Rafael Tomoya Michita

Postdoctoral Associate

Email

Positions

Postdoctoral Associate: Medicine - Infectious Disease
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Professional Statement

I am a molecular biologist with extensive training in genetic association studies. My research focuses on studying the mechanisms of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. The long-term goals of my research agenda are to 1) elucidate how maternal immunological tolerance is achieved, 2) understand the effects of infections and the microbiome in this fine-tuned balance; and 3) identify biomarkers for pregnancy disorders and develop new methods and strategies with translational potential for clinical use. I have led research that has improved our understanding of immune tolerance and demonstrated a vital link in that i) immunoregulatory molecules are equally co-opted in pregnancy and solid organ transplantation, and ii) genetic variation in immunologically important genes is associated with tolerance disruption in pregnancy and transplantation. I have been involved in developing new models to assess the mechanisms of maternal tolerance and investigate the effects of pathological and commensal microorganisms. I am using cutting-edge techniques in my research, including functional genetic tools coupled with animal models, high-resolution microscopy, organ-on-chip, proteomics, as well as classical techniques for studying microorganisms. Recently, I discovered that placental cells infected with Zika virus elaborate long cellular structures termed tunneling nanotubes that facilitate the intracellular transfer of viral proteins and organelles between connected cells.

Selected Publications

Michita RT, Zambra FMB, Fraga LR, Sanseverino MTV, Callegari-Jacques SM, Vianna P, Chies JAB.. " " Hum Immunol.. 2016 Oct ;
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Michita RT, Chies JAB, Schramm S, Horn PA, Heinemann FM, Wunsch A, Viebahn R, Schenker P, Rebmann V.. " " Int J Mol Sci.. 2018 Sep ;
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Simon D, Michita RT, Béria JU, Tietzmann DC, Stein AT, Lunge VR.. " " Epidemiol Infect.. 2014 Dec ;
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Rech TF, Mazzoleni LE, Mazzoleni F, Francesconi CFM, Sander GB, Michita RT, Nabinger DD, de Bona LR, Milbradt TC, Ott EA, Breyer HP, Haas GM, Canevese AP, Stifft J, Simo. " " Immunol Invest. 2020 Jul ;
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Toson B, Michita RT, Matte MCT, Soares R, Lawisch GKS, Mattevi VS, Chies JAB.. " " J Hum Genet. 2022 Aug ; 8 (67) : 475-479.
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Marangon CG, de Bitencorte JT, Michita RT, Lunge VR, Dos Santos DC, Álvares-da-Silva MR, Simon D.. " " Pathol Oncol Res.. 2020 Jul ;
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Müller TE, Ellwanger JH, Michita RT, Matte MCC, Renner JDP.. " " An Acad Bras Cienc.. 2017 May ;
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Michita RT, Kaminski VL, Chies JAB.. " " Front Physiol.. 2018 ;
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Wagner B, Dührsen U, Hüttmann A, Nückel H, Michita RT, Rohn H, Schramm S, Horn PA, Rebmann V.. " " Cancers. 2020 Nov ;
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Michita RT, Mysorekar IU. " " mBio. 2021 Dec ;
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Rech TF, Mazzoleni LE, Mazzoleni F, Francesconi CFM, Sander GB, Michita RT, Nabinger DD, Milbradt TC, Torresini RJS, Simon D.. " " Braz J Infect Dis. 2018 Jul ;
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Rohn H, Michita RT, Schramm S, Dolff S, Gäckler A, Korth J, Heinemann FM, Wilde B, Trilling M, Horn PA, Kribben A, Witzke O, Rebmann V.. " " Cells. 2019 Aug ;
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Rohn H, Schwich E, Tomoya Michita R, Schramm S, Dolff S, Gäckler A, Korth J, Heinemann FM, Wilde B, Trilling M, Horn PA, Kribben A, Witzke O, Rebmann V. " " Hum Immunol.. 2020 Apr ;
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Schwich E, Rebmann V, Michita RT, Rohn H, Voncken JW, Horn PA, Kimmig R, Kasimir-Bauer S, Buderath P.. " " Sci Rep.. 2019 Apr ;
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Ellwanger JH, Kulmann-Leal B, Wolf JM, Michita RT, Simon D, Lunge VR, Chies JAB.. " " Virus Res.. 2020 Feb ;
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Guberina H, da Silva Nardi F, Michita RT, Dolff S, Bienholz A, Heinemann FM, Wilde B, Trilling M, Horn PA, Kribben A, Witzke O, Rebmann V. " " J Infect Dis.. 2018 May ;
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Rebmann V, Schwich E, Michita RT, Grüntkemeier L, Bittner AK, Rohn H, Horn PA, Hoffmann O, Kimmig R, Kasimir-Bauer S.. " " Front Immunol.. 2021 ;
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Jacovas VC, Michita RT, Bisso-Machado R, Reales G, Tarazona-Santos EM, Sandoval JR, Salazar-Granara A, Chies JAB, Bortolini MC.. " " Hum Immunol.. 2022 Jan ; (83) : 27-38.
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Guberina H, Tomoya Michita R, Dolff S, Bienholz A, Trilling M, Heinemann FM, Horn PA, Kribben A, Witzke O, Rebmann V.. " " Int J Mol Sci.. 2017 Nov ;
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Rohn H, Tomoya Michita R, Schwich E, Dolff S, Gäckler A, Trilling M, Le-Trilling VTK, Wilde B, Korth J, Heinemann FM, Horn PA, Kribben A, Witzke O, Rebmann V. " " Front Immunol.. 2018 ;
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Michita RT, Zambra FMB, Fraga LR, Sanseverino MT, Schuler-Faccini L, Chies JAB, Vianna P. " " J Assist Reprod Genet.. 2019 May ;
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Memberships

Texas Developmental Center for AIDS research (TX D CFAR): Member (06/2022)

The American Society for Reproductive Immunology: Member (03/2022)

Society for Reproductive Investigation: Member (05/2022)

National Postdoctoral Association: Member (12/2021)

Languages

Portuguese, Spanish, German

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