Members

Benedita Pinheiro

PhD Researcher (DL57 Contract)

Ciência ID: CB17-E1B7-4EE7

email: b.pinheiro@fct.unl.pt

I am a researcher in the Glycolab Group in the Research Unit UCIBIO. I have obtained a PhD in Animal Science and Technology in 2010, in the Technical University of Lisbon (presently University of Lisbon), studying the assembly and function of the bacterial multi-enzymatic complex involved in plant cell all carbohydrate degradation, the cellulosome. I am particularly interested in the protein-protein cohesin-dockerin interaction and in the study of carbohydrate-interacting proteins such as lectins and carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Being a member of the GlycoLab from the beginning, I have been involved in its setup and in the broadening of its scope through the implementation of protein microarrays. I am currently contributing to the ongoing GlycoLab projects with my expertise in molecular biology, protein production and X-ray crystallography. One of our joint projects is on solving the first X-ray 3D structure of human malectin in complex with its endogenous glycan ligand, with insights into its recognition in the Endoplasmic Reticulum and malectin evolution and function in protein quality control in mammals. 

Diana O. Ribeiro

Junior Investigator (former PhD student)

Ciência ID: 7E10-CBC0-596D

email: d.ribeiro@campus.fct.unl.pt

Having completed my PhD in Biochemistry, speciality in Structural Biochemistry, at UCIBIO/FCT‑NOVA, I have acquired important skills in the field of Molecular Glycosciences and Structural Biology. During my PhD I have applied a unique approach combining Carbohydrate Microarrays with X-ray Crystallography, to uncover and structurally characterize the carbohydrate-specificity of novel CBMs (Carbohydrate-Binding Modules) of cellulolytic bacteria residing in different ecological niches. During this project, I had the opportunity develop work at the Glycosciences Laboratory, Imperial College London, where I have become most interested in developing new strategies for purification of structurally similar oligosaccharides isolated from naturally derived sources. My work resulted in 2 publications in journals and 1 book chapter. Moving forward, I aim to deepen my knowhow in the Carbohydrate Microarray technology and develop strategies to allow the detailed characterization of protein‑carbohydrate interactions, in particular, in the Human Microbiome.

Lisete M. Silva

PhD Researcher (former PhD student)

Ciência ID: 821E-7470-0086

email: l.machado-e-silva@imperial.ac.uk

I am a Researcher in the LAQV-REQUIMTE at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and an Honorary Research Associate in the Glycosciences Laboratory at Imperial College London, UK. As a closer collaborator of Dr Angelina Palma, my main research interests are in Biochemistry and Glycobiology, and include: 1) glycan structural features and bioactivity relationship; 2) designer and construction of microarrays of natural and/or synthetic glycans; 3) to use glycan microarrays for new ligands discovery and to explore glycan-protein interactions in various biological systems, such as pathogen- and microbiota-host interactions that trigger disease or metabolic processes; 4) development of natural glycan-based products and glycan-based microparticles for drug delivery. My interest in these topics was triggered by my PhD studies on the structural analysis of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Helicobacter pylori by GC-MS and ESI-MSn and development of microarrays of the LPS for interrogation of host recognition using glycan binding proteins or infected serum. This work was co-supervised by Dr Angelina Palma, who introduced me and trained me in protein biology, glycobiology and glycan microarrays.

 PhD Students

Viviana G. Correia

Ciência ID: B117-5D40-0DCE

email: vivianacorreia@campus.fct.unl.pt 

I am a student in the Molecular Biosciences PhD program, since 2015. My research project – “Deciphering carbohydrate: protein interactions in the Human Microbiome – A combined high-throughput and structural approach”, aims at elucidating carbohydrate-binding specificities of polysaccharide utilization loci (PULS) proteins from representative strains of the human gut microbiota metabolic capabilities, which play a key role in the human nutritional balance and immune system modulation. Our strategy includes the production of a recombinant-protein library, the development of carbohydrate microarrays comprising a diverse range of glycan probes for high-throughput screening analysis of glycan ligands; and elucidation of the 3D-structure of protein:glycan ligand complexes using X-ray crystallography. 

PhD Fellowship PD/BD/105727/2014 (co-supervision with Ana Luísa Carvalho)

Raquel Costa

Ciência ID: C51E-D98C-9BEC

email: rl.costa@campus.fct.unl.pt

I am currently a PhD student in the Molecular Biosciences program from FCT-NOVA & ITQB. My work is supervised by Angelina Palma and Ana Luísa Carvalho and is being developed at Functional Glycobiology and Macromolecular Crystallography Groups at UCIBIO (FCT-NOVA) within the research areas of Structural Biology and Glycobiology.

The main goal of my PhD is to elucidate the interaction of PULs proteins from B. thetaiotaomicron (prominent human gut bacteria) for host-derived glycans, particularly mucins that act as a barrier to protect the human gut epithelium. To address that, I am using X-ray crystallography and carbohydrate microarray technology as the main methodologies. My work will be important to understand how bacteria establish molecular communication with the host and how this glycan recognition influences the balance of being beneficial/pathogen. Addressing these questions could lead to novel strategies to promote human health by using pre or probiotics to modulate the human gut microbiome.

PhD Fellowship PD/BD/135515/2018 

Filipa Trovão

Ciência ID: AC11-1704-9BF8

email: f.trovao@campus.fct.unl.pt

I have a BSc and an MSc in Biochemistry, both acquired at FCT-NOVA.

From 2017 to 2019 I worked as MSc Research Assistant at the Macromolecular Crystallography and GlycoLab (UCIBIO-NOVA). During this period, I had the opportunity to acquire knowledge in different biological systems and solid experience in protein expression and purification, X-ray Crystallography, and also in state-of-the-art techniques to assess the specificity and affinity of protein-ligand interactions, such as glycan microarrays, MST and ITC.In December of 2019, I started my PhD degree in Biochemistry, under the supervision of Angelina Palma (GlycoLab) and co-supervision of Ana Luísa Carvalho (Macromolecular Crystallography).

My research project, entitled "Translating the human-microbiome molecular cross-talk using glycan microarray and structural biology strategies", aims to decipher how the structural diversity of host glycans is exploited by bacteria and how it influences commensal vs pathogenic interactions.

PhD Fellowship SFRH/BD/143494/2019

Nuno Lopes

Ciência ID: 

email: nlopes@ibet.pt

I graduated in Cellular and Molecular Biology, followed by a master’s in Biotechnology. In the past years, I learned about the tumour immune microenvironment and methods for working with 3D cell-based models. In Dr Brito’s lab, we established a 3D breast cancer model, where we depicted the impact of different subtypes in the modulation of macrophages. With my PhD project “GLYCO-Interact: defining triple-negative breast cancer glycan signatures to target tumour-associated macrophages”, also supervised by Dr Palma, we aim to bring the perspective of glycobiology towards unveiling novel targets for breast cancer. We devised an approach based on 3D cell models and protein/glycan microarrays. We aim to unveil novel glycans at the surface of tumour cells and the lectins of macrophages which bind to such glycans. These results will be further translated to breast cancer patients.

Supervisors: Dr Catarina Brito (Advanced Cell Models Lab, iBET & ITQB-NOVA) and Dr Angelina Palma

 MSc Students

André Favinha 

My name is André Griffin de Almeida Favinha, I am 22 years old and I am currently doing my master thesis in the XTAL Crystallography Group and GlycoLab, at FCT NOVA, under supervision of Dr Maria Angelina de Sá Palma and Dr Ana Luísa Carvalho.

Previously I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry also at FCT NOVA.My work is focused on the study of the interaction of proteins from the cellular surface of the commensal bacteria Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron with typical glycans that cover our gastrointestinal tract epithelium, a subject that to this date rises multiple questions and is associated to multiple diseases, which captivated me to explore and try to understand a bit more of this intricate theme.

My scientific interests comprise protein expression and purification using several techniques like affinity chromatography and FPLC, protein crystallization using the sitting and hanging drop vapour diffusion methods, the study of protein three-dimensional structure and protein-ligand interactions through x-ray crystallography, MST (MicroScale Thermophoresis) and ITC (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry) and also glycan microarrays in order to study the bacterial protein interactions with a vast array of mammalian glycans.

Filipa Lopes

I obtained my BSc in Biochemistry in 2018, at the Faculty of Science and Technology, New University of Lisbon (FCT-UNL). 

I am currently developing my master's thesis in Biochemistry under the supervision of Dr Márcia A. S. Correia and co-supervision of Dr Angelina S. Palma and in collaboration with Dr Natércia Brás from Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP).

My work focuses on the study of the binding and inhibitory potential of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) with different natural compounds that can assist in regulating blood glucose levels in diabetes.

Liliana Ringler

I am a master's student in Biochemistry for Health and I am developing my thesis in the Glycolab, under the supervision of Dr Benedita Pinheiro and Dr Angelina Palma. Previously, I obtained my BSc in Biotechnological Engineering at Lusófona University. 

I´m currently focused on a newly discovered lectin very conserved in the endoplasmic reticulum. In my research, I use molecular biology, protein expression and purification techniques, and other tools that allow me to characterize the interactions of this glycan-binding protein. My work aims to understand the protein-carbohydrate interactions to contribute to a better understanding of its function in N-glycosylation, but also to capitalize on its well-known specificity for uses in human health through mutagenesis and glycan microarrays.