The main objective of the Functional Genetics Laboratory (LGF) is the characterization of the host-pathogen interactions in systemic fungal infections. The genetic manipulations in pathogenic microorganisms, specifically in cell signaling, contribute to the knowledge of how pathogens interact to mammalian hosts and, moreover, how hosts recognize pathogens during infections. In another area, LGF also has great interest in the host-pathogen interactions on leprosy, through the characterization of chemokines and miRNAs that control the immune response in the polar clinical forms of the disease. Also in leprosy, we evaluate the macrophage polarization profile associated to the clinical forms of the disease.