Marcus V. Costa

My name is Marcus Costa and I am a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Florida majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science with minors in Deaf and Hearing Sciences and Geography.

As an undergraduate researchers, my research project aims to delve into the multifaceted role of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT), a liver-produced protease inhibitor known for its function in safeguarding tissues from proteolytic damage and modulating inflammatory responses. My study investigates the interplay of AAT with the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system (RAAS), particularly focusing on the endothelial sodium channel (ENaC) – a critical regulator of sodium balance and blood pressure.