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Patricia Alexandra Lona Abreu completed the PhD in Biomedical Sciences in 2023/03/23 by Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina. Previously she completed the Masters in Biochemistry, in 2016/03/18, and the Bachelor in Biochemistry, in 2013/07/31, both by Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida. In 2017/03/01 Patricia joined the lab of Telomeres, long noncoding RNAs and genome stability, led by Dr. Claus Azzalin, in Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes as a PhD student, and she is currently a Postdoc in this lab at GIMM - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine. During the last 8 years Patricia acquired extensive experience in biochemistry, and cellular and molecular biology. Published 7 articles in journals. Has 3 section(s) of books. Organized 1 event(s). Participated in 6 event(s). Has received 9 awards and/or honors. Participates and/or participated as PhD Student Fellow in 1 project(s), Post-doc in 1 project(s), Principal investigator in 1 project(s) and Researcher in 3 project(s). Works in the area(s) of Natural sciences with emphasis on Biological Sciences. In her curriculum Ciência Vitae the most frequent terms in the context of scientific, technological and artistic-cultural output are: Telomeres; Long non-coding RNAs; TERRA; Cancer; Genome stability; cancer; aging; senescence; transcription; .
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
PATRÍCIA ALEXANDRA LONA ABREU

Citation names

  • Abreu PL

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
2914-7E3B-499B
ORCID iD
0000-0002-6387-8537

Email addresses

  • patricia.abreu@gimm.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Fundação GIMM - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2017/01/01 - 2023/03/23
Concluded
 Biomedical Sciences (Doutoramento)
Major in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
"Characterization of the physical and functional interactions between human TRF proteins and the telomeric long noncoding RNA TERRA" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Approved with Distinctions and Honors
2013/09/01 - 2016/03/18
Concluded
 Biochemistry (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
"Mechanisms of Hexavalent Chromium Carcinogenicity: Effects on the Stress Response and on the Genomic Stability of the BEAS-2B Cell Line" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 19
2010/09/01 - 2013/07/31
Concluded
 Biochemistry (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
"The Induction of Chromosomal Alterations and the Deregulation of Stress Response as Possible Molecular Basis of the Neoplastic Transformation Induced by Hexavalent Chromium" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024/10/01 - Current Postdoc (Research) Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal
Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal
2023/04/01 - 2024/09/30 Postdoc (Research) Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
2017/01/01 - 2023/03/31 Researcher (Research) Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
2012/02/01 - 2016/04/30 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Unidade de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Química-Física Molecular, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2017/01/01 - 2023/03/23 Keeping telomeric R-loops in check: unravelling new functions of human TRF1 in chromosome end protection
PD/BD/128284/2017
PhD Student Fellow
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2024/07/01 - Current TRIAD: Enhancing Synergism on Telomere Function in Health and Disease
HORIZON-WIDERA 101158508 TRIAD
Post-doc
Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal
 Horizon Europe Excellent Science
Ongoing
2024/03/06 - Current Study of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres-associated telomeric replicative stress alleviators - paving avenues towards innovative anti-cancer therapies
PTDC/MED-ONC/7864/2020
Principal investigator
Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
Ongoing
2022/11/01 - 2024/06/30 Regulatory RNA-protein interactions at telomeres in healthy cells and during malignant transformation
HR21-00077
Researcher
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
 Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona 'la Caixa'
Ongoing
2021/10/01 - 2024/03/05 Study of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres-associated telomeric replicative stress alleviators - paving avenues towards innovative anti-cancer therapies
PTDC/MED-ONC/7864/2020
Researcher
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
Ongoing
2018/06/01 - 2021/07/31 TERRA and telomerase-mediated telomere elongation: unveiling novel molecular pathways towards the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.
PTDC/BIA-MOL/29352/2017
Researcher
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Abreu PL; Riva, Valentina; Zardoni Luca; Azzalin, Claus. Corresponding author: Azzalin, Claus. "Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA: Biogenesis, Regulation, and Functions". In Telomeres and Telomerase. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 2025.
    In press
  2. Abreu, P. L.; Ferreira, L. M. R.; Cunha-Oliveira, T.; Alpoim, M. C.; Urbano, A. M.. "HSP90: A Key Player in Metal-Induced Carcinogenesis?". In Heat Shock Protein 90 in Human Diseases and Disorders, 217-247. Springer International Publishing, 2019.
    Published • 10.1007/978-3-030-23158-3_11
  3. Abreu PL; Urbano AM. "Targeting the Warburg Effect for Cancer Therapy: A Long and Winding Road". In Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - Anti-Cancer Agents, 271-324. BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS, 2016.
    Published • 10.2174/9781681082899116030006
Conference abstract
  1. Abreu PL; Ferreira DC; Laranjeiro AF; Mascarenhas A; Pais C; Melo JB; Carreira IM; Urbano AM. "Impact of the culturing conditions and culture age on the growth characteristics and genomic stability of BEAS-2B cells". Paper presented in 19th Biennial Meeting of Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRRI 2018), 2018.
    Published • 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.04.307
  2. ABREU, PATRÍCIA. "Exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] decreases the expression of Hsp90a and attenuates the transient growth arrest induced by an acute cold shock". 2013.
Conference poster
  1. Riva, Valentina; Abreu PL; Sarnowski, C; Leitner, A; Azzalin, Claus. "TERRA regulates TRF1 and TRF2 interactions with telomeres". Paper presented in 13th EMBO Young Scientists’ Forum (Lisbon, Portugal), 2023.
  2. Abreu PL; Lee YW; Azzalin, Claus. "In vitro analysis of the physical interactions of TRF2 with the long noncoding RNA TERRA". Paper presented in RNA in Disease – IX ptRNA meeting, 2023.
  3. Riva, Valentina; Abreu PL; Sarnowski, C; Leitner, A; Azzalin, Claus. "TERRA regulates TRF1 and TRF2 interactions with telomeres". Paper presented in EMBO workshop - Telomere function and evolution in health and disease, 2022.
  4. Abreu PL; Lee YW; Azzalin, Claus. "In vitro analysis of the physical interactions of TRF2 with the long noncoding RNA TERRA". Paper presented in RiboMed Satellite Conference on RNA in Disease, 2022.
  5. Riva, Valentina; ABREU, PATRÍCIA; Azzalin, Claus. "TERRA as a master regulator of TRF1 and TRF2 assembly at telomeres". Paper presented in RiboMed Satellite Conference on RNA in Disease (Lisbon, Portugal), 2022.
  6. Abreu PL; Lee YW; Azzalin, Claus. "In vitro analysis of the physical interactions of TRF2 with the long noncoding RNA TERRA". Paper presented in CSH Telomeres & Telomerase, 2021.
  7. Abreu PL; Lee YW; Azzalin, Claus. "In vitro analysis of TRF1-mediated inhibition of TRF2-induced telR-loop formation". Paper presented in XIII CAML PhD Students Meeting, 2019.
  8. Abreu PL; Azzalin, Claus. "Plasmid Invasion Assays: a powerful technique to unveil nucleic acid-protein dynamics at chromosome ends". Paper presented in EMBO YIP PhD course, 2019.
  9. Abreu PL; Lee YW; Azzalin, Claus. "In vitro analysis of TRF1-mediated inhibition of TRF2-induced telR-loop formation". Paper presented in Telomere biology in health and human disease – EMBO workshop, 2018.
  10. Abreu PL*; Lee YW; Azzalin CM. "In vitro analysis of TRF1-mediated inhibition of TRF2-induced telR-loop formation". Paper presented in XII CAML PhD Students Meeting, 2018.
  11. Ferreira DC*; Abreu PL; Simões JS; Pais C; Mascarenhas A; Melo JB; Carreira IM; Urbano AM. "The BEAS-2B cell line as a model system for the study of lung carcinogenesis: effects of culture conditions and culture length". Paper presented in Updates in Oncology 2015, 2015.
  12. Abreu PL*; Ferreira DC; Simões JS; Pais C; Mascarenhas A; Melo JB; Carreira IM; Urbano AM. "Characterization of the BEAS-2B cell line, a model system for normal human lung epithelium". Paper presented in XVIII Congress of the Portuguese Biochemical Society, 2014.
  13. Urbano AM; Ferreira LMR; Abreu PL*. "Effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on the stress response of a human bronchial epithelial cell line". Paper presented in Updates in Oncology 2014, 2014.
  14. Abreu PL; Ferreira LMR; Urbano AM*. "Molecular mechanisms of hexavalent chromium toxicity: effects on the stress response". Paper presented in 1st ASPIC International Congress, 2014.
  15. Abreu PL; Ferreira LMR; Urbano AM*. "Exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] decreases the expression of Hsp90a and attenuates the transient growth arrest induced by an acute cold shock". Paper presented in 38th FEBS Congress, 2013.
Journal article
  1. Salgado, Sara; Abreu PL; Moleirinho, Beatriz; Guedes, Daniela S; Larcombe, Lee; Azzalin, Claus M. "Human PC4 supports telomere stability and viability in cells utilizing the alternative lengthening of telomeres mechanism". EMBO Reports 25 12 (2024): 5294-5315. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-024-00295-3.
    Open access • Published • 10.1038/s44319-024-00295-3
  2. Abreu PL; Lee, Yong Woo; Azzalin, Claus M.. Corresponding author: Azzalin, Claus M.. "In Vitro Characterization of the Physical Interactions between the Long Noncoding RNA TERRA and the Telomeric Proteins TRF1 and TRF2". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 18 (2022): 10463. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810463.
    Open access • Published • 10.3390/ijms231810463
  3. Sabino, João C; de Almeida, Madalena R; Abreu PL; Ferreira, Ana M; Caldas, Paulo; Domingues, Marco M; Santos, Nuno C; et al. "Epigenetic reprogramming by TET enzymes impacts co-transcriptional R-loops". eLife 11 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/elife.69476.
    Open access • Published • 10.7554/elife.69476
  4. Viceconte, Nikenza; Loriot, Axelle; Abreu PL; Scheibe, Marion; Fradera Sola, Albert; Butter, Falk; De Smet, Charles; et al. "PAR-TERRA is the main contributor to telomeric repeat-containing RNA transcripts in normal and cancer mouse cells". RNA 27 1 (2020): 106-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1261/rna.076281.120.
    Published • 10.1261/rna.076281.120
  5. Ferreira, Leonardo M. R.; Cunha-Oliveira, Teresa; Sobral, Margarida C.; Abreu, Patrícia L.; Alpoim, Maria Carmen; Urbano, Ana M.. "Impact of Carcinogenic Chromium on the Cellular Response to Proteotoxic Stress". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20 19 (2019): 4901. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20194901.
    Published • 10.3390/ijms20194901
  6. Abreu, Patrícia L.; Cunha-Oliveira, Teresa; Ferreira, Leonardo M. R.; Urbano, Ana M.. "Hexavalent chromium, a lung carcinogen, confers resistance to thermal stress and interferes with heat shock protein expression in human bronchial epithelial cells". BioMetals 31 4 (2018): 477-487. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10534-018-0093-7.
    Published • 10.1007/s10534-018-0093-7
  7. Abreu, P. L.; Ferreira, L. M. R.; Alpoim, M. C.; Urbano, A. M.. "Impact of hexavalent chromium on mammalian cell bioenergetics: phenotypic changes, molecular basis and potential relevance to chromate-induced lung cancer". BioMetals 27 3 (2014): 409-443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10534-014-9726-7.
    10.1007/s10534-014-9726-7
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. "Characterization of the physical and functional interactions between human TRF proteins and the telomeric long noncoding RNA TERRA". PhD, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, 2023.
  2. Abreu PL. "Mechanisms of Hexavalent Chromium Carcinogenicity: Effects on the Stress Response and on the Genomic Stability of the BEAS-2B Cell Line". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, 2016. https://estudogeral.sib.uc.pt/handle/10316/34194.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/01/25 TERRA regulates TRF1 and TRF2 interactions with telomeres (Presentation by Valentina Riva) RNA in Disease – IX ptRNA meeting
(Lisbon, Portugal)
2022/09/29 SUB1 is a novel telomeric replication stress alleviator essential for the survival of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres cancer cells (Presentation by Bruno Silva) Telomere biology in health and human disease – EMBO workshop
(Tróia, Portugal)
2021/05 The role of charged amino acids within TRF1 and TRF2 N-terminal domains in regulating telomeric R-loops IV CAML . IV NeurULisboa PhD Students Meeting
(Lisbon, Portugal)
2019/01 In vitro analysis of TRF1-mediated inhibition of TRF2-induced telR-loop formation EMBO YIP PhD course
(Heidelberg, Germany)
2017/05/26 Keeping telomeric R-loops in check: unravelling new functions of human TRF1 in chromosome end protection XI CAML PhD Students Meeting
(Portugal)
2017/05/18 Exposure of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells to the Lung Carcinogen Hexavalent Chromium Confers Resistance to Thermal Shock and Interferes with the Stress Response 51th Annual Scientific Meeting of ESCI
European Society of Clinical Investigation (Italy)
2016 Hexavalent Chromium, an Occupational Lung Carcinogen, Attenuates Thermal Shock Effects and Interferes with the Stress Response in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells ICOETox 2016
(Portugal)
2016 Exposure of human epithelial bronchial cells to hexavalent chromium, a lung carcinogen, downregulates HSP90a and confers resistance to stress 5th CIMAGO Congress
(Portugal)
2016 Metabolic Alterations Produced by Hexavalent Chromium: Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying its Carcinogenicity (Presentation by Ana M. Urbano) Cancer Metabolism and the Tumour Microenvironment Conference
(Cyprus)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2018/09 - 2019/06 Pizza Seminar Series (2017/09 - 2019/06)
Seminar (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2018 - 2018 Speaker in one class of “Fronteiras da Investigação em Biologia”, a course in the MSc programme in Molecular Biology and Genetics at FCUL, with the talk "Role of Telomeric Transcription in Cancer and Ageing" (together with Ana Margarida Figueira, MSc)
Other

Committee member

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization
2017/05 - 2019/05 CAML PhD Student's commitee
Member

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2023/09 - 2023/09 Curso livre experimental Introdução à investigação científica em biologia molecular da célula (unidade curricular optativa) Medicina (Mestrado integrado) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
Distinctions

Other distinction

2021 Merit award for the oral presentation in the XIV CAML . IV NeurULisboa PhD Students Meeting
2017 ESCI travel grant to participate in the 51th Annual Scientific Meeting of ESCI
2016 Merit Award
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2014 Prémio 3% dos melhores alunos
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2013 Prémio 3% dos melhores alunos
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2012 Prémio 3% dos melhores alunos
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2011 Prémio 3% dos melhores alunos
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2010 Prémio de Excelência no Ensino
Câmara Municipal de Coimbra, Portugal
2010 Prémio de Mérito
Ministério da Educação, Portugal