Research:

My research program is developed at the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, USA and at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation-Minas, in belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Broadly, I am interested in understanding the immunological mechanisms that warrant host resistance to infection and at the same time prevent immune mediated tissue damage and pathology in parasitic diseases. The main areas of scientific research carried in my lab are on: (i) the role innate immunity on host resistance and pathogenesis to infection with protozoan parasites; (ii) the mechanisms of cytotoxic T cells in resistance to infection; and (iii) the development of recombinant vaccines that induce cell-mediated immunity and protect against protozoan infections. When possible, we try to address our questions regarding host-parasite interactions, employing cellular systems, experimental rodent models and well-characterized patients undergoing specific protozoan infection.

Main Projects:

Role of TLRs, inflammasome and inflammatory caspses in malaria pathogenesis

Role of monocyte-derived dendritic cells in malária

The influence of the circadian cycle on inflammation, metabolismo and Plasmodium infection

The role of IRAKs and Myddosomes in infection with T. gondii

Development of the recombinant-A2 vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis

Development of the recombinant-ASP2/TS vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis

My current research is supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cinetifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).