Mariana Giassetti, PhD
Assistant Professor
Education
Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza – Zaragoza, Spain (2011-2015).
Ph.D., Reproductive Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2011-2015).
Master of Science, Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2009-2011).
D.V.M. Degree, Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine - University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2004- 2008).
Fluency: English, Spanish, and Portuguese
In the News
NIH NEWSROOM https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/050323-male-contraceptive-gene
Front line Genomics https://frontlinegenomics.com/arrdc5-a-newly-identified-regulator-of-spermatogenesis/
Biography
Dr. Mariana Ianello Giassetti is a veterinarian and earned her Ph.D. in Reproductive Biology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology from the University of Zaragoza, Spain. With a deep-rooted interest in animal biotechnology, she leads a vibrant research group dedicated to exploring phylogenetic multi-Omics analysis, male reproductive health, gene-edited non-model animals, animal embryology, and the paternal influence on offspring.
Combining her veterinary medicine background with a passion for biotechnology, Mariana pursued a Postdoctoral fellowship at Washington State University. There, she delved into intricate biological systems such as spermatogenesis and animal embryogenesis, honing her expertise in embryology, gene editing, genomics, and bioinformatics.
Mariana's primary focus is unraveling the evolutionary conserved molecular mechanisms governing male fertility and mammal reproductive health. She investigates the complexities of spermatogenesis and paternal effects on embryonic development using cutting-edge technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and multi-omics analysis. In addition to her research endeavors, Mariana actively cultivates interdisciplinary collaborations, seeking to bridge veterinary medicine, biotechnology, and animal embryology. Over the years, Mariana has fostered strong national and international collaborations across South and Central America, Europe, and Africa.
Previously, Mariana was an embryologist in the Biotech Industry, focusing on applied Reproductive Techniques for endangered species and developing novel gene editing tools for de-extinct mammoths. She employed advanced embryonic micromanipulation techniques, including Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), Intra-Embryonic Stem Cell Transplantation, microinjection, and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), to initiate embryo development.
Mariana's dedication extends to mentorship and education, where she inspires the next generation of scientists and advocates for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, particularly biotechnology and reproductive biology. With an unwavering commitment to advancing molecular and applied biotechnology, Mariana Giassetti continues to push boundaries, driving transformative discoveries and enhancing our understanding of phylogenetics regulators of animal reproduction and embryonic development's complex interplay. Through her work, she aims to drive innovation and deepen our understanding of reproductive biology's implications for future generations, conservation efforts, and agricultural technology.
Research Interests
Dr. Giassetti’s research explores the intricate and phylogenetic processes of male gametes formation (spermatogenesis) across mammalian species to unravel the core molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive health and infertility in mammals. Spermatogenesis is essential for species continuity and involves distinct phases crucial for producing functional sperm and a healthy next generation. However, deficiencies in sperm formation can lead to male infertility and adverse effects on the subsequent generation’s development. These phylogenetic regulators of spermatogenesis and early-stage development remain poorly understood in non-model species such as wild and domesticated animals.
Dr. Giassetti’s research program identified a group of conserved genes enriched in germ cells with unexplored roles in spermatogenesis by analyzing multi-species and multi-OMICS testicular libraries and employing advanced bioinformatics tools. The lab is also investigating new bioinformatic multi-species approaches and the generation of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited models, demonstrating the pivotal role of male-specific sterility and shedding light on its evolutionary conservation.
Additionally, Dr. Giassetti's Lab has unique expression patterns and potential regulatory networks of candidate genes during spermiogenesis, implicating them as crucial regulators of male fertility with unknown effects on early embryogenesis in animals. These findings offer promising molecular targets for male infertility in model and non-model species. The data provide insights into conservation efforts and broader implications for addressing environmental challenges and improving livestock productivity.
Moreover, the lab explores the paternal effects on the next generation and mammalian embryogenesis, elucidating the impact of male fertility on offspring development and health. This comprehensive understanding of male infertility and its evolutionary significance paves the way for innovative therapies, conservation strategies, reproductive medicine, and environmental science advancements.
For more information about the Giassetti Lab, visit: http://www.giassettilab.com/
Working Experience and Training
Embryologist, Colossal Biosciences, Dallas, TX (2022-2023)
As an Embryologist and Scientist at Colossal Biosciences, she focuses on conserving endangered species like the African elephant and aims to de-extinct species like the Woolly Mammoth. Leveraging expertise in molecular tools, animal reproductive biology, and gene editing, she innovates applied reproductive techniques (ARTs) like In-vitro Fertilization and Somatic Nuclear Transfer with CRISPR/Cas9 technologies to produce woolly mammoth-like embryos.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Oatley Lab (2017 – 2022).
After completing her post-doctoral studies at Dr. Jon Oatley's Lab at Washington State University (WSU), Mariana Giassetti garnered significant attention through recent publications, showcasing the broad applicability of translational reproductive biology from animal conservation to the development of male contraceptive methods. Giassetti’s prior research focused on two main areas:
- Generating CRISPR/Cas9 edited surrogated sires capable of producing donor-derived offspring. This groundbreaking technology has been instrumental in endangered species conservation and livestock production, including goats, cattle, and pigs.
- Investigating spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis modulation using extensive data transcriptome analysis (single-cell RNA sequencing) from testicular cells of various mammals such as pigs, humans, mice, and cattle. This dataset has been instrumental in uncovering novel molecular and potential epigenetic pathways associated with germ cell proliferation and differentiation. This comprehensive dataset is crucial for understanding male physiological mechanisms for adaptation in challenging environments (e.g., heat stress in cattle adapting to Tropical and Subtropical Environments), addressing reproductive pathologies (e.g., idiopathic male infertility), and advancing the development of male contraceptive methods, including the "male" pill.
Selected Publications
GIASSETTI, M.I., MIAO, D., LAW, N.C. ET AL. ARRDC5 expression is conserved in mammalian testes and required for normal sperm morphogenesis. Nat Commun 14, 2111 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37735-y |
CICCARELLI M, GIASSETTI M, MIAO M, OATLEY MJ, ROBBINS C, LOPEZ-BILADEAU B, WAQAS S, TIBARY A, WHITELAW B, LILLICO S, PARK CH, PARK KE, TELUGU B, FAN Z, LIU Y, REGOUSKI M, POLEJAEVA I, OATLEY JM. Donor-derived spermatogenesis following stem cell transplantation in sterile NANOS2 knockout males, PNAS, 2020 117 (39) 24195-24204; first published September 14, 2020; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2010102117 DEQIANG MIAO, MARIANA IANELLO GIASSETTI, MICHELA CICCARELLI, BLANCA LOPEZ-BILADEAU, JON M OATLEY. Simplified pipelines for genetic engineering of mammalian embryos by CRISPR-Cas9 electroporation. Biology of Reproduction, Volume 101, Issue 1, July 2019, Pages 177–187, https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioz075 |
MARIANA I. GIASSETTI, MICHELA CICCARELLI, AND JON M. OATLEY Spermatogonial Stem Cell Transplantation: Insights and Outlook for Domestic Animals. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Vol. 7:385-401 (Volume publication date February 2019), https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-020518-115239 |
CHRISTINE M. DEPOMPEO DVM MARIANA IANELLO GIASSETTI DVM, PHD MAHMOUD M. ELNAGGAR BVSC, MVSC, PHD JON M. OATLEY PHD WILLIAM C. DAVIS PHD BOEL A. FRANSSON DVM, PHD. Isolation of canine adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells from falciform tissue obtained via laparoscopic morcellation: A pilot study. Veterinary surgery, vol. 49, issue s1, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13267 |
GOISSIS, M.D., GIASSETTI, M.I., WORST, R.A., MENDES, C.M., MOREIRA, P.V., ASSUMPÇÃO, M.E.O.A., VISINTIN, J.A. Spermatogonial stem cell potential of CXCR4-positive cells from pre-pubertal bovine testis, Anim. Repro. Sci. 2018 Sep;196:219-229. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.08.014. |
GIASSETTI, M.I., DE BARROS, F.R.O., MENDES, C.M., GOISSIS, M.D., MARIA, F.S., SIQUEIRA, A.F.P., SIMÕES, R., ASSUMPÇÃO, M.E.A., VISINTIN, J.A. In vitro culture of ovine mammary gland cells expressing beta-lactoglobulin and beta-casein. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 54(2), 188-196. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2017.125590 |
GIASSETTI, M.I., GOISSIS, M.D., DE BARROS, F.R.O., MOREIRA, P.V., ASSUMPÇÃO, M.E.O.A, VISINTIN, J.A. Effect of age on expression of spermatogonial markers in bovine testis and isolated cells, Animal Reproduction Science (DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.04.004) |
GIASSETTI, M.I., GOISSIS, M.D., DE BARROS, F.R.O., BRUNO, A.H., ASSUMPÇÃO, M.E.O.A, VISINTIN, J.A. Comparison of spermatogonial stem cell markers after diverse differential plating methods of bovine testicular cells, Reproduction in Domestic Animals (doi: 10.1111/rda.12641). |
MARQUES, M.G, DE BARROS, F.R.O., GOISSIS, M.D, GIASSETTI, M.I., ASSUMPÇÃO, M.E.O.A, VISINTIN, J.A. Effect of oocyte recovery techniques on in vitro production of swine embryos. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, In Press. |
Q YANG, MI GIASSETTI, AD EALY. Fibroblast growth factors activate mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways to promote migration in ovine trophoblast cells, Reproduction, 141 (5) 707-714. 2011. |
GIASSETTI, M. I.; PONTES, E. O.; NIEMEYER, C.; SIQUEIRA, A. F. P.; FEDOZZI, F.; LIMA, M.C.O; MARQUES, V.; BERTAN, C.M.; MIGLINO, M.A.; ARRUDA, R. P.; PAPA, P.C.; BINELLI, M. Characterization of interferon-tau protein expression during the critical period for the pregnancy recognition in cattle. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, v. submit, p. 00-00, 2008. |