Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology
Leaders: Luzia Helena Carvalho and Cristiana Ferreira Alves de Brito
Focus: Malaria
The group of Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, created in 2002, has, as a mission, the dedication to basic and applied research in malaria. It studies, mainly, the interaction of the plasmodium with its vertebrate hosts. The group’s proposal is to use immunological and molecular approaches to the study of this interaction, aiming with this into contributing to the understanding of the immune protection mechanisms, the development of vaccines, and new anti-malaria drugs. In order to reach the proposed goals, the group counts with the collaboration of various research groups located in Brazil and abroad. The group is also dedicated to human resources development, towards activities of teaching and reasearch, including Undergraduate Research, Graduate, and postdoctoral.
Lines of Research
- Molecular diagnosis of human and simian malaria;
- Study of the immune inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of malaria;
- Study on the association between genetic variability of Plasmodium vivax and phenotypes of interest in malaria, including relapse and resistance to antimalarial drugs;
- Study of the genetic variability of antigens candidates to vaccine against Plasmodium vivax;
- Study
- Population-based studies in the Brazilian Amazon: identification of epidemiological, immunological and molecular markers of exposure and infection to plasmodium;
- Immune mechanisms involved in the acquisition of protection against P. vivax;
Human Resources:
Researchers
Cristiana Ferreira Alves de Brito
Flora Satiko Kano
Luciano Andrade Moreira
Luzia Helena Carvalho
TaÃs Nóbrega de Sousa
Post-graduate Students
Masters
Aracele Maria de Souza
Denise Anete Madureira de Alvarenga
Lara Cotta Amaral
Marina Lima Silva Santos
Doctorate
Daniela Camargos Costa
Flavia Alessandra de Souza Silva
Flávia Carolina Faustino de Araújo
LetÃcia de Menezes Torres
Ricardo de Souza Ribeiro
Sarah Stela Resende
Undergraduate
Ana Luiza de Oliveira Melo
Barbara Andreza Soares Lima
Daniela Rocha Robortella
Filipe Fideles Duarte Andrade
Gabriel Luiz Costa
Gabriela MaÃra Pereira de Assis
Gisele Leles Maia
Jéssica Rafaela dos Santos Alves
Michaelis Loren Tang
Technical Support
Alice Paula di Sabatino Guimaṛes РAssistente de Pesquisa
Daniela Leite Lage – Graduação – Analista de Laboratório
Geraldo FelÃcio de Carvalho – – Técnico de Laboratório
Stefanie Marinho Barcelos – Extensão universitária – Assistente de Pesquisa
Main external collaboration
Alessandra pontillo (USP, São Paulo, SP)
Ana Maria Sell ( UEM, Maringá, PR)
Armando de Menezes Neto (CRESib, Spain)
Bernardo Simões Franklin (Bonn University, Germany)
Bruno A M Sanchez (UFMT, Sinop, MT)
Cor Jesus Fernandes Fontes (UFMT, Cuiabá, MT)
Érika Martins Braga (UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG)
John H Adams (Notre Dame University, USA)
Julio Cesar de Sousa Junior (FURB, Blumenal, SC)
Julius C Haffalla (London School, UK)
Marcelo Urbano Ferreira (USP, São Paulo, SP)
Marcus Lacerda (FMT, Manaus, AM)
Roberto Sena Rocha (Fiocruz-Amazonas)
Walfrido K. Svoboda (UFPR, Curitiba, PR)