I am a biomedical scientist and virologist whose career has developed at the intersection of emerging and neglected arboviruses, experimental virology, neuroinfectious disease, diagnostics, antiviral research, and public health. I currently serve as a Research Fellow Post Doc in the Department of Pathology, where I contribute to translational studies of viral pathogenesis, neurotropism, host-pathogen interactions, replication dynamics, and experimental models of arboviral disease, including research conducted in high-containment environments. My multidisciplinary background combines laboratory and computational research with training in infectious diseases, immunology, epidemiology, biosafety, clinical laboratory sciences, and laboratory management. My scientific trajectory has progressed from molecular surveillance of arboviruses in Brazilian clinical samples to internationally collaborative research addressing understudied viral threats and their diagnostic, therapeutic, and public health implications. I am an author or co-author of 35 peer-reviewed publications and contribute to the scientific community through teaching, mentoring, editorial service, peer review, and science communication. I am especially motivated by research that transforms overlooked viruses and unanswered biological questions into rigorous, clinically relevant, and collaborative scientific programs.

I investigate emerging and neglected arboviruses at the intersection of viral pathogenesis, neurovirology, diagnostics, and translational research. My primary interest is understanding why certain arboviruses remain clinically overlooked despite their potential to cause neurological disease, circulate silently, or emerge under changing ecological and epidemiological conditions.

My research interests include orthoflavivirus biology, viral neurotropism, host and tissue susceptibility, immune-privileged sites, antiviral screening, immunodiagnostic development, molecular epidemiology, and human-relevant models of acute and post-acute viral injury. My long-term goal is to help transform understudied viruses into experimentally tractable and clinically recognizable research priorities.

Peer-reviewed Publications

1)    Wodzik, C.M.; Figueiredo, M.H.B.; Nakamura, P.S.; Machado, M.R.F.; Costa, V.G.d.; Costa, R.M.d.; Saivish, M.V. The Forgotten Gate: Choroid Plexus and Blood-CSF Barrier in Arboviral Encephalitis. Life 2026, 16, 975. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16060975

2)    Saivish, M.V.; Estofolete, C.F.;Nogueira, M.L.; and colleagues. From promise to pitfalls: immunological lessons from dengue vaccines and their implications. npj Vaccines, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-026-01400-4.

3)    Saivish, M.V.; da Silva, N.I.O.; Steck, M.R.; Marques, R.E.; Nogueira, M.L.; Rossi, S.L.; and colleagues. Standardization of Quantitative Plaque-Based Viral Assays for Orthoflavivirus Cacipacoré. Viruses 17(10):1355.

4)    Mandova, T.; Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; Fulco, U.L.; da Costa, F.B.; Nogueira, M.L. Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) compounds against two tropical infectious diseases: Chikungunya and Oropouche virus (Bunyavirales). Phytochemistry Letters 69:103096.

5)    Menezes, G.L.; da Silva, G.V.R.; Bezerra, K.S.; Saivish, M.V.; Dantas, C.S.G.R.; Galvão, D.S.; Araújo, J.F.; Oliveira, J.I.N.; da Silva, R.A.; Fulco, U.L. Integrating classical and quantum mechanics in melatonin receptors for structure-guided drug design. Academia Biology 3(3).

6)    Da Costa, V.G.; Saivish, M.V.; Sinhorini, P.F.; Nogueira, M.L.; Rahal, P. A meta-analysis of Chikungunya virus in neurological disorders. Infectious Diseases Now 54:104938, 2024.

7)    Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; da Silva, R.A.; de Assis, L.R.; Teixeira, I.S.; Fulco, U.L.; Avilla, C.M.S.; Eberle, R.J.; Santos, I.A.; Korostov, K.; Webber, M.L.; da Silva, G.C.D.; Nogueira, M.L.; Jardim, A.C.G.; Regasin, L.O.; Coronado, M.A.; Pacca, C.C. Acridones as promising drug candidates against Oropouche virus. Current Research in Microbial Sciences 6:100217, 2024.

8)    Saivish, M.V.; Nogueira, M.L.; Rossi, S.L.; Vasilakis, N. Beyond Borders: Investigating the Mysteries of Cacipacoré, a Lesser-Studied Arbovirus in Brazil. Viruses 16:336, 2024.

9)    Saivish, M.V.; Nogueira, M.L.; Rossi, S.L.; Vasilakis, N. Exploring Iguape Virus-A Lesser-Known Orthoflavivirus. Viruses 16:960, 2024.

10) Peinado, R.S.; Martins, L.G.; Pacca, C.C.; Saivish, M.V.; Borsatto, K.C.; Nogueira, M.L.; Tasic, L.; Arni, R.K.; Eberle, R.J.; Coronado, M.A. HR-MAS NMR Metabolomics Profile of Vero Cells under the Influence of Virus Infection and nsP2 Inhibitor: A Chikungunya Case Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25:1414, 2024.

11) Silva, G.V.R.; Ramos Reiniger, K.A.; Menezes, G.L.; Bezerra, K.S.; Galvão, D.S.; Saivish, M.V.; da Silva, R.A.; Akash, S.; Tayyeb, J.Z.; Oliveira, J.I.N.; Fulco, U.L. Quantum mechanical analysis of newly synthesized HIV-1 protease inhibitors: evaluation of wild-type and resistant strain binding interactions. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 26:26748-26764, 2024.

12) Menezes, G.L.; Bezerra, K.S.; Oliveira, J.I.N.; Araújo, J.F.; Galvão, D.S.; da Silva, R.A.; Saivish, M.V.; Fulco, U.L. Quantum mechanics insights into melatonin and analogs binding to melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors. Scientific Reports 14:1-17, 2024.

13) Saivish, M.V.;Peinado, R.S.; Menezes, G.L.; Fulco, U.L.; da Silva, R.A.; Korostov, K.; Eberle, R.J.; Melo, P.A.; Nogueira, M.L.; Pacca, C.C.; Arni, R.K.; Coronado, M.A. The search for an antiviral lead molecule to combat the neglected emerging Oropouche virus. Current Research in Microbial Sciences 1:100238, 2024.

14) Saivish, M.V.; Mandova, T.; Menezes, G.L.; Bezerra, K.S.; Fulco, U.L.; da Silva, R.A.; da Costa, F.B.; Nogueira, M.L. Antiviral Activity and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Hops Compounds against Oropouche Virus. Pharmaceutics 15:2769, 2023.

15) Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; da Silva, R.A.; Fontoura, M.A.; Shimizu, J.F.; da Silva, G.C.D.; Teixeira, I.S.; Mistrão, N.F.B.; Hernandes, V.M.; Rahal, P.; Sacchetto, L.; Pacca, C.C.; Marques, R.E.; Nogueira, M.L. Antiviral Activity of Quercetin Hydrate against Zika Virus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:7504, 2023.

16) Saivish, M.V.; Pacca, C.C.; da Costa, V.G.; Menezes, G.L.; da Silva, R.A.; Nebo, L.; da Silva, G.C.D.; Milhim, B.H.G.; Teixeira, I.S.; Henrique, T.; Mistrão, N.F.B.; Hernandes, V.M.; Zini, N.; de Carvalho, A.C.; Fontoura, M.A.; Rahal, P.; Sacchetto, L.; Marques, R.E.; Nogueira, M.L. Caffeic Acid Has Antiviral Activity against Ilhéus Virus In Vitro. Viruses 15:494, 2023.

17) Saivish, M.V.; Da Costa, V.G.; Lino, N.A.B.; Bittar, C.; de Freitas Calmon, M.; Nogueira, M.L.; Rahal, P. Clinical Landscape and Rate of Exposure to Ilheus Virus: Insights from Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Viruses 15:92, 2023.

18) Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; Sacchetto, L.; Silva, G.C.D.; Teixeira, I.S.; Mistrão, N.F.B.; Nogueira, M.L.; Oliveira, J.I.N.; Bezerra, K.S.; Silva, R.A.; Fulco, U.L. Exploring Quercetin Hydrate’s Potential as an Antiviral Treatment for Oropouche Virus. Biophysica 3:485-500, 2023.

19) Saivish, M.V.; Mandova, T.; La Serra, L.; Nogueira, M.L.; da Costa, F.B. Identification of Potential Antiviral Hops Compounds against Chikungunya Virus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:3333, 2023.

20) Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; Costa, V.G.; Nebo, L.; Silva, G.C.D.; Pacca, C.C.; Marques, R.E.; Nogueira, M.L.; da Silva, R.A. Structural Insights into Plasticity and Discovery of Flavonoid Allosteric Inhibitors of Flavivirus NS2B-NS3 Protease. Biophysica 3:71-92, 2023.

21) dos Santos, T.T.; Bierrenbach, A.L.S.; Mendrone Junior, A.; Benzaken, A.S.; Machado, S.M.; Saivish, M.V.; Witkin, S.S.; Menezes Filho, H.R.; Mendes-Corrêa, M.C.; Capuani, M.L.D. Avaliação do risco de óbito em pessoas coinfectadas com os vírus da hepatite C e da imunodeficiência humana. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26:102098, 2022.

22) Saivish, M.V.; Menezes, G.L.; Costa, V.G.; Silva, G.C.D.; Marques, R.E.; Nogueira, M.L.; Silva, R.A. Predicting Antigenic Peptides from Rocio Virus NS1 Protein for Immunodiagnostic Testing Using Immunoinformatics and Molecular Dynamics Simulation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23:7681, 2022.

23) Menezes, G.L.; Saivish, M.V.; Nogueira, M.L.; Silva, R.A. Virtual screening of small natural compounds against NS1 protein of DENV, YFV and ZIKV. Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, 2022.

24) Saivish, M.V.; Da Costa, V.G.; de Oliveira, P.G.; Silva-Júnior, A.; Moreli, M.L.; Krüger, R.H. First complete genome sequence and molecular characterization of Canine morbillivirus isolated in Central Brazil. Scientific Reports 11:1-11, 2021.

25) Saivish, M.V.; Costa, V.G.; Menezes, G.L.; Silva, R.A.; Dutra da Silva, G.C.; Moreli, M.L.; Sacchetto, L.; Pacca, C.C.; Vasilakis, N.; Nogueira, M.L. Rocio Virus: An Updated View on an Elusive Flavivirus. Viruses 13:2293, 2021.

26) Morais, D.O.; Pancotti, A.; Souza, G.S.; Saivish, M.V.; Braoios, A.; Moreli, M.L.; Souza, M.V.B.; da Costa, V.G.; Wang, J. Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of antibacterial activity of transition metal oxide nanoparticles. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 32, 2021.

27) Da Costa, V.G.; Saivish, M.V.; Santos, D.E.R.; Lima Silva, R.F.; Moreli, M.L. Comparative epidemiology between the 2009 H1N1 influenza and COVID-19 pandemics. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 2020.

28) Saivish, M.V.; Costa, V.G.; Rodrigues, R.L.; de Rezende Féres, V.C.; Montoya-Diaz, E.; Moreli, M.L. Detection of Rocio Virus SPH 34675 during Dengue Epidemics, Brazil, 2011-2013. Emerging Infectious Diseases 4:797-799, 2020.

29) Da Costa, V.G.; Moreli, M.L.; Saivish, M.V. The emergence of SARS, MERS and novel SARS-2 coronaviruses in the 21st century. Archives of Virology 165:1517-1526, 2020.

30) Oliveira, D.H.; Silva, L.A.; Santos, S.V.M.; Saivish, M.V.; Rodrigues, R.L.; da Costa, V.G.; Martins, A.P.; Moreli, M.L. Evaluation of occupational risk factors at manicurists and pedicurists for hepatitis B and C virus infection. International Journal of Development Research 09:315119, 2019.

31) Filho, H.R.M.; Bierrenbach, A.L.S.; Capuani, M.L.D.; Mendrone, A.; Benzaken, A.S.; Machado, S.M.; Saivish, M.V.; Sabino, E.C.; Witkin, S.S.; Mendes-Corrêa, M.C. Impact on mortality of being seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibodies among blood donors in Brazil: A twenty-year study. PLoS One 14:e0226566, 2019.

32) Costa, V.G.; Saivish, M.V.; Rodrigues, R.L.; Lima Silva, R.F.; Moreli, M.L.; Krüger, R.H. Molecular and serological surveys of canine distemper virus: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. PLoS One 14:e0217594, 2019.

33) Rodrigues, R.L.; Menezes, G.L.; Saivish, M.V.; Costa, V.G.; Pereira, M.; Moreli, M.L.; Silva, R.A. Prediction of MAYV peptide antigens for immunodiagnostic tests by immunoinformatics and molecular dynamics simulations. Scientific Reports 9:1-10, 2019.

34) Moreli, M.L.; Novaes, D.P.S.; Flor, E.C.; Saivish, M.V.; Costa, V.G. Seropositivity diagnosis for hantavirus in Jataí, Goiás State, Brazil. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 50:530-534, 2017.

35) Da Costa, V.G.; de Rezende Féres, V.C.; Saivish, M.V.; de Lima Gimaque, J.B.; Moreli, M.L. Silent emergence of Mayaro and Oropouche viruses in humans in Central Brazil. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 62:84-85, 2017.

Book Chapters and Edited Books

1) Costa, V.G.; Saivish, M.V. Chapter 3 - Plant-derived compounds as potential treatment for arboviruses. In: Plant-derived compounds as potential treatment for arboviruses. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2023, p. 51.

2) Saivish, M.V.; Costa, V.G.; Silva, R.F.L.; Santos, D.E.R.; Morais, D.C.A.; Santos, J.L.C.; Souza, S.P.S.; Moreli, M.L. Chapter - Imaging Diagnosis of Encephalitis/Meningoencephalitis Caused by Dengue Virus: A Review. In: Virology in an Interdisciplinary Perspective: Human, Animal and Environmental Health. Atena Editora, 2020, p. 1-13.

3) Ferreira, H.S.; Saivish, M.V.; Rodrigues, R.L.; Ribeiro, M. Chapter - SOX2 Protein Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Literature Review. Atena Editora, 2020, p. 78-91.

4) Costa, V.G.; Saivish, M.V.; Moreli, M.L. Chapter - Serological Investigation of Arboviral Infections in Samples from Patients with Clinical Suspicion of Dengue in Jataí, Goiás. In: Virology in an Interdisciplinary Perspective: Human, Animal and Environmental Health. Atena Editora, 2020, p. 26-36.

5) Braga, D.L.S.; Saivish, M.V. (Editors). National Research and Innovations in Health and Biological Sciences. 1st ed. Instituto Scientia, 2022. ISBN: 978-65-85047-01-2.

Virologist and biomedical scientist conducting translational research on emerging and neglected arboviruses. My work includes orthoflavivirus pathogenesis, viral replication and tropism, neurovirology, antiviral evaluation, immunodiagnostic development, host-pathogen interactions, and experimental models of viral disease. 

I contribute to the scientific community through editorial leadership and extensive peer-review service across virology, infectious diseases, tropical medicine, molecular biology, public health, and translational biomedical research. 

2026 - Present                 Editorial Board Member

Infectious Disease Reports

• Contributes to editorial evaluation and peer-review processes for manuscripts in infectious diseases, virology, clinical and translational research, and public health-relevant studies.

2025 - Present                 Associate Editor - Emerging Tropical Diseases

Frontiers in Tropical Diseases

• Oversees peer review and editorial evaluation of manuscripts focused on tropical and neglected infectious diseases, including viral pathogenesis, epidemiology, and disease control strategies.

2025 - Present                 Associate Editor - Emerging and Reemerging Viruses

Frontiers in Virology

• Supports editorial management and critical evaluation of manuscripts addressing viral emergence, evolution, epidemiology, and host-pathogen interactions.

2025 - Present                 Reviewer Board Member

Current Issues in Molecular Biology; Virology Journal

• Serves as official reviewer board member contributing expert peer review in molecular biology, virology, and infectious disease research.

I have reviewed manuscripts for journals published by MDPI, Springer Nature/BMC, Elsevier, and Wiley. In 2026, I was recognized among MDPI’s Top 1000 Reviewers for 2025, selected from a global community of approximately 210,000 reviewers for the rigor, consistency, and constructive quality of peer-review contributions. These activities reflect my commitment to rigorous, fair, and constructive scientific evaluation and to maintaining quality and integrity in scholarly publishing.

My scientific training has been shaped by a deliberately multidisciplinary path connecting biomedical sciences, virology, infectious diseases, immunology, molecular diagnostics, public health, biosafety, and laboratory management. Beginning with my training in Biomedicine and progressing through a Master’s degree and a PhD in Health Sciences, I developed a strong foundation in the molecular detection, epidemiology, and biological characterization of emerging and neglected viruses. I further expanded this foundation through postgraduate qualifications in immunology and microbiology, infectious and parasitic diseases, epidemiology and health surveillance, public health, clinical hematology, biosafety, and laboratory management.

My research training evolved from molecular surveillance of arboviruses in human clinical samples in Brazil to advanced experimental and translational virology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. This progression provided hands-on experience in viral pathogenesis, replication kinetics, cellular and tissue tropism, antiviral evaluation, immunodiagnostic development, molecular and computational analyses, ultrastructural characterization, animal models, and research conducted in BSL-3, ABSL-3, and BSL3E environments. Alongside laboratory research, my experience in teaching, mentoring, scientific writing, peer review, and international collaboration has strengthened my ability to connect rigorous experimental work with broader clinical, epidemiological, and public health questions. Together, these experiences have shaped me as a versatile virologist committed to understanding emerging viral threats and translating scientific findings into meaningful research, diagnostic, therapeutic, and preparedness strategies.

I am a registered biomedical scientist with formal professional licensure in Brazil and specialized training across high-containment virology, laboratory biosafety, animal research, viral genomics, and public health. My professional development includes UTMB training in BSL-2 and BSL-3 theory, ABSL-2, PAPR use, laboratory and animal-work biosafety, standard precautions, anesthetic gas safety, and pain management in laboratory animals. This foundation is complemented by training in mosquito-borne disease surveillance, clinical management of arboviral diseases, bioethics, clinical laboratory science, and scientific writing for high-impact journals.

2024                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Blood Bank and Clinical Hematology

Minas Faculdade, Brazil

• 720 class hours.

2024                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Biosafety and Public Health

Minas Faculdade, Brazil

• 680 class hours.

2024                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases

Minas Faculdade, Brazil

• 700 class hours.

2024                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Epidemiology and Health Surveillance

Minas Faculdade, Brazil

• 700 class hours.

2022                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health and Sanitary Surveillance

Faculdade Venda Nova Do Imigrante, Brazil

• 750 class hours.

2022                                  Postgraduate Certificate in Immunology and Microbiology

Faculdade Única, Brazil

• 720 class hours.

• Emerging and neglected arboviruses; orthoflavivirus pathogenesis; viral neurotropism; antiviral screening; immunodiagnostics; molecular epidemiology.

• High-containment virology, including BSL-3/ABSL-3/BSL3E work; plaque assays; PRNT; cell-culture infection models; murine infection models; tissue collection; viral titration.

My teaching and mentoring experience spans undergraduate biomedical education, laboratory-based instruction, and research training. As an Assistant Professor in Brazil, I taught Hematology, Immunohematology, Clinical Biochemistry, and Perfusion Technology, integrating disease mechanisms with laboratory diagnostics, quality control, and biosafety. I also contributed to curriculum development and interdisciplinary educational activities designed to connect foundational biomedical sciences with clinical practice. Earlier appointments as a Teaching Assistant in Medical Virology and General Pathology strengthened my experience in theoretical and practical instruction, laboratory activities, review sessions, and individualized student support. Since 2016, I have mentored undergraduate students in molecular diagnostics, arbovirology, public health surveillance, scientific writing, data interpretation, and biomedical research. My teaching approach emphasizes scientific reasoning, methodological rigor, and the ability to connect experimental findings with clinically and public health-relevant questions.

My supervisory expertise spans emerging and neglected arboviruses, molecular diagnostics, experimental virology, immunodiagnostics, antiviral research, public health surveillance, data analysis, and scientific writing. Since 2016, I have mentored undergraduate biomedical science students and supervised research projects involving molecular diagnostics, arbovirology, clinical hematology, immunodiagnostics, and biochemical analyses. I guide trainees in developing technical competence, experimental rigor, critical data interpretation, reproducible research practices, and clear scientific communication. My supervisory approach combines structured guidance with progressive independence, helping students move beyond learning techniques to understanding how to formulate research questions, troubleshoot experiments, evaluate evidence, and communicate findings responsibly.