Overview
Background
Dr Fernanda Cardoso is a Brazil-born Australian dual-citizen researcher interested in venom peptide-based biodiscovery and therapeutics development. Cardoso was awarded an MSc in Molecular Pharmacology and a PhD with an emphasis in Biochemistry and Immunology and is part of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, where she develops novel therapies for complex neurological diseases. Cardoso has interdisciplinary training in the fields of neuropharmacology, medicinal chemistry and chemical biology and a strong background in drug discovery, which provides the skills to identify naturally occurring or synthetic bioactive molecules and to study their effects in human physiology with applications in neurologic disorders such as chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and motor neuron disease (MND). Please see Dr Cardoso’s Grants and Publications list for more details.
Before joining the University of Queensland, Dr Cardoso was part of the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, holding a prestigious CAPES Postdoctoral Fellowship. During this period, Cardoso developed unique high-throughput screen platforms for discovering protein and peptide targets of novel therapies to combat infectious diseases and novel helminth-derived bioactives with anti-inflammatory properties. Please see Dr Cardoso’s Publications list for more details.
Dr Cardoso is currently part of the Centre for Drug Discovery and manages several industry and academic projects studying ion channel modulators derived from natural repertoires, particularly venoms, and developing novel, effective drugs to treat neurological disorders.
Availability
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
- Masters (Research) of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
- Doctor of Philosophy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Research interests
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Chronic pain - Mechanisms of pain and Therapeutics development, Visceral Pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Neurodegeneration - Pathophysiology and Therapeutics development
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Venomics and Pharmacology of Spiders, Cone snails and Snake venoms
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Structure-function properties of venom peptides and proteins
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Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Research impacts
Dr. Fernanda Cardoso's research has provided remarkable insights into the discovery and biology of new agents for therapeutical use in complex disorders such as chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome and motor neuron disease, and vaccinology against tropical diseases. Her ongoing research in ion channel modulators has provided unique leads for treating neuropathic pain and neurodegenerative disorders, which could improve the lives of millions of individuals around the globe, and her past discoveries in vaccine research have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people in Africa, Asia and South America through a vaccine against schistosomiasis.
Works
Search Professor Fernanda Cardoso’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Conference Publication
Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel D., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Lawrence, Nicole, Chin, Yanni, King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2022). Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins. Pathogens and Natural Toxins e-Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1 July - 31 August 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Venom peptides: a rich combinatorial library for drug development
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Servent, Denis and de Lima, Maria Elena (2022). Venom peptides: a rich combinatorial library for drug development. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9 924023, 924023. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.924023
2022
Journal Article
Inhibition of N-type calcium ion channels by tricyclic antidepressants – experimental and theoretical justification for their use for neuropathic pain
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Schmit, Matthieu, Kuiper, Michael J., Lewis, Richard J., Tuck, Kellie L. and Duggan, Peter J. (2022). Inhibition of N-type calcium ion channels by tricyclic antidepressants – experimental and theoretical justification for their use for neuropathic pain. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 13 (2), 183-195. doi: 10.1039/d1md00331c
2021
Journal Article
Voltage-gated sodium channel modulation by a new spider toxin Ssp1a isolated from an Australian theraphosid
Dongol, Yashad, Choi, Phil M., Wilson, David T., Daly, Norelle L., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Voltage-gated sodium channel modulation by a new spider toxin Ssp1a isolated from an Australian theraphosid. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12 795455, 795455. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.795455
2021
Journal Article
Engineering of a spider peptide via conserved structure-function traits optimizes sodium channel inhibition in vitro and anti-nociception in vivo
Hu, Huiyu, Mawlawi, Saja, Zhao, Tianjiao, Jami, Sina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Lewis, Richard J. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2021). Engineering of a spider peptide via conserved structure-function traits optimizes sodium channel inhibition in vitro and anti-nociception in vivo. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 8 742457, 742457. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.742457
2021
Journal Article
Pharmacological Inhibition of the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Alleviates Chronic Visceral Pain in a Rodent Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Jiang, Yan, Castro, Joel, Blomster, Linda V., Agwa, Akello J., Maddern, Jessica, Schober, Gudrun, Herzig, Volker, Chow, Chun Yuen, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Demétrio De Souza França, Paula, Gonzales, Junior, Schroeder, Christina I., Esche, Steffen, Reiner, Thomas, Brierley, Stuart M. and King, Glenn F. (2021). Pharmacological Inhibition of the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Alleviates Chronic Visceral Pain in a Rodent Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 4 (4) acsptsci.1c00072, 1362-1378. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00072
2021
Conference Publication
Rapid optimization of spider peptides using conserved structure-function traits
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2021). Rapid optimization of spider peptides using conserved structure-function traits. Venom to Drugs Conference, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15-19 March 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Transfection methods for high-throughput cellular assays of voltage-gated calcium and sodium channels involved in pain
Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Transfection methods for high-throughput cellular assays of voltage-gated calcium and sodium channels involved in pain. PLOS ONE, 16 (3) e0243645, e0243645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243645
2021
Conference Publication
Characterization and structure-function of a novel spider-venom toxin Phlo3a at hNav1.2, 1.3 and 1.7
Dongol, Yashad, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Characterization and structure-function of a novel spider-venom toxin Phlo3a at hNav1.2, 1.3 and 1.7. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD, Australia, 15-19 March 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2
Hasan, Mahadhi, Abraham, Nikita, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten, Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15 - 19 March 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Structure-function of the spider peptide ProTx-III
Zhao, Tianjiao, Rosengren, Johan K., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Structure-function of the spider peptide ProTx-III. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15-19 March 2021.
2021
Journal Article
A spider-venom peptide with multitarget activity on sodium and calcium channels alleviates chronic visceral pain in a model of irritable bowel syndrome
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Castro, Joel, Grundy, Luke, Schober, Gudrun, Garcia-Caraballo, Sonia, Zhao, Tianjiao, Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F., Brierley, Stuart M. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). A spider-venom peptide with multitarget activity on sodium and calcium channels alleviates chronic visceral pain in a model of irritable bowel syndrome. Pain, 162 (2), 569-581. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002041
2020
Conference Publication
Rationally Designed Analogues of the Novel Spider-venom Peptide Phlo3a Shifts the Potency and Subtype Selectivity at Therapeutic Nav Channel Targets for Pain and Epilepsy
Dongol, Y., Choi, P., Wilson, D., Cardoso, F. C. and Lewis, R. J. (2020). Rationally Designed Analogues of the Novel Spider-venom Peptide Phlo3a Shifts the Potency and Subtype Selectivity at Therapeutic Nav Channel Targets for Pain and Epilepsy. SBMS Postgraduate Symposium in Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 November 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency
Peschel, Alicia, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., Durek, Thomas, Stone, M Rhia L., Braga Emidio, Nayara, Dawson, Philip E., Muttenthaler, Markus and King, Glenn F. (2020). Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (21), 12773-12785. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107
2020
Journal Article
The neuronal calcium ion channel activity of constrained analogues of MONIRO-1
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Marliac, Marie-Adeline, Geoffroy, Chloe, Schmit, Matthieu, Bispat, Anjie, Lewis, Richard J., Tuck, Kellie L. and Duggan, Peter J. (2020). The neuronal calcium ion channel activity of constrained analogues of MONIRO-1. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 28 (18) 115655, 115655. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115655
2020
Journal Article
Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S.W.A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator. Marine Drugs, 18 (7) 343, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/md18070343
2020
Journal Article
Multi-targeting sodium and calcium channels using venom peptides for the treatment of complex ion channels-related diseases
Cardoso, Fernanda C (2020). Multi-targeting sodium and calcium channels using venom peptides for the treatment of complex ion channels-related diseases. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114107, 114107. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114107
2020
Conference Publication
Harnessing multifunctional spider-venom peptides to modulate pain pathways
Cardoso, Fernanda (2020). Harnessing multifunctional spider-venom peptides to modulate pain pathways. 20th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.10.082
2019
Journal Article
Spider knottin pharmacology at voltage-gated sodium channels and their potential to modulate pain pathways
Dongol, Yashad, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Spider knottin pharmacology at voltage-gated sodium channels and their potential to modulate pain pathways. Toxins, 11 (11) 10.3390/toxins11110626, 626. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110626
2019
Journal Article
Venomic, transcriptomic, and bioactivity analyses of Pamphobeteus verdolaga venom reveal complex disulfide-rich peptides that modulate calcium channels
Estrada-Gomez, Sebastian, Cardoso,Fernanda Caldas, Vargas-Muñoz, Leidy Johana, Quintana-Castillo, Juan Carlos, Gómez, Claudia Marcela Arenas, Pineda, Sandy Steffany and Saldarriaga-Cordoba, Monica Maria (2019). Venomic, transcriptomic, and bioactivity analyses of Pamphobeteus verdolaga venom reveal complex disulfide-rich peptides that modulate calcium channels. Toxins, 11 (9) 496, 496. doi: 10.3390/toxins11090496
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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We are seeking enthusiastic students to join our Lab! Please get in touch with us if you want to learn from our fantastic team at the Institute for Molecular Biosciences!
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Discovery and characterization of bio-active molecules from animal venoms
We have open positions for Research Students to develop projects in discovery, characterization and structure-function studies of bio-active compounds in animal venoms and other natural repertoires. Students will develop skills in high throughput cellular assays using fluorescence imaging assays, manual and automated whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectometry, recombinant expression, peptide synthesis, amongst other state-of-the-art methods and techiniques. Students will also co-author papers and be involved in writting and figures preparation for research publications from their work.
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Therapeutics development
We have open positions for Research Students to develop projects in therapies for treating Chronic Pain, Visceral Pain and Motor Neuron Disease. These novel therapies will be developed from bio-active compounds targeting voltage-gated sodium and/or calcium channels. Students will develop skills in manual and automated whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectometry, recombinant expression, peptide synthesis, amongst other state-of-the-art methods and techiniques. Students will also co-author papers and be involved in writting and figures preparation for research publications from their work.
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Other research projects in HDR
On-going
Isolation and characterisation of novel analgesic conotoxins - Tianjiao Zhao Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Completed
The unexplored pharmacopeia of Australian spiders: learning from the experts - Hayden Wirth (2022) Science Honours — Principal Advisor
Peptides targeting sodium channels to treat Motor Neuron Disease - Charan Kotapati (2022) Biomedical Sciences Honours — Principal Advisor
Structure-Function and Rational Design of a Newly Discovered Spider Venom Peptide Ssp1a at hNaV1.2, hNaV1.3 and hNaV1.7 Yashad Dongol (2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Spider-venom peptides targeting ion channels in chronic pain pathways - Amatulla Shakir Nashikwala (2022) Master Coursework — Principal Advisor
In vitro assessment of human neuroblastoma cytotoxicity induced by snake venoms - Simon Kramer (2022) Summer Research project — Principal Advisor
Molecular pharmacology and peripheral analgesia of omega-conotoxins- Mahadhi Hasan (2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Discovery and Characterisation of Venom Peptide and Small Molecule Modulators for T-type Calcium Channels - Dan Wang (2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Molecular interactions between spider peptides and the sodium channel Nav1.1 - Huyiu Hu (2019) Masters Coursework — Principal Advisor
Structure-function relatioships of the multifunctional spider peptide Tap1a - Saja E Mawlawi (2019) Masters Coursework — Principal Advisor
Novel ion channels modulators from Australian tarantula venoms - Phil M Choin (2015) Summer Research Project — Associate Advisor
N-type calcium channels modulators from Australian tarantula venoms - Wan Nur Amalina (2015) Summer Research Project — Associate Advisor
Isolation and characterization of novel spider venom peptides antagonizing voltage-gated calcium channels - Ching Koon Lim (2014) Masters Coursework — Associate Advisor
Optimizing the potency and selectivity of a spider-venom peptide that inhibits the analgesic target Nav1.7 - Andelain Erickson (2014) Honours — Associated Advisor
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Selective modulation voltage gated sodium channels to investigate pathophysiology and treatment for motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
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Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in New World pit vipers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Professor Bryan Fry
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Doctor Philosophy
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Professor Bryan Fry
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler, Professor Glenn King
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Professor Irina Vetter
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Fernanda Cardoso directly for media enquiries about:
- Analgesics
- Bio-active peptides
- Drug discovery
- Ion channels
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurological disorders
- Pain
- Snake
- Spider
- Toxins
- Venoms
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