Research Group Coordinator – Isabel Couto
The main aim of the THOP Research Group is the analysis of the molecular epidemiology, drug-resistance mechanisms and the development of new drugs and diagnostic methods for tuberculosis, HIV and opportunistic diseases, in a Global Health context.
In 2023 we continued our work on the analysis of resistance to antibacterials and antiretrovirals as well as the molecular characterization of the main lineages of opportunistic, emerging and reemerging pathogens. We enlarged our studies and efforts on establishing antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints for mycobacteria, now focusing on non-tuberculous mycobacteria. We also continued the recently established research on drug repositioning for multidrug resistant infections, metavirome analysis of wastewaters and study of SARS-CoV-2 variants to advance response to epidemics. Other areas of work include resistance to antiretrovirals and the molecular epidemiology of several opportunistic pathogens.
THOP´s 2023 highlights within the GHTM main cross-cutting issues (CCIs)
CCI DDR
- Determination of (T)ECOFFs values for several antimicrobials against the Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus
- Description of the antimicrobial resistance and main genetic lineages of Staphylococcus aureus causing pediatric bacteraemia in the Manhiça District, Mozambique, over two decades
- Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius associated with skin and soft-tissue infections in companion animals
- Exploring drug repurposing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus
- Characterization of resistance to antiretrovirals
- SARS Cov2 serological survey analysis
- Molecular epidemiology of HBV in Angola: drug resistance and immune escape mutants (w/ HIC)
- Genetic diversity and primary resistance to integrase inhibitors in HIV-1 in Angola (w/ HIC)
CCCIs D and GPDPM
- Consolidation of Galleria mellonella as an in vivo model for virulence and drug discovery studies
- Metavirome analysis of wastewaters
- Genetic variability of intestinal protozoa in raw vegetables and fruits in Mozambique
- Microbicidal activity of macrophages exposed to pathogenic spirochetes (w/ VBD)
- Detection and differentiation of pathogenic species of Leptospira (w/VBD)
- Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (w/ IHC)
- Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus A infection before and after vaccine introduction in Mozambique
- EuCARE project: studies on the relationship between schools and SARS-CoV-2 infection
