Speaker

Studied host-microbe interactions, uncovering Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) and signalling pathways triggered upon different bacterial infections, as well as the bacterial counterparts that participate in such crosstalk. Dr. Moura-Alves made a seminal discovery that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) mediates the recognition of different bacterial pigmented virulence factors, playing an important role in the regulation of immune responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, unveiling its role as a PRR. Later, he demonstrated that the AHR is able to “spy” on bacterial communication systems and consequently regulate immune responses according to the infection status quo. In a more recent study, he showed that the AHR can act as a central actor in both host-defence and drug metabolism in Tuberculosis.