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I embarked on my journey in immunology research in 2008-2009, delving into the effects of antiretroviral therapies on HIV-2 infected patients. My passion lies in translating lab discoveries into impactful products, leading me to join Technophage during my master's studies (2009-2010). Here, I focused on producing and purifying recombinant viral proteins, aiming to revolutionize conventional antibiotics. These studies resulted in 3 original publications. My doctoral studies (2012-2016) expanded on these themes, unraveling the regulatory elements of these proteins and exploring their potential in enzibiotic therapy. The significant contributions to the field can be attested in 3 original publications and a PhD thesis. As a postdoc scientist at iNOVA4Health's Translational Medicine Program, I enriched my expertise in molecular biology and virology. My journey took an exciting turn towards gene therapy, particularly in optimizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) production platforms in both insect and mammalian cells (2017 – present). My contributions extend to implementing analytical methods and characterization protocols for assessing vector productivity, purity, and biological activity since 2017. My objective is to advance scientific knowledge in AAV-based gene therapies manufacturing and enhance accessibility for patients by lowering costs through process optimization. These results can be evaluated in 3 original publications. In 2021, my project secured funding from iBETXplore (50 k), wherein I implemented ddPCR technology to quantify AAV samples. This initiative led to the development of a fully characterized AAV reference material, validated through various analytics, facilitating analyses by other research teams. With ten scientific publications and involvement in grant applications and article reviews for prestigious journals like Scientific Reports, I've cultivated a diverse skill set. I've undergone a clinical trials course and honed my planning and organizational skills as a lab manager. My commitment to continuous improvement is evident in my pursuit of leadership and project management courses, enhancing my emotional intelligence and delegation abilities. Beyond research, my commitment extends to education. I actively contribute to teaching biopharmaceutical and BCA classes and have mentored junior investigators, guiding them through internships, master's dissertations, and professional challenges. Currently, I co-supervise a PhD student, contributing to their academic and professional growth.
Identificação

Identificação pessoal

Nome completo
Ana Sofia Conceição Fernandes

Nomes de citação

  • Fernandes, Sofia

Identificadores de autor

Ciência ID
A413-C6CD-2A77
ORCID iD
0000-0002-9035-793X

Endereços de correio eletrónico

  • as.fernandes@ibet.pt (Profissional)

Telefones

Telefone
  • 214469512 Ext.: 1512 (Profissional)

Moradas

  • IBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica . Apartado 12 , 2780-901 , Oeiras, Oeiros, Portugal (Profissional)

Websites

  • https://pt.linkedin.com/in/sofia-fernandes-6676051a (Rede social)

Domínios de atuação

  • Ciências Médicas e da Saúde - Biotecnologia Médica - Tecnologias que envolvem a Manipulação de Células,Tecidos,Órgãos ou todo o Organismo
  • Ciências Naturais - Ciências Biológicas - Microbiologia

Idiomas

Idioma Conversação Leitura Escrita Compreensão Peer-review
Inglês Utilizador proficiente (C1) Utilizador proficiente (C2) Utilizador proficiente (C1) Utilizador proficiente (C1) Utilizador independente (B2)
Português (Idioma materno)
Formação
Grau Classificação
2023
Concluído
Professional Development course (Outros)
Hfp-Consulting, Alemanha
2021/10/04 - 2021/10/08
Concluído
Bioprocessing and Manufacturing of Gene and Cell Therapy Products Course 1st Ed (Outros)
European Society for Animal Cell Technology, Alemanha
2021 - 2021
Concluído
Leading with Emotional Intelligence (Outros)
Synergie, Portugal
2012/04/01 - 2016/11/22
Concluído
Pharmacy (Doutoramento)
Especialização em Microbiology
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"Endolysins as Antibacterial Agents: from Engineering Approaches to the Uncovering of Holin as a Key Factor Influencing Lytic Activity " (TESE/DISSERTAÇÃO)
Qualified with Distiction and Honours
2011/09 - 2011/11
Concluído
Clinical Trials Monitor 2nd Ed. (Diploma de especialização)
Eurotrials Consultores Científicos SA, Portugal
2011
Concluído
Clinical Research Monitoring Course, (Outros)
Eurotrials Consultores Científicos SA, Portugal
Aprovado
2009
Concluído
Microbiologia Aplicada (Mestrado)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"Utilization of bacteriophage endolysins to control pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria" (TESE/DISSERTAÇÃO)
18
2008
Concluído
Microbiologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
"Investigation of B lymphocyte abnormalities in Human Immunodeficiency Virus- 2 (HIV-2 ) infection" (TESE/DISSERTAÇÃO)
16
Percurso profissional

Ciência

Categoria Profissional
Instituição de acolhimento
Empregador
2017/01/02 - Atual Pós-doutorado (Investigação) iNOVA4Health, Portugal
2016 - 2016 Investigador (Investigação) Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
2012 - 2016 Investigador (Investigação) Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento, Portugal
2010 - 2012 Investigador (Investigação) Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2008 - 2010 Estagiário de Investigação (Investigação) Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2006/10/09 - 2007/02/28 Estagiário de Investigação (Investigação) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Outros

Categoria Profissional
Instituição de acolhimento
Empregador
2005/01/02 - 2011/10/31 Backoffice/Call center operator During my graduations , I have always worked, performing different activities of inbound and market research, being responsible for clients contact and sales registrat Empresas Trabalho Temporário, Portugal
Projetos

Bolsa

Designação Financiadores
2017/01/01 - 2017/06/30 iNOVA4Health - Programme in Translational Medicine (iBET, CEDOC/FCM, IPOLFG and ITQB)
Bolseiro de Pós-Doutoramento
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluído
2016/09 - 2016/12 AXIAL.EC - PRINCIPLES OF AXIAL POLARITY - DRIVEN VASCULAR PATTERNING
IMM/BI/31-2016
Bolseiro de Integração na Investigação
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
European Research Council
2012/04 - 2016/04 Endolysins as Antibacterial Agents: from Engineering Approaches to the Uncovering of Holin as a Key Factor Influencing Lytic Activity
SFRH/BD/81802/2011
Bolseiro de Doutoramento
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Ministério da Ciência Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
2013/04 - 2014/09 PhageDuction: a new bacteriophage-based technology for efficient cell-targeted DNA delivery
Bolseiro de Integração na Investigação
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
2009/01 - 2012/06 Bacteriophage genome delivery to Gram-positive bacteria: virus and host cell requirements for DNA traffic
Bolseiro de Integração na Investigação
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

Projeto

Designação Financiadores
2017/07/01 - Atual iNOVA4Health - Programme in Translational Medicine (iBET, CEDOC/FCM, IPOLFG and ITQB)
Investigador Pós-doutorado
Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Portugal
Em curso
Produções

Publicações

Artigo em revista
  1. Mariana Massapina Valentim Ferreira; Sofia Fernandes; Ana Isabel Almeida; Salomé Neto; João P. Mendes; R.J.S. Silva; Cristina Peixoto; Coroadinha, A.S.. "Extending AAV Packaging Cargo through Dual Co-Transduction: Efficient Protein Trans-Splicing at Low Vector Doses". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 13 (2023): 10524-10524. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310524.
    10.3390/ijms241310524
  2. Coroadinha, A.S.; Sofia Fernandes; Joana Diogo. "Mammalian Stable Cell Platforms for Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus (rAAV) Production: Development Strategies and their Impact on Viral Productivity". Current Gene Therapy 23 (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566523223666230331111336.
    10.2174/1566523223666230331111336
  3. Nikolaus Virgolini; Ryan Hagan; Ricardo Correia; Marco Silvano; Sofia Fernandes; Paula M. Alves; Colin Clarke; António Roldão; Inês A. Isidro. "Transcriptome analysis of Sf9 insect cells during production of recombinant Adeno-associated virus". Biotechnology Journal 18 2 (2023): 2200466-2200466. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biot.202200466.
    10.1002/biot.202200466
  4. Fernandes S; São-José C. "Enzymes and Mechanisms Employed by Tailed Bacteriophages to Breach the Bacterial Cell Barriers.". Viruses (2018): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/30060520.
    10.3390/v10080396
  5. Fernandes S; São-José C. "Probing the function of the two holin-like proteins of bacteriophage SPP1.". (2017): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/27825035.
    10.1016/j.virol.2016.10.030
  6. Fernandes S; Labarde A; Baptista C; Jakutytè L; Tavares P; São-José C. "A non-invasive method for studying viral DNA delivery to bacteria reveals key requirements for phage SPP1 DNA entry in Bacillus subtilis cells.". (2016): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/27179995.
    10.1016/j.virol.2016.05.004
  7. Fernandes, S.; São-José, C.. "More than a hole: the holin lethal function may be required to fully sensitize bacteria to the lytic action of canonical endolysins". Molecular Microbiology 102 1 (2016): 92-106. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84988528084&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1111/mmi.13448
  8. Tendeiro R; Fernandes S; Foxall RB; Marcelino JM; Taveira N; Soares RS; Baptista AP; et al. "Memory B-cell depletion is a feature of HIV-2 infection even in the absence of detectable viremia.". (2012): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22695303.
    10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283568849
  9. Fernandes S; Proença D; Cantante C; Silva FA; Leandro C; Lourenço S; Milheiriço C; et al. "Novel chimerical endolysins with broad antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.". (2012): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22432707.
    10.1089/mdr.2012.0025
  10. Proença D; Fernandes S; Leandro C; Silva FA; Santos S; Lopes F; Mato R; et al. "Phage endolysins with broad antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis clinical strains.". (2012): http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22480295.
    10.1089/mdr.2012.0024
Tese / Dissertação
  1. Fernandes, Sofia. "Endolysins as antibacterial agents : from engineering approaches to the uncovering of holin as a key factor influencing lytic activity". Doutoramento, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10451/26318.
  2. Fernandes, Ana Sofia Conceição. "Utilização de lisinas de bacteriófagos no controlo de bactérias patogénicas gram-positivas". Mestrado, 2009. http://catalogo.ul.pt/F/?func=item-global&doc_library=ULB01&type=03&doc_number=000574338.
Atividades

Apresentação oral de trabalho

Título da apresentação Nome do evento
Anfitrião (Local do evento)
2021/11/16 Implementation of a High-Yield AAV Vector Production in 293T Cell Suspension Cultures Addressing challenges in the Cell & Gene Therapy industry
TFS
2021/10/21 Benefits of using a media panel to address the diversity of HEK293 cell lines European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT)
European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy

Orientação

Título / Tema
Papel desempenhado
Curso (Tipo)
Instituição / Organização
2019 - 2021 Establishment of 293 based AAV packaging cell lines using shRNA-mediated rep silencing
Coorientador de Joana Gaspar Diogo
Master of Science in Biotechnology (Mestrado)
Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal

Participação em evento

Descrição da atividade
Tipo de evento
Nome do evento
Instituição / Organização
2021/09/01 - 2021/09/04 Media development strategies to increase AAV titer at large scale
Conferência
6th European Congress of Immunology
2012/07/16 - 2012/07/20 Poster Presentation A novel universal method for studying molecular and biophysical requirements for bacteriophage infection: the case of phage SPP1 DNA entry into Bacillus subtilis
Conferência
Viruses of Microorganisms: From Exploration to Applications in the -omics Era
2011 - 2011 Poster presentation, Novel chimerical phage endolysins with antimicrobial activity against MRSA and other pathogenic Gram positive bacteria
Conferência
Microbial Viruses: Genomics, Evolution and Applications in Ecology, Biotechnology and Medicine
Queen's University Belfast, Reino Unido
2010/06/21 - 2010/06/25 Poster Presentation: Recognition of segments of the B. subtilis YueB protein required for its phage SPP1 receptor activity
Conferência
Viruses of Microorganisms: From Bacteriophages to Viruses of Microorganisms
Institut Pasteur Département de Virologie, França

Curso / Disciplina lecionado

Disciplina Curso (Tipo) Instituição / Organização
2018 - 2023 Biopharmaceuticals Teaching support in practical classes of Biopharmaceuticals and BCA, in 4 masters of Nova School of Science and Technology (Bioquímica, Bioquímica para a Saúde, Biotecnologia and Genética Molecular e Biomedicina). (Mestrado) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Membro de comissão

Descrição da atividade
Tipo de participação
Instituição / Organização
2014 - 2014 Member of iMed.ULisboa Postgraduate Students Commission, involved in organization of workshops, the 6th Postgraduate iMed.ULisboa Students Meeting and other social events that brings together all postgraduate students at iMed.ULisboa.
Membro
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2005 - 2007 Involved in the organization of meetings with Microbiology's Pedagogical committee.
Membro
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Outro júri / avaliação

Descrição da atividade Instituição / Organização
2022 - 2022 Chair in the 12th ITQB NOVA PhD Students' Meeting Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2021 - 2021 Chair in the 11th ITQB NOVA PhD Students' Meeting Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
2020 - 2020 Chair in 10th ITQB NOVA PhD Student´s Meeting Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal

Tutoria

Tópico Nome do aluno
2022/09 - Atual Deciphering Adeno-Associated Virus vectors replication and assembly: improving gene therapy vectors Júlia Reis de Lidon Brandão Guerra
2015 - 2015 Pharmacy Sandra Silva
2013 - 2013 Applied Microbiology Nuno Santos
2011 - 2011 Nuno Santos
Distinções

Prémio

2021 iBETXplore
Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Portugal

Outra distinção

2011 Winner of the second place in a Poster's Contest
Queen's University Belfast, Reino Unido