Ramiro Mendonca Murata, DDS, MS, PhD
Associate Professor
muratar16@ecu.edu
252-737-7228
Ledyard E. Ross Hall
Biographical Information
Dr. Murata is Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Science at ECU School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Murata received a DDS, MS and PhD from the State University of Campinas – Unicamp. In addition, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Mycology and Virology at New York University, College of Dentistry. He previously held academic positions at University of Southern California and NYU.
He has published over 50 peer reviewed manuscripts and received numerous awards including ECU Research and Creative Activity Award and ECU Outstanding Research Scholars. Dr. Murata is a member of ADEA, ASP, American Society of Microbiology, IADR and served as Treasurer, Chair, Counselor and President of AADOCR PTT Scientific Group.
Dr. Murata has maintained an active research program funded through NIH and state sources. Dr. Murata’s lab primary research interest is to understand how the human oral microbiome interacts with its host. Specifically, he focuses on understanding how the oral mycobiota (Candida spp.) modulates host susceptibility to viral infections. Unraveling the mechanisms that microorganisms use in a competitive, cross-kingdom environment would not only deepen our understanding of microbial pathogenesis but also provide important insights into novel pathways that are amenable for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.
Dr. Murata has mentored several students, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, DMD students and undergraduates from US, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, India, Nigeria, China and Bolivia.
Education
- DDS – State University of Campinas (Unicamp)
- MS (Oral Biology) – State University of Campinas (Unicamp)
- PhD (Oral Biology) – State University of Campinas (Unicamp)
- Certificate (Oral Microbiology) – University of Rochester
- Postdoctoral (Mycology) – New York University
- Postdoctoral (Virology) – New York University
Professional Licenses
- North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners – Full Dental License
- North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners – Teaching Dental License
- CROSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil – Full Dental License
Society Memeberships
- International Association for Dental Research – IADR (2016 IADR: President of Pharmacology/Therapeutics/Toxicology Research Group)
- American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research – AAODCR
- American Dental Education Association – ADEA
- American Society of Microbiology – ASM
- American Society of Pharmacognosy – ASP
Research Interests
Oral microbiology, mycology, virology, drug discovery, pharmacology and pharmacognosy
Publications
Complete List of Published Work:
Orcid Author Profile
Scopus Author Profile
Pubmed Article Listings
Web of Science Author Profile
Research Support
- NIH/NIDCR R03 DE031190 Candida-Host interactions: impact on the host pro- and anti-viral restrictions factors (PI).
- ECU REDE Research and Creative Activity Award Oral Fungal-Host Interactions restrict viral replication (PI).
- UNC System COVID-Related Grant Activity Award Saliva – Antibody and Virus Early Detection (SAVED) Project (PI).
- NIH/NIDCR CFAR P30 AI050410-21S1 The Role of Oral C. albicans in HIV transmission (PI).
- ECU Global Affairs Problem-Based Learning and Global Awareness (PI).
- UNC/ECU Planning Grant PD Bacterial Component Drivers of Tumor Viral Pathogenesis (M-PI).
- NIH/NIAID R21 R21AI127640 Exploiting Interspecies/Interkingdom Communication for the discovery and development of Novel Natural Products Antifungal Therapeutics (Co-I).
- NIH/NCCIH R00 R00AT006507 Novel natural agents which inhibits HIV and Candida (PI).
- NIH/NCCIH K99 K99AT006507 Novel natural agents which inhibits HIV and Candida (PI).
- NIH/CFAR P30 AI027742-20S1 Pharmacological effect of small molecules on HIV infection (PI).