A5010906074- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Complement system in diseases
- RNA modifications and cancer
- HVDC Systems and Fault Protection
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Retinal Imaging and Analysis
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Chemokine receptors and signaling
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Helminth infection and control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Retinal and Optic Conditions
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
2023-2025
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
2025
University of Lisbon
2019-2023
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes
2020-2022
University of Liverpool
2018-2022
Centro Hospitalar do Porto
2022
Google (United States)
2019
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2014
Photosynthetic euglenids are major contributors to fresh water ecosystems. Euglena gracilis in particular has noted metabolic flexibility, reflected by an ability thrive a range of harsh environments. E. been popular model organism and considerable biotechnological interest, but the absence gene catalogue hampered both basic research translational efforts. We report detailed transcriptome partial genome for Z1. The nuclear is estimated be around 500 Mb size, encodes over 36,000 proteins...
Abstract In the mammalian host, Trypanosoma congolense cytoadheres, or sequesters, to vascular endothelium. Although sequestration influences clinical outcome, disease severity and organ pathology, its determinants mediators remain unknown. Challenges such as variability of animal models, only-recently developed tools genetically manipulate parasite, lack physiologically-relevant in vitro models have hindered progress. Here, we engineered brain cardiac 3D bovine endothelial microvessel that...
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex, is a widespread parasitic disease great public health importance; without effective chemotherapy symptomatic VL usually fatal. Distinction asymptomatic carriage from progressive and prediction relapse following treatment are hampered lack prognostic biomarkers for use at point care. Methodology/Principal Findings All IgG subclass isotype antibody levels were determined using unpaired serum samples...
Abstract African trypanosomes ( Trypanosoma ) are vector-borne haemoparasites that survive in the vertebrate bloodstream through antigenic variation of their Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG). Recombination, or rather segmented gene conversion, is fundamental brucei for both VSG switching and generating diversity during infections. vivax a related, livestock pathogen whose lack structures facilitate conversion T. mechanisms underlying its poorly understood. Here we show species-wide...
African trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne disease of humans and livestock caused by trypanosomes (Trypanosoma spp.). Survival in the vertebrate bloodstream depends on antigenic variation Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) coating parasite surface. In T. brucei, model for variation, monoallelic VSG expression originates from dedicated sites (VES). Trypanosoma brucei VES have conserved structure consisting telomeric locus downstream unique, repeat sequences, an independent promoter....
African trypanosomes are vector-borne hemoparasites of humans and animals. In the mammal, parasites evade immune response through antigenic variation. Periodic switching variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat covering their cell allows sequential expansion serologically distinct parasite clones. Trypanosome genomes contain many hundreds VSG genes, subject to rapid changes in nucleotide sequence, copy number, chromosomal position. Thus, analyzing, or even quantifying, diversity over space...
Multiple blood-borne pathogens infecting mammals establish close interactions with the host vascular endothelium as part of their life cycles. In this work, we investigate differences in three Trypanosoma species: T. brucei, congolense and vivax blood vasculature. Infection these species results vastly different pathologies, including effects on homeostasis, such changes permeability microhemorrhages. While all are extracellular parasites, is strictly intravascular, while brucei capable...
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a mRNA modification with important roles in gene expression. In African trypanosomes, this post-transcriptional detected hundreds of transcripts and it affects the stability variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) transcript proliferating blood stream form. However, how m6A landscape varies across life cycle remains poorly defined. Using full-length, non-fragmented RNA, we immunoprecipitated sequenced m6A-modified three stages Trypanosoma brucei – slender...
Trypanosomatid parasites such as Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania are a major source of infectious disease in humans domestic animals worldwide. Fundamental to the host-parasite interactions these potent pathogens their cell surfaces, which highly decorated with glycosylated proteins other macromolecules. genomes contain large multi-copy gene families encoding UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs), primary role is cell-surface decoration. Here we report phylogenetic analysis UGTs from...
Trypanosoma congolense causes a syndrome of variable severity in animals Africa. Cerebral trypanosomiasis is severe form, but the mechanism underlying this remains unknown. We developed mouse model acute cerebral and characterized cellular, behavioral, physiological consequences infection. show large parasite sequestration brain vasculature for long periods time (up to 8 hr) extensive neuropathology that associate with ICAM1-mediated recruitment accumulation T cells parenchyma....
Abstract Background Analysing variant antigen gene families on a population scale is difficult challenge for conventional methods of read mapping and calling due to the great variability in sequence, copy number, genomic loci. In African trypanosomes, hemoparasites humans animals, this complicated by repertoires containing hundreds genes subject various degrees sequence recombination. Findings We introduce Variant Antigen Profiler (VAPPER), tool that allows automated analysis surface...
Abstract N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) is a mRNA modification with important roles in gene expression. In African trypanosomes, this post-transcriptional detected hundreds of transcripts and it affects the stability variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) transcript proliferating blood stream form. However, how m6A landscape varies across life cycle remains poorly defined. Using full-length, non-fragmented RNA, we immunoprecipitated sequenced m A-modified three stages Trypanosoma brucei – slender...
<title>Abstract</title> In the mammalian host, <italic>Trypanosoma congolense</italic> cytoadheres to vascular endothelium in a process known as sequestration. Although sequestration influences clinical outcome, disease severity and organ pathology, its determinants mediators remain unknown. Challenges such variability of animal models, only-recently developed tools genetically manipulate parasite, lack physiologically relevant <italic>in vitro</italic> models have hindered progress. Here,...
Animal African trypanosomiasis, or nagana, is a veterinary disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted tsetse flies. In Africa, Trypanosoma congolense one of the most pathogenic and prevalent causes nagana in livestock, resulting high animal morbidity mortality extensive production losses. fly, parasites colonise midgut eventually reach mouthparts, from where they can be as fly feeds on vertebrate hosts such cattle. Despite extreme importance mouthpart-form for transmission, very few global...
Background: Analysing variant antigen gene families on a population scale is difficult challenge for conventional methods of read mapping and calling due to the great variability in sequence, copy number genomic loci. In African trypanosomes, hemoparasites humans animals, this complicated by repertoires containing hundreds genes subject various degrees sequence recombination. Findings: We introduce Variant Antigen Profiler (VAPPER), tool that allows automated analysis trypanosomes. VAPPER...
African trypanosomes are vector-borne haemoparasites that cause trypanosomiasis in humans and animals. Parasite survival the bloodstream depends on immune evasion, achieved by antigenic variation of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coating trypanosome cell surface. Recombination, or rather directed gene conversion, is fundamental Trypanosoma brucei , as both a mechanism VSG switching generating diversity during infections. vivax related, livestock pathogen also displaying variation, but...
Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and related mouse models have been recognized for decades, but the contribution of recently described resident meningeal immune population to AD pathogenesis remains be addressed. While we shown that gd T cell-derived IL-17 promotes synaptic plasticity short-term memory at steady state, role this cytokine context neurodegeneration is unclear. Here, using 3xTg-AD model, report an accumulation IL-17-producing cells, mostly γδ brain...
Abstract Multiple blood-borne pathogens infecting mammals establish close interactions with the host vascular endothelium as part of their life cycles. In this work, we investigate differences in three Trypanosoma species: T. brucei, congolense and vivax blood vasculature. Infection these species results vastly different pathologies, including effects on homeostasis, such changes permeability microhemorrhages. While all are extracellular parasites, is strictly intravascular, while brucei...