Elsio A. Wunder

Assistant Professor

Focus: One health approaches to infectious diseases


Dr. Wunder is an experienced veterinarian and microbiologist with significant expertise in molecular biology and infectious diseases of zoonotic interest. Dr. Wunder has more than 15 years of experience in Brazil and the US working on the pathogenesis of Leptospira and in diagnostic reference laboratories for leptospirosis, both in veterinary and public health settings. This experience has given him an in-depth understanding of the practical clinical laboratory issues as well as the challenges in leptospiral disease diagnosis and pre-clinical vaccine studies in experimental animal models.

His research is focused on understanding the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, and, more specifically, identifying virulence factors in the spirochetal pathogen, which may in turn serve as the basis for novel approaches for diagnostics and vaccines. Dr. Wunder interests and research goes beyond the pathogen, focusing also on the host/reservoir and the environment, and is well aligned with the concept of One Health. His laboratory collaborates with numerous researchers nationally and internationally to improve the field of research of this important neglected disease.

Education and Training

  • Post-doctoral associate, Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, USA
  • Ph.D. in Investigative Medicine, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
  • M.S. in Microbiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
  • D.V.M, Veterinary School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Research Interests

  • Pathogenesis of Leptospira
  • Vaccine development for leptospirosis
  • Host-pathogen interactions
  • Naturally acquired immunity and immune-response after vaccination
  • Translational Research
  • Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis
  • Disease Transmission
  • Zoonotic Diseases
  • One Health and Global Health
Elsio Wunder
Contact Information
Emailelsio.wunder@uconn.edu
Phone(860) 486-8743
Mailing Address61 N. Eagleville Rd Unit 3089, Storrs, CT 06269-3089
Office LocationAtwater Laboratory, Room A109
CampusStorrs