Francisco Bohorquez

I earned an undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Microbiology and a minor in Neurosciences from The University of Los Andes. I have been a member of the CIMPAT group (Tropical Microbiology and Parasitology Research Center) since completing my undergraduate degree. My Bachelor's thesis attempted to develop an antivenom against Lonomia caterpillar venoms in Colombia. I produced two monovalent sera and one polyvalent serum, which I then compared in terms of their antibody quantity, specificity, and interaction with venom proteins.

Currently, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Biological Sciences at The University of Los Andes. My research continues the project I initiated during my Bachelor's degree, with the goal of developing a synthetic antivenom for a specific species of the Lonomia genus.

I am deeply passionate about this project because it has the potential to be the first step towards producing a synthetic antivenom against Lonomia caterpillar venom in Colombia, which would greatly benefit the people and enhance healthcare in my country and other South American countries.

March 2023