2022•07•22     Peru

We are glad to announce the Course “Latin America Biology of Parasitism – LatAmBoP 2022”. This event is coordinated by Dr Ph. D María E. Francia, Institute Pasteur of Montevideo, Uruguay, next November 28th to December 9th 2022.  

Ten Speakers from different Universities and Institutions – Brazil, Chile, USA, France, Uruguay – will join the line-up of this course:  

Speakers   

• Dr. Sheila Cristina Nardelli, Instituto Carlos Chagas  
• Dr. Érica Dos Santos Martins Duarte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais  
• Dr. Andrea Rodrigues Avila, Instituto Carlos Chagas  

• Dr. Lilach Scheiner, University of Glasgow  
• Dr. Omar S. Harb, University of Pennsylvania 
• Dr. Boris Striepen, University of Pennsylvania  
• Dr. Maryse Lebrun, Université de Montpellier 
• Dr. Sergio Angel, Universidad Nacional de San Martín 
• Dr. Hugo Bisio, University of Geneva  
• Dr. María E. Francia, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo  

Through this course, we aim to strengthen the collaboration network among Latin American scientist and to equip local scientists with necessary tools to pursue cutting edge research, whilst providing opportunities for young scientists to foster the growth of skills, and of an isolated and underrepresented research community.  

The expected impact of this course is mainly that students be trained in modern approaches to studies in genetic, cellular and molecular biology of apicomplexan parasites that are relevant health and economical problem in Latin America. This course will also provide students the opportunity to closely interact with leaders in the field contributing to emerging innovation of research projects in Latin America through technology transfer. Students will receive printed material with all laboratory practical protocols.  

Practical Activities  

The modalities of instruction will be:  

• Overall, the course organization takes after the prestigious “Biology of Parasitism -BoP” and the middle Eastern BoP, and will consist of 20 morning lectures (2 lectures/day, 10 days) on “hot topics” in apicomplexan research including basic cell biology and molecular biology, genetic diversity, drug discovery and immunology, spread out in 10 days.  
• The afternoon of days 1 and 2 of the course will be devoted to Student introductory presentations of their graduate work. The remainder afternoons will be dedicated to hands on experimental modules.  
• On the first week, students will be trained in basic rapid cloning techniques, parasite transfection, conditional gene regulation systems and characterization of phenotypes in the laboratory setting. This will include a microscopy and image processing practical, imaging in living animals, and fluorescence activated cell sorting modules.  
• On the second week, students we will trained in bioinformatics, specifically, the course will focus on sequence analysis software, the use and mining of the EuPathDB resources, basic genome assembly and annotation tools, strain typing, and detecting the molecular basis of drug resistance.  
• At the end of each practical module students will be asked to present and discuss their results and conclusions. In this context, students will be encouraged to discuss and think critically on how the techniques and tools acquired during the course impact their current research, and how they could benefit from their peers’ expertise and access to specific resources. In addition, one afternoon will be devoted to a science communication workshop, offered by the Communications Unit at the Institute Pasteur de Montevideo, focused on communicating science to lay audiences and science writing. 

The Open Call is open to anyone interested.  You can download the information here  

Applicants must apply via the following link: https://www.icgeb.org/biology-of-parasitism-course-uruguay-2022/ 

Deadline: July 31st, 2022  

Contact information: mfrancia@pasteur.edu.uy