dradiazAna María Díaz, D.Sc.

Educational Background:

  • Licentiate Chemistry, Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires
  • D.Sc. Immunology, Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires
  • Post Doctoral Training Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH)

Academic Position:

Professor

Academic Address, Telephone & E-Mail:

Dept. of Microbiology and Zoology,
University of Puerto Rico-School of Medicine,
P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, P.R. 00936-5067.
Phone: (787) 758-2525 Ext. 1317
e-mail: anamaria.diaz@upr.edu

Field of Interest:

Allergy to mites: Allergens, especially those derived from mites, appear to fill a role of a primary stimulus in the development of asthma, and as a trigger for the exacerbation of symptoms. The question of allergenic cross-reactivity between mite species is important for diagnosis and hyposensitization. However, the information about putative cross-reactivity leading to cross-sensitization and cross-allergenicity between clinically relevant mite species is a matter of controversy. We are involved in the definition and characterization of specie-specific and cross-reactive antigen and allergens from Dermatophagoides species and Blomia tropicalis. Better characterization of the antigens and allergens will have considerable implication for the diagnosis, management and epidemiology of mite-mediated allergens, as well for mite culture and allergen production for use in immunoassays.

Production of monoclonal antibodies: Our laboratory is engaged on the production of monoclonal antibodies in collaborative projects with other researchers.

Selected Publications:

  • Brunengo, A.M., Díaz-Primerano, A.M., Peso, O.A. 1977. Anticuerpos neutralizantes y protectores en el suero de bovinos vacunados contra la fiebre aftosa. Rev. Asoc. Arg. Microbiol. 9:115:121.
  • Díaz-Primerano, A.M., Rojas, G.B., Beveraggi, M.T. de, Gutman, R.A., Brunengo, A.M. 1985. Respuesta immune en conejos a extractos de tejido tumoral de colon humano. Acta Physiol. Latinoam. 35:319-330.
  • Zlotnik, H., Miranda, M.T., Kozek W., Borrero, G., Lavergne, J.A., Díaz, A.M. 1988. Production of monoclonal antibodies to SP2/0-Ag. 14 myeloma cells. P.R. Health Sci. J. 7:31-34.
  • Bolaños, B., Bodón, Q., Jiménez, T., Lavergne, J.A., Díaz, A.M. 1988. Analysis by fluorescents microscopy and flow cytometry of monoclonal antibodies produced against cell surface antigens. P.R. Health Sci. J. 7:35-38.
  • Jiménez T., Díaz, A.M., Zlotnik, H. 1990. Production of monoclonal antibodies to N. asteroides and N. brasiliensis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 28:87-91.
  • Banerjee, D.K., Díaz, A.M., Campos, T.M., Grande, C., Kozek, W.J., Baksi, K. 1992. Monoclonal antibodies to amphomycin: A tool to study the topography of dolichyl monophosphate in the membrane. Carbohyd. Res. 236:301-313.
  • Díaz, A.M., Frontera, R., Kraiselburd, E. 1992. Production of monoclonal antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 2. P.R. Health Sci. J. 11:129-134.
  • Díaz, A.M. 2001. Mites: A risk factor for allergy and asthma. PRSM News, 13: 3,
  • Mora, C., Flores, I., Montealegre, F., Díaz, A.M. 2003. Cloning and expression of Blot 1, a novel allergen from the dust mite Blomia tropicalis homologous to cysteine protease. Clin. Exp. Allergy. 33: 28-34.
  • Collazo, M., Díaz, A.M. 2003. Monoclonal antibodies against whole body extracts of the dust mite Blomia tropicalis. P.R. Health Sc. J. 22: 345-351.
  • Fonseca Fonseca L., Díaz A.M. 2003. IgE reactivity from serum of Blomia tropicalis allergic patients to the recombinant protein Blo t1. P.R. Health Sci. J. 22: 353-357.
  • Milián E., Díaz A.M. 2004. Allergy to house dust mites and asthma. P.R.Health Sci. J. 23: 47-57
  • Díaz, A.M. and Burke, P. Tres generaciones al servicio de la comunidad. Buhiti 10(1):22-23, 2005.
  • Burke, P. and Díaz, A.M. Dr. Eduardo Santiago Delpín: Profesor Distinguido de Puerto Rico y el Mundo. Buhiti 11(1):18-21, 2006.
  • Díaz, A.M. Acaros: un factor de riesgo. Supl. El Nuevo Día. .Page 11, 08/09/07.
  • Díaz, A.M. Acaros: un factor de riesgo para alergias y asma. Healthy Life. Pages 24-25, Aug 2007.
  • Cruz, L.M., López-Malpica, F. and Diaz, A.M. Analysis of cross-reactivity between group 1 allergens from mites. PR Health Sci. J. 27: 163-170, 2008