Ernesto Abel-Santos
Biography
Ernesto Abel-Santos’ research combines the areas of organic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. In his lab, Abel-Santos works with bacterial spores, including anthrax and the hospital infection, Clostridium difficile (C-diff). He also is part of a collaborative research group looking at bacteria that affects chickens and honeybees.
Abel-Santos developed new techniques for evaluating mechanisms of Bacillus and Clostridium spore germination. He also investigates new methods to control anthrax infections, which are resistant to most antiseptic and antibiotic treatments. He has developed nucleoside inhibitors against anthrax spore germination.
He is the co-founder of Able Therapeutics LLC, a start up company that is researching, developing, and commercializing the first and only preventative medicine for treating Clostridium difficile, one of the fastest growing epidemics in the U.S. C-diff spores can be contracted anytime a patient is in a hospital, nursing home, surgery center, or other similar facility.
Education
- Ph.D., Bioorganic Chemistry, Washington School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- B.S., Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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UNLV Newsmakers 2020: Combatting COVID-19
As the pandemic tightened its grip on Nevada, the nation, and the world, UNLV responded in ways big and small. Members of the media also turned to UNLV's faculty experts for answers.
UNLV Newsmakers 2020: Research and Economic Development
A yearlong collection of UNLV faculty making the news for their discoveries and contributions to the community.
Cleaning up the Germs that Cause COVID-19
As summer comes to a close and classrooms open, UNLV biochemist Ernesto Abel-Santos offers cleaning best practices.
UNLV Newsmakers 2020: July
As summer heats up, so do the accomplishments on UNLV’s campus.