The seven selected projects, highlighted by the Scientific Advisory Board for their quality, will each receive €20,000 in funding for one year.
The funded projects will address the following questions:
Could hidden bacterial partners help fungi thrive across diverse habitats?
Project: Endosymbionts and ecological adaptation across marine-terrestrial boundaries in Aspergillus
Bárbara Ferreira, from the Applied and Environmental Mycology lab, will study whether the bacteria living inside Aspergillus, a widespread group of fungi, helped drive its adaptation from marine to terrestrial environments.
Can we enhance mRNA stability with metals and improve its therapeutic potential?
Project: STRONGER – Fostering Stability in mRNA with Metals
Ana Petronilho, leader of the Bioorganometallic Chemistry lab, will test whether attaching metals such as platinum, palladium, or gold to the mRNA 5′ cap can increase stability. If successful, this approach could extend mRNA lifetime, helping overcome a key limitation in mRNA-based therapeutics. The project is a collaboration with Cecília Arraiano, leader of the Control of Gene Expression lab.
How does Staphylococcus aureus contribute to lymphoma?
Project: Decoding Staphylococcus aureus drivers of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a rare, serious skin cancer marked by inflammation, damage to the skin’s protective barrier, and immune disruption. With this project, Maria Miragaia, leader of the Bacterial Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology lab, will study how Staphylococcus aureus, commonly found in these patients, may contribute to disease onset and progression.
Can we tackle oral diseases using RNA-based therapies?
Project PERIO-RNA: RNA-Based Therapies for Oral Diseases
Sandra Viegas, from the Control of Gene Expression Lab, in collaboration with Ana Pina, from the Bioinspired Peptide Systems lab, aims to develop species-specific “ASObiotics” (precision antisense oligonucleotides) to target periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The strategy focuses on dismantling protective biofilms formed by P. gingivalis while preserving the healthy oral microbiome.
Do ancestral enzymes hide more sustainable biocatalyzers?
Project: Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction as a Platform for Sustainable Biocatalyst Discovery and Engineering
Lígia Martins, leader of the Microbial & Enzyme Technology lab, will use ancestral sequence reconstruction to identify robust, versatile enzymes and build a platform for sustainable biocatalyst discovery and engineering, with applications including the production of high-value compounds such as rare sugars.
How do light receptors in the eye fold?
Project: Structure, dynamics and function of the Xport-A/Rhodopsin1 interaction
Using fruit flies and advanced structural approaches, Pedro Domingos, leader of the Cell Signaling in Drosophila lab, in collaboration with Tiago Cordeiro, from the Dynamic Structural Biology lab, will study how the Xport-A protein supports the folding of light receptors in the eye. Understanding these interactions can shed light on the molecular basis of human vision and inform strategies to fight blindness.
How does our diet influence the microbiome and gut health?
Project: Mapping gut sulfur networks from dietary inputs to inflammatory outcomes
Andreia Pimenta, from the Bacterial Energy Metabolism lab, will study how different dietary sources of sulfur alter microbial metabolism, influence the production of toxic compounds, and contribute to gut inflammation.
About MOSTMICRO-ITQB
MOSTMICRO-ITQB research has been part of ITQB NOVA since its inception. The Unit brings together 31 laboratories working on how microbes live, multiply and cause disease, with the ultimate goal of improving human and environmental health. The unit is funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and holds its highest rating: “Excellent”.
