Education
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology 2018-2025, University of Calgary
- PhD in Cell Biology 2016, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Bio
I am an immunologist and cell biologist with expertise in liver immunology, intravital microscopy, and early-life immune development. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences followed by a Master’s and PhD in Cell Biology, where I developed a strong foundation in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host defense. I am currently an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University, where my research focuses on understanding how the neonatal liver shapes immune responses during early life. Using advanced intravital microscopy and genetic mouse models, my work investigates the roles of Kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and neutrophils in tissue development, immune education, and susceptibility to infection. My laboratory is establishing a research program centered on liver immunology in newborns to uncover mechanisms that influence lifelong immune health. Beyond my research, I am passionate about teaching, mentorship, and supporting student success. I have taught graduate-level courses in immunology and host–pathogen interactions, and I strive to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment that fosters scientific curiosity and independence. To better support trainees throughout their academic journeys, I have completed professional certificates in Career Development, Academic Advising, and University Teaching, which have strengthened my ability to guide students in achieving their academic and career goals as I build a faculty career that integrates research excellence with student-centered education.
Selected Publications
- Bruna Araujo David, Francesco Andreata, Camille Blériot, Florent Ginhoux, Matteo Iannacone, Paul Kubes. Kupffer cells in liver health and disease: guardians of metabolism, immunity, and beyond. Nature Reviews Immunology, 2026.
- Bruna Araujo David, Jawairia Atiff, Fernanda Vargas e Silva Castanheira, Tamanna Yasmin, Adrien Guillot, Yeni Ait Ahmed, Moritz Peiseler, Josefien W. Hommes, Lilian Salm, Marie-Anne Brundler, Bas G. J. Surewaard, Sonya MacParland, Florent Ginhoux, Kathy McCoy, Paul Kubes. Kupffer cell reverse migration into the liver sinusoids mitigates neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Science Immunology, 2024. (Impact factor 17.6)
- Bruna Araujo David*, Moritz Peiseler*, Joel Zindel, Bas G.J. Surewaard, Woo-Yong Lee, Felix Heymann, Ysbrand Nusse, Fernanda V S Castanheira, Raymond Shim, Adrien Guillot, Alix Bruneau, Jawairia Atif, Catia Perciani, Christina Ohland, Priyanka Ganguli Mukherjee, Annika Niehrs, Roland Thuenauer, Marcus Altfeld, Mathias Amrein, Zhaoyuan Liu, Paul M K Gordon, Kathy McCoy, Justin Deniset, Sonya MacParland, Florent Ginhoux, Frank Tacke and Paul Kubes. Resident Kupffer cell maladaptation in Liver Fibrosis is Rescued by Monocyte-Derived Syncytia of Macrophages. Science, 2023.
- Bruna A. David, Stephen Rubino, Thais G. Moreira, Maria Alice Freitas-Lopes, Alan M. Araujo, Nicole E. Paul, Rafael M. Rezende, Gustavo B. Menezes. Isolation and high-dimensional phenotyping of gastrointestinal immune cells. Immunology, 2017. (Impact factor 4.9)
- Bruna Araujo David, Rafael Machado Rezende, Maísa Mota Antunes, Mônica Morais Santos, Maria Alice Freitas Lopes, Ariane Barros Diniz, Rafaela Vaz Sousa Pereira, Sarah Cozzer Marchesi, Débora Moreira Alvarenga, Brenda Naemi Nakagaki, Alan Moreira Araújo, Daniela Silva dos Reis, Renata Monti Rocha, Pedro Elias Marques, Woo-Yong Lee, Justin Deniset, Pei Xiong Liew, Stephen Rubino, Laura Cox, Vanessa Pinho, Thiago Mattar Cunha, Gabriel Rocha Fernandes, André Gustavo Oliveira, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Paul Kubes, Gustavo Batista Menezes. Combination of mass cytometry and imaging analysis reveals origin, location and functional repopulation of liver myeloid cells in mice. Gastroenterology, 2016.
Full Publication List