Biology subjects

Costas-Prado, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Costas-Prado, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Genetic ablation of Pth4 disrupts calcium-phosphate balance, bone development, and kidney transcriptome in teleosts

Parathyroid hormone 4 (Pth4) is an evolutionarily conserved member of the PTH family, expressed in hypothalamic neurons and lost in eutherian mammals. In order to elucidate its role in mineral homeostasis and skeletal development, a pth4 knockout (pth4KO) zebrafish line was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and transcriptomic profiling was conducted across six key tissues: brain, kidney, intestine, gills, scales, and bone. The results obtained demonstrated that the loss of Pth4 led to pronounced disturbances in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, skeletal deformities, and widespread tissue-specific transcriptional alterations. Notably, dysregulation of mineral regulatory genes-- such as fgf23, phex, and slc34a1a was particularly evident in the kidney, suggesting disruption of the FGF23-Klotho axis. In parallel, differential expression of extracellular matrix genes (col1a1a, col10a1a, col11a1) and matrix remodeling enzymes (mmp9, mmp13a, mmp2) in bone and scales indicated impaired skeletal remodeling. Together, these findings highlight a pivotal role for Pth4 in the endocrine and local regulation of mineral metabolism and skeletal integrity, expanding our understanding of PTH family functions in vertebrate physiology.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

alms1 regulates the immune response and brain ageing in zebrafish

The ALMS1 gene plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis through its involvement in primary cilium assembly, cytoskeletal regulation, and signalling pathways such as NOTCH and TGF-{beta}. Pathogenic variants in ALMS1 are associated with Alstrom Syndrome (ALMS), a multi-systemic ciliopathy characterised by neurosensory deficits, metabolic disorders, and multi-organ fibrosis. To better understand the tissue-dependent role of ALMS1, we utilised CRISPR/Cas9 technology to develop a zebrafish model with alms1 depletion. Multi-tissue transcriptomic profiling revealed that alms1 depletion has pleiotropic effects on gene expression, with the brain and eyes displaying the most pronounced transcriptomic alterations, including disrupted ciliary function and immune dysregulation. Inflammatory and innate immune pathways along with glutamatergic synapse-related processes were significantly affected in the brain and eyes but with different gene expression signatures. The analysis further highlights tissue-specific processes, primarily associated with organ dysfunction. Additionally, our findings underscore the role of alms1 in regulating age-associated gene expression profiles in the brain, suggesting a link between ciliary dysfunction and accelerated brain ageing. Comparative analyses with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome iPSC models revealed shared pathways, reinforcing the potential of ciliopathies as models for ageing-related disorders. This study provides novel insights into the tissue-specific functions of alms1 and the molecular mechanisms underlying ALMS, paving the way for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

The skin microbiome as a new potential biomarker in the domestication and welfare of Octopus vulgaris

Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in common octopus aquaculture, prompted by the increasing market demand, the decline in overall fisheries and the search for a more sustainable food resource. Nevertheless, this interest has raised concerns about the potential impact of large-scale production and intensified farming practices in the future. Given the growing interest in octopus aquaculture and societys increasing concern for animal welfare, this study investigates the mucosal skin microbiota of wild and captive-bred common octopuses. The primary aim is to determine if breeding in captivity affects these communities and consequently animal welfare, using 16S ribosomal RNA metabarcoding. The core microbiota of common octopus mucosal skin is composed of the phyla Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Campylobacterota and Verrucomicrobiota, according to our findings. Although variations in abundance were observed, wild and aquaculture octopuses had comparable microbiota composition and diversity. Gammaproteobacteria were found to be enriched in wild mucosal skin samples, and some of the species were described as potentially pathogenic. However, these species were absent or in lower abundance in aquaculture mucosal skin samples. Additionally, analysis of KEGGs predictions showed that wild mucosal skin samples had a higher overall enrichment in functional pathways, primarily associated with xenobiotic remediation pathways, compared to the aquaculture mucosal skin samples. This is the first study to characterize the mucosal skin microbiome of the common octopus and compare the microbiome of wild and aquaculture individuals of this species. The results indicate that current aquaculture practices align with animal welfare through the use of controlled hatchery environments and high-quality water conditions. This study offers valuable insights into the microbiome of the common octopus, which can serve as a biomarker for evaluating animal welfare. It also explores the implications of these findings for the development of sustainable and responsible aquaculture practices.

microbiology↗