Research Lines
Immunoregulation and immunopathology in Tropical Diseases
We study of immunoregulation and other functional characteristics of the immune cells to understand their ability to mediate protective or pathogenic responses. These studies seek to unveil the cellular defense mechanisms and the processes that lead to distinct clinical outcomes in tropical diseases.
Tropical diseases are those that occur in the tropics, reaching a large contingent of the world population. Among them, LABIC researchers focus their studies on: Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis, Dengue.
Currently, such diseases are neglected, causing their infection rate to be high, and research for new treatments, vaccines and methods of interrupting transmission, biomarkers of susceptibility and severity, to be urgent.
Obesity
Obesity is a very common metabolic disease in Brazil, which has staggering growth rates across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 billion individuals will be overweight by 2025.
With this in mind, it is essential to research the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms of Obesity and Childhood Obesity, in order to unveil the processes that determine the clinical condition of the disease.
Adipose Tissue
Image of the Department of Morphology at UFVJM
Oral Diseases
Oral diseases are those that involve the oral cavity, which may affect the mucosa, teeth, tongue, supporting tissues of the teeth, among others. There are many conditions present in the oral region that can impact the quality of life, oral health and systemic health of individuals. Studies involving the etiopathogenesis of oral diseases and their the cellular and molecular mechanisms are essential for understanding such conditions.
Currently, projects related to periodontal disease, pulp changes and orofacial pain have been developed at LABIC.
Periodontitis
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is an emerging area within the Biological and Health Sciences that consists of technology developed from knowledge of one or several areas of biology, usually for productive purposes.
The study and development of genetically modified organisms and their use for productive purposes are parameters to be reached by the biotechnologist, who can thus obtain different results, such as vaccines or genetic improvement.
Phlebotomine sandfly