Adriana Zardini Buzatto
Positions
Assistant Professor
Full Member
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education
Contact information
I'm looking for...
Research partners
I am looking for collaborations to study the relationship between lipids and human diseases. Please contact me for more information.
Background
Educational Background
PhD Chemistry, University of Alberta,
MSc Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil,
BSc Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil,
Biography
I began my research journey as an undergraduate student in Brazil in 2008. After completing my master’s degree in targeted metabolomics, I enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the University of Alberta to investigate lipidomics of biological samples using nanoLC and UHPLC-MS, including lipid biomarkers of cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's, dementia, Alzheimer's, and other human conditions. After graduating in 2020, I joined The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC) as a scientist, where I led a team that applied the methodologies I developed for service work and collaborative research focused on lipids. I joined the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary in July/2023 as an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Lipidomics. My emerging program focuses on the role of lipid species in human metabolism and diseases, with particular emphasis on the role of lipids in the gut microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, intercellular communication through extracellular vesicles, and brain and neurodegeneration.
Research
Areas of Research
Lipidomics investigates lipid distributions and their relationship with biochemical pathways, diseases, and physiological processes. My primary research focus is on developing analytical methods and bioinformatics approaches for untargeted and semi-targeted lipidomics using LC-MS (liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry).
Lipids are major players in immune response, pathogenesis, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial resistance. We investigate lipid differences amongst control, pathogenic, and resistant E. Coli and N. gonorrhoeae strains.
Extracellular vesicles (EV, particularly exosomes) are small structures secreted by most cells for intercellular communications. They are involved in disease development and progression, but are challenging to isolate and analyze due to their small size and complex composition. As membranous structures, lipids are major components of exosomes. We are currently developing methods to define EV lipid compositions and their role using in vitro experiments with human cells.
The human brain is ~60% lipids. Yet, we know little about their roles at a detailed molecular level. We are building maps of lipid distributions across the brain and investigating their relationship with diseases (biomarker research).
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| BCEM 555 | Biomembranes | Winter 2024 |
| BCEM 575 | Lipids | Fall 2024 |
| BIOL 601.01 | Fall 2024, Winter 2025 | |
| BCEM 341 | Biochemistry of Life Processes | Winter 2025 |
Awards
- Canada Research Chair in Lipidomics, 2024
Publications
In the News
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