Maritza Jaramillo, PhD

The main interest of the laboratory is to study the molecular basis of translation control (i.e. the regulation of the efficiency of mRNA translation) during the exposure of placental cells to factors of environmental stresses such as inflammatory mediators and infectious agents. Indeed, translational control has been shown to provide immune cells with a rapid response to external triggers or signals without de novo mRNA synthesis. However, how specific changes in mRNA translation influence normal and impaired placental functions remains largely unexplored. To address this, we study the impact of dysregulation of RNA translation efficiency on the placenta during congenital toxoplasmosis, a vertically transmitted infection that leads to severe birth defects or abortion.

We advance the hypothesis that aberrant mRNA translation in infected placental cell populations contributes to modification of gene expression programs required for normal embryo nesting, placental development and function. To test our hypothesis, we combine various “OMICS” approaches in human villous and extravillous trophoblasts. In parallel, we perform in silico analyzes and mechanistic studies in engineered trophoblast cell lines to define the signaling pathways and trans-acting factors leading to translational repression or activation of specific transcripts. Overall, these studies will provide a better understanding of the role of translational control in normal and pathological placental function.

Leonardo Cortazzo da Silva
MSc student
Leonardo.Cortazzo@inrs.ca

Camila Almeida Cardoso
MSc student
camila.cardoso@inrs.ca

Laura Marcela Garcis Prada, MSc
PhD student
laura.garcia@inrs.ca

Carolina Maria Vargas Leon, MSc
PhD student
carolina.vargas@inrs.ca

Aurore Lebourg, MSc
PhD student
aurore.lebourg@inrs.ca

Visnu Chaparro, PhD
Postdoc fellow
visnu.chaparro@inrs.ca

Louis-Philippe Leroux, PhD
Research Associate
louis-philippe.leroux@inrs.ca