Bruno José Ferreira Freitas

Malaria
Antimalarial Resistance
Health Sciences

Bruno Freitas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences from the University of Minho, Portugal. Over the past four years, he has focused his research on the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, using genetic engineering tools to study molecular mechanisms underlying antimalarial drug resistance.

Currently a PhD student in Biomedicine and Health Sciences at the University of Minho, Bruno has expanded his research through international collaborations with Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. His current work investigates the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating drug response and resistance mechanisms. By uncovering the function of these transcripts, his research aims to address critical knowledge gaps in P. falciparum biology and contribute to identifying new therapeutic targets.

Bruno has developed expertise in genetic engineering, microbiology, molecular parasitology, and drug resistance. In addition to his academic work, he actively participates in scientific outreach initiatives and has mentored students through research and medical education programs.

Bruno José Ferreira Freitas

Malaria
Antimalarial Resistance
Health Sciences

Scientific Highlights

Articles:

Casanova, Daniela; Baptista, Vitória; Costa, Magda; Freitas, Bruno; Pereira, Maria das Neves Imaculada; Calçada, Carla; Mota, Paula; et al. Corresponding author: Veiga, Maria Isabel. “Artemisinin resistance-associated gene mutations in Plasmodium falciparum: A case study of severe malaria from Mozambique.” Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 57 (2023): 102684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102684

Oral Presentations:

Two oral presentations delivered in the Bioinformatics Advanced Master Course (Master in Health Sciences), focusing on in silico plasmid design software, including practical demonstrations on CRISPR-Cas9-based allelic exchange and its application in malaria research (2023 and 2024).

Poster Presentations:

Ferreira, Margarida; Freitas, Bruno; Baptista, Vitória; Pinho, Diana; Minas, Graça; Veiga, Maria Isabel; Faustino, Vera; Catarino, Susana O. “Nanocarrier-based microfluidic system for characterization of malaria-infected cells.” Presented at Encontro Ciência
Velosa da Fonseca, Beatriz; Baptista, Vitória; Pernaute-Lau, Leyre; Calçada, Carla; Freitas, Bruno; Osório, Nuno S.; Veiga, Maria Isabel. “Engineering a transgenic human malaria parasite reporter line for multistage drug screening.” Presented at the 2nd Edition “Malária nos PALOP” Conference, 2024.
Freitas, Bruno; Veiga, Maria Isabel. “Methods in molecular biology: CRISPR-engineered drug-resistant human malaria parasites.” Presented at the Semana da Ciência e Inovação (SCI), 2024.
Freitas, Bruno; Fonseca, Beatriz; Veiga, Maria Isabel. “Engineering resistance: Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate drug-resistant human malaria parasites.” Presented at Jornadas Ibéricas da Genética e da Biotecnologia, 2024.
Federo, Claudia; Baptista, Vitória; Freitas, Bruno; Osório, Nuno S.; Veiga, Maria Isabel. “Enhancing malaria elimination strategies in the Dominican Republic: Evaluating rapid diagnostic test accuracy and unraveling parasite genetic diversity.” Presented at the UMinho Research & Innovation Open Days, 2024.
Freitas, Bruno; Veiga, Maria Isabel. “The CRISPR-Cas9 system as a tool for genetic engineering in the malaria parasite.” Presented at the IV Chemical & Biological Engineering Doctoral Symposium – Innovation in Chemical and Biological Engineering: Advancing Science and Industry, 2023.

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Projects

As Leader

Projects

As Member

Maria Isabel Veiga

Deep into haemozoin formation complex: a target for antimalarial drugs and novel diagnostic tools

The clinical manifestation of malaria starts when parasites invade human red blood cells (RBCs) and feed on haemoglobin, releasing a toxic by-product, polymerized by the parasite into the inert crystal hemozoin..

Maria Isabel Veiga

Defining drug resistance pathways in the malaria parasite

Hampering malaria control and elimination efforts is the resilient capacity of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum to develop resistance, including resistance to the presently…

Maria Isabel Veiga

LIHEME: Unraveling Lipid-dependent Mechanisms in Heme Detoxification

This project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind hemozoin formation in Plasmodium falciparum, a vital process for parasite survival and a key target of antimalarial drugs…

Maria Isabel Veiga

MAL-PREDICT: Malaria Therapeutic Failure Prediction using Machine Learning

This project aims to develop a machine learning model to predict malaria treatment failure at the patient level, enabling more personalized and effective care…