Macroproject of Basic Research in Molecular Biology and Immunology

Basic research lays the foundations for developing new therapeutic strategies against different microorganisms. Despite its importance and long-term positive effects, there is still poor knowledge of the mechanisms that different pathogens use to invade host cells, activate immune system evasion mechanisms, and acquire resistance to different drugs.

For this reason, the team of researchers led by Professor Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo, has focused on expanding knowledge about the basic, molecular, cellular, clinical, and epidemiological concepts that human and veterinary pathogens use to efficiently invade cells. hostesses. This knowledge may be applied to the development of efficient control methods that serve as support for existing therapeutic measures against pathogens responsible for diseases such as malaria, babesiosis, foot-and-mouth disease, cryptosporidiosis, human papillomavirus, and tuberculosis, among others.

This macroproject will be developed within eight strategic lines of research, directed by highly qualified scientific personnel in areas related to basic and biomedical sciences. Each strategic line has different research projects focused on solving the general objective and has scientific support staff with experience in molecular, cellular, biochemical, immunodiagnostic, and chemical synthesis techniques. Each line is projected for the production of scientific articles in high-impact journals and with the training of students with a high academic level at the undergraduate and master's level, but particularly at the doctoral level.


3. OBJECTIVES

3.1 General Objective
Generate and strengthen specialized knowledge in diseases with an impact on human and veterinary public health, of national and international importance.

3.1 Specific objectives
a) Identify and characterize new antigens in microorganisms of importance in human and veterinary public health.
b) Identify and functionally evaluate host-pathogen interactions in microorganisms of importance in human and veterinary public health.
c) Study the safety and immune response against antigens of pathogens of interest in human and veterinary health.
d) Study the molecular epidemiology of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites of clinical and veterinary importance.
e) Study the interactions of the major histocompatibility complex with peptides derived from various pathogens.

Molecular and immunological characterization of therapeutic targets and vaccine candidates in different pathogens of importance in veterinary and human health. Molecular epidemiology studies. Collaborations with other groups inside and outside the Universidad del Rosario.

Generation of internationally indexed publications with a high impact factor.