Post Doctoral Fellow

The SPP1 gene encodes osteopontin, a protein that has several functions, such as bone remodeling, angiogenesis, tumor migration, in addition to being related to the repair of inflammatory processes. Data demonstrated that osteopontin appears to regulate the T cell response, with inhibition of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and increase in the pro-inflammatory Th1 response. Osteopontin expression was found to be high after CHIKV infection and may contribute to inflammatory processes, with modulation of the Th cell response. The objective of this project is to evaluate the influence of osteopontin in modulating the inflammatory response induced by CHIKV, with the hypothesis that its expression leads to a compromise in the balance between the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, which can accentuate the symptoms presented by infected patients. The ideal candidate for this position must be familiar with viral infection, especially in human monocyte/macrophage cells, as well as knowledge of immunology and molecular biology tools, biotechnology, such as gene editing by CRISPR or siRNA, data analysis and statistics. Experience with arboviruses is preferred.The American Society for Virology promotes exchange of information and stimulates discussion and collaboration among virologists.
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