She holds a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of São Paulo (1982), a Master's degree in Immunology at the University of São Paulo (1986) and a PhD in Sciences (Biology of the Pathogen-Host Relationship) at the University of São Paulo (1992). She did postdoctoral work at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. She obtained the title of "Livre Docência" in 2009 and was approved for the position of Full Professor at the Department of Immunology at the University of São Paulo in 2023. She coordinated the Post-Graduate Program in Immunology at Institute of Biomedical Sciences of University of São Paulo (2006-2011). She was General Secretary (2004-2005) and Vice-President (2016-2017) of the Brazilian Society of Immunology (SBI). She supervised 11 master's theses and 16 doctoral theses, which received the Honorable Mention of the USP Thesis Highlight Award (2015), Honorable Mention of the Capes Thesis Award (2016 and 2021) and Honorable Mention of Thereza Kipnis Award from SBI (2021). She supervised 17 postdoctoral fellows. She is a reviewer of publications in journals of high scientific quality. She has experience in the field of Immunology, with an emphasis on Cellular Immunology, working mainly on the following topics: immunology of malaria, Chagas disease and tuberculosis. She has published more than 90 articles in scientific journals and participated in a patent registration, with important contributions to the field of infectious disease immunology. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)
| Articles published in Pesquisa FAPESP Magazine about the researcher: |
| A very aggressive bacillus |
| Un bacilo muy agresivo |
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| News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the researcher |
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| VEICULO: TITULO (DATA) |
| VEICULO: TITULO (DATA) |
Dead cells as a result of tissue damage are quickly engulfed, but before disappearing, warn the surrounding cells so that repair programs are activated. The recognition of cell damage by the innate immune system contributes to the development of inflammatory immune responses and tissue repair, but may also exacerbate tissue injuries. In some cases, uncontrolled cell death can trigger a ca…
Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem. One third of the world population is infected with mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Mtb and Mycobacterium bovis - Mbv) and 10% of these individuals will develop the disease throughout their lives. Gene mutations are responsible for the increased virulence of these mycobacteria and/or re…
The intense activation of the immune system during the erythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium is responsible for several syndromes associated with the disease, such as anemia, cerebral malaria, metabolic acidosis and systemic shock. Some molecules released by damaged cells, such as ATP and uric acid, are detected by cells of the immune system. These damage signals participate in the activation …
(Only some records are available in English at this moment)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with malaria is due to an intense inflammatory response in the lungs. Granzymes and perforins released by parasite-specific CD8+ T cells disrupt the alveolar-capillary barrier, resulting in fluid leakage into the lung interstitial space and, consequently, hypoxia. In this context, there is release of adenosine triphosphate molecules in…
Cerebral malaria is characterized by proliferation of Th1-profile CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells (CTLs) in the spleen, which migrate to the cerebral microvasculture, promoting dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the parenchyma, CTLs and Th1 cells contribute to the reactivity of glial cells, inducing neuroinflammation, promoting cell death and increasing levels of extracellular…
The dead cells as a result of the tissue damage are rapidly phagocytosed, but before they disappear, they alert the surrounding cells to activate the repair programs. The recognition by the innate immune system of cellular damage contributes to the development of inflammatory processes and tissue repair immune responses, but can also determine the worsening of the lesions in the damaged t…
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which has affected global public health. The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 involves both the humoral response, mediated by antibodies, and the cellular response, mediated by specific T lymphocytes. The humoral response is the basis of vaccine protection generated against the virus, but it has limitations regarding…
CD4+ T cell activity is essential for the development of effective immune responses in various pathological contexts, including infection with parasites of the genus Plasmodium. In secondary lymphoid organs, CD4+ T cells differentiate into two distinct effector lineages: TFH and non-TFH cells. TFH cells proceed to germinal centers where they interact with B cells and assist them in antibo…
(Only some records are available in English at this moment)
Vaccination is essential in preventing viral infections and enhancing public health by reducing disease incidence and complications. However, vaccine efficacy varies due to factors such as the pathogen's nature, vaccine type, and individual immune response. Intranasal immunizations can improve the immune response by stimulating tissue-resident memory T cells (TRMs), promoting early virus …
The germinal center reaction develops in secondary lymphoid organs and is essential for the production of high-affinity antibodies. These antibodies can contribute to vaccine response and elimination of pathogens but can lead to the emergence of autoimmune diseases mediated by autoantibodies. Thus, the germinal center must be finely regulated to prevent harmful responses. Tfr cells are ab…
Tuberculosis, a disease caused by acid-fast bacilli, has a high prevalence worldwide. It is estimated that Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus infects a quarter of the world's population, and about 10% of these individuals are expected to develop the disease in the course of their lives. Recently, we observed that C57BL/6 mice infected with the clinical MP287/03 isolate of Mycobacterium b…
The understanding of host immune mechanisms during Plasmodium infection is essential to improve malaria prevention. In malaria endemic regions, one single person can be infected simultaneously with different species or strains of the same specie of Plasmodium, a phenomenon named superinfection. Semi-immune young children can be protected against superinfection. It was described in experim…
(Only some records are available in English at this moment)
| 18 / 10 | Completed research grants |
| 2 / 2 | Ongoing scholarships in Brazil |
| 43 / 31 | Completed scholarships in Brazil |
| 1 / 1 | Ongoing scholarships abroad |
| 5 / 4 | Completed scholarships abroad |
| 69 / 48 | All research grants and scholarships |
| Associated processes | |
CV Lattes
ORCID