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Black and white portrait by Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD

Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD

Mariella joined The Scientist in 2023. Before that, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences studying sex differences on the effects of chronic stress and traumatic brain injury. Mariella holds a master’s and a PhD in neuroscience from the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a certificate in Science Communication from the University of California, San Diego.

Articles by Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD
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How to Get Away from the Immune System
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Dec 13, 2024 | 3 min read
From manipulating host molecules to concealing their presence in the host’s body, microbes employ a wide range of tactics to dodge immune detection.
The human Microbiome, the genetic material of all the microbes that live on and inside the human body.
The Art of Microbial Disguise
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Dec 13, 2024 | 10+ min read
On the battleground of the human body, microbes use every skill to mask, infiltrate, manipulate, and evade the immune radar.
Electron Micrograph of Wolbachia in testes of the wasp Nasonia vitripennis.
Wolbachia Turns 100: The Journey of a Triumphant Endosymbiont
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Dec 13, 2024 | 10+ min read
In a century, Wolbachia has gone from a master reproductive manipulator to a partner in the fight against pathogens, exemplifying how a microbe can shape hosts and diseases.
invasion of the mosquitoes
A Tiny but Mighty Helper Stops Mosquito Viruses in Their Tracks
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Dec 13, 2024 | 10+ min read
Vector biologist Luciano Moreira has been fighting disease-causing pathogens for years. Now he teams up with Wolbachia in this mission.
<em >Wolbachia</em> bacteria, marked in green, are found in a wasp&rsquo;s egg, where the wasp&rsquo;s DNA is shown in blue.
A Microbial Ally to Bring Science to the Masses
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Nov 1, 2024 | 2 min read
By identifying Wolbachia in arthropods, science-enthusiast citizens can help researchers sample the bacteria’s hosts.
The infographic shows a new method where researchers used spider webs to monitor environmental eDNA of vertebrates. They demonstrated the effectiveness of their by analyzing samples from a zoo and a wildlife sanctuary.
A Spider-Web Trap to Monitor Environmental DNA
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Oct 15, 2024 | 1 min read
Sticky spider-web traps are promising non-invasive and cheap tools for terrestrial vertebrate monitoring.
A cross section of the pistil of <em >Arabidopsis thaliana&nbsp;</em>plant. Pollen grains are labeled with fluorescent markers and sit at the top of the structure. Fluorescently tagged pollen tubes penetrate the plant&rsquo;s ovary where the ovules (small, curved structures) are located.
The Hidden Dance of Plant Fertilization
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Oct 1, 2024 | 2 min read
A new method enables clear visualization of the dynamic changes during angiosperm reproduction.
A brain section showing the mouse hippocampus. RNA molecules are shown in red.
Long Live the RNA
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Sep 16, 2024 | 2 min read
In the mouse brain, nuclear RNAs can last for years with some of them potentially helping to maintain genome integrity.
Two male scientists working in a laboratory.
A Matter of Molecular Attraction
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Sep 16, 2024 | 2 min read
While studying the metabolism of the developing chick embryo, Marià Alemany Lamana’s team acted quickly to avert an error.
Caroline Gargett, a biologist at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Australia, studies endometrial stem cells. She has short hair, wears glasses, and smiles at the camera.
An Endometrial Stem Cell Pioneer
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Sep 13, 2024 | 10+ min read
Two decades ago, Caroline Gargett identified adult stem cells in the endometrium. Now, she explores their functions to improve women’s health.
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