Dr. Zaragoza´s group main interest is the investigation of human fungal pathogens. These microorganisms affect mainly immunosuppressed patients, are associated with high mortality rates and a significant economic cost. In the last decade, he has directed two main research lines. One is focused on the mechanisms of fungal adaptation to the host, using the pathogen C. neoformans as model. The second investigates antifungal agents (action mechanisms and resistance).Dr. Zaragoza is currently based at the Mycology Reference of the National Centre for Microbiology of the National Health Institute Carlos III, where he also supervises projects in support of National Health System (identification and antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates).He has authored more than 80 publications in some of the most important international journals in the field, and several chapters in specialized books. Dr. Zaragoza is also member of the editorial boards of PLOS ONE, BMC Microbiology, Frontiers in Microbiology Mycopathologia. Arturo Casadevall is Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and Chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Casadevall’s major research interests are in fungal pathogenesis and the mechanisms of antibody action. In the area of biodefense, he has an active research program to understand the mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization of Bacillus anthracis toxins. In recent years Dr. Casadevall has become interested in problems with the scientific enterprise and with his collaborators shown that misconduct accounts for the majority of retracted publications. He has suggested a variety of reforms to the way science is done. In 2008, Dr. Casadevall was recognized by the American Society of Microbiology with the William Hinton Award for mentoring scientists from underrepresented groups. In 2015, was appointed a Commissioner to the National Commission on Forensic Science, the United States Department of Justice.
