Ethel Bayer-Santos
- Assistant Professor
- Molecular Biosciences
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs
Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Ethel Bayer Santos completed her B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, and postdoctoral fellowships in infectious diseases. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences. Her research interests include interbacterial competition, host-microbe interactions, and protein function and evolution.
Research
The EBSlab is focused on (micro)biological conflicts and the weapons used by bacteria to target competitors. Our group uses Salmonella and a specialized contractile nanoweapon, the Type 6 Secretion System, to understand how enteric pathogens overcome colonization resistance imposed by the microbiota and establish an infection. The effectors secreted by the T6SS are polymorphic toxins, forming a pool of constantly evolving proteins with diverse and novel biochemical activities. Our research creates opportunities for interdisciplinary projects spanning microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics.
Research Areas
- Infectious Disease, Immunology and Microbiology
- Molecular Biology or Genetics
- Biochemistry
Fields of Interest
- Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
- Biomolecular Structure & Function
Centers and Institutes
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs
- John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease
Education
- B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina.
- Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Sao Paulo.
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Imperial College London.
Publications
Hespanhol JT, Sanchez-Limache DE, Nicastro GG, Mead L, Llontop EE, Chagas-Santos G, Farah CS, de Souza RF, Galhardo RDS, Lovering AL, Bayer-Santos E. (2022). Antibacterial T6SS effectors with a VRR-Nuc domain are structure-specific nucleases. Elife,11, e82437.
Bayer-Santos E. (2022). A journey into Salmonella effectors: Specialized molecules for biological conflicts. Cell Host Microbe, 30(4):423-426.
Sibinelli-Sousa S, Hespanhol JT, Nicastro GG, Matsuyama BY, Mesnage S, Patel A, de Souza RF, Guzzo CR, Bayer-Santos E. (2020). A Family of T6SS Antibacterial Effectors Related to l,d-Transpeptidases Targets the Peptidoglycan. Cell Rep., 31(12):107813.
Awards
- FAPESP Young Investigator
- Luiz Trabulsi Award in Science