Photo of Antonio Henrique Bezerra

Antonio Henrique Bezerra

PhD Candidate in Biological Chemistry | Master in Biological Chemistry | Specialist in Biotechnology | Biologist

Researcher dedicated to the bioprospection of natural products with biological activity, focusing on combating bacterial resistance. My research integrates the chemical characterization of bioproducts, especially from native stingless bees (Meliponini), with advanced microbiological assays to evaluate the inhibition of resistance mechanisms, such as efflux pumps. I use a multidisciplinary approach that combines classical microbiology techniques with cutting-edge computational tools, including in silico molecular docking and dynamics, to elucidate the interactions between natural compounds and bacterial molecular targets.

Affiliation

2019 - Present

Regional University of Cariri (URCA)

Laboratory of Bioprospection of the Semiarid and Alternative Methods - LABSEMA

Advised by Prof. Dr. Francisco Assis Bezerra da Cunha

Academic Education

PhD in Biological Chemistry

2025 - In progress

Regional University of Cariri (URCA)

Thesis: "ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL EVALUATION OF MAJOR CONSTITUENTS FROM Melipona rufiventris EXTRACTS, AND THEIR MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS WITH EFFLUX PROTEINS"

Master in Biological Chemistry

2023 - 2025

Regional University of Cariri (URCA)

Thesis: "CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF Melipona scutellaris PRODUCTS AND EVALUATION OF THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT STRAINS..."

Specialization in Biotechnology

2023 - 2024

Única Faculty of Ipatinga (FUNIP)

Final project: Institution waives thesis defense or similar

Pedagogical Training in Biological Sciences

2026 - In progress

Leonardo da Vinci University Center (UNIASSELVI)

Final project: In progress

Bachelor in Biological Sciences

2018 - 2023

Regional University of Cariri (URCA)

Thesis: "EFFECT OF NOR-RIPARINS I, II, III AND IV ON THE MODIFICATION OF RESISTANCE TO CIPROFLOXACIN AND ETHIDIUM BROMIDE IN K2068 STRAIN OF Staphylococcus aureus..."

Citation Metrics

157
Google Scholar
120
SCOPUS
119
Web of Science
H-Index: 6
13
Total published works

Scientific Publications

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

  • Evaluation of the Activity of Amino Chalcone Against Staphylococcus Strains Harboring Efflux Pumps

    DONATO, ISYDÓRIO ALVES ; BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS ; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE ; BEZERRA, SUIENY RODRIGUES ; ALMEIDA, RAY SILVA ; OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, CÍCERA DATIANE DE MORAIS ; ARAÚJO, ISAAC MOURA ; RODRIGUES, EWERTON YAGO DE SOUSA ; OLIVEIRA, MARIA YASMIN CÂNDIDO DE ; CAJAZEIRAS, FRANCISCO FERDINANDO ; DIAS, JAYZA MARIA LIMA ; GUEDES, JESYKA MACEDO ; CRISTINO, JÉSSICA HÍADE SILVA ; MARINHO, EMMANUEL SILVA ; MARINHO, MÁRCIA MACHADO ; SANTOS, HÉLCIO SILVA DOS ; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO ; TINTINO, SAULO RELISON ; MENEZES, IRWIN ROSE ALENCAR DE ; CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA DA

    PHARMACEUTICALS, v. 18, p. 1629, 2025.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Phenolic Compound Profile, Antimicrobial Activity, and Adjuvant Potential of Ethanolic Extracts From Bioproducts of Melipona quinquefasciata (Lepeletier, 1836).

    BEZERRA, SUIENY RODRIGUES ; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE ; RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA ; MUNIZ, DEBORA FEITOSA ; DANTAS, DEBORA DE MENEZES ; DE SOUSA, JOSIVÂNIA TEIXEIRA ; MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA ; SILVEIRA, ZILDENE DE SOUSA ; GUILHERMINO DOS SANTOS, ANDRESSA ; DE OLIVEIRA, MARIA ALICY NERES ; LEITE, DÉBORA ODÍLIA DUARTE ; OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, DATIANE DE MORAIS ; MORAIS-BRAGA, MARIA FLAVIANA BEZERRA ; DA COSTA, JOSÉ GALBERTO MARTINS ; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO ; DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA

    CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, v. 22, p. 1-13, 2025.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Antibacterial Activity and Antibiotic Potentiation of Melipona rufiventris Bioproducts Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

    HENRIQUE BEZERRA, ANTONIO; RODRIGUES BEZERRA, SUIENY; RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA; FEITOSA MUNIZ, DÉBORA; DE MENEZES DANTAS, DÉBORA; SILVEIRA, ZILDENE DE SOUSA; SILVA MACÊDO, NAIR; FERREIRA DA SILVA, THAÍS; DATIANE DE MORAIS OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, CÍCERA; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS DE MELO; DA COSTA, JOSÉ GALBERTO MARTINS; SILVA DOS SANTOS, HÉLCIO; ASSIS BEZERRA DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO.

    Natural Product Communications, v.20, p.1 - 11, 2025.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Naringenin as potentiator of norfloxacin efficacy through inhibition of the NorA efflux pump in Staphylococcus aureus

    MENEZES DANTAS, DEBORA DE; MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; SOUSA SILVEIRA, ZILDENE DE; SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES DOS; MUNIZ, DÉBORA FEITOSA; BEZERRA, ANTÔNIO HENRIQUE; SOUSA, JOSIVÂNIA TEIXEIRA DE; ALENCAR, GABRIEL GONÇALVES; MORAIS OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, CÍCERA DATIANE DE; TINTINO, SAULO RELISON; DA ROCHA, MATHEUS NUNES; MARINHO, EMMANUEL SILVA; MARINHO, MÁRCIA MACHADO; DOS SANTOS, HÉLCIO SILVA; MELO COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS; CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA DA.

    MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS, v.203, p.107504, 2025.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Molecular docking and antibacterial and antibiotic-modifying activities of synthetic chalcone (2E)-1-(3-aminophenyl)-3-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one in a MepA efflux pump-expressing Staphylococcus aureus strain

    DA SILVA, LARISSA; GONÇALVES, CICERA ALANE COELHO; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES; ROCHA, JANAINA ESMERALDO; DE MATOS, YEDDA MARIA LOBO SOARES; DE OLIVEIRA, LÍGIA CLÁUDIA CASTRO; DOS SANTOS, HÉLCIO SILVA; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO; DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA.

    FOLIA MICROBIOLOGICA, 2024.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Chemical Characterization and Biological Activities of Jandaíra Stingless Bee Products (Melipona subnitida, Ducke, 1911): A Brief Review

    DE MENEZES DANTAS, DÉBORA; RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA; SILVA MACÊDO, NAIR; DE SOUSA SILVEIRA, ZILDENE; RODRIGUES BEZERRA, SUIENY; HENRIQUE BEZERRA, ANTONIO; LIRA DA SILVA, JOSÉ BRUNO; MARTINS DA COSTA, JOSÉ GALBERTO; SARMENTO SILVA, TANIA MARIA; DOUGLAS MELO COUTINHO, HENRIQUE; ASSIS BEZERRA DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO.

    CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, v.21, p.1 - 19, 2024.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Evaluation of the antibacterial and inhibitory activity of the MepA efflux pump of Staphylococcus aureus by riparins I, II, III, and IV

    RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA; MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; DE SOUSA SILVEIRA, ZILDENE; ROCHA, JANAÍNA ESMERALDO; FREITAS, THIAGO SAMPAIO; MUNIZ, DÉBORA FEITOSA; ARAÚJO, ISAAC MOURA; DATIANE DE MORAIS OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, CÍCERA; MARINHO, EMMANUEL SILVA; NUNES DA ROCHA, MATHEUS; MARINHO, MARCIA MACHADO; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; RIBEIRO DE SOUSA, GABRIELA; BARBOSA-FILHO, JOSÉ MARIA; DE SOUZA-FERRARI, JAILTON; MELO COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS; SILVA DOS SANTOS, HÉLCIO; BEZERRA DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS.

    ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS, v.748, p.109782, 2023.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Bioactivities of isolated and synthetic riparins of Aniba riparia (NEES) MEZ (LAURACEAE): A brief review

    BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS; BEZERRA, ANTÔNIO HENRIQUE; BEZERRA, SUIENY RODRIGUES; MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; OLIVEIRA-TINTINO, CÍCERA DATIANE DE MORAIS; COSTA, JOSÉ GALBERTO MARTINS DA; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO; DOS SANTOS, HELCIO SILVA; CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA DA.

    Phytochemistry Letters, v.52, p.149 - 160, 2022.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Antibacterial activity of eugenol on the IS-58 strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to tetracycline and toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

    BEZERRA, SUIENY RODRIGUES; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; DE SOUSA SILVEIRA, ZILDENE; MACEDO, NAIR SILVA; DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES; MUNIZ, DEBORA FEITOSA; SAMPAIO DOS SANTOS, JOYCY FRANCELY; MELO COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS; BEZERRA DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS.

    MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS, v.165, p.105456, 2022.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Evaluation of ellagic acid and gallic acid as efflux pump inhibitors in strains of Staphylococcus aureus

    MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; SILVEIRA, ZILDENE DE SOUSA; DA SILVA, LARISSA; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO; DASHTI, SAEID; KIM, BONGLEE; DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA; DA SILVA, MARCIA VANUSA.

    Biology Open, v.11, p.1 - 7, 2022.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Effect of estragole over the RN4220 Staphylococcus aureus strain and its toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

    BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; BEZERRA, SUIENY RODRIGUES; MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; DE SOUSA SILVEIRA, ZILDENE; DOS SANTOS BARBOSA, CRISTINA RODRIGUES; DE FREITAS, THIAGO SAMPAIO; MUNIZ, DÉBORA FEITOSA; DE SOUSA JÚNIOR, DÁRCIO LUIZ; JÚNIOR, JOSÉ PINTO SIQUEIRA; DONATO, ISYDÓRIO ALVES; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO; DA CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA.

    LIFE SCIENCES, v.264, p.118675, 2021.

    View Article (DOI)

  • Caesalpinia ferrea C. Mart. (Fabaceae) Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany, and Bioactivities: A Review

    MACÊDO, NAIR SILVA; SILVEIRA, ZILDENE DE SOUSA; BEZERRA, ANTONIO HENRIQUE; COSTA, JOSÉ GALBERTO MARTINS DA; COUTINHO, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO; ROMANO, BARBARA; CAPASSO, RAFFAELE; CUNHA, FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA DA; DA SILVA, MÁRCIA VANUSA.

    MOLECULES, v.25, p.3831 - 33, 2020.

    View Article (DOI)

Book Chapters

  • THE PET-HEALTH AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR BIOLOGIST ARTICULATION IN HEALTH: NARRATIVES OF FORMATION AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN PRACTICE

    da SILVA, L.; GOMES, N. T. P.; SILVA, L. Y. S.; GOLCALVES, C. A. C.; Pessoa, R. T.; BEZERRA, S. R.; BATISTA, P. R.; CARVALHO, M. N. M.; BEZERRA, A. H.; MACHADO, S. T. S.; LIMA, A. K. A.; MACEDO, N. S..

    In: Ciências da saúde: pluralidade dos aspectos que interferem na saúde humana 10. Ponta Grossa - PR: Atena Editora, 2022.

    View Chapter (DOI)

  • INVESTIGATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI CASES IN BRAZIL AND ITS MAIN CLINICAL FORMS – A LITERATURE REVIEW

    da SILVA, L.; CORDEIRO, P. P. M.; GOMES, N. T. P.; SILVA, L. Y. S.; GOLCALVES, C. A. C.; Pessoa, R. T.; MACEDO, N. S.; CARVALHO, M. N. M.; SCHERF, J. R.; BATISTA, P. R.; BEZERRA, A. H.; BEZERRA, S. R..

    In: A pesquisa em ciências biológicas: Desafios atuais e perspectivas futuras. Ponta Grossa - PR: Atena Editora, 2021.

    View Chapter (DOI)

Research Projects

ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL EVALUATION OF Melipona rufiventris CONSTITUENTS...

Period: 2025 - Present

Description: Investigate the antibacterial and antifungal action and the inhibition of efflux pumps by the constituents of M. rufiventris extracts, using microbiological assays, chromatography (HPLC/UPLC), and molecular docking and dynamics simulations.

CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Melipona scutellaris PRODUCTS...

Period: 2023 - 2025

Description: Produce and characterize the chemical profile of extracts from M. scutellaris products and evaluate their antibacterial and antibiotic-modifying activity against multidrug-resistant strains.

Toxicity of Riparin Molecules and Evaluation of their Activities in a Prokaryotic Model

Period: 2020 - Present

Description: Investigate the toxicity of Riparins in Drosophila melanogaster and evaluate their activity in the reversal of Efflux Pumps of Staphylococcus aureus through in vivo, in vitro, and in silico assays.

Activities and Complementary Education

Academic Activities

  • Journal Reviewer: International journal of molecular sciences (2025 - Present)
  • Journal Reviewer: PLANTS (2024 - Present)
  • Examining Board Member: VIII URCA UNIVERSITY WEEK - XXVI URCA SCIENTIFIC INITIATION WEEK (2023)
  • Examining Board Member: XVII SEMABIO 17th Biology Week: The role of the biologist in contemporary society (2023)
  • Event Organization: I Seminar on Scientific Dissemination and Strategic Partnerships of PPQB (2021); PPQB LECTURES (2019); Environment Week - SEMEIA (2019)

Complementary Education

  • Snakes: Basic Information (30h)

    Butantan Institute, 2023

  • INTRODUCTION TO MOLECULAR DOCKING (8h)

    URCA, 2023

  • Soil Preparation and Management for Organic Fruit Production (32h)

    EMBRAPA, 2022

  • Biosafety in focus (45h)

    FIOCRUZ-PE, 2022

  • Biosafety (50h)

    FIOCRUZ-PE, 2022

  • Introduction to Access to Native Genetic Heritage and Traditional Knowledge (10h)

    EMBRAPA, 2021

  • An Introduction to Marxism (4h)

    URCA, 2021

  • Bioinformatics Tools for Protein and Peptide Analysis (7h)

    Vira Lata School, 2021

  • Introduction to Python Programming for Bioinformatics Analysis (7h)

    Vira Lata School, 2021

  • Pollination Syndrome and Pollinator Ecology (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Discussing Gender and Sexuality in Science and Biology Teaching (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Homemade Microscopy and Science Teaching: Research and Extension (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Forensic Entomology Concepts and Applications (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Agrobiodiversity: Importance and Conservation Strategies (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Accidents by Venomous Animals: Identification, Diagnosis (3h)

    Farroupilha Federal Institute, 2021

  • Urban Meliponiculture (12h)

    EMBRAPA, 2021

  • Fundamentals of Statistics (60h)

    Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, 2021

  • ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MAMMALS IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC (8h)

    URCA, 2020

  • Investigation of natural products for the control of microorganisms (4h)

    URCA, 2020

  • Production and extraction of enzymes of pharmaceutical interest (4h)

    URCA, 2020

  • Chemical Safety in Teaching and Research Laboratories (40h)

    National School of Public Administration, 2020

  • Emerging respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 (4h)

    UFRN, 2020

  • ANATOMY-PHYSIOLOGY OF SMOOTH MUSCLE AND EX VIVO EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATIONS (8h)

    URCA, 2020

  • Molecular techniques for the detection of antimicrobial resistance (8h)

    URCA, 2020

  • PROSPECTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN UMBILICAL BLOOD VESSELS (8h)

    URCA, 2020

  • METHODS OF PROTEIN PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION (8h)

    URCA, 2019

  • Dendrology (8h)

    URCA, 2018

  • Challenges of Reptile and Amphibian Conservation in the Southern Ceará Region (80h)

    URCA, 2018

  • Animal Handling in Experimental Tests (8h)

    URCA, 2018