José M.C. Ribeiro, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief, Vector Biology Section

Dr. Ribeiro received his M.D. from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, and a Ph.D. degree from the Biophysics Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He was an Assistant and Associate Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and Professor at the Department of Entomology in the University of Arizona before joining the NIAID in 1996. His work focuses on the role of vector saliva in blood feeding by arthropods, where a great diversity of pharmacologically active compounds and new targets for vaccination against vector borne diseases have been uncovered. Dr. Ribeiro has served for many years in the Tropical Diseases Research Program of the WHO (TDR/WHO) and as editor and reviewer for several journals.

Description of Research Program

Research in the Vector Biology Section explores the biochemical and pharmacological diversity found in the salivary glands of blood feeding insects and ticks. Molecular, biochemical and pharmacological approaches are used in our research. Recently we have used vector salivary gland transcriptome analysis to discover new and interesting compounds, and for that reason have developed tools for bioinformatic analysis.

Major areas of investigation include:

• Discovery of novel anti-clotting, anti-platelet, immunomodulatory and vasodilatory agents
• Determination of the mode of action of such compounds
• Expression of novel proteins and peptides with known and unknown function
• Development of tools for transcriptome annotation

In each of these areas we seek discoveries that improve our basic knowledge of the evolution of the blood feeding behavior, at the same time generating novel compounds that can be of pharmacological use or developed as vaccine targets. Inquiries about predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships as well as Ph.D. studentships in the NIH Graduate Partnership Program are welcome.

Selected Recent Publications

To view a complete listing, visit PubMed.

Ribeiro JM. A catalogue of Anopheles gambiae transcripts significantly more or less expressed following a blood meal. Insect. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2003; 33(9):865-82.

Valenzuela JG, Francischetti IM, Pham VM, Garfield MK, Ribeiro JM. Exploring the salivary gland transcriptome and proteome of the Anopheles stephens mosquito. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2003; 33(7):717-32.

Andersen JF, Francischett IM, Valenzuela JG, Schuck P, Ribeiro JM. Inhibition of hemostasis by a high affinity biogenic amine-binding protein from the saliva of a blood-feeding insect. J. Biol. Chem. 2003; 278(7):4611-7.

Francischetti IM, Andersen JF, Ribeiro JM. Biochemical and functional characterization of recombinant Rhodnius prolixus platelet aggregation inhibitor 1 as a novel lipocalin with high affinity for adenosine diphosphate and other adenine nucleotides. Biochemistry 2002; 41(11):3810-8.

Francischettii IM, Valenzuela JG, Andersen JF, Mather TN, Ribeiro JM. Ixolaris, a novel recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) from the salivary gland of the tick, Ixodes scapularis: identification of factor X and factor Xa as scaffolds for the inhibition of factor VIIa/tissue factor complex. Blood 2002; 99(10):3602-12.

Ribeiro JM, Francischetti IM. Role of arthropod saliva in blood feeding: sialome and post-sialome perspectives. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2003; 48:73-88.

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