Cynthia Silveira
Assistant Professor, Biology
College of Arts and Science
cynthiasilveira@miami.edu
Cynthia Silveira is an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami whose research bridges marine microbiology and human health. Her work focuses on viruses that infect bacteria, from coral reefs to open-ocean algae. These viruses can profoundly impact bacterial growth, metabolism, and ecological interactions. Cynthia’s research on these marine viruses has had far-reaching applications in understanding the effects of viruses on microbiomes in the human gut and the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. One particular mechanism by which bacterial viruses affect human health is by modifying bacterial genomes and turning harmless bacteria into pathogens, a process called lysogenic conversion. Currently, the Silveira Lab at the University of Miami is investigating the links between lysogenic conversion and the incidence of opportunistic bacteria living on corals and on the brown algae Sargassum, which arrives on coast in large amounts during the summer, causing economic and health concerns. Recent increases in the incidence of opportunistic bacterial infections during storms have triggered the need to understand the ecological and health implications of environmental viruses and bacteria, ensuring that responses to these environmental challenges protect ecosystems and communities.
Keywords: : viruses, bacteria, microbiomes, gut, lung, Sargassum, infection
