Molecular Parasitology Section
Aline Sardinha-Silva, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Major Areas of Research
- Mucosal immunity to commensal and pathogenic protozoa
- CRISPR-based forward/reverse genetics to study Toxoplasma gondii development, virulence, and transmission
- Host-parasite interactions and mechanisms of disease resistance, susceptibility, and parasite persistence
- Transmission-blocking vaccine strategies against protozoa parasites and antigen discovery for effective mucosal immune priming
Program Description
Dr. Sardinha-Silva’s research focuses on mucosal immune responses to gastrointestinal protists of global public health importance, as well as the mechanisms of parasite transmission to humans, wildlife and livestock, and the regulation of parasite life cycle. Her work integrates molecular genetics, CRISPR-based approaches, and murine models to study host-parasite interactions, mucosal immune priming during protozoan infections, and to identify target antigens for transmission-blocking vaccines and novel mucosal therapeutic strategies.
Her research program centers on three main areas: (1) defining how gastrointestinal protists regulate mucosal immunity and the mechanisms that limit bystander inflammation at barrier tissues; (2) identifying Toxoplasma gondii factors that drive parasite transmission using forward and reverse CRISPR genetic screens; and (3) developing transmission-blocking strategies against Toxoplasma, including live-attenuated and virus-like particle (VLP) plataforms, and investigating how protozoan antigens can act as adjuvant to prime protective immunity.
Biography
Education
Ph.D., Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
M.Sc., Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
B.Sc., Biology, State University of Northern Parana, Brazil
Languages Spoken
PortugueseDr. Sardinha-Silva received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the State University of Northen Parana, Brazil, and obtained her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Immunology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She joined the NIH in 2016 as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Michael Grigg in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD), NIAID. In 2021, she was appointed as a Research Fellow, and she is currently a Staff Scientist in LPD.
Selected Publications
Sardinha-Silva A, Gazzinelli-Guimaraes PH, Ajakaye OG, Oliveira FMS, Ferreira TR, Alves-Ferreira EVC, Tjhin ET, Gregg B, Fink MY, Coelho CH, Singer SM, Grigg ME. Giardia-induced Type 2 mucosal immunity attenuates intestinal inflammation caused by co-infection or colitis in mice. Nat Microbiol. 2025;10(8):1886-1901.
Swapna LS, Stevens GC, Sardinha-Silva A, Hu LZ, Brand V, Fusca DD, Xiong X, Boyle JP, Grigg ME, Emili A, Parkinson J. ToxoNet: A high confidence map of protein-protein interactions in Toxoplasma gondii. Plos Computational Biology. 2024; 20(6):e1012208.
Sardinha-Silva A, Alves-Ferreira EC, Grigg ME. Intestinal imune responses to comensal and pathogenic protozoa. Frontiers in Immunology. 2022; 16:13:963723.
Sardinha-Silva A, Mendonça-Natividade FC, Pinzan CF, Lopes CD, Costa DL, Jacot D, Fernandes FF, Zorzetto-Fernandes AV, Gay N, Sher A, Jankovic, D Soldati-Favre D, Grigg ME, Roque-Barreira MC. The lectin-specific activity of Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins 1 and 4 bind to Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 N-glycans to regulate innate immune priming. Plos Pathogens. 2019; 15(6):e1007871.
Pinzan CF, Sardinha-Silva A, Lai L, Lourenço EV, Panunto-Castelo A, Matthews S, Roque-Barreira MC. Vaccination with recombinant microneme proteins confers protection against experimental toxoplasmosis. Plos One. 2015; 10(11):e0143087.
Patents
Grigg ME, Pszenny V, Sardinha-Silva A, Bouamr F, inventors; United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, assignee.Virus-like particles vaccines for non-oral mucosal or subcutaneous administration. United States Patent E-101-2025-01 US. 20 October 2025.
Grigg ME, Sardinha-Silva A, Pszenny V, Lukes J, Dubey JP, inventors; United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, assignee. Vaccine for cats to block Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding and transmission. United States Patent E-118-2023-2-US-01. 2 June 2024.
Visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a complete patent listing.