Marisol Machado
Peruvian bioengineer combating antibiotic resistance with traditional medicine
Dr. Marisol Machado (b. 1978) from Cajamarca is revolutionizing antimicrobial research through her study of Inca medical texts. Her team discovered 14 new antibiotic compounds from:
- Pre-Columbian fermentation techniques
- Andean lichen symbiosis
- Moche civilization wound treatments
Published in Nature Microbiology, her work on Quechuaomycin shows effectiveness against MRSA and CRE pathogens. The discovery process involved:
| Method | Innovation |
|---|---|
| Ethnopharmacology | Decoding quipu medical records |
| AI analysis | Matching folk descriptions to molecular structures |
Machado's WHO-backed initiative trains indigenous communities in sustainable compound harvesting, creating biotech jobs in rural Peru.
Literary Appearances
No literary records found
Cinematic Appearances
No cinematic records found