Gestão do percebe (Pollicipes pollicipes (Gmelin, 1790)) no Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina

Dissertação de mestrado, Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, 2004

Molecular characterization of Gla-rich protein (GRP) gene expression and function

Gla-rich protein (GRP) is a vitamin K-dependent protein related to bone and cartilage recently described. This protein is characterized by a large number of Gla (γ-carboxyglutamic acid) residues being the protein with the highest Gla content of any known protein. It was found in a widely variety of tissues but highest levels was found in skeletal and cartilaginous tissues. This small secreted protein was also expressed and accumulated in soft tissues and it was clearly associated with calcification pathologies in the same tissues. Although the biological importance of GRP remains to be elucidated, it was suggested a physiological role in cartilage development and calcification process during vertebrate skeleton formation. Using zebrafish, an accepted model to study skeletal development, we have described two grp paralog genes, grp1 and grp2, which exhibited distinct patterns of expression, suggesting different regulatory pathways for each gene. Gene synteny analysis showed that grp2 gene is more closely related to tetrapod grp, although grp1 gene was proposed to be the vertebrate ortholog by sequence comparison. In addition, we identified a functional promoter of grp2 gene and using a functional approach we confirmed the involvement of transcription factors from Sox family (Sox9b and Sox10) in the regulation of grp2 expression. In an effort to provide more information about the function of grp isoforms, we generated two zebrafish transgenic lines capable to overexpress conditionally grp genes and possible roles in the skeleton development were studied. To better understand GRP function a mammalian system was used and the analysis of knockout mice showed that GRP is involved in chondrocyte maturation and the absence of GRP is associated to proteoglycans loss in calcified articular cartilage. In addition, we detected differences in chondrogenesis markers in articular chondrocyte primary culture. Overall, our data suggest a main role for GRP on chondrocyte differentiation.

Molecular structure and functional analysis of runx3 in zebrafish

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade do Algarve, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, 2014

Técnicas de valorização contingencial aplicadas ao ambiente : estudo de cenários para a Ilha da Culatra

Doutoramento em Economia, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Algarve, 2001

As ideias das crianças sobre os tubarões e atividades em contexto de jardim de infância

O presente estudo foi desenvolvido num Jardim de Infância pertencente ao concelho de Olhão, com um grupo de crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 5 e os 6 anos. Este teve como motivação base abordar uma temática de sensibilização às ciências em Jardim de Infância, procurando responder a duas questões principais: Quais as ideias das crianças acerca dos tubarões? De que forma estas ideias evoluem na construção do conhecimento pessoal e sensibilização face aos tubarões? Desta forma, o estudo tem como principais objetivos: (i) identificar as ideias das crianças e do conhecimento de senso comum sobre os tubarões, através do desenho e (ii) sensibilizar as crianças para a conservação, preservação, respeito, valorização e proteção do ambiente, particularmente do tubarão, com recurso a um conjunto de atividades, com especial enfase, o teatro de dedoches/fantoches. Para tal, recorremos a uma metodologia de cariz qualitativo de recolha de informação e a um conjunto de atividades de intervenção implementadas em Jardim de Infância. Em suma, este estudo permitiu-nos refletir sobre uma prática educativa que valoriza e se centra no estudo das ideias das crianças contribuindo para a reconstrução dos seus próprios conhecimentos.

Identification and molecular characterization of bone-related micrornas: functional implications

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 2014

Um modelo bioeconómico para a gestão sustentável das florestas mediterrâneas

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Agrárias (Território e Ambiente), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2013

Acompanhamento das obras que constam do projeto de intervenção urbana, reabilitação, requalificação e beneficiação parcial da rede viária da cidade de Lagoa

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Civil (Construção), Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Assessing soil erosion due to land use change at the Alqueva reservoir surrounding area

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências do Mar, da Terra e do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Identification of novel molecular determinants of tissue mineralization in fish

The identification of genes involved in signaling and regulatory pathways, and matrix formation is paramount to the better understanding of the complex mechanisms of bone formation and mineralization, and critical to the successful development of therapies for human skeletal disorders. To achieve this objective, in vitro cell systems derived from skeletal tissues and able to mineralize their extracellular matrix have been used to identify genes differentially expressed during mineralization and possibly new markers of bone and cartilage homeostasis. Using cell systems of fish origin and techniques such as suppression subtractive hybridization and microarray hybridization, three genes never associated with mechanisms of calcification were identified: the calcium binding protein S100-like, the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase sdr-like and the betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase bhmt3. Analysis of the spatial-temporal expression of these 3 genes by qPCR and in situ hybridization revealed: (1) the up-regulation of sdr-like transcript during in vitro mineralization of gilthead seabream cell lines and its specificity for calcified tissues and differentiating osteoblasts; (2) the up-regulation of S100-like and the down-regulation of bhmt3 during in vitro mineralization and the central role of both genes in cartilaginous tissues undergoing endo/perichondral mineralization in juvenile fish. While expression of S100-like and bhmt3 was restricted to calcified tissues, sdr-like transcript was also detected in soft tissues, in particular in tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. Functional analysis of gene promoters revealed the transcriptional regulation of the 3 genes by known regulators of osteoblast and chondrocyte differentiation/mineralization: RUNX2 and RAR (sdr-like), ETS1 (s100-like; bhmt3), SP1 and MEF2c (bhmt3). The evolutionary relationship of the different orthologs and paralogs identified within the scope of this work was also inferred from taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses and revealed novel protein subfamilies (S100-like and Sdr-like) and the explosive diversity of Bhmt family in particular fish groups (Neoteleostei). Altogether our results contribute with new data on SDR, S100 and BHMT proteins, evidencing for the first time the role for these three proteins in mechanisms of mineralization in fish and emphasized their potential as markers of mineralizing cartilage and bone in developing fish.

Connectivity patterns and early life history of the black-faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi (Cadenat and Blache, 1970)

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências do Mar, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Comparing Zostera and Spartina environments in relation to carbon burial: a sedimentary and geochemical approach from Ria Formosa

Dissertação de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Modeling the suitable habitat of a structural red gorgonian species in the Mediterranean/east Atlantic regions predicts a wider distribution than previously known

Dissertação de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univerdade do Algarve, 2015