Biology subjects

Faria, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Faria, L..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Laboratory evolution enhances resilience of a symbiont yeast and its honeybee host against agrochemical exposure

Yeasts are key microbial members of several ecosystems. Yet, the impact of widespread chemical pollutants on yeasts is only sparsely studied. Here we report the effect of >1000 chemical pollutants on fourteen diverse yeast species spanning the Saccharomycotina subphylum. Starmerella bombicola, a symbiont of various bee species, was the most sensitive and inhibited by several fungicides as well as by non-fungicides. To identify the molecular basis of this ultra-sensitivity, we selected resistant lineages against nine chemicals using adaptive laboratory evolution. Whole-genome-sequencing uncovered convergent evolution on YBP1, a key regulator of oxidative stress. Proteomic analysis confirmed the protective role of oxidative stress response pathways, including proteins encoded by horizontally transferred bacterial genes. We find that the evolved S. bombicola stably colonized the bee gut and ameliorated the negative effect of paclobutrazol, a plant hormone regulator, on gut microbes, sucrose responsiveness, and learning. Our findings demonstrate how laboratory evolution can be used to mitigate the negative impact of chemical pollutants on pollinators.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

A transient mechanical crosstalk between Adherens Junctions and Focal Adhesions sustains cell proliferation in premalignant breast epithelial cells

The weakening of Adherens Junctions (AJs) and Focal Adhesions (FAs) adhesiveness has been proposed to enable the initiation and progression of several types of cancer. Here we report that, prior to disassembling AJs and acquiring malignant traits, premalignant mammary epithelial cells overactivating the Src proto-oncogene transiently enhance tensile forces at both AJs and FAs, thereby gaining a proliferative advantage. We show that AJs and FAs are transiently under higher tensile forces in premalignant Src-activated cells. Cells unable to increase tensile forces at FAs by knocking down PXN or inhibiting FAK activity fail to transiently build up tensile force at AJs and to grow. Conversely, preventing AJ strengthening using EGTA or small interference RNA against P-cadherin suppresses the transient increase in tensile forces at FAs, EGFR-ERK and MRTF-A-SRF activation and cell proliferation. Moreover, knocking down E-cadherin, the sole classical cadherin in Drosophila, inhibits Src-induce tissue overgrowth in vivo. Thus, prior to the loss of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesiveness, strengthening of AJs and FAs may be an essential early step for mammary cells to gain a proliferative advantage and establish the mechanical and signaling conditions necessary for subsequent malignant transformation. Statement of SignificanceAlthough the weakening of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesiveness is commonly associated with cancer initiation and progression, our findings reveal that an initial increase in adhesiveness enables proliferation and malignant progression.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Off-purpose activity of industrial and agricultural chemicals against human gut bacteria

Contamination by industrial and agricultural chemicals like pesticides are a cause of great concern due to the risk to human and environmental health. While these chemicals are often considered to have restricted activity and are labelled as such, there are concerns over a broader toxicity range. Here we report the impact of 1076 pollutants spanning diverse chemistries and indicated applications on 22 prevalent commensal gut bacteria. Our systematic investigation uncovered 588 interactions involving 168 chemicals, the majority of which were not previously reported to have antibacterial properties. Fungicides and industrial chemicals showed the largest impact with circa 30% exhibiting anti-commensal properties. We find that the sensitivity to chemical pollutants across species surprisingly correlates with that to human-targeted drugs, suggesting common susceptibility mechanisms. Using a genome-wide chemical-genetic screen, we identified membrane transport and fatty acid metabolism as major modulators of the off-target toxicity of chemicals. Mutants exhibiting chemical resistance include those defective in producing human-health-relevant metabolites like branched short-chain fatty acids, indicating that chronic exposure could lead to selection against production of beneficial metabolites. Toxicokinetic modelling suggested gut bacteria could be used as more sensitive in vitro toxicity indicators for chemicals of concern than animal models. Together, our data uncovers the off-target activity of industrial and agricultural chemicals with widespread exposure against human gut bacteria. Impact on the structure and function of the microbiota should therefore be considered in assessing chemical safety.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Gut microbiome remains stable following COVID-19 vaccination in healthy and immuno-compromised individuals

The bidirectional interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota is a key contributor to various host physiological functions. Immune-associated diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity, as well as the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies, have been linked to microbiome variation. While COVID-19 infection has been shown to cause microbial dysbiosis, it remains understudied whether the inflammatory response associated with vaccination also impacts the microbiota. Here, we investigate the temporal impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the gut microbiome in healthy and immuno-compromised individuals; the latter included patients with primary immunodeficiency and cancer patients on immunomodulating therapies. We find that the gut microbiome remained remarkably stable post-vaccination irrespective of diverse immune status, vaccine response, and microbial composition spanned by the cohort. The stability is evident at all evaluated levels including diversity, phylum, species, and functional capacity. Our results indicate the resilience of the gut microbiome to host immune changes triggered by COVID-19 vaccination and suggest minimal, if any, impact on microbiome-mediated processes. These findings encourage vaccine acceptance, particularly when contrasted with the significant microbiome shifts observed during COVID-19 infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Activation of the actin/MRTF-A/SRF signalling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation

Alterations in the expression or function of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in all steps of tumour progression. Among those, P-cadherin expression is highly enriched in basal-like breast cancer, a molecular subset of triple-negative breast carcinomas, playing a central role in inducing cancer cell self-renewal, as well as collective cell migration and invasion capacity. To decipher the P-cadherin-dependent signalling network, we generated a humanised P-cadherin fly model, establishing a clinically relevant platform for functional exploration of P-cadherin effectors in vivo. We report that actin nucleators, MRTF and SRF are main effectors of P-cadherin functional effects. In addition, we validated these findings in a human mammary epithelial cell line with conditional activation of the Src oncogene, which recapitulates molecular events taking place during cellular transformation. We show that prior to triggering the gain of malignant phenotypes, Src induces a transient increase in P-cadherin expression levels, which correlates with MRTF-A accumulation, its nuclear translocation and the upregulation of SRF target genes. Moreover, knocking down P-cadherin, or preventing Factin polymerization with Latrunculin A, impairs SRF transcriptional activity. Furthermore, blocking MRTF-A nuclear translocation with CCG-203971 hampers proliferation, selfrenewal and invasion. Thus, in addition to sustaining malignant phenotypes, P-cadherin can also play a major role in the very early stages of breast carcinogenesis by promoting a transient boost of MRTF-A/SRF signalling through actin regulation.

cancer biology↗