Ana Maria Porras

Assistant Professor University of Florida

  • Gainesville FL

Ana Maria Porras studies how the gut microbiome and tropical parasites regulate human health.

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University of Florida

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Biography

Ana Maria Porras investigates how microbes interact with human tissues. She designs laboratory models that mimic the human body to understand how our health is influenced by microorganisms — both beneficial ones, like those found in the gut microbiome, and harmful ones, such as tropical parasites. Her current research focuses on inflammatory bowel disease, leishmaniasis and heart valve disorders. Additionally,  Ana Maria is an internationally recognized science communicator who engages audiences in English and Spanish, making complex scientific concepts accessible to broader audiences.

Areas of Expertise

intestinal disorders
Cardiovascular Health
Multilingualism
Extracellular Matrix
Science Art
Tissue Engineering
Heart Valve Disease
Microbiology
Gut Microbiome
Tropical Infections
Science Communication
Global Health

Media Appearances

Ana María Porras: the Colombian scientist who leaves her mark on the world of science

Snail News  online

2022-04-05

Since she was a child, Ana María Porras knew that her path in life would be science: she studied Biomedical Engineering and obtained her doctorate in that area of ​​study; she works at the University of Florida and she always instills a love and passion for that field in her students. In Snail News Now , Dr. Porras talked about her beginnings, what her work has been like in the American academy as a Latina, and the tribute she received from " If Then She Can Exhibit " in one of her favorite museums: Smithsonian .

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Ana María Porras, the Colombian biomedical engineer who inspires young scientists

W Radio  radio

2022-03-07

Scientist Ana María Porras , a Colombian biomedical engineer , spoke to La W about her presentation at the Smithsonian . It is about a scene in Washington where 120 statues of women who inspire others in science are exhibited. "It is an exhibition of 120 statues, the idea is to show that there are many types of women who can work and perform in all kinds of areas," said Porras.

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How Many Microbes are in Our Bodies? Biomedical Engineer Ana Maria Porras Shares

GoldieBlox  tv

2020-07-08

It's Wednesday so that means we're back with a new campisode! This week's 'Quick Q' campisode features Ana Maria Porras, a Biomedical Engineer. Ana Maria answers questions about microbes, studying the human body and why she started crocheting microbes for fun. Ana Maria also gives advice to those young girls that are interested in learning more about STEAM and all it has to offer!

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Articles

Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Gut Commensals Degrade Components of the Extracellular Matrix

ASM Journals

Ana Maria Porras, et. al

2022-11-29

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling has emerged as a key feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and ECM fragments have been proposed as markers of clinical disease severity. Recent studies report increased protease activity in the gut microbiota of IBD patients. Nonetheless, the relationship between gut microbiota and ECM remodeling has remained unexplored.

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Engaging Scientific Diasporas in STEAM Education: The Case of Science Clubs Colombia

Frontiers

Bryann E. Avendano-Uribe, et. al

2022-06-28

Currently, there is limited insight on the role that scientific diasporas can play in STEAM education in Latin America. Here, we present the Science Clubs Colombia (Clubes de Ciencia Colombia-SCC) program, a pioneering STEAM capacity-building initiative led by volunteer scientists to engage youth and children from underserved communities in science.

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Geographic differences in gut microbiota composition impact susceptibility to enteric infection

Cell Reports

Ana Maria Porras, et. al

2021-07-27

Large-scale studies of human gut microbiomes have revealed broad differences in composition across geographically distinct populations. Yet, studies examining impacts of microbiome composition on various health outcomes typically focus on single populations, posing the question of whether compositional differences between populations translate into differences in susceptibility.

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