Becaria Posdoctoral FONCyT
Profesora Auxiliar DS
Director: Wilke, Natalia
E-Mail: candelaria.bertolino@unc.edu.ar
Tema de Investigación
Interaccion de surfactina con modelos de biomembrana. Efecto del contenido de Cardiolipina.
Surfactin (Sf), a membrane active lipopeptide, is produced by a strain of Bacillus subtilis that increases the cardiolipin (CL) content in its membrane as it secretes SF. This change in membrane composition has been pointed out as the reason for the harmlessness of Sf on these producer bacteria bacteria. However, bacterial membranes vary widely in phospholipid composition. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are the most common and predominantly components. The reported changes in the membranes Sf producer bacteria include, aside from the increase in the levels of CL, a decrease in PG and PE, along with increments in phosphatidic acid (PA). Therefore, in this work we tackled the question : Is just the CL content the responsible of these bacteria´s resistance to Sf? In order to shed light on this question, we investigated the interaction of Sf with models for membranes of Bacillus subtilis composed of PG, PE and PA at the proportions found in the bacteria before and after Sf production, either with or without CL. Sf concentrations lower and higher than the critical micelle concentration were tested.
Breve Currículum Vitae
- Personal Data:
Full name: BERTOLINO, MARIA CANDELARIA.
Nationality: Argentina. Date of Birth: 15/07/1988.
Personal adress: Maria Curie, 2745. Córdoba, Argentina.
Researcher unique identifier(s) ORCID: 0000-0001-6972-9463.
E-mail adress: candebertolino@gmail.com and candelaria.bertolino@unc.edu.ar
- Personal Statement:
I am Dr. Candelaria Bertolino, originally from Córdoba, Argentina’s second-largest city. Growing up in a large family with five sisters instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for collaborative effort. My upbringing in such an environment fostered my curiosity and enthusiasm, qualities that drive my research and personal pursuits. Outside of my professional life, I am passionate about running, climbing, highlining, and practicing yoga, all of which connect me with nature and contribute to my overall well-being. These activities not only keep me physically active but also teach me resilience, balance, and the importance of persistence. I value ambition and teamwork, understanding that success often requires both individual commitment and effective collaboration. These principles are reflected in my involvement with the Gender Balance Office and the Slackline Club in my neighborhood, where I actively contribute to fostering inclusive environments and community engagement. Securing a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship would be a pivotal step in my career. This opportunity aligns perfectly with my professional goals and my dedication to advancing research. I am eager to bring my passion, skills, and commitment to this esteemed program, confident that it will provide the impetus needed to achieve my career aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the research community.
- Academic Education:
From 01/04/2012 to 15/12/2017 PhD in Chemistry. Organic Department of Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, UNC. FCQ. Argentina.
From 15/01/2007 to 18/03/2012 Bachelor in Chemistry Science, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, UNC. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. FCQ. Argentina.
- Professional Experience:
From 01/12/2022 to 01/12/2024 Postdoctoral researcher in Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica, Ranwell Caputto. Under Natalia Wilke supervision (0000-0002-2342-0193).
From 01/04/2020 to 01/12/2022 Postdoctoral researcher in Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisico Química, INFIQC. Under Raquel V. Vico supervision.
From 15/02/2018 to 31/03/2020 Postdoctoral researcher in Molecular NanoFabrication Group, University of Twente. Jurriaan Huskens supervision (0000-0002-4596-9179).
- Teaching Activities:
From 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2025 Assistant Professor in Biophysics Chemistry at FCQ, UNC. From 01/04/2020 to 01/12/2022 Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry at FCQ, UNC. From 01/04/2012 to 01/02/2018 Assistant Professor in different Laboratys courses at FCQ, UNC. From 15/01/2013 to 15/04/2017 Assistant Professor in the Introduction to chemistry. FCQ. UNC.
- Postgraduate courses attended
28/02/2012 to 18/03/2012: “Principios y aplicaciones de nanopartículas fotoactivas» FCQ, UNC. 03/07/2012 to 15/07/2012: “Cristalography X-Ray» FCQ, UNC. 10/03/2014 to 23/03/2014: “Espectroscopías, Microscopías y Nanoscopías Raman» FNT, UNT. 06/10/2014 to 20/10/2014: “Nanobiotecnología y biosensores. Nuevas estrategias para la detección de eventos biocatalíticos y de afinidad» FCQ, UNC.
PUBLICACIONES
- “Synthesis in situ of gold nanoparticles by a dialkynyl Fischer carbene complex anchored to glass surfaces”. Bertolino M. C. y Granados M. A. Applied Surface Science, Elsevier. 383. 2016, 375–381. This study introduces an innovative approach for classic organic synthesis performed on a glass surface, with a comprehensive structural analysis of the resulting compounds. By anchoring a reducing agent to the glass, gold nanoparticles were synthesized in situ, forming a surface plasmon resonance substrate.
- “Nanoscale Work Function Contrast Induced by Decanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111)”. M. Tsvetanova, V. J. S. Oldenkotte, M. C. Bertolino, Y. Gao, M, H. Siekman, J. Huskens, H. J. W. Zandvliet, and K. Sotthewes. Langmuir, 36, 2020, 12745−12754. The study highlights the distinct phases of decanethiol and their impact on nanoscale work function contrast, providing insights into the behavior and characteristics of these SAMs.
- “Hierarchical Multivalent Effects Control Influenza Host Specificity”. Overeem N.J., Hamming P.H.E., Grant O.C., Di Iorio D., Tieke M., Bertolino M.C., Li Z., Vos G., De Vries R.P., Woods R.J. and Huskens J. ACS Central Science. 6, 11, 2020. 2311 – 2318. This study demonstrates that the principle of superselectivity the highly non-linear response of multivalent particles interacting with surfaces of varying receptor densities can be leveraged to develop a sensing tool known as ‘multivalent affinity profiling.’ This tool is designed to characterize specific virus–glycan interactions. By applying this method to a range of glycans, the study creates a distinct ‘fingerprint’ for a particular virus, revealing detailed structural and energetic aspects of virus–surface binding. This work is a critical component for WP1 and WP2.
- “Tailored Multivalent Targeting of Siglecs with Photosensitizing Liposome Nanocarriers”. V. Almeida-Marrero; F. Bethlehem; S. Longo; M. C. Bertolino; T. Torres; J. Huskens; A. de la Escosura. Angew. Chem, 2022. 10.1002/ange.202206900.