Paul deFigeiredo

Paul de Figueiredo, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, and an investigator in the Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri, where he also has an appointment in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. Dr. de Figueiredo has broad experience and training in molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology and host-pathogen interactions, with specific expertise in functional genomics and pathogen intracellular trafficking.

Research

Areas of expertise

• Bacterial Genetics
• Cancer Biology
• Human Disease Genetics
• Therapeutic Drug Development

Research Summary

His lab actively pursues research into host mechanisms that control intracellular parasitism by viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens, including Brucella melitensis, the causative agent of one of the world’s most prevalent zoonotic diseases, and Cryptococcus neoformans, the world’s deadliest fungal pathogen. He also has significant interest in using microbes to combat cancer and autoimmune disease in humans. Dr. de Figueiredo has led collaborative projects with engineers. This work has pioneered the development of high-throughput microsystem tools and technologies that illuminate novel biological processes, including mechanisms governing microbial physiology and host-pathogen interactions.