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 | Human Satellite 1A analysis provides evidence of pericentromeric transcription

In a recent publication first-authored by Mariana Lopes, a PhD student supervised by Raquel Chaves, Margarida Gama-Carvalho , and Sandra Louzada, human satellite 1A transcription was studied for the first time. These structures are highly repeated sequences and can be transcribed into non-coding RNAs with relevant functions in the genomes. Discover more here.

BioISI Digest | The experienced positive and negative influence of HIV on quality of life of people with HIV and vulnerable to HIV in the Netherlands

Ganna Rozhnova studied the perceived influence of HIV on the quality of life of people with HIV and people vulnerable to HIV. If you want to know more on the reported positive aspects in living with HIV, read the BioISI Digest below.

BioISI Digest | Additive Potentiation of R334W-CFTR Function by Novel Small Molecules

Miquéias Pacheco and his team reported the discovery of four new compounds that potentiate the function of the protein that is defective in Cystic Fibrosis. Read this BioISI Digest to know how these molecules can be a potential innovative therapy for people with CF carrying a rare mutation.

José Lourenço co-leads the european working group of the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics consortium

José Lourenço co-leads the European working group of CLIMADE – Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics consortium and will be able to greatly contribute to solutions in public health concerning mosquito-borne viruses.

BioISI Digest | First assessment of leaf lipids and fatty acids as biomarkers of grapevine tolerance/susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola

A recent paper, first-authored by Ana Rita Cavaco and headed by Andreia Figueiredo reports a distinctive profile of lipids and fatty acids in tolerant and susceptible grapevine varieties to downy mildew. If you want to know more, read this BioISI Digest.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | International Epilepsy Day

On this International Epilepsy Day, we showcase the Epilepsy and Aging Lab contribution to epilepsy research. Find out more