Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
Group Leader, LNBio – CNPEM
Coordinator of Viral Vector Laboratory
Phone: +55 19 3512-1104
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The aim of our research is developing experimental approaches for cancer therapy, based on delivery of inhibitory molecules to tumor cells or boosting immune cells to eliminate tumors.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Enhancing immunity against cancer cells
Tumor cells are low antigenic and develop several skills to evade immune system. Switching the balance between immune tolerance and immune surveillance may enhance immune response, facilitating detection and elimination of cancer cells.
Our research group develops strategies to overcome immunosuppressive mechanisms and potentiate antitumor response. Since T cell play an important role in cancer therapy, one of our approaches is based on development of tumor derived vaccines, that harbor immunomodulatory molecules. We investigate synergism when combining different vaccines that enhances antigen presentation, reinforce T cell activation and preventing anergy of tumor infiltrate lymphocytes. In addition, we also explore strategies to inhibit regulatory T cells. This T cell population has the unique ability of suppressing T cell proliferation. They also migrate to tumor sites, attracted by chemokines and antagonize antitumor response. In this way we develop viral vectors and nanoparticles to deliver inhibitory molecules to regulatory T cells, to induce a functional blockade or even blocking its traffic to tumor sites.
Developing new antiviral strategies based on small molecules screening
The Brazilian microcephaly outbreak in 2016 has shown the importance of developing antiviral drugs to inhibit ZIKV. WE are exploring a new platform to screen compounds targeting ZIKV inhibition, based on genetically modified cells that can be used to evaluate a cytoprotective effect mediated by a new drug candidate. This system also allows a high throughput screening of extensive libraries, using LNBio HTS facility.
Besides ZIKV, our group also investigate new strategies to eliminate virus-infected cells based on nanoparticles and viral vectors which specifically target infected cells.
EDUCATION
PhD in Biotechnology, Biotechnology program , University of Sao Paulo, 2006.
PharmD, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, specialization in Clinical Biochemistry, University of Sao Paulo, 2001
PAST POSITIONS
2009-2011 postdoctoral fellow, Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.
2006-2009 postdoctoral fellow, Heart Institute, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Manrique-Rincón AJ, Beraldo CM, Toscaro JM, Bajgelman MC. Exploring Synergy in Combinations of Tumor-Derived Vaccines That Harbor 4-1BBL, OX40L, and GM-CSF. Frontiers in immunology (2017) 8(1150). doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01150.
- de Souza ESJM, Hanchuk TD, Santos MI, Kobarg J, Bajgelman MC, Cardoso MB. Viral Inhibition Mechanism Mediated by Surface-Modified Silica Nanoparticles. ACS applied materials & interfaces (2016). Epub 2016/06/11. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b03342. PubMed PMID: 27284685.
- Bajgelman MC, Medrano RF, Carvalho AC, Strauss BE. AAVPG: a vigilant vector where transgene expression is induced by p53. Virology (2013) 447(1-2):166-71. Epub 2013/11/12. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.09.004. PubMed PMID: 24210111.
- Berezhnoy A, Brenneman R, Bajgelman M, Seales D, Gilboa E. Thermal Stability of siRNA Modulates Aptamer- conjugated siRNA Inhibition. Molecular therapy Nucleic acids (2012) 1:e51. Epub 2013/01/25. doi: 10.1038/mtna.2012.41. PubMed PMID: 23344651; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3499696.
- Strauss BE, Patricio JR, de Carvalho AC, Bajgelman MC. A lentiviral vector with expression controlled by E2F-1: a potential tool for the study and treatment of proliferative diseases. Biochemical and biophysical research communications (2006) 348(4):1411-8. Epub 2006/08/22. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.08.007. PubMed PMID: 16920066.
