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Isabel Silva is currently a research fellow at the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) at the University of Coimbra (UC), actively contributing to the One Health Research Group (ONE) and the MicroResist Lab. As a microbiologist specializing in antimicrobial resistance, her research examines how anthropogenic contaminants contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment, aiming to develop effective strategies to tackle this critical global challenge. She graduated with a degree in Biology in 2016 and an MSc in Microbiology in 2018, both from the University of Aveiro (UA), and completed her PhD in Biosciences at UC in October 2024. During her PhD, Isabel focused on the role of microplastic contamination in the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic systems. Her PhD work, funded by an FCT grant, was recognized with awards such as the "UC-Life Sciences Award in Biology " and the "Fluviário Award - Young Scientist of the Year" both in 2023. Although she just completed her PhD, Isabel secured funding through 4 grants and contributed to 6 projects. She published 10 papers, including 7 as 1st author, collectively earning over 180 citations (h-index = 6). She has also shared her work at numerous international conferences through both poster and oral presentations.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Isabel Alexandre Teixeira da Silva

Citation names

  • Silva, Isabel

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
271C-F06A-3DDE
ORCID iD
0000-0003-2254-1636

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2020/04/01 - 2024/10/18
Concluded
 Biociências (Doutoramento)
Major in Microbiologia
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
"Analysis of microplastics' microbiome: role in antibiotic resistance spread" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 19
2016/09 - 2018/12
Concluded
 Microbiologia (Mestrado)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
"Role of metals in the selection of antibiotic resistance" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2015/09/01 - 2016/07/31
Concluded
 Degree-Internship Project (Outros)
Major in Internship Project
Universidade Católica Portuguesa Portuguesa Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Portugal
 19
2011/09 - 2016/07
Concluded
 Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
"Inactivation of cefotaxime-resistant gram-negative bacteria producing ESBLs or plasmid-encoded AmpC-like enzymes in wastewater by ultraviolet disinfection" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 15
Affiliation

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024/07/01 - 2024/12/31 Research Fellow in project: "Exploiting the power of Portuguese macroalgae and halophytes: A promising approach to tackle antibiotic resistance" Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, Portugal
2020/04/01 - 2024/10/18 PhD student Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
(...)
2019/01/01 - 2020/03/31 Research Fellow in project METOXCLIM (BI/CESAM/0063/METOXCLIM/2018). Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
2018/07/01 - 2018/10/31 Research Fellow in project "Antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems: quantify risks and outline solutions” (BI/CESAM/0019/IF/00492/2013) Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2024/07/01 - 2024/12/31 Exploiting the power of Portuguese macroalgae and halophytes: A promising approach to tackle antibiotic resistance
IT137-24-211
Research Fellow
Ongoing
2020/04/01 - 2024/06/13 Analysis of microplastics' microbiome: role in antibiotic resistance spread
SFRH/BD/144902/ 2019
PhD Student Fellow
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2020/03/31 METOXCLIM - Metal contamination in a global warming perspective: effects on soil properties and relation with toxicity changes
BI/CESAM/0063/METOXCLIM/2018
Research Fellow
Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2018/07/01 - 2018/10/31 Antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems: quantify risks and outline solutions
BI/CESAM/0019/IF/00492/2013
Research Fellow
Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Other

Designation Funders
2022 - 2024 MICRANT: Microplastics in Estarreja rivers and their role in the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance
MICRANT
Team member
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2020/03/01 MICROCLIM - Effects of global warming on microbial populations from contaminated agricultural soils in the area of Estarreja
National Center for Scientific Research/Institute of Ecology and Environment (CNRS/INEF), via LabEx DRIIHM—Dispositif de Recherche Interdisciplinaire
Team member
Concluded
2015/09/01 - 2016/07/30 Stopping Antibiotic Resistance Evolution
WaterJPI/0002/2013
Team member
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Ines Alçada; Silva, Isabel; Marta Cristina Oliveira Tacão; Isabel da Silva Henriques. "Polymer type and environmental conditions determine the plastisphere and associated resistome.". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023.
  2. Martins, R.,; Silva, S.,; Figueiredo, J.,; Santana, L.,; Maia, F.,; Rocha, C.,; Sushkova, A.,; et al. "Nanotechnology-based coatings: a framework for the anti-fouling efficacy, toxicity and risk assessment". Paper presented in SETAC SciCon Europe 30th Annual Meeting (online), 2020.
  3. Silva, Isabel; Marta Alves; Catarina Malheiro; A. Rita R. Silva; Susana Loureiro; Isabel Henriques. "Effects of climate change on soil microbiome.". Paper presented in 4th Thunen Symposium on Soil Matagenomics, Braunschweig, Germany, 2019.
    10.13031/cc.20152095015
  4. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Henriques, Isabel. "Selection of antibiotic resistance by metals in a riverine bacterial community". Paper presented in Microbiotec’19, Coimbra Portugal, 2019.
  5. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Henriques, Isabel. "Metal-driven antibiotic resistance selection in freshwater microcosms". Paper presented in One Health Day, Aveiro, Portugal, 2019.
  6. González-Alcaraz, M.N; Malheiro, C; Cardoso, D.N; Silva, A.R.R; Quintaneiro, C; Ferreira, A; Alves, M; et al. "Soil metal-contamination meets global climate change: effects on soil properties and toxicity risks to soil biota". Paper presented in SETAC Europe 29th Annual Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, 2019.
  7. González-Alcaraz, Nazaret; Silva, Isabel; Silva, Rita; Alves, Marta; Malheiro, Catarina; Cardoso, Diogo; Henriques, Isabel; Loureiro, Susana. "MICROCLIM - Effects of global warming on microbial populations from contaminated agricultural soils in the area of Estarreja". Paper presented in 6eme Colloque de Restitution do OHM- Estarreja, Aveiro, Portugal, 2019.
  8. Dias L.,; Alves J.J.C.,; Silva I.,; Tacão M.,; Pellizari V.,; Henriques I.,; Silva A.,; Folador A.. "Perfil de resistência a metais pesados em Exiguobacterium antarcticum estirpe B7". Paper presented in XXIV congresso Latino Americano de Microbiologia 13-16 Novembro, Santiago, Chile., 2018.
  9. Rafael Tavares; Isabel Silva; Sofia Figueiredo; Célia Manaia; Marta Tacão; Isabel Henriques.. "Antibiotic-resistant E. coli in an UV-treated effluent: troubled waters ahead?". Paper presented in MicroBiotec 2017, Porto, Portugal, 2017.
  10. Susana Araújo; Isabel Silva; Marta Tacão; Artur Alves; Isabel Henriques. "Antibiotic resistance in environmental Escherichia coli: a public health concern". Paper presented in Research Day’15, Aveiro, Portugal, 2015.
  11. Susana Araújo; Isabel Silva; Marta Tacão; Isabel Henriques; Artur Alves. "Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli from vegetables and irrigation water: a public health concern". Paper presented in ENPGCB’15 – IV Encontro Nacional Pós-Graduação Ciências Biológicas. Aveiro, Portugal,, 2015.
  12. Marta Tacão; Catarina Maia; Isabel Silva; António Correia. "Great Diversity of blaOXA-48-like Genes in Aquatic Systems: Have We Been Neglecting The Environment?". Paper presented in 24th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Barcelona, Spain, 2014.
Journal article
  1. Isabel Silva; Elsa T. Rodrigues; Marta Tacão; Isabel Henriques. "Plastisphere in a low-pollution mountain river: Influence of microplastics on survival of pathogenic bacteria". Chemosphere (2024): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143800.
    10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143800
  2. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Henriques, Isabel. "Hidden threats in the plastisphere: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales colonizing microplastics in river water". Science of The Total Environment (2024): 171268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171268.
    10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171268
  3. Silva, Isabel; Alves, Marta; Malheiro, Catarina; Silva, Ana Rita R.; Loureiro, Susana; Henriques, Isabel; González-Alcaraz, M. Nazaret. "Structural and Functional Shifts in the Microbial Community of a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil Exposed to Short-Term Changes in Air Temperature, Soil Moisture and UV Radiation". Genes 15 1 (2024): 107. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes15010107.
    10.3390/genes15010107
  4. Isabel Silva; Elsa T. Rodrigues; Marta Tacão; Isabel Henriques. "Microplastics accumulate priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens: Evidence from the riverine plastisphere". Environmental Pollution (2023): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121995.
    10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121995
  5. Silva, Isabel; Alves, Marta; Malheiro, Catarina; Silva, Ana Rita R.; Loureiro, Susana; Henriques, Isabel; González-Alcaraz, M. Nazaret. "Short-Term Responses of Soil Microbial Communities to Changes in Air Temperature, Soil Moisture and UV Radiation". Genes 13 5 (2022): 850. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes13050850.
    Accepted • 10.3390/genes13050850
  6. Peñalver-Alcalá, Antonio; Álvarez-Rogel, José; Peixoto, Sara; Silva, Isabel; Silva, Ana Rita R.; González-Alcaraz, M. Nazaret. Corresponding author: González-Alcaraz, M. Nazaret. "The relationships between functional and physicochemical soil parameters in metal(loid) mine tailings from Mediterranean semiarid areas support the value of spontaneous vegetation colonization for phytomanagement". Ecological Engineering 168 (2021): 106293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106293.
    Published • 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106293
  7. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Henriques, Isabel. "Selection of antibiotic resistance by metals in a riverine bacterial community". Chemosphere 263, 12793 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127936.
    10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127936
  8. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Tavares, D.S Rafael ; Miranda, Rita; Araújo, Susana; Manaia, M. Célia; Henriques, Isabel. "Fate of cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and ESBL-producers over a full-scale wastewater treatment process with UV disinfection". Science of The Total Environment 639 (2018): 1028-1037. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318801.
    10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2018.05.229
  9. Araújo, Susana; A.T. Silva, Isabel; Tacão, Marta; Patinha, Carla; Alves, Artur; Henriques, Isabel. "Characterization of antibiotic resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli in irrigation water and vegetables in household farms". International Journal of Food Microbiology 257 (2017): 192-200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.06.020.
    10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.06.020
  10. Tacão, Marta; Silva, Isabel; Henriques, Isabel. "Culture-independent methods reveal high diversity of OXA-48-like genes in water environments". Journal of Water and Health 15 4 (2017): 519-525.
    10.2166/wh.2017.260
Magazine article
  1. Susana Araújo; Isabel Silva; Marta Tacão; Artur Alves; Isabel Henriques. "Resistência bacteriana a antibióticos em vegetais e águas de irrigação: um problema de saúde pública", Revista Captar: Ciência e Ambiente para Todos, 2016
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/12/07 Antibiotic-resistant bacteria hitchhiking microplastics in a river: detailed analysis of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in the Plastisphere Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology
(Portugal)
2023/07/09 Priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens get a ride with microplastics in rivers FEMS23
(Germany)
2022/10/17 Estirpes de Klebsiella produtoras de carbapenemases associadas a microplásticos em sistemas aquáticos Congresso internacional em língua portuguesa Microbiologia 2022
(Portugal)
2022/07/03 Microplastics and antibiotic resistant bacteria: fellow travelers across aquatic settings? SIBECOLAIL Meeting
(Aveiro, Portugal)
2020/01/10 Effects of global warming on microbial populations from contaminated agricultural soils in the area of Estarreja 7eme Colloque de Restitution do OHM- Estarreja
(Aveiro, Portugal)
2019/09/10 Will ecotoxicity risks of metal-contaminated soils change with global warming? XXXII Reunión Nacional de Suelos
(Seville, Spain)
2019/07/07 Metal-contaminated soils: an increasing risk in the context of global warming. Ciência 2019 - Encontro com a Ciência e Tecnologia
(Lisboa, Portugal)
2017/06/12 Fate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant and potential impact of UV disinfection International Caparica Conference in Antibiotic Resistance.
(Lisboa, Portugal)
2016 Escherichia coli contamination in irrigation water and fresh produce: prevalence, molecular diversity and antibiotic resistance ECCMID 16 – 26th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(Amsterdam, Netherlands)
2015/12/10 Escherichia coli contamination in irrigation water and fresh produce: prevalence, molecular diversity and antibiotic resistance MicroBiotec 2015
(Évora, Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2024/09 - Current Exploring the Environmental Spread of Antibiotic Resistance to Animals and Plants
Co-supervisor
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
2024/09 - Current Impact of MP Contamination on the Survival of Pathogenic Bacteria in Aquatic Systems
Co-supervisor
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
2024/02/01 - 2024/06/30 Impacto dos microplásticos na sobrevivência de bactérias patogénicas.
Co-supervisor
 Project from the Biochemistry Degree (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/02/01 - 2023/06/30 Os microplásticos como um suporte para aumentar a sobrevivência de bactérias
Co-supervisor
 Project from the Biochemistry Degree (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/02/01 - 2023/06/30 Bactérias resistentes a antibióticos associadas a microplásticos
Co-supervisor
 Project from the Biology Degree (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022/02/01 - 2022/06/29 Microplastics and antimicrobial resistance: Analysis of ciprofloxacin-resistant strains in the Portuguese river Mondego
Co-supervisor
 Project from the Biochemistry Degree (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022/02/01 - 2022/06/29 Characterization of bacteria associated with microplastics that are resistant to antibiotics in Mondego River
Co-supervisor
 Project from the Biology Degree (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2022/07/02 - 2022/07/08 2nd Meeting of the Iberian Ecological Society (SIBECOL), the XXI Congress of the Iberian Association of Limnology (AIL) & the 21st Meeting of the Portuguese Ecological Society (SPECO). Aveiro, Portugal. (2022/07/02 - 2022/07/08) Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/03/18 - 2024/03/23 Semana da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra – “Microorganismos + Microplásticos = Macroproblemas” – Escola Escola Secundária Adolfo Portela, Águeda, Semana da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/02/07 - 2024/02/07 Workshop: "Ciência e Política Pública: Como conseguir Pontes?"
Workshop
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/09/28 - 2023/09/28 O PubhD Coimbra é um evento mensal que convida 3 alunos de doutoramento a explicar os seus projetos de investigação num ambiente descontraído, no bar Liquidâmbar. O evento conta com a participação de alunos de doutoramento de qualquer área, tal como Engenharia, Matemática, Biologia, Direiro, História e Ciência Sociais, que têm 10 minutos e apenas um quadro branco para apresentar o seu projeto de forma a que o público em geral compreenda. Esta iniciativa foi lançada em Nottingham em 2014 e está agora espalhada por vários países da Europa.
Other
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/09/17 - 2023/09/17 Participation in the activities of the international microorganism day
Exhibition
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/07/09 - 2023/07/13 Co-chair in OTS7 Antimicrobial Resistance, Environmental And Medical Aspects of the 10th Congress of European Microbiologists - FEMS23
Conference
 Congress of European Microbiologists - FEMS23
2022/09/30 - 2022/09/30 Volunteer in the activities of the 2022 European Researchers' Night - Coimbra, Portugal
Exhibition
 European Researchers' Night
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022/09/17 - 2022/09/17 Participation in the activities of the international microorganism day - Coimbra, Portugal.
2022/07/26 - 2022/07/26 Scientific monitor at the summer academy of the University of Coimbra in the program ¿Microrganismos + Microplásticos = Macroproblemas, Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/09/17 - 2021/09/17 Participation in the activities of the international microorganism day – “Exposição o meu microorganismo de estimação” - Coimbra, Portugal
2018/09/17 - 2018/09/17 A 2.ª edição do Dia Internacional do Microrganismo "O objetivo deste dia é divulgar e promover a Microbiologia como área de atividade , profissional e consciencializar os jovens e a sociedade em geral para o papel essencial que uma multidão invisível de seres vivos muito diversos desempenha nas nossa saúde, ambiente e qualidade de vida, bem como as suas potencialidades biotecnológicas."
Other
 Dia Internacional do Microrganismo
2018/07/23 - 2018/07/27 Monitor cientifico no curso avançado em Diversidade Microbiana: métodos e aplicações
Other
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2018/07/08 - 2018/07/20 Monitor científico na academia de verão da Universidade de Aveiro no programa “da célula ao ecossistema”
Other
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2016/04/15 - 2016/04/15 Workshop "Resistência a Antibióticos: Contaminante Emergente?"
Workshop
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024/01/26 - 2024/03/22 Ferramentas em toxicologia ambiental: avaliação do impacto de contaminantes (Outros) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/01/27 - 2023/01/28 Post-graduate studies in “Resistência bacteriana e terapêutica” (Pós-Graduação) Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Coimbra, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2024 Prémio Fluviário - Jovem Ciêntista do ano 2023
2024 Prémio UC-Life Sciences na área da Biologia
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
2022 Best oral communication phD student in SIBECOLAIL Meeting
Sociedade Ibérica de Ecologia, Spain

Other distinction

2023 Finalist of the University of Coimbra in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition 4th edition, 2022/2023 – Coimbra, Portugal. March 17, 2023
2023 FEMS (Federation of European Microbiology Society) Congress Attendance Grant for FEMS 2023 - 9 - 13 July 2023, Hamburg, Germany
2023 Co-chair in OTS7 Antimicrobial Resistance, Environmental And Medical Aspects of the 10th Congress of European Microbiologists - FEMS23
2019 FEMS (Federation of European Microbiology Society) Early Career Scientist grant - Travel and meeting attendance grant to Congress: 4th Thünen Symposium on Soil Metagenomics - 11-13 December 2019, Braunschweig, Germany.