Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy

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Publications

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Quercus ilex acorn extract in papillomavirus-induced lesions

Publication . Medeiros-Fonseca, Beatriz; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Pires, Maria João; Neuparth, Maria João; Vala, Helena; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Cármen; Gouvinhas, Irene; Barros, Ana Novo; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Bastos, Margarida M.S.M.; Gonçalves, Lio; Félix, Luís; Venâncio, Carlos; Medeiros, Rui; Costa, Rui Miguel Gil; Oliveira, Paula A.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) infections have been documented in numerous animal species across different regions worldwide. They often exert significant impacts on animal health and livestock production. Scientists have studied natural products for over half a century due to their diverse chemical composition, acknowledging their value in fighting cancer. Acorns (Quercus ilex) are believed to have several unexplored pharmacological properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo safety and cancer chemopreventive activity of an infusion extract of Q. ilex in a transgenic mouse model of human PV (HPV)-16, which developed squamous cell carcinomas through a multistep process driven by HPV16 oncogenes. Q. ilex extract was prepared by heating in water at 90°C and then characterized by mass spectrometry. Phenolic compounds from this extract were administered in drinking water to female mice in three different concentrations (0.03, 0.06, and 0.09 g/mL) over a period of 28 consecutive days. Six groups (n = 6) were formed for this study: group 1 (G1, wildtype [WT], water), group 2 (G2, HPV, water), group 3 (G3, WT, 0.09 g/mL), group 4 (G4, HPV, 0.03 g/mL), group 5 (G5, HPV, 0.06 g/ mL), and group 6 (G6, HPV, 0.09 g/mL). Throughout the experiment, humane endpoints, body weight, food intake, and water consumption were recorded weekly. Following the experimental period, all mice were sacrificed, and blood, internal organs, and skin samples were collected. Blood was used to measure glucose and microhematocrit and later biochemical parameters, such as creatinine, urea, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and total proteins. Histological analysis was performed on skin and organ samples. The administration of Q. ilex extract resulted in a statistically significant increase in relative organ weight among HPV transgenic animals, indicating adaptive biological response to the tested concentrations. Moreover, a reduction in characteristic skin lesions was observed in animals treated with the 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL extract. These results provide a favorable chemopreventive profile for Q. ilex extract at concentrations of 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL. This study highlights the potential of Q. ilex extract as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy against HPV16- associated lesions in transgenic mouse models. The limitation of our study was the durability of transgenic animals. As a more sensitive species, we must always be careful with the durability of the test. We intend to study concentrations of 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL for longer to further investigate their possible effects.

2024Journal article

Open access

Indoor air quality at portuguese firehouses

Publication . Slezakova, Klara; Esteves, Filipa; Vaz, Josiana A.; Costa, Solange; Alves, Maria José; Madureira, Joana; Barros, Bela; Fernandes, Adília; Teixeira, João Paulo Fernandes; Morais, Simone; Pereira, Maria do Carmo

This work assessed firefighters’ exposure to gases pollutants in non- fire work settings during the pre-fire season as a baseline for the respective occupational exposure characterization. Indoor air sampling (total volatile organic compounds—TVOCs, ozone-O3, and carbon di oxide-CO2) was conducted for two weeks in the pre-fire season of 2021 in seven firehouses (FH1–FH7) situated in the north-interior of Portugal. The result showed that across all FH, TVOCs highly varied with observed levels of 180 μg m−3 and 11.5 mg m–3 (overall median of 1.86 mg m–3). Furthermore, at all FH, the observed levels highly exceeded (1.5–6.6 times) the Portuguese protective thresholds of 600 μg m–3 for indoor air quality in public buildings. On the contrary, the indoor ozone concentrations (range: 23–80 μg m–3; median 60 μg m–3) and CO2 (range 800–1160 mg m-3: median 924 mg m–3) were relatively low and in accordance with existing national standards. While the associations between the pollutants were low—moderate (|rs|= 0.030–0.679) to better identify the respective indoor emission sources, quantification of specific VOC compounds/classes is required in future studies.

2024Book part

Restricted access

Aloysia citrodora extract as a chemopreventive agent against HPV16-induced lesions: findings from K14-HPV16 mice

Publication . Medeiros-Fonseca, Beatriz; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Silva, Jessica; Silva, Mónica; Pires, Maria João; Neuparth, Maria João; Vala, Helena; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Cármen; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Gonçalves, Lio; Gaivão, Isabel; Bastos, Margarida M.S.M.; Félix, Luís; Venâncio, Carlos; Medeiros, Rui; Costa, Rui Miguel Gil; Oliveira, Paula A.

Aloysia citrodora has a long history of traditional use in treating various ailments. This study evaluated the in vivo chemopreventive efficacy and systemic toxicity of an extract of A. citrodora in a transgenic mouse model of HPV16 (human papillomavirus type 16)-induced cancer. Methods: The experiment involved six groups (n = 5): group 1 (G1, wild-type (WT), water), group 2 (G2, HPV, water), group 3 (G3, WT, 0.013 g/mL), group 4 (G4, HPV, 0.006 g/mL), group 5 (G5, HPV, 0.008 g/mL), and group 6 (G6, HPV, 0.013 g/mL). Throughout the assay, humane endpoints, body weight, food, and water consumption were recorded weekly. The internal organs and skin of the mice were collected for analysis after they were sacrificed. Toxicological parameters that were studied included hematological and biochemical blood markers, splenic and hepatic histology, and hepatic oxidative stress. Results: A. citrodora extract seems to reduce the incidence of dysplastic and in situ carcinoma skin lesions induced by HPV16 in this model, suggesting that dietary supplementation with concentrations of 0.008 g/mL and 0.013 g/mL may have beneficial chemopreventive effects. Conclusions: The extract did not induce any concentration-dependent toxicological effects on any of the parameters included in the study, indicating a favorable toxicological profile under these experimental conditions.

2024Journal article

Open access

The profession of research management and administration in Portugal

Publication . Barbosa, Cláudia; Borrego, Filipa; Costa, Teresa; Ferreira, Ana S.; Martins, Madalena; Moreira, Susana; Santos, José M.R.C.A.; Silva, José Avelino

This chapter addresses the profession of research management and administration (RMA) in Portugal. It starts with a brief outline of the national research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem that contextualises the development of the profession. The RMA community is characterised and the expectations for the future of the RMA profession are summarised using data collected through a national online survey. It is posited that RMA in Portugal is an emergent career having developed key traits of a profession, namely common interests and practices, a concern with deepening specialised knowledge and skills, the existence of an organised network of practitioners, the offer of academic qualifications and training in the area, and the integration in international RMA communities of practice. Nevertheless, future developments in the European Research Area (ERA) are identified as a critical milestone that will influence the development and formal legislative institutionalisation of the RMA profession in Portugal.

2023Book part

Open access

Firefighters’ Occupational Exposure in Preparation for Wildfire Season: Addressing Biological Impact

Publication . Esteves, Filipa; Slezakova, Klara; Madureira, Joana; Vaz, Josiana A.; Fernandes, Adília; Morais, Simone; Pereira, Maria do Carmo; Teixeira, João Paulo Fernandes; Costa, Solange

The characterization of wildland firefighters' occupational exposure must consider different exposures, including those at the fire station. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure of 172 Northern Portuguese wildland firefighters in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season of 2021. The biological impact of estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (indoor/outdoor) was accessed through a buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells of a subgroup of 80 firefighters. No significant association was found between estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (mean 1.73 +/- 0.43 mu g kg-1 and 0.53 +/- 0.21 mu g kg-1, respectively) and biological endpoints. However, increased frequencies of cell death parameters were found among subjects of the Permanent Intervention Teams (full-time firefighters). The intake of nutritional supplements was associated with a significant decrease in micronucleus frequencies (i.e., DNA damage or chromosome breakage). In addition, our findings showed a significantly increased frequency of cell death endpoints (i.e., nuclear fragmentation) with coffee consumption, while daily consumption of vegetables significantly decreased it (i.e., nuclear shrinkage). Our results provide data on the occupational exposure of wildland firefighters while working in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season, providing the essential baseline for further studies throughout the wildfire season.

2024Journal article

Open access