Genomic characterization and detection of new viruses in the Amazon region

• Grant number: 24/22901-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: José Luiz Proença Módena
• Grantee: Lívia Sacchetto Pengo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/10442-0 - PAMPA network to assess the impact of environmental degradation on the dynamics of circulation of emerging and reemerging viruses in the Amazon region, AP.R

Abstract

Despite international appeals regarding the importance of biodiversity and the maintenance of the Amazon ecosystem, our country has faced a weakening of public policies to combat deforestation in the Amazon, with an increase in the deforested area in recent years. In this postdoctoral project, we intend to contribute to the understanding of how deforestation activities (including road construction and mining activities) affects the dynamics of circulation of different viruses, such as those transmitted by arthropods or respiratory transmission, in humans and different animals. In particular, this project will be essential for active surveillance (by both serological and genetic methods) to identify emerging viral diseases in humans, small mammals and hematophagous insects in regions impacted and not impacted by human action in the Amazon.