MSc and PhD in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry from the Federal University of Santa Maria. Currently a Research Fellow of the Institutional Postdoctoral Program at UFSM (funding by CAPES), working on the project 'Bioinformatics applied to Toxicological Biochemistry'. During undergraduation, I was a grantee of PIBIC scholarship and a fellow of the Tutorial Education Program at UFSM, where I developed research, teaching and outreach projects. I was also a grantee of a Science Without Borders scholarship, where I studied for two semesters at Michigan State University (Michigan, USA) and conducted research as academic trainee at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York, USA). During my PhD, I received a scholarship to work at UFZ-Leipzig, Germany (co-funded by CAPES and DAAD), where I developed part of my doctoral thesis aiming to understand the neurological targets of PFOS through zebrafish behavior changes.
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Virology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Toxicology
15
Scopus Publications
218
Scholar Citations
8
Scholar h-index
7
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) antagonizes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in larval zebrafish and mammalian models Renee Owen, Gabriel de Macedo, Jana Nerlich, Ilka Scharkin, Kristina Bartmann, et al. Toxicological Sciences, 2025 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of synthetic chemicals detected ubiquitously in the environment, humans, and wildlife. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is one prevalent chemical previously shown to cause adverse effects on nervous system function across in vivo and in vitro models, including dark-phase hyperactivity in larval zebrafish. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABARs), GABAAR and GABABR, as mediators of dark-phase hyperactivity in PFOS-exposed larval zebrafish. Zebrafish were acutely exposed to 7.87 to 120 μM PFOS, 0.68 to 12.4 μM picrotoxin (GABAAR antagonist), 0.77 to 14.05 μM propofol (GABAAR-positive allosteric modulator), 4.4 to 80 μM saclofen (GABABR antagonist), 0.43 to 7.87 μM CGP13501 (GABABR-positive allosteric modulator), or the solvent control 0.4% dimethyl sulfoxide 60 min before behavior assessment at 5 days post fertilization. Co-exposures to positive allosteric modulators and PFOS were performed. Acute exposure to PFOS caused transient dark-phase hyperactivity. Concentration-dependent dark-phase hypoactivity was observed following acute propofol or CGP13501 exposure, in contrast to the concentration-dependent hyperactivity caused by acute picrotoxin exposure. Saclofen exposure provoked a modest reduction in dark-phase motor activity at the highest concentration tested. PFOS-induced hyperactivity was rescued to baseline activity by co-exposure to propofol or CGP13501. To assess relevance across species, electrophysiological measurements were performed in cultured mouse cortical neurons and BrainSpheres derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. PFOS exposure reduced GABAAR-mediated currents in mouse neurons. GABAAR- and GABABR-dependent units in BrainSphere-derived neural networks exhibited increased spiking activity following PFOS exposure. This study demonstrates that PFOS antagonizes GABARs in zebrafish, mouse, and human experimental systems. Taken together, this study supports the concept that early life-stage zebrafish can be used to rapidly identify causative mechanisms, conserved across taxa, by which xenobiotic agents alter neuroactivity.
Sex-specific metabolic and mitochondrial effects of chronic dietary Bisphenol A exposure in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, KS de Souza, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
Acute Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Exposure Modulates Behavioral Trends and Brain Mitochondrial Function in Adult Zebrafish TE Müller, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT DOSES OF BISPHENOL A TRIGGER SEX-AND DOSE-SPECIFIC BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN DANIO RERIO KS de Souza, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
Neurotoxicity from Chronic PFOS-Exposure in Adult Zebrafish Involves Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Neuroinflammation, and Histological Brain Damage GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) antagonizes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in larval zebrafish and mammalian models R Owen, G de Macedo, J Nerlich, I Scharkin, K Bartmann, J Döbler, ... Toxicological Sciences 207 (2), 449-466 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 8
Mitochondrial and inflammatory dysfunctions underlie perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)-induced neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... Science of the Total Environment 992, 179972 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 3
Negative impacts of social isolation on behavior and neuronal functions are recovered after short-term social reintroduction in zebrafish TE Müller, MM Dos Santos, SA Ferreira, MT Claro, GT de Macedo, ... Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 134, 111038 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
JM-20 potently prevents the onset of caffeine-induced anxiogenic phenotypes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) MM Dos Santos, SA Ferreira, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, TE Müller, ... Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology … , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Syzygium cumini leaf extract protects macrophages against the oxidized LDL-induced toxicity: A promising atheroprotective effect MM Dos Santos, A de Souza Prestes, GT de Macedo, SA Ferreira, ... Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 142, 111196 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 9
Methylglyoxal disturbs DNA repair and glyoxalase I system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae SS Pavin, AS Prestes, MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, SA Ferreira, ... Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 31 (2), 107-115 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 6
Modulation of redox and insulin signaling underlie the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of diphenyl diselenide in zebrafish MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, AS Prestes, A Ecker, TE Müller, ... Free Radical Biology and Medicine 158, 20-31 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 32
Methyl and Ethylmercury elicit oxidative stress and unbalance the antioxidant system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae A Ramos, MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, G Wildner, AS Prestes, ... Chemico-Biological Interactions 315, 108867 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 19
Methylglyoxal disturbs the expression of antioxidant, apoptotic and glycation responsive genes and triggers programmed cell death in human leukocytes A de Souza Prestes, MM Dos Santos, A Ecker, GT de Macedo, ... Toxicology in Vitro 55, 33-42 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 27
Sex-Specific Response of Caenorhabditis elegans to Methylmercury Toxicity JA Ruszkiewicz, G Teixeira de Macedo, A Miranda-Vizuete, AB Bowman, ... Neurotoxicity Research 35 (1), 208-216 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 20
The cytoplasmic thioredoxin system in Caenorhabditis elegans affords protection from methylmercury in an age-specific manner JA Ruszkiewicz, GT de Macedo, A Miranda-Vizuete, JBT da Rocha, ... Neurotoxicology 68, 189-202 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 8
Hyperglycemia elicits anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish: Protective role of dietary diphenyl diselenide MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, AS Prestes, VL Loro, GM Heidrich, ... Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 85, 128-135 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 38
Syzygium cumini leaf extract inhibits LDL oxidation, but does not protect the liproprotein from glycation MM Dos Santos, AS Prestes, GT de Macedo, A Ecker, RP Barcelos, ... Journal of ethnopharmacology 210, 69-79 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 21
glycation, Journal of Ethnopharmacology MM dos Santos, AS Prestes, GT de Macedo, RP Assis Ecker, ... 2017.0
Effect of Syzygium cumini and Bauhinia forficata aqueous-leaf extracts on oxidative and mitochondrial parameters in vitro A Ecker, FA Vieira, A de Souza Prestes, MM Dos Santos, A Ramos, ... EXCLI journal 14, 1219 , 2015 2015.0 Citations: 17
Hyperglycemia induced cognitive and behavioral deficits are associated with dysregulated adam17–ace/ace2 gene expression and neuroinflammation in adult zebrafish MT Claro, MM dos Santos, GT de Macedo, TE Müller, SA Ferreira, ... Nilda, Hyperglycemia induced cognitive and behavioral deficits are … , 0
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Hyperglycemia elicits anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish: Protective role of dietary diphenyl diselenide MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, AS Prestes, VL Loro, GM Heidrich, ... Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 85, 128-135 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 38
Modulation of redox and insulin signaling underlie the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of diphenyl diselenide in zebrafish MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, AS Prestes, A Ecker, TE Müller, ... Free Radical Biology and Medicine 158, 20-31 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 32
Methylglyoxal disturbs the expression of antioxidant, apoptotic and glycation responsive genes and triggers programmed cell death in human leukocytes A de Souza Prestes, MM Dos Santos, A Ecker, GT de Macedo, ... Toxicology in Vitro 55, 33-42 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 27
Syzygium cumini leaf extract inhibits LDL oxidation, but does not protect the liproprotein from glycation MM Dos Santos, AS Prestes, GT de Macedo, A Ecker, RP Barcelos, ... Journal of ethnopharmacology 210, 69-79 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 21
Sex-Specific Response of Caenorhabditis elegans to Methylmercury Toxicity JA Ruszkiewicz, G Teixeira de Macedo, A Miranda-Vizuete, AB Bowman, ... Neurotoxicity Research 35 (1), 208-216 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 20
Methyl and Ethylmercury elicit oxidative stress and unbalance the antioxidant system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae A Ramos, MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, G Wildner, AS Prestes, ... Chemico-Biological Interactions 315, 108867 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 19
Effect of Syzygium cumini and Bauhinia forficata aqueous-leaf extracts on oxidative and mitochondrial parameters in vitro A Ecker, FA Vieira, A de Souza Prestes, MM Dos Santos, A Ramos, ... EXCLI journal 14, 1219 , 2015 2015.0 Citations: 17
Syzygium cumini leaf extract protects macrophages against the oxidized LDL-induced toxicity: A promising atheroprotective effect MM Dos Santos, A de Souza Prestes, GT de Macedo, SA Ferreira, ... Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 142, 111196 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 9
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) antagonizes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in larval zebrafish and mammalian models R Owen, G de Macedo, J Nerlich, I Scharkin, K Bartmann, J Döbler, ... Toxicological Sciences 207 (2), 449-466 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 8
The cytoplasmic thioredoxin system in Caenorhabditis elegans affords protection from methylmercury in an age-specific manner JA Ruszkiewicz, GT de Macedo, A Miranda-Vizuete, JBT da Rocha, ... Neurotoxicology 68, 189-202 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 8
Negative impacts of social isolation on behavior and neuronal functions are recovered after short-term social reintroduction in zebrafish TE Müller, MM Dos Santos, SA Ferreira, MT Claro, GT de Macedo, ... Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 134, 111038 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
Methylglyoxal disturbs DNA repair and glyoxalase I system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae SS Pavin, AS Prestes, MM Dos Santos, GT de Macedo, SA Ferreira, ... Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 31 (2), 107-115 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 6
JM-20 potently prevents the onset of caffeine-induced anxiogenic phenotypes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) MM Dos Santos, SA Ferreira, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, TE Müller, ... Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology … , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Mitochondrial and inflammatory dysfunctions underlie perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)-induced neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... Science of the Total Environment 992, 179972 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 3
Sex-specific metabolic and mitochondrial effects of chronic dietary Bisphenol A exposure in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, KS de Souza, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
Acute Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Exposure Modulates Behavioral Trends and Brain Mitochondrial Function in Adult Zebrafish TE Müller, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT DOSES OF BISPHENOL A TRIGGER SEX-AND DOSE-SPECIFIC BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN DANIO RERIO KS de Souza, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, GT de Macedo, MT Claro, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
Neurotoxicity from Chronic PFOS-Exposure in Adult Zebrafish Involves Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Neuroinflammation, and Histological Brain Damage GT de Macedo, MT Claro, SA Ferreira, JS Loreto, BO Ajayi, ... IV Congresso Latino-americano de Toxicologia Clínico-laboratorial 5 , 2025 2025.0
glycation, Journal of Ethnopharmacology MM dos Santos, AS Prestes, GT de Macedo, RP Assis Ecker, ... 2017.0
Hyperglycemia induced cognitive and behavioral deficits are associated with dysregulated adam17–ace/ace2 gene expression and neuroinflammation in adult zebrafish MT Claro, MM dos Santos, GT de Macedo, TE Müller, SA Ferreira, ... Nilda, Hyperglycemia induced cognitive and behavioral deficits are … , 0