KARINA BORTOLUCI

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor at Federal University of São Paulo. CNPq Pq1c Investigator

Mum of 2 kids and 3 cats. Science, yoga, nature, kids, and cats crazy lover

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Karina is an expert in Innate Immunity.  Her scientific contributions include the demonstration of the role of NLRP3 to the control of T. cruzi infection by macrophages (doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002469) and by glial cells from CNS (https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.4AB1118-416RR) and the description of non-conventional effector mechanisms mediated by inflammasomes to control infections such as iNOS activation (doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.124297), epigenetic regulation of inflammatory genes (doi.org/10.1038/srep41686), a cathepsin-mediated process of cell death (doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1305316110) and autophagy (https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.HI1118-461R).

Her lab is currently focused on the study of molecular pathways involved in the activation of inflammasomes and their impact on the control of infections.
 

Karina is also a Hatha Vinyasa and Multidimensional Vinyasa Yoga teacher (400 YTT), and she is the creator of the #yogacomciencia #Project.

ALINE PACHECO

Ph.D. Student

The crosstalk between necroptosis and inflammasomes in controlling Trypanosoma cruzi infection

She enjoys art in many ways. Saxophonist and Lindy Hopper in her spare time. Bioinformatician "wannabe".  Loves coffee, music, human rights, and science. Quoting Liza Simpson: "my interests include music, science, justice, animals, shapes, feelings.."

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Bachelor in Biological Sciences and Master of Science in Biological Chemistry from the Federal University of São Paulo. Currently a Ph.D. student from the Department of Immunology from the University of São Paulo (USP). Performing research focusing on molecular and innate immunology in glial cells from the central nervous system, with previous experience with molecular biology, genetics, and immunology.

MARCELO AMARAL

Ph.D. Student

Role of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes in controlling protozoan infections

Loves science, immunology, microorganisms, innovation, teaching, nature, coffee and chocolate.

Marcelo graduated in Biological Sciences (2015) and also obtained his Master of Science title in Microbiology and Immunology (2018), both at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Brazil. He is at present a Ph.D. student in the Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology Department at UNIFESP. He is currently developing his research investigating the role of inflammasome proteins after protozoan parasites infection.

INGRID FARIAS

Ph.D. Student

Role of inflammasomes in the control of ZIKV infection by glial cells.

​Loves science, TV shows, Star Wars, books, and coffee.

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Bachelor of Biomedicine from Paulista University (2017).

Ingrid is currently a master's student in the Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology Department at Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). She is investigating the role of inflammasomes in glial cells from the central nervous system after ZIKV infection.

LUIZA ZAINOTTI

Master Student

Role of pyroptosis in the control of  protozoan infections

Loves science, pets, poetry, music and coffee.

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Luiza is a biologist graduated at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in which she studied the modulation of inflammasomes mediated by extracellular vesicles derived from head and neck squamous carcinoma cells during her undergraduate research.

Currently she is a master's student in the Immunology Program at the University of São Paulo (USP) and her main interest is to evaluate the effect of pyroptotic cell death in the control of infection by protozoa parasites in different cell types.

RAFAEL QUEIROZ

Undergraduate student

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 A cat´s father. Loves reading, watching animes, and learning biochemistry and immunology.

Rafael is graduating in Biological Sciences at the Federal University of São Paulo. He has a great interest in immunology and intends to work with immunometabolism, seeking to understand the metabolic changes in cells amid protozoan infections

SAMANTHA MENDES

Undergraduate student

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She loves books, art, music, nature, cats, and science.

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Samantha is a Biological Sciences student, doing her graduation at the Federal University of São Paulo since 2018. She was part of the Biology Junior Enterprise (BUDjr) for 2 years, learning and acting in the marketing field and now is ready to explore the world of immunology

AMANDA CANIATO

Undergraduate student

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Loves science, beach, series, and books.

Amanda is a graduate student in Biological Sciences at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP).  
She is currently Vice President of the Junior Biology Company at UNIFESP

Diadema. In addition, she acts as a tutor in the Immunology classes, helping students with doubts and correcting the exercises performed by them.
She is entering the laboratory aiming new discoveries and immersing herself in the universe of immunology.

NATÁLIA FORTUNY

Undergraduate student

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Natália loves nature and animals, especially dogs and horses. She loves to read books and having açaí in her spare time.

She is a medical student at Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (UAM) in São Paulo, and is the current President of the Academic Directory of Dr. Sérgio Timerman at Universidade Anhembi Morumbi. In addition, she is a Scientific Initiation student at the Bortoluci Laboratory where she is contributing to the development of research focusing on innate immunology and cells of the central nervous system.