Paulo Guimarães Gandra

Our primary research interest is the investigation of cellular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle contractile activity and energy metabolism during stimulation and fatigue.
In our lab we are employing an intact single skeletal muscle fiber model that allows us to measure force generation and perform fluorescence microscopy to analyze intracellular parameters in real time during contractions at a single cell level.
Ultimately our long-term goal is to bring new information that might be used to improve muscle function and exercise capacity in different patho-physiological states.

Marcelo Carnier Dornelas

In the past our group has shown the conservation of the LEAFY gene function and expression patterns during vegetative-to-reproductive transition in tropical tree species. More recently we have been interested on the role of MADS-box genes in defining floral organ morphology and size, using Arabidopsis and passionfruit as models. Current work in our group focus on the molecular networks controlling plant development, taking into account the influences of genomic evolution and the effects of hormones such as auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins. Besides still being concentrated in studying gene function and expression patterns during vegetative-to-reproductive transition, we recently enlarged our interests into floral organ development and evolution as well as tropical fruit development.

Paulo Sérgio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira

Ecology and Social Behavior of Ants
Ant-Plant Interactions,
Multitrophic Interactions Involving Ants,
Ant-Plant Mutualisms,
Molecular Ecology of Ants,
Ant-Associated Microbial Communities,
Antipredator Defense in Insects