Currently, we face a global antibiotic resistance crisis aggravated by the slow development of more effective and anti-resistance promoting therapeutical solutions. Protein phosphorylation (PP) has recently emerged as one of the major post-translational modification in bacteria, involved in the regulation of multiple physiological processes. In this MSCA individual fellowship application we aim to bridge the current gap in the field for prokaryotes by unravelling the unknown regulatory role of PP on proteins involved in nitrosative stress (NS) detoxification in the model bacterium E.coli. We propose to examine for the first time both global protein modifications (e.g. phosphoproteomics) under nitrogen species stress, as well as characterize PP in individual proteins involved in NS response. We will construct a network model that reflect the phosphoproteomic changes upon NS in E.coli, that may pave the way for the design of new bacterial targets. Understanding how bacteria respond to the chemical weapons of the human innate system is fundamental to develop efficient therapies. We will pioneer research on the mechanism and the regulation of nitric oxide detoxification proteins already identified as phosphorylated, by analyzing how this modification influences their stability and activity in vitro and in vivo. This project opens up new research paths on bacterial detoxification systems and signalling in general, addressing for the first time the role of PP in these processes. The proposal brings together transversal and scientific skills that will enable the researcher to lead the development of this emerging field and position herself as an expert in the area, and aims at establishing the importance of PP in NO microbial response, a novelty in this field.

Inequality is among the most pressing issues of our times. The world has been fast-changing in recent years and the pandemic crisis has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that leave vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of the crisis. The outbreak of a war in Ukraine, with millions of refugees and unforeseen impacts worldwide, will most likely worsen the current situation. It is urgent to tackle inequalities in a comprehensive way, designing public policies grounded on solid knowledge. However, there is still a lack of basic information. Economic growth numbers are published every year, but they do not tell us about how growth is distributed across the population, who gains and who loses from economic policies. Besides, beyond income and wealth, it is also critical to address other dimensions of socioeconomic disparities, such as health, education, gender, or environmental inequalities. Therefore, it is urgent to advance research on inequalities, transfer knowledge to society, and contribute to well-informed, science-based public policies. EQUALNovaERA aims to position Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) as an international reference in addressing inequalities drivers and effects through research, education, and community engagement while contributing to deepening the European Research Area and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. More specifically it will 1) Create a new Research Group on inequalities; 2) Set up an Institute of Public Policies with the mission of contributing to a more equal and fair society through research, education, and community engagement; 3) Position Nova SBE as an international reference institution in addressing inequalities drivers and effects through research and education; 4) Promote science-based awareness on inequalities drivers and effects to tackle societal grand challenges; 5) Introduce sustainable structural changes at Nova SBE on and beyond the inequalities theme.

The environmental and societal impact of fabric dyeing is a critical concern, with the textile industry ranking among the most chemically intensive and the second-largest polluter of clean water globally. Traditional dyeing methods consume large amounts of water and energy, release toxic chemicals, and contribute significantly to environmental degradation. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable dyeing innovations that reduce chemical usage and conserve water. In this ERC PoC, we aim to develop and implement a novel eco-friendly textile dyeing method that combines the design of genetically engineered colored proteins with a non-toxic, zero-waste innovative application methodology, eliminating toxic waste and pollution and significantly reducing water consumption. In this project, we aim to rationally design and express heat-resistant blue chromoproteins (i.e., aeBlue) from the coral Aquinia equina in a bacterial chassis (Escherichia coli). Then, we will demonstrate that they can be bound covalently to cotton fibers to dye the fibers similar to DENIM, using sugar cross-linkers with temperatures above 40 ºC. This biologically inspired protein-based dyeing approach for textiles can be further explored using other chromoproteins found in other organisms, offering a palette of natural colors and opening new avenues for a future sustainable alternative for fabric dyeing. This PoC builds on the findings of the ERC-CoG-funded project BIOMATFAB, which explored sugar uptake and transport in cotton fibers. In collaboration with European textile industry stakeholders, this PoC aims to explore and demonstrate the commercial feasibility of our dyeing methodology. We will aim to understand consumer needs, market segments, and competition to define a robust business model that ensures the long-term sustainability of our commercialization efforts. Our innovative project represents a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of the European textile industry.

The European population is ageing but, for many countries and Portugal in particular, the extra years of life are not free of disability. Diet is known to be important for health and dietary protein specifically for maintaining physical function, though few European countries have good data on the impact of protein malnutrition on disability in later life. In the Impact of Dietary Protein on Disability in ageing Europeans (InDEPENDEnt) project, I will contribute to the World Health Organisation’s goal of maintaining the functional capacity of older people by conducting the first meta-analysis of European data to determine the optimal level of dietary protein (and in relation to physical activity) to slow disability progression and provide the first reliable estimates of how many cases of disability could be prevented by an adequate protein intake in Portugal. To undertake the project I will move from Newcastle University (UNEW, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) to the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL, Lisboa, Portugal) to increase my knowledge of musculoskeletal health and disability, in addition bringing an existing collaboration in nutritional epidemiology and ageing from the Vrije University, Amsterdam. My overall objective is to build on my expertise in nutritional epidemiology and functional outcomes in gerontology, while gaining professional independence.