B.S., Biology, St. Josephs College
M.S., Biology, Hofstra University
Ph.D., 2022, Stony Brook University

Research Interests I received my BS in Biology from St. Joseph’s College where I studied cell cycle arrest in T24 bladder carcinoma by a novel drug, bufalin. Specifically, I showed how the regulation of cyclin D1 changed with exposure to nanomolar concentrations of bufalin ultimately resulting in apoptosis through the caspase protein cascade. I then received by MS in Biology from Hofstra University where I studied plant-microbe interactions. My master’s thesis included studying the root-associated microbiome of LI grapevines. I demonstrated plant-growth promotion on a model host by various soil isolates, as well as characterized the prokaryotic microbiome through both molecular and bioinformatic techniques. Finally, my current research interests include studying the molecular mechanisms causing pathogenic infection and the elicited immune responses to these infections. Outside of the lab, my hobbies and interests include personal physical fitness, playing and watching sports, and video games.

 
Publications

Normile, T.G., Chu, T.H., Sheridan, B.S., and Del Poeta, M. (2022). Vaccine protection by Cryptococcus neoformanssgl1 is mediated by γδ T cells via TLR2 signaling. Mucosal Immunology 15(6): 1416-1430.

Normile, T.G., and Del Poeta, M., (2022). Three models of vaccination strategies against cryptococcosis in immunocompromised hosts using heat killed Cryptococcus neoformanssgl1. Frontiers in Immunology 13:868523.

Normile, T.G., Rella, A., and Del Poeta, M. (2021). Cryptococcus neoformanssgl1 vaccination requires either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells for complete host protection. Frontiers in Cellular Infection and Microbiology 11: 739027.

Bryan, A.M., You, J.K., Li, G., Kim, J., Singh, A., Morstein, J., Trauner, D., Pereira de Sa, N., Normile, T.G., Farnoud, A.M, London, E., and Del Poeta, M. (2021). Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages. Journal of Biological Chemistry 297(6): 101411.

Normile, T.G., Bryan, A.M., and Del Poeta, M. (2020). Animal models of Cryptococcus neoformans in identifying immune parameters associated with primary infection and reactivation of latent infection. Frontiers in Immunology 11: 581750.

McEvoy, K., Normile, T.G., and Del Poeta, M. (2020). Antifungal drug development: targeting the fungal sphingolipid pathway. Journal of Fungi 6(3): 142.

Normile, T.G., McEvoy, K., and Del Poeta, M. (2020). Steryl glycosides in fungal pathogenesis: An understudied immunomodulatory adjuvant. Journal of Fungi 6:25.

Colombo, A.C., Rella, A., Normile, T., Joffe, L.S., Tavares, P.M., Araujo, Glauber R. de S., Frases, S., Orner, E.P., Farmoud, A.M., Fries, B.C., Sheridan B., Nimrichter, L., Roodrigues, M.L., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan and sterylglucoside are required for host protection in an animal vaccination model. mBio 10(2): e02909-18.

Presentations Dasilva, D., Normile,T., You, J.K., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). High Throughput Screen against Fungal Ceramide Synthase I. Institute of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery 13th Annual Symposium, Oct 10, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Joffe, L.S., Kronbauer de Oliveira, N., Normile, T., Doering, T.L., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Understanding the Role of Cryptococcus Capsule and Sterylglucoside in the Host Protection. Institute of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery 13th Annual Symposium, Oct 10, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

McEvoy, K., Normile, T., Bryan, A., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Sphingosine Kinase I Regulates Clearance of Cryptococcus neoformanssglI mutant. Institute of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery 13th Annual Symposium, Oct 10, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

McEvoy, K., Normile, T., Byran, A., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Sphingosine Kinase 1 Regulated Clearance of Cryptococcus neoformanssgl1 Mutant. 2019 Symposium on Harnessing Immunity to Combat Infection and Disease, April 29, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Normile, T.G., Colombo, A.C., Rella, A., Bryan, A., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Unraveling the Immunological basis of Protection Elicited by Cryptococcus neoformans sgl1. 2019 Symposium on Harnessing Immunity to Combat Infection and Disease, April 29, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Normile, T.G., Colombo, A.C., Rella, A., Bryan, A., and Del Poeta, M. (2019). Unraveling the Immunological basis of Protection Elicited by Cryptococcus neoformanssgl1. 2019 Symposium on Harnessing Immunity to Combat Infection and Disease, April 29, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.