Dr. Cristina Llorente is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego. She holds a degree in Biochemistry. Her translational research program focuses on the gut–liver axis, demonstrating that disruptions in the intestinal mucosal barrier, including the microbiota, epithelium, and immune system, are key drivers of liver disease progression. By defining these causal mechanisms, her work aims to convert fundamental biological insights into therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.
Dr. Llorente has led several high-impact discoveries in liver diseases:
She demonstrated that gastric acid suppression promotes alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) by inducing the overgrowth and hepatic translocation of Enterococcus species.
Her team identified cytolysin as a strong predictor of mortality in alcohol-associated hepatitis and developed a precision bacteriophage therapy targeting cytolysin-producing E. faecalis.
Her recent work showed that alcohol abuse is associated with a reduction in mAChR4 receptors on goblet cells. These receptors help maintain gut homeostasis by forming specialized, channel-like structures that enable controlled communication between the gut lumen and the immune system, known as GAPs. She further demonstrated that GAP formation protects against ethanol-induced steatohepatitis by promoting antimicrobial immunity and preventing bacterial translocation.
Dr. Llorente has established an exceptional track record of scientific autonomy, with accepted publications in world-class journals. This includes cornerstone discoveries published in Nature, Hepatology, Cell Metabolism, Nature Microbiology, and the Journal of Hepatology and Nature Communications, among others.
Her current research aims to discover cures for liver diseases, including alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and MASLD with alcohol use disorder (MetALD).
"In our lab at the University of California, San Diego, we explore the intricate dance of the intestinal immune system, microbiota, and intestinal epithelium—a symphony orchestrating intestinal homeostasis and influencing liver disease onset. Through advanced microbiomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and organoid cultures, we unravel the molecular blueprints of alcohol-associated liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-related liver diseases. Our mission is clear: to pioneer transformative therapies for these conditions, bridging bench to bedside with each discovery."