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Dr. Carlos Vera

Charge: 
Biology Department. Molecular Microbiology Laboratory
E-mail: 
carlos.vera.v@usach.cl

Biography: 

Carlos Vera received in 2012 the degree of Doctor  of Engineering Sciences with specialization in  Biochemical Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV). Subsequently, Dr. Vera carried out two  Postdoctoral stays at the PUCV, one financed by  said university and the other by the Fondecyt  Postdoctoral program.

 
Research Area: 

Dr. Vera, at the beginning of his research focused  on the optimization of the enzymatic synthesis of  galacto-oligosaccharides through optimal control  techniques. This allowed Dr. Vera to gain  experience in the experimental characterization of  kinetically controlled reactions, characterization of  prebiotic compounds, as well as in the use of  computational techniques for the optimization of  (bio)chemical processes on an industrial scale. The main contributions of his work are related to  the study of enzymatic reactions in  

supersaturated systems, the modeling of complex  enzyme kinetics, and the use of fed-batch  operation to manipulate the yield of kinetically  controlled reactions. During his postdoctoral stays, Dr. Vera  

incorporated green chemistry and circular  economy concepts into his research, this time  focusing on the study of the synthesis of alkyl galactosides with free and immobilized β galactosidase. This, with a view to developing  eco-friendly surfactants and, revaluing whey,  which represents an abundant residue of the  cheese industry. Currently, in his Fondecyt  Research Initiation project, Dr. Vera has  continued working on the synthesis of surface active compounds derived from lactose. In this  project, the study of multienzyme systems in non conventional (non-aqueous) media, the use of  immobilized enzymes and green chemistry  converge to enhance the tensoactive properties of  alkyl-galactosides.

Projects: 
  • 2021-2020: Fondecijal Project 7907-2019. Use of whey for production of prebiotics and probiotics as ingredients in functional food industry. Jalisco State Council of Science and Technology (COECyTJAL). Mexico
  • 2019-2023: Project Fondecyt Regular 1190104. New strategies for improvement of enzymatic synthesis from lactulose: An approach from  reactor engineering perspective. Co-Researcher. CONYCYT. Government of Chile.
  • 2018-2021: Fondecyt Initiation Project 11180282. Optimization of enzymatic synthesis of short-chain alkyl-β-D-galactoside fatty acid esters through reaction and biocatalyst engineering strategies. CONICYT. Government of Chile. Researcher.
  • 2018-2020: Application of enzymes from native Extremophiles for synthesis of D-tagatose. DICYT regular project 081843VV. Universidad de Santiago, Chile. Researcher
  • 2018-2019: International network for seeking, evaluation and application of enzymes in food industry. PCI-CONYCYT. RED170057. CONICYT. Government of Chile. Researcher.
  • 2018-2019: International network for development of methods and applications for simulation in microbial cultures through dynamic metabolic flow balances. PCI- CONICYT. Government of Chile. RED170254. Co-Researcher.
  • 2018-2019: Development of a core from bioactive extracts natural species from southern Chile as an immunomodulatory supplement for elderly. Fondef ID17AM009. CONYCYT. Government of Chile. Co-
  • 2016-2019: Fondecyt Regular Project 1160216. Optimization of the enzymatic synthesis from lactulose by using strategies of reaction and biocatalyst engineering. CONYCYT. Government of Chile. Co-Researcher.
  • 2014-2016: Fondecyt Postdoctoral Project 3140259. Application of engineering strategies from biocatalyst and reaction medium in the synthesis of β-galactosyl-RRR-α-tocopherol by β-galactosidases. CONYCYT. Government of Chile. Researcher
  • 2013-2015: Innova Line 2 Project 13IDL2-18666. New enzymatic immobilization strategies for production of galacto-oligosaccharides. Project formulation / Development engineer. CORFO. Government of Chile
Latest Publications: 
  • C. Vera, A. Illanes, C. Guerrero. 2021.Enzymatic production of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Current Opinion in Food Science. 37: 160-170
  • M. Serey, C. Vera C. Guerrero, A. Illanes. 2021. Immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase in cation functionalized agarose matrix and its application in the synthesis of lactulose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.11.110
  • C. Vera, C. Ubilla, C. Guerrero, J. López, J. Flórez-Méndez, R. Bustos. 2020. Oligosacáridos y polisacáridos no digeribles: una fuente de salud para los adultos mayores. Revista Chilena de Nutrición. 47: 848-864.
  • D. Ahumada, F. Arenas, F. Martínez-Gómez, C. Guerrero, A. Illanes, C. Vera. 2020. Synthesis of butyl-β-D-galactoside in the ternary system: acetone/1-butanol/aqueous solution. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 8:859. 
  • C. Ubilla, N. Ramírez, F. Valdivia, C. Vera, A. Illanes, C. Guerrero. 2020. Synthesis of lactulose in continuous stirred tank reactor with β-galactosidase of Aspergillus oryzae immobilized in monofunctional glyoxyl agarose support. Frontiers in Bioengineering and. Biotechnology. 8:699.
  • C. Guerrero, S. Súarez, C. Aburto, C.Vera, A.  Illanes. 2020. Comparison of batch and repeated batch operation of lactulose synthesis with cross-linked aggregates of Bacillus circulans β-galactosidase. Process Biochemistry. 94: 224-234
  • C. Aburto, C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A Illanes. 2020. Improvement in the yield and selectivity of lactulose synthesis with Bacillus circulans β-galactosidase. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 118: 108746
  • C. Guerrero, C. Aburto, S. Súarez, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2020. Improvements in the production of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase crosslinked aggregates and their use in repeated-batch synthesis of lactulose.  International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 142:452-42.
  • C. Vera, C. Guerrero, C. Aburto, A. Córdova, A. Illanes. 2020. Conventional and non-conventional applications of β-galactosidases. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Porteins and Proteomics. 1868: 140271
  • C. Aburto, C. Castillo, F. Cornejo, M. Arenas-Salinas, C. Vásquez, C. Guerrero, F. Arenas, A. Illanes, C. Vera. 2019. β-Galactosidase from Exiguobacterium acetylicum: Cloning, expression, purification and characterization. Bioresource Technology. Bioresource Technology. 277: 211-215
  • C. Guerrero, F. Valdivia, C. Ubilla, N. Ramírez, M. Gómez, C. Aburto, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2019. Continuous enzymatic synthesis of lactulose in packed-bed reactor with immobilized Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase. Bioresource Technology. Bioresource Technology.. 278: 296-302
  • C. Aburto, C. Guerrero, C. Vera, L. Wilson, A. Illanes. 2018. Co-immobilized β-galactosidase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells for the simultaneous synthesis and purification of galacto-oligosaccharides. Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 118: 102-108. 
  • Suárez, S, C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2018. Effect of particle size and enzyme load on the simultaneous reactions of lactose hydrolysis and transgalactosylation with glyoxyl-agarose immobilized β-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae. Process Biochemistry. 73: 56-64.
  • C. Guerrero, C. Aburto, S. Suárez, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2018. Effect of the type of immobilization of β-galactosidase on the yield and selectivity of synthesis of transgalactosylated oligosaccharides. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. 16: 353-363.
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2018. Selective bioconversion with yeast for the purification of raw lactulose and transgalactosylated oligosaccharides. International Dairy Journal. 81: 131-137.
  • C. Vera, C. Guerrero, L. Wilson, A. Illanes. 2017. Optimization of reaction conditions and the donor substrate in the synthesis of hexyl-β-D-galactoside. Process Biochemistry. 58; 128-136. 
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2017. Immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase in an agarose matrix functionalized by four different methods and application to the synthesis of lactulose. Bioresource Technology 232: 53-63. 
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2017. Synthesis of lactulose in batch and repeated-batch operation with immobilized β-galactosidase in different agarose functionalized supports. Bioresource Technology. 230: 56-66.
  • C. Vera, C. Guerrero, L. Wilson, A. Illanes.  2017. Synthesis of butyl-β-d-galactoside with commercial β-galactosidases. Food and Bioproducts Processing.130: 65-73.
  • C. Vera, C. Guerrero, L. Wilson, A. Illanes. 2017. Synthesis of propyl-β-D-galactoside with free and immobilized β-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae. Process Biochemistry 53: 162-171.
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2017. Fed-batch operation for the synthesis of lactulose with β-galactosidase of Aspergillus oryzae. Bioresource Technology. 237:126-134.
  • C. Vera, A. Cordova, C. Aburto, C. Guerrero, S. Suarez, A. Illanes. 2016. Synthesis and purification of galacto-oligosaccharides: state of the art. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 32: 197.
  • Aburto, C., Guerrero, C., Vera, C., Wilson, L., Illanes, A. 2016. Simultaneous synthesis and purification (SSP) of galacto-oligosaccharides in batch operation. LWT - Food Science and Technology 72: pp. 81-89.
  • A. Cordova, C. Astudillo, C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2016. Performance of an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (UF-MBR) as a processing strategy for the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides at high substrate concentrations Journal of Biotechnology 223: 26–35.
  • A. Cordova, C. Astudillo, C. Guerrero, C. Vera, A. Illanes. 2016. Assessment of the fouling mechanisms of an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor during synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides: Effect of the operational variables. Desalination 393: 79-89.
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, F. Acevedo, A. Illanes. 2015. Simultaneous synthesis of mixtures of lactulose and galacto-oligosaccharides and their selective fermentation. Journal of Biotechnology 209: 30-41. 
  • C. Guerrero, C. Vera, E. Araya, R. Conejeros, A. Illanes. 2015. Repeated-batch operation for the synthesis of lactulose with β-galactosidase immobilized by aggregation and crosslinking. Bioresource Technology 190: 122-131.
  • 2015 : C. Guerrero, C.  Vera, R. Conejeros, A. Illanes. Transgalactosylation and hydrolytic activities of commercial preparations of β-galactosidase for the synthesis of prebiotic carbohydrates. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 70: 9-17.