Mariola Ferraro
Associate Professor
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Teaching Interests
- MCB 6937 - Post-Translational Modifications in Microbiology
- MCB 5205 - Microbiology of Human Pathogens
- MCB 4203 - Bacterial Pathogens
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Education
- Ph.D. in Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, England, UK (2010)
- M.S. in Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland (2005)
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Description of Research
General area: The Ferraro Lab is investigating novel host-directed therapies against Gram-negative infections and the functions of exosomes, outer membrane vesicles and other extracellular vesicles in enteric infections. We are also interested in improving the delivery methods for therapeutic strategies, such as enzyme replacement therapies.
Our group predominantly studies molecular aspects of the immune responses in Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Yersinia ssp. infections. For instance, we discovered a novel function of extracellular vesicles in priming the protective innate and adaptive immune responses against Salmonella infection. We are currently investigating the mechanisms of action of these vesicles and the trafficking of antigens to these compartments.
We also identified new roles of bioactive lipids, such as prostaglandins in macrophage polarization, which supports the elimination of bacteria. We found that bacterial pathogens perturb the prostaglandin system by their virulence factors delivered by Type Three Secretion Systems. Currently, we are interested in the function of other bioactive lipids, such as endocannabinoids and cannabinoids in the host response to infection and the regulation of inflammation.
Finally, we specialize in multi-omics techniques and tools such as chemical proteomics and lipidomics to characterize host-pathogen interactions or post-translational modifications.
We are open to collaborations in the area of proteomics, bioactive lipids and extracellular vesicles. - Publications
