From 3 to 7 August, GHTM | Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA) hosted two internships as part of the Ciência Viva no Laboratório initiative. These interships gave high school students the opportunity to experience scientific research in a laboratory environment and explore the diagnosis of vector- and tick-borne diseases.
Designed around real-life diagnostic scenarios, the internships introduced students to the work of GHTM researchers, combining theoretical sessions, laboratory techniques, case-study analysis and visits to research facilities.
“PSI – Parasite Scene Investigation: Leishmaniasis Under Investigation”
Supervised by Sofia Cortes, a researcher in the VBD-GHTM Research Group, the internship “PSI – Parasite Scene Investigation: Leishmaniasis Under Investigation” focused on leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by vectors.
Throughout the week, four high school students explored the different clinical forms of the disease, the parasites responsible for the disease, and the main approaches to diagnosis, treatment and prevention. After receiving an introduction to vector-borne diseases and laboratory safety, the students visited the IHMT NOVA facilities to become familiar with the research environment.
From the second to the fourth day, they worked on a simulated case of suspected leishmaniasis, applying various laboratory methodologies to identify the causative agent. These included parasitological techniques, such as microscopy and culture; serological methods for antibody detection; and molecular approaches involving DNA extraction and PCR-RFLP amplification.
“The Bite That Hides a Mystery: Investigating Lyme Borreliosis Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.”
The secund internship, supervised by Ana Armada, a researcher at the PRIME-GHTM Research Group, was titled “The Bite That Hides a Mystery: Investigating Lyme Borreliosis Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.” – introduced students to tick-borne diseases, with a particular focus on Lyme borreliosis and its causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
Students began by exploring the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis, the role of the tick Ixodes ricinus in transmission, and strategies for disease prevention. After an introduction to laboratory safety, they visited GHTM facilities and became acquainted with the research environment.
The practical component was structured around a simulated clinical and epidemiological case: a patient who had been bitten by a tick that had been kept and subsequently brought to the laboratory. First, students examined the tick under a microscope to determine whether it was Ixodes ricinus. They then extracted DNA from the tick and performed a nested PCR using specific primers to investigate the presence of Borrelia in the vector.
In parallel, the students investigated the patient’s case using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) as a serological screening test to detect the presence of anti-Borrelia antibodies. The results were interpreted in the context of the two-step diagnostic algorithm, enabling the students to discuss when confirmatory testing, such as immunoblotting, might be necessary. By combining the laboratory findings from the patient and the tick, the students were able to critically assesse the probability of infection and explore different clinical and laboratory interpretations.
Exploring GHTM’s insectaries
As part of both internships, the students had the opportunity to visit one of IHMT NOVA’s insectaries and gain a closer insight into the maintenance and study of arthropod vectors involved in the transmission of infectious diseases. This visit complemented the laboratory activities, helping students to connect the concepts they had explored during the week with the biological vectors involved in disease transmission.
At the end of the internships, students from both groups presented their case study results and discussed the findings with their peers. They also took part in a final knowledge-consolidation game, followedafter which they reflected on the role of laboratory research in understanding, diagnosing and preventing infectious diseases.
Bringing research closer to younger generations
Through these Ciência Viva internships, GHTM | IHMT NOVA gave students the opportunity to experience the scientific process first-hand. This included understanding disease transmission and clinical manifestations to applying laboratory techniques and interpreting diagnostic results.
Working with realistic case studies and taking part in practical activities, gave the students insight into how research and laboratory science contribute to understanding, diagnosing and preventing infectious diseases, while discovering the diversity of scientific careers and research carried out at GHTM | IHMT-NOVA.
«Ciência Viva» is the branded name of the Portuguese National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, meaning «Live Science».
