Maia Larios-Sanz

mlarios@rice.edu

maialarios@yahoo.com

I am interested in origin of life topics, and, specifically, how prokaryotic genomes may have originated and how they subsequently evolved. Horizontal gene transfer - that is, the transmission of genetic information across species and not by heredity - may well be an important mechanism driving microbial genome evolution. I am particularly interested in what type of genetic material can move across species barriers, how it becomes functionally integrated into a host chromosome, and what determines its successful incorporation and subsequent propagation within the host.

In order to explore these questions, we are combining experimental, field, and bioinformatics methods to elucidate and characterize the putative rules for successful transfer events and for functional incorporation of foreign genes into a working and stable genome. This work is carried out in conjunction with Dr. Michael Travisano, at the University of Houston, and a large group of talented scientists with expertise ranging from microbial ecology, molecular biology, all the way to computer science and bioinformatics. A large part of this project involves working in a spectacular field site in the northern Mexican desert. Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, harbors a breathtaking collection of crystalline pools (pozas) rich in bacterial species, and, uniquely, living stromatolites. The pozas provide a pristine and controlled environment in which to study the transfer of genetic information between the mayor players in the bacterial community.

Additionally, I believe that science education of the public should be an important priority for scientists. As such, my interests also include basic science dissemination. I dedicate a lot of my time to outreach activities designed to inform the general public about scientific concepts and advances. Most of the activities I participate in are targeted towards children, with the hope of instilling in them a love and curiosity for the study of science and the natural world around us.

Name: Maia Larios-Sanz

Date of Birth: 07/28/1971

Place of Birth: Mexico City, Mexico

Nationality: Mexican/Spanish

Civil State: married

Children: one, and one on the way!

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, Biochemistry – University of Houston, Houston, Texas, January 2003

MASTER OF SCIENCE, Biology – The University of Houston, Houston, Texas, December 1997

BACHELOR OF ARTS, Biology – Schreiner University, Kerrville, Texas, May, 1993

NLM Postdoctoral Fellow, Jan 2005 - present
Laboratory of Dr. Janet L. Siefert
Department of Statistics, Rice University
-Characterization of Horizontal Gene Transfer using experimental and computational methods

Faculty Research Fellow, July 2004 – Dec 2004
Laboratory of Dr. Michael Travisano
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston
– Examination of evolutionary responses of microbial populations during long-term selection under controlled laboratory conditions

Post Doctoral Fellow, Jan 2003 – Mar 2004
Laboratory of Dr. George E. Fox
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston
– Testing of “signature sequence” microarrays targeting 16S rRNA for microbial monitoring
– MALDI-TOF analysis of signature fragments of rRNA from bacteria

Graduate Research Assistant, Jan 1998 - May 2003
Advisor: Dr. George E. Fox
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston
– Development of a set of species-specific probes targeting 16S rRNA of bacteria
– Characterization of marine isolates by 16S rDNA sequencing and membrane pigment studies
– Development of solid and liquid based assays for detection, identification and quantification of bacteria
– Study of artificial RNA cassette as a system for tagging genetically modified organisms
– Structural investigation and characterization of non-canonical interactions in ribosomal RNAs

Graduate Research Assistant, Jan 1994 - 1997
Advisor: Dr. Peter Jurtshuk, Jr.
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston
– Comprehensive analyses on cytochrome oxidase activities of diazotrophic bacterial strains

Education/ Public Outreach

Spanish translator for documentation/signage at the Houston Zoo and Houston Arboretum.

Member, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

Mentor, American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Minority Mentoring Program

Invited speaker to area middle schools and high schools on various scientific topics and "stay in school" programs.

Speaker, Project GRAD/Communities in School Program, Houston ISD

Science Fair judge for several area middle schools and high schools.

Invited speaker, Hominid Evolution. In: Astrobiology Lecture Series, Open Community Lecture Series for K-12 Teachers, Rice University, March 2004.

Larios-Sanz, M., Warmflash, D., Willson, R.C., and G.E. Fox. Monitoring Microorganisms during Space Flight. Microbiology Teaching Resource Module, (www.spacebio.net/modules/index.html). In: Space Biology: An Educator’s Resource, funded by the NASA Life Sciences Outreach program. Posted October, 2000.

Mentor, Girls Engaging in Math and Science (GEMS) program, 1998-2000.

Warmflash, D., Larios-Sanz, M., Jones, J., Fox, G.E., and McKay, D.S. Assessing the biohazard potential of putative Martian organisms for exploration class human space missions. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine Special 2005 Space Medicine Issue.

Nagaswamy, U., Larios-Sanz, M., Zhang, Z., Huang, H.-C., and G.E. Fox. Non-canonical interactions in RNA. Recent Devel. Nucleic Acids Res., 1:103-129, 2004.

Larios-Sanz, M., Kourentzi, K.D., Murphy, J.C., Maillard, K.I., Pearson, D.L., Willson, R.C., and G.E. Fox. Molecular Tools for Monitoring Microbial Populations in Space Environments. In: Diagnóstico Molecular en Medicina, 1a Edición, Editorial Manual Moderno SA de CV, Mexico City, Mexico, pp. 293-311, 2003.

D'Souza, L.M., Larios-Sanz, M., Setterquist, R.A., Willson, R.C. and G.E. Fox. Small RNA sequences are readily stabilized by inclusion in a carrier rRNA. Biotechnology Progress 2003, 19(3):734-738.

Starikov, D., Boney, C., Medelci, N., Um, J-W., Bensaoula, A., Larios-Sanz M., and G.E. Fox. Experimental simulation of integrated optoelectronic sensors based on III Nitrides. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B. 2002, 20(5):1815-1820.

Nagaswamy, U., Larios-Sanz, M., Hury, J., Collins, S., Zhang, Z., Zhao, Q., and G.E. Fox. NCIR: A database of non-canonical interactions in known RNA structures. Nucleic Acid Research. 2002, 30(1):395-397.

Siefert, J.L., Larios-Sanz, M., Nakamura, L.K., Slepecky, R.A., Paul, J.H., Moore, E.R.B., Fox, G. E., and P. Jurtshuk, Jr. Phylogenetic Position of Marine Bacillus Isolates from the Gulf of Mexico. Curr Microbiol. 2000 Aug;41(2):84-8.

PRESENTATIONS
Larios-Sanz, M. Hominid Evolution. In: Astrobiology Lecture Series, Open Community Lecture Series for K-12 Teachers, Rice University, March, 2004.

Larios-Sanz, M., Kourentzi, K., Fox, G.E. and R.C. Willson. Microbial Identification Using “Signature Probes”. 225th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 23-27, 2003.

Fox, G. E., Larios-Sanz, M., Kourentzi, K., Tucker, D., Fofanov, Y., Pierson, D., and R.C. Willson. Microorganisms in the Space Environment. Bioastronautics Investigators’ Workshop, Galveston, TX, January 13-15, 2003.

Larios-Sanz, M., Kourentzi, K., Zhang, Z., Willson, R.C., Pierson, D.L., and G.E. Fox. A Ribosomal RNA-based System to Monitor Microbial Contaminants in Space Environments. ASM Texas Branch Meeting, Austin, TX, November 7-9, 2002.

Kourentzi, K., Larios-Sanz, M., Fox, G.E., and R.C. Willson. Microbial identification targeting ribosomal RNA and artificial RNA labels. Division of Biochemical Technology, 224th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 18-22, 2002.

Larios-Sanz, M., Kourentzi, K., Warmflash, D., Willson, R. C., Fox, G. E., and D. Pierson. Microbial Contaminants in Crew Habitat Modules During Exploration Class Human Space Missions: Monitoring Potential Pathogens. Module in “Environmental Health Issues for Martian Surface Exploration” Panel. 73rd Aerospace Medical Association Annual Scientific Meeting. Montreal, Canada, May 5-9, 2002.

Larios-Sanz, M. The RNA World, the Ribosome and Applied Science. Invited speaker, Symposium on Nucleic Acid Technology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, April 19-30, 2002.

Larios-Sanz, M., Warmflash, D., Willson, R.C., and G.E. Fox. Monitoring Microorganisms during Space Flight. Microbiology Teaching Resource Module, (http://www.spacebio.net/modules/index.html). In: Space Biology: An Educator’s Resource, funded by the NASA Life Sciences Outreach program. Posted October, 2000.

Larios-Sanz, M., and G.E. Fox. Monitoring Bacterial Populations using Molecular Tools. In: The Many Facets of Microbiology Research Symposium. Sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology. Oral Presentation. SACNAS National Conference. Portland, Oregon, October 7-10, 1999.