Research Areas:
Summary of CV:
Librada Atencio is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Center for Biodiversity and Drug discovery. She earned her B.S. degree in Biology from Universidad de Panamá. She also specializes in higher education from the Universidad del Istmo and holds a doctorate in Biotechnology obtained through a joint program between the INDICASAT AIP and Acharya Nagarjuna University.
As a postdoctoral researcher, she contributed to the project “Realizing the potential of native microbes in the agricultural sector in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) led by Dr. Luis Mejia. In this project, her research focused on the genomics and practical applications of endophytic fungi as biological control agents for coffee crops. Currently, she continues her research in microbial genomics, particularly focusing on endophytic fungi associated with economically important crops, such as coffee and cacao.
Academic degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology with a major in Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidad de Panamá, 2011.
- Graduate certificate in Higher Education. Universidad del Istmo, 2020.
- D. in Biotechnology. Acharya Nagarjuna University 2022.
Selected publications:
- Assessment of Vibrio Populations in a Transect of Rhizophora Mangle in Punta Galeta, Panamá: Culture-Dependent Analyses Reveal Biotechnological Applications. Sánchez-Gallego, J., Atencio, L., Pérez, J., Dupuy, O., Díaz-Ferguson, E., Godoy-Vitorino, F. Biol. Trop. 2023, 71, e50983.
- Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by the Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Bacillus BO53 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327. Garrido A, Atencio LA, Bethancourt R, Bethancourt A, Guzmán H, Gutiérrez M, Durant-Archibold AA. Antibiotics. 2020; 9(12):923. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120923
- Genome mining, microbial interactions and molecular networking reveals new bromoalterochromides from strains of Pseudoalteromonas of Coiba National Park- Panama. Atencio L, Martin C, Mejía LC, Boya C, and Gutiérrez M. Marine Drugs. DOI:10.3390/md18090456.
- Antimicrobial-producing Pseudoalteromonas from the marine environment of Panama shows a high phylogenetic diversity and clonal structure. Atencio LA, Dal Grande F, Ow Young G, Gavilán R, Guzmán HM, Schmitt I, Mejía LC, Gutiérrez M. Journal Basic Microbiology, 2018, DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201800087
Current Projects:
- Realizing the potential of native microbes in the agricultural sector in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol. GEF7-café
- Genomics of endophytic fungi associated with coffee and cacao crops.
- Metagenomic study of clinical samples to generate knowledge about the pathogenesis, molecular ecology, and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Panama.
