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Currently enrolled in the Ph.D program in Biotechnology and Biosciences from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon University (UL), my research focuses on increasing octocorals resilience towards climate change scenarios through microbiome manipulation, as well as exploring octocoral-associated viruses. In collaboration with Oceanário de Lisboa, my Ph.D project explores the octocoral microbiome of manmade marine ecosystems and their putative role in the preservation of microbial symbionts of octocorals. To implement microbiome therapy for octocorals, I conducted aquarium experiments as a visiting researcher at the Red Sea Research Centre (RSRC) at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). These experiments examined the octocoral holobiont response to temperature and pathogen stress. During my Ph.D, I also co-supervised a master’s student, fostering mentorship skills alongside my research. I obtained my Master's degree in Biotechnology in December 2019 from IST-UL, graduating with an Academic Merit Diploma in 2019 and an Academic Excellence Diploma in 2020. In my master thesis, I investigated the bioactivity of chemical extracts from marine bacterial symbionts of octocorals and marine sponges against human lung and breast cancer cells. This work involved phenotypic and genotypic screenings of these bacterial isolates, and applied functional genomics and bioinformatics tools to assess their secondary metabolite coding potential. Following my Master's, I deepened my scientific training in marine metagenomics, annotating metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from uncultured Planktomarina sp. (Alphaproteobacteria) of the Atlantic Ocean. Earlier in my academic journey, during my Bachelor’s degree in Biology (specializing in Molecular Biology and Genetics) at Faculdade de Ciências (UL), I worked in the area of phytoremediation, assessing the impact of environmental stresses on the fatty acid profiles and gene expression of Brassica juncea. Fascinated by the myriad facets of Biology, I also completed an internship in Molecular Biology and HIV Epidemiology at the Faculty of Pharmacy (UL) and participated in workshops on Forensic Entomology and Biological Anthropology. To date, I have authored/co-authored five research articles in international, peer-reviewed journals and presented my work in over 20 oral and poster communications at multiple international and national scientific conferences, meetings and workshops. Beyond research, I thrive in multidisciplinary teams, valuing collaboration, learning, and knowledge exchange. With an organized mindset and a positive outlook, I embrace opportunities to balance academic challenges with personal growth, always eager to share experiences and explore new perspectives.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Matilde Sangreman Proença Maia Marques

Citation names

  • Marques, Matilde

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
A91D-4363-0132
ORCID iD
0000-0001-9443-0893
Google Scholar ID
XHbvH2QAAAAJ

Email addresses

  • matildesangremanmarques@tecnico.ulisboa.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Marine Biology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Health-Related Biotechnology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Proficiency (C2) Upper intermediate (B2) Advanced (C1)
French Beginner (A1) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1)
Education
Degree Classification
2021/02/05 - 2025/02/05
Ongoing
 Biotecnologia e Biociências (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
"Microbiome therapy for improved coral health and reef resilience" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2017/09 - 2019/12
Concluded
 Biotecnologia (Mestrado)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
"Assessment of anticancer activities in marine sponge- and coral-associated bacteria" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17
2014/09 - 2017/07
Concluded
 Biologia (Licenciatura)
Major in Molecular e Genética
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
 14
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2023/08/06 - 2024/04/30 Visiting Researcher (Research) King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
2022/09/24 - 2022/12/02 Visiting Researcher (Research) King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
2020/05/01 - 2021/04/30 Research Assistant (Research) Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Portugal
2020/01/01 - 2020/04/30 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2016/10 - 2017/05 Volunteer Researcher Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023/02/01 - Current Blue Bioeconomy Pact (PBA) - Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR); Active on Work Package WP9 - Portuguese Blue Biobank
C632741873-00467082
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
 European Union (NextGenerationEU)
Ongoing
2020/05/01 - 2021/04/30 Symbioreactor - Sustainable production of bioactive metabolites from microbial symbionts of marine sponges and corals.
FA05-2017-032
Research Fellow
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Portugal
 Direção-Geral de Política do Mar
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Marques, Matilde; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Climate change impacts on octocoral holobionts: from emerging pathogens to probiotic solutions". Paper presented in PhD Open Days 2024 – 10th edition, 2024.
  2. Marques, Matilde; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Climate change impacts on octocoral holobionts: from emerging pathogens to probiotic solutions". Paper presented in MIT Portugal Annual Conference 2024, 2024.
  3. Marques, Matilde; Santos, Elsa; Baylina, Núria; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Insights into the culturable community and symbiosis-related traits of bacteria from long-term aquarium and Red Sea tropical octocorals". Paper presented in Joint Microbiology & Infection Conference 2024, 2024.
  4. Marques, Matilde; Santos, Elsa; Baylina, Núria; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Insights into the culturable bacterial community of long-term aquarium tropical octocorals". Paper presented in Encontro Ciência 2023, 2023.
  5. Marques, Matilde; Santos, Elsa; Baylina, Núria; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Insights into the culturable bacterial community of long-term aquarium tropical octocorals". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec ’23, 2023.
  6. Couceiro, Joana F.; Marques, Matilde; Silva, Sandra G.; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Aquimarina aquimarinae sp. nov. and Aquimarina spinosulus sp. nov., new bacterial species with versatile natural product biosynthesis potential". Paper presented in Bacterial Genetics and Ecology 2023 – BAGECO 2023, 2023.
  7. João Fragoso Almeida; Marques, Matilde; Oliveira, Vanessa; Conceição Egas; Mil-Homens, Dalila; Viana, Romeu; Cleary, D.; et al. "Marine Sponge and Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Show Versatile Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Potential and Antimicrobial Activities against Human Pathogens". Paper presented in International Conference on Culture Collections 2023 – ICCC15, 2023.
    10.3390/md21010034
  8. Marques, Matilde; Santos, Elsa; Baylina, Núria; Raquel Peixoto; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Insights into the culturable bacterial community of long-term aquarium tropical octocorals". Paper presented in Bacterial Genetics and Ecology 2023 – BAGECO 2023, 2023.
  9. João Fragoso Almeida; Marques, Matilde; Oliveira, Vanessa; Egas, Conceição; Mil-Homens, Dalila; Viana, Romeu; Cleary, D.; et al. "Marine Sponge and Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Show Versatile Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Potential and Antimicrobial Activities against Human Pathogens". Paper presented in Bacterial Genetics and Ecology 2023 – BAGECO 2023, 2023.
  10. Marques, Matilde; Keller-Costa, Tina; Baeta, Rui L.; Lago-Lestón, Asunción; Rocha, Ulisses; Páez-Espino, David; Kyrpides, Nikos C.; Costa, Rodrigo. "Functional and comparative metagenomics of viral communities in healthy and diseased octocoral tissue and seawater". Paper presented in International Coral Reef Symposium 2022 – ICRS 2022, 2022.
  11. Marques, Matilde; Almeida, João; Mil-Homens, Dalila; Fialho, Arsénio; Oliveira, Vanessa; Gomes, Newton; Costa, Rodrigo; Keller-Costa, Tina. "Bioprospecting bacterial symbionts of marine animals: sponge and coral-associated Gammaproteobacteria inhibit growth of notorious human and aquaculture pathogens". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec ’21, 2021.
  12. Marques, Matilde; Keller-Costa, Tina; Lago-Lestón, Asunción; Ulisses Nunes da Rocha; Kyrpides, Nikos C.; Páez-Espino, David; Costa, Rodrigo. "Functional and comparative metagenomics of viral communities in healthy and diseased octocoral tissue and seawater". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec ’21, 2021.
  13. Almeida, João; Marques, Matilde; Oliveira, Vanessa; Egas, Conceição; Mil-Homens, Dalila; Fialho, Arsénio; Teixeira, Miguel Cacho; et al. "Marine host-associated bacteria show versatile secondary metabolite biosynthesis capacities and antimicrobial activities.". Paper presented in MicroBiotec 21, 2021.
  14. Couceiro, Joana F.; Keller-Costa, Tina; Marques, Matilde; Kyrpides, Nikos C.; Woyke, Tanja; Whitman, William B.; Costa, Rodrigo. "The Roseibium album (Labrenzia alba) pangenome reveals multiple symbiosis factors likely underpinning host-microbe relationships in the marine benthos". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec ’21, 2021.
  15. Marques, Matilde; Keller-Costa, Tina; Raquel Peixoto; Costa, Rodrigo. "Microbiome therapy for improved octocoral health and reef resilience". Paper presented in MIT Portugal Annual Conference 2021, 2021.
  16. Marques, Matilde; Silva, Sandra G.; Bernardes, Nuno; Keller-Costa, Tina; Fialho, Arsénio; Costa, Rodrigo. "Extracellular metabolites from Aquimarina (Bacteroidetes) species possess promising anticancer activity". Paper presented in Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec’19, 2019.
Journal article
  1. Matilde Marques; Daniela M.G. da Silva; Elsa Santos; Núria Baylina; Raquel Peixoto; Nikos C. Kyrpides; Tanja Woyke; et al. "Genome sequences of four novel Endozoicomonas strains associated with a tropical octocoral in a long-term aquarium facility". Microbiology Resource Announcements (2025): https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00833-24.
    10.1128/mra.00833-24
  2. Joana F. Couceiro; Matilde Marques; Sandra G. Silva; Tina Keller-Costa; Rodrigo Costa. "Aquimarina aquimarini sp. nov. and Aquimarina spinulae sp. nov., novel bacterial species with versatile natural product biosynthesis potential isolated from marine sponges". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (2024): https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006228.
    10.1099/ijsem.0.006228
  3. Couceiro, Joana F.; Keller-Costa, Tina; Marques, Matilde; Kyrpides, Nikos C.; Woyke, Tanja; Whitman, William B.; Costa, Rodrigo. Corresponding author: Costa, Rodrigo. "The Roseibium album (Labrenzia alba) Genome Possesses Multiple Symbiosis Factors Possibly Underpinning Host-Microbe Relationships in the Marine Benthos". Microbiology Resource Announcements 10 34 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mra.00320-21.
    Published • 10.1128/mra.00320-21
  4. Marques, Matilde; Borges, Nuno; Silva, Sandra Godinho; da Rocha, Ulisses Nunes; Lago-Lestón, Asunción; Keller-Costa, Tina; Costa, Rodrigo. "Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of Three Uncultured Planktomarina sp. Strains from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean". Microbiology Resource Announcements 9 12 (2020): http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mra.00127-20.
    Published • 10.1128/mra.00127-20
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Marques, Matilde. "Assessment of anticancer activities in marine sponge- and coral-associated bacteria". Master, Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, 2019.
Translation
  1. Marques, Matilde; Joana Couceiro; Keller-Costa, Tina. Corresponding author: Keller-Costa, Tina. Coral Heroes - Translation of the International Comic Magazine -Coral Heroes- into Portuguese. This comic magazine for children and adolescents is published for educational purposes to provide information on the value, importance, and the threats to coral reefs around the world.. SECORE Int. 2023.
    Published
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/11 Climate change impacts on octocorals: from emerging pathogens to probiotic solutions Pitch Competition at PhD Open Days 2024 – 10th edition
Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal)
2024/11 Explorando a comunidade bacteriana cultivável e as suas características simbióticas em octocorais tropicais de aquário e do Mar Vermelho Microbiologia 2024
2024/07 Insights into the culturable community and symbiosis-related traits of bacteria from long-term aquarium and Red Sea tropical octocorals European Coral Reef Symposium – ECRS 2024
(Italy)
2022/10/18 Aquimarina aquimarinae sp. nov. e Aquimarina spinosulus sp. nov., novas espécies bacterianas com potencial biossintético de produtos naturais Microbiologia 2022
2022/09/20 Microbiome therapy for improved octocoral health and reef resilience MIT Portugal Annual Conference 2022
(Portugal)
2021/11 Marine host-associated bacteria show versatile secondary metabolite biosynthesis capacities and antimicrobial activities Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Microbiotec ’21

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2023/09 - 2024/11 A Genome-Centric Perspective on the Endozoicomonadaceae Family in Marine Symbioses, and Description of Endozoicomonas lisbonensis sp. nov., a Novel Bacterium Associated with Octocorals
Co-supervisor
 Microbiology (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2018/03 - 2018/03 Collaborator in the IV Bioengineering Week. As a receptionist, I greeted speakers and attendees, signed them in and directed them to their destination. As a publicist, I advertised different activities occurring during the event to the target-audience. (2018/03)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/09 - 2024/09 Participation on a dissemination stand "From Sea-crets to Solutions: Marine Microbes in the Blue Bioeconomy" as a team member of the Research Group Microbial Ecology and Marine Metagenomics, from Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico. Engagement with the public showcasing the role of marine microbes in the blue bioeconomy.
Exhibition
 International Microorganism Day
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2024/05 - 2024/05 Participation on a dissemination stand "The wonderful world of marine bacteria" as a team member of the Research Group Microbial Ecology and Marine Metagenomics, from Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico. Engagement with the public showcasing the taxonomy and functional diversity of marine bacteria, highlighting biotechnological potential.
Exhibition
 Dia do Técnico
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2023/07/04 - 2023/07/05 Metagenomic and bioinformatic insights into microbial communities.
Workshop
 Meta_Microbial: Metagenomic and bioinformatic insights into microbial communities
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2023/05/20 - 2023/05/20 Participation on a dissemination stand "The wonderful world of marine bacteria" as a team member of the Research Group Microbial Ecology and Marine Metagenomics, from Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico. Engagement with the public showcasing the taxonomy and functional diversity of marine bacteria.
Exhibition
 Dia do Técnico
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2023/04/05 - 2023/04/05 Exploring key oral communication skills, to ultimately contribute to better presentations of scientific work when addressing peers or lay people.
Workshop
 Oral Communication
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT Portugal Program, Portugal
2022/08/29 - 2022/09/02 Introduction to core computational skills, including task automation, version control, and modular programming.
Workshop
 Software Carpentry
Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom
2022/06/20 - 2022/07/01 Overview of Python language with an emphasis on biology related practical problem solving, using examples and exercises drawn from various aspects of bioinformatics work.
Workshop
 Introduction to Python for Biologists
Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom
2022/05/23 - 2022/05/23 Participation on a dissemination stand "The wonderful world of marine bacteria" as a team member of the Research Group Microbial Ecology and Marine Metagenomics, from Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico. Engagement with the public showcasing the taxonomy and functional diversity of marine bacteria, highlighting biotechnological potential.
Exhibition
 Dia do Técnico
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2021/09/16 - 2021/09/21 Introduction on how to keep students engaged, key aspects of students-centered learning for effective learning and strategies to develop as a teacher.
Workshop
 Teaching STEM Students - Transformation Guide for Teaching Assistants
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2019/12 - 2019/12 Initiation on Data Management focusing on its applicability and importance. The consequences of researchers using different platforms with different classification criteria were discussed. A Data Management Plan was then created and discussed.
Workshop
 Ready for BioData Management?
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2018/03 - 2018/03 Presentation of the different areas of Anthropology, with examples of where and who can practice it. Hands-on exercise where age assessment and a sexual diagnosis where performed on human bones.
Workshop
 Antropologia Biológica e Forense: O que dizem os nossos ossos sobre nós?
Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz, Portugal
2018/03 - 2018/03 Introduction to the relevance of Networking based on true stories, either due to self-initiative or by chance. The importance of philanthropic networking was also discussed.
Workshop
 Networking Skills: Tips and Tricks to Connect
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2017/02 - 2017/02 Introduction to Forensic Entomology and the stages of human decomposition and respective insect succession. Presentation of morphological characteristics of insects followed by sampling, identification and conservation of Diptera and Coleoptera of forensic interest.
Workshop
 Entomologia Forense
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2013/09 - 2014/06 Designing and execution of projects based on ONU's Sustainable Development Goals to tackle community issues (such as poverty and elderly abandonment).
Other
 VI Edição do Projeto “Make It Possible”
AIESEC Portugal, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2021 - Current Portuguese Society for Microbiology (SPM) https://spmicrobiologia.wordpress.com/ Active Member
Distinctions

Award

2021 Best Poster Communication Award in Microbiotec21

Title

2023 SDI Advanced Adventure Diver
2018 SDI Open Water Scuba Diver
SDI/TDI, Portugal

Other distinction

2019 Academic Excellence Diploma for my Masters in Biotechnology
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
2018 Academic Merit Diploma for my Masters Studies
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal