1) Faustino A.F., Carvalho F.A., Martins I.C., Castanho M.A., Mohana-Borges R., Almeida F.C., Da Poian A.T., Santos N.C. (2014) Dengue virus capsid protein interacts specifically with very low-density lipoproteins. Nanomedicine (NBM). 10(1):247-55. (I.F. 6.930) The mechanisms for the entrance and exit of the dengue virus in cells, particularly the way proteins and lipids interact with each other, have been subject of research at the Institute of Biochemistry. This article demonstrates that the virus has the ability to use the metabolism of lipoproteins with high selectivity.
2) de Oliveira S., Reyes-Aldasoro C.C., Candel S., Renshaw S.A., Mulero V., Calado A. (2013) Cxcl8 (Interleukin-8) mediates neutrophil recruitment and behaviour in the zebrafish inflammatory response. J.Immunol. 190, 4349-59. (I.F. 5.52) Just like similar chemokines of other vertebrates, it was concluded that the Cxcl8 chemokines of zebrafish are critical for the recruitment of neutrophils by CXCR2 receptors in acute inflammatory response and in the normal resolution of this process. A more detailed analysis of the migration of neutrophils to the area of inflammation suggests that zebrafish have at least a subpopulation of neutrophils whose recruitment is independent of the action of CXCR2 chemokines. Overall, this study enables us to confirm that this vertebrate is an excellent model for studying the role of CXCL8 chemokines on neutrophil function.
3) Sinthuvanich C, Veiga AS, Gupta K, Gaspar D, Blumenthal R, Schneider JP. (2012) Anticancer ß-hairpin peptides: membrane-induced folding triggers activity. J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Apr 11;134(14):6210-7. (IF 10.677)
The search for “smart” materials capable of selective action only when in contact with the correct targets is one of the trends in molecular research in Biomedicine. This article describes and tests peptides that selectively change their shape to become cytotoxic for tumour cells.
4) Carvalho F.A., Connell, S., Miltenberger-Miltenyi G., Pereira S.V., Tavares A., Ariëns R.A.S. and Santos N.C. (2010) Atomic force microscopy-based molecular recognition of a fibrinogen receptor on human erythrocytes. ACS Nano 4, 4609-4620 (Journal IF: 12.062). New technologies using individual molecules and cells, such as Atomic Force Microscopy, allow investigating in detail the presence of highly specific receptors on cells of interest. In this case, fibrinogen receptors in human erythrocytes were identified.
5) Melo M., Ferre R., Castanho M. (2009) Antimicrobial peptides: linking partition, activity and high membrane-bound concentrations. Nature Rev Microbiology, 7, 245-250. (IF= 22.490) This article presents data produced by a research group of the Institute of Biochemistry and defends a novel theory: that antibacterial peptide antibiotics act through cooperative mechanisms in the membrane of bacteria, induced by self-association and/or electroneutrality.
And also...
Santos, N.C. (2012) Portugal’s age of enlightenment. (Science Policies; Letter) Science, 335, 401-402 (Journal IF: 32.452).
A clear and current overview of Portuguese Science, as it stands at the crossroads of crisis and progress.
2) de Oliveira S., Reyes-Aldasoro C.C., Candel S., Renshaw S.A., Mulero V., Calado A. (2013) Cxcl8 (Interleukin-8) mediates neutrophil recruitment and behaviour in the zebrafish inflammatory response. J.Immunol. 190, 4349-59. (I.F. 5.52) Just like similar chemokines of other vertebrates, it was concluded that the Cxcl8 chemokines of zebrafish are critical for the recruitment of neutrophils by CXCR2 receptors in acute inflammatory response and in the normal resolution of this process. A more detailed analysis of the migration of neutrophils to the area of inflammation suggests that zebrafish have at least a subpopulation of neutrophils whose recruitment is independent of the action of CXCR2 chemokines. Overall, this study enables us to confirm that this vertebrate is an excellent model for studying the role of CXCL8 chemokines on neutrophil function.
3) Sinthuvanich C, Veiga AS, Gupta K, Gaspar D, Blumenthal R, Schneider JP. (2012) Anticancer ß-hairpin peptides: membrane-induced folding triggers activity. J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Apr 11;134(14):6210-7. (IF 10.677)
The search for “smart” materials capable of selective action only when in contact with the correct targets is one of the trends in molecular research in Biomedicine. This article describes and tests peptides that selectively change their shape to become cytotoxic for tumour cells.
4) Carvalho F.A., Connell, S., Miltenberger-Miltenyi G., Pereira S.V., Tavares A., Ariëns R.A.S. and Santos N.C. (2010) Atomic force microscopy-based molecular recognition of a fibrinogen receptor on human erythrocytes. ACS Nano 4, 4609-4620 (Journal IF: 12.062). New technologies using individual molecules and cells, such as Atomic Force Microscopy, allow investigating in detail the presence of highly specific receptors on cells of interest. In this case, fibrinogen receptors in human erythrocytes were identified.
5) Melo M., Ferre R., Castanho M. (2009) Antimicrobial peptides: linking partition, activity and high membrane-bound concentrations. Nature Rev Microbiology, 7, 245-250. (IF= 22.490) This article presents data produced by a research group of the Institute of Biochemistry and defends a novel theory: that antibacterial peptide antibiotics act through cooperative mechanisms in the membrane of bacteria, induced by self-association and/or electroneutrality.
And also...
Santos, N.C. (2012) Portugal’s age of enlightenment. (Science Policies; Letter) Science, 335, 401-402 (Journal IF: 32.452).
A clear and current overview of Portuguese Science, as it stands at the crossroads of crisis and progress.
