Man

Giannina Angelica Espina Silva

Research Scientist

Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia

Santiago, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


Extremophilic microorganisms and their enzymes; Cloning and expression of recombinant enzymes (extremozymes); Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems; Bionanoparticles.

Educación

  •  Licenciatura en Bioquimica, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2008
  •  Magister en Bioquimica, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2010
  •  PhD in Biochemistry, UNIVERSITY OF BATH. Reino Unido, 2015
  •  Bioquimica, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2010

Experiencia Académica

  •   Teaching Assistant BB10003: Biochemistry 1 Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Deparment of Biology and Biochemistry

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB10004: Biochemistry 2 Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB10186: Proteins: Purification and Characterization Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB10213: Practical Research and Academic Skills For Biochemists Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20015: Biochemical Problems and Bioinformatics Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20018: Enzymology Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20025: Practical Molecular Biology Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20202: Microbial Cells and Genomes Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20203: Microbial Interactions with their Host and Environments Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Chile

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20020: Protein Structure Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2011 - 2015

  •   Teaching Assistant BB20023: DNA (Making, Breaking & Disease). Part Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Faculty of Science

    Bath, Chile

    2011 - 2015

  •   Profesor Auxiliar BT736 Laboratorio de Técnicas Modernas en Biotecnología Part Time

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas

    Santiago, Chile

    2010 - 2010

Experiencia Profesional

  •   Postdoctoral Research Associate Full Time

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Bath, Reino Unido

    2015 - 2015

  •   Research Scientist Full Time

    Fundacion Biociencia

    Santiago, Chile

    2015 - A la fecha

  •   Scientific Subdirector Full Time

    Fundacion Biociencia

    Santiago, Chile

    2017 - 2018

Difusión y Transferencia


• Organization of the Online Webinar “Bioremediation: Revealing the Power of Nature through cutting-edge scientific and technological strategies” on 1st Aug 2023 from 8:30 a 14:30 h Chile (6 h). This activity counted with the participation of 10 international experts, 130 registered interested and over 60 live attendants, it was simultaneously streamed via Zoom and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSsazrYgiPs.

• Participation in the “Science Festival 2022" (FECI), Fiesta Ciudadana por el Agua 2022” held in Parque Mapuhue, La Pintana, 8th Oct 2022. Explora Regional Associative Project, Región Metropolitana Sur Oriente, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

• Participation in the initiative "Open Science: Science in your neighborhood" as part of the activity "The world of extremophile microorganisms". Liceo Politécnico Patricio Aylwin Azócar de La Granja, 18th Oct 2022. Explora Regional Associative Project, Región Metropolitana Sur Oriente, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

• Participation in four University of Bath Undergraduate Open Days during 2012-2014.

• Participation in Images of Research 2014 with the Photograph entry: "New protein structure becomes crystal clear"


Premios y Distinciones

  •   Outstanding Student Presentation in Fundamental Research Poster Prize

    Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

    Estados Unidos, 2014

    Outstanding Student Presentation in Fundamental Research Poster Prize (out of 358 posters) at the 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Florida, US.

  •   Best Poster Award

    International Astronomical Union Commission F3

    Chile, 2017

    Best Poster Award (out of 98 Posters) at the International Astronomical Union Commission F3 Astrobiology Conference, 1st Dec 2017, Coyhaique, Chile.

  •   Best Oral Presentation Prize

    13th International Thermophiles Meeting

    Chile, 2015

    Best Oral Presentation Prize, 13th International Meeting Thermophiles 2015, 4th Sep 2015, Santiago, Chile.

  •   Biological and Biomedical Science Session of SET for Britain 2015 Poster Competition at the House of Commons (UK Parliament)

    SET for Britain 2015 Poster Competition

    Reino Unido, 2015

    One of the 30 young scientist shortlisted to participate at Biological and Biomedical Science Session of SET for Britain 2015 Poster Competition at the House of Commons (UK Parliament), 9th March 2015, London, England, UK.

  •   EMBO Practical Course: Protein Expression, Purification and Characterisation PEPC8

    EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

    Alemania, 2012

    One of the 20 worldwide PhD Students selected to participate in the EMBO Practical Course: Protein Expression, Purification and Characterisation PEPC8, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, Germany. Recipient of PCube Funding for follow-up visit to PETRA III synchrotron at EMBO, Hamburg. The data obtained leads to the first crystal structure of a glycoside hydrolase family GH52.

  •   Best Poster Award

    II Jornadas de Biocatálisis

    Chile, 2020

    Best Poster Award, II Jornadas de Biocatálisis (Jbiocat 2019) Conference, 24th January 2020, Santiago, Chile.

  •   Best Oral Presentation Award

    16th International Congress Thermophiles 2023

    Reino Unido, 2023

    Best Oral Presentation Award at the 16th International Congress Thermophiles 2023, 2nd Sep, 2023, Bangor, Wales, UK,

  •   Travel Support “Windows-on-Science” program

    AFOSR

    Estados Unidos, 2024

    Travel Support “Windows-on-Science” program (WOS-242028) to attend and present at 2024 Synthetic Biology: Engineering, Evolution & Design (SEED), 24th – 27th Jun 2024, Atlanta, GA, USA

  •   Travel Support “Windows-on-Science” program

    AFOSR

    Chile, 2023

    Travel Support “Windows-on-Science” program (WOS-242009) to attend and present at 2023 DoD B4D, 14th - 16th Nov, 2023, Baltimore, MD, US.

  •   Travel grant

    Biochemical Society

    Reino Unido, 2014

    Travel Grants to support attendance to 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Apr 2014.

  •   Travel grant

    Society for General Microbiology

    Chile, 2014

    Travel Grants from the Society for General Microbiology to support attendance to 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Apr 2014.

  •   Travel grant

    UNIVERSITY OF BATH

    Chile, 2014

    Travel Grants from the University of Bath to support attendance to 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Apr 2014.


 

Article (14)

Evaluation of Antibiotic Biodegradation by a Versatile and Highly Active Recombinant Laccase from the Thermoalkaliphilic Bacterium <i>Bacillus</i> sp. FNT

Sanchez-SanMartin, Jorge; Marquez, Sebastian L.; Espina, Giannina; Cortes-Antiquera, Rodrigo; Sun, Junsong; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
BIOMOLECULES  (2024)

Recombinant Expression and Characterization of a Novel Thermo-Alkaline Lipase with Increased Solvent Stability from the Antarctic Thermophilic Bacterium <i>Geobacillus</i> sp. ID17

Salas-Bruggink, Diego; Guzman, Hardy; Espina, Giannina; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES  (2024)

Biochemical and Spectroscopic Characterization of a Recombinant Laccase from Thermoalkaliphilic Bacillus sp. FNT with Potential for Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Bueno-Nieto, Constanza; Cortes-Antiquera, Rodrigo; Espina, Giannina; Atalah, Joaquin; Villanueva, Javiera; Aliaga, Carolina; Zuniga, Gustavo E.; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
CATALYSTS  (2023)

Recombinant expression and characterization of a new laccase, bioinformatically identified, from the Antarctic thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp. ID17

Cortes-Antiquera, Rodrigo; Marquez, Sebastian L.; Espina, Giannina; Sanchez-SanMartin, Jorge; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
EXTREMOPHILES  (2023)

Advantages of Using Extremophilic Bacteria for the Biosynthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles and Its Potential for Rare Earth Element Recovery

Atalah, Joaquin; Espina, Giannina; Blamey, Lotse; Munoz-Ibacache, Sebastian A.; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY  (2022)

From the Discovery of Extremozymes to an Enzymatic Product: Roadmap Based on Their Applications

Espina, Giannina; Munoz-Ibacache, Sebastian A.; Caceres-Moreno, Paulina; Amenabar, Maximiliano J.; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY  (2022)

A novel and highly active recombinant spore-coat bacterial laccase, able to rapidly biodecolorize azo, triarylmethane and anthraquinonic dyestuffs

Espina, Giannina; Caceres-Moreno, Paulina; Mejias-Navarrete, Guillermo; Ji, Minghua; Sun, Junsong; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES  (2021)

Extremophilic Oxidoreductases for the Industry: Five Successful Examples With Promising Projections

Espina, Giannina; Atalah, Joaquin; Blamey, Jenny M.

Article ISI
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY  (2021)

Reconstruction of the Functional Ecosystem in the High Light, Low Temperature Union Glacier Region, Antarctica

Li, Yi; Cha, Qian-Qian; Dang, Yan-Ru; Chen, Xiu-Lan; Wang, Min; McMinn, Andrew; Espina, Giannina; Zhang, Yu-Zhong; Blamey, Jenny M.; Qin, Qi-Long

Article ISI SCOPUS
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY  (2019)

Electro-Kinetic Study of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyzed by Thermophilic Laccase

Zhou, Yan; Szaro, Nicholas A.; Atalah, Joaquin; Espina, Giannina; Blamey Jenny M.; Ramasamy, Ramaraja P.

Article ISI SCOPUS
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY  (2018)

Improved stability of multicopper oxidase-carbon nanotube conjugates using a thermophilic laccase

Atalah, Joaquin; Zhou, Yan; Espina, Giannina; Blamey Jenny M.; Ramasamy, Ramaraja P.

Article ISI SCOPUS
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY  (2018)

Bioprospection of extremozymes for conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to bioethanol and other biochemicals

Sarmiento F.; Espina G.; Boehmwald F.; Peralta R.; Blamey J.M.

Article SCOPUS
Extremophilic Enzymatic Processing of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks to Bioenergy  (2017)

Identification of lipase encoding genes from Antarctic seawater bacteria using degenerate primers: Expression of a cold-active lipase with high specific activity

Parra L.P.; Espina, G; Devia, J; Salazar, O; Andrews B.; Asenjo, J.A

Article ISI SCOPUS
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY  (2015)

A novel beta-xylosidase structure from Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius: the first crystal structure of a glycoside hydrolase family GH52 enzyme reveals unpredicted similarity to other glycoside hydrolase folds

Espina, Giannina; Eley, Kirstin; Pompidor, Guillaume; Schneider, Thomas R.; Crennell, Susan J.; Danson, Michael J.

Article ISI
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY  (2014)

BookSection (1)

Extremozymes: From Discovery to Novel Bio-products

Espina, Giannina; Cáceres-Moreno, Paulina; Correa-Llanten Daniela; Sarmiento, Felipe; Blamey, Jenny M.; Lee, Natuschka

BookSection .
 (2020)

ConferencePoster (3)

Decolorization of synthetic dyes by a novel thermostable and highly active laccase from a thermoalkaliphilic bacterium: Potential for wastewater bioremediation

Espina, Giannina; Mejias-Navarrete, Guillermo; Cáceres-Moreno, Paulina; Peralta, Rocio; Blamey Jenny M.

ConferencePoster
 (2020)

Exploring the microbial and viral diversity at Union Glacier, Antarctica

Espina, Giannina; Muñoz, Patricio .A; Rickmers, Belen; Avilés, Javiera; Blamey Jenny M.

ConferencePoster
 (2017)

Xylan degrading enzymes from Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius, an ethanologenic thermophile

Espina, Giannina; Eley, K.,; Crennell, S.J., and; Danson, Michael J.

ConferencePoster
 (2014)

Proyecto (10)

A Novel Framework of a Cell Free Protein System Based on a Psychrotolerant Extremophile

Blamey, Jenny M.; Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2022)

Coating improvement through the incorporation of biologically synthesized nanoparticles

Blamey, Jenny M.; Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2021)

Amina-transaminasa termofílica-recombinante: Prototipo para la síntesis de intermediarios quirales en la industria farmacéutica

Caceres, Paulina

Proyecto
 (2020)

Biological Removal of phenolic derivatives from contaminated wastewaters effluents from pharmaceutical, chemical and textile industry.

Blamey, Jenny M; Sun, Junsong; Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2020)

Search for a psychrotolerant RNA polymerase Promoter-Sequence for its use in riboswitch biosensors

Blamey, Jenny M.; Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2020)

Bioengineering Extremophile Enzymes to Develop Biological Sensors II

Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2018)

Cloning and expression of thermophilic lipases from a bacterium isolated from Antarctic

Blamey Jenny M.; Espina, Giannina

Proyecto
 (2017)

Bioengineering Extremophile Enzymes to Develop Biological Sensors

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-16-1-0408)

Proyecto
2016-2018
Investigador(a)

Desarrollo de una enzima lacasa termofílica y eficiente, un prototipo para la industria.

InnovaChile CORFO (15IPPID-45682)

Proyecto
2015-2016
Investigador(a)

Development of Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius as a robust platform for production of chemicals from renewables through modelling and experimentation

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) UK (BB/J002410/1)

Proyecto
2012-2015
Tesista

Review (1)

Thermophiles and the applications of their enzymes as new biocatalysts

Atalah, J; Caceres-Moreno, P; Espina, G; Blamey, JM

Review ISI SCOPUS
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY  (2019)

26
Giannina Espina

Research Scientist

Research and Development

Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia

Santiago, Chile

6
Jenny Blamey

Director Científico

Research and Development

FUNDACIÓN CIENTÍFICA Y CULTURAL BIOCIENCIA

Santiago, Chile

3
Rodrigo Cortés

Asistente de investigaciópn

Biología molecular

ByBug Synthethics

Coquimbo, Chile

3
Joaquin Atalah

Research Assistant

Fundación Biocienica

Santiago, Chile

3
Paulina Cáceres

Gerente de área de Desarrollo y Producción

Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia

Santiago , Chile

2
Sebastian Muñoz

Encargado de Procesos

Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia

Santiago, Chile

1
Gustavo Zuñiga

Professor

Biologia

UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

1
Rocío Peralta

Gestor Tecnológico

Universidad de Los Lagos

Puerto Montt, Chile

1
Maximiliano Amenabar

Jefe de Carrera Escuela de Biotecnología

Escuela de Biotecnología

Universidad Santo Tomás

Santiago, Chile

1
Jorge Sánchez

Asistente de Investigación

Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia

Santiago, Chile

1
Juan Asenjo

Professor

CHEMICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING

University of Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile

1
Barbara Andrews

FULL PROFESSOR

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

SANTIAGO, Chile

1
Maria Salazar

Profesora Asociada

Ingeniería Química Biotecnología y Materiales

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FAC. DE CIENCIAS FÍSICAS Y MATEMATICAS DEPTO. INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA

Santiago, Chile

1
loreto parra

Assitant Professor

Chemical and Bioprocesses Engineering

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile