Personal identification

Full name

Virgínia Maria Rico Pires

Citation names

• Pires, Virgínia
• Pires VMR
• Pires VR
• Pires V

Author identifiers

Ciência ID

D117-C742-4C35

ORCID iD

0000-0003-1307-3797

Researcher Id

J-4799-2013

Email addresses

• virginia.pires@nzytech.com (Professional)

Telephones

Mobile phone

• 929175976 (Personal)

Addresses

• NZYTech Lda, Estrada do Paço Lumiar - Edif E, r/c, 1649-038, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

• http://ciisa.fmv.ulisboa.pt/en/ (Scholar)
• https://www.nzytech.com/ (Professional)

Knowledge fields

• Agrarian Sciences - Veterinary Sciences
• Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology
• Engineering and Technology - Industrial Biotechnology - Industrial Biotechnology
• Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemical Research Methods
• Agrarian Sciences - Agrarian and Food Biotechnology - Diagnostics
• Agrarian Sciences - Agrarian and Food Biotechnology - Marker Assisted Selection
• Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Health-Related Biotechnology

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
English	Intermediate (B1)	Advanced (C1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)
Spanish; Castilian	Beginner (A1)	Intermediate (B1)	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)
French	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)

	Degree	Classification
2009/10/01 - 2016/02 Concluded	Medicina Veterinária (Mestrado integrado) Major in Biotecnologia e Produção animal Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal "n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	15
2012 Concluded	Estudos Básicos em Ciências da Saúde Animal (Licenciatura) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal "n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	14
2004/01/02 - 2008/10/15 Concluded	Ciências Veterinárias (Doutoramento) Major in Ciências e Tecnologia Animal Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal "Estrutura e Função de módulos não catalíticos envolvidos na degradação da parede celular vegetal: o efeito de enzimas exógenas na valorização nutitiva de dietas à base de Lupinus albus para leitões" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	Aprovado por unanimidade
1993/10 - 1999/07 Concluded	Engenharia Zootécnica (Licenciatura) Universidade dos Açores, Portugal "Marked Assisted Selection - Exemplo do locus da K-caseína em raças bovinas autóctones portuguesas e Holstein Friesien" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	14

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2019/01/01 - Current	Contracted Researcher (Research)	NZYTech Lda, Portugal
2014/01/01 - 2018/12/31	Contracted Researcher (Research)	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal
2014/09/21 - 2014/10/31	Visiting Researcher (Research)	University of York Department of Biology, United Kingdom
2010/01/01 - 2013/12/01	Postdoc (Research)	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal
2009 - 2010	Postdoc (Research)	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal
2008/10/01 - 2009/12/01	Researcher (Research)	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal
2001/03/01 - 2003/12/01	Researcher (Research)	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Portugal
2000/02/01 - 2000/12/01	Researcher (Research)	Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien Institut für Tierzucht und Genetik, Austria
1999/08/01 - 2000/01/01	Researcher (Research)	Universidade dos Açores - Campus de Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2004/01/01 - 2008/10/15	Doutoramento	Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Portugal
2004/01/01 - 2008/10/01	Bolseira de Doutoramento	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Portugal
1998/03/01 - 1998/08/01	Erasmus student	Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Austria

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2001/01/01 - 2003/12	Molecular analysis of bacterial alpha-galactosidases and evaluation of their potential as a supplement of lupin based diets offered to piglets and lambs info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/POCI/33158/PT Research Fellow	Universidade do Algarve Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Concluded
2000/01/01 - 2000/12/31	DNA microsatellites for identity and parentage control in pig BMLF – Project Number 1151 Scientific Initiation Fellow	Concluded

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2018 - 2020	Abordagem multi-ómica para estudar o metabolismo lipidico no rúmen com o fim de melhorar a qualidade dos produtos derivados dos ruminantes PTDC/CAL-ZOO/29654/2017 Researcher	Ongoing
2018 - 2019	Xenografting of bovine ovarian tissue as a model for testing new drugs and examining angiogenesis, follicle premature depletion and dynamics UID/CVT/276/2013 Researcher	Concluded
2018 - 2019	Art Imitates microbes : insights, challenges and opportunities of Lignocellulosic-degrading strategies revealed by anaerobic Fungi UID/CVT/276/2013 Principal investigator	Concluded
2017 - 2018	Dietary induction of stearoylCoA desaturase activity to improve meat fatty acid profile in lambs UID/CVT/276/2013 Researcher	Concluded
2017 - 2018	Understanding the structural determinants of cohesin-dockerin specificity in Ruminococcus flavefaciens celulossomes UID/CVT/276/2013 Researcher	Concluded
2017 - 2018	Role of the sprn and prnp prion family genes in bovine follicular granulosa cells steroidogenesis UID/CVT/276/2013 Researcher	Concluded
2014 - 2018	A novel approach to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the biodegradation of plant biomass IF/01621/2013/CP1183/CT0002 Principal investigator	Concluded
2014 - 2017	Determinantes moleculares de diversidade bacteriana de celulossomas em nichos ecológicos diferentes PTDC/BIA-MIC/5947/2014 Researcher	Concluded
2009 - 2013	Estudo integrado da composição lipídica e da sua regulação genética em carnes de bovino com Denominação de Origem Protegida (DOP) PTDC/CVT/66114/2006 Researcher	Concluded
2009 - 2011	Complexo genético priónico: Novos horizontes na fertilidade ovina PTDC/CVT/98607/2008 Researcher	Concluded
2009 - 2011	Melhoria da repartição e da qualidade nutricional da gordura de Porco: desenvolvimento de estratégias alimentares e elucidação dos mecanismos genéticos e metabólicoso PTDC/CVT/099210/2008 Researcher	Concluded
2008 - 2010	Estrutura e função de novos módulos de ligação a carbohidratos e complexos coesina-doquerina do Clostridium thermocellum PTDC/BIA-PRO/69732/2006 Researcher	Concluded
2006 - 2009	Uma abordagem complementar por cristalografia de raios-X, NMR e química computacional para a compreensão do mecanismo de reconhecimento e ligação de substratos em módulos proteícos de ligação a polissacáridos PTDC/QUI/68286/2006 Researcher	Concluded
1999 - 2000	Desenvolvimento da Biotecnologia na Região Autónoma dos Açores PRAXIS XXI/JNICT Integration into Research Grant Fellow Universidade dos Açores - Campus de Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal	Concluded

Other

	Designation	Funders
2005/01/01 - 2008	CELULOSSOMA E DETERMINANTES MOLECULARES DE ESPECIFICIDADE EM MÓDULOS DE LIGAÇÃO A CARBOHIDRATOS info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/SFRH/SFRH2%FBPD2%F269912%F2006/PT Researcher	Universidade do Algarve Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Concluded

Publications

Conference abstract	Pires VMR. "Probing the unique molecular mechanisms used by Clostridium thermocellum for Cellulosome function". Paper presented in EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTER, 2017. Pires VMR. "Post-ovulatory decrease in the expression of somatotrophic axis genes in the sheep endometrium that apparently does not correlate with MUC1 mRNA levels”". Paper presented in 20th Annual Conference of the European-Society-for-Domestic-Animal-Reproduction (ESDAR)/13th Conference of the Spanish-Association-for-Animal-reproduction (AERA). Reproduction in domestic Animals., 2016.
Conference paper	Pires VMR. "Combined effects of dietary arginine, leucine and protein levels on fatty acid composition and gene expression in pig muscle.". Paper presented in 61th International Congress of meat Science and Technology (ICoMST 2015), 2015. Published Pires VMR. "Expression of SCD and LPL genes and fatty acid profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue of two Portuguese cattle breeds". Paper presented in 57th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology 2011 (ICoMST 2011), 2011.
Journal article	Goyal, D.; Kumar, K.; Centeno, M.S.J.; Thakur, A.; Pires, V.M.R.; Bule, P.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Goyal, A.. "Molecular Cloning, Expression and Biochemical Characterization of a Family 5 Glycoside Hydrolase First Endo-Mannanase (RfGH5_7) from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 v3". Molecular Biotechnology 61 11 (2019): 826-835. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85071038836&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1007/s12033-019-00205-2 Ribeiro, D.O.; Viegas, A.; Pires, V.M.R.; Medeiros-Silva, J.; Bule, P.; Chai, W.; Marcelo, F.; et al. "Molecular basis for the preferential recognition of ß1,3-1,4-glucans by the family 11 carbohydrate-binding module from Clostridium thermocellum". FEBS Journal (2019): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85076724341&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1111/febs.15162 Madeira, M.S.; Rolo, E.A.; Lopes, P.A.; Ramos, D.A.; Alfaia, C.M.; Pires, V.M.R.; Martins, S.V.; Pinto, R.M.A.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Betaine and arginine supplementation of low protein diets improves plasma lipids but does not affect hepatic fatty acid composition and related gene expression profiling in pigs". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 98 2 (2018): 598-608. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85027114944&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1002/jsfa.8504 Kumar, K.; Correia, M.A.S.; Pires, V.M.R.; Dhillon, A.; Sharma, K.; Rajulapati, V.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Carvalho, A.L.; Goyal, A.. "Novel insights into the degradation of ß-1,3-glucans by the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum revealed by structure and function studies of a family 81 glycoside hydrolase". International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 117 (2018): 890-901. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85048200641&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.06.003 Bule, P.; Pires, V.M.; Fontes, C.M.; Alves, V.D.. "Cellulosome assembly: paradigms are meant to be broken!". Current Opinion in Structural Biology 49 (2018): 154-161. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85044480888&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.03.012 Pereira, R.M.; Mesquita, P.; Pires, V.M.R.; Baptista, M.C.; Barbas, J.P.; Pimenta, J.; Horta, A.E.M.; Prates, J.A.M.; Marques, C.C.. "Prion protein testis specific (PRNT) gene polymorphisms and transcript level in ovine spermatozoa: Implications in freezability, fertilization and embryo production". Theriogenology 115 (2018): 124-132. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85048004701&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.04.014 Bule, P.; Pires, V.M.R.; Alves, V.D.; Carvalho, A.L.; Prates, J.A.M.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Smith, S.P.; et al. "Higher order scaffoldin assembly in Ruminococcus flavefaciens cellulosome is coordinated by a discrete cohesin-dockerin interaction". Scientific Reports 8 1 (2018): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85046619629&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1038/s41598-018-25171-8 Martins, Susana V.; Pires, Virginia M. R.; Madeira, Ana P.; Nascimento, Mafalda; Alfaia, CristinaM.; Castro, Matilde F.; Soveral, Graca; Prates, Jose A. M.; Lopes, Paula A.. "Novel anti-adipogenic properties of the individual trans8,cis10 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer in 3T3-L1 adipocytes". European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology 119 2 (2017): http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000394618400015&KeyUID=WOS:000394618400015. 10.1002/ejlt.201600042 Pires, Virgnia M. R.; Pereira, Pedro M. M.; Bras, Joana L. A.; Correia, Marcia; Cardoso, Vania; Bule, Pedro; Alves, Victor D.; et al. "Stability and Ligand Promiscuity of Type A Carbohydrate-binding Modules Are Illustrated by the Structure of Spirochaeta thermophila StCBM64C". Journal of Biological Chemistry 292 12 (2017): 4847-4860. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000397590400009&KeyUID=WOS:000397590400009. 10.1074/jbc.M116.767541 Pinheiro, B. A.; Bras, J. L.; Bule, P.; Pires, V. M.; Romao, M. J.; Alves, V. D.; Palma, A. S.; Fontes, C. M.; Carvalho, A. L.. "Probing the unique molecular mechanisms used by Clostridium thermocellum for Cellulosome function". European Biophysics Journal With Biophysics Letters 46 (2017): S170-S170. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000416406201101&KeyUID=WOS:000416406201101. Madeira, M.S.M.S.; Rolo, E.S.A.; Pires, V.M.R.; Alfaia, C.M.R.P.M.; Coelho, D.F.M.; Lopes, P.A.A.B.; Martins, S.I.V.; Pinto, R.M.A.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Arginine supplementation modulates pig plasma lipids, but not hepatic fatty acids, depending on dietary protein level with or without leucine". BMC Veterinary Research 13 1 (2017): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85020023702&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1186/s12917-017-1063-y Francisco, A.; Alves, S.P.; Portugal, P.V.; Dentinho, M.T.; Jerónimo, E.; Sengo, S.; Almeida, J.; et al. "Effects of dietary inclusion of citrus pulp and rockrose soft stems and leaves on lamb meat quality and fatty acid composition". Animal (2017): 1-10. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85030839817&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1017/S1751731117002269 Mendes-Jorge, L.; Ramos, D.; Valença, A.; López-Luppo, M.; Pires, V.M.R.; Catita, J.; Nacher, V.; et al. "Correction: L-Ferritin Binding to Scara5: A New Iron Traffic Pathway Potentially Implicated in Retinopathy (PLoS ONE (2014) 9:9 (e106974) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106974)". PLoS ONE 12 6 (2017): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85021150302&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1371/journal.pone.0180288 Venditto I; Luis AS; Rydahl M; Schückel J; Fernandes VO; Vidal-Melgosa S; Bule P; et al. "Complexity of the Ruminococcus flavefaciens cellulosome reflects an expansion in glycan recognition.". (2016): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/27298375. 10.1073/pnas.1601558113 Pires VM; Madeira MS; Dowle AA; Thomas J; Almeida AM; Prates JA. "Increased intramuscular fat induced by reduced dietary protein in finishing pigs: effects on the longissimus lumborum muscle proteome.". (2016): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/27279257. Francisco A; Alves SP; Portugal PV; Pires VM; Dentinho MT; Alfaia CM; Jerónimo E; et al. "Effect of feeding lambs with a tanniferous shrub (rockrose) and a vegetable oil blend on fatty acid composition of meat lipids.". (2016): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/27306827. Madeira MS; Pires VM; Alfaia CM; Lopes PA; Martins SV; Pinto RM; Prates JA. "Restriction of dietary protein does not promote hepatic lipogenesis in lean or fatty pigs.". (2016): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/26927728. 10.1017/S0007114516000453 Madeira, M.S.; Rolo, E.A.; Alfaia, C.M.; Pires, V.R.; Luxton, R.; Doran, O.; Bessa, R.J.B.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Influence of betaine and arginine supplementation of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of cross-bred pigs". British Journal of Nutrition 115 6 (2016): 937-950. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84959463104&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1017/S0007114515005218 Bras, Joana L. A.; Pinheiro, Benedita A.; Cameron, Kate; Cuskin, Fiona; Viegas, Aldino; Najmudin, Shabir; Bule, Pedro; et al. "Diverse specificity of cellulosome attachment to the bacterial cell surface". Scientific Reports 6 (2016): http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000389700700001&KeyUID=WOS:000389700700001. 10.1038/srep38292 Francisco, A.; Alves, S.P.; Portugal, P.V.; Pires, V.M.R.; Dentinho, M.T.; Alfaia, C.M.; Jerónimo, E.; et al. "Effect of feeding lambs with a tanniferous shrub (rockrose) and a vegetable oil blend on fatty acid composition of meat lipids". Animal 10 12 (2016): 2061-2073. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84974806511&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1017/S1751731116001129 Pires, V.M.R.; Madeira, M.S.; Dowle, A.A.; Thomas, J.; Almeida, A.M.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Increased intramuscular fat induced by reduced dietary protein in finishing pigs: Effects on the longissimus lumborum muscle proteome". Molecular BioSystems 12 8 (2016): 2447-2457. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84979209141&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1039/c6mb00213g Pires AJ; Ribeiro T; Thompson A; Venditto I; Fernandes VO; Bule P; Santos H; et al. "Purification and crystallographic studies of a putative carbohydrate-binding module from the Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 endoglucanase Cel5A.". (2015): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/26249681. 10.1107/S2053230X15009784 Martins SV; Madeira A; Lopes PA; Pires VM; Alfaia CM; Prates JA; Moura T; Soveral G. "Adipocyte membrane glycerol permeability is involved in the anti-adipogenic effect of conjugated linoleic acid.". (2015): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/25646690. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.01.116 Madeira MS; Pires VM; Alfaia CM; Luxton R; Doran O; Bessa RJ; Prates JA. "Combined effects of dietary arginine, leucine and protein levels on fatty acid composition and gene expression in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of crossbred pigs.". (2014): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24502766. 10.1017/S0007114513004029 Lopes PA; Costa AS; Costa P; Pires VM; Madeira MS; Achega F; Pinto RM; Prates JA. "Contrasting cellularity on fat deposition in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and longissimus lumborum muscle from lean and fat pigs under dietary protein reduction.". (2014): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24636826. 10.1017/S1751731114000160 Mendes-Jorge L; Ramos D; Valença A; López-Luppo M; Pires VM; Catita J; Nacher V; et al. "L-ferritin binding to scara5: a new iron traffic pathway potentially implicated in retinopathy.". (2014): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/25259650. 10.1371/journal.pone.0106974 da Costa AS; Bessa RJ; Pires VM; Rolo EA; Pinto RM; Andrade Fontes CM; Prates JA. "Is hepatic lipid metabolism of beef cattle influenced by breed and dietary silage level?". (2014): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24621212. 10.1186/1746-6148-10-65 MENDES-JORGE, L; VALENÇA, A; RAMOS, D; LOPEZ-LUPPO, M; CATITA, J; PIRES, VMR; NACHER, V; et al. "Scara5 involvement in retinal iron metabolism". Acta Ophthalmologica 91 (2013): 0-0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2013.2475.x. MENDES-JORGE, L; VALENÇA, A; PIRES, VMR; CATITA, J; RAMOS, D; LOPEZ-LUPPO, M; NACHER, V; et al. "Müller cell response during degenerative retinopathy in mice". Acta Ophthalmologica 91 (2013): 0-0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2013.t012.x. Costa, A.S.H.; Silva, M.P.; Alfaia, C.P.M.; Pires, V.M.R.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Bessa, R.J.B.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Genetic background and diet impact beef fatty acid composition and stearoyl-CoA desaturase mRNA expression". Lipids 48 4 (2013): 369-381. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84876290027&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1007/s11745-013-3776-4 da Costa, A.S.H.; Pires, V.M.R.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Mestre Prates, J.A.. "Expression of genes controlling fat deposition in two genetically diverse beef cattle breeds fed high or low silage diets". BMC Veterinary Research 9 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84879053446&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1186/1746-6148-9-118 Madeira, M.S.; Pires, V.M.R.; Alfaia, C.M.; Costa, A.S.H.; Luxton, R.; Doran, O.; Bessa, R.J.B.; Prates, J.A.M.. "Differential effects of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of Alentejana purebred and Large White ×â Landrace ×â Pietrain crossbred pigs". British Journal of Nutrition 110 2 (2013): 216-229. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84879163735&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1017/S0007114512004916 MENDES-JORGE, L; RAMOS, D; LUPPO, M; VALENçA, A; CATITA, J; DUARTE, CM; SIMõES, M; et al. "Blood-retinal barrier serum ferritin transport in mouse retina". Acta Ophthalmologica 90 (2012): 0-0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.t029.x. 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.t029.x Sedwick, C.; Montanier, C.; Money, V.A.; Pires, V.M.R.; Flint, J.E.; Pinheiro, B.A.. "Gene sharing yields an enzyme with two binding sites in one subunit". PLoS Biology 7 3 (2009): 0419-0420. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-65949107062&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000071 Correia, M.A.S.; Pires, V.M.R.; Gilbert, H.J.; Bolam, D.N.; Fernandes, V.O.; Alves, V.D.; Prates, J.A.M.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.. "Family 6 carbohydrate-binding modules display multiple ß1,3-linked glucan-specific binding interfaces". FEMS Microbiology Letters 300 1 (2009): 48-57. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-70349667081&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01764.x Montanier, C.; Money, V.A.; Pires, V.M.R.; Flint, J.E.; Pinheiro, B.A.; Goyal, A.; Prates, J.A.M.; et al. "The active site of a carbohydrate esterase displays divergent catalytic and noncatalytic binding functions". PLoS Biology 7 3 (2009): 0687-0697. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-66149093843&partnerID=MN8TOARS. Montanier, C.; Money, V.A.; Pires, V.M.; Flint, J.E.; Pinheiro, B.A.; Goyal, A.; Prates, J.A.; et al. "The active site of a carbohydrate esterase displays divergent catalytic and noncatalytic binding functions.". PLoS biology 7 3 (2009): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-66149091159&partnerID=MN8TOARS. Pires, V.M.R.; Fontes, C.M.A.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Guerreiro, C.I.P.D.; Cunha, L.F.; Freire, J.P.B.. "The effect of enzyme supplementation on the true ileal digestibility of a lupin based diet for piglets". Livestock Science 109 1-3 (2007): 57-59. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34247526487&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.060 Carvalho, A.L.; Pires, V.M.R.; Gloster, T.M.; Turkenburg, J.P.; Prates, J.A.M.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Romão, M.J.; et al. "Insights into the structural determinants of cohesin - Dockerin specificity revealed by the crystal structure of the type II cohesin from Clostridium thermocellum SdbA". Journal of Molecular Biology 349 5 (2005): 909-915. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-20344372400&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.jmb.2005.04.037 Pires, V.M.R.; Henshaw, J.L.; Prates, J.A.M.; Bolam, D.N.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Henrissat, B.; et al. "The crystal structure of the family 6 carbohydrate binding module from Cellvibrio mixtus endoglucanase 5A in complex with oligosaccharides reveals two distinct binding sites with different ligand specificities". Journal of Biological Chemistry 279 20 (2004): 21560-21568. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-2442709187&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1074/jbc.M401599200 Carvalho, A.L.; Goyal, A.; Prates, J.A.M.; Bolam, D.N.; Gilbert, H.J.; Pires, V.M.R.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; et al. "The family 11 carbohydrate-binding module of Clostridium thermocellum Lic26A-Cel5E accommodates ß-1,4- and ß-1,3-1,4-mixed linked glucans at a single binding site". Journal of Biological Chemistry 279 33 (2004): 34785-34793. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-4544354845&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1074/jbc.M405867200 Henshaw, J.L.; Bolam, D.N.; Pires, V.M.R.; Czjzek, M.; Henrissat, B.; Ferreira, L.M.A.; Fontes, C.M.G.A.; Gilbert, H.J.. "The family 6 carbohydrate binding module CmCBM6-2 contains two ligand-binding sites with distinct specificities". Journal of Biological Chemistry 279 20 (2004): 21552-21559. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-2442681858&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1074/jbc.M401620200
Thesis / Dissertation	Pires VMR. "Estrutura e função de módulos não catalíticos envolvidos na degradação da parede celular vegetal: o efeito de enzimas exógenas na valoreização nutritiva de dietas à base de Lupinus albus para leitões". PhD, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, 2008. Pires VMR. "Marked Assisted Selection (MAS) – exemplo do locus da k-caseina em raças bovinas autóctones portuguesas e Holstein Friesian". Degree, Universidade dos Açores - Campus de Angra do Heroísmo, 1999.

Other distinction

2009	Scientific merit award in Prémios Jovens Investigadores UTL/Deloitte 2009 e UTL/CGD 2009
2008	Scientific merit award (Honorable mention) em Prémios Jovens Investigadores UTL/Deloitte 2008 e UTL/CGD 2008