The Andrews Research Group

Professor, Principal Investigator

I obtained my PhD degree from the University of São Paulo (Brazil) in 1983 and performed postdoctoral studies at New York University, before joining the faculty at Yale University in 1990. In 2009 I moved my research program to the University of Maryland, where I chaired the Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Department from 2009 to 2014. In my lab we study the cell biology of intracellular parasites with a current focus on Leishmania, and also investigate the mechanism by which mammalian cells repair wounds on their plasma membrane. Over the years more than 20 graduate students, 30 postdoctoral fellows and several undergraduate students made important contributions to our research program.

Research Assistant Professor

Studying human pathogens with long-term goal towards discovery of suitable drug targets and therapeutic agents has been key propellant of my research interests. I received my Ph.D in 2000 (Jadavpur University; Kolkata; India) for my research on toposiomerases from Leishmania donovani, causative agent of visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) as a potential therapeutic target. Following that, I have worked on understanding the unique mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in trypanosomes. My current research interests include: i) identification and characterization of key components responsible for Leishmania iron acquisition and ii) role of iron homeostasis in influencing virulence of these parasites.

Post Doctoral Research Associate

I received my PhD degree in University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 2010. The subject of my thesis was the relationship between the cellular location of Leishmania amazonensis arginase and its role during mammalian macrophages infection. In February 2014 I joined Andrews lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Currently I am working on the identification and characterization of genes and proteins related to iron metabolism that are important for the survival and intracellular replication of the parasites.

Research Assistant Professor

I obtained my PhD in 2007 at the University of Strasbourg (France) working on the molecular mechanisms of Phagocytosis and the role of Phospholipase D and its product Phosphatidic Acid in the recruitment and fusion of lysosomes at the nascent Phagosome. I joined the Andrews’ Lab in 2008 as a postdoctoral fellow to establish the nature and fate of endocytic vesicles responsible for the removal of Streptolysin O (SLO) toxin pores from the PM. Since discovering that endocytosis of Caveolae, PM flask shape structures, is necessary for SLO pore removal and their degradation by the endosomal pathway, I am now working as an Assistant Research Professor on identifying further molecular actors of Caveolae dynamics and their function in PM repair. 

Post Doctoral Reserach Associate

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Mackenzie University in 2009, and my undergraduate research project entitled “Trypanosoma dionisii: Study of the mechanisms of cell invasion in the context of isolated infection and co-infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and EIEC” was developed at Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). My Masters and PhD were also obtained at UNIFESP under the mentoring of Prof. Dr. Nobuko Yoshida in 2012 and 2016, respectively. My Masters dissertation is entitled "Studies on a new strain of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from bats with a focus on molecular aspects of infection by metacyclic trypomastigotes" and my PhD thesis is entitled "Cell invasion and oral infection by Trypanosoma cruzi strains of TcI and TcIV genetic groups isolated from patients with Chagas disease”. In parallel, I developed another project entitled “Study of the cruzipain role, the major cysteine proteinase, in host cell invasion by metacyclic trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi.”. In March 2016, I joined the Andrews’ laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow. The main subject of my project is the mechanism of plasma membrane repair in B lymphocytes.

Lab Manager

I graduated from the University of Maryland in Fall 2014 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology (Neuro/Physio specialization). I joined the Andrews lab in January 2015 and oversee acquisition of lab supplies and lab maintinence as well as help perform experimental protocols.