C.M. Ribeiro PhD

foto

PhD C.M. Ribeiro

Positions
Associate Professor, Research Associate
Main activities
Research
Specialisation
Immunology, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Virology, Autophagy
Focus of research

Our Autophagy-directed Immunity (ADI) research group focuses on elucidating the mechanisms governing autophagy pathways, ultimately aiming to maximize the therapeutic potential of targeting autophagy to intervene in chronic viral infections and inflammatory diseases. Autophagy pathways are not only endowed with the capacity to degrade viruses and instruct adaptive T cell-mediated responses, but also to mediate the release of cytosolic contents extracellularly and thereby control inflammatory output. We use both hypothesis-driven as well as unbiased genome-wide and proteomics approaches to define novel regulators and signalling components of autophagy pathways. In this context, we have recently discovered an important role for autophagy in restricting HIV-1 infection through a novel TRIM5α-Atg16L1-Atg5 mechanism. Currently, we are investigating the impact of the TRIM5α-mediated autophagy pathway on HIV-1 disease progression and inflammatory signatures.

 

Our major research lines are:

  1. Molecular Regulation of Degradative Autophagy and Secretory Autophagy in Viral Infections, with particular emphasis on HIV-1 and Dengue virus infection.  
  2. Function of Autophagy Molecules and Autophagy Vesicles on Virus Restriction, Molecular Inflammation and T-cell mediated Immunity - using organoid technology and ex vivo explant tissue models.
  3. Impact of Autophagy Mechanisms and Polymorphisms on Clinical Disease Outcomes

 

Current members:

  • Renée RCE Schreurs       - Postdoctoral fellow 
  • Alexandra PM Cloherty  - PhD candidate
  • Tracy-Jane THD Eisden  - PhD candidate [Alliance AMC-VUmc joint project]

 

For any enquiries, please contact: c.m.ribeiro@amsterdamumc.nl

 

 

Key publications
  • Ribeiro Carla M. S., Sarrami-Forooshani Ramin, Setiawan Laurentia C., Zijlstra-Willems Esther M., van Hamme John L., Tigchelaar Wikky, van der Wel Nicole N., Kootstra Neeltje A., Gringhuis Sonja I., Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. Receptor usage dictates HIV-1 restriction by human TRIM5α in dendritic cell subsets Nature 2016;540 (7633):448-452 [PubMed]
  • Hertoghs Nina, Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H., Ribeiro Carla M. S. Interplay between HIV-1 innate sensing and restriction in mucosal dendritic cells: balancing defense and viral transmission Current opinion in virology 2017;22:112-119 [PubMed]
  • van den Berg Linda M., Ribeiro Carla M. S., Zijlstra-Willems Esther M., de Witte Lot, Fluitsma Donna, Tigchelaar Wikky, Everts Vincent, Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. Caveolin-1 mediated uptake via langerin restricts HIV-1 infection in human Langerhans cells Retrovirology 2014;11 (1):123 [PubMed]
  • Nijmeijer Bernadien M, Sarrami-Forooshani Ramin, Steba Gaby S, Schreurs Renée Rce, Koekkoek Sylvie M, Molenkamp Richard, Schinkel Janke, Reiss Peter, Siegenbeek van Heukelom Matthijs L, van der Valk Marc, Ribeiro Carla Ms, Geijtenbeek Teunis Bh HIV-1 exposure and immune activation enhance sexual transmission of Hepatitis C virus by primary Langerhans cells Journal of the International AIDS Society 2019;22 (3):e25268 [PubMed]
  • Sarrami-Forooshani Ramin, Mesman Annelies W., van Teijlingen Nienke H., Sprokholt Joris K., van der Vlist Michiel, Ribeiro Carla M. S., Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. Human immature Langerhans cells restrict CXCR4-using HIV-1 transmission Retrovirology 2014;11 (1):52 [PubMed]
All Publications
Curriculum Vitae

 

CURRENT POSITION:

Since 1st April 2019:  Associate professor, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC), Amsterdam

Since 1st April 2017:  Assistant professor (Tenure-track position) & Research group leader, Department of Experimental Immunology, AMC, Amsterdam

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2014 - 2017:    VENI Postdoctoral fellow & Project leader, Department of Experimental Immunology, AMC, Amsterdam

2011 - 2013:    Post-Doc, Department of Experimental Immunology, AMC, Amsterdam

2010 - 2011:    Lecturer & Co-supervisor PhD student, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen

2006 - 2010:    PhD student - Personal International PhD grant  - Cell Biology & Immunology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen

 

INTERNATIONAL WORK VISITS:

2009:               Visiting Scientist at University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom - Prof. dr. Chris Secombes Lab in collaboration with dr. Steve Bird

2006:               Visiting Scientist at Free University of Brussels, Belgium - Prof. dr. Geert Raes Lab

2004-2005:      Research Fellow – Marie Curie International Training Network 

2004:               Erasmus Exchange Master Student Scholarship for a 6-month internship, Wageningen University & Research by the Erasmus Programme of the European Union

 

EDUCATION:

2006 - 2010:    Doctoral degree, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen.

                        Thesis: Innate immune receptors in carp: recognition of protozoan parasites

                        Obtained doctorate: 01-10-2010

 

2000 - 2004:   Master's degree, Oporto University, Portugal

                        Main topic: Biochemistry

                        Obtained degree: 21-12-2004

 

FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS:

2019:              AMC PPP grant, as consortium partner

2019:              AIDS Fonds Health-Holland PPP HIV Cure grant, as consortium partner

2018:              Aspasia award (for female VIDI laureates), The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw)

2018:              AMC PhD grant (awarded by AMC to VIDI laureates)

2018:              VIDI grant, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw)

2017:              Joep Lange & Jacqueline van Tongeren Young Investigator award, Netherlands Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment (NCHIV)

2017:              Tenure-Track award, AMC

2015:              ALLIANCE AMC-VUmc joint PhD grant, as co-applicant

2014:              AIDS Fonds grant, as co-applicant

2013:              VENI grant, Dutch Research Council (NWO)

2008:              Young & Promising Scientist award, Polish Society of Experimental and Clinical Society, Krakow, Poland

2005:              International PhD Scholarship for 4 years, Portuguese funding agency for science, research and technology (FCT)

2004:              Erasmus Exchange Student Scholarship for a 6-month scientific international internship, Erasmus Programme of the European Union

 

MENTORSHIP & TEACHING ACTIVITIES:

I have successfully mentored 12 university bachelor/master/literature student theses. Furthermore, I have proven great affinity with teaching and managerial activities; I am coordinating and teaching the yearly Bachelor course ‘Keuzevak module: HIV infection and pathogenesis’ for medical students at AMC, organized the weekly seminars at my department and have incorporated my research during lectures for university students. This appeared a successful approach as demonstrated by the great interest of the students I supervised to return and initiate PhD projects with me. Since 2017, I am enrolled in the BKO trajectory and completed the BKO course for UvA lectures. I have been (invited) lecturer (since 2015) in Immunology, Infectious diseases, Clinical Immunology at Bsc, Msc and PhD level in different Universities (UvA, VU, AUC, UU). Currently, I am the co-promotor/supervisor of 1 Postdoctoral researcher (Renée Schreurs) and 6 PhD students (with PhD defense expected): Ramin Sarrami-Forooshani (begin 2020), Bernadien Nijmeijer (mid-2020), Nienke van Teijlingen, MD (2020),  Tracy-Jane Eisden (2021), Leanne Helgers (2022) and Alexandra Cloherty (2023). Furthermore, two new master students (Anusca Rader and Margaux Demuysere) will soon start their internship within our research group.

 

SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH:

I communicate my research to stakeholders during the relevant annual meetings, network events and international symposia. My discovery on the important role for autophagy in inhibiting mucosal HIV-1 infection has led to a wide-ranging media coverage of international HIV-related as well as general-interest press (Elsevier and Parool), radio (Radio 1 and portuguese TSF) and social media interfaces (Aids fonds, Hiv Vereniging). I was interviewed by the Amsterdam television channel AT5 about the impact of my research finding on the development of innovative HIV therapies for a general audience: https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/171497/we-zijn-op-weg-naar-het-vinden-van-een-belangrijk-nieuw-hiv-medicijn . Furthermore, I discussed my research vision and findings with the general public during the ‘HIV-1 Open Day’ (in 2014), and with patient groups and clinicians during the ‘The Power of Love at Royal Theatre Carré’ (in 2017). I have organized with a team of scientists a ‘Scheurkalender app’ where the latest advancements in immunology, infectious and oncology were shared to the general public with daily posts for a yearlong.  I was an invited member (2017-2018) to the UvA University Forum, where I actively participate in the debate about the future, policies and strategy of UvA together with the Board and Faculty Deans. In 2018, I have been selected as a member to the Amsterdam Young Academy (AYA). AYA is an independent platform where talented young scientists from UvA and VU develop views on science policy and devise strategies and recommendations on how to build bridges between science and society: https://amsterdamyoungacademy.nl/ .

 

Current research funding
  • AMC (Vrijgesteld)
  • NWO
  • ZonMw