Maria Elena De Lima currently works at the Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia, Federal University of Minas Gerais. Our areas of study include Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology/Biochemistry and Neuroscience. Our focus is in natural and synthetic peptides , mainly derived from spider venoms and other venoms, having biological activities. The projects include: 1. Study of a synthetic peptide (PnPP-19) that improves erection function (EF) and also restores EF in diabetic and hypertensive mouse and rat, respectively, which presents erectile dysfunction (ED). 2. Peptides showing antimicrobial activities in vitro and in vivo; 3. Peptides able to act as analgesics, 4. Peptides with insecticidal activity. Some of these studies include the action of peptides in ionic channels.