Background

My research interest is to study the molecular aspects of insect-endosymbiont-parasite interactions that occur in zoonotic disease vectors. I initially studied the expression and activity of trypsins in the digestive track of Lutzomya longipalpis, the main vector of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Brazil. In addition, I studied the expression and function of L. longipalpis innate immune response repressors. Currently my interest is in investigating the distribution of endosymbionts and trypanosome parasites in tsetse flies collected in Uganda. While doing this, I am also exploring the salivary gland transcriptome of colonized Glossina morsitans morsitans infected with trypanosome.

Education

• Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Brazil, 2011
• MSc. Cell and Molecular Biology: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Brazil, 2007
• Veterinary Medicine: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil, 2005

Awards, Honors and Grants

• 2010 Walter Colli Award, Brazilian Society of Protozoology, Brazil
• 2009 CAPES-Brazil Scholarship for international PhD internship in Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK
• 2009 Walter Colli Award, Brazilian Society of Protozoology, Brazil
• 2007 FAPERJ-Brazil Scholarship for PhD program
• 2005 Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz-Brazil Scholarship for MSc program
• 2002 Professor Carlos Maria Antonio Hubinger Tokarnia Research Award, 1st place, Veterinary Institute, UFRRJ, Brazil
• 2001 Professor Carlos Maria Antonio Hubinger Tokarnia Research Award, 1st place, Veterinary Institute, UFRRJ, Brazil
• 2001 Professor Eugenio Izecksohn Research Award, 2nd place, Biology Institute, UFRRJ, Brazil