The main focus of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology Applied to Mycobacteria (LABMAM) at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) is the study of mycobacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium bovis. His lines of research address the molecular, genetic and epidemiological study of mycobacteria, generating knowledge about virulence, spatial distribution, mutations, therapeutic approach and drug resistance.
In recent years, the Laboratory has identified the prevalent genotypes of M. tuberculosis and discovered important changes in the genetic code of some lineages, such as the RDRio deletion, the largest ever recorded in the world. Its researchers are also dedicated to topics such as co-infection by M. tuberculosis and HIV and act to improve control actions and apply the scientific knowledge generated in the clinical reality of diseases caused by mycobacteria.
Among the Laboratory's lines of research is the study of the virulence of strains of M. tubercolosis with greater potential for dispersion in the population. The researchers assess the presence of deletions and mutations in bacterial strains, their consequences for virulence and transmissibility, in addition to mapping their distribution/transmission rate. The study led to the development of a fast and low-cost reverse hybridization test for resistance detection of M. tuberculosis the colorimetric rifampicin, and the discovery of the RDRio lineage.
Since the 90s, the Laboratory has also been studying the establishment of epidemiological relationships between the different isolates of M. tuberculosis, with the identification of a group of strains predominant in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In partnership with the University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Cornell University, in New York, it was possible to identify the strain of M. tuberculosis responsible for 30% of cases of the disease in the city, which places the IOC at the forefront of paradigm shifts in the field of genotyping of M. tuberculosis.
Despite the strong basic research character of the Laboratory, in partnership with other research institutes, such as the University Hospital of UFRJ and several Lacens (Central Laboratories), due to its Tuberculosis Control Programs, the Laboratory investigates the dispersion of individual strains between urban populations with or without specific characteristics. This work allows the promotion of efficient control and/or prevention actions.
The Laboratory also operates in the study of hepatotoxicity and the therapeutic efficacy of drugs used in cases of co-infection (TEB/HIV) or comorbidities, mainly TB/diabetes and TB/arterial hypertension. It also developed a database of Spoligotypes, with approximately seven thousand exclusively Brazilian profiles from different regions, enriching the international database of Spoligotypes (SpolDB and SIT VIT WEB).
Based on studies to define the profiles of M. leprosy in Brazil and based on the experience acquired in the field of applied pharmacogenetics, the Laboratory develops a project to assess the phenotypes of resident individuals, evaluating the possible influence of pharmacogenetics on the therapeutic approach for leprosy. The data may be useful for the future evaluation of new drugs, changes in the therapeutic approach or corrections in the individual dosage of the drugs used to fight the disease. The Laboratory is also part of an international network, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), to assess resistance in leprosy, mainly the relapsed form of the disease, and plays an important role in quality control of sequencing at the national level.
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