Moura Alves group | Infection and immunity dynamics

A schematic of the main themes of the Moura Alves research group. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is positioned centrally, with the key signalling pathways it is associated with surrounding it to the left (Nrf2, LXR, HIF1alpha, NF-kappaB, ER and others) and the context in which these will be studied (infection, immunity, cancer, drug metabolism, therapy) on the right.

DR. Pedro Moura Alves

The focus of our laboratory is to study the role of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a host sensor of bacterial communication and infection dynamics, together with its importance in shaping immune responses which are appropriate to the infection stage, and the related impact on bacterial adaptation strategies during the course of infection.

By uncovering the mechanisms that allow hosts and bacteria to spy on each other, this work will open up new possibilities for the development of novel therapies to control infection and infection associated diseases. Currently, due to the increase in antimicrobial resistance, there is a need to find new drugs or alternative therapies to control infection, including host-directed therapy (HDT). Considering its vast drug targeting possibilities and its role in infection control, we will evaluate whether the host AhR may represent a suitable HDT target.

Find out more about research in the Moura-Alves lab