III SIMPÓSIO EM BIOQUÍMICA APLICADA
7th and 8th October 2021
University of Minho - School of Sciences
OUR SPEAKERS
THE CSF SHUTTLE: FROM THE CHOROID PLEXUS TO THE MYELIN AND BACK!
With this lecture, PhD Ana Falcão aims to provide an overview of the heterogeneity of the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, the oligodendrocytes. Thus, she will explore how oligodendrocytes respond to multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that causes the loss of the myelin sheath, also unveiling possible disease mechanisms, biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Ana Falcão
Researcher at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) at the University of Minho
Raquel Soares
Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP)
Metabesity group leader at i3S
OBESITY AND CANCER: ARE THEY ALWAYS PARTNERS IN CRIME?
In this lecture, PhD Raquel Soares will tell us about the research work she developed. In the last decades, we have witnessed a significant increase in obesity prevalence worldwide. This increase matches a huge enhancement in the number of malignant neoplasms lately. In vitro and in vivo models revealed changes in hormonal and metabolic cues as well as angiogenic and inflammatory profiles in different types of cancer, including breast, pancreatic and melanoma, in obese conditions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this obesity-cancer association is mandatory to wisely select the best therapeutic strategies for each patient, ultimately driving us towards a personalized medicine.
Karina Xavier
Principal investigator at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science
Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
NUTRIENT COMPETITION IN GUT MICROBIOTA AS BARRIER AGAINST PATHOGEN
In this lecture, PhD Karina Xavier will tell us about the work she has been developing. Dr. Karina and her research group studied the effect of antibiotics on the microbiota composition, using mice as a model organism, and found that a low abundant bacterium, member of the microbiota, which was sufficient to prevent invasion of certain bacterial pathogens. This microbiota member can metabolize the nutrients available in the intestine very efficiently, competing against potential invaders and preventing the entry of other bacteria that can harm the host. This study shows that nutrient competition by members of the microbiota is an important mechanism to protect from pathogenesis and opens doors to the hope that for each human pathogen there is one or more bacteria of the microbiota that can be administered as a direct competitor of that pathogen.
Miguel Castanho
Lead Researcher at iMM
Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisboa (FMUL)
DEVELOPING DRUGS TO FIGHT VIRUSES IN THE BRAIN – the NOVIRUSES2BRAIN project.
In this talk, PhD Miguel Castanho will talk about the study of antiviral peptide drugs able to transmigrate across the blood-brain-barrier and target enveloped viruses in the central nervous system. The project NOVIRUSES2BRAIN is 'one size fits all' unique drug to eradicate multiple viral species simultaneously from the central nervous system. Due to the existence of the blood-brain-barrier, creating drugs that act in the brain is a very hard task. While this property protects the brain from the toxic effects of exogenous molecules and microorganisms, it is a serious limitation to chemotherapies in the brain. Therefore, drugs aimed to inactivate viruses in the brain, for instance, have to overcome the brain endothelium in addition to being effective and non-toxic. In this presentation, the rationale behind a drug development strategy to inactivate viruses such as zika and SARS-CoV-2 in the brain will be presented.
Luís Guido
Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP)
Integrated Researcher in the Associated Laboratory LAQV / REQUIMTE-UP
THE IMPACT OF YEAST ON BEER FLAVOUR
In this talk, PhD Luís Guido will share with us his studies on the impact of yeasts on beer flavor. The beer flavor is a complex balance between the characteristics of malt, hops and yeast and its unique flavor profile can be attributed mainly to the biochemical activities that occur during fermentation. Considering the complex nature of possible fermentative pathways involved in the formation of active flavor compounds, and the target in question, this talk is mainly focused on the impact of yeasts on carbonyl compounds such as VDKs and aldehydes. Sulfites released by yeast metabolism can play a key role in beer flavor, both as antioxidants and masking aged carbonyls.
Joana Oliveira
Research Associate at REQUIMTE, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP)
Invited Associate Professor at FCUP
WINE-INSPIRED CHEMISTRY – A PORTFOLIO OF COLORS TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
In this talk, PhD Joana Oliveira will tell us about her research work in the area of isolation and hemi-synthesis of anthocyanin-derived pigments found in red wines. These molecules with attractive colours and higher chromatic stability with interest are likely to be used as colorants.Due
to their physicochemical and biological properties, these compounds could be applied in functional foods, pharmaceutical and cosmetics. More recently, a new area of incidence was explored, the skin Photodynamic Therapy. There is a wide range of scientific approaches to find better phototherapeutic agents, including those based on recycling or repositioning of well-known wine phenolic pigments used for other applications.
Carla Oliveira
Affiliated Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisboa (FMUL)
Co-founder, Scientific Head and CEO, Bioinf2Bio Bioinformatics Company
Group Leader, Expression Regulation in Cancer Group, i3S
Group Leader/Principal Investigator, Ipatimup
GASTRIC CANCER: PREDISPOSING FACTORS AND CLINICAL BIOMARKERS
In this lecture, PhD Carla Oliveira will explain the most recent laboratory discoveries in the area of gastric cancer. The importance of this research is due to the fact that gastric cancer is the third most fatal cancer worldwide, affecting about one million people per year. In general, patients present the disease in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, which makes the prognosis reserved, with an overall survival rate of 5 years. The treatment of patients with this cancer is generally not efficient, as all patients are treated in a similar way, regardless of the subtype of the disease or the clinical picture. Carla's research group aims to address some of these issues using next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, CRISPR/Cas9, advanced imaging of human samples and animal models.
BIOCHEMISTRY IN INDUSTRY
Vânia Batalha
Target Identification & Primary Pharmacology Service Manager, Department of Research, BIAL
