Expertise: Burkholderia, Gene editing, Aggregates, Adaptation, Cystic fibrosis
Short Bio:
Mirela Ferreira is a PhD student currently enrolled in the PhD program Biotechnology and Biosciences (BIOTECnico) at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. Her PhD project focuses on the bacterial evolution and adaptation in chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Employing different strategies, the main goal of her work it to understand the pathoadaptation process of Burkholderia multivorans within the lungs of cystic fibrosis patient, with a particular focus on exploring the development of cellular aggregates – a frequently reported pathoadaptation trait.
Research Focus:
Bacterial adaptations in the context of chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients
Ferreira, MR.*, Gomes, SC.*, Tavares, AF., Silva, IN., Becker, JD., & Moreira, LM. (2021). A Histone-Like Nucleoid Structuring Protein Regulates Several Virulence Traits in Burkholderia multivorans. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87(14), e0036921. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00369-21*Contributed equally
Ferreira, MR.*, Gomes, SC.*, & Moreira, LM. (2019). Mucoid switch in Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria: Triggers, molecular mechanisms, and implications in pathogenesis. Advances in Applied Microbiology, 107, 113-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aambs.2019.03.001
*Contributed equally