Elis Eleutherio studied Chemical Engineering at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro as an undergraduate and received her PhD in biochemistry from UFRJ in 1997. She is Full Professor at Chemistry Institute of UFRJ, where she coordinates the Laboratory of Investigation of Stress Factors (LIFE). She was the Manager of the Department of Biochemistry from 2008-2010 and the Coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme of Biochemistry-UFRJ (2016-2019). Profa. Elis Eleutherio has developed a long-standing expertise in metabolism, molecular biology and physiology of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Studies of budding yeast made immense contributions to our understanding of basic cellular and molecular processes. At LIFE, Profa. Eleutherio and her group are currently working on the response of S. cerevisiae to stress conditions, focusing on the mechanism by which yeasts acquire tolerance to oxidative stress, which has been linked to aging-diseases. Because of the universal response of the stress, further insight into the response of S. cerevisiae will improve our understanding of defense mechanisms from microrganisms to man and, consequently, the necessary foundation for practical applications. Industrial application of yeasts exposes these organisms to multiple stressful conditions. If yeasts are to be of commercial use, they must be able to survive and adapt to unfavorable environmental conditions that change steadily or rapidly. In this sense, Profa. Eleutherio?s group aims to increase the efficiency of ethanol production by yeasts during fermentation of different broths (cane juice, diluted molasses or bagasse hydrolysate), using metabolic engineering. Profa. Eleutherio coordinated a national network for genetic improvement of industrial yeast strains, aiming to engineer S. cerevisiae for xylose fermentation.
Graduada em Engenharia Química pela Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (1988), com Mestrado (1992) e Doutorado (1997) em Bioquímica pela mesma Universidade. Atualmente é Professora Titular da UFRJ, onde coordena o Laboratório de Investigação de Fatores de Estresse (LIFE) do Departamento de Bioquímica / Instituto de Química. Foi Chefe do Departamento de Bioquímica, entre 2008 e 2010 e coordenadora do Programa de Pós-graduação de Bioquímica da UFRJ, entre 2016-2019. Atualmente é Cientista do Nosso Estado da FAPERJ. Atua nas áreas de Metabolismo e Bioenergética, Biologia Molecular e Radicais Livres, com ênfase na resposta celular ao estresse oxidativo, que vem sendo relacionado às doenças do envelhecimento. Possui projetos de colaborações com instituições nacionais (UNB, UFRGS, USP, Fiocruz PR) e internacionais (Universidade de Goettingen-Alemanha), financiados pela CAPES (PROBRAL) e FAPERJ. Foi coordenadora científica e coordenadora setorial da área de Engenharia Metabólica da Rede Nacional de Pesquisa em Leveduras, projeto financiado pelo CNPq.
