Ana Teixeira Lab

Our research is primarily focused on studying the systems level metabolism of animal cells, combining computational and experimental tools to identify key regulatory mechanisms that control cell metabolic phenotypes (target biological systems include biopharmaceutical cell factories, stem cells used in expansion and differentiation protocols, as well as brain and cancer cell models). We also develop monitoring and control tools to support bioprocess optimization and batch-to-batch consistency.

Research Interests

The Bioengineering and Systems Biology Laboratory is integrated within the Animal Cell Technology Unit, and conducts research in two areas of animal cell technology:

Quantitative Analysis of Metabolism

The application of large-scale quantitative analysis of cellular metabolism has become crucial to address the complexity of biological systems in the areas of metabolic engineering, cell differentiation, brain disease and cancer. At our lab, we integrate MS- and NMR-based metabolomic profiling from 13C tracer experiments using flux analysis models to quantitatively characterize the functional metabolic phenotypes of different cells and culture settings. The generated knowledge is then applied to optimize cell metabolism towards key bioprocess and biomedical goals, namely: i) increased production of recombinant proteins and viruses from animal cell processes; ii) improved expansion yields and targeted differentiation efficiencies of cultured stem cells; iii) identification of druggable metabolic targets for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer therapy.

Bioprocess monitoring and control

Deeper bioprocess understanding is essential to effectively develop and implement monitoring and control strategies that warrant reproducibility and robustness during scale up. At our lab we are combining in situ spectroscopic and/or metabolomics tools with hybrid models to advance this field.

Group Members

• Mafalda Dias, PhD student (co-supervision with António Roldão)

• João Vidigal, PhD student (co-supervision with Manuel Carrondo)

• João Sá, PhD student (co-supervision with Manuel Carrondo)

• Daniel Pais, PhD student (co-supervision with Paula Alves)

Selected Publications

1. Sá JV, Kleiderman SM, Brito C, Sonnewald U, Leist M, Teixeira AP*, Alves PM*. Quantification of metabolic rearrangements during neural stem cells differentiation into astrocytes. Neurochemical Research 2016, 1-10.

2. Carinhas N, Pais DAM, Koshkin A, Fernandes P, Coroadinha A, Carrondo MJT, Alves PM, Teixeira AP*. Metabolic flux profilling of MDCK cells during growth and canine adenovirus vector production. Scientific Reports 2016, 6: 23529.

3. Pais DAM, Carrondo MJT, Alves PM, Teixeira AP*. Towards real-time monitoring of therapeutic protein quality in mammalian cell processes. Curr Opinion Biotechnol 2014, 30: 161-167.

Laboratory's Website

For further information please visit the ACt Webpage

(PT)

top