Post-graduate Program in Science and Biotechnology

Member: Ana Joffily Coutinho (Permanent)

Project: Morphological and chemical species of Brazilian flora

Description: This project aims to contribute to the knowledge of flora and add importance to plants as potential therapeutic resources.

 

Member: Cícero Brasileiro de Mello Neto (Permanent)

Project: Studies of RNAi in Trypanosoma cruzi interaction x R. prolixus

Description : Studies of RNAi in gene silencing of NO synthase, R. prolixus.

 

Member: Dilvani Oliveira Santos (Permanent)

Project: Analysis of the cellular profile in biological systems of medical importance

Description: In various pathologies, the success of the immune response depends largely on the type of antigen-presenting cell. In this context, the literature cites the dendritic cell as the most potent cell function in antigen presentation. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the expression of surface molecules and cytokine production in the interaction of dendritic cells with autologous T lymphocytes in the presence of antigens such as M. leprae, BCG and Leishmania braziliensis .

 

Member: Fabiana Barzotti Kohlrausch (Permanent)

Project: Human Genetic Variability

Description: To analyze the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the development of normal and pathological features in humans. To check several susceptibility genes in common diseases in humans .

 

Member: Gerlinde Agate Platais Brasil Teixeira (Permanent)

Project: Food Allergy - Immunology gastrointestin

Description: Food allergy is a serious problem that causes a significant percentage of the population. This condition presents with an inflammation of the digestive tract and / or distant manifestations such as asthma and dermatitis among others. Our focus has predominantly targeted gastrointestinal alterations where we developed a murine model for studying the pathophysiology of food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease specific antigen. Although our main focus is in the digestive tract of our model has allowed us to also study the impact of this systemic disease. The oral tolerance and systemic immunization are diametrically opposed phenomena arising from interactions of the organism with environmental antigens. The exposure to the antigen orally to animals or immune tolerance also leads to consequences diametrically opposed mucous membranes. At first, the physiological situation, the animals do not show mucosal changes and the second, depending on weather and variety of components in the diet developed varying degrees of chronic intestinal inflammation. The antigen exposure through breast milk and in the early stage of postnatal life also has systemic consequences in adulthood. We have studied the effects of intestinal inflammation in normal animal or under stress, they gain new antigens on the digestive tract, in maternal-fetal relationship, and the selection of diets

 

Member: Gutemberg Gomes Alves (Permanent)

Project: Biological effects of interactions of proteins and biomaterials

Description: Of the numerous factors such as congenital diseases, increased life expectancy and the incidence of bone trauma accidents increase demand for materials that contribute to tissue regeneration. For the development of such materials, we must understand the different biological factors that modulate the biocompatibility of the same. Plasma proteins may interact with biomaterials used in bone regeneration, and in that context, their impact on cell adhesion, differentiation and proliferation in contact with different biomaterials for clinical applications deserve to be investigated. In this project, we intend to evaluate: (i) the dynamics of interaction between two plasma proteins and hydroxyapatite-based materials with different porosities, (ii) the impact of this interaction on structural features and physicochemical these materials, (iii) how these interactions can affect the biocompatibility as measured by different parameters such as cell adhesion, cell integrity, structural rearrangements, among others, and (iv) using techniques of molecular biology and immunoassays, to detect possible changes in production and / or release of cellular factors involved in regenerative processes and inflammatory. We hope these results will contribute not only to understanding the phenomenon of tissue regeneration, but also for the possible production of bio-doped proteins that collaborate in increasing their biocompatibility.

 

Member: Karen de Jesus Oliveira (Permanent)

Project: Endocrine and nutritional regulation of energy homeostasis and body weight 

Description: Numerous factors affect the quality of modern life, so that the population must become aware of the importance of foods containing substances that help promote health, bringing with it improved nutritional status. Cinnamon has been considered a potential nutraceutical food, because studies show that intake of this spice improves insulin sensitivity, reduces fasting blood glucose, reduces mean arterial pressure and improves lipid profile in humans and rodents. Understanding the factors that modulate insulin sensitivity, such as cinnamon, is essential for optimal management of metabolic syndrome, which is highly prevalent and disabling in the long term, mainly because of its association with cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms by which cinnamon exerts its effects remain unclear, and there is no published data on the physiological effects of chronic ingestion of cinnamon healthy bodies. Our main objectives are to study the effects of chronic ingestion of cinnamon on secretion and action of thyroid hormones, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and adrenaline, since these are of great importance for energy homeostasis, maintenance of body weight, lipid metabolism and function cardiovascular disease. Assess the intake of cinnamon can exert protective effects against high-fat diet-induced obesity. Furthermore, we characterize possible benefit of chronic use of cinnamon on the physical capacity of the animals. We use mice as experimental models healthy, obese and hypothyroid. We primarily use techniques of radioimmunoassay Luminex analysis, real-time PCR, Western blot, enzyme assays and biochemical assessment of body composition.

 

Member: Marcelo Salabert Gonzalez (Permanent)

Project: Tracking and Imunocitolocalização of proteins involved in adhesion of Trypanosoma cruzi in the gut epithelium of Rhodnius prolixus

Description: The identification of proteins responsible for the development of T. cruzi in the gut of the insect vector (R. prolixus in the case) can not only clarify unknown aspects of the life cycle of the parasite but also serve as input to develop strategies to block transmission of Chagas disease by triatomines. So in this project we intend to characterize the molecular point of view the accession of epimastigotes of T. cruzi in the midgut epithelium of the vector R. prolixus, isolating membrane proteins perimicrovilllar R. prolixus involved in adhesion of epimastigotes of T. cruzi in the invertebrate host intestinal epithelium, as well as preparation of polyclonal antibodies to study the in vivo secretion and inhibition of adherence and cloning and expression of recombinant proteins isolated .

 

Member: Maria Denise Feder (Permanent)

Project: Parasite-vector interaction (T. cruzi and T. rangeli/ R. prolixus) using biophotonic technology.

Description: Study of the interaction triatomine /trypanosomatids in real time, for a long-term using Biophotonics. Biophotonics emerged in the last decade with the development of new techniques such as lasers and ultra-short optical particles and has been a revolution in the life sciences. Biophotonics innovation is non-invasive method that can be used to study biological materials. In summary, we uses a methodology to study parasite-vector interaction using biophotonic technology as an optical tweezers system, QDs biomarkers and the confocal system allowing quantitative measurements with live parasites in the presence or absence of tissues of the insect-vector.

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Member: Valéria Laneuville Teixeira (Permanent)

Project: Natural products of marine benthic algae: taxonomic study and potential antiviral 

Description: This study includes natural products of marine benthic algae through the isolation, purification and structure elucidation to establish their potential as markers taxononômicos and its potential use as an antiretroviral. We have studied the diterpenes from brown algae and consecrate the use of these metabolites as essential in understanding the taxonomic limits of genera and species. Through this study we established a new species in Brazil, combining data and chemical morofológicos (Dictyota dolabellana). The use of these natural products as anti-retroviral, particularly HIV-1 has been evaluated and, today, we find products that can inhibit the replicative cycle of HIV-1 in several steps, in addition to preventing the cell against viral action. the international agency "Alliance for Microbicide Development" presents the triol 5 as a candidate microbicide in preclinical development. One of these diterpenes is among the 30 Applicants accepted by the international organization supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is the only substance of the Latin American group. Were isolated and identified so far, the project period, more than 60 natural products of marine benthic algae. The isolated metabolites were a good tool as taxonomic markers, as well as being the starting point for understanding their ecological role in the production and use of drugs of therapeutic importance.

 

Member: José Mauro Granjeiro (Colaborator)

Project: Analysis and development of biomaterials for bone grafts.

Description: Analysis of the interaction of molecules and cells with ceramic and metallic biomaterials for treating bone loss. This project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms and cellular response to biomaterials to allow the design of new materials with regenerative capacity and applicable to the bioengineering of tissues.

 

Member: Edson Pereira da Silva (Colaborator)

Project: Genetic variation and population structure of plants and animals

Description: Organisms of all phyla are used as models for the study of evolutionary forces (genetic drift, mutation, natural selection and migration). The problems of interest involve the study of genetic variation and structure of natural populations, the adaptation of organisms, evolutionary relationships and systematic. The data obtained in these studies are relevant to the knowledge of biodiversity and the consequent management and conservation of the species. The techniques used are molecular markers (DNA and aloenzymes).

 

Member: Helena de Souza Pereira (Colaborator)

Project: Evaluation of new inhibitors enziamas RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and protease of HIV-1 and Hepatitis C (HCV).

Description: Evaluation of new drugs with potential to inhibit, with high activity and specificity of the HCV replicase. The choice of therapeutic target due to two main factors: (a) the replicase or RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is an enzyme found only in infections by viruses with RNA genomes, but absent in normal eukaryotic cells and therefore is a target therapeutic drug of choice for selective depending on the design of such right, (b) HCV viral protease, on the other hand, has homology with several other serine proteases usually participating in different eukaryotic metabolic aspects of human physiology, which complicates the design of a a drug that has no likely side effects or severe toxicity.