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As a biologist, I am passionate about microorganisms and their capability of adapting to a variety of environments. My curiosity about microbial adaptation led me to join the laboratory of Dr. Inês C. Pereira at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology António Xavier (ITQB NOVA) of the New University of Lisbon to embrace the studies of the metabolic pathways of the sulfate/sulfite reducers. Here I developed my Ph.D. project entitled “Novel insights into dissimilatory sulfite reductase”, where I studied the sulfide producers and realized their vital role in several anaerobic environments such as the human gut. During these four years, I was three periods at the University of Bonn – Germany, working in the laboratory of Dr. Christiane Dahl; there I developed my skills in molecular biology and bacterial growth. This relationship is still ongoing due to the proximity that I established with Dr. Fabian Grein, now working at his own laboratory at the University of Bonn, Faculty of Pharmacy. At the end of my Ph.D., I published an article in "Science" as the first author identifying the role of a crucial protein (DsrC) as responsible for the reduction of sulfite to sulfide in sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. Knowing that these organisms are associated with several human diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and autism, I became intrigued by their mechanisms of action. Now, I want to continue my personal project on understanding how microorganisms strikingly influence human disorders. Thus, I aim to use my background in microbiology/sulfate-reducing prokaryotes and sulfur biochemistry to understand how microbes can be associated with human diseases. To fulfill my goal I team up with Dr. Cecília M. P. Rodrigues, Head of Cellular Function and Therapeutic Targeting laboratory at the Research Institute for Medicines, University of Lisbon (iMed.ULisboa), who is a recognized expert on liver diseases with interests in the gut-liver axis. we recently published our first work in "Gut Microbes" where we found a Limosilactobacillus that could ameliorate liver disease and contributed to host homeostasis. Equally important, research groups at iMed.ULisboa anchors scientific platforms where innovative technologies, methods, and research structures are developed to support the various programs. Administrative provision, research communication, and networking activities are also attractive to further developing my research career. Thus, my aim is to understand how gut microbiota-derived metabolites may impact human diseases. My projects focus on diet mice models and how it correlates with human samples to identify potential metabolites and biomarkers involved in the onset and progression of liver and Intestinal diseases. Finally, my ultimate goal is to target gut microbiota and miR dysfunction as potential new therapeutic approaches. Author or co-author of 7 articles and 14 conference abstracts.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
André Anastácio Santos

Citation names

  • Santos, André Anastácio
  • Santos, A. A.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
FF15-6585-740D
ORCID iD
0000-0002-3248-1051

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology
Education
Degree Classification
2023/06/01 - 2023/09/16
Concluded
Curso Pós-Graduado de Atualização de Ciências em Animais de Laboratório (Pós-Graduação)
Major in experimentação animal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências em Animais de Laboratório, Portugal
18
2021/09 - 2022/07/01
Concluded
Pedagogia do Ensino Superior (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto da Educação, Portugal
Aprovado
2011/01/01 - 2015/12/17
Concluded
Bioquímica (Doutoramento)
Major in Especialidade: Bioquímica Microbiana
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
"Novel insights into dissimilatory sulfite reduction" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2010
Concluded
Biologia Aplicada ramo Microbiologia Clínica e Ambiental (Mestrado)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
"Variabilidade em Escherichia coli de águas poluídas de Vila Franca de Xira" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
18
2009
Concluded
Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
"Monitorização microbiológica de linhas de água do concelho de Vila Franca de Xira" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
16
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2019/07/19 - Current Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution
Employer
2017/07 - 2019/07 Bolseiro de Pos-doutoramento FCT Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2016/06 - 2017/01 Bolseiro Pós-Doutoramento Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2012/01 - 2015/12 Bolseiro de Doutoramento Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2010/08 - 2011/12 Bolseiro de Investigação (mestre) 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
2013/07 - 2015/12 Energy conservation by a novel NADH dehydrogenase family widespread in Bacteria Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
2010/04 - 2013/09 Study of an ancient mode of energy metabolism: the dissimilatory reduction of sulfite Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

Contract

Designation Funders
2023/07/01 - Current Microbiome manipulation to reduce psychopathology in Multiple Sclerosis
GutStopMS
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento, Portugal
Biocodex Microbiota Foundation
Ongoing
2022/12/01 - Current Circulating miR-21 drives the immune system to promote IBD cancer progression in PSC-IBD patients
PID: 23709
Principal investigator
Instruct-ERIC Hub, United Kingdom
Instruct-ERIC Hub
Ongoing
2024/04/01 - 2025/12/31 LICORESIST (Limosilactobacillus Colonization Resistance against Staphylococcus in MASLD)
2023.10188.CBM
Principal investigator
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Universitätsklinikum Bonn Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Germany
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2023/01/01 - 2024/06/30 O papel dos microRNAs na resposta imunitária e celular á vacinação COVID-19 em doentes hepáticos
2022.08837.PTDC
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2022/01/17 - 2023/07/16 O papel do microRNA-21 exossomal na comunicação fígado-músculo durante o desenvolvimento e progressão de Fígado Gordo Não Alcoólico
EXPL/MED-OUT/1317/2021
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2022/01 - 2023/06 Unveil the role of Limosilactobacillus D-lactate to treat NAFLD
EXPL/MED-OUT/0688/2021
Principal investigator
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2018/09/01 - 2021/08/31 Sinalização Exossomal entre o Tecido Adiposo e Hepático no Fígado Gordo Não Alcoólico: Função e Modulação
PTDC/MED-PAT/31882/2017
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/09/01 - 2021/08/31 Controlo Metabólico da Reparação Neural pela Dieta e o Microbioma Intestinal durante o Envelhecimento
PTDC/MED-NEU/29650/2017
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/06/01 - 2021/05/31 Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Emerging Biomarkers, Targets and Therapies
PTDC/MED-FAR/29097/2017
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2016/06/01 - 2019/07/18 New Drugs to Treat Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver and Progression to Cancer
PTDC/BIM-MEC/0895/2014
Post-doc Fellow
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2017/02/01 - 2019/06/18 Hydrogen sulfide production by gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
SFRH/BPD/114924/2016
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2013/07/01 - 2015/12/31 Uma nova familia de NADH desidrogenases envolvidas em conservação de energia
PTDC/BBB-BQB/0684/2012
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2012/01/01 - 2015/12/17 STUDY OF A MEMBRANE RESPIRATORY COMPLEX WIDESPREAD IN ANAEROBIC BACTERIA
SFRH/BD/77940/2011
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2010/04/01 - 2013/09/30 Estudo de um metabolismo energético ancestral: a redução dissimilativa de sulfito
PTDC/QUI-BIQ/100591/2008
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Other

Designation Funders
2019/06/19 - 2025/06/18 Targeting gut dysbiosis to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
CEECIND/04663/2017/CP1476/CT0007
Principal investigator
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Santos, André Anastácio. "MUSCLE MIR-34A IS ACTIVATED DURING NAFLD PROGRESSION, PROMOTING INSULIN RESISTANCE AND MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS DYSFUNCTION". Paper presented in UEG, 2018.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Afonso, Marta B.; Rodrigues, Pedro M.; Simão, André L.; Santos, André A.; Gaspar, Maria M.; Castro, Rui E.; Rodrigues, Cecilia M.P.. "The role of necroptosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related carcinogenesis". 2018.
    10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.04.115
  2. Santos, André Anastácio; Afonso, Marta Bento; Rodrigues, Pedro Miguel; Castro, Rui Eduardo; Rodrigues, Cecilia Maria Pereira. "Deregulation of small intestine permeability by miRNA-21 in liver disease". 2018.
    10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.04.026
  3. Santos, André Anastácio. "miR-21 contributes to the onset and progression of liver disease through the deregulation of small intestine permeability". 2018.
    10.1016/s0168-8278(18)31462-4
  4. Santos, André Anastácio. "miR-21 deficiency decreases small intestine permeability after bile duct ligation in mice". Paper presented in EASL HCC Summit, 2017.
Journal article
  1. Santos, Andre A.; Duarte, Raquel; Duarte, Madalena; Arella, Fabiola; Marques, Vanda; Roos, Stefan; Rodrigues, Cecilia M. P.. "Impact of Lactobacillaceae supplementation on the multi-organ axis during MASLD". Life Sciences (2024): https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/69785741/.
    10.1016/J.LFS.2024.122948
  2. Afonso, Marta Bento; David, Jan Caira; Alves, Mariana Isabel; Santos, Andre Anastacio; Campino, Goncalo; Ratziu, Vlad; Gautheron, Jeremie; Rodrigues, Cecilia Maria Pereira. "Intricate interplay between cell metabolism and necroptosis regulation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A narrative review". Metabolism (2024): https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/69692191/.
    10.1016/J.METABOL.2024.155975
  3. Vanda Marques; Fabiola Arella; Marta B. Afonso; André A. Santos; Cecília M.P. Rodrigues. "Decoding the role of leptin and adiponectin in obesity-related gastrointestinal cancer". Clinical Science (2023): https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20230411.
    10.1042/CS20230411
  4. Santos A; Delgado TC; Marques V; Moncayo CR; Alonso C; Vidal-Puig A; Hall Z; Martínez-Chantar ML; Rodrigues CMP. "Spatial metabolomics and its application in the liver.". Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (2023): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/36811413.
    10.1097/hep.0000000000000341
  5. André A. Santos; Joana Torres; Susana Saraiva; Catarina Ferreira Gouveia; Catarina Bravo; Marília Cravo; Cecília M.P Rodrigues. "Circulating miR-21 parallels the incidence of IBD in PSC patients". Journal of Hepatology 77 (2022): S537-S538. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8278(22)01398-8.
    10.1016/s0168-8278(22)01398-8
  6. Santos, André Anastácio. "Host miRNA-21 promotes liver dysfunction by targeting small intestinal Lactobacillus in mice.". Gut microbes (2020): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7733982.
    10.1080/19490976.2020.1840766
  7. André A. Santos; Marta B. Afonso; André Simão; Rui E. Castro; Cecília M. P Rodrigues. "Administration of lactobacillus alleviates experimental NASH by reducing miR-21 in the liver". Journal of Hepatology 73 (2020): S235-S235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8278(20)30973-9.
    10.1016/s0168-8278(20)30973-9
  8. Santos, André Anastácio. "Diet-dependent gut microbiota impacts on adult neurogenesis through mitochondrial stress modulation". Brain Communications 2 2 (2020): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcaa165.
    10.1093/braincomms/fcaa165
  9. Santos, André Anastácio. "UEG Week 2017 Poster Presentations - ALTERED SMALL INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA TOWARD FAMILY LACTOBACILLACEAE IN MIR-21 KNOCKOUT MICE". United European Gastroenterology Journal 5 5_suppl (2017): A161-A836. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2050640617725676.
    10.1177/2050640617725676
  10. Duarte, A.G.; Santos, A.A.; Pereira, I.A.C.. "Electron transfer between the QmoABC membrane complex and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics 1857 4 (2016): 380-386. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84958213806&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.01.001
  11. Leavitt, W.D.; Bradley, A.S.; Santos, A.A.; Pereira, I.A.; Johnston, D.T.. "Sulfur isotope effects of dissimilatory sulfite reductase". Frontiers in Microbiology 6 DEC (2015): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84953866536&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.3389/fmicb.2015.01392
  12. Santos, A.A.; Venceslau, S.S.; Grein, F.; Leavitt, W.D.; Dahl, C.; Johnston, D.T.; Pereira, I.A.C.. "A protein trisulfide couples dissimilatory sulfate reduction to energy conservation". Science 350 6267 (2015): 1541-1545. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84950261153&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1126/science.aad3558
  13. Pereira, A.; Santos, A.; Tacão, M.; Alves, A.; Henriques, I.; Correia, A.. "Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli from Tagus estuary (Portugal)". Science of the Total Environment 461-462 (2013): 65-71. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84878388481&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.067
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Santos, André Fernando Anastácio dos. "Variabilidade em Escherichia coli de águas poluídas de Vila Franca de Xira". Master, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/8742.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2022/10/10 Determining the importance of circulatory miR-21 in the prevalence of IBD in PSC patients UEGWeek
United European Gastroenterology (Viena, Austria)
2019/04/13 miRNA-21 signals through a gut-liver axis to regulate experimental cholestasis EASL ILC 2019
EASL (Viena, Austria)
2018/06 Deregulation of small intestine permeability by miRNA-21 in liver disease 19th biennial meeting for the Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRRI)
(Lisbon, Portugal)
2017/10/26 Trisulfide, the novel energy conservation link in dissimilatory sulfite reduction The 1st FEBS3+ Joint Meeting of the French-Portuguese-Spanish Biochemical and Molecular Biology Societies
FEDS3+ (Barcelona, Spain)
2015/04 Crucial role of DsrC in dissimilatory sulfite reduction. EMBO Workshop: Microbial sulphur metabolism
EMBO (Helsingor, Denmark)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role
Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2022 - 2022 Disentangling the role of Limosilactobacillus reuteri D-lactate in lipid metabolism
Supervisor
Ciências Biofarmacêuticas (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role
Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2022 Role of mitofusin-2 and microRNA-222-3p in modulating lipid metabolism during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(Thesis) Arguer
Diogo Alexandre Espada Fernandes (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2022 Impact of microbiome in cancer nano-immunotherapy
(Thesis) Arguer
Jéssica Sofia da Silva Cordeiro (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2022 Metabolic characterization of Sarcomas
(Thesis) Arguer
Mara Santiago Rodrigues (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2021 The role of immunogenic cell death as a mechanism of tumorigenesis
(Thesis) Arguer
André Filipe Leitão Cardador (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2021 Treatment options and combined therapies for metabolic associated fatty liver disease
(Thesis) Arguer
Bia Nisa Franco Fernandes Abreu (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2019 The influence of Toll-Like Receptor 4 activation in human CD4 T cell function
(Thesis) Arguer
Ana Margarida Grilo Tomé (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2018 Modulation of aquaporin 7 in adipocytes by miRNAs
(Thesis) Arguer
André Filipe Paulo Gomes (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2019/05/28 MIRNA-21 ABLATION IN MICE PROTECTS AGAINST GUT MICROBIOTA DYSBIOSIS DURING CHOLESTASIS European Medical Jornal
Distinctions

Award

2019 EASL Daniel Alagille Award
European Association for the Study of the Liver, Switzerland
2019 GEDII - bolsa de investigação 2018/19 - projecto premiado
2017 Young investigator Award of Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica (SPB)
Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica, Portugal