Bruno Martorelli Di Genova, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Training & Education

Dr. Martorelli Di Genova received his Ph.D. in Brazil from Paulista Medical School (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), studying cellular biology of Giardia lamblia. For postdoctoral research, he studied Toxoplasma gondii-host interaction with Dr. Knoll at University of Wisconsin-Madison, before joining the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 2021. 

Research Interests

Our lab studies Eukaryotic Pathogens and their interaction with the host. Our long-term goal is to develop efficacious therapies against parasites while learning basic biology. Toxoplasma gondii infects 1/3 of the human population, and its infection can produce severe outcomes in immunocompromised patients. Despite being a common infection, there is still no clinical treatment against the infection's chronic stages. Our current project aims to determine the metabolic needs and environmental triggers of the T. gondii chronic stage. To answer these questions, our lab uses many different techniques, from imaging to OMICS. Those results will reveal new drug targets and treatment strategies against the parasite. 

T. gondii tissue cyst

T. gondii tissue cyst (cyst wall in red, parasites in green)

Featured Publications

Martorelli Di Genova B, Wilson SK, Dubey JP, Knoll LJ. Intestinal delta-6-desaturase activity determines host range for Toxoplasma sexual reproduction. PLOS Biol. 2019 Aug 20;17(8):e3000364.

Khalifa MM*, Martorelli Di Genova B*, McAlpine SG, Gallego-Lopez GM, Stevenson DM, Rozema SD, et al. Dual-Stage Picolinic Acid-Derived Inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2020 Dec 10;11(12):2382–8. (*shared first author)

Olson WJ, Martorelli Di Genova B, Gallego-Lopez G, Dawson AR, Stevenson D, Amador-Noguez D, et al. Dual metabolomic profiling uncovers Toxoplasma manipulation of the host metabolome and the discovery of a novel parasite metabolic capability. PLOS Pathog. 2020 Apr 7;16(4):e1008432. 

All Di Genova publications

Bruno Martorelli Di Genova smiling

Contact Information

 

Office: 320B Stafford Hall

Phone: 802-656-4229

Lab: 320 Stafford

Phone: 802-656-4230

Email

 

Staff:

Gabriel Messina, Research Lab Technician