Nizet Lab People: Angelica Riestra

Angelica Riestra, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Angelica Riestra obtained a Bachelor’s in in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. As an undergraduate she conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Sherie Morrison investigating how different structural features and glycosylation contribute to the activity of murine-human recombinant antibodies against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. During this time, Angelica developed a great interest in the study of host-pathogen interactions. Therefore, for her graduate studies Angelica joined the laboratory of Dr. Patricia Johnson to help investigate how the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis causes disease. T. vaginalis is the most common cause of non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the world, yet little is known about the virulence factors utilized by the parasite. Angelica characterized a family of intramembrane proteases called rhomboids. She found that a cell surface-localized rhomboid contributes to the parasite’s ability to attach to and lyse host cells, and also identified a putative substrate. Angelica was supported by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship.

As a postdoctoral researcher in the Nizet laboratory, Angelica is studying the innate immune response against T. vaginalis and how it may be modulated by the parasite. Angelica is supported by the UCSD NIH/NIGMS-sponsored Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA).