Dr. Ana Maria Rivas-Estilla, is a Full Professor and Researcher in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). Dr. Rivas has contributed original research in the field of Hepatology and Molecular Virology of virus that affect humans. She has promoted an in vitro model for the study of molecular virology of HCV, which is the first in the country. She is focused to understand the molecular mechanisms which regulate the synthesis of viral proteins in HCV infected cells and the cellular factors involved in these signaling pathways including PKR proteins, eIF2a,  2-5- oligoadenylate synthase,  IFN-alpha, and transferrin, As a first author she also published the relationship between intracellular iron levels and HCV replication, describing for the first time that the ion iron can decrease viral RNA levels by blocking the activity of the NS5B-HCV enzyme. A major contribution was the discovery that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is able to reduce levels of HCV replication in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and her group has elucidated the mechanisms involved, which is the antioxidant activity of aspirin, and the modulation of the antioxidants systems such as signaling pathways of COX-1, SOD-1 and MAPKs. Recently she is also interested in to know the genetic variability of other flavivirus like DENV, and WNV, and CHIKV circulating in Mexico and its association with clinical presentation in patients infected within different endemic areas. She has published 60 research papers in national and international journals. Cites to her publications: 894