A5004982383- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Hemoglobin structure and function
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Ophthalmology and Eye Disorders
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Pituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments
- Male Reproductive Health Studies
- Enzyme function and inhibition
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
University of Algarve
2014-2024
Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve
2014
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
2006-2012
Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica
2006
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
1995
Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
1992-1993
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares
1975
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
1975
A modified salinity of coastal waters due to climate change is likely affect the physiology and ion transport capabilities calcifying marine organisms such as bivalves. To investigate physiological effect decreased environmental in bivalves, adult oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were exposed for 14 days 50% seawater (SW, 16 ppt) effects on mantle transport, electrophysiology expression Ca2+ transporters channels relative animals full strength sea water was evaluated. Exposure SW active...
The evolution of the peptide family consisting corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and three urocortins (UCN1-3) has been puzzling due to uneven evolutionary rates. Distinct gene duplication scenarios have proposed in relation two basal rounds vertebrate genome doubling (2R) teleost fish-specific (3R). By analyses sequences chromosomal regions, including many neighboring families, we show here that progenitor had genes served as founders separate subfamilies. Then, 2R resulted a total five...
Numerous studies have identified the detrimental effects for biosphere of large plastic debris, effect microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) is less clear. The skin first point contact with NPs, fibroblasts a vital role in maintaining structure function. Here, comparative approach taken using three fibroblast cell lines from zebrafish (SJD.1), human male newborn (BJ-5ta) female adult (HDF/TERT164) their response to polystyrene NP (PS-NPs) exposure characterized. Cells were exposed...
ABSTRACT Desulfovibrio gigas flavodiiron protein (FDP), rubredoxin:oxygen oxidoreductase (ROO), was proposed to be the terminal oxidase of a soluble electron transfer chain coupling NADH oxidation oxygen reduction. However, several members from FDP family, which ROO belongs, revealed nitric oxide (NO) reductase activity. Therefore, protection afforded by against cytotoxic effects NO here investigated. The and activities recombinant in vitro were tested amperometric methods, enzyme shown...
Anopheles gambiae has been shown to change its global gene expression patterns upon Plasmodium infection. While many alterations are directly related the mosquito's innate immune response, parasite invasion is also expected generate toxic by-products such as free radicals. The current study aimed at identifying which loci coding for detoxification enzymes differentially expressed a function of berghei infection in midgut and fat body tissues.Using custom-made DNA microarray, transcript...
Abstract The α-carbonic anhydrases (α-CAs) are a large and ancient group of metazoan-specific enzymes. They generate bicarbonate from metabolic carbon dioxide through calcium carbonate crystal formation play key role in the regulation mineralized structures. To better understand how α-CAs contribute to shell mineralization marine Mediterranean mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ) we characterized them mantle. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that mollusc α-CA evolution was affected by lineage...
In vertebrates, receptors of the rhodopsin G-protein coupled superfamily (GPCRs) play an important role in regulation feeding and energy homeostasis are activated by peptide hormones produced brain-gut axis. These peptides regulate appetite expenditure promoting or inhibiting food intake. Sequence function homologs human GPCRs involved exist nematode roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), arthropod fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), suggesting that mechanisms...
Nematodes and arthropods are the most speciose animal groups possess Class 2 B1 G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Existing models of invertebrate GPCR evolution mainly centered on Caenorhabditis elegans Drosophila melanogaster a few other nematode arthropod representatives. The present study reevaluates metazoan GPCRs orthologues by exploring in several genomes comparing them to human receptors. Three novel receptor phylogenetic clusters were identified designated cluster A, B...
Allatostatin type A receptors (AST-ARs) are a group of G-protein coupled activated by members the FGL-amide (AST-A) peptide family that inhibit food intake and development in arthropods. Despite their physiological importance evolution AST-A system is poorly described relatively few have been isolated functionally characterised insects. The present study provides comprehensive analysis origin comparative system. To determine how feeding modified function AST-AR duplicate Anopheles...
Abstract Mosquito breeding depends on the supply of fresh vertebrate blood, a major bottleneck for large-scale production Anopheles spp. Feeding alternatives to blood are thus priority research, outdoor large-cage trials and control interventions. Several artificial meal compositions were tested oogenesis, egg laying development into next generation adult mosquitoes followed. We identified blood-substitute-diets that supported ovarian development, maturation fertility as well as, low progeny...
Abstract Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms acquired capacity to accumulate minerals in tissues. Shells are biomineralized exoskeleton of marine molluscs produced mantle but factors that regulate shell building still enigmatic. This study sought identify candidate regulatory molluscan mineralization and targeted family B G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) ligands include calcium vertebrates, such as calcitonin (CALC). In molluscs, CALC receptor (CALCR) number was...
Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are involved in bone formation/remodeling. Here we investigate the effects of STC1 on functional heterodimer complex CALCRL/RAMP1, expression activity during osteoblastogenesis. did not modify CALCRL ramp1 gene osteoblastogenesis when compared to controls. However, plasma membrane spatial distribution CALCRL/RAMP1 was modified 7-day pre-osteoblasts exposed either CGRP or STC1, both peptides induced RAMP1 assembly. CGRP, but...
Abstract Background Immune responses to parasites, which start with pathogen recognition, play a decisive role in the control of infection mosquitoes. Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are an important family pattern receptors that involved activation these immune reactions. Pathogen pressure can exert adaptive changes host genes crucial components vector's defence. The aim this study was determine molecular evolution three short PGRPs (PGRP-S1, PGRP-S2 and PGRP-S3) two main African...
Background Plasmodium infection increases the oxidative stress inside mosquito, leading to a significant alteration on transcription of Anopheles gambiae detoxification genes. Among these genes several P450 cytochromes and tubulins were differently expressed, suggesting their involvement in mosquito's response parasite invasion. are usually involved metabolism compounds, but also regulated by pathogens, including malaria parasite. Tubulins extremely important as components cytoskeleton,...
Drosophila pseudoobscura populations of Central Mexico are chromosomally highly polymorphic. Five gene arangements in the third chromosome endemic, including two newly described present article. The phylogenetic tree arrangements known species is shown Figure 1. ones found all belong to Santa Cruz "phylad", while northern part area both and Standard phylads widespread. Some inferences concerning evolutionary history presented.