Affiliate Member
PhD Paola Andrea Vargas Flores
Membership since:
2025
Field of activity:
About me
Paola Andrea Vargas Flores is a biologist and PhD in Medical Sciences, with training in Molecular Biology. Her research focuses on molecular diagnostics and parasitology, particularly neglected tropical diseases and soil-transmitted helminths. She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals and has presented her work at international conferences.
She has extensive experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching in Argentina and Bolivia and currently serves as a faculty member in the Biotechnology Engineering program at the Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”. Since 2024, she has been a Section Editor for Current Tropical Medicine Reports (Springer Nature).
Paola Andrea Vargas Flores is a biologist and PhD in Medical Sciences, with training in Molecular Biology. Her research focuses on molecular diagnostics and parasitology, particularly neglected tropical diseases and soil-transmitted helminths. She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals and has presented her work at international conferences.
She has extensive experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching in Argentina and Bolivia and currently serves as a faculty member in the Biotechnology Engineering program at the Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”. Since 2024, she has been a Section Editor for Current Tropical Medicine Reports (Springer Nature).
Degrees:
2013
Undergraduate
Biological Systems and Organisms
Publications resulting from Research
1. Mejia, R., Slatko, B., Almazan, C., Cimino, R., Krolewiecki, A., Duran, N. M., Valera Aspetty, J. E., Vargas, P. A., Oliveira Amorim, C. C., Geiger, S. M., Fujiwara, R. T., Ramirez, J. D., Llangarí-Arizo, L. M., Guadalupe, I., Villanueva-Lizama, L. E., Cruz-Chan, J. V., Ojeda, M. L., Aranda, E. M., Benedetti, S. O., Camones Rivera, M. D. Cooper, P. J. (2024). Molecular Testing of Environmental Samples as a Potential Source to Estimate Parasite Infection. Tropical medicine and infectious disease, 9(10), 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9100226
2. Sano, T, Mohammad, N. P., Gonzales-Ferrer, J., Hernadez, S., Choquecotta, S., Vargas, P. A., Urcuyo, R., Montellano-Duran, teodoresco, M., Haussler, D.,Schmidt, H., Mostajo-radji, M. A.(2023) Internet-enabled lab-on-a-chip technology develops bioinformatics interest in Latinx life sciences students. Nature-Communications Engineering.
3. Sano, T, Mohammad, N. P., Gonzales-Ferrer, J., Hernadez, S., Choquecotta, S., Vargas, P. A., Urcuyo, R., Montellano-Duran, teodoresco, M., Haussler, D.,Schmidt, H., Mostajo-radji, M. A. (2023). Open-Loop Lb-on-a-chip technology enables remote computer science training In latinx life sciences estudents. bioRxiv 2023.04.28.538776; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.28.538776.
4. Baudin, P. V, Sacksteder, R. E., Worthington, A. K., Voitiuk, K., Ly, V. T., Hoffman, R. N., Elliott, M. A. T., Parks, D. F., Ward, R., Torres-montoya, S., Amend, F., Montellano, N., Vargas, P. A., Martinez, G., Ramirez, S. M., Alvarado-arnez, L. E., Ehrlich, D., Rosen, Y. M., Breevoort, A., Mostajo-radji, M. A. (2022). Cloud-controlled microscopy enables remote project-based biology education in underserved Latinx communities. Heliyon, 8, e11596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11596
5. Fleitas, P. E., Acosta, X. G., Vargas, P. A., Caro, N., Krolewiecki, A. J., Nasser, J. R. and Cimino, R. O. (2022). Diptera (Insecta: Pterygota) larvae as predators of Strongyloides stercoralis causing false negative stool cultures. IDCases, 27, e01387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01387
6. Fleitas, P. E., Floridia-yapur, N., Nieves, E. E., Echazu, A., Vargas, P. A. and Cimino, O. (2022). Strongyloides stercoralis and Trypanosoma cruzi coinfections in a highly endemic area in. Plos Neglected Tropical Disease, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010179
7. Vargas, P. A., Alvarado-arnez, L. E. and Duran, N. M. (2021). Book Review : Modern Epidemics , From Spanish Flu to COVID-19 by Macip Maresma. Frontiers in Political Science, 3(June), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.709290
8. Fleitas, P. E., Vargas, P. A., Caro, N., Almazan, M. C., Echazú, A., Juárez, M., Cajal, P., Krolewiecki, A. J., Nasser, J. R. and Cimino, R. O. (2021). Scope and limitations of a multiplex conventional PCR for the diagnosis of S. stercoralis and hookworms. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 25(6), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101649
9. Cimino, R. O., Fleitas, P., Fernández, M., Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Floridia-Yapur, N., Cajal, P., Seijo, A., Abril, M., Weinberg, D., Piorno, P., Caro, N., Vargas, P., Gil, J., Crudo, F. and Krolewiecki, A. (2020). Seroprevalence of the strongyloides stercoralis infection in humans from yungas rainforest and gran chaco region from Argentina and Bolivia. Pathogens, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050394
10. Mejia, R., Damania, A., Jeun, R., Bryan, P. E., Vargas, P. A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P. S., Nasser, J., Krolewiecki, A., Lefoulon, E., Long, C., Drake, E., Cimino, R. O. and Slatko, B. (2020). Impact of intestinal parasites on microbiota and cobalamin gene sequences. Parasites & Vectors, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04073-7
11. Vargas, P. A., Krolewiecki, A. J., Echaz, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Gil, J. F., Nasser, J., Lammie, P., Cimino, R. O., Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Gil, J. F., Caro, N., Nasser, J., Lammie, P. and Cimino, R. O. (2017). Serologic monitoring of public health interventions against strongyloides stercoralis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97(1), 166–172. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0857
12. Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Vargas, P. A., Cajal, S. P., Cimino, R. O., Heredia, V., Caropresi, S., Paredes, G., Arias, L. M., Abril, M., Gold, S., Lammie, P. and Krolewiecki, A. J. (2017). Albendazole and ivermectin for the control of soil-transmitted helminths in an area with high prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm in northwestern Argentina: A community-based pragmatic study. PLoSNeglectedTropicalDiseases,11(10).https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006003
13. Echazú, A., Bonanno, D., Juarez, M., Cajal, S. P. S. P., Heredia, V., Caropresi, S., Cimino, R. O. R. O., Caro, N., Vargas, P. A. P., Paredes, G. and Krolewiecki, A. J. A. J. (2015). Effect of poor access to water and sanitation as risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth infection: selectiveness by the infective route. PLoS NeglectedTropicalDiseases,9(9),e0004111.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004111
14. Cimino, R., Jeun, R., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Vargas, P., Echazú, A., Bryan, P., Nasser, J., Krolewiecki, A. and Mejia, R. (2015). Identification of human intestinal parasites affecting an asymptomatic peri-urban Argentinian population using multi-parallel quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Parasites and Vectors, 8(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0994-z
15. Krolewiecki, A., Echazú, A., Cruz, D., Ruiz, R., Cajal, P., Juarez, M, Cimino, R., Vargas, P.A., Caro, N., Arias, L., Bonanno, D., Heredia, V., Paredes, G. (2014). Water and Sanitation Target Different Soil Transmitted Helminthes According to their Route of Infection. Supplement to Am J Trop Med Hyg 91:194
16. Mejia, R., VargaS, P., Jeun, R., Krolewiecki, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Nasser, J., Hotez, P., CIMINO, R. Real-time quantitative PCR surveillance of gastrointestinal parasites in a symptomatic rural Argentinian population: initial results of the Latinamerican Multicenter Parasite Study (LAMPS). Supplement to Am J Trop Med Hyg 91:210.
2. Sano, T, Mohammad, N. P., Gonzales-Ferrer, J., Hernadez, S., Choquecotta, S., Vargas, P. A., Urcuyo, R., Montellano-Duran, teodoresco, M., Haussler, D.,Schmidt, H., Mostajo-radji, M. A.(2023) Internet-enabled lab-on-a-chip technology develops bioinformatics interest in Latinx life sciences students. Nature-Communications Engineering.
3. Sano, T, Mohammad, N. P., Gonzales-Ferrer, J., Hernadez, S., Choquecotta, S., Vargas, P. A., Urcuyo, R., Montellano-Duran, teodoresco, M., Haussler, D.,Schmidt, H., Mostajo-radji, M. A. (2023). Open-Loop Lb-on-a-chip technology enables remote computer science training In latinx life sciences estudents. bioRxiv 2023.04.28.538776; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.28.538776.
4. Baudin, P. V, Sacksteder, R. E., Worthington, A. K., Voitiuk, K., Ly, V. T., Hoffman, R. N., Elliott, M. A. T., Parks, D. F., Ward, R., Torres-montoya, S., Amend, F., Montellano, N., Vargas, P. A., Martinez, G., Ramirez, S. M., Alvarado-arnez, L. E., Ehrlich, D., Rosen, Y. M., Breevoort, A., Mostajo-radji, M. A. (2022). Cloud-controlled microscopy enables remote project-based biology education in underserved Latinx communities. Heliyon, 8, e11596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11596
5. Fleitas, P. E., Acosta, X. G., Vargas, P. A., Caro, N., Krolewiecki, A. J., Nasser, J. R. and Cimino, R. O. (2022). Diptera (Insecta: Pterygota) larvae as predators of Strongyloides stercoralis causing false negative stool cultures. IDCases, 27, e01387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01387
6. Fleitas, P. E., Floridia-yapur, N., Nieves, E. E., Echazu, A., Vargas, P. A. and Cimino, O. (2022). Strongyloides stercoralis and Trypanosoma cruzi coinfections in a highly endemic area in. Plos Neglected Tropical Disease, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010179
7. Vargas, P. A., Alvarado-arnez, L. E. and Duran, N. M. (2021). Book Review : Modern Epidemics , From Spanish Flu to COVID-19 by Macip Maresma. Frontiers in Political Science, 3(June), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.709290
8. Fleitas, P. E., Vargas, P. A., Caro, N., Almazan, M. C., Echazú, A., Juárez, M., Cajal, P., Krolewiecki, A. J., Nasser, J. R. and Cimino, R. O. (2021). Scope and limitations of a multiplex conventional PCR for the diagnosis of S. stercoralis and hookworms. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 25(6), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101649
9. Cimino, R. O., Fleitas, P., Fernández, M., Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Floridia-Yapur, N., Cajal, P., Seijo, A., Abril, M., Weinberg, D., Piorno, P., Caro, N., Vargas, P., Gil, J., Crudo, F. and Krolewiecki, A. (2020). Seroprevalence of the strongyloides stercoralis infection in humans from yungas rainforest and gran chaco region from Argentina and Bolivia. Pathogens, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050394
10. Mejia, R., Damania, A., Jeun, R., Bryan, P. E., Vargas, P. A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P. S., Nasser, J., Krolewiecki, A., Lefoulon, E., Long, C., Drake, E., Cimino, R. O. and Slatko, B. (2020). Impact of intestinal parasites on microbiota and cobalamin gene sequences. Parasites & Vectors, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04073-7
11. Vargas, P. A., Krolewiecki, A. J., Echaz, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Gil, J. F., Nasser, J., Lammie, P., Cimino, R. O., Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Gil, J. F., Caro, N., Nasser, J., Lammie, P. and Cimino, R. O. (2017). Serologic monitoring of public health interventions against strongyloides stercoralis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97(1), 166–172. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0857
12. Echazú, A., Juarez, M., Vargas, P. A., Cajal, S. P., Cimino, R. O., Heredia, V., Caropresi, S., Paredes, G., Arias, L. M., Abril, M., Gold, S., Lammie, P. and Krolewiecki, A. J. (2017). Albendazole and ivermectin for the control of soil-transmitted helminths in an area with high prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm in northwestern Argentina: A community-based pragmatic study. PLoSNeglectedTropicalDiseases,11(10).https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006003
13. Echazú, A., Bonanno, D., Juarez, M., Cajal, S. P. S. P., Heredia, V., Caropresi, S., Cimino, R. O. R. O., Caro, N., Vargas, P. A. P., Paredes, G. and Krolewiecki, A. J. A. J. (2015). Effect of poor access to water and sanitation as risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth infection: selectiveness by the infective route. PLoS NeglectedTropicalDiseases,9(9),e0004111.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004111
14. Cimino, R., Jeun, R., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Vargas, P., Echazú, A., Bryan, P., Nasser, J., Krolewiecki, A. and Mejia, R. (2015). Identification of human intestinal parasites affecting an asymptomatic peri-urban Argentinian population using multi-parallel quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Parasites and Vectors, 8(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0994-z
15. Krolewiecki, A., Echazú, A., Cruz, D., Ruiz, R., Cajal, P., Juarez, M, Cimino, R., Vargas, P.A., Caro, N., Arias, L., Bonanno, D., Heredia, V., Paredes, G. (2014). Water and Sanitation Target Different Soil Transmitted Helminthes According to their Route of Infection. Supplement to Am J Trop Med Hyg 91:194
16. Mejia, R., VargaS, P., Jeun, R., Krolewiecki, A., Juarez, M., Cajal, P., Nasser, J., Hotez, P., CIMINO, R. Real-time quantitative PCR surveillance of gastrointestinal parasites in a symptomatic rural Argentinian population: initial results of the Latinamerican Multicenter Parasite Study (LAMPS). Supplement to Am J Trop Med Hyg 91:210.