Carolina Sabença

Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro | utad · Departamento de Genética e Biotecnologia

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae are notorious for their resistance to antibiotics and propensity for biofilm formation, posing significant threats to human health. Epsilon-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) emerges as a naturally occurring antimicrobial poly(amino acid), which positions it as a prospective agent for addressing challenges linked...

Exploring antimicrobial resistance in bats provides a unique window into the dynamics of microbial interactions in these nocturnal creatures. Investigating the microbial communities within bat populations offer insights into the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance and their implications for public health. For this work, we studied 42 Kleb...

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause infections in hospitalized patients by producing biofilm, a microbial community embedded in an extracellular matrix which is often found in catheters and implants. 60 K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from different sources, such as urine, blood, sputum, and others, at the hospital...

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Escherichia coli. While most research on antibiotic resistance has focused on clinical settings, there is growing evidence of antibiotic resistance in environmental settings such as soil samples. So understanding antibiotic resistance in soil E....

The study of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. bacteria in river water samples help monitor antibiotic resistance and understand the importance of water quality and associated health risks. Identifying the source of antibiotic use in humans and animals can improve waste management practices, and prevent environmental pollution, potentially slowing the sp...

The rise of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase (KPC) has become a major public health concern. The ability of ESBL- and KPC-producing K. pneumoniae to form biofilms is particularly worrisome due to its potential to facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance and prolong infections withi...

The appearance of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), and carbapenemase (KPC) has turned into a significant public health issue. ESBL-and KPC-producing K. pneumoniae's ability to form biofilms is a significant concern as it can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance and prolong infections in healthcare...

Studying Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in bat populations is crucial for One Health to mitigate zoonotic disease transmission. By identifying potential pathogens in bat gut microbiomes, we can inform public health policies to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health. Ninety-five fecal samples were collected from bats and submerged i...

Multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli are commonly found in diverse species of wild birds. It’s of extreme importance the continuous study of resistant bacteria in different animals and ecological niches due to the increase of zoonoses. In this study, 32 E. coli strains were isolated from faecal samples of 8 wild bird species using select...

Multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli are commonly found in diverse species of wild birds. It’s of extreme importance the continuous study of resistant bacteria in different animals and ecological niches due to the increase of zoonoses. In this study, 32 E. coli strains were isolated from faecal samples of 8 wild bird species using select...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium that has a high natural resistance to several antibiotics. Companion animals are potential transmitters of this bacterium to humans, and the dog (Canis familiaris) has a special prominence among this group. Therefore, from a One Health perspective, it is important to evaluate and to characterize the...

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for causing nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Despite its frequent presence in aquatic and soil environments, the virulence potential of K. pneumoniae isolates of wildlife origin is largely unknown. Methods: Fecal samples from 93 wild animals (one per animal) we...

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world as it is used in the production of a diverse range of traditional and modern processed foods. The ancient varieties einkorn, emmer, and spelt not only played an important role as a source of food but became the ancestors of the modern varieties currently grown worldwide. Hexaploid wheat (...

Gluten‐free products have emerged in response to the increasing prevalence of gluten‐related disorders, namely celiac disease. Therefore, the quantification of gluten in products intended for consumption by individuals who may suffer from these pathologies must be accurate and reproducible, in a way that allows their proper labeling and protects th...

In the last 10,000 years, wheat has become one of the most important cereals in the human diet and today, it is widely consumed in many processed food products. Mostly considered a source of energy, wheat also contains other essential nutrients, including fiber, proteins, and minor components, such as phytochemicals, vitamins, lipids, and minerals,...

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria remains poorly understood in the wild ecosystem and at the interface of habitats. Here, we explored the spread of Escherichia coli containing IncI1-ST3 plasmid encoding resistance gene cefotaximase-Munich-1 (blaCTX-M-1) in human-influenced habitats and wild fauna using a genomic approach....

Objectives. Epidemiological data concerning third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) resistance in wild fauna are scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize the resistance genes, their genetic context, and clonal relatedness in 17 Escherichia coli resistant to 3GC isolated from wild animals. Methods. The isolates were characterized by short-read...

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), due to their intrinsic resistance to various commonly used antibiotics and their malleable genome, make the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria less effective. The aims of this work were to characterize isolates of Enterococcus spp. that originated from processed meat, through phenotypic and geno...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are one of the main pathogens associated with purulent infections. MRSA clonal complex 97 (CC97) has been identified in a wide diversity of livestock animals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles of MRSA strains isolated from purulent lesions of food-producing rabbi...

The intensive use of antibiotics contributes to the development and spread of resistant bacteria. Enterococci are commensal bacteria of the intestinal microbiota and are becoming increasingly reported as an opportunistic pathogen because of their ability to survive in a wide diversity of conditions. After mass spectrometry identification of 21 e...

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important clinical problem. In 2005, a livestock-associated MRSA clone was described, named CC398, being mostly associated with pigs, and causing colonization and infection in pigs and in related humans. The prevalence of these strains in food-producing pigs raised concerns abou...

Antimicrobial resistance is a global and multifaceted public health issue, which requires a multidisciplinary and holistic approach as the pandemic spread and evolution of highly resistant bacteria occurs similarly in the human, animal and environmental settings. Escherichia Coli that produces extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) are one of the m...

The intensive use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, livestock husbandry, aquaculture and food technology has created selective pressure on several mechanisms of genetic transfer between bacteria, contributing to the emergence and propagation of resistance in different bacterial groups. This is a global public health prob...

A carne de coelho tem vindo a ganhar uma grande importância na alimentação humana pelas suas características nutricionais e dietéticas. Consequentemente, a garantia da segurança sanitária na produção de carne de coelho tem-se tornado indispensável. Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina (MRSA) são bactérias multirresistentes com interesse e...

Nas últimas décadas tem-se observado uma elevada frequência de bactérias resistentes aos antibióticos. A administração constante e por vezes não controlada cria novas resistências, tornando o controlo de bactérias cada vez mais difícil, colocando o Homem, os animais e o meio ambiente em risco tomando por base o conceito “one-health”. Staphylococcus...

A carne de suíno/leitão é das carnes mais consumidas a nível nacional e europeu. Isto deve-se às suas qualidades nutricionais e por ser um produto de fácil acesso e relativamente barato. Uma das causas que levam à reprovação total das carcaças de leitões em matadouro são os abcessos. Um dos agentes etiológicos destas lesões é Staphylococcus aureus....