Rego Do Mato, Natalia

Research interests

My research lines focus on the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate inflammation, regeneration, and immune responses in pathophysiological contexts such as neurodegenerative, autoimmune, infectious, and age-related diseases. I use single-cell transcriptomic technologies (scRNA-seq) as a central tool to characterize, with high resolution, changes in cell types and their functional states in comparative models (turtle, mouse, and human). I investigate phenomena such as spinal cord regeneration, neuroinflammation associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease, and the role of immune receptors like CD300f in modulating immune responses. I also explore the diversity of immune responses in Latin American populations using scRNA-seq data from PBMCs, in collaboration with international initiatives, aiming to understand how regional genetic and environmental variation influences disease susceptibility. These research lines converge in an integrative perspective that combines immunology, regeneration, and evolution across different models and human populations.

Working area

My area of work focuses on the analysis of high-complexity transcriptomic data, with an emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, and multi-omic approaches. Since 2008, I have worked on the implementation and application of bioinformatic methodologies for studying gene expression in diverse biological contexts. In recent years, I have built a solid track record centered on exploring gene regulation mechanisms through scRNA-seq, actively participating in the experimental design, analysis, and interpretation of data from complex tissues such as the central nervous system, PBMCs, and infected tissues. Methodologically, I combine tools from genomics, transcriptomics, splicing analysis, gene networks, and molecular evolution, with a strong focus on comparative analysis and the development of analytical tools. This methodological foundation allows me to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects and contribute to the training of undergraduate and graduate students in these emerging areas.