Alejandra Bravo
María Alejandra Bravo de la Parra | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 29, 1961 Mexico |
| Occupation(s) | Biochemist, researcher |
| Known for | Research on bacterial toxin used as insecticide; recipient of 2010 L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science – Latin America |
María Alejandra Bravo de la Parra (born 29 April 1961) is a distinguished Mexican biochemist who received the 2010 L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science – Latin America in recognition of her research on a bacterial toxin utilized as an effective insecticide. She has collaborated extensively on publications with her spouse, Mario Soberon.
Biography
Bravo completed her undergraduate degree (1985), master's degree (1986), and doctorate (1989) in Basic Biomedical Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She pursued research fellowships at the biotechnology firm Plant Genetic Systems in Ghent, Belgium (1990–1991), as well as at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France.
Currently, she serves as a researcher at UNAM's Institute of Molecular Microbiology and is a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences. Bravo holds four international patents, which are maintained as intellectual property by UNAM. Her scientific endeavors center on creating environmentally sustainable insecticides aimed at controlling agricultural pests, thereby supporting sustainable pest management practices.
Publications and separation from UNAM's Institute of Biotechnology
In September 2012, a critical analysis was published scrutinizing models of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides, concluding that Mexican experimental models could not be reproduced based on eleven papers authored by Alejandra Bravo and Mario Soberón. As a result, Bravo was removed from her position as president of the Bioethics Commission, and Soberón was relieved of his duties as head of Molecular Microbiology. An investigative committee identified two of these eleven articles as containing "clear and compelling evidence" of image manipulation. The Technical Council clarified that these alterations were intended solely to improve image contrast without affecting the underlying data. Both researchers admitted to these mistakes and notified the respective journal editors, who did not request any corrections or errata.
Allegations and reinstatement
The Office of Scientific Integrity (ORI) at the US National Institutes of Health conducted a review and determined that although the image adjustments were inappropriate, they did not amount to scientific misconduct. The ORI continued to provide academic and financial support to Bravo and Soberón while advocating for efforts to rehabilitate their professional reputations.
Concurrently, UNAM's Ombudsman for University Rights carried out a comprehensive investigation involving consultations with university officials and both scientists. On 27 September 2013, the Ombudsman recommended restoring Bravo and Soberón to their full duties and privileges—a resolution subsequently endorsed by the Internal Council of the Institute of Biotechnology.
Juan Ramón de la Fuente remarked that excessive suspicion had adversely impacted their careers but stressed that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred. Jorge Ulises Carmona Tinoco pointed out procedural flaws during the 2012 inquiry, including conflicts of interest and denial of proper defense rights for the accused researchers. He concluded that although they were not fully exonerated, the sanctions imposed over one year were deemed adequate.
Selected publications
- M. Soberon, L. Pardo, C. Muñoz-Garay, J. Sánchez, I. Gómez, H. Porta, A. Bravo. 2010. Pore Formation by Cry Toxins. Featured in Lakey, J. Proteins: Membrane Binding and Pore Formation (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol. 677). Landes Bioscience and Springer. pp. 127–142
- A. Bravo, S.S. Gill, M. Soberon. 2010. Mechanisms and Applications of Bacillus thuringiensis. Included in Gill, S.S. Insect Control Biological and Synthetic Agents. Elsevier. pp. 247–282
- M. Soberon, A. Bravo. 2008. Cry Toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis: Mode of Action and Impact of Their Use. In Lopez-Munguia, A., Una ventana al quehacer científico. Instituto de Biotecnología de la UNAM 25º aniversario, chapter 27. UNAM. pp. 303–314
- L. Masson, J. Letowski, A. Bravo, R. Brousseau. 2007. Assessment of Crystal Protein Genes in Bacillus thuringiensis Using DNA Microarrays. Proceedings of the 6th Pacific Rim Conference on the Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its Environmental Impact. pp. 28–30
- L. Pardo et al. 2007. Oligomerization of Various Cry Toxins Suggests a Pre-Pore as a Critical Intermediate in the Action Mechanism of the Three-Domain Cry Family. Proceedings of the 6th Pacific Rim Conference on the Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its Environmental Impact. pp. 7–8
- C. Pérez et al. 2007. Synergistic Effect of Cyt1Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis on Cry11Aa Toxin Activity as a Membrane-Bound Receptor. Proceedings of the 6th Pacific Rim Conference on the Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its Environmental Impact. pp. 9–11
- M. Soberon et al. 2007. Key Interactions with Membrane Receptors in the Mechanism of Action of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry Toxins. In Vincent, C., 6th Pacific Rim Conference on the Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its Environmental Impact, chapter 1. Erudit. pp. 1–6
- I. Gómez et al. 2007. Identification of scFv Molecules Targeting Loop 3 of Domain II and Domain III of Cry1Ab Toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis. In Vincent, C., 6th Pacific Rim Conference on the Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its Environmental Impact. Erudit. pp. 12–14
Distinctions and awards
- 1990-1991: Research fellowship at Plant Genetic Systems, a biotechnology firm located in Ghent, Belgium.
- 1998: Award granted by the Mexican Academy of Sciences recognizing excellence in natural sciences.
- 2000: Recognition as a distinguished young academic in natural sciences by National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
- 2002: Inducted as a fellow member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
- 2003: Honored with best research award in agricultural biotechnology from AgroBIO-Mexico.
- Since 2003: Serving as a member of the biosafety expert committee for both the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Convention on Biological Diversity.
- 2010: Recipient of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science for the Latin America region.