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I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences of Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA FCT), within the Research Unit UCIBIO (Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, https://www.ucibio.pt). During my research career, my general interest has been to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of bacteria to their environment. My PhD work (ITQB NOVA, 2007) was crucial to establish a structure-function relation for the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR, one of the key players in sugar utilization in this model organism. For my post-doc I moved to the field of Host-Pathogen interactions and worked as an FCT Post-doctoral Fellow at Columbia University, NY (2007-2010) and a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of Chicago (2010-2011), where I investigated the function of proteins of the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila. I have leading independent research lines on L. pneumophila at the Infection Biology lab (https://sites.fct.unl.pt/infection-biology), focusing on the virulence mechanisms underlying infections of this pathogen, namely the role of secreted bacterial effector proteins in subverting host cell processes such as cytoskeleton dynamics and vesicle trafficking. For this I have obtained grant funding as PI in competitive international calls from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Marie Curie/WelcomeII grants and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. I have also participated in other funded projects in the lab, in industry and in other research groups. My publication record includes seven first author peer-reviewed publications and five as senior/corresponding author (one additional pre-print). My work has been shown at >30 national and international conferences, in which I presented 9 oral communications. Furthermore, I have been Review Editor and Guest Editor from Frontiers in Cell and Infection Microbiology and ad-hoc reviewer for multiple journals. My expertise has also been recognized by my participation in academic juries, as opponent in 1 PhD, 3 MSc and 24 BSc Final Dissertation theses, and as an evaluator of funding grants and conference awards. I have also been deeply committed to education, exemplified by my involvement in numerous teaching activities at FCT NOVA. Since 2014, I have lectured classes for BSc and MSc courses at NOVA FCT, including Microbiology, Laboratory Techniques in Biology II, Cell Biology and Competences for Science and Technology, Cellular Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and invited lecturer of PhD and MSc courses at other institutions. My supervision experience includes numerous BSc and MSc students. My contribution to outreach and dissemination includes my participations in FCT NOVA’s EXPO FCT, JorTec/Jornadas Tecnológicas and Universidade de Verão, FCUL's Biological Sciences Annual Meeting, Ciência Viva Programme and Organization of ITQB's Open Day.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Irina Luísa Saraiva Franco

Citation names

  • Franco, Irina
  • Franco, Irina Saraiva

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
9F14-C325-A138
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7243-3185
Google Scholar ID
Irina Franco
Researcher Id
I-7247-2013
Scopus Author Id
35182883200

Email addresses

  • irinafranco@fct.unl.pt (Professional)

Telephones

Telephone
  • 21 294830 Ext.: 11107 (Professional)

Addresses

  • Departamento de Ciências da Vida, FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Almada, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Cell Biology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences
  • Exact Sciences - Computer and Information Sciences - Bioinformatics
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Infectious Diseases

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
German Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2)
French Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2)
Spanish; Castilian Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2)
Education
Degree Classification
2007/05/28
Concluded
 Doutoramento em Biologia (Doutoramento)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
"Regulation of arabinose metabolism in Bacillus subtilis: linking structure and function" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Approved by unanimity
2000/11/08
Concluded
 Microbiology and Genetics (Licenciatura)
Faculdade de Ciências - Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
"Isolamento de mutantes AraR deficientes na ligação ao DNA em Bacillus subtilis " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16 (out of 20)
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2015/12/18 - 2024/12/17 Researcher (Research) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
UCIBIO - Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2014 - 2015 Auxiliary Researcher (Research) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2012 - 2013 Auxiliary Researcher (Research) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2010 - 2011 Researcher (Research) University of Chicago Department of Microbiology, United States
2007 - 2010 Postdoc (Research) Columbia University Department of Microbiology, United States

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024 - Current Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2014 - 2024 Lecturer (University Teacher) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2001 - 2007 PhD student, FCT Individual Fellowship (SFRH/BD/5233/2001) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
1999 - 2001 Bolseiro Investigador (Research Fellow) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2025 - Current Modelling Bacterial Pneumonia Infection Dynamics in Lung-on-chip: A Comparative Study of Legionella pneumophila and Staphylococcus aureus
MPS_NOVA Exploratory Research Project
Researcher
2016 - 2020 A multidisciplinary approach to study Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion membrane (Inc) proteins (FCT Grant PTDC/IMI-MIC/1300/2014
PTDC/IMI-MIC/1300/2014
Researcher
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2016/07/01 - 2018/07/01 Identification of new virulence mechanisms of a Legionella pneumophila strain recently isolated from a major outbreak in Portugal (PI; ESCMID Research Grant; Budget: 20.000 Euro)
ESCMID2016
Principal investigator
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Concluded
2017 - 2018 Understanding how Legionella hijacks its host cytoskeleton during infection (NOVA-SAÚDE Research Grant; co-PI; Budget: 12.000 Euro)
BOLSA NOVA-SAÚDE
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Concluded
2013/07 - 2015/06 Interaction between Legionella pneumophila and the host cell actin cytoskeleton (PI; FCT Grant PTDC/BIA-MIC/2821/2012; Budget: 161.045 Euro)
128795
Provided by PTCRIS: 128795
Principal investigator
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2012 - 2015 Interaction of Legionella pneumophila with the host cell actin cytoskeleton (PI; WelcomeII Grant; Budget: 15.000 Euro)
PCOFUND-GA-2009-246542
Principal investigator
EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
2007 - 2011 Genetics of Monocyte killing by bacteria
AI023549/AI/NIAID
Researcher
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, United States
 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2004 - 2007 Mechanisms of repression by AraR, a key regulator of carbohydrates utilization in Bacillus subtilis
POCI/BIA-MIC/61140/2004
PhD Student Fellow
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
2000 - 2001 Structure-function relation of Arabinose Binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis
POCTI BME/36164/00
Research Fellow
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2021/01/01 - 2025/12/31 Institute for Health and Bioeconomy
LA/P/0140/2020
10.54499/LA/P/0140/2020
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Portugal

Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018 - 2024 Functional analysis of effectors from Legionella pneumophila involved in the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton and vesicle trafficking in the host cell
DL57
Researcher
2020/01/01 - 2023/12/31 Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit
UIDB/04378/2020
10.54499/UIDB/04378/2020
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal

Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal

Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Tecnologias e Agroambiente, Portugal

Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2020/01/01 - 2023/12/31 Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit
UIDP/04378/2020
10.54499/UIDP/04378/2020
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal

Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal

Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Tecnologias e Agroambiente, Portugal

Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas
UID/Multi/04378/2019
Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2015 - 2018 Molecular mechanisms underlying Legionella pneumophila targeting of the host cell actin cytoskeleton
SFRH/BPD/102378/2014
Post-doc Fellow
UCIBIO - Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2015 - 2015 Interaction of Legionella pneumophila with the host cell cytoskeleton
SFRH/BCC/105996/2015
Invited Scientist Fellow
UCIBIO - Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2012 - 2015 Interaction of Legionella pneumophila with the host cell cytoskeleton (PI; Marie Curie/FCT co-fund Welcome II Grant)
Welcome II
Principal investigator
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
Concluded
2007/06/01 - 2011 GENETICS OF MONOCYTE KILLING BY BACTERIA
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/NIH/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES/5R01AI023549-11/US
Researcher
Columbia University Department of Microbiology, United States

University of Chicago Department of Microbiology, United States
National Institutes of Health
2008 - 2009 Caracterização funcional de VipA, um efector envolvido no mecanismo de patogénese de Legionella pneumophila (FCT Individual Post-Doc Fellowship SFRH/BPD/38325/2007)
SFRH/BPD/38325/2007
Post-doc Fellow
Columbia University Department of Microbiology, United States

University of Chicago Department of Microbiology, United States
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2004 - 2007 Mechanisms of repression by AraR, a key regulator of carbohydrates utilization in Bacillus subtilis (FCT Grant)
POCI/BIAMIC/ 61140/2004
Researcher
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2001 - 2005 Regulation of arabinose metabolism in Bacillus subtilis: linking structure and function (FCT Individual PhD Fellowship (SFRH/BD/5233/2001)
SFRH/BD/5233/2001
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2000 - 2001 Structure-function relation of Arabinose Binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis (FCT Grant)
POCTI BME/36164/00
Research Fellow
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Franco, Irina Saraiva; Pais, Sara V.; Charro, Nuno; Mota, Luís Jaime. "Bacterial Secretion Systems". Springer US, 2024.
    10.1007/978-1-0716-3445-5
  2. Franco, Irina S.; Pais, Sara V.; Charro, Nuno; Mota, Luís Jaime. "Franco IS, Pais SV, Charro N, and Mota LJ (2017) Effector Translocation Assay: Differential Solubilization. In: Journet L., Cascales E. (eds) Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1615. Humana Press, New York, NY. Book Chapter". In Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems, edited by Laure JournetEric Cascales, 501-515. Springer New York, 2017.
    Published • 10.1007/978-1-4939-7033-9_35
Conference paper
  1. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Saraiva RG, and I. de Sá-Nogueira. “Architectural properties of AraR, the key regulator of arabinose utilization in Bacillus subtilis”". Paper presented in 1st FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists, Ljubljana, 2003.
  2. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Soares CM, and I. Sá-Nogueira. “Molecular architecture of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR: insights from mutational analysis and in vivo functional studies“.". Paper presented in Proceedings of the National Congress of Microbiology – Micro’2003, 2003.
  3. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS, Mota LJ, and I. de Sá-Nogueira. “Structure-function analysis of the transcription factor AraR, the key regulator of arabinose metabolism in Bacillus subtilis”". Paper presented in Congresso Nacional de Microbiologia – Micro’2001, 2001.
Conference poster
  1. Raimundo, Bernardo; Filipe, Sérgio Raposo; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina. "Comparing Fluorescent Proteins for Studying Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell Biology and Bacteria-Host Cell Interactions". Paper presented in Gordon Research Conference on Bacterial Cell Biology and Development. Southern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire, USA. Jun 4-9, 2023., 2023.
  2. Portela, Raquel; Van der Kellen, T; Roque, IL; Viana, M; Franco, Irina Saraiva; Rosa, Vitor; Pauleta, Sofia R.. "Portela R, Van der Kellen T, Roque IL, Viana M, Franco IS, Rosa V, Pauleta SR (2022) “NHC carbenes and their Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes as bactericides against pathogenic bacteria”". Paper presented in 8th Latin American Symposium on Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry, 2022.
  3. Franco, Irina. "Monteiro IP, Borges V, Gonçalves P, Gomes JP, Mota LJ, Franco IS* (2019) “Identification and characterization of novel type 4 secretion effectors in a Legionella pneumophila strain recently isolated from a major outbreak in Portugal”. 8th Congress of European Microbiologists/FEMS 2019, 7-11 July, Glasgow, Scotland.". Paper presented in FEMS 2019 - 8th Congress of European Microbiologists (Federation of European Microbiological Societies), 2019.
    10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.pa5450
  4. Franco, Irina. "Monteiro IP, Borges V, Gonçalves P, Gomes JP, Mota LJ, Franco IS* (2017) "Identification and analysis of new type IV secretion system effectors from a Legionella pneumophila strain involved in a recent large outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Portugal". Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology Microbiotec 2017. Universidade Católica do Porto, Porto, Portugal.". 2017.
    10.18803/capsi.v17.185-193
  5. Franco, Irina. "Bugalhão JN, Mota LJ and Franco IS* (2016) “Unraveling the functions of the Legionella pneumophila Type IV Secretion System substrate VipA”. T4SS 2016, Type IV secretion in gram-negative and gram-Positive bacteria, 8-11 December 2016, Beilngries, Germany.". Paper presented in T4SS 2016, Type IV secretion in gram-negative and gram-Positive bacteria, 2016.
  6. Bugalhão, Joana; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina Saraiva. "Dissecting the function of the Legionella pneumophila virulence factor VipA". Paper presented in NOVAsaúde 2nd Genetics Workshop. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Rectorate, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016.
  7. Franco, Irina. "Bugalhão JN, Mota LJ and Franco IS* (2015) “Identification of regions within the Legionella pneumophila VipA effector protein involved in actin binding and polymerization and in interference with eukaryotic organelle trafficking”. ETOX European Workshop on Bacterial Toxins, Braga, Portugal.". Paper presented in ETOX European Workshop on Bacterial Toxins, 2015.
  8. Bugalhão, Joana; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina Saraiva. "Dissecting the interaction of the Legionella pneumophila effector VipA with actin". Paper presented in Lisbon Immunity and Infection Meeting. Institute Gulbenkian of Science, Oeiras, Portugal, 2015.
  9. Bugalhão, Joana; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina Saraiva. "Identification of regions within the Legionella pneumophila VipA effector protein involved in actin binding and polymerization and in interference with eukaryotic organelle trafficking". Paper presented in 7th European Workshop on Bacterial Protein Toxins. Braga, Portugal., 2015.
  10. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS* and Mota LJ (2014) “Dissecting the functional regions of VipA, a Legionella pneumophila actin nucleator”. Gordon Research Conference on Microbial Toxins & Pathogenicity, New Hampshire, USA.". 2014.
  11. Franco, Irina; Shuman, Howard A.. "Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2009) “Insights into the action of the Legionella pneumophila actin-binding effector VipA”. Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, USA.". 2009.
    10.4161/bioa.20422
  12. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2009) “The mechanism of action of VipA, a Legionella pneumophila actin binding effector”. Legionella 2009 Meeting, Paris, France.". 2009.
  13. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2009) “Insights into the action of the Legionella pneumophila actin-binding effector VipA”. Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, USA.". 2009.
  14. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2009) “Functional characterization of VipA, an actin binding effector of Legionella pneumophila”. 109th American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, Philadelphia, USA.". 2009.
  15. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Mota LJ, Faria MJ, Soares CM, and I. de Sá-Nogueira (2006). “Specific DNA recognition and binding by the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR”. 2nd FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists, Madrid, Spain.". 2006.
  16. Franco, Irina. "Franco IS*, Saraiva RG, and I. de Sá-Nogueira (2003) “Structure-function analysis of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR”. International Conference on Functional Genomics of Gram-positive Microorganisms. Baveno, Italy.". 2003.
    10.18699/plantgen2019-217
Journal article
  1. Inês P. Monteiro; Sofia Sousa; Vítor Borges; Paulo Gonçalves; João Paulo Gomes; Luís Jaime Mota; Franco, Irina. Corresponding author: Franco, Irina. "Monteiro IP, Sousa S, Borges V, Gonçalves P, Gomes JP, Mota LJ, FRANCO IS*. "A Search for Novel Legionella pneumophila Effector Proteins Reveals a Strain Specific Nucleotropic Effector". Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022". Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.864626.
    Open access • 10.3389/fcimb.2022.864626
  2. Bugalhão, Joana N.; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina S.. "Bugalhão JN, Mota LJ, and FRANCO IS* (2016) Identification of regions within the Legionella pneumophila VipA effector protein involved in actin binding and polymerization and in interference with eukaryotic organelle trafficking. MicrobiologyOpen". MicrobiologyOpen 5 1 (2016): 118-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.316.
    Open access • 10.1002/mbo3.316
  3. Bugalhão, Joana N.; Mota, Luís Jaime; Franco, Irina S.. "Bugalhão JN, Mota LJ, and Franco IS* (2015) Bacterial nucleators: actin’ on actin. Pathogens and Disease, Dec;73(9):ftv078. Review.". Pathogens and Disease 73 9 (2015): ftv078. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftv078.
    Open access • Published • 10.1093/femspd/ftv078
  4. Correia, Isabel Lopes; Franco, Irina Saraiva; de Sá-Nogueira, Isabel. "Correia IL, Franco IS, and Sá-Nogueira I. (2014) Towards novel amino acid-base contacts in gene regulatory proteins: AraR - a case study. PLoS One, Nov 3;9(11): e111802.". PLoS ONE 9 11 (2014): e111802. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111802.
    Open access • Published • 10.1371/journal.pone.0111802
  5. Franco, Irina Saraiva; Shohdy, Nadim; Shuman, Howard A.. "Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2012) The Legionella pneumophila effector VipA is an actin nucleator that alters host cell organelle trafficking. PLoS Pathogens 8(2): e1002546.". PLoS Pathogens 8 2 (2012): e1002546. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002546.
    Open access • Published • 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002546
  6. Franco, Irina S.; Shuman, Howard A.; Charpentier, Xavier. "Franco IS, Shuman HA, Charpentier X (2009) The perplexing functions and surprising origins of Legionella pneumophila type IV secretion effectors. Cell Microbiol. 11(10):1435-43. Review.". Cellular Microbiology 11 10 (2009): 1435-1443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2009.01351.x.
    Open access • Published • 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2009.01351.x
  7. Franco, Irina Saraiva; Mota, Luís Jaime; Soares, Cláudio Manuel; de Sá-Nogueira, Isabel. "Franco IS, Mota LJ, Soares CM, de Sá-Nogueira I (2007) Probing key DNA contacts in AraR-mediated transcriptional repression of the Bacillus subtilis arabinose regulon. Nucleic Acids Res. 35(14):4755-66.". Nucleic Acids Research 35 14 (2007): 4755-4766. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkm509.
    Open access • Published • 10.1093/nar/gkm509
  8. Franco, I. S.; Mota, L. J.; Soares, C. M.; de Sa-Nogueira, I.. "Franco IS, Mota LJ, Soares CM, de Sá-Nogueira I (2006) Functional domains of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR and identification of amino acids important for nucleoprotein complex assembly and effector-binding.". Journal of Bacteriology 188 8 (2006): 3024-3036. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.188.8.3024-3036.2006.
    Open access • Published • 10.1128/jb.188.8.3024-3036.2006
Preprint
  1. Saraiva, Joana; Bugalhao, Joana N.; Carvalho, Teresa; Hensel, Zach; Crevenna, Alvaro; Mota, Luis Jaime; Franco, Irina Saraiva. Corresponding author: Franco, Irina Saraiva. "The small GTPase Rab5 inhibits actin polymerization mediated by the Legionella pneumophila effector VipA". 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.18.638817.
    10.1101/2025.02.18.638817
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023 "A tale of two effectors: Strain specific nucleotropism in Legionella pneumophila proteins", Claude Bernard University Lyon, France Talk by Invitation
Claude Bernard University Lyon (Lyon, France)
2022 "Modulation of Host Cell Dynamics by Legionella pneumophila Effector Proteins" LeadingIdeas@UCIBIO Seminar, FCT NOVA
2021 "Legionella pneumophila and its host cell targets - what's the microbiome got to do with it?" NOVAHealth Chronic Disease and Infection Group IV International Conference on Microbiota and Health
2021 Monteiro IP, Sousa S, Borges V, Gonçalves P, Gomes JP, Mota LJ, Franco IS* (2021). "A new Legionella pneumophila effector displaying strain-specific nucleotropism". (* presenting author) Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology MicroBiotec 2021. NOVA University Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal.
(Portugal)
2019 “Modulation of Host Cell Dynamics by Legionella pneumophila Effector Proteins” (Invited Lecture for Masters Course in Biopharmaceutical Sciences, iMed) Masters Course in Biopharmaceutical Sciences
iMed, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa
2018 "Modulation of host cell dynamics by Legionella pneumophila effector proteins" (Invited Lecture) Biological Sciences Annual Meeting (BIOSAM)
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
2018 "Virulence factors in Legionella pneumophila" (Invited Lecture) Bacterial Pathogenesis Curricular Unit, MolBioS PhD program
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Universidade Nova de Lisboa
2018 Invited lecture on "Virulence factors in Legionella pneumophila", MolBioS PhD program at ITQB NOVA (Invited Lecture) 7th LAQV/UCIBIO Conference Cycle
FCT NOVA
2018 "Legionella pneumophila pathogenesis mechanisms: multiple weapons for multiple targets" 7th LAQV/UCIBIO Conference Cycle, FCT NOVA
2018 "Modulation of host cell dynamics by Legionella pneumophila effector proteins" Biological Sciences Annual Meeting (BIOSAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
2017 Franco IS*, Bugalhão JN and Mota LJ (2017) "Targeting of host cell vesicle trafficking by the Legionella pneumophila effector VipA". Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology MicroBiotec 2017. Universidade Católica do Porto, Porto, Portugal. (*presenting author) Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology MicroBiotec 2017
Universidade Católica do Porto, Portugal
2017 "Mecanismos de patogénese microbiana: Legionella pneumophila e novas funções do seu arsenal de efectores" JorTec, 18ª edição das Jornadas Tecnológicas da FCT NOVA
2016 Bugalhão JN*, Mota LJ and Franco IS (2016) “Dissecting the function of the Legionella pneumophila virulence factor VipA”. XL Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética. Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal (*presenting author) XL Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética
Universidade de Coimbra
2015 “Legionella pneumophila subversion of host cell actin dynamics and vesicle trafficking: the role of VipA” Parasitology Meeting
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa
2015 "Legionella pneumophila subversion of host cell actin dynamics and vesicle trafficking: the role of VipA" Parasitology Meeting, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa
2012 Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2012) "The Legionella pneumophila effector VipA is an actin nucleator that alters host cell organelle trafficking". (*presenting author) EMBO Conference on Subversion of Host Cellular Organization and Functions by Pathogens, Trafficking and Organelle Biogenesis Session. Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland.
(Switzerland)
2012 "Legionella pneumophila effector VipA: an actin nucleator that interferes with host cell organelle trafficking" SCAN seminars
ITQB NOVA
2011 Franco IS*, Shohdy N, Shuman HA (2011) "The Legionella pneumophila effector VipA targets host cell actin dynamics and organelle trafficking". (*presenting author) Symposium on Molecular and Cellular Bases of Host-Microbe Interactions, 111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, USA.
(United States)
2008 Correia I*, Franco IS, and de Sá-Nogueira I (2008) "Bioochemical characterization of specific amino acid-base contacts in AraR-DNA interactions". (*presenting author) XVI National Congress of Biochemistry. Açores, Portugal.
2005 Franco IS*, Soares CM, and I. de Sá-Nogueira (2005) "A comprehensive mutagenesis of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR: identifying amino acids important for nucleoprotein complex assembly and effector-binding" (*presenting author) The 3rd Conference on Functional Genomics of Gram-Positive Microorganisms (13th International Conference on Bacilli), San Diego, California, USA.
(United States)
2004 Franco IS*, Soares CM, and I. de Sá-Nogueira (2004) "Functional characterization of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR: bridging mutational analysis and molecular modeling studies". (*presenting author) The 48th Annual Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology, Aspen, Colorado, USA.
(United States)
2003 Franco IS, Soares CM, and I. Sá-Nogueira* (2003) "Molecular architecture of the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor AraR: insights from mutational analysis and in vivo functional studies". (*presenting author) V National Congress of Microbiology (Micro'2003), Tomar, Portugal.
(Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2023 - 2024 BSc Thesis: "Generation of Tools to Study the Legionella - Host Cell Interaction"
Supervisor
2023 - 2023 BSc Thesis: "Finding human aldehyde oxidase interacting proteins"
Supervisor
2023 - 2023 BSc Thesis: "Analysis of the subcellular localization of Legionella pneumophila effector proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its dependence on cell cycle"
Supervisor
2022 - 2022 BsC Thesis: "Interações proteína-proteína entre CteG de Chlamydia trachomatis e proteínas eucarióticas" (Alice Neves)
Supervisor
2021 - 2022 MSc Thesis: “Analysis of the subcellular localization of the Chlamydia trachomatis effector CteG and of its homologs in other Chlamydia species” (MSc Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine, FCT/ITQB/FCM NOVA; co-supervision)
Co-supervisor
 MSc (Master)
2021/01/25 - 2021/06/01 BsC Thesis: "Identificação do sinal de transporte para o núcleo da célula hospedeira numa proteína efetora de Legionella pneumophila" (Catarina Damião)
Supervisor of Catarina Damião
 B.Sc in Cell and Molecular Biology (Degree)
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2019 - 2021/01/19 Masters Thesis, MSc in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine: "Interaction between Legionella pneumophila and host cell pathways" (Joana Isabel Freitas Saraiva)
Supervisor of Joana Isabel Freitas Saraiva
 Mestrado em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina (Master)
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2021 - 2021 Supervision of MSc student Olga Carreira in short rotation project "Preliminary analysis of the function of Legionella pneumophila effector proteins VFX05045 and VFX10045” (MSc Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine, FCT/ITQB/FCM NOVA)
Supervisor
2021 - 2021 Supervision of MSc student João Pedro Rebelo in short rotation project "Preliminary analysis of the function of Legionella pneumophila effector proteins VFX05045 and VFX10045¿ (MSc Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine, FCT/ITQB/FCM NOVA)
Supervisor
2020 - 2020 Research Project, BsC in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Interaction between Legionella pneumophila and eukaryotic cells: search for host cell proteins interacting with a Legionella virulence protein" (Sofia Sousa)
Supervisor
2018 - 2019 Masters Thesis, MsC in Biochemistry for Health: Thesis "The mechanism of the Legionella VipA protein in altering actin dynamics during infection" (Ana Teresa Carrilho Carvalho)
Co-supervisor
 MSc Biochemistry for Health (Master)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2018 - 2019 Erasmus Research project: "Analysis of effectors form a new Legionella pneumophila outbreak strain" (Greta Tutzer)
Supervisor
 Erasmus (Degree)
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2018 - 2018 Research Project, BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Analysis of the interaction between the Legionella pneumophila effector VipA and the eukaryotic GTPase Rab5" (Joana Almeida)
Supervisor
 BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Degree)
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2017 - 2017 Research Project, BSc in Biochemistry: "Identification of novel Type 4 Secretion System effectors in a Legionella pneumophila outbreak strain" (Inês Pais Monteiro)
Supervisor
 BSc in Biochemistry (Degree)
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2016 - 2016 "Ciência Viva Programme - Ocupação Científica de jovens nas férias"
Co-supervisor

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2015 - 2016 1st, 2nd and 3rd LAQV-UCIBIO Conference Cycle at FCT NOVA, Caparica, Portugal (Organizing Committee; biweekly conferences) (2015 - 2016) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2014 - 2015 Research Seminars at Departamento de Ciências da Vida, FCT NOVA (Organizing Committee; weekly seminars) (2014 - 2015) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2014 - 2015 Expo FCT Day at FCT NOVA (participant) (2014 - 2015) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2013 - 2013 ITQB Open Day (Organizing Committee) (2013 - 2013) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2022 - 2022 JorTec - Jornadas de Tecnologia, FCT NOVA, 2017 and 2022
Symposium
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role 		Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2023 Principal oponent of Juri in MSc Thesis "Role of enolase in the formation of the Clostridioides difficile biofilm", Mestrado em Microbiologia Médica, ITQB NOVA, as Principal Opponent
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Rute Canhão Pereira (Master)
2023 Opponent in PhD Thesis "An understanding of the interplay between Legionella pneumophila effectors during host cell infection"Université Claude Bernard Lyon, France
(Thesis) Arguer
 Margaux Pillon (PhD)
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 IUT Lyon 1 - Site de Villeurbanne Gratte-Ciel, France
2023 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "Construction and analysis of promoter and gene -lacZ fusions in Bacillus subtilis"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Ana Carapinha (Other)
2023 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "A new bacteriocin system in Staphylococcus aureus Regulatory mechanisms of expression"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Margarida Freitas (Other)
2023 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "Development of fluorescent probes capable of detecting peptidoglycan at the bacterial surface"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Daniela Tomás (Other)
2022 Principal oponent of Juri in MSc Thesis "Insights into the copper tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus", Alícia de Ornelas Martins Sentieiro Tostão, Mestrado em Microbiologia Médica, FCT NOVA [2022].
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Alícia de Ornelas Martins Sentieiro Tostão (Master)
2022 Opponent in BSc thesis: "Characterization of interactions between the TMDs AraP and Ara Q and the NBD MsmX of the importer AraNPQ-MsmX in Bacillus subtilis"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Margarida Maluco (Other)
2022 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "Understanding the dynamics of liquid viral organelles formed during influenza A virus infection"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Mafalda Cabana (Other)
2022 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "CONSTRUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLUORESCENT DERIVATES OF LYSM PROTEINS INVOLVED IN CELL WALL METABOLISM IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS"
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Diogo Tibério (Other)
2021 BSc Research Project Dissertation, BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Role of radC in the tandem amplification of a plasmid by homologous recombination " (Daniela Isabel Graça Nunes) Daniela Isabel Graça Nunes (Other)
2021 BSc Research Project Dissertation "Construction and characterization of fluorescent derivatives of LytA proteins involved in cell wall metabolism in Streptococcus pneumoniae" (Sónia da Silva Lucas) Sónia da Silva Lucas (Other)
2021 BSc Research Project Dissertation "Construction and characterization of fluorescent derivatives of LytA, a peptidoglycan hydrolase involved in the cell wall metabolism of Streptococcus pneumoniae" (David Milhanas Henriques Norte) David Milhanas Henriques Norte (Other)
2021 Opponent in BSc Thesis: "Screening of a transposon mutant library to study the expression of lysozyme resistance in Staphylococcus aureus" (Diogo Miguel Gonçalves Engrácia)
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Diogo Miguel Gonçalves Engrácia (Other)
2021 BSc Research Project Dissertation "Construction of a MsmX-SugC chimeric ATPase" (Alexandra Amaral Barbosa) Alexandra Amaral Barbosa (Other)
2020 BSc Research Project Dissertation, BSc in Biochemistry: "Expressão e Purificação de uma Proteína Recombinante Fluorescente contendo um Recetor de Peptidoglicano LysM" (Luís Carlos Castro dos Santos) Luís Carlos Castro dos Santos (Other)
2020 Research Project Dissertation, BSc in Biochemistry: "Construção e caracterização de derivados fluorescentes de proteínas de LysM envolvidas no metabolismo da parede celular em Staphylococcus aureus" (Ana Rita Marques) Ana Rita Marques (Other)
2019 BSc Research Project Dissertation "LysM domains: the beginning of the end for antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus?" (Georgy Nakhratyan) Georgy Nakhratyan (Other)
2019 BSc Research Project Dissertation "Construção e caracterização de derivados fluorescentes de proteínas LysM envolvidas no metabolismo da parede celular de Staphylococcus aureus" (Rafael Alexandre Carvalho Marques) Rafael Alexandre Carvalho Marques (Other)
2018 Principal Oponent of Juri in MSc Thesis "Caracterização de novos genes envolvidos na resposta a stresse em Listeria monocytogenes", Ana Sofia da Encarnação Boavida Paulo, Mestrado em Microbiologia Médica, ITQB NOVA [2018].
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Ana Sofia da Encarnação Boavida Paulo (Master)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2018 BSc Research Project Dissertation, BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Novos fatores auxiliares à resistência a Antibióticos Beta-lactâmicos em Staphylococcus aureus " (Sofia Alexandra de Albuquerque Martins) Sofia Alexandra de Albuquerque Martins (Other)
2018 BSc Research Project Dissertation, Bsc in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Construção de plasmídeos que permitem a expressão em Escherichia coli de derivados fluorescentes da amidase LytA de Streptococcus pneumoniae" (Tomás Alves Pereira) Tomás Alves Pereira (Other)
2018 Research Project Dissertation, BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology: "Análise funcional das ATPases MsmX e YurJ em B. subtilis " (Nuno Miguel Melo Machado) Nuno Miguel Melo Machado (Other)

Ad Hoc journal article review

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2021 - Current Microbiology
2021 - Current Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
2017 - Current Canadian Journal of Microbiology (1480-3275) Canadian Science Publishing
2016 - Current PLoS ONE
2024 - 2024 Nature Communications (2041-1723) Nature Publishing Group
2016 - 2016 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1091-6490) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Committee member

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization
2019 - 2023 PhD Thesis Committee of Bárbara Gonçalves (Chair)
President / Vice-president
2017 - 2023 PhD Thesis Committee of Ana Quendera, ITQB NOVA (External Evaluator)
Member

Conference scientific committee

Conference name Conference host
2023 - 2023 Innovate Competition 15.0 of iMed Conference NOVA Medical School

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024 - Current "Regulação da Expressão Genética", MSc in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine, NOVA FCT Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2024 - 2024 "Molecular and cellular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis" from the MsC in Medical Microbiology Medical Microbiology (Mestrado) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2022 - 2024 "Cell BioIogy" from the BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology, FCT NOVA BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology (Licenciatura) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2022 - 2023 "Técnicas de Laboratório de Biologia II" from the BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology, FCT NOVA BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology (Licenciatura) (Licenciatura) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2020 - 2022 "Cellular Microbiology", Invited Lecture Cellular Microbiology (Mestrado) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2020 - 2020 "Molecular and cellular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis" from the MSc in Medical Microbiology Masters Course in Medical Microbiology (Mestrado) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2019 - 2019 "Microbiologia C" from the BSc/MSc in Environmental Engineering (2019) Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia do Ambiente (Mestrado integrado) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2019 - 2019 "Cellular Microbiology" from the MSc in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine (2019) Masters course in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine (Mestrado) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2018 - 2019 "Bacterial Pathogenesis", Invited Lecture PhD MolBioS (Curso de doutoramento (conclusão de unidades curriculares)) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2016 - 2018 "Microbiologia B" from the BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology at FCT NOVA Licenciatura em Bioquímica e Licenciatura em Biologia Molecular e Celular (FCT NOVA) (Licenciatura) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2015 - 2015 "Competências Transversais à Ciência e Tecnologia" at FCT NOVA, all BSc courses (2015) BSc (all BSc courses ate FCT NOVA) Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2006 - 2006 “Genetic Transfer and Recombinant DNA Technology in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes" Masters Course in Medical Microbiology Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

Evaluation committee

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization Funding entity
2023 - 2023 Early Career Research Award Grant (ECRA)
Evaluator

Journal scientific committee

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2022 - Current Guest Associate Editor in Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis for Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
2021 - Current Review Editor in Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis for Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Other jury / evaluation

Activity description Institution / Organization
2022 - 2022 Research Report, MSc in Medical Microbiology: "Análise de interações a partir de ensaios quantitativo e qualitativo entre a ATPase YurJ e proteínas transportadoras de açúcar de Bacillus subtilis" (Brenda França) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2016 Best oral communication in XL Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; senior author)
Sociedade Portuguesa de Genética, Portugal
2008 Best oral communication in Microbial Physiology (Microbiotec'09 Conference; 2nd author)
Microbiotec'09 Conference/Portuguese Society for Microbiology, Portugal

Other distinction

2017 Research Grant NOVA-SAÚDE (BOLSA NOVA-SAÙDE 2017)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2016 ESCMID Research Grant (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases)
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Switzerland
2015 FCT Post-doctoral Fellowship (SFRH/BPD/102378/2014)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2015 FCT Invited Scientist Fellowship (SFRH/BCC/105996/2015)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2013 FCT Grant (PTDC/BIA-MIC/2821/2012)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2012 Marie-Curie/FCT Welcome II Grant (WelcomeII/35/ITQB/1051/2010)
EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, Belgium

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2011 FCT Post-doctoral Fellowship (declined)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2008 FCT Post-doctoral Fellowship (SFRH/BPD/38325/2007)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2003 FLAD Travel Grant
Fundação Luso-Americana, Portugal
2001 FCT PhD Fellowship (SFRH/BD/5233/2001)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2000 PRODEP Trainee fellowship
Ministério da Educação, Portugal