Gene Expression Profiling and Association Studies Implicate the Neuregulin Signaling Pathway in Behçet's Disease Susceptibility

Behçet's disease (BD) is a complex disease with genetic and environmental risk factors implicated in its etiology; however, its pathophysiology is poorly understood. To decipher BD's genetic underpinnings, we combined gene expression profiling with pathway analysis and association studies. We compared the gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 15 patients and 14 matched controls using Affymetrix microarrays and found that the neuregulin signaling pathway was over-represented among the differentially expressed genes. The Epiregulin (EREG), Amphiregulin (AREG), and Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) genes of this pathway stand out as they are also among the top differentially expressed genes. Twelve haplotype tagging SNPs at the EREG-AREG locus and 15 SNPs in NRG1 found associated in at least one published BD genome-wide association study were tested for association with BD in a dataset of 976 Iranian patients and 839 controls. We found a novel association with BD for the rs6845297 SNP located downstream of EREG, and replicated three associations at NRG1 (rs4489285, rs383632, and rs1462891). Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis indicated the existence of epistatic interactions between EREG and NRG1 variants. EREG-AREG and NRG1, which are members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, seem to modulate BD susceptibility through main effects and gene–gene interactions. These association findings support a role for the EGF/ErbB signaling pathway inBD pathogenesis that warrants further investigation and highlight the importance of combining genetic and genomic approaches to dissect the genetic architecture of complex diseases.

Decreasing Incidence and Changes in Serotype Distribution of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Persons Aged Under 18 Years Since Introduction of 10-Valent and 13-Valent Conjugate Vaccines in Portugal, July 2008 to June 2012

The 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) became available in Portugal in mid-2009 and the 13-valent vaccine (PCV13) in early 2010. The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in patients aged under 18 years decreased from 8.19 cases per 100,000 in 2008–09 to 4.52/100,000 in 2011–12. However, IPD incidence due to the serotypes included in the 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in children aged under two years remained constant. This fall resulted from significant decreases in the number of cases due to: (i) the additional serotypes included in PCV10 and PCV13 (1, 5, 7F; from 37.6% to 20.6%), particularly serotype 1 in older children; and (ii) the additional serotypes included in PCV13 (3, 6A, 19A; from 31.6% to 16.2%), particularly serotype 19A in younger children. The decrease in serotype 19A before vaccination indicates that it was not triggered by PCV13 administration. The decrease of serotype 1 in all groups, concomitant with the introduction of PCV10, is also unlikely to have been triggered by vaccination, although PCVs may have intensified and supported these trends. PCV13 serotypes remain major causes of IPD, accounting for 63.2% of isolates recovered in Portugal in 2011–12, highlighting the potential role of enhanced vaccination in reducing paediatric IPD in Portugal.

Development and Characterization of bioactive, edible whey protein films and coatings to improve quality and safety of Food products

Dissertação para a obtenção de grau de doutor em Ciências da Engenharia e Tecnologia

Preparação de novas membranas com MOF’s para aplicação em processos de captura de CO2

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Product communication strategies: Emotional versus rational communication strategies and attitude change on children consumers

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Separation of bioactive peptides by electrodialysis with ultrafiltration membranes: membrane characteristics, ex-situ and in-situ digestion and their impact on peptide migration

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Two stage abe fermentation with in situ pervaporation and high cell density

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Study of membrane emulsification process as a pre-step for the microencapsulation of lipid compounds by spray drying

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Development of mixed matrix membranes with metal - organic framework and ionic liquids for biogas upgrading

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Production of ellagitannins concentrate by UF-NF from tropical highland blackberries

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Preparation and characterization of microfiltration flat polymeric membranes for biomedical applications

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Micropollutant bioremoval in wastewater treatment systems: from microbial population structure to function

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

A simple closed-loop membrane process for the purification of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Evaluation of pathogenic potential of Aeromonas spp. strains using in vitro methodologies

Dissertation to obtain a Master Degree in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine

Digestão anaeróbia de resíduos agroalimentares: reutilização das frações líquidas e sólidas (state-of-art)

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Energia e Bioenergia