Dr. Irlan Almeida Freires (DDS, MSc, PhD) attended the Federal University of Paraíba (Brazil) and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Doctor in Dental Surgery. He accomplished his M.Sc. and Ph.D in Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Therapeutics from Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (Brazil), and he received research training from the University of Rochester Medical Center (New York, USA) in 2014-2015. Prof. Freires has studied the molecular mechanisms of the dental pathogen Streptococcus mutans in causing oral diseases, such as dental caries, and extra-oral diseases, such as infective endocarditis. His particular focus is on the role of bacterial adhesins in colonization of and persistence within host tissues. Prof. Freires has also worked with bioprospection of natural molecules from plants with pharmacological activity, particularly antimicrobials. He has a history of important scientific and academic accomplishments, with numerous publications in high-impact reputed journals and books, as well as presentations in national and international conferences.

Bacteria-Host Interactions; Systemic diseases; Oral Infections; Microbial pathogenicity; Antimicrobials; Biofilms; Pharmacology of natural products.