Jobs/Opportunities
Do you want to work in Sustainibility? Are you interested in Biotechnology and Biocatalysis?
We are looking for a Master Graduate to work on a project for CO2 conversion to added vaue compounds.
More information here.
Applications open until 7th July 2023.
Master Projects
Microbial Sulfur Metabolism
Project 1: Study of the QmoABC membrane complex involved in energy conservation in gut anaerobes
The main objective of this project is to understand the functional mechanism of the QmoABC complex. To accomplish this goal, a homologous overexpression system will be established, which will allow the large scale production of the complex for biochemical and kinetic experiments. Therefore, the project is divided in four major tasks:
1) Cloning the qmoABC operon in an independent plasmid for expression in Desulfovibrio vulgaris qmoABC deletion mutant
2) Production and purification of the QmoABC complex;
3) Reconstitution of QmoABC into liposomes;
4) Fast-kinetic experiments with proteoliposomes to determine H+/estoichiometry.
If you are interested, please send an e-mail to ipereira@itqb.unl.pt or americoduarte@itqb.unl.pt
Role of Sulfidogenic Bacteria in Human Disease
Project 2: Elucidating the metabolic traits of Bilophila wadsworthia for sulfide production in the human gut environment
The aim of this project is to study the metabolic and biochemical context leading to the increased production of H2S in the gut and its implication on the colonic epithelium integrity. To achieve this purpose, the main tasks are:
- Analyze the effect of different substrates on the H2S production, metabolite composition and growth of B. wadsworthia.
- Characterize the cytotoxicity and inflammatory effects of the different culture supernatants.
- Assess the expression of genes involved in sulfur metabolism (Dsr, and others) of B. wadsworthia in different growth conditions.
If you are interested, please send an e-mail to ipereira@itqb.unl.pt or andreia.pimenta@itqb.unl.pt
Project 3: Uncovering the role of the gut bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia during host-cell interaction
This research plan aims to understand the link between Bilophila wadsworthia, gut inflammation and disease by looking at the molecular mechanisms of how Bilophila interact with colonic epithelial cells (CEC). To achieve this purpose, the main tasks are:
- Establishment of a system to study interactions between co-cultured Caco-2 and HT29MTX (CEC) mucus covered epithelium and anaerobic bacteria.
- Assessment of B. wadsworthia host-cell adhesion and invasion capacities.
- Study of epithelial cellular responses upon bacterial interaction.
- Assessment of B. wadsworthia cellular responses upon interaction with CEC to identify virulence traits.
If you are interested, please send an e-mail to ipereira@itqb.unl.pt or andreia.pimenta@itqb.unl.pt
