Giardia lamblia is a unicellular parasitic protozoan that causes an infection known as giardiasis, which can be asymptomatic or lead to acute and, in some cases, chronic illness. Current evidence suggests that the adaptation of G. lamblia represents an extreme example of reductive evolution without loss of function. This unique feature of the parasite, coupled with the fact that its genome is fully sequenced and its entire life cycle can be reproduced in vitro, makes it an ideal model for studying various cellular mechanisms, including programmed cell death (PCD). Particularly noteworthy is the consideration that PCD in this organism, which lacks mitochondria, should follow a non-classical pathway. Furthermore, these studies will help identify new targets for therapeutic agents, considering that current treatments are not entirely effective and can lead to the development of resistant strains.
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH FUNDS
- 2022-2023. CONICET PIBAA Grant: «Study of Programmed Cell Death Mechanisms in the Amitochondrial Parasite G. lamblia.» Principal Investigator.
- 2022-2023. PICT 2019-0156. «Ivermectin as a Tool to Study Programmed Cell Death Mechanism in G. lamblia.» Principal Investigator.
- 2022-2024. PICT-2021-CAT-I-00088. «Topical Mitefosine for the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.» Lead Researcher.
PUBLICATIONS (LATEST FIVE YEARS)
- Natali L, Luna Pizarro G, Moyano S, de la Cruz-Thea B, Musso J, Rópolo AS, Eichner N, Meister G, Musri MM, Feliziani C, Touz MC. The Exosome-like Vesicles of Giardia Assemblages A, B, and E Are Involved in the Delivering of Distinct Small RNA from Parasite to Parasite. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 31;24(11). doi: 10.3390/ijms24119559.
- Feliziani C, Fernandez M, Quassollo G, Holstein D, Bairo SM, Paton JC, Paton AW, de Batista J, Lechleiter JD, Bollo M. Ca(2+) signalling system initiated by endoplasmic reticulum stress stimulates PERK activation. Cell Calcium. 2022 Sep;106:102622. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2022.102622.
- Feliziani C, Rivero MR, Quassollo G, Rópolo AS, Touz MC. Investigating how clathrin adaptor complex AP-2 participates in Giardia lamblia encystation. Int J Parasitol. 2022 Jun;52(7):399-406. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.02.003.
- Rivero MR, De Angelo C, Feliziani C, Liang S, Tiranti K, Salas MM, Salomon OD. Enterobiasis and its risk factors in urban, rural and indigenous children of subtropical Argentina. Parasitology. 2022 Mar;149(3):396-406. doi: 10.1017/S0031182021001955.
- Rivero MR, Feliziani C, De Angelo C, Tiranti K, Salomon OD, Touz MC. Giardia spp., the most ubiquitous protozoan parasite in Argentina: human, animal and environmental surveys reported in the last 40 years. Parasitol Res. 2020 Oct;119(10):3181-3201. doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06853-7.
- Moyano S, Musso J, Feliziani C, Zamponi N, Frontera LS, Ropolo AS, Lanfredi-Rangel A, Lalle M, Touz M. Exosome Biogenesis in the Protozoa Parasite Giardia lamblia: A Model of Reduced Interorganellar Crosstalk. Cells. 2019 Dec 9;8(12). doi: 10.3390/cells8121600.
- Rópolo AS, Feliziani C, Touz MC. Unusual proteins in Giardia duodenalis and their role in survival. Adv Parasitol. 2019;106:1-50. doi: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.07.001.
- Virgolini MJ, Feliziani C, Cambiasso MJ, Lopez PH, Bollo M. Neurite atrophy and apoptosis mediated by PERK signaling after accumulation of GM2-ganglioside. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2019 Feb;1866(2):225-239. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.10.014.
- Rópolo AS, Feliziani C, Touz MC*. Unusual proteins in Giardia duodenalis and their role in survival. Adv Parasitol. 2019;106:1-50. doi: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.07.001.
- Complete and updated list available here.
TEAM
