Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy

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Publications

Novel approach for a controlled delivery of essential Oils during long-term maize storage: clove bud and pennyroyal oils efficacy to control sitophilus zeamais, reducing grain damage and post-harvest losses

Publication . Sousa, Pedro A. S.; Neto, Joana; Barbosa, Joana V.; Peres, Joana; Magro, Ana; Barros, Graça; Sousa, José M.; Magalhães, Fernão D.; Mexia, António; Aguiar, Ana A. R. M.; Bastos, Margarida M. S. M.

Maize grains represent a significant contribution for assuring food safety all over the globe. Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), also known as the maize weevil, is one of the most destructive pests in stored maize, causing qualitative and quantitative losses. To control S. zeamais populations in maize storage sites, synthetical chemical insecticides are applied. However, these are often used wastefully, have environmental implications, and can induce the development of resistant populations. In this work, the insecticidal and grain protecting efficacy of an innovative macro-capsule delivery device, loaded with essential oils from Clove bud and Pennyroyal, as well as their combined solutions, was tested against naturally S. zeamais-infested maize grains. The blend of both compounds incorporated in a controlled release device reduced losses by more than 45% over a long storage period of twenty weeks, diminishing the survivability of maize weevils by over 90%. The usage of the blend at a concentration of 370 L L􀀀1 air with an antioxidant showed the best results, however, by halving the concentration 185 L L􀀀1 air , a significant control of S. zeamais populations was still achieved.

2023-04Journal article

Open access

A small TAT-TrkB peptide prevents BDNF receptor cleavage and restores synaptic physiology in Alzheimer's disease

Publication . Fonseca-Gomes, João; Costa-Coelho, Tiago; Ferreira-Manso, Mafalda; Inteiro-Oliveira, Sara; Vaz, Sandra H.; Alemãn-Serrano, Nuno; Atalaia Barbacena, Henrique; Ribeiro Rodrigues, Leonor; Ramalho, Rita Mira; Climaco Pinto, Rui; Vicente Miranda, Hugo; Tanqueiro, Sara; de Almeida-Borlido, Carolina; Ramalho, Maria João; Miranda-Lourenço, Catarina; Belo, Rita F.; Ferreira, Catarina B.; Neves, Vera; Rombo, Diogo M.; Viais, Ricardo; Umemori, Juzoh; Martins, Ivo C.; Jerónimo-Santos, André; Caetano, António; Manso, Nuno; Mäkinen, Petra; Marttinen, Mikael; Takalo, Mari; Bremang, Michael; Pike, Ian; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Loureiro, Joana A.; Pereira, Maria Carmo; Santos, Nuno C.; Outeiro, Tiago; Castanho, Miguel A. R. B.; Fernandes, Adelaide; Hiltunen, Mikko; Duarte, Carlos B.; Castrén, Eero; De Mendonça, Alexandre; Sebastião, Ana M; Rodrigues, Tiago M.; Diógenes, Maria José

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid β (Aβ)-triggered cleavage of TrkB-FL impairs brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, thereby compromising neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic transmission and plasticity. Using cerebrospinal fluid and postmortem human brain samples, we show that TrkB-FL cleavage occurs from the early stages of the disease and increases as a function of pathology severity. To explore the therapeutic potential of this disease mechanism, we designed small TAT-fused peptides and screened their ability to prevent TrkB-FL receptor cleavage. Among these, a TAT-TrkB peptide with a lysine-lysine linker prevented TrkB-FL cleavage both in vitro and in vivo and rescued synaptic deficits induced by oligomeric Aβ in hippocampal slices. Furthermore, this TAT-TrkB peptide improved the cognitive performance, ameliorated synaptic plasticity deficits and prevented Tau pathology progression in vivo in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. No evidence of liver or kidney toxicity was found. We provide proof-of-concept evidence for the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic strategy and anticipate that this TAT-TrkB peptide has the potential to be a disease-modifying drug that can prevent and/or reverse cognitive deficits in patients with AD.

2024Journal article

Open access