Patricia Sheen

Last updated
Patricia Sheen
PATRICIA SHEEN CORTAVARRIA (2).jpg
Born1971
Huanuco
NationalityPeruvian
Alma materRicardo Palma University
Scientific career
Fieldsmicrobiology and infectious diseases
InstitutionsCayetano Heredia University, Jhons Hopkins University

Patricia Sheen Cortavarria (Huanuco, 1971) is a Peruvian biologist, is a Peruvian biologist who serves as the coordinator of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory and co-leader of the Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory at the Cayetano Heredia University. [1] [2] She has been recognized with the title of "Distinguished Researcher" by the National Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (CONCYTEC) of Peru for her contributions to the scientific field. [3]

Contents

Her research primarily focuses on the genetic study of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, [4] with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms of resistance to pyrazinamide in Mycobacterium tuberculosis . [5] [6] [7] Sheen Cortavarría is also engaged in the development and enhancement of diagnostic methods for tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. [3] In 2014, she was awarded the National L'Oréal-Unesco-Concytec Prize. [8]

Early life and education

Patricia Sheen Cortavarría was born in Huánuco, Peru. From an early age, she demonstrated a profound interest in the study of living organisms, with particular fascination for those examined through the lens of microbiology. [9] [10] [11]

She studied Biology at Ricardo Palma University, where she completed her undergraduate thesis titled Identification of Lactobacillus casei sp. strain GG in feces using immunological assays. [12] Building on this foundation, she pursued a Master's degree in Biochemistry at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Subsequently, she earned a Doctorate in Disease Control from Johns Hopkins University in 2008. [3] [13] [14]

Career

Sheen began her scientific career as a research associate in the Microbiology Division of the Prisma Non-Profit Association. A few years later, she undertook residencies at two prominent research institutions. The first was at Johns Hopkins University, where she specialized in genetic techniques (RFLP, SSCP) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and in the study of genes associated with isoniazid resistance. Subsequently, she joined the Naval Medical Research Unit Detachment (NAMRID) of the United States Navy, where she focused on microbiological diagnostic techniques and research involving Campylobacter jejuni . [15]

In 1996, Sheen joined the Tuberculosis Division of the Department of Pathology at the Cayetano Heredia University as a research associate, and in 2001, she assumed the role of Coordinator of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory within the Research and Development Laboratories, while also taking on teaching responsibilities at the same institution. [15]

She has led multiple research projects funded by the Peruvian government through CONCYTEC, as well as by international organizations. These include: the diagnosis of pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis via PCR in stool and pleural fluid samples; development of software for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites; implementation of an expert web-based system to support the diagnosis of infectious diseases; [14] and evaluation of pyrazinamide resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [16] [17] [18]

Scientific research

Dr. Patricia Sheen Cortavarria in her laboratory located at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia PATRICIA SHEEN CORTAVARRIA (1).jpg
Dr. Patricia Sheen Cortavarría in her laboratory located at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

Patricia Sheen has more than 70 scientific articles., [3] 64 of them in the Scopus repository. [1] Some of the most relevant are:

In 1995, she published a short report in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene with the name "A Placebo-Controlled Study of Lactobacillus GG Colonization in One-to-Three-Year-Old Peruvian Children". [19] In 1998, her first scientific article about Mycobacterium tuberculosis was about its detection in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples in children. [20]

In 2013, she published findings on the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains present in Peru and their relationship with drug resistance. [4] They also reported factors associated with resistance to pyrazinamide in M. tuberculosis, focusing on the expression of the pncA gene, pyrazinamidase enzyme activity, and the expulsion of pyrazinoic acid. [6] Later, in 2017, they presented a comprehensive genomic analysis of 68 M. tuberculosis strains isolated from patients in Peru, identifying mutations and genes linked to resistance to pyrazinamide, a key drug in tuberculosis treatment. [7]

In 2019, Sheen proposed an automated system for tuberculosis diagnosis using digital image analysis based on the Drug Susceptibility Testing by Microscopic Observation method, known as MODS. [21] [22] In 2022, she published results on the evaluation of alternative growth medium designed to reduce the cost of MODS-based tuberculosis diagnosis. [23] That same year, she introduced a device for the automatic decontamination, purification, and concentration of sputum samples, aimed at lowering the costs of diagnosing tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The invention received a Gold Medal at the “Korea International Women’s Invention Exposition – KIWIE 2023” and a special commendation from Dongguk University. [24] [25]

In 2023, she proposed a nuclear magnetic resonance method to determine pyrazinamide susceptibility directly in the supernatant of sputum cultures collected from tuberculosis patients. Comparative analyses against other biochemical and molecular assays suggest that the newly developed method could become the next "gold standard" for determining susceptibility to this drug. [26]

Awards and recognitions

Patricia Sheen received the National L'Oréal-Unesco-Concytec Award for Women in Science 2014 presenting the "Determination of Pyrazinamide Resistance Using Quantitative Wayne Method in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) Strains. [27]

In 2021, her life and research story has appeared and also other female scientist stories in the Concytec book titled Scientists of Peru: 24 stories to discover (Científicas del Perú: 24 historias por descubrir, in Spanish). [28]

In 2023, Sheen obtained a gold medal and a special recognition with PhD Mirko Zimic, for their invention “Automatic equipment for the decontamination, purification and concentration of sputum for a cost-effective diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistance” in the 16th International Exhibition of Women's Inventions in South Korea, "KIWIE" 2023, took place in Seoul from July 20 to 22. [29]

References

  1. 1 2 "Científicas peruanas: Patricia Sheen y la lucha frontal contra la TBC en el Perú". El Comercio (in Spanish). 20 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Día Internacional de la Mujer: Científicas UPCH que destacan en sus profesiones". Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería (in Spanish). 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ficha RENACYT". Plataforma de servicio Renacyt (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  4. 1 2 Sheen, Patricia; Couvin, David; Grandjean, Louis; Zimic, Mirko; Dominguez, Maria; Luna, Giannina; Gilman, Robert H.; Rastogi, Nalin; Moore, David A. J. (2013-06-24). "Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Peru and Exploration of Phylogenetic Associations with Drug Resistance". PLOS ONE. 8 (6): e65873. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...865873S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065873 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   3691179 . PMID   23826083.
  5. ↑ LR, Sociedad (2021-01-08). "Científicos peruanos desarrollan kit para diagnosticar tuberculosis rápidamente". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. 1 2 Sheen, Patricia; Lozano, Katherine; Gilman, Robert H.; Valencia, Hugo J.; Loli, Sebastian; Fuentes, Patricia; Grandjean, Louis; Zimic, Mirko (2013-09-01). "pncA gene expression and prediction factors on pyrazinamide resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis" . Tuberculosis. 93 (5): 515–522. doi:10.1016/j.tube.2013.03.005. ISSN   1472-9792. PMID   23867321.
  7. 1 2 Sheen, Patricia; Requena, David; Gushiken, Eduardo; Gilman, Robert H.; Antiparra, Ricardo; Lucero, Bryan; Lizárraga, Pilar; Cieza, Basilio; Roncal, Elisa; Grandjean, Louis; Pain, Arnab; McNerney, Ruth; Clark, Taane G.; Moore, David; Zimic, Mirko (2017-10-11). "A multiple genome analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals specific novel genes and mutations associated with pyrazinamide resistance". BMC Genomics. 18 (1): 769. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4146-z . ISSN   1471-2164. PMC   5637355 . PMID   29020922.
  8. ↑ "Investigadora peruana gana premio internacional sobre lucha contra la tuberculosis". www.gob.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Concytec (2021). Científicas del Perú: 24 historias por descubrir [Women Scientists of Peru: 24 Stories to Discover] (in Spanish). Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica - Concytec. hdl:20.500.12390/2259. ISBN   978-9972-50-198-2.
  10. ↑ Correo, Redacción (2015-01-07). "Patricia Sheen: "Queremos más pacientes curados"". Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  11. ↑ "Con Ciencia: Microbiología en Tuberculosis con Dra. Patricia Sheen Cortavarria". Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas - URP. 6 April 2018.
  12. ↑ URP (2015). Catálogo de resúmenes de tesis de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (1992 - 2014) (PDF) (in Spanish). Universidad Ricardo Palma. p. 103.
  13. ↑ Correo, Redacción (2014-10-07). "Conoce a Patricia Sheen Cortavarría, ganadora del Premio Nacional por la Mujer en la Ciencia 2014". Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  14. 1 2 Powder, Jackie (January 23, 2012). "Diagnosing TB on the Cheap". Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  15. 1 2 Concytec. ""Ficha CTI Vitae Sheen Cortavarría Patricia"".
  16. ↑ "Investigación peruana sobre tuberculosis multidrogoresistente gana financiamiento del renombrado ICGEB". www.gob.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  17. ↑ "Investigación peruana sobre tuberculosis multidrogoresistente gana financiamiento del renombrado ICGEB". Diario Business News (in Spanish). 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  18. ↑ RedacciónRPP (2023-02-23). "¡Orgullo peruano! Investigación sobre tuberculosis gana financiamiento en programa internacional". rpp.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  19. ↑ Sheen, Patricia; Oberhelman, Richard A.; Gilman, Robert H.; Cabrera, Lilly; Verastegui, Manuela; Madico, Guillermo (1 May 1995). "Short Report: A Placebo-Controlled Study of Lactobacillus GG Colonization in One-to-Three-Year-Old Peruvian Children". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 52 (5): 389–392. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1995.52.389. PMID   7771602.
  20. ↑ Franchi, Luis Miguel; Cama, Rosa I.; Gilman, Robert H.; Montenegro-James, Sonia; Sheen, Patricia (21 November 1998). "Detection of Myobacterium tuberculosis in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples in children". The Lancet. 352 (9141): 1681–1682. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)61454-7 . PMID   9853450.
  21. ↑ Lopez-Garnier, Santiago; Sheen, Patricia; Zimic, Mirko (2019-02-27). "Automatic diagnostics of tuberculosis using convolutional neural networks analysis of MODS digital images". PLOS ONE . 14 (2): e0212094. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1412094L. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212094 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6392246 . PMID   30811445.
  22. ↑ Caviedes, L.; Lee, T. S.; Gilman, R. H.; Sheen, P.; Spellman, E.; Lee, E. H.; Berg, D. E.; Montenegro-James, S. (2000). "Rapid, efficient detection and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum by microscopic observation of broth cultures. The Tuberculosis Working Group in Peru". Journal of Clinical Microbiology . 38 (3): 1203–1208. doi:10.1128/JCM.38.3.1203-1208.2000. ISSN   0095-1137. PMC   86377 . PMID   10699023.
  23. ↑ Sheen, Patricia; Rodriguez, Joseline; Alcántara, Roberto; Vargas, Johnny; Grandjean, Louis; Moore, David A.J.; Gilman, Robert H.; Zimic, Mirko (July 2022). "Alternative cost-effective media to facilitate MODS culture for diagnostics of tuberculosis". Tuberculosis. 135 102225. doi:10.1016/j.tube.2022.102225. hdl: 10757/668988 . PMID   35728429.
  24. ↑ "Inventoras de Cayetano Heredia logran medallas de oro y bronce en Kiwie 2023". Investigación (in Spanish). 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  25. ↑ "Investigadores de Cayetano ganan medallas y reconocimiento especial en feria de inventos de Corea del Sur". Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería (in Spanish). 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  26. ↑ Lopez, Juan M.; Zimic, Mirko; Vallejos, Katherine; Sevilla, Diego; Quispe-Carbajal, Mariella; Roncal, Elisa; Rodríguez, Joseline; Rodríguez, Jhojailith; Antiparra, Ricardo; Arteaga, Héctor; Gilman, Robert H.; Maruenda, Helena; Sheen, Patricia (18 April 2023). "Quantitative 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Assay for the Rapid Detection of Pyrazinamide Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Sputum Samples". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 61 (5): e01522–22. doi:10.1128/jcm.01522-22. PMC   10204627 . PMID   37071032.
  27. ↑ "Investigadora peruana gana premio internacional sobre lucha contra la tuberculosis". www.gob.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  28. ↑ EDITORA PERÚ Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales S. A. (19 March 2021). "Científicas del Perú: lanzan libro con 24 historias de mujeres dedicadas a la ciencia". andina.pe (in Spanish).
  29. ↑ "Inventoras de Cayetano Heredia logran medallas de oro y bronce en Kiwie 2023". Investigación (in Spanish). 12 October 2023.
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