- Graça AP., Nikitushkin V., Ellerhorst M., Vilhena C., et al. MftG is crucial for alcohol metabolism of mycobacteria by linking mycofactocin oxidation to respiration, eLife 2024  13:RP97559. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.97559.1 

- Battista M, Hoffmann B, Bachelot Y, Zimmermann L, Teuber L, Jost A, Linde S, Westermann M, Müller MM, Slevogt H, Hammerschmidt S, Figge MT, Vilhena C.*, Zipfel PF*. The role of pneumococcal extracellular vesicles on the pathophysiology of the kidney disease hemolytic uremic syndrome. mSphere. 2023 Jun 26:e0014223. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00142-23. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37358300. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00142-23

*shared last and corresponding authorships 

- Vilhena, C., Du, S., Battista, M., Westermann, M., Hammerschmidt, S., Zipfel, PF., Choline-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae and their role on host cellular adhesion and damage. Infect Immun. 2023 Aug 8:e0015423. doi: 10.1128/iai.00154-23. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37551971. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.00154-23

- Langenhorst, D., Fürst, A., Alberter, K., Vilhena C., (…), Zipfel P. & Beyersdorf, N. Soluble Enolase 1 of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus stimulates B cells and monocytes of mice and humans. J Immunol. 2023 Jul 12:ji2200318. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2200318 

- Dasari P, Nordengrün M, Vilhena C, Steil L, Abdurrahman G, Surmann K, Dhople V, Lahrberg J, Bachert C, Skerka C, Völker U, Bröker BM, Zipfel PF. The Protease SplB of Staphylococcus aureus Targets Host Complement Components and Inhibits Complement-Mediated Bacterial Opsonophagocytosis. J Bacteriol. 2022 Jan 18;204(1):e0018421. doi: 10.1128/JB.00184-21. Epub 2021 Oct 11. PMID: 34633872; PMCID: PMC8765433. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00184-21

- Du S, Vilhena C, King S, Sahagún-Ruiz A, Hammerschmidt S, Skerka C, Zipfel PF. Molecular analyses identifies new domains and structural differences among Streptococcus pneumoniae immune evasion proteins PspC and Hic. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 18;11(1):1701. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79362-3. PMID: 33462258; PMCID: PMC7814132. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79362-3

- Vilhena C, Kaganovitch E, Grünberger A, Motz M, Forné I, Kohlheyer D, Jung K. Importance of Pyruvate Sensing and Transport for the Resuscitation of Viable but Nonculturable Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 2019 Jan 11;201(3):e00610-18. doi: 10.1128/JB.00610-18. PMID: 30420452; PMCID: PMC6349089. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00610-18

- Vilhena C, Kaganovitch E, Shin JY, Grünberger A, Behr S, Kristoficova I, Brameyer S, Kohlheyer D, Jung K. A Single-Cell View of the BtsSR/YpdAB Pyruvate Sensing Network in Escherichia coli and Its Biological Relevance. J Bacteriol. 2017 Dec 5;200(1):e00536-17. doi: 10.1128/JB.00536-17. PMID: 29038258; PMCID: PMC5717152. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00536-17

 - Kristoficova I, Vilhena C, Behr S, Jung K. BtsT, a Novel and Specific Pyruvate/H⁺ Symporter in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 2017 Dec 20;200(2):e00599-17. doi: 10.1128/JB.00599-17. PMID: 29061664; PMCID: PMC5738728. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00599-17

 - Vilhena C., Bettencourt A. Daptomycin: a review of properties, clinical use, drug delivery and resistance. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2012, 12(3), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389557511209030202

Copyright © 2025 Cláudia Vilhena. All rights reserved

 At the BID lab, we are mainly focusing on:

– Biogenesis of S. pneumoniae EVs

We explore how EVs are formed under various environmental stimuli, such as an infection scenario or varying nutrient availability. Using molecular biology, biochemistry, and super-resolution microscopy, we aim to reveal the molecular machinery driving vesicle production and their role in bacterial survival and adaptation.

– Biological Processes & Metabolic Cost of EVs Formation

Our lab employs advanced single-cell and single-molecule techniques to understand how S. pneumoniae allocates resources for EVs formation. We investigate the metabolic cost of this process and its effect on key cellular mechanisms, such as protein allocation to the cell wall.

– Host-Pathogen Interactions & EV Dynamics

Leveraging confocal microscopy and infection models, we study how S. pneumoniae interacts with host cells. We look at how EVs mediate these interactions, facilitating immune evasion, modulating the host response and how does the bacterial surface architecture dynamically rearranges.

In this section, you can find info on attended conferences, online talks, workshops and everything about my involvement in science outreach.