{{Short description|German biologist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Cynthia Mira Sharma | birth_date = 1979 | workplaces = University of Würzburg | alma_mater = Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf <br> Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology | thesis_title = Identification of small regulatory RNAs and their targets in bacteria | thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1074683784 | thesis_year = 2009 }} '''Cynthia Mira Sharma''' (born 1979) is a biologist, who is Chair of Molecular Infection Biology II at the University of Würzburg. Her research focuses on how bacterial pathogens regulate their gene expression to adapt to changing environments or stress conditions.
== Early life and education== Sharma attended the Steinbart-Gymnasium in Duisburg. She studied Biology at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and moved to the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology for her doctoral studies, during which she studied small regulatory RNAs.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Identification of small regulatory RNAs and their targets in bacteria |date=2009 |place=Bielefeld |language=en |first=Cynthia Mira |last=Sharma|oclc=1074683784 }}</ref> She remained at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology for a short postdoctoral position with Jörg Vogel. In late 2010, she performed a short postdoctoral research in the United States where she worked alongside Gisela Storz at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
== Research and career== In 2010 Sharma was recruited to the University of Würzburg's Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF, Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), as an independent young investigator group leader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMIB: Academic Career |url=http://www.imib-wuerzburg.de/research/sharma/academic-career/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.imib-wuerzburg.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nachwuchspreis für Cynthia Sharma |url=https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/news-and-events/news/detail/news/nachwuchspreis-fuer-cynthia-sharma/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.uni-wuerzburg.de |language=en}}</ref> Her research focuses on bacterial pathogens and how they adapt to their hosts and changing environments. She is particularly interested in how bacteria regulate their gene expression. She is interested in small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) as well as the proteins that bind RNA, which are important in cell physiology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DNA scissors can cut RNA, too |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301144150.htm |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en}}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharma together with Chase Beisel developed a RNA diagnostic platform to distinguish different respiratory viruses and virus variants based on CRISPR.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vogel |first=Prof. Dr. Jörg |title=IMIB: News |url=http://www.imib-wuerzburg.de/news/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.imib-wuerzburg.de |language=en}}</ref><ref name="eurekalert.org">{{Cite web |title=CRISPR discovery from Wuerzburg paves the way for novel COVID testing method |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/820137 |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=EurekAlert! |language=en}}</ref> The test, Leveraging Engineered tracrRNAs and On-target DNAs for PArallel RNA Detection, (LEOPARD), can detect many RNAs at once, offering the potential to identify several disease-related biomarkers.<ref name="eurekalert.org"/>
Sharma was awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant in 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=A deeper insight into the bag of tricks of bacteria |url=https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/news-and-events/news/detail/news/tiefer-blick-in-die-trickkiste-von-bakterien/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.uni-wuerzburg.de |language=en}}</ref>
== Awards and honours== * 2011 Ingrid zu Solms-Naturwissenschaftspreis<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natur-, Lebens- und Ingenieurwissenschaften – Ingrid zu Solms-Stiftung |url=https://ingrid-zu-solms-stiftung.de/NLI.html |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=ingrid-zu-solms-stiftung.de}}</ref> * 2012–2015 Postdoc/Young Investigator fellowship of the Daimler-and-Benz Foundation * 2012–2017 Young Academy member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences & Humanities<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fellows: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften |url=https://badw.de/en/young-academy/fellows.html?tx_badwdb_badwperson%5Baction%5D=show&tx_badwdb_badwperson%5Bcontroller%5D=BADWPerson&tx_badwdb_badwperson%5BpartialType%5D=BADWPersonDetailsPartial&tx_badwdb_badwperson%5Bper_id%5D=3824&cHash=201bbd48099100a1e305cf8173ac772e |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=badw.de}}</ref> * 2011 Robert-Koch-Postdoktorandenpreis für Mikrobiologie<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preis für Postdoktorandinnen und Postdoktoranden |url=https://www.robert-koch-stiftung.de/preise/preis-fuer-postdoktorandinnen-und-postdoktoranden |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Robert-Koch-Stiftung |language=de-de}}</ref> * 2013 DGHM-Förderpreis (DGHM Young Investigator Award)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Förderpreis {{!}} Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie |url=https://www.dghm.org/startseite/dghm-stiftung/voraussetzungen-und-ehemalige-preistraeger-innen/foerderpreis/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |language=de-DE}}</ref> * 2014 ESCMID Research Grant<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESCMID: Awardees 2014 |url=https://www.escmid.org/profession_career/awards_grants/research_grants/previous_awardees/awardees_2014/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.escmid.org}}</ref> * 2015 German Research Foundation Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Preis<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize |url=https://www.dfg.de/en/funded_projects/prizewinners/maier_leibnitz_prize/index.html |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.dfg.de |language=en}}</ref> * 2021 Falling Walls Winner in the Category Life Sciences<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cynthia Sharma {{!}} Falling Walls |url=https://falling-walls.com/people/cynthia-sharma/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=falling-walls.com |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2022 Pettenkofer Prize<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2023 |title=Pettenkofer Prize awarded to Chase Beisel and Cynthia Sharma |url=https://www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/newsroom/news/detail/news/pettenkofer-prize-awarded-to-chase-beisel-and-cynthia-sharma/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research}}</ref> * 2022 European Research Council Consolidator Grant<ref name=":0" /> * 2023 VolkswagenStiftung ‘Momentum’-Grant<ref>{{Cite web |title=VolkswagenStiftung: Search |url=https://portal.volkswagenstiftung.de/search/projectDetails.do?siteLanguage=en&ref=9C299 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=portal.volkswagenstiftung.de}}</ref> * 2023 Main prize of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM)<ref>{{Cite web |title=bayresq.net – Neue Strategien gegen multiresistente Krankheitserreger mittels digitaler Vernetzung – DGHM prize for Cynthia Sharma |url=https://bayresq.net/en/2023/10/04/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=bayresq.net}}</ref>
== Engagement in the research system==
* 2024 Conference Chair (VAAM) Joint Conference of the VAAM/DGHM, Würzburg, Germany<ref>{{Cite web |title=DGHM&VAAM: Organisational remarks |url=https://dghm-vaam.de/general-information/organisational-remarks |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=dghm-vaam.de}}</ref> * 2023 Co-organizer CRISPR Conference 2023, Würzburg, Germany<ref>{{Cite web |title=CRISPR Conference |url=https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/imib/news/single-en/news/crispr-conference/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.uni-wuerzburg.de |language=en}}</ref> * Since 2023 Member Scientific Advisory Board (Fachbeirat) BioM GmbH<ref>{{Cite web |title=BioM Advisory Board |url=https://www.bio-m.org/en/about-biom/advisory-board.html,%20https://www.bio-m.org/en/about-biom/advisory-board.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=BioM |language=en}}</ref> * 2022 Co-organizer, 71st Mosbacher Colloquium ‘The World of RNAs’, Germany<ref>{{Cite web |title=71. Mosbacher Kolloquium: The world of RNAs – principles and applications |url=https://idw-online.de/en/event64895 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=idw-online.de}}</ref> * 2018 Co-organizer, Symposium of the Sections ‘Microbial Pathogenicity’ (DGHM/VAAM) and ‘Gastrointestinal Infections’ (DGHM), Bad Urach, Germany<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mikrobielle Pathogenität |url=https://www.dghm.org/startseite/fachgruppen/mikrobielle-pathogenitaet/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie |language=de-DE}}</ref> * Since 2018 Spokesperson of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), JMU<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immunology, and infection, pathogens in focus – Research in Bavaria |url=https://www.research-in-bavaria.de/de/immunology-inflammation-infection/pathogens-in-focus |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.research-in-bavaria.de |language=de-DE}}</ref> * 2017–2019 Member of the doctoral graduation commission of the Medical Faculty, JMU * Since 2017 Steering committee DFG SPP 2002 ‘Small Proteins in Prokaryotes’<ref>{{Cite web |title=DFG – GEPRIS – Professorin Dr. Cynthia Mira Sharma |url=https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/person/189611439?context=person&task=showDetail&id=189611439& |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=gepris.dfg.de}}</ref> * 2014/2016 Co-organizer, EMBO Practical Course on Non-coding RNAs in Infection, Würzburg, Germany * 2016 Co-organizer, Workshop ‘Sensory and Regulatory RNAs in Prokaryotes’, Munich, Germany * 2015–2021 board member of the Section ‘Gastrointestinal Infections’ of the DGHM * 2015–2019 Member of Faculty Opinions Section ‘Bacterial Infections’ * 2015 Organizer, Workshop ‘High-Throughput & Single Cell Approaches in Infection Biology’, Munich, Germany<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1 June 2016 |title=Meeting Workshops organized by ZINF Members 2014–15 |url=https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/fileadmin/43090000/ZINFreport_2014-15/Scientific_Report_ZINF_download.pdf |journal=Research Centre for Infectious Diseases. Scientific Report 2014-2015 |publisher=Research Centre for Infectious Diseases Würzburg |pages=150–151}}</ref> * 2014 Organizer, 3rd Mol Micro Meeting (M3W3), Würzburg<ref name=":1" /> * 2012 Co-organizer of the 2nd Mol Micro Meeting, Würzburg, Germany
== Selected publications== * 2014 Organizer, 3rd Mol Micro Meeting (M3W3), Würzburg<ref name=":1" /> * 2012 Co-organizer of the 2nd Mol Micro Meeting, Würzburg, Germany
== Selected publications == Pernitzsch, S. R., M. Alzheimer, B. U. Bremer, M. Robbe-Saule, H. De Reuse, and C. M. Sharma. 2021. [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24689-2 Small RNA mediated gradual control of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis affects antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori]. Nat Commun 12: 4433. {{doi|10.1038/s41467-021-24689-2|10.1038/s41467-021-24689-2}}
Jiao, C., S. Sharma, G. Dugar, N. L. Peeck, T. Bischler, F. Wimmer, Y. Yu, L. Barquist, C. Schoen, O. Kurzai, C. M. Sharma°, and C. L. Beisel°. 2021. [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe7106 Noncanonical crRNAs derived from host transcripts enable multiplexable RNA detection by Cas9.] Science 372: 941-948. {{doi|10.1126/science.abe7106}}
Eisenbart, S. K., M. Alzheimer, S. R. Pernitzsch, S. Dietrich, S. Stahl, and C. M. Sharma. 2020. [https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1097276520306171 A Repeat-Associated Small RNA Controls the Major Virulence Factors of Helicobacter pylori.] Mol Cell 80: 210-226 e217. {{doi|10.1016/j.molcel.2020.09.009}}
Alzheimer, M., S. L. Svensson, F. Konig, M. Schweinlin, M. Metzger, H. Walles, and C. M. Sharma. 2020. [https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008304 A three-dimensional intestinal tissue model reveals factors and small regulatory RNAs important for colonization with Campylobacter jejuni.] PLoS Pathog 16: e1008304. {{doi|10.1371/journal.ppat.1008304|doi-access=free}}
Dugar, G., R. T. Leenay, S. K. Eisenbart, T. Bischler, B. U. Aul, C. L. Beisel, and C. M. Sharma. 2018. [https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(18)30091-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1097276518300911%3Fshowall%3Dtrue CRISPR RNA-Dependent Binding and Cleavage of Endogenous RNAs by the Campylobacter jejuni Cas9.] Mol Cell 69: 893-905 e897. {{doi|10.1016/j.molcel.2018.01.032}}
Dugar, G., S. L. Svensson, T. Bischler, S. Waldchen, R. Reinhardt, M. Sauer, and C. M. Sharma. 2016. [https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms11667 The CsrA-FliW network controls polar localization of the dual-function flagellin mRNA in Campylobacter jejuni.] Nat Commun 7: 11667. {{doi|10.1038/ncomms11667}}
Pernitzsch, S. R., S. M. Tirier, D. Beier, and C. M. Sharma. 2014. [https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1315152111 A variable homopolymeric G-repeat defines small RNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation of a chemotaxis receptor in Helicobacter pylori.] Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111: E501-510. {{doi|10.1073/pnas.1315152111}}
Dugar, G., A. Herbig, K. U. Forstner, N. Heidrich, R. Reinhardt, K. Nieselt, and C. M. Sharma. 2013. [https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1003495 High-resolution transcriptome maps reveal strain-specific regulatory features of multiple Campylobacter jejuni isolates.] PLoS Genet 9: e1003495. {{doi|10.1371/journal.pgen.1003495|doi-access=free}}
Deltcheva, E., K. Chylinski, C. M. Sharma, K. Gonzales, Y. Chao, Z. A. Pirzada, M. R. Eckert, J. Vogel, and E. Charpentier. 2011. [https://www.nature.com/articles/nature09886 CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.] Nature 471: 602-607. {{doi|10.1038/nature09886}}
Sharma, C., Hoffmann, S., Darfeuille, F. et al. 2010 [https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08756 The primary transcriptome of the major human pathogen Helicobacter pylori.] Nature 464: 250–255. {{doi|10.1038/nature08756}}
== References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Cynthia}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf alumni Category:Max Planck Society people Category:Academic staff of the University of Würzburg Category:20th-century German biologists Category:21st-century German scientists Category:German women scientists Category:20th-century German women scientists