The Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Microbial Pathogenesis (Zamboni Lab) was established in 2006, when Dario S. Zamboni was hired at the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP).
The Lab investigates the interactions of intracellular microbial pathogens with host cells, a multidisciplinary area of research involving Immunology, Cell Biology and Microbiology. The pathogens under investigation include the intracellular parasites Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi, and the intracellular bacteria Legionella and Coxiella burnetii.
We investigate how the immune system detects microbial pathogens and operate to clear infection. We also investigate how the intracellular pathogens subvert the host cell functions to replicate intracellularly and cause disease. To achieve these goals, we use modern tools of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics.
The Laboratory is located at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology of the FMRP/USP and is funded FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES, WHO, FAEPA and PEW. We are part of the Center of Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID/FAPESP) and the National Institute for Science, Technology and Vaccines (INCTV/CNPq).