Interactions Microorganism-Environment

Group Leader: Ilda Santos Sanches

Overview
This group combines researchers aiming to understand the mechanisms underlying the performance of microorganisms in different natural and human-made environments. To that purpose different microbial models are used, from bacteria to fungi, including yeasts, and different perspectives and approaches (ecological, physiological, biochemical, molecular and genetic) are integrated. 

Researchers (PhD)

Duarte Oliveira | e-mail

Helena Maria de Sousa | e-mail

Isabel Couto | e-mail

Isabel Sá Nogueira | e-mail

Madalena Oom | e-mail

Maria da Luz Martins | e-mail

Maria Luisa Vieira | e-mail

Rita Castro | e-mail

Rita Sobral | e-mail

Main themes:
This research group is divided in two main topics:

(i) Physiology and molecular biology of model microorganisms (gram-positive bacteria and fermentative yeasts) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of polysaccharide degradation, sugar metabolism and regulation and to investigate mechanisms underlying cellular stress-response and adaptation to antibiotics.

(ii) Exploration of the molecular epidemiology and genetics of clinically relevant bacteria and fungi, in order to identify epidemic/virulent clones, trace their spread and characterize genes involved in antibiotic resistance or virulence. The development of molecular methods for reliable detection and differentiation is also envisioned.

Model organisms include Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcal species (S. pyogenes, S. dysgalactiae and S. agalactiae), sexually transmitted and zoonotic bacteria, pathogenic fungi and fermentative yeasts.

Projects (ongoing)
Project "Study of evasion mechanisms to innate immunity in group B streptococcal infections: identification of novel therapeutic targets”. Ref PTDC/SAU-MII/105114/2008. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal. January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2012. PI: Ilda Santos Sanches. Participant: M.J. Borrego, INSA, Portugal.

Project "Genomic study of Brucella suis biovar 2 Iberian strains." Ref PTDC/CVT/104050/2008. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal. 2010-2012. Member of research team: Participant: I.Santos Sanches, PI: R. Tenreiro, FFCUL (BioFIG), Portugal.

Project “Fullerene-based systems for oxidative inactivation of airborne microbial pathogens - NANO-GUARD", Ref PIRSES-GA-2010-269138. EU's Seventh framework programme (FP7). Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme. October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2015. Participant: I. Santos Sanches; Coordinator: S. Lyubchik, FCT/UNL (REQUIMTE/CQFB), Portugal

Breaking Down the Wall - Microbial Hemicellulases for saccharification, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia PTDC/AGR-AAM/102345/2008 (2010-2012) PI: I. Sá-Nogueira.

Redox-BioMaterials: Design of new redox biomaterials and their application in Biofuel cells for the production of electrical energy, feedstock chemicals and building blocks, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia PTDC/EBB-EBI/099237/2008 (2010-2012). Member of research team: I Sá-Nogueira, PI: Luís Fonseca, IST/UTL, Portugal.

Sol-gel entrapped cutinase: Understanding enzyme/matrix interactions via fluorescence, NMR and DRIFT spectroscopies, and site-directed mutagenesis, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia PPTDC/QUI/64744/2006 (2009-2012). Member of research team: I Sá-Nogueira, PI: Susana Barreiros, FCT/UNL, Portugal

Contribution to the study of the association between multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease: laboratory, clinical and eco-epidemiological aspects, ref EMBLYME-IHMT 01/10 (2010-2012). PI: ML Vieira

Emerging Aspects of human leptospirosis in São Miguel: new insights into the parasite – host relationship, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, ref FCG-P-99888 (2009-2012). Participant: ML Vieira, PI: Luisa Mota-Vieira (Unidade de Genética e Patologia Moleculares, Hosp. Divino Espírito Santo, São Miguel, Azores

Metabolic circuits in inflicted bacterial cell death, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia PTDC/BIA-MIC/101375/2008 (2010-2012). PI: R. Sobral.

Association of extracellular DNA to the Staphylococcus aureus surface: roles and mechanisms. ESCMID research grant (2011-2013). PI: R G. Sobral.

“Role of beta-lactamase operon in the stabilization and expression of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus”, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Lisbon, Portugal; Project: PTDC/BIA-MIC/64071/2006 (2008-2012); PI: Duarte C. Oliveira.