Dr. Manuel Varela

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences, University of New Mexico 1994
M.S. Biochemistry, University of New Mexico 1989
B.A. Biochemistry, University of New Mexico 1987

Research Field

Microbial Physiology of Bacterial Membrane Transport
We are interested in studying the molecular mechanism of substrate selection in homologous sugar transporter proteins. We select bacterial mutants with altered substrate specificities, determine the nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding the sugar transporters and characterize the transport properties.

Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance
Our laboratory is also interested in the ecology and molecular biology of bacterial antibiotic resistance mechanisms. We study bacterial isolates from agricultural environments, characterize their antibiotic resistance profiles from a structure-function perspective. In addition, we study multi-drug resistance in bacteria.

Teaching
I teach the following courses: Microbiology (BIOL 214), Microbial Physiology (BIOL 409/509), Immunology (BIOL 421/521), Medical Microbiology (BIOL 422/522), Virology (BIOL450/550), etc. I also occasionally teach Biology for General Education (BIOL 113) during summers.

Contact Information

Department of Biology
ENMU Station 33
1500 S Ave K
Portales, NM 88130

Phone: 575.562.2464
Fax: 575.562.2192
E-mail: manuel.varela@enmu.edu

Selected Publications