MBX-7591 has synergy with triazoles against laboratory, clinical, and environmental isolates in both conidial and biofilm-based assays. (A and B) MBX-7591 potentiates FLC and VCZ in agar-based colony biofilm assays. (C and D) MBX-7591 can sensitize triazole-resistant clinical and environmental isolates with different cyp51A mutations to VCZ in agar-based colony biofilm assays.
Keyla Ramirez-Soto
About Me
Keyla is originally from Puerto Rico where she obtained her BS degree in Medical Microbiology at University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo. While at UPR-Arecibo, Keyla participated in two main research experiences, she compared how prebiotic fibers change B. coagulans growth and supernatants (Dr. Marilisa Amador), also identifying lactase persistence-associated polymorphisms in a small pool of Puerto Rican saliva samples (Dr. Mari Luz Acevedo). She was part of Dartmouth’s ASURE 2022 summer undergraduate program, where her love for antifungal research was fostered, mentored by former lab member Cecilia Gutierrez. For her PhD thesis, she is currently studying the mechanism of action of novel small molecule anti-fungal MBX-7591. Utilizing forward genetics and biochemical approaches, she aims to elucidate how MBX-7591 is perturbing the membrane of Aspergillus fumigatus and what its target is.
Additionally, Keyla is very passionate about science advocacy. She has been part of the executive board of SACNAS at Dartmouth for the past three years, working to promote scientific accessibility and community in the field. In her free time, Keyla enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones (specially, her dog Taco).