
- Cuadra GA, *Smith M, Nelson J, Loh E (’19), Palazzolo DL. A comparison of flavorless electronic cigarette-generated aerosol and conventional cigarette smoke on the survival and growth of common oral commensal streptococci. Int J Envir Res Public Health. 2019 May 14; 16(10). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101669.
- Cuadra GA, *Frantellizzi AJ, *Gaesser KM, Tammariello SP, Ahmed A. Autoinducer-2 detection among commensal oral streptococci is dependent on pH and boric acid. J Microbiol. 2016 Jul; 54(7):492-502. doi: 10.1007/s12275-016-5507-z. Epub 2016 Jun 28.
- Culp DJ, Robinson B, Cash MN, Bhattacharyya I, Stewart C, Cuadra-Saenz G. 2015. Salivary Mucin 19 Glycoproteins: Innate Immune Functions and Expression in Human Saliva. J Biol Chem. 2014 Jan 30; 290(5):2993-3008. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.597906. Epub 2014 Dec 15.
- Cuadra-Saenz G, Rao DL, Underwood AJ, Belapure SA, Campagna SR, Tammariello SP, Rickard AH. 2012. Autoinducer-2 Influences Inter-Species Interactions amongst Pioneer Colonizing Streptococci in Oral Biofilms. Microbiology. 2012 Jul; 158(Pt 7):1783-95.
- 2018 Summer Research Grant
- 2018 Bridge Builder Award
- 2019 Bridge Builder Award
- 2020 Summer Research Grant
- 2020 Rising Scholars Award
- 2021 Summer Research Grant
- 2022 Summer Research Grant
Student researchers in my lab have summarized and presented their work at several conferences:
- Senior K (’20), Werheim E (’19), Shaffer C (’21), Cuadra G. Escape of Porphyromonas gingivalis from mammalian macrophages. American Society of Microbiology - Microbe meeting. San Francisco, CA. June, 2019.
- Herzog H (’21) and Cuadra G. Host Pathogen Interactions Between OKF6 cells and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence of oral commensal bacteria. American Society of Microbiology - Microbe meeting. San Francisco, CA. June, 2018.
- Herzog H (’21) and Cuadra G. Commensal Streptococcus intermedius reduces infection of pathogenic Porphyromonas gingivalis in oral epithelial cells. Pennsylvania Academy of Science meeting, Cedar Crest College, Allentown PA. March 2019.
- James M (’21) and Cuadra G. Examining the antagonistic interaction between Streptococcus intermedius and Porphyromonas gingivalis. 127th Pennsylvania Academy of Science meeting, Cedar Crest College, Allentown PA. March 2019.
- Werheim E (’19) and Cuadra G. Escape of Porphyromonas gingivalis from THP-1 Human Macrophages. Lehigh Valley Molecular and Cellular Biology Symposium, Muhlenberg College, Allentown PA, April 2019.
- Silver D (’18), Wightman B, Cuadra G. Investigation of Oral Pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection in Multicellular Host Caenorhabditis elegans. American Society of Microbiology - Microbe meeting. Atlanta, GA. June, 2018.
- Loh E (‘19), Smith M (’17), Nelson J, Cuadra G, Palazzolo D. Growth and Biofilm Formation of Oral Bacteria after Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Generated Aerosol and Conventional Cigarette Smoke. American Society of Microbiology - Microbe meeting. Atlanta, GA. June, 2018.
- Werheim E (’19), Senior K (’20), Shaffer C (’21), Cuadra GA. Oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis can escape phagocytosis of mammalian macrophages. Manuscript in preparation to be submitted to Pathogens – Open Access Journal
- Hannel A (’18), Herzog H (’21), James M (’21) Cuadra GA. Effects of oral commensal streptococci on Porphyromonas gingivalis invasion into oral epithelial cells. Manuscript in preparation to be submitted to the Journal of Dentistry
Biochemistry
Biology
Prehealth Faculty Advisory Committee
Contact: giancarlocuadra@muhlenberg.edu