Research/Areas of Interest
Lyme borreliosis, infectious and zoonotic diseases, immunology, One Health, infection-triggered autoimmunity.
Advisor
Yi-Pin Lin, Ph.D.
Selected Honors and Awards
Provost Leadership Fellow Award: The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts University $10,000 USD, (2024-25).
Dean of Graduate Studies Spring Fellowship Faculty of Graduate Studies, Brock University $4,000 CAD, April, (2018).
Graduate Studies Academic Achievement Scholarship Faculty of Graduate Studies, Brock University $15,000 CAD, September, ( 2016).
Dean’s Honor List Brock University (2012-2016) Brock Entrance Scholars Award Brock University $7,500 CAD, September, (2012).
Education
Ph.D., current
M.Sc., Brock University (2019)
B.Sc., Brock University (2016)
Selected Publications and Presentations
Ehrbar, DE, Arkivar SL, Sulka KB, Chiumento G, Nelson N, Hernández S. A., et al. “Variants in the Late Cornified Envelope Gene Locus Are Associated with Elevated T-Helper 17 Responses in Patients with Postinfectious Lyme Arthritis.” The Journal of Infectious Diseases, , 2024 Aug, vol. 230, no. Supplement_1, Oxford University Press, pp. S40–50, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae164.
Lemieux JE, Huang W, Hill N, Cerar T, Hernández, S. A.,et al. “Whole Genome Sequencing of Human Borrelia Burgdorferi Isolates Reveals Linked Blocks of Accessory Genome Elements Located on Plasmids and Associated with Human Dissemination.” PLOS Pathogens, 2023 Aug, vol. 19, no. 8, Public Library of Science, pp. e1011243–43, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011243.
Hernández, S. A., et al. “Association of Persistent Symptoms after Lyme Neuroborreliosis and Increased Levels of Interferon-α in Blood - 2023 Jun, vol. 29 (6) - Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - CDC.” Wwwnc.cdc.gov, https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2906.221685.
Hernández S.A., Ogrinc, K, et al. “Unique Clinical, Immune, and Genetic Signature in Patients with Borrelial Meningoradiculoneuritis1.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2022 Apr, vol. 28(4), https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2804.211831.
Hernández S.A., et al. “An Integrated Study of Toxocara Infection in Honduran Children: Human Seroepidemiology and Environmental Contamination in a Coastal Community.” Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, vol. 5, no. 3, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2020 Aug, pp. 135–35, https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed5030135.
1Featured in NBC News, Yahoo News, Reuters, Telemundo, CBC, and other international news outlets
2Co-first authors
3Featured in: “Special Issue: One Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases” p.19-33; MDPI; Basel, Switzerland; 2021; Standley CJ, Bakuza J, Peterson JK, ed. 2nd edition)
“Genetic variation in TLR1 gene is associated with a break in immune tolerance, leading to excessive inflammation and more severe Lyme disease” International Symposium on Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases Vienna, AT (Oct. 2023).
“Unique Clinical, Immune, and Genetic Signature in Patients with Borrelial Meningoradiculoneuritis” 16th International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis and Tick-Borne Diseases Amsterdam, NL (Sep. 2022).
“New facets of Lyme neuroborreliosis; from acute infection to persistent symptoms” Wadsworth Center Albany, NY (Nov. 2021).
“Assessment of patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis identifies a unique immune and genetic signature in Bannwarth's syndrome” Summertime for Lyme Annual National Symposium Virtually hosted by University of Connecticut Dept. of Medicine (Jul. 2021).