World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Microbiology

D-Index
60
Citations
13454
World Ranking
3116
National Ranking
1233

Overview

Gerardo R. Vasta is affiliated with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of immunology and microbiology, with significant contributions to biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Within these domains, their work focuses on specific areas such as immunology, molecular biology, oncology, endocrinology, and insect science.

Key topics addressed in their research include galectins and cancer biology, invertebrate immune response mechanisms, glycosylation and glycoproteins research, aquaculture disease management and microbiota, peptidase inhibition and analysis, insect symbiosis and bacterial influences, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

The scientist has published extensively in several venues, with frequent contributions to Developmental & Comparative Immunology, Methods in Molecular Biology, Glycobiology, Frontiers in Microbiology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Some of their recent publications include:

  • The functional relevance of shrimp C-type lectins in host-pathogen interactions, 2020, Developmental & Comparative Immunology
  • Scavenger receptor B2, a type III membrane pattern recognition receptor, senses LPS and activates the IMD pathway in crustaceans, 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Galectins in Host-Pathogen Interactions: Structural, Functional and Evolutionary Aspects, 2020, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
  • Galectin-mediated immune recognition: Opsonic roles with contrasting outcomes in selected shrimp and bivalve mollusk species, 2020, Developmental & Comparative Immunology
  • Glycan characterization of pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 1 and its identification as a novel Galectin-1 ligand, 2020, Glycobiology

Frequent collaborators within their research include Chiguang Feng, Jin-Xing Wang, Kelsey Abernathy, Lai-Xi Wang, and Satoshi Tasumi.

Best Publications

  • Emerging Marine Diseases--Climate Links and Anthropogenic Factors

    C.D. Harvell;K. Kim;K. Kim;J.M. Burkholder;R.R. Colwell;R.R. Colwell

  • Roles of galectins in infection.

    Gerardo R. Vasta

  • Functions of cell surface galectin-glycoprotein lattices.

    Gabriel Adrián Rabinovich;Gabriel Adrián Rabinovich;Marta Alicia Toscano;Shawn S. Jackson;Gerardo R. Vasta

  • Galectins: matricellular glycan-binding proteins linking cell adhesion, migration, and survival.

    M. T. Elola;C. Wolfenstein-Todel;M. F. Troncoso;G. R. Vasta

  • Structure of S-lectin, a developmentally regulated vertebrate beta-galactoside-binding protein.

    Der-Ing Liao;Geeta Kapadia;Hafiz Ahmed;Gerardo R. Vasta

  • When Galectins Recognize Glycans: From Biochemistry to Physiology and Back Again

    Santiago Di Lella;Santiago Di Lella;Victoria Sundblad;Juan Pablo Cerliani;Carlos Manuel Alberto Guardia

  • C-type lectins and galectins mediate innate and adaptive immune functions: their roles in the complement activation pathway

    Gerardo R. Vasta;Michael Quesenberry;Hafiz Ahmed;Nuala O'Leary

  • Galectins as pattern recognition receptors: structure, function, and evolution.

    Gerardo R. Vasta

  • Structural and functional diversity of lectin repertoires in invertebrates, protochordates and ectothermic vertebrates.

    Gerardo R Vasta;Hafiz Ahmed;Eric W Odom

  • A Galectin of Unique Domain Organization from Hemocytes of the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Is a Receptor for the Protistan Parasite Perkinsus marinus

    Satoshi Tasumi;Gerardo R. Vasta

  • Structural and functional diversity of the lectin repertoire in teleost fish: Relevance to innate and adaptive immunity

    Gerardo R. Vasta;Mihai Nita-Lazar;Barbara Giomarelli;Hafiz Ahmed

  • Binding of a C-type lectin's coiled-coil domain to the Domeless receptor directly activates the JAK/STAT pathway in the shrimp immune response to bacterial infection.

    Jie-Jie Sun;Jiang-Feng Lan;Xiao-Fan Zhao;Gerardo R. Vasta

  • A novel fucose recognition fold involved in innate immunity.

    Mario A. Bianchet;Eric W. Odom;Gerardo R. Vasta;L. Mario Amzel

  • A shrimp C-type lectin inhibits proliferation of the hemolymph microbiota by maintaining the expression of antimicrobial peptides.

    Xian-Wei Wang;Ji-Dong Xu;Xiao-Fan Zhao;Gerardo Raul Vasta

  • Galectins as self/non-self recognition receptors in innate and adaptive immunity: an unresolved paradox.

    Gerardo R. Vasta;Hafiz Ahmed;Mihai Nita-Lazar;Aditi Banerjee

  • Animal Lectins as Self/Non-Self Recognition Molecules.

    G. R. Vasta;H. Ahmed;N. E. Fink;M. T. Elola

  • Characterization of interleukin-1 activity in tunicates☆

    Gregory Beck;Gerardo R. Vasta;John J. Marchalonis;Gail S. Habicht

  • A lectin on the hemocyte membrane of the oyster (Crassostrea virginica).

    Gerardo R. Vasta;Thomas C. Cheng;John J. Marchalonis

  • Galectins in teleost fish: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model species to address their biological roles in development and innate immunity.

    Gerardo R. Vasta;Hafiz Ahmed;Shao J. Du;Davin Henrikson

  • In Vitro Culture of the Eastern Oyster Parasite Perkinsus marinus: Optimization of the Methodology

    Julie D Gauthier;Gerardo R Vasta

  • Continuous in Vitro Culture of the Eastern Oyster Parasite Perkinsus marinus

    Julie D. Gauthier;Gerardo R. Vasta

  • IN THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA

    Adam G. Marsh;Julie D. Gauthier;Gerardo R. Vasta

Frequent Co-Authors

L. Mario Amzel
L. Mario Amzel Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Jin-Xing Wang
Jin-Xing Wang Shandong University
Gregory W. Warr
Gregory W. Warr Medical University of South Carolina
Lai-Xi Wang
Lai-Xi Wang University of Maryland, College Park
Gabriel A. Rabinovich
Gabriel A. Rabinovich Experimental Medicine and Biology Institute
Vikram N. Vakharia
Vikram N. Vakharia University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Xiao-Fan Zhao
Xiao-Fan Zhao Shandong University
Iain B. H. Wilson
Iain B. H. Wilson BOKU University
Rita R. Colwell
Rita R. Colwell University of Maryland, College Park
Najib M. El-Sayed
Najib M. El-Sayed University of Maryland, College Park

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Microbiology in the USA can open doors to a variety of related online degrees and promising career pathways. For those interested in health sciences, exploring medical degrees online can provide flexible education options that complement a microbiology background.

Public health is another relevant field, and many students find value in accessible programs. If you’re considering further studies in this area, exploring online MPH programs easy to get into can be a practical way to advance your career without extensive barriers to entry.

Beyond traditional science roles, combining microbiology with child advocacy or healthcare support roles can lead to special careers. For example, becoming a child life specialist requires specialized training but offers rewarding opportunities working with children in healthcare settings.

Lastly, students concerned about barriers such as past convictions can find guidance by researching what is the best degree for a convicted felon. Many online programs provide second chances to build successful careers in science and healthcare.

Best Scientists Citing Gerardo R. Vasta

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles