Personal presentation

Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) (1987), a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences (Physiology) from the State University of Campinas (1991), Ph.D. in Cellular Physiology from the Medical School at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne - England, U.K., and Postdoctoral studies at the Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland (2008). She currently holds the position of Associate Professor at the University of Campinas. She has experience in the field of General Biology, with emphasis on Tissue Biology and Cellular Physiology, working mainly on the following topics: intercellular junctions, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, cell differentiation, cellular communication, endocrine pancreas, intestinal epitelial barrier.

Research activities

Our research group focuses on the study of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions mediated by cell junctions and their role in tissue homeostasis, particularly of epithelial tissue. The current lines of research are: 1) to understand the mechanisms of regulation of intercellular junctions in vivo and in vitro models, 2) to investigate the importance of cell-cell contact mediated by intercellular junctions in the process of cell maturation and dysfunction pancreatic beta during development and in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and 3) to study the role of the intestinal epithelial barrier mediated by the occlusion junction in the pathogenesis of T2D and its regulation by the microbiota and by short-chain fatty acids. We use in the laboratory a multidisciplinary approach that integrates tissue and functional biology, confocal laser scanning microscopy, electrophysiology, physiology of intercellular/transepithelial transport, and molecular biology (Western Blot and Real-Time PCR) to define fundamentals of the structure and function of cell junctions and understand the regulatory mechanisms of these structures in vivo and in vitro models. This research can contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiological function of junctions and support research aimed at determining ways and pathways for regulating these membrane specializations with possible application in the treatment of certain diseases associated with their dysfunction. (CNPq Group, Communication and Cellular Adhesion).

Teaching activities

Teaching disciplines of Tissue Biology (Histology) for different undergraduate courses (Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine) and a discipline of didactic strategies for teaching Tissue Biology in Graduate Studies.

Selected Publications

Carvalho, C. P. F.; Barbosa, H. C. L.; Britan, A.; Santos-silva, J.C.R.; Boschero, A. C.; Meda, P.; collares-buzato, C.B.; Beta-cell coupling and connexin expression change during the functional maturation of rat pancreatic islets.. Diabetologia (Berlin), v.53, p. 1428-1437, 2010 [ doi:10.1007/s00125-010-1726-8 ]

Carvalho, C. P. F.; Oliveira, R. B.; Britan, A.; Santos-silva, J.C.R.; Boschero, A. C.; Meda, P.; collares-buzato, C.B.; Impaired beta-to-beta cell coupling mediated by Cx36 gap junctions in prediabetic mice. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, v.303, p. E144-E151, 2012 [ doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00489.2011 ]

Oliveira, R.B.; Canuto, L.P.; collares-buzato, C.B.; Intestinal luminal content from high-fat-fed prediabetic mice changes epithelial barrier function in vitro. LIFE SCIENCES, v.216, p. 10-21, 2018 [ doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2018.11.012 ]

Matheus, Va; Monteiro, Lcs; Oliveira, Rb; Maschio, Da; collares-buzato, Cb; Butyrate reduces high-fat diet-induced metabolic alterations, hepatic steatosis and pancreatic beta cell and intestinal barrier dysfunctions in prediabetic mice. EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, v.242, p. 1214-1226, 2017 [ doi:10.1177/1535370217708188 ]

Maschio, Daniela A.; Matheus, Valquíria A.; collares'buzato, Carla B.; Islet cells are the source of Wnts that can induce beta-cell proliferation in vitro. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, v.234, p. 19852-19865, 2019 [ doi:10.1002/jcp.28584 ]