A5007321422- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Trace Elements in Health
- Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
- Chromium effects and bioremediation
- Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Enzyme-mediated dye degradation
- Tannin, Tannase and Anticancer Activities
- Ultrasound in Clinical Applications
- Building materials and conservation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Trauma Management and Diagnosis
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation
- Membrane-based Ion Separation Techniques
Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia
2024-2025
i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto
2015-2023
Universidade do Porto
2008-2022
Newcastle University
2019
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular
2018
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
2003
Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes that have diverse morphology, minimal nutritional requirements and metabolic plasticity has made them attractive organisms to use in biotechnological applications. The these as cell factories requires the knowledge their physiology metabolism at systems level. For quantification gene transcripts real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is standard technique. However, obtain reliable RT-qPCR results validation reference...
The taxonomic positions and phylogenetic relationships of two new methylotrophic isolates from Lake Washington (USA) sediment, FAM5 T 500, the previously described strain EHg5 isolated contaminated soil in Estarreja (Portugal) were investigated. All three strains facultative methylotrophs capable growth on a variety C 1 multicarbon compounds. Optimal occurred at pH 7.5–8 30–37 °C. major fatty acids 16 : ω 7 c 0 . quinone was ubiquinone Q8. Neither methanol dehydrogenase nor oxidase...
The use of microorganisms as cell factories frequently requires extensive molecular manipulation. Therefore, the identification genomic neutral sites for stable integration ectopic DNA is required to ensure a successful outcome. Here we describe genome mapping and validation five in chromosome Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, foreseeing this cyanobacterium photoautotrophic chassis. To evaluate neutrality these loci, insertion/deletion mutants were produced, assess their functionality, synthetic...
Abstract Cyanobacteria are promising ‘low-cost’ cell factories since they have minimal nutritional requirements, high metabolic plasticity and can use sunlight CO2 as energy carbon sources. The unicellular Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, already considered the ‘green’ Escherichia coli, is best studied cyanobacterium but to be used an efficient robust photoautotrophic chassis it requires a customized well-characterized toolbox. In this context, we evaluated possibility of using three...
Metal homeostasis is fundamental for optimal performance of cell metabolic pathways. Over the course evolution, several systems emerged to warrant an intracellular metal equilibrium. When exposed growth-challenging copper concentrations, Gram-negative bacteria quickly activate copper-detoxification mechanisms, dependent on transmembrane-protein complexes and metallochaperones that mediate efflux. Here, we show vesiculation also a common bacterial response mechanism high extracellular...
SECTION 1 – QUIZ Case A 70-year-old woman with unknown medical history and no regular follow-up was admitted in the emergency department due to abdominal pain persisting for 2 weeks, which had worsened h before her first contact. She transported room severe hypoxemia hemodynamic instability. tachypneic (respiratory frequency of 22 bpm) an oxygen delivery 10 L/min via facial mask maintain a peripheral saturation 92%. Her heart rate 93 bpm blood pressure 62/35 mmHg, cold cyanotic extremities....
Abstract Lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a crucial tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of acute respiratory failure, particularly critically ill patients. In this case, man his late 50s presented to emergency department with distress rapidly deteriorated, requiring invasive ventilation intensive care unit admission for septic shock multiorgan dysfunction. LUS revealed extensive consolidation linear–arborescent dynamic air bronchogram, specific community-acquired ventilator-associated...
Cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), mainly composed by heteropolysaccharides, can be attached to the cell wall (CPS) or released environment (RPS). These polymers have an unusually highly diversified monosaccharidic composition, making them attractive for biotechnological/biomedical applications. However, their production is still poorly understood hindering optimisation industrial needs. This work aimed at better understanding biosynthesis of 6-deoxysugars fucose and...
CyanoFactory, Design, construction and demonstration of solar biofuel production using novel (photo)synthetic cell factories, was an R&D project developed in response to the European Commission FP7-ENERGY-2012-1 call "Future Emerging Technologies" need for significant advances both new science technologies convert energy into a fuel. CyanoFactory example "purpose driven" research development with identified scientific goals creation technologies. The present overview highlights outcomes...
Cyanobacteria have emerged as highly efficient organisms for the production of chemicals and biofuels. Yet, productivity cell has been low commercial application. Cyanobacterial photobiotransformations utilize photosynthetic electrons to form reducing equivalents, such NADPH-to-fuel biocatalytic reactions. These are a measure which extent can be deviated toward heterologous biotechnological processes, By expressing oxidoreductases, YqjM from Bacillus subtilis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803,...
Summary A pure bacterial strain capable of aerobic biodegradation fluorobenzene (FB) as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated by selective enrichment from sediments collected a polluted site. 16S rRNA fatty acid analyses support that F11 belongs to novel genus within α‐2 subgroup Proteobacteria, possibly new clade related order Rhizobiales . In batch cultures, growth on FB led stoichiometric release fluoride ion. Maximum experimental rate 0.04 h −1 obtained at concentration 0.4 mM....
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 provides a well-established reference point to cyanobacterial metabolic engineering as part of basic photosynthesis research, well in the development next-generation biotechnological production systems. This study focused on expanding current knowledge genomic integration expression constructs Synechocystis, targeting range novel sites chromosome and native plasmids, together with established loci used literature. The key objective was obtain quantitative...
Thirty one novel methylotrophic bacterial strains were isolated from a range of soil and sediment sources (both pristine polluted) under different enrichment regimes. They characterised physiologically classified by their 16S rRNA gene sequence. A great taxonomical phenotypical variety was recovered. Some the isolates display interesting features resistance to heavy metals, arsenate or organic pollution four can be considered real 'super-bugs' for ability withstand extremely high...
Summary Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a protein ( A lr0267) named HesF , found in extracellular milieu nabaena sp. PCC 7120 grown diazotrophically. hesF was to be highly upregulated upon transition from non‐nitrogen‐fixing nitrogen‐fixing conditions, highest transcript levels were detected towards end heterocyst differentiation process. The promoter drives transcription gene heterocysts only, both NtcA HetR are essential for gene's vivo activation. An...
Cyanobacteria were the first organisms ever to perform oxygenic photosynthesis and still significantly contribute primary production on a global scale. To assure proper functioning of their metabolism cell homeostasis, cyanobacteria must rely efficient transport systems cross multilayered envelope. However, cyanobacterial secretion mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report identification 11 putative inner membrane translocase components TolC-mediated in unicellular cyanobacterium...
Biotransformation of testosterone into 15β-hydroxytestosterone by the cyanobacterium Synechocystis expressing heterologous monooxygenase CYP110D1. The reaction is sustained reducing equivalents and oxygen provided oxygenic photosynthesis.
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that promising 'low-cost' microbial cell factories due to their simple nutritional requirements and metabolic plasticity, the availability of tools for genetic manipulation. The unicellular non-nitrogen-fixing Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is best studied cyanobacterial strain its genome was first be sequenced. vast amount physiological molecular data available, together with a relatively small genome, makes suitable computational modelling used as...
Summary Three novel strains of methylotrophic Afipia felis were isolated from several locations on Signy Island, Antarctica, and a fourth estuary sediment the River Douro, Portugal. They identified as α‐2 proteobacterium A. by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Two tested shown to contain fdxA gene, diagnostic for . All grew with methanesulfonate (and two dimethylsulfone) sole carbon substrate. Growth required monooxygenase (MSAMO), using NADH reductant stimulated reduced flavin nucleotides...
A detailed classification of a novel bacterial strain, designated F11T, capable degrading fluorobenzene as sole carbon and energy source, was performed by using polyphasic approach. This Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic bacterium isolated from sediment sample collected an industrially contaminated site in northern Portugal. The predominant whole-cell fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 0, C18 1 ω7c, 3-OH 3-OH. G+C content the DNA 62.9 mol% major...
Exploiting light to drive redox reactions is currently a hot topic since considered as an environmentally friendly source of energy. Consequently, cyanobacteria, which can use e.g., for generating NADPH, are in the focus research. Previously, it has been shown that various heterologous enzymes could be expressed these microorganisms. Here we demonstrated successful inducer-free expression α-keto-acid dehydrogenases (L-HicDH and D-HicDH) from
The use of the versatile cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) for biotechnological/biomedical applications implies an extensive knowledge their biosynthetic pathways to improve/control polymer production yields and characteristics. multiple copies EPS-related genes, scattered throughout genomes, adds another layer complexity, making these studies challenging time-consuming. Usually, this issue would be tackled by generating deletion mutants, a process that in cyanobacteria...