DECODE: Decoding the biology of fungal–bacterial alliances
Oeiras, 25th February 2026
A research project led by Cristina Silva Pereira, researcher at ITQB NOVA, is one of the six projects selected for the EUTOPIA_HEALTH Seed Funding Call. The project, “DECODE – Disrupting critical dependencies in the Aspergillus fumigatus–Endohyphal bacteria partnership through bacteriophage-driven elimination and metabolic cross-talk”, will receive €120,000 in funding over two years.
The research builds on a recent discovery made at ITQB NOVA that challenged the traditional view that fungi as solitary organisms. “We recently revealed that the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is not alone: its filaments can harbour tiny bacteria living inside the fungal cells. With DECODE we want to better understand what these bacterial partners do and how they form stable partnerships,” explains Cristina Silva Pereira.
A key goal of the project is to understand the biological significance of these associations for A. fumigatus, recognised by the World Health Organization as a priority fungal pathogen. In particular, the team will test if some of the bacteria it harbors contribute to the fungus’ virulence and ecological resilience. Ultimately, this may open new avenues for antifungal strategies and deepen our understanding of microbial interactions.
ITQB NOVA, through Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, is a member of EUTOPIA_HEALTH, a consortium of nine universities working to advance health-related research and innovation across Europe. The Seed Funding call received 26 applications, of which six were selected - two for each widening partner.
The second project from NOVA, WE-SWEAT, is led by NOVA FCT. Both projects involve collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel and CY Cergy Paris Université, partners in the EUTOPIA_HEALTH alliance.
