Renan Vasconcelos da Graça-Filho

During my undergraduate studies, I was introduced to scientific research with fungal identification of environmental samples, for example: mangrove waters, crabs, reptiles, amphibians and air samples. During the Masters graduation I joined the Medical Mycology Specialized Center (CEMM), thus my research line shifted towards medical mycology, researching relevant yeast isolated from reptiles and amphibians, aiming the investigation of antifungal sensibility, virulence factors and in vivo pathogenicity, so I worked with four genera of pathogens (Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Rhodotorula). After getting my master’s degree, I decided to learn more deeply about microbiology and medical mycology. Therefore, I joined a PhD program specialized in microbiology. Focusing on host-microorganism interaction. Thus, I joined the Laboratory Host-microorganism Interaction (LIMHO) at UFMG. For my PhD thesis, I have been studying the role of tryptophan metabolism for Candida albicans virulence and how chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis contributes to opportunistic infection by these yeasts. Moreover, during both my masters and PhD, I had experience in teaching undergraduate students in the microbiology at university.