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.