ESS - TBIO/Rise Health - Posters apresentados em eventos científicos
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- Antimicrobial activity of food-isolated fungi extractsPublication . Ferreira, Diogo; Areal-Hermida, Lara; Baylina, Pilar; Fernandes, Rúben; Sieiro, CarmenOne major source for drug discovery are microbial metabolites. Fungi, renowned for their ability to produce an array of broad and diverse secondary metabolites, due to their extensive dispersion and diversity, offer a rich resource for drug discovery. Antibiotic resistance is a major concern. Rapid increase of resistant bacteria worldwide, dampens antibiotic efficiency, burdens healthcare services and increase morbidity and mortality. Antibiotic misuse and lack of new drug development are the main responsible for this health crisis. So, the creation of fungal libraries to find and study new compounds is essential to tackle the rising of antimicrobial resistance and continue with industrial efforts of drug discovery and production. Isolation from chestnuts, chestnut flour and sunflower seeds allowed us to obtain a collection of 165 fungal isolates. Bioactivity of fungal extracts were screened against different antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bacteria grown overnight, adjusted to 1.5 x 108 CFU/mL was exposed to fungal extracts, at a concentration of 100 μg/mL for 24 hours and inhibition rates were calculated. Several extracts showed activity against antimicrobial resistant bacteria and further studies should be made in order to find if new molecules could be responsible for our fungi antimicrobial activity.
- Antimicrobial properties of PLA scaffolds functionalized via LbL method with Manuka and multifloral honeyPublication . Alves, Inês; Ferraz, Ricardo; Prudêncio, Cristina; Rufo, João; Prudêncio, Cristina; Cavaleiro Rufo, JoãoTissue engineering and chronic wound management face obstacles due to the global rise of resistances. Natural bioactive agents, such as Manuka honey, offer a unique therapeutic profile by combining antimicrobial activity with the ability to modulate the biochemical wound environment and promote cellular regeneration. However, the seamless integration of these biological compounds into synthetic matrices, such as polylactic acid (PLA), remains a challenge. This study aims to develop PLA scaffolds functionalised with honey using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique and evaluate their inhibitory capacity against microbial growth. Two honey types are com-pared, MGO 263+/UMF10+ Manuka honey and a Portuguese multifloral honey. Concentrations of 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 35% will be tested by diluting the honey in 3M sodium acetate buffer and adjusting pH to 5.5. The method has currently been successfully optimized for the 15% concentration. The LbL process consist-ed of three immersion cycles, alternating with coating in the honey solutions, washing in acetate buffer and short periods of drying. As a negative control, PLA scaffolds were subjected only to the washing steps. Biological activity was assessed against Escherichia coliand Staphylococcus aureus. In the disc diffusion test, the plates were inoculated uniformly and the scaffolds arranged in quadrants, including positive controls of ciprofloxacin for E. coli andpenicillin G for S. aureus. After incubation, inhibition was quantified by two per-pendicular measurements of the halo. Quantification of Colony-Forming Units (CFU) was performed after recovery of the microorganisms from the scaffolds by vortexing and centrifugation in saline solution. The study is currently in the optimization phase. Sterilization has been successfully achieved by im-mersing the scaffolds in 70% ethanol for 2 hours with gentle stirring, followed by vacuum drying in a Petry dish for 24 hours. Microscopic observation of the scaf-folds showed a clear coating layer in functionalized samples. This research seeks to validate LbL functionalisation as a simple strategy for developing bioactive scaffolds. The present work establishes a foundation for subsequent phases involving various honey concentrations, with the goal of demonstrating a synergistic effect between the PLA scaffold and nat-ural antimicrobial agents.
- Aprender sem fronteiras: Implementação de projetos COIL no ensino superiorPublication . Mendes, Tatiana R.; Silva, Manuela V.; Trachta, Dariusz; Rodrigues, Matilde A.; Rodrigues, Matilde; Vieira da Silva, ManuelaNum contexto crescente de mobilidade internacional de estudantes (UIS, 2023), a metodologia COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) surge como uma abordagem pedagógica inovadora que promove a internacionalização do currículo através da interação virtual entre instituições e estudantes de diferentes países (Rubin & Guth, 2023). Nesta vertente, o projeto COLOSH (International Collaborative Learning in Occupational Safety and Health) pretende capacitar as instituições parceiras de competências tecnológicas e pedagógicas que lhes permitam planear e facilitar experiências de aprendizagem digital internacional (Sharma & Panackal, 2025). No âmbito do projeto COLOSH, e como resultado da formação da equipa docente, a Área Técnico Científica da Saúde Ambiental da E2S|P.ORTO encontra-se a elaborar, em conjunto com a VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, um projeto COIL. Neste trabalho, pretende-se descrever a estrutura e implementação deste projeto. A metodologia baseou-se na abordagem COIL, que promove a aprendizagem colaborativa internacional através de atividades virtuais síncronas e assíncronas. O projeto adotou o Problem Based Learning como metodologia de ensino-aprendizagem e foi estruturado em cinco semanas: Semana 1 – Sessão Teórica: Introdução ao COIL e apresentação dos objetivos do projeto. Semanas 2 a 4 – Sessões Teóricas e Tutoriais: Desenvolvimento dos temas centrais, com equipas mistas de estudantes portugueses e checos, orientadas por tutores. Semana 5 – Sessão Final: Apresentação dos resultados e reflexão conjunta. Durante o processo, os estudantes trabalharam em equipas internacionais, utilizando ferramentas digitais colaborativas, e comunicaram em inglês. No final, aplicar-se-á um questionário para a avaliação da experiência, recolhendo dados sobre competências interculturais, literacia digital e satisfação. Adicionalmente, realizar-se-á uma análise qualitativa dos outputs produzidos pelos grupos. O projeto COIL encontra-se em fase de implementação, e pretende assegurar a participação de estudantes das instituições envolvidas. Os resultados esperados incluem: (1) Aumento das competências interculturais; (2) Melhoria das competências digitais, colaborativas e linguísticas; (3) Consolidação de boas práticas de ensino digital internacional; (4) Reforço da cooperação académica entre a E2S e a VSB. Resultados quantitativos e qualitativos serão recolhidos após a conclusão das atividades, com base nos outputs e questionários aplicados aos estudantes e docentes.
- Avaliação do potencial antimicrobiano de fungos filamentosos: Um estudo promissor na abordagem do pé diabético e da resistência bacterianaPublication . Ferreira, D.; BAYLINA MACHADO, PILAR; Sá, S.; Areal Hermida, L.; Rocha, A. C.; Baylina, Pilar; Fernandes, R.; Sieiro, C.Prevê-se que até 2045, cerca de 700 milhões de pessoas possam ser afetadas pela Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Uma complicação frequente em indivíduos com DM é o pé diabético, que se manifesta por feridas nos pés causadas por danos nos nervos e vasos sanguíneos, resultando frequentemente na amputação dos membros inferiores. Esta situação é agravada por infeções bacterianas, causadas por estirpes resistentes, como Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Klebsiella spp. produtoras de beta-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL), dificultando o tratamento destas lesões. A resistência antibiótica, impulsionada pelo uso excessivo e indiscriminado de antibióticos, destaca a necessidade urgente de novos fármacos e terapias mais eficazes. Neste contexto, os fungos apresentam-se como uma fonte promissora de novos agentes antimicrobianos, devido à vasta gama e diversidade de compostos bioativos que conseguem sintetizar.
- Avaliação do potenicial antimicrobiano do extrato de Gnomoniopsis sp. contra agentes infeciosos do pé diabéticoPublication . Rocha, A. C.; Areal Hermida, L.; Baylina, Pilar; Fernandes, R.; Sieiro, C.; BAYLINA MACHADO, PILAREstima-se que até ao ano de 2045, aproximadamente 700 milhões de pessoas sofram de Diabetes mellitus (DM). O pé diabético é uma complicação comum em pacientes com DM e caracteriza-se por lesões nos pés devido a danos nos nervos e vasos sanguíneos, levando muitas vezes à amputação dos membros inferiores. A infeção causada por bactérias resistentes, como Staphyloccus aureus resistente a meticilina (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa e espécies de Klebsiella beta-lactamases de espetro estendido (ESBL), acentuam a gravidade destas lesões, tornando o seu tratamento mais complexo. A resistência a antibióticos resulta do uso exagerado e indiscriminado de antibióticos e o desenvolvimento de medicamentos inovadores e de terapias mais eficazes é urgente. Assim, os fungos, nomeadamente fungos filamentosos, surgem como um potencial reservatório para novos compostos antimicrobianos, devido à grande quantidade e diversidade de compostos bioativos produzidos por estes organismos.
- Betulinic acid modulates adipocyte differentiation and secretome activity: Downstream effects on Glioblastoma cell migrationPublication . Gouveia, Afonso; Ferraz, Ricardo; Prudêncio, Cristina; Fernandes, Silvia; Fernandes, SílviaBetulinic acid (BA) has been recognized for its po-tential to modulate tumor progression and adipocyte function, yet its effects on adipocyte secretome re-modeling and the downstream consequences for glio-blastoma behavior remain incompletely understood1-4. In this study, we investigated the influence of BA on adipocyte secretory activity and its functional impact on glioblastoma cell migration. Direct exposure of U251 glioblastoma cells to BA significantly reduced cell migration, confirming its intrinsic anti-migratory potential. To further explore microenvironmental in-teractions, adipocyte-conditioned media (ACM) de-rived from BA-treated adipocytes was evaluated for its effects on glioblastoma behavior. Secretome anal-ysis demonstrated that BA altered matrix metallopro-teinase (MMP) expression and reduced gelatinolytic activity, indicating significant modulation of extracel-lular matrix–related proteolytic pathways. Functional assessment using wound healing assays revealed that ACM from BA-treated adipocytes did not consistent-ly suppress glioblastoma migration. Intermediate BA concentrations were associated with increased migratory behavior relative to basal conditions, although differences compared with control ACM were not statistically significant. Additionally, transwell migra-tion assays did not demonstrate significant differ-ences between treatment conditions, suggesting that BA-induced alterations in adipocyte secretome com-position do not uniformly translate into measurable changes in glioblastoma migratory capacity across dif-ferent experimental models. These findings indicate that modulation of gelatinolytic pathways alone is insufficient to predict glioblastoma cell migration and support the contribution of additional adipocyte-de-rived signalling mechanisms in regulating tumor be-havior. Overall, BA induces substantial remodelling of adipocyte secretory function, producing complex and non-linear downstream effects on glioblastoma cells. This study highlights the importance of tumor micro-environment crosstalk and underscores the need to evaluate multiple regulatory pathways when consid-ering the therapeutic potential of BA and related bio-active compounds.
- Cardiac interoceptive processing across psychopathy dimensions: evidence from the heartbeat tapping task and the attentional modulation of heartbeat-evoked potentialsPublication . Campos, Carlos; Sá, Catarina; Mazer, Prune; Pasion, Rita; Garcez, Helena; Paiva, Tiago O.; Braga, Patrícia Vilela; Rocha, Nuno Barbosa; Barbosa, Fernando; Rocha, Nuno; Campos, CarlosPsychopathy is a multidimensional personality structure encompassing interpersonal, affective, and behavioral traits. Interoception (ability to perceive and subjectively experience inner bodily states) may be a putative mechanism underlying the etiological pathways of psychopathy. Individual differences in interoceptive processing across psychopathy dimensions may interfere with the ability to perceive somatic sensations that signal the emotional valence of everyday events. To examine the association between psychopathy dimensions (triarchic phenotypes - boldness, meanness, and disinhibition; classical 4-facets - interpersonal, affective, impulsive, antisocial) and cardiac interoceptive processing, namely objectively measured cardiac interoceptive attention and accuracy. Fifty community-dwelling participants (25 women) were recruited and completed: (a) self-report measures indexing psychopathy, trait-based interoceptive attention and accuracy, and alexithymia; (b) modified Heartbeat Tapping Task to index cardiac interoceptive accuracy, where subjects were required to tap after each heartbeat under rest and breath hold conditions (the latter enhanced the magnitude of cardiac signals); (c) modified Heartbeat Attention Task for producing an attentional modulation of heartbeat-evoked potentials (HEP) - neuronal markers of cardiac interoceptive processing - where subjects were required to allocate their attention on their heart vs. an exteroceptive stimulus (objective measure of interoceptive attention). Cardiac interoception was only significantly related to boldness traits. Boldness was positively associated with cardiac interoceptive accuracy after the breath hold manipulation (non-significant after controlling for heart rate), despite no significant effects being observed at rest. Boldness was also negatively correlated with the attentional modulation of HEP due to atypical neuronal responses when allocating attentional resources to the heart. The current findings implicate cardiac interoception in the boldness phenotype, as this psychopathy dimension was associated with enhanced interoceptive-specific perceptual sensitivity and atypical neuronal responses to cardiac afferent inputs when attending to heart-related sensations. Future studies should examine how other interoceptive modalities (e.g., respiratory, gastric) are implicated in psychopathy.
- Combining natural bile acids with old basic drugs affords new triple stage antimalarial surface-active ionic liquidsPublication . Silva, Ana Teresa; Oliveira, Isabel; Duarte, Denise; Moita, Diana; Prudêncio, Miguel; Nogueira, Fátima; Ferraz, Ricardo; Marques, Eduardo F.; Gomes, PaulaIonic liquids (ILs) are special organic salts that have been gaining momentum in medicinal chemistry. Despite their simple and cost-effective synthesis, ILs offer an easy access to structures of biological interest by combining bioactive molecules with opposite polarities, e.g., via simple ionic pairing of an acid with a base. This makes ILs of special interest for treating malaria. Since this disease is prevalent mainly in low-to-middle income countries, novel chemotherapeutic strategies must be kept affordable. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, whose complex life cycle includes three developmental stages in the host: the blood stage, the liver stage, and the gametocyte stage. This complexity turns the development of new effective drugs quite difficult, which is aggravated by the fast emergence of drug-resistant strains. This fact has often led to the disuse of several antimalarials, driving the need to find new ones with multiple-stage action. In this context, we have been working on new antimalarial ILs by mixing antimalarial aminoquinolines—chloroquine and primaquine—with natural lipids. Two new families of salts derived from those antimalarial drugs and naturally-occurring bile acids were now produced by acid-base neutralization, and evaluated for their antiplasmodial action. The chloroquine-derived bile salts were found active against all the three stages of parasite development in the host. Their behavior as surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs), i.e. their interfacial and self-aggregation properties, were also investigated, as they may contribute critically to their delivery and therapeutic action.
- Creation of a fungal library and screening of antimicrobial and anticancer activityPublication . Ferreira, Diogo; Hermida, Lara Areal; Rocha, Ana Catarina; Baylina, Pilar; Sieiro, Carmen; Fernandes, Rúben; BAYLINA MACHADO, PILARAccording to the World Health Organization, cancer and infectious diseases are two of the most problematic diseases nowadays. Cancer kills 10 million people every year and the emergence of resistance to antitumoral drugs is an important medical challenge. At the same time, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is also a serious threat to human and environmental health. Besides mortality, AMR burdens healthcare services and dampens medical procedures such as surgeries, cancer treatments and other invasive procedures. The development of new drug therapies to fight drug resistance is essential to contest the rising of resistant bacteria and reduction of the effectiveness of antitumoral drugs. Microorganisms have been a major source for natural compounds throughout the years. Fungi, renowned for their ability to produce an array of broad and diverse secondary metabolites, offer a rich resource for drug discovery. We built a collection of fungal species, isolated from chestnuts, sunflower seeds, and chestnut flour, and explored their extracts for potential antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Fungi cultures for secondary metabolite biosynthesis were done in submerged fermentation in Malt Extract broth for 15 days at 26 °C. Liquid-liquid extraction techniques, with ethyl acetate as a solvent, were applied to obtain crude secondary metabolite extracts. Clinical resistant bacteria, yeasts, and prostate cell lines (human prostate epithelial cells – HpepiC; human caucasian prostate adenocarcinoma cells - PC3) were exposed to fungal extracts at a single concentration of 100 µg/mL. Our results so far show several extracts with antimicrobial and/or anticancer activity without decreasing cell viability of non-tumoral cells, showing their potential as therapeutic drugs without possible secondary effects. Although, more studies should be done, and pending fungal identification will allow us to select which extracts will be further investigated to find if the displayed bioactivity could be happening due to unknown natural compounds
- Determinants of maternal exposure to heavy metals and semi-metals: Focus on diet and lifestylePublication . Guimarães, J.; Bracchi, Isabella; Pinheiro, C.; Vieira, M.I.; Barbosa, M. Oliveira; Almeida, A.; Azevedo, R.; Pinto, Edgar; Pestana, D.; Calhau, C.; Prucha, M. do Carmo; Martins, C.; Dias, C.C.; Azevedo, L.F.R.; Ramalho, C.; Fernandes, Virginia Cruz; Keating, E.; Fernandes, Virgínia; Pinto, EdgarKnowledge on determinants and health risks of toxic metal exposure in pregnancy is scarce in Portugal. This study aims to characterize food and lifestyle determinants of maternal exposure to Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As). We included 1111 pregnant women undergoing routine 1sttrimester fetal ultrasound scan between 2018 and 2021 at CHUSJoão (Porto) and Hospital CUF Descobertas (Lisbon), who had single pregnancy and gave informed consent. At this stage, we collected diet and lifestyle information and a random urine sample for Pb, Cd and As quantification by ICP-MS. The majority of the sample had detectable urinary levels of toxic elements (n (%) and median (P25; P75) for Pb, Cd (in ng/g), and As (in μg/ g): 980 (88) and 547.2 (289.1; 975.9), 628 (57) and 142.5 (81.5; 234.9), 1080 (97) and 27.4 (14.9; 51.3), respectively). Cd and As urinary concentrations were positively correlated (r s =0.250, p<0.001). Smoking habits were associated with higher Pb (p=0.034) and Cd (p=0.008) levels and Pb levels had a negative weak correlation with birth head circumference (r s =-0.102; p=0.009). Regarding diet, the frequencies of fish and eggs intake were positively associated with Cd and As levels (p=0.005 and p< 0.001, respectively for fish intake; p=0.030 and p<0.001, respectively, for eggs intake). Women who reported consuming fish or eggs at least four times a week presented median (P25; P75) As levels of 35.2 (21.3; 71.9) or 35.9 (16.8; 57.2) μg/g, respectively. These concentrations exceed the commonly accepted reference range (≥24.0 μg/g), observed in healthy populations. Our results evidence that, in pregnant women, smoking might be a determinant of Pb and Cd exposure and fish and eggs might be relevant determinants of Cd and As exposure. These data stress the need to study the consequences of Pb or As and Cd cumulative exposure on the health of the mother and the offspring.