Dr. Alderete is a leading scientist who has studied for over 43 years the biology of the Trichomonas vaginalis-host interrelationship. Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, the world’s number one, non-viral sexually transmitted infection. His work led to the understanding of immune evasion mechanisms, the acquisition of iron from host iron-binding proteins, host modulation of parasite membrane protein architecture, and the molecular mechanism of cytoadherence medicated by protein-enzymes of the hydrogenosome. The latter research led to understanding functional diversity of trichomonad metabolic enzymes and the sequestration of host pathogenicity factors on the parasite surface. He commercialized his invention of the OSOM point-of-care (POC) protein detection diagnostic test for trichomoniasis in women. He invented the approach for generation of POC serum-based antibody diagnostics for infectious diseases using chimeric proteins. More recently he invented a new-generation POC serum-antibody diagnostic for men and women that meets the World Health Organization’s ASSURED criteria for POC tests for all high- and low-resource environments.
Dr. Alderete has dedicated his career to issues of underrepresented minorities in science, evidenced by his service, honors and awards and being president of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) prior to coming to WSU.
Education
- PhD Microbiology, U. Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1978
- BS, Biology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (Tech), Socorro, 1974
- BS, Mathematics, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, 1973
Research Interest
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Biology
- Mechanisms of Pathogenesis
- POC Diagnostics