Mario Feldman, the first graduate of UNR's Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology, studies a bacteria that causes infections in hospitals and greatly affects immunosuppressed people.
He recently rose to fame for showing in a video how to make a good Argentine flan in ten minutes, something that at first seems like an impossible feat. The challenge was recorded at a dinner with friends and surpassed 50 million views and 2 million likes. But Mario Feldman from Rosario was already famous before for his successful career in the world of scientific research.
Mario was the first graduate of the Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario and was incorporated in 2021 into the American Academy of Microbiology for his long career in the study of bacteria. He is currently researching Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria that is known to cause infections in hospitals.
“It is a bacteria that until very recently was not known, that only infects people who are immunosuppressed. That is, if your immune system is working correctly, you will not get sick. The problem is that when you catch it it is almost impossible to eliminate it, they are resistant to almost all known antibiotics, and I can affirm that over time it is worse because they evolve and adapt,” he explained.
Although it is not a common disease, since they mainly live in hospitals, it is serious for people who contract it. “I have worked with other pathogens, such as salmonella, for example, but I am focusing on this bacteria in particular because it is the one that causes the biggest health problem.”
The researcher warned that it is a more common infection than is believed and that it is necessary to know it well in order to find solutions that can save lives. “We are currently investigating how exactly the infection is contracted. Our latest studies suggest the hypothesis that the person already has the bacteria inside their body at the time of hospitalization and reacts through different common hospital practices such as, for example, a catheter or a respirator. We are currently investigating this issue, but it must be highlighted that Acinetobacter is the in-hospital bacteria by definition because basically the only place where you can catch it is in the hospital, with some exceptions.”
Feldman commented that the strain that he is researching the most lately comes from Argentina, which was isolated at the Hospital de Clínicas in Buenos Aires. “It is a rare case because it is a patient who was not infected in the hospital, but rather went to the doctor with the bacteria already developing. “This strain is more pathogenic than others, so we are investigating to understand the reasons.”
The researcher stressed that in our country, since there is little control over the sale of antibiotics without a prescription and the culture of self-medication, they help bacteria mutate and become more resistant. “Argentina is my number one source of resistant strains, because the lack of control is leading to the bacteria being stronger than in other countries. We have the bad habit of taking antibiotics without being prescribed by doctors, and bacteria have the characteristic of mutating. Countries like Italy or Spain, where it was like this before, have already solved it and there is much more control. Likewise, I think this trend began to slowly change in Argentina in recent years.”
Likewise, he stressed that many times it is mistakenly thought that the University alone is the one that must reach the final development. “In reality, the scientist generates a discovery, he patents it so that specialized companies invest in it and the application process can be developed. Many people see patenting as a selfish act, but the reality is that if you don't do it, no one invests in it and carrying out the development of what is researched becomes very difficult. "I do basic science, in my laboratory we focus on research and publication of knowledge."
Before focusing on Acinetobacter, Feldman worked for a long time designing vaccines specialized in bacteria. “On that path I found a new technology that is currently being tested in many vaccines in different parts of the world. I even created a company linked to this research in St Louis, United States, a city that is very similar to Rosario.”
In this way, he found a new way to develop this type of vaccines, which was patented and a portion of it is owned by his emerging company Omniose. “We work with the United States National Institute of Health, which gives money to small companies so they can develop research. In the United States, the state not only provides many subsidies to do basic research at universities, but also to small businesses. Currently, we are developing the vaccines in partnership with AstraZeneca. It is something very challenging, especially in the case of Acinetobacter because it is not known who can get sick.”
A long road full of science
Feldman has the honor of being in the history books for being the first graduate of UNR's Biotechnology Degree, a journey that he remembers with great affection. “It was a time when few knew what biotechnology was, the degree was just beginning, in fact, it was called a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with a focus on Biotechnology when I started and then the name changed. We started with 35 in the first year, and it is seen that many imagined otherwise because we were 10 in the second year and from third year onwards we were only 3 students.”
By the time it was his turn to attend the fourth and fifth years of his degree, Mario had become the only current student in the class. “He was funny, because not only was he the only one, but he was also the first. Many teachers had to prepare his subject just for me. It was all very artisanal and personalized, a new experience for everyone. The identity of the race was just being formed.”
When he finished his undergraduate studies, Mario had the goal of pursuing a doctorate, but there were not enough scholarships at Conicet, since it only offered two places for applicants from the entire national territory. “I then decided to go to Buenos Aires, where luckily I was able to apply for one of the two scholarships at that time. I did my doctorate at the Leloir Foundation and due to the few opportunities that were offered at the national level, I went to continue my studies in Belgium.”
Regarding that, the researcher stressed that at that time there were not the same opportunities as today within the country. “At that time doing science was synonymous with going to try your luck outside, it was almost a condition unfortunately. There began an exodus to different countries in which I was able to specialize.”
Feldman's path around the world is extensive: from Belgium he moved to Switzerland (first to Basel and then to Zurich), then he settled in Canada where he was a professor for ten years and started his own laboratory, and finally he traveled to St Louis , where he currently lives and works.
Mario, a true Rosario native, until a few years ago fantasized about returning to the country to work, but for one reason or another it didn't happen. “At this stage of my life it is very difficult since I am settled in St Louis with my wife and son. I never forget where I come from, I go to Rosario every year because I am one of them,” he confessed.
Many researchers from the Faculty of Biochemical Sciences have passed through his laboratory, and he confessed that this makes him feel close to Rosario. “I must admit that I feel admiration for those who do science in Argentina and for the achievements they often achieve with a small budget, they work at the highest level and have nothing to envy of any other professional from anywhere in the world. In my laboratory I have researchers from all over, but when I have one from UNR I know the kind of training they have and above all I know that they will be up to the challenge.”
Mario, the man who shared the recipe to make a flan in less than ten minutes and whose video is sweeping social networks, was always a legend in the field of science and technology. The difference is that now we know not only the scientific researcher, but also the person who puts all his knowledge into practice to, in those small daily gestures, feel his country a little closer.
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García