{"id":2242,"date":"2026-07-24T16:03:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/?p=2242"},"modified":"2026-07-24T16:03:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:03:45","slug":"meet-the-team-dr-paula-seoane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2026\/07\/24\/meet-the-team-dr-paula-seoane\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the team: Dr Paula Seoane"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; next_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_module=&#8221;322&#8243;][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=&#8221;322&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; menu_id=&#8221;7&#8243; submenu_direction=&#8221;downwards&#8221; fullwidth_menu=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; module_class=&#8221;main-navigation&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; next_background_color=&#8221;#1d1d1d&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243;][et_pb_row_inner locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243;][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; title=&#8221;on&#8221; meta=&#8221;on&#8221; author=&#8221;on&#8221; date=&#8221;on&#8221; categories=&#8221;on&#8221; comments=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_placement=&#8221;above&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_background=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Hi, I am Paula, and I am joining MFIG as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Dr. Margherita Bertuzzi\u2019s lab.<\/p>\n<p>I completed my PhD at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof. Robin May, looking at the interaction between macrophages and the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Specifically, I studied the non-lytic expulsion of live cryptococcal cells from within macrophages known as vomocytosis, and how this process is affected by viral co-infection and anti-viral response.<\/p>\n<p>During my first postdoc appointment, I joined Prof. David Brough\u2019s lab at The University of Manchester, studying inflammasome activation in macrophages. Inflammasomes are key mediators of inflammation, playing an important role during host responses to infection or injury. In the lab, we furthered the concept of NLRP3 being a sensor of organelle disruption, focusing on the cellular biology of the assembly and activation process, and uncovering novel interactors of proIL1\u03b2 within the cell.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I am joining MFIG and the Bertuzzi lab as part of a Wellcome Trust project grant looking at the adaptability of Mucorales fungi to host and natural stressors. My work aims to identify key components within Mucorales which can impact its ability to survive within the host environment and lead to successful infection, leveraging high throughput screening to identify attractive candidates before moving to in-depth analysis within infection models.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; in_same_term=&#8221;off&#8221; show_prev=&#8221;on&#8221; show_next=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Previous&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; show_avatar=&#8221;on&#8221; show_reply=&#8221;on&#8221; show_count=&#8221;on&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;51&#8243; header_line_height_tablet=&#8221;2&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; \/][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Related posts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Related<\/h1>\n<!-- relpost-thumb-wrapper --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\"><h3>Related posts:<\/h3><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><!-- relpost-block-container --><div class=\"relpost-block-container relpost-block-column-layout\" style=\"--relposth-columns: 3;--relposth-columns_t: 2; --relposth-columns_m: 2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2025\/01\/22\/meet-the-phd-student-jamie-tindale\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2025\/01\/Jamie-Tindale-crop-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">Meet the PhD student: Jamie Tindale<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2024\/07\/18\/mfig-graduation-celebrations\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2024\/07\/PHOTO-2024-07-11-11-03-34-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">MFIG Graduation celebrations<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/2026\/01\/21\/meet-the-phd-student-keira-gordon\/\"class=\"relpost-block-single\" ><div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\"><div class=\"relpost-block-single-image rpt-lazyload\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/267\/2026\/01\/Keira-Gordon-crop-150x150.jpg\" style=\"background: transparent no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px; aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\"><\/div><div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\"  style=\"height: 75px;font-family: Arial;  font-size: 12px;  color: #333333;\"><h2 class=\"relpost_card_title\">Meet the PhD student: Keira Gordon<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><!-- close relpost-block-container --><div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div><\/div><!-- close filter class --><\/div><!-- close relpost-thumb-wrapper -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; area=&#8221;sidebar-1&#8243; orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; show_border=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Connect Title&#8221; module_class=&#8221;footer-section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.90&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#1d1d1d&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; prev_background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; global_module=&#8221;380&#8243;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; global_parent=&#8221;380&#8243; parallax_method_1=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_2=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_3=&#8221;off&#8221; module_id=&#8221;footer-row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.89&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Contact Us Title&#8221; global_parent=&#8221;380&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.74&#8243; text_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Contact Us<\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Contact Us&#8221; global_parent=&#8221;380&#8243; module_class=&#8221;contact-us&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; text_text_color=&#8221;#aaaaaa&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prof Mike Bromley (Centre Director)<\/strong><br \/>Email: <a href=\"mailto:Mike.Bromley@manchester.ac.uk\">mike.bromley@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr Margherita Bertuzzi<br \/><\/strong>Email:\u00a0<a href=\"margherita.bertuzzi@manchester.ac.uk\">margherita.bertuzzi@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Find Us Title&#8221; global_parent=&#8221;380&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.74&#8243; text_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Find Us<\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Address&#8221; global_parent=&#8221;380&#8243; module_id=&#8221;address&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.87&#8243; 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I completed my PhD at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof. Robin May, looking at the interaction between macrophages and the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Specifically, I studied the non-lytic expulsion of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7486,"featured_media":2245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meet-the-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7486"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2242"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2247,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242\/revisions\/2247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/mfig\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}