M&B – Microbiology & Biotechnology

Rogério Tenreiro

The Microbiology & Biotechnology group of BioISI (M&B-BioISI) is mainly focused on the exploitation of the connections between group know-how and expertise in microbiology and the SME and industrial networks for the development of transversal integrated approaches in several key areas of biotechnology.

The M&B-BioISI currently includes thirteen members with a PhD and strong competences in microbiology covering a broad range of complementary scientific areas. From ecosystems to molecular analysis, this represents an integrated scientific knowledge that has sustained fruitful research collaborations with industry and biotech companies (e.g. Proenol, Sogrape, Atralcipan, Bioalvo, Biopremier, Vasverde, Cork Supply, Biotask, Biorah).

M&B-BioISI has a plastic, project-oriented organizational structure under the global guidance of the Research Group Leader (RGL). Each project is ruled by the proponent PI/supervisor or the PI designated by the RGL. The group’s infrastructure is organized around the open-lab status of the ‘Bugworkers Lab’, that harbors the group and is the support lab for the SMEs incubated at ICAT-TecLabs Innovation Center of FCUL.

M&B-BioISI holds a collection of more than 2000 microbes (bacteria, yeasts and molds), collected from habitats so diverse as humans, plants, insects, saltmarshes, acid mines, hydrothermal vents and wine/must, ancillary to countless fields of biotechnological exploitation.

Specific lines of research following the rainbow of “biotech colours ” include : 1) yellow and white biotech – development and integrative characterization of adaptive evolved wine yeasts with higher performance and increased stress tolerance; 2) gold and red biotech – development of computational pipelines for identification of molecular targets for development of therapeutic compounds; determination of mechanisms of action based on Biolog phenoarrays; 3) Grey biotech – design and validation of new microbial consortia for water treatment; 4) Blue biotech – omics-based characterization of marine microbes for bioactivity profiles; development of novel bioactives for personal care, therapeutics, agrosciences, greener industrial processes; 5) Black biotech – development of antimicrobial agents against Bacillus anthracis.

M&B-BioISI will be mainly associated with BioISI Thematic Strand of Biotechnology & Biofoods but cooperative interactions will be promoted for integrative research within the other thematic strands of Biomedicine, Biological Physics and Bioinformatics & Modelling.

Team

Group Leader: Rogério Tenreiro rptenreiro@fc.ul.pt

Technicians and other collaborators: Ana Reis | Filipa Silva

Recent Publications

BioISI Digest | Global transmission suitability maps for dengue virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti from 1981 to 2019

José Lourenço published a new paper, on which the authors map the current and future transmission potential of dengue virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from 1981 to 2019. These results are now available online and can contribute to the planning of disease control and prevention strategies.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | European Public Health Week

The European Public Health Week aims to raise awareness about public health and promote collaboration among the public health community in Europe. Within this week, we share with you the concept of social prescribing, by means of Luciana Costa's testomonial.

BioISI Digest | Evidence for an association of prenatal exposure to particulate matter with clinical severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder

João Xavier Santos is the first author of a new paper, coordinated by Astrid Vicente, on which the effect of the exposure to particulate matter by pregnant women is associated with the severity of Austism Spectrum Disorder, later developed on in their babies, is assessed.

BioISI collaborates with AiR 351 art residency

The Plant Functional Genomics Research Group collaborates with Kim Schoen, a video and photography artist, who is developing her residency at the AiR 351 art organization.

BioISI Digest | Development of a QCM-based biosensor for the detection of non-small cell lung cancer biomarkers in liquid biopsies

Filomena Adega and Raquel Chaves are part of the list of authors of a new paper, coordinated by Paula Martins-Lopes, on which a new biosensor developed to detect non small cell lung cancer cells in liquid biopsies (e.g. serum), in a less invasive manner, is reported.

BioISI Digest | Mechanistic Insights into Polyphenols’ Aggregation Inhibition of α‑Synuclein and Related Peptides

Gabriel Martins is the first author of a new paper, coordinated by Nuno Galamba, on which molecular simulations techniques were used to understand the action mechanism of two polyphenols at a molecular level and improve drug design strategies to target neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's disease.