Informativo

English

The Graduate Program in Applied Biochemistry has as main objective to train, at the Master of Science and PhD level, professionals specialized in the areas of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, Animals and Microorganisms, in view of the demand created in the last decades of the application of knowledge and methodologies in the area to solve complex problems in agriculture. As an example, the growing use of new knowledge in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is mentioned in the fields of plant and animal breeding and in the study, prospecting and rational use of genetic diversity and biodiversity as sources of genes and, or, of substances still untapped for application in the field of agribusiness. In comparison with developed countries, Brazil there is still a shortage of human resources trained in the proposed areas. These professionals are of great value to work in Higher Education Institutions, Research Institutes and Public and Private Companies. At a national level, there is a growing interest from various public and private entities in hiring professionals who work in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology of plants and animals in order to apply the scientific and technical knowledge of the area in agriculture business, such as genetic improvement of cultivars and animals, prospecting for drugs and pesticides, generating biochemical information relevant to the control of diseases of agricultural importance, among others. The proposal of the Graduate Program in Applied Biochemistry at the Master of Science and PhD level has been based on the following factors: (a) experience of orientation of professors in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; (b) existence, in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, of well-consolidated lines of research that have received funding from state and federal development agencies as well as from public and private sector companies; (c) availability of well-equipped research laboratories, greenhouses, fields and other facilities; (d) demand from candidates graduating from various undergraduate and master courses at UFV and other Brazilian institutions and countries in Latin America; (e) the only graduate program of its kind in the country. The Graduate Program in Agricultural Biochemistry, at the master’s and doctoral level, is administered by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has the academic support of the Departments of General Biology, Plant Biology, Phytopathology, Computer Science, Microbiology, Nutrition and Health, Chemistry and Animal Science. In research, the team of advisors offers a set of lines of action with diverse projects under development, in basic and applied areas of knowledge.

Research area: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research lines:

Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Molecular biology of plants. Physiology of cultivated plants. Molecular plant virology. Genetics and genomics of plant-pathogen interactions. Proteins and peptides – proteomic analysis applied to agribusiness. Enzymology, biochemistry of proteins and peptides. Biochemistry and molecular genetics applied to plant breeding. Physiology and biochemistry of forest seeds.

Animal Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Biology of animal pathogens. Health in domestic and wild animals. Animal molecular infectology. Conservation, management and ecology of wild animals in situ and ex situ. Diseases carried by ticks. Nutritional biochemistry of domestic animals. lipid metabolism.

Biotechnology: Bioinformatics applied to the prospecting of genes of biotechnological interest. Biotechnological products and processes. Molecular biotechnology. Yeast physiology and biotechnology. Production, characterization and improvement of proteins, enzymes and other molecules of biotechnological interest. Biopharmaceuticals. Biological and alternative controls on plant health. Production, characterization of enzymes for biotechnological applications.

Bioprospecting and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: Natural forests: structure, dynamics, management for multiple uses and criteria and indicators for sustainable management. Bromatology. Functional foods. Natural dyes and bioactive compounds. Biological safety in the use of natural products.

Infrastructure

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has several laboratories, all of them own and fully equipped, in permanent improvement. Some activities are complemented in multi-user laboratories from UFV or in national service platforms.