School of Microbiology

Z7_NQ5E12C0LOF160QDKRNCOGGJA1

Research group

Spanish

Experimental and Medical Micology - MME

Academic Unit: School of Microbiology

Colombian Ministry of Science

A1

Call

894 GrupLAC

OECD

Area

Medical and health sciences

Subarea

Health sciences

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Strategic Focus

The MME group founded in 1978 is an inter-institutional group that since its establishment has focused on basic and applied research in different aspects of mycology such as diagnosis, treatment, pathophysiology, and animal models. Currently, based on the experience gathered, the group has expanded its lines of research to the study of animal models applied in biomedical and biotechnological research in other infectious diseases and cancer. Likewise, the members of the group participate in the training of undergraduate and graduate students from different areas and the research results are presented both in specialized journals and media and to the community in general through programs of social appropriation of knowledge. Finally, our group maintains an open policy of leveraging infrastructure and human talent in the construction of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional proposals that contribute to improving the health of the region and the country.

Research Lines and/or Areas

Antifungals: Levels, susceptibility and resistance mechanisms.
Molecular and genomic aspects of mushrooms of medical importance.
Development, standardization and validation of new methods, including molecular tests, for the diagnosis of mycoses.
Clinical Trials.
Epidemiology and ecology of mycoses.
Host-Parasite Interaction.
Animal models applied in biomedical and biotechnological research.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Group Coordinator

Tonny Williams Naranjo Preciado

Master´s degree and PhD in Biology. Bacteriologist and Clinical laboratory Scientist. (UdeA Colombia)

Coordinator's Email

tonny.naranjo@upb.edu.co

Research Group Email

grupomme@udea.edu.co

Scientific Cooperation

Collaborative Relationships

General Hospital of Medellín. Medellín – Colombia.
Max Planck-Nanobioingeniery Tandem Group, universidad de Antioquia. Medellín - Colombia
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC - National public health agency of the United States). Mycotic Disease Branch (MDB). Atlanta - United States.
Príncipe Felipe Research Center Foundation of the CV (CIPF). Valencia, Spain.
Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Pittsburgh – United States.

Corporation for Biological Research (CIB by its Spanish Acronym). Medellín-Colombia
Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Medellín campus. Medellín- Colombia.
Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Santander. Bucaramanga – Colombia.
Universidad Nacional. Medellín campus. Medellín – Colombia.
Instituto tecnológico de Medellín – ITM (Technological Institute of Medellín). Medellín – Colombia.

Highlighted Projects

Preclinical evaluation of the effect of fungal microbiota modulation on colorectal cancer chemotherapy.
Development of a rapid POC (point-of-care) test for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis: proof of concept.
NanoBioCancer Program 2019. Part of COLOMBIA CIENTÍFICA which is a program created by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, ICETEX and Colciencias). First cohort, health focus.
Development and clinical application of molecular methods for the identification of Histoplasma capsulatum in human specimens obtained from Colombian HIV patients.

Key Research Findings

Antifungal Encapsulated into Ligand-Functionalized Nanoparticles with High Specificity for Macrophages. DOI:10.3390/pharmaceutics14091932.
Ex Vivo and In Vivo Biocompatibility Assessment (Blood and Tissue) of Three- Dimensional Bacterial Nanocellulose Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Implants. DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-46918-x.
Combined itraconazole-pentoxifylline treatment promptly reduces lung fibrosis induced by chronic pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in mice. DOI:10.1016/j.pupt.2010.09.005
Revised Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) Consensus Group. DOI:10.1086/588660

Services and/or Products Portfolio

Direct examination for fungi (general detection by KOH and specific detection of Cryptococcus spp; P. jirovecii; H. capsulatum).
Culture for fungi causing superficial and subcutaneous mycosis and deep or systemic mycoses.
Galactomannan antigen for Aspergillus spp. Antígeno Capsular de Cryptococcus spp.
Serology for fungal immunodiffusion
Serology for endemic fungi by complement fixation
Minimum inhibitory concentration for antifungals
Determination of serum levels of antifungals
Nested PCR for diagnosis of histoplasmosis.
Nested PCR for diagnosis of pneumocystis
Universal PCR (Panfungal) and sequencing for the diagnosis of mycosis.
Real-time PCR for diagnosis of M. tuberculosis.
PCR for identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and molecular tests for
determination of resistance to antimycobacterial drugs. In addition to this, serum levels
are measured for different antimycobacterial and antifungal drugs.
PCR for SARS-coV-2.
Bioterium (mice and rats) for research.
Bioluminometer, for research.
Magpix (Determination of cytokines) for research.
Cell culture laboratory, for research.
BSL-3 containment laboratory for research.