Bruno Martorelli Di Genova
Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Undergraduate Advisor
PRONOUNS he/him
320 Stafford Hall
95 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
- Ph.D., Paulista Medical School, Federal University of São Paulo(UNIFESP), Brazil
- Postdoctoral Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Fellowship, Cell Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Areas of expertise
toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis, parasites, parasitology, single-celled parasites, intracellular pathogens, infectious disease, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, parasite metabolism, nutrient sensing, cell growth and division, metabolomics, cell signaling, kinases, AMPK, TOR signaling, purine and nucleotide salvage, nucleoside transporters, parasite genetics, gene editing, CRISPR, conditional protein degradation, drug target discovery, antiparasitic drug development, host-pathogen interaction.
BIO
Bruno Martorelli Di Genova is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont and a molecular parasitologist studying the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. His work centers on a single overarching question: how does an obligate intracellular pathogen sense the nutrients available to it and translate that information into decisions about growth and differentiation? Bruno's research focuses on the metabolic and signaling architecture behind those decisions. His earlier work defined the parasite's purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways and characterized the plant-like vacuolar nucleoside transporter TgENT1, establishing the nutrient context in which these questions arise. By integrating parasite genetics, conditional protein depletion, transporter biochemistry, and targeted metabolomics, his laboratory builds causative links between specific enzymes, metabolic fluxes, and parasite virulence, and in doing so identifies candidate targets for new antiparasitic therapies.
- Doctoral Studies: Received a Ph.D. in Brazil from the Paulista Medical School (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), where research focused on the cellular biology of Giardia lamblia.
- Postdoctoral Research: Investigated Toxoplasma gondii–host interactions at the University of Wisconsin–Madison with Dr. Knoll.
- Current Position: Joined the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 2021, advancing research on eukaryotic pathogens.
Courses
- MMG 3300 Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publications
Awards and Achievements
Research Interests
- Focus on Eukaryotic Pathogens: Investigate the biology of parasites and their interactions with the host, with an emphasis on brain immunology and the mechanisms underlying chronic infections.
- Key Organism—Toxoplasma gondii: Study a globally prevalent parasite that infects one-third of the human population, posing severe risks in immunocompromised patients. Despite its widespread impact, no treatment specifically targets its chronic stages, including those in the central nervous system.
- Metabolic Requirements & Environmental Triggers: Aim to identify the factors that drive establishment and persistence of chronic T. gondii infection, focusing on how the parasite adapts within host tissues.
- Methodological Approaches: Employ imaging, OMICS, and other advanced techniques to delineate both parasite biology and host responses, thereby clarifying new therapeutic targets.
- Long-Term Goals: Advance fundamental knowledge of parasite–host interactions and develop improved strategies for treatment and management of chronic parasitic infections.
Bio
Bruno Martorelli Di Genova is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont and a molecular parasitologist studying the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. His work centers on a single overarching question: how does an obligate intracellular pathogen sense the nutrients available to it and translate that information into decisions about growth and differentiation? Bruno's research focuses on the metabolic and signaling architecture behind those decisions. His earlier work defined the parasite's purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways and characterized the plant-like vacuolar nucleoside transporter TgENT1, establishing the nutrient context in which these questions arise. By integrating parasite genetics, conditional protein depletion, transporter biochemistry, and targeted metabolomics, his laboratory builds causative links between specific enzymes, metabolic fluxes, and parasite virulence, and in doing so identifies candidate targets for new antiparasitic therapies.
- Doctoral Studies: Received a Ph.D. in Brazil from the Paulista Medical School (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), where research focused on the cellular biology of Giardia lamblia.
- Postdoctoral Research: Investigated Toxoplasma gondii–host interactions at the University of Wisconsin–Madison with Dr. Knoll.
- Current Position: Joined the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 2021, advancing research on eukaryotic pathogens.
Courses
- MMG 3300 Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publications
Awards and Achievements
Research Interests
- Focus on Eukaryotic Pathogens: Investigate the biology of parasites and their interactions with the host, with an emphasis on brain immunology and the mechanisms underlying chronic infections.
- Key Organism—Toxoplasma gondii: Study a globally prevalent parasite that infects one-third of the human population, posing severe risks in immunocompromised patients. Despite its widespread impact, no treatment specifically targets its chronic stages, including those in the central nervous system.
- Metabolic Requirements & Environmental Triggers: Aim to identify the factors that drive establishment and persistence of chronic T. gondii infection, focusing on how the parasite adapts within host tissues.
- Methodological Approaches: Employ imaging, OMICS, and other advanced techniques to delineate both parasite biology and host responses, thereby clarifying new therapeutic targets.
- Long-Term Goals: Advance fundamental knowledge of parasite–host interactions and develop improved strategies for treatment and management of chronic parasitic infections.
Select Publications
- Messina G, Goerner A, Bennett C, Brennan E, Carruthers VB, Martorelli Di Genova B. Impact of equilibrative nucleoside transporters on Toxoplasma gondii infection and differentiation. mBio. 2025;16(11):e0220725. PMCID: PMC12607627. (senior author)
- Martorelli Di Genova B, Wilson SK, Dubey JP, Knoll LJ. Intestinal delta-6-desaturase activity determines host range for Toxoplasma sexual reproduction. PLoS Biology. 2019;17(8):e3000364. PMCID: PMC6701743. (first author)
- Olson WJ, Martorelli Di Genova B, Gallego-Lopez G, Dawson AR, Stevenson D, Amador-Noguez D, Knoll LJ. Dual metabolomic profiling uncovers Toxoplasma manipulation of the host metabolome and the discovery of a novel parasite metabolic capability. PLoS Pathogens. 2020;16(4):e1008432. PMCID: PMC7164669.
- Wilson SK, Heckendorn J, Martorelli Di Genova B, Koch LL, Rooney PJ, Morrissette N, Lebrun M, Knoll LJ. A Toxoplasma gondii patatin-like phospholipase contributes to host cell invasion. PLoS Pathogens. 2020;16(7):e1008650. PMCID: PMC7365478. Martorelli Di Genova B. mSphere of Influence: Deciphering purine auxotrophy in protozoan parasites. mSphere. 2024;9(4):e0000724. PMCID: PMC11036795.
Lab Team
Aditya Patwardhan
Meghan Quinlan