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I am currently a PhD student in Molecular Biosciences program from ITQB & FCT-NOVA. I am performing research work at Functional Glycobiology and Macromolecular Crystallography Groups at UCIBIO, Faculty of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon within the research areas of Structural Biology and Glycobiology. The main goal of my PhD is to elucidate the interaction of PULs proteins from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron for host-derived glycans, particularly mucin O-glycans and enteric pathogens. To adress that, I am using X-ray crystallography and carbohydrate microarray technology as main methodologies. My PhD outcomes will be important to 1)understand how this recognition influences the balance of being beneficial to the host and 2)how bacteria establish molecular communication for utilization of host glycans to promote microbial replication and activation of the immune response. Addressing these questions could lead to novel strategies to prevent infection, either directly or by promoting colonization of beneficial bacteria.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Raquel Lopes Costa

Citation names

  • Costa, Raquel

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
C51E-D98C-9BEC
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7973-0721

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Intermediate (B1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Intermediate (B1)
Portuguese Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Education
Degree Classification
2018/01/01 - 2023/12/31
Concluded
 Biociências Moleculares (Doutoramento)
Major in Structural Biology and Glycobiology
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Deciphering the human-microbiome glyco-code: an integrative approach to uncover protein-glycan interactions in the gut environment" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2016
Concluded
 Biochemistry (Mestrado)
Major in Biochemistry
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Ligand discovery and structural-functional analysis of proteins involved in plant cell wall degradation" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17 out of 20
2013
Concluded
 Biochemistry (Licenciatura)
Major in Biochemistry
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Biodiesel production with supercritical carbon dioxide" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 14 out of 20
Affiliation

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2018/01/01 - 2023/12/31 PhD student in Molecular Biosciences Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2018/04 - 2018/04 Laboratory rotation at the Cell Line Development and Molecular Biotechnology from Animal Cell Technology Unit Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2018/03 - 2018/03 Laboratory rotation at the Glycoimmunology Lab, Departamento de Ciências da vida Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2018/02 - 2018/03 Laboratory rotation at the Advanced Models Laboratory from Animal Cell Technology Unit Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2017/01/01 - 2017/12/01 Master of Science Research Fellow REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2015/09/01 - 2016/10/01 Internship for research work (Master's Degree) REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2014/10 - 2014/11 Laboratory rotation at the Molecular Biophysics laboratory Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal
2014/09 - 2014/10 Laboratory rotation at the Macromolecular Crystallography Group REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2013/01/01 - 2013/07/01 Internship for research work (Bachelor degree) Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023 - 2026 GlycOSELECT: Targeting a toolbox of microbiome O-Glycan-Selective proteins towards new approaches in cancer research
2022.06104.PTDC
Researcher
2018/01 - 2022/12 Deciphering the human-microbiome glyco-code: an integrative approach to uncover protein-glycan interactions in the gut environment
Provided by PTCRIS: 139494
PD/BD/135517/2018
PhD Student Fellow
REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2017/01/01 - 2017/12/31 An integrative structural biology approach to characterize the protein-carbohydrate microbial recognition
PTDC/BBB-BEP/0869/2014
Research Fellow
REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Contract

Designation Funders
2018/09 - 2021/09 GLYCOINTERACT: Glycan-human microbiome interaction: glycan diversity and recognition in the human gut with impact on health and nutrition
PTDC/BIA-MIB/31730/2017
PhD Student Fellow
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2013 - 2013 Continuous Production of Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil Using Green Chemistry
PERG02-GA-2007-224930
Projecto Licenciatura
Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal
 European Union

Other

Designation Funders
2015/09 - 2016/10 Protein-carbohydrate recognition in polysaccharide biodegradation: characterization studies using carbohydrate microarrays and macromolecular crystallography
SFRH/BD/100569/2014
Other
REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. R.L. Costa, V.G. Correia, B.A. Pinheiro, Y. Liu, M.J. Romão, W. Chai, T. Feizi, A.L. Carvalho & A.S. Palma. "Molecular recognition of Mucin O-glycans by Human Gut Microbiota". Paper presented in GluPor14, 2023.
  2. Costa, Raquel. Corresponding author: Costa, Raquel. "Strategies to solve the 3D structures of two proteins from a prominent human gut commensal". Paper presented in Diamond-CCP4 Data Collection and Structure Solution Course, 2020.
  3. Costa, Raquel. "Deciphering the molecular details of human host O-glycan recognition by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron". Paper presented in Annual PhD meeting, 2020.
  4. Costa, Raquel. "Unravelling the carbohydrate-specificity of a novel LysM domain from Clostridium thermocellum". Paper presented in 25th International Symposium on Glycoconjugates 2019, 2019.
  5. Costa, Raquel. "Identification and structural-functional characterization of a new chitin-binding protein module from Clostridium thermocellum". Paper presented in Biomolecules in Action II: FEBS Advanced Course 2019, 2019.
  6. Costa, Raquel. "Structural-functional Characterization of a New LysM Domain from Clostridium thermocellum”, UCIBIO Annual Meeting, FCT-UNL, Portugal, October 2018". 2018.
  7. Costa, Raquel. "Structural-functional characterization of a new chitin-binding protein module from Clostridium thermocellum”. 7th ENURS, FCT-UNL, Portugal, June 2018". 2018.
  8. Costa, Raquel. "Glycan-ligand discovery for Halilectin-3, a new lectin from marine sponge Haliclona caerulea. 12ª Reunião do grupo dos Glúcidos, Glupor12, Aveiro, Portugal, September 2017". 2017.
    10.18803/capsi.v17.1-22
  9. Costa, Raquel. "Structural-functional characterization of a novel chitin binding domain (LysM) from Clostridium thermocellum. 6th ENURS, LNEG ( Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia), Portugal, May 2017". 2017.
    10.20906/cps/con-2016-0210
  10. Costa, Raquel. "Ligand discovery and structural-functional analysis of proteins involved in plant cell wall biodegradation. 5th ENURS, ITQB (Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica), Portugal, June 2016". 2016.
  11. "Unravelling carbohydrate binding specificities of CBMomes from two cellulolytic bacteria using an integrative high-throughput approach.". Paper presented in Summer Course Glycosciences Groningen, Netherlands, June 2016 [Poster], 2016.
  12. Costa, Raquel. "Determination of the hydrodynamic diameter of a cytochrome c with dynamic light scattering. Molecular Spectroscopy, Caparica, Portugal, 2015". 2015.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Costa, Raquel. "Ligand discovery and structural-functional analysis of proteins involved in plant cell wall degradation". Master, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2016.
  2. Costa, Raquel. "Biodiesel production with supercritical CO2". Degree, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2013.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2018/11 Functional and structural characterization of human microbiome systems for glycan recognition in the gut. 9th PhD annual meeting, ITQB-UNL, November 2018 [Oral presentation by Viviana Correia] 9th PhD annual meeting
2017/09 Identification and structural-functional characterization of a new chitin-binding protein module from Clostridium thermocellum. 12ª Reunião do grupo dos Glúcidos, Glupor12, Aveiro, Portugal, September 2017 [Oral communication by Diana Ribeiro] 12ª Reunião do grupo dos Glúcidos

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2023/01/16 - 2023/01/18 GLUPOR14 - 14th International Meeting of the Portuguese Carbohydrate Group committee 2023 (2023/01/16 - 2023/01/18)
2022/09/30 - 2022/09/30 2022 European Researchers' Night, Lisbon (2022/09/30 - 2022/09/30)
2016/04 - 2016/04 Volunteer at "EXPO FCT - Open Day" activities at FCT/UNL (2016/04 - 2016/04)
Other
 REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2013 - 2013 Co-organization of “JorTec Bioquímica” – Jornadas Tecnológicas de Bioquímica (2013 - 2013)
Conference (Co-organisor)
 Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2016/05 - Current Workshop entitled “Mass Spectrometry and Carbohydrates” organized by the Mass Spectrometry Center and NEQ (Núcleo de Estudantes de Química) in University of Aveiro
Workshop
2020/12 - 2020/12 Dinamond-CCP4 Data Collection and Structure Solution Course, Online
2020/11 - 2020/11 Innogly virtual training in glycoanalysis and glycoinformatics, Online
2020/05 - 2020/05 NIH & FDA Glycosciences Researh
2019/11 - 2019/11 Functional Glyconanomaterials for the development of diagnostics and target therapeutic probes, 1st meeting COST Action CA18132, Caparica, Portugal
2019/08 - 2019/08 25th International Symposium on Glycoconjugates, Milan, Italy
2019/06 - 2019/06 International Summer School of Crystallography, DESY, Hamburg, Germany
2019/06 - 2019/06 FEBS Advanced Course: Biomolecules in Action II, DESY, Hamburg, Germany
2017/11 - 2017/11 Workshop “Value Creation Wheel - Finding the Best job for me” (Funding Applications & Career Development) at FCT-NOVA
Workshop
Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2017/09 - 2017/09 Glupor12, 12ª Reunião do grupo dos Glúcidos, Aveiro, Portugal
2017/06 - 2017/06 Glycocan anual meeting, Caparica, Portugal
2017/05 - 2017/05 Participation in 6th ENURS, LNEG (Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia), Lisbon, Portugal
2017/02 - 2017/02 Workshop “How to write a good CV” (Funding Applications & Career Development) at FCT-NOVA
Workshop
Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2016/02 - 2016/02 Workshop entitled “Think metabolic, think Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG)” Educational Program on CDG, Lisbon
Workshop

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2019/01 - Current Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica
2017/06 - Current Sociedade Portuguesa de Química

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2019/01 - 2019/01 CCP4 study weekend 2019, "Integrated, rational Molecular Replacement", Nothingam, UK
2016 - 2019 Field work at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France) to collect X-ray diffraction data from protein crystals.

Scientific expedition

Activity description Institution / Organization
2019/04 - 2019/04 Field work at the MAXIV (Lund, Sweden) to collect X-ray diffraction data from protein crystals
Distinctions

Award

2023 Molecular recognition of Mucin O-glycans by Human Gut Microbiota
2020 Best poster Award, Diamond–CCP4 Data Collection and Structure Solution Workshop, Online course from Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire, UK
2019 Travel bursary for attending at the CCP4 study weekend, Nothingam
2019 FEBS Youth Travel Funds (YTF) Grant to support participation on FEBS Advanced course: Biomolecules in Action II, DESY, Hamburg, Germany

Title

2008 Second highest grade of high school final Mathematics exam with a final grade of 19.6 out of 20

Other distinction

2018 PhD Studentship in Molecular Biosciences - "Deciphering the human-microbiome glyco-code: an integrative approach to uncover protein-glycan interactions in the gut environment"
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2017 Master of Science Research Fellowship - "An integrative structural biology approach to characterize the protein-carbohydrate microbial recognition"
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal