I completed my PhD in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at the Federal University of Parana (UFPR – Curitiba, Brazil). My PhD research focused on developing new treatments based on chemically modified heparins for preventing melanoma metastatic spread in different experimental models. During my PhD, I also performed an international exchange with Prof. Nicholas Huntington and Dr. Fernando Guimaraes at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI, Melbourne) to elucidate the mechanisms of how these new compounds can impact innate immunity, particularly in activation of natural killer (NK) cells. My current postdoctoral interests at the Translational Innate Immunotherapy Laboratory (TI2) at UQDI focuses on understanding the impact of tumour microenvironment (TME)-mediated regulation of NK cell tumoricidal immunity, and how to take advantage of this new knowledge to model and develop new immune-cellular interventions to fight cancer. My projects now take advantage of multi-disciplinary approaches combining cutting edge molecular/immune/stem cell biology and systems biology to build on and create innovative solutions for complex clinical challenges.
Journal Article: Exploring NK cell receptor dynamics in paediatric leukaemias: implications for immunotherapy and prognosis
Tu, Cui, Buckle, Irina, Leal Rojas, Ingrid, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Sester, David P, Moore, Andrew S, Radford, Kristen, Guillerey, Camille and Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). Exploring NK cell receptor dynamics in paediatric leukaemias: implications for immunotherapy and prognosis. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 13 (3) e1501. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1501
Journal Article: Development of physiologically relevant skin organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Shafiee, Abbas, Sun, Jane, Ahmed, Imaan A., Phua, Felicia, Rossi, Gustavo R., Lin, Cheng‐Yu, Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando, Wolvetang, Ernst J., Brown, Jason and Khosrotehrani, Kiarash (2023). Development of physiologically relevant skin organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Small e2304879, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/smll.202304879
Journal Article: Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Lam, Allie, Wong, Joshua, Kane, Lawrence P, Herold, Marco, Wells, Timothy and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2023). Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2. The Journal of Immunology, 210 (S1), 72.28-72.28. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.72.28
(2024–2025) The Kid's Cancer Project
Assessment of CellPryme supplementation in the enhancement of natural killer cell functions
(2023–2024) Prescient Therapeutics Limited
Assessment of immunotherapeutic potential of novel microbial-derived products
(2023) Innovation Connections
KIR-mismatched NK-cells graft-versus-paediatric sarcoma effect
Doctor Philosophy
Immune regulation through bi-directional interactions between subsets of Natural Killer cells and Dendritic cells.
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancement of natural killer cell function for therapeutic targeting and elimination of metastatic breast cancer
Doctor Philosophy
Tu, Cui, Buckle, Irina, Leal Rojas, Ingrid, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Sester, David P, Moore, Andrew S, Radford, Kristen, Guillerey, Camille and Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). Exploring NK cell receptor dynamics in paediatric leukaemias: implications for immunotherapy and prognosis. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 13 (3) e1501. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1501
Development of physiologically relevant skin organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Shafiee, Abbas, Sun, Jane, Ahmed, Imaan A., Phua, Felicia, Rossi, Gustavo R., Lin, Cheng‐Yu, Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando, Wolvetang, Ernst J., Brown, Jason and Khosrotehrani, Kiarash (2023). Development of physiologically relevant skin organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Small e2304879, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/smll.202304879
Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Lam, Allie, Wong, Joshua, Kane, Lawrence P, Herold, Marco, Wells, Timothy and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2023). Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2. The Journal of Immunology, 210 (S1), 72.28-72.28. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.72.28
Bellan, D.L., Bini, I.H., Santi, F.C., Rossi, G.R., Biscaia, S.M.P., Maximo, A.I., Reis, M.B., Simas, F.F., Oliveira, C.C., Winnischofer, S.M.B., Leme, D.M., Chammas, R., Rocha, H.A.O. and Trindade, E.S. (2023). Fucoidan from Spatoglossum schröederi promotes B16-F10 malignancy features modulation and antimelanoma in vivo activities. Algal Research, 72 103134, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103134
IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study
Shojaei, Maryam, Shamshirian, Amir, Monkman, James, Grice, Laura, Tran, Minh, Tan, Chin Wee, Teo, Siok Min, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, McCulloch, Timothy R., Nalos, Marek, Raei, Maedeh, Razavi, Alireza, Ghasemian, Roya, Gheibi, Mobina, Roozbeh, Fatemeh, Sly, Peter D., Spann, Kirsten M., Chew, Keng Yih, Zhu, Yanshan, Xia, Yao, Wells, Timothy J., Senegaglia, Alexandra Cristina, Kuniyoshi, Carmen Lúcia, Franck, Claudio Luciano, dos Santos, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Noronha, Lucia de, Motamen, Sepideh, Valadan, Reza, Amjadi, Omolbanin ... Tang, Benjamin (2023). IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1060438, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1060438
da Silva, Cesar Aparecido, Mafra, Luiz Laureno, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, da Silva Trindade, Edvaldo and Matias, William Gerson (2022). A simple method to evaluate the toxic effects of Prorocentrum lima extracts to fish (sea bass) kidney cells. Toxicology in Vitro, 85 105476, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105476
Nanobiomaterials to modulate natural killer cell responses for effective cancer immunotherapy
Raza, Aun, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Janjua, Taskeen Iqbal, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando and Popat, Amirali (2022). Nanobiomaterials to modulate natural killer cell responses for effective cancer immunotherapy. Trends in Biotechnology, 41 (1), 77-92. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.06.011
TGF-β and CIS inhibition overcomes NK cell suppression to restore anti-tumor immunity
Souza-Fonseca Guimaraes, Fernando, Rossi, Gustavo R., Dagley, Laura F., Foroutan, Momeneh, McCulloch, Timothy R., Yousef, Jumana, Park, Hae-Young, Gunter, Jennifer H., Beavis, Paul A., Lin, Cheng-Yu, Hediyeh-zadeh, Soroor, Camilleri, Tania, Davis, Melissa J. and Huntington, Nicholas D. (2022). TGF-β and CIS inhibition overcomes NK cell suppression to restore anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Immunology Research, 10 (9), 1047-1054. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-1052
CIS and TGF ‐β regulatory pathways influence immunity to bacterial infection
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo R., Schreuder, Jaring, Belz, Gabrielle T., Wells, Timothy J. and Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando (2022). CIS and TGF ‐β regulatory pathways influence immunity to bacterial infection. Immunology, 167 (1), 54-63. doi: 10.1111/imm.13516
Kulasinghe, Arutha, Tan, Chin Wee, dos Santos Miggiolaro, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Monkman, James, SadeghiRad, Habib, Bhuva, Dharmesh D., da Silva Motta Junior, Jarbas, Vaz de Paula, Caroline Busatta, Nagashima, Seigo, Baena, Cristina Pellegrino, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Paulo, de Noronha, Lucia, McCulloch, Timothy, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, Cooper, Caroline, Tang, Benjamin, Short, Kirsty R., Davis, Melissa J., Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Belz, Gabrielle T. and O'Byrne, Ken (2022). Profiling of lung SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infection dissects virus-specific host responses and gene signatures. European Respiratory Journal, 59 (6) 2101881, 1-19. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01881-2021
Enhancing natural killer cell targeting of pediatric sarcoma
Omer, Natacha, Nicholls, Wayne, Ruegg, Bronte, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando and Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues (2021). Enhancing natural killer cell targeting of pediatric sarcoma. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 791206, 791206. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.791206
Serio, Francesca, da Cruz, Anderson Fraga, Chandra, Anil, Nobile, Concetta, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, D'Amone, Eliana, Gigli, Giuseppe, del Mercato, Loretta Laureana and de Oliveira, Carolina Camargo (2021). Electrospun polyvinyl-alcohol/gum arabic nanofibers: biomimetic platform for in vitro cell growth and cancer nanomedicine delivery. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 188, 764-773. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.069
Biocompatible gum arabic-gold nanorod composite as an effective therapy for mistreated melanomas
Gonçalves, Jenifer P., da Cruz, Anderson F., Nunes, Ábner M., Meneghetti, Mario R., de Barros, Heloise R., Borges, Beatriz S., de Medeiros, Lia C.A.S., Soares, Maurilio J., dos Santos, Mayara P., Grassi, Marco T., Rossi, Gustavo R., Bellan, Daniel L., Biscaia, Stellee M.P., Cristal, Aline M., Buzzo, João L.A., Ribeiro, Yasmin C., Acco, Alexandra, Cardoso, Mateus B., Simas, Fernanda F., Trindade, Edvaldo S., Riegel-Vidotti, Izabel C. and de Oliveira, Carolina C. (2021). Biocompatible gum arabic-gold nanorod composite as an effective therapy for mistreated melanomas. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 185, 551-561. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.172
Production of a novel recombinant brown spider hyaluronidase in baculovirus-infected insect cells
De-Bona, Elidiana, Chaves-Moreira, Daniele, Batista, Thiago Beltrami Dias, Justa, Hanna Câmara da, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Antunes, Bruno Cesar, Matsubara, Fernando Hitomi, Minozzo, João Carlos, Wille, Ana Carolina Martins, Veiga, Silvio Sanches, Senff-Ribeiro, Andrea and Gremski, Luiza Helena (2021). Production of a novel recombinant brown spider hyaluronidase in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 146 109759, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2021.109759
Bellan, D.L., Biscaia, S.M.P., Rossi, G.R., Cristal, A.M., Gonçalves, J.P., Oliveira, C.C., Simas, F.F., Sabry, D.A., Rocha, H.A.O., Franco, C.R.C., Chammas, R., Gillies, R.J. and Trindade, E.S. (2020). Green does not always mean go: a sulfated galactan from Codium isthmocladum green seaweed reduces melanoma metastasis through direct regulation of malignancy features. Carbohydrate Polymers, 250 116869, 116869. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116869
Beyond gold nanoparticles cytotoxicity: potential to impair metastasis hallmarks
Pendiuk Gonçalves, Jenifer, Fraga da Cruz, Anderson, Ribeiro de Barros, Heloise, Santana Borges, Beatriz, Almeida Soares de Medeiros, Lia Carolina, Soares, Maurilio José, Padovan dos Santos, Mayara, Grassi, Marco Tadeu, Chandra, Anil, del Mercato, Loretta Laureana, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, da Silva Trindade, Edvaldo, Riegel-Vidotti, Izabel Cristina and Camargo de Oliveira, Carolina (2020). Beyond gold nanoparticles cytotoxicity: potential to impair metastasis hallmarks. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 157, 221-232. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.10.019
The antitumor effect of heparin is not mediated by direct NK cell activation
Rossi, Gustavo R., Gonçalves, Jenifer P., McCulloch, Timothy, Delconte, Rebecca B., Hennessy, Robert J., Huntington, Nicholas D., Trindade, Edvaldo S. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2020). The antitumor effect of heparin is not mediated by direct NK cell activation. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 (8) 2666, 2666-11. doi: 10.3390/jcm9082666
Tumor microenvironment-associated extracellular matrix components regulate NK cell function
Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Trindade, Edvaldo S. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2020). Tumor microenvironment-associated extracellular matrix components regulate NK cell function. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 73, 73. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00073
Bellan, D. L., Mazepa, E., Biscaia, S. M. P., Gonçalves, J. P., Oliveira, C. C., Rossi, G. R., Ferreira, L. G., Noseda, M. D., Trindade, E. S., Duarte, M. E. R. and Franco, C. R. C. (2020). Non-cytotoxic sulfated heterorhamnan from Gayralia brasiliensis green seaweed reduces driver features of melanoma metastatic progression. Marine Biotechnology, 22 (2), 194-206. doi: 10.1007/s10126-020-09944-9
Carpio Arévalo, Juan Marcelo, Feuser, Paulo Emilio, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Trindade, Edvaldo S., da Silva Córneo, Emily, Machado-de-Ávila, Ricardo Andrez, Sayer, Claudia, Cadena, Silvia Maria Suter C., Noleto, Guilhermina Rodrigues, Martinez, Glaucia Regina, Hermes de Araújo, Pedro H. and Merlin Rocha, Maria Eliane (2019). Preparation and characterization of 4-nitrochalcone-folic acid-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocapsules and cytotoxic activity on HeLa and NIH3T3 cells. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 54 101300, 101300. doi: 10.1016/j.jddst.2019.101300
Microscopic analysis of colonization of Colletotrichum abscissum in citrus tissues
Savi, Daiani Cristina, Rossi, Bruno Janoski, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Ferreira-Maba, Lisandra Santos, Bini, Israel Henrique, Trindade, Edvaldo da Silva, Goulin, Eduardo Henrique, Machado, Marcos Antonio and Glienke, Chirlei (2019). Microscopic analysis of colonization of Colletotrichum abscissum in citrus tissues. Microbiological Research, 226, 27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2019.05.005
Healy, Lachlan P., Rossi, Gustavo R., Rautela, Jai, Slade, Charlotte A., Huntington, Nicholas D., Winship, Ingrid M. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2019). Loss-of-Function in SMAD4 Might Not Be Critical for Human Natural Killer Cell Responsiveness to TGF-β. Frontiers in Immunology, 10 (MAY) 904. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00904
Gonçalves, Jenifer Pendiuk, Potrich, Francine Bittencourt, Dos Santos, Maria Luiza Ferreira, Gagosian, Viviana Stephanie Costa, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Thiago, Jacomasso, Mendes, Aline, Nader, Helena Bonciani, Winnischofer, Sheila Maria Brochado, Trindade, Edvaldo S. and De Oliveira, Carolina Camargo (2019). In vitro attenuation of classic metastatic melanoma-related features by highly diluted natural complexes: molecular and functional analyses. International Journal of Oncology, 55 (3), 721-732. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4846
Viscera of fishes as raw material for extraction of glycosaminoglycans of pharmacological interest
Nogueira, Alexsandro V., Rossi, Gustavo R., Iacomini, Marcello, Sassaki, Guilherme L., Trindade, Edvaldo S. and Cipriani, Thales R. (2019). Viscera of fishes as raw material for extraction of glycosaminoglycans of pharmacological interest. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 121, 239-248. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.09.156
Monoclonal antibody DL11C8 identifies ADAM23 as a component of lipid raft microdomains
Borgonovo, Zaine L. M., Ribeiro, Caroline F., Costa, Michele D. M., Souza, Ingrid L. M., Rossi, Gustavo R., Alcantara, Monica V., Ingberman, Max, Braga, Luciano G., Mercadante, Adriana F., Nakao, Lia S. and Zanata, Silvio M. (2018). Monoclonal antibody DL11C8 identifies ADAM23 as a component of lipid raft microdomains. Neuroscience, 384, 165-177. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.05.016
Menezes, Maira Maria, Nobre, Leonardo Thiago Duarte Barreto, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Almeida-Lima, Jailma, Melo-Silveira, Raniere Fagundes, Franco, Celia Regina Cavichiolo, Trindade, Edvaldo Silva, Nader, Helena Bonciani and Rocha, Hugo Alexandre Oliveira (2018). A low-molecular-weight galactofucan from the seaweed, Spatoglossum schröederi, binds fibronectin and inhibits capillary-like tube formation in vitro. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 111, 1067-1075. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.01.119
Biscaia, S. M.P., Carbonero, E. R., Bellan, D. L., Borges, B. S., Costa, C. R., Rossi, G. R., Gonçalves, J. P., Melo, C. M., Lívero, F. A.R., Ruthes, A. C., Zotz, R., Silva, E. V., Oliveira, C. C., Acco, A., Nader, H. B., Chammas, R., Iacomini, M., Franco, C. R.C. and Trindade, E. S. (2017). Safe therapeutics of murine melanoma model using a novel antineoplasic, the partially methylated mannogalactan from Pleurotus eryngii. Carbohydrate Polymers, 178, 95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.08.117
Feuser, Paulo Emilio, Arévalo, Juan Marcelo Carpio, Junior, Enio Lima, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, da Silva Trindade, Edvaldo, Rocha, Maria Eliane Merlin, Jacques, Amanda Virtuoso, Ricci-Júnior, Eduardo, Santos-Silva, Maria Claudia, Sayer, Claudia and de Araújo, Pedro H. Hermes (2016). Increased cellular uptake of lauryl gallate loaded in superparamagnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles due to surface modification with folic acid. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 27 (12) 185. doi: 10.1007/s10856-016-5796-0
Effect of pegylated phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes in experimental chronic arthritis
Urbano, Paulo C.M., Soccol, Vanete T., Teixeira, Vivian N., Oliveira, Patrícia G., Filippin, Lidiane I., Bonat, Wagner H., de Oliveira, Carolina, Rossi, Gustavo R., Xavier, Ricardo M. and Azevedo, Valderilio F. (2015). Effect of pegylated phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes in experimental chronic arthritis. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 16 (1) 24. doi: 10.1186/s40360-015-0022-0
TIGIT limits anti-bacterial immunity and is a potential target for immunotherapy
Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Wells, Timothy and McCulloch, Timothy Ryan (2023). TIGIT limits anti-bacterial immunity and is a potential target for immunotherapy. IMMUNOLOGY2023™ Meeting, Washington, DC, United States, 11 - 15 May 2023. Rockville, MD, United States: The American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.64.14
(2024–2025) The Kid's Cancer Project
Assessment of CellPryme supplementation in the enhancement of natural killer cell functions
(2023–2024) Prescient Therapeutics Limited
Assessment of immunotherapeutic potential of novel microbial-derived products
(2023) Innovation Connections
Development of a natural killer cell-based immunotherapy for Rhabdomyosarcoma
(2021–2022) ANZ Sarcoma Research Grant
Development of new anti-breast cancer antibodies for natural killer (NK)-based immunotherapy
(2020–2021) Therapeutic Innovation Australia Limited
KIR-mismatched NK-cells graft-versus-paediatric sarcoma effect
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Immune regulation through bi-directional interactions between subsets of Natural Killer cells and Dendritic cells.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Enhancement of natural killer cell function for therapeutic targeting and elimination of metastatic breast cancer
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor