Fernanda O. Novais

Fernanda O. Novais studies the immune mechanisms behind cutaneous leishmaniasis, a skin disease caused by Leishmania parasites transmitted by sandflies. Her work focuses on how CD8 T cells, a type of immune cell that can kill infected cells, sometimes contribute to tissue damage rather than helping clear the infection, and how factors like low oxygen levels (hypoxia), skin bacteria, and specific immune signaling molecules influence disease severity. This research aims to identify potential host-directed treatments that reduce skin damage independent of directly targeting the parasite.

Publication output has grown over the last decade, rising from about 2-3 papers per year in the late 2010s to a peak of 7 in 2023, with continued strong output (4-5 per year) through 2024-2025.

Generated by claude-sonnet-5 from public bibliographic data · Jul 20, 2026