Marco G. Alves, PhD
Short Biography
Marco G. Alves was conferred his LSc degree in Biology in 2005 at the University of Aveiro. In 2011, he was conferred a PhD degree in Biochemistry, branch of bioenergetics at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra (FCTUC). In 2011 he started a Post-Doctoral at the University of Beira Interior (Health Sciences Research Centre) and University of Coimbra (Department of Life Sciences). Later, he moved to the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto (2016) where he is hired as Assistant Researcher.
Marco G. Alves, PhD, is Principal Investigator at the Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB-ICBAS). He heads a group of research focused on Endocrinology, Metabolism and Male Reproduction. He mainly works on male reproductive biology, metabolic modulation, obesity and physio-pathological causes of subfertility or infertility. His main line of research is devoted to the study of metabolic cooperation in spermatogenesis, metabolic-related infertility, particularly due to diabetes and obesity, and the mechanisms responsible for such phenomena. Since 2015, he supervises several PhD students and Post-Doctoral Researchers. His research has been awarded with several national and international prizes and grants, including competitive international funds. Since March 2016 he is Principal Investigator of one major grant from FCT to study obesity-related dysfunction in male reproductive system.
Funded projects
"Paternal glucose metabolism deregulation and diabetes predisposition in the offspring." - PI: Marco G. Alves. "GIFT Research Grant" from The Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD).
"SPERMBOOST – Improving Sperm Quality During and After Storage" - PI: Marco G. Alves. "BIP Proof" innovation prize, from the University of Porto and Fundação Amadeu Dias
PTDC/MEC-AND/28691/2017: "TRaitor - Tracking TRAnsgenerational epigenetic Inheritance of metabolic diseases Transmitted via overweight or obese fathers" - PI: Marco G. Alves
"Transgenerational biomarkers of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: fiction or action needed?" - PI: Marco G. Alves. Grant "Nuno Castel-Branco" from The Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD).
PTDC/BIM-MET/4712/2014: "Obesitility – Gut hormones and testicular metabolism: mechanisms associated with obesity-related male infertility"- PI: Marco G. Alves
PTDC/BBB-BQB/1368/2014: "Aquaporins as molecular partners of CFTR in the Blood-Testis Barrier: a crossroad between human male infertility and cystic fibrosis?" - PI: Pedro F. Oliveira
"Intrinsic Disability of Sphincter - Study of differences in collagen type and collagenolysis process of urethral support tissue"- Co-Principal Investigators: Pedro Fontes Oliveira, Bercina Candoso and Mário Sousa. Portuguese Society Of Gynecology.
Ended funded projects
"Transgenerational biomarkers of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: fiction or action needed?" - PI: Marco G. Alves. Grant "Nuno Castel-Branco" from The Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD).
PTDC/QUI-BIQ/121446/2010: “Can Hormonal (De)regulation of Ion Transporters in Human Sertoli Cells be Responsible for Infertility?”, P.I.: Pedro F. Oliveira.
PMADSC/FM-UC: “Influence of gender on the molecular mechanisms underlying aging-related changes in diabetic brain: the impact of insulin therapy”, P.I.: Paula I. Moreira.
PTDC/EBB-EBI/101114/2008: “Metabolism as a modulator of stem cell pluripotency and differentiation”, P.I.: João Ramalho-Santos.
PTDC/SAU-TOX/110952/2009: “Protective Activity of SIRT3 Against Drug-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction”, P.I.: Paulo J. Oliveira.
PTDC/QUI/64358/2006: “Influence of Cell Differentiation State on Apoptosis Induced by Isoproterenol on Embryonic Ventricular H9c2 Cells - Signaling Pathways Involved”, P.I.: Paulo J. Oliveira.
POCI/SAU-OBS/55802/2004: “Influence of Transplant Preservation Solutions in Cardiac Metabolic and Immunological Profiles”, P.I.: Rui A. Carvalho.
Fellowships and Prizes
2020 – "SPMR Research Award" from the Portuguese Society of Reproductive Medicine (SPMR).
2019 – "GIFT Research Grant" from Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD).
2018 - "BIP Proof" innovation prize from the University of Porto and Fundação Amadeu Dias.
2018 – Best Poster in Basic Research, "High-fat diets compromise male fertility which is not recovered by diet reversion", the 14th Portuguese Congress of Diabetes, Hotel Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, Vilamoura, Portugal, 9-11 March 2018.
2017 – Grant "Nuno Castel-Branco" from Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD).
2011 – 6-year Post-Doctoral fellowship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
2011 – Fellowship from the Biomolecular NMR Training center (EU-sponsored) to participate in the course: Introduction to biological solid state NMR, University of Aarhus. 28th March-1st April, Denmark.
2011 – Fellowship from the European Society for Clinical Investigation to participate in the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation. 13-16 April, Crete, Greece.
2010 – Fellowship from the Royal Spanish Chemistry Society to participate in the V GERMN Bienal Meeting – II Iberian NMR Meeting, September 26-29, Bilbao, Spain.
2010 – Fellowship from the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) to participate in the Course in Mitochondrial Metabolism and Cancer, April 20-23, Bologna, Italy.
2009 – Fellowship to participate in the Young Scientist Program, in the 21st IUBMB and 12th FAOBMB International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. July 30-August 8, Shanghai, China.
2006 – 4-year PhD fellowship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Proceedings in Peer-reviewed Journals
31. Dias TR, Alves MG, Silva J, Barros A, Sousa M, Casal S, Silva BM, Oliveira PF (2016) "Effect of epigallocatechin gallate in human Sertoli cells metabolism and mitochondrial function: implications for spermatogenesis". 50th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation in European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 46(S1):122. ISSN: 1365-2362
27. Rato L, Alves MG, Dias TR, Cavaco JE, Oliveira, PF (2016) Testicular metabolic reprogramming in neonatal streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats impairs glucose metabolism and promotes glycogen accumulation. Medicine. (In press)
26. Cavaco JE*, Rato L*, Alves MG, Duarte AI, Santos MS, Moreira PI, Oliveira PF (2016). How does Sertoli cell metabolism responds to the reduced testosterone levels induced by progressive stages of diabetes mellitus. Medicine. (In press)
25. Silva BM, Tomas GD, Dias TR, Martins AD, Rato L, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2016). Sperm quality of pre-diabetic wistar rats restored after a diet with white tea. Medicine. (in press)
24. Ferreira C, Gonçalves A, Rabaça A, Bernardino RL, Barros A, Oliveira PF, Sousa M, Alves MG, Sá R (2016) Metformin preserves human sperm DNA integrity during short-term incubation. Medicine (in press)
23. Rabaça A, Gonçalves A, Ferreira C, Bernardino RL, Barros, A, Alves MG, Sousa M, Oliveira PF, Sá R (2016) Protective effects of n-acetylcysteine on human sperm DNA during short-term etoposide exposure. Medicine(in press)
22. Jesus TT, Oliveira PF, Silva J, Barros A, Ferreira R, Sousa M, Cheng CY, Silva BM, Alves MG (2016) "Mammalian target of rapamycin is a novel modulator of Sertoli cells glycolytic and oxidative profiles". Medicine (in press)
21. Meneses MJ, Bernardino RL, Sá R, Silva J, Barros A, Sousa M, Silva BM., Oliveira PF, Alves MG (2016) The antidiabetic drug pioglitazone alters human Sertoli cells metabolism by increasing its glycolytic efficiency. Medicine (in press)
20. Martins AD, Morreira AC, Sá R, Monteiro MP, Sousa M, Carvalho RA, Silva BM, Oliveira PF, Alves MG (2016). Leptin modulates human Sertoli cells glucose metabolism: relevance for obesity-induced male infertility. Medicine J. (in press)
19. Meneses MJ, Bernardino RL, Sá R, Silva J, Barros A, Sousa M, Silva BM, Oliveira PF, Alves MG (2016) The antidiabetic drugs Pioglitazone and Metformin alter the metabolic cooperation in the testis.IV Encontro Nacional de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas in CAPTAR 6 (1): 47-48, ISSN 1647-323X
18. Martins AD, Moreira AC, Sá R, Monteiro MP, Sousa M, Carvalho RA, Silva BM, Oliveira PF, Alves MG (2016) Ação da leptina no metabolismo da glucose das células de Sertoli: impacto na fertilidade masculina. CAPTAR. 6(1): . ISSN: 1647-323X
17. Jesus TT, Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Sá R, Sousa M, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2016) As aquaporinas-4 e -9 são expressas em células de Sertoli de rato e interagem com o CFTR. CAPTAR. 6(1):38-9. ISSN: 1647-323X
16. Dias TR, Alves MG, Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Moreira AC, Silva J, Barros A, Sousa M, Silva BM, Oliveira PF (2016) Caffeine and male fertility: Metabolic effects and oxidative profile in human Sertoli cells. IV Encontro Nacional de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas in CAPTAR 6 (1): 28-29, ISSN: 1647-323X.
15. Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Costa AR, Silva J, Barros A, Sousa M, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2016) Influência do estradiol nos transportadores membranares de bicarbonato dependentes de sódio da família SLC4 em células de Sertoli humanas. IV Encontro Nacional de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas in CAPTAR. 6 (1): 4-6, ISSN 1647-323X
14. Alves MG, Bernardino RL, Martins AD., Jesus TT, Sousa M, Sá R, Oliveira PF (2015) Estrogenic regulation of bicarbonate transporters from SLC4 family in rat Sertoli cells. Human Reproduction. 30(Suppl. 1):161.
13. Martins AD, Sá R, Monteiro MP, Barros A, Silva J, Sousa M, Carvalho RA, Silva BM, Oliveira PF, Alves MG (2015). Ghrelin modulates human Sertoli cells metabolism: relevance for male fertility. FEBS J. 282 (Suppl. 1) 55: 188.
12. Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Costa AR, Silva J, Barros A, Sá R, Sousa M, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2015). Estrogenic regulation of Na+-dependent bicarbonate transporters from SLC4 family in human Sertoli Cells. FEBS J. 282 (Suppl. 1) 55: 199.
11. Dias TR, Alves MG, Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Moreira AC, Silva J, Barros A, M. Sousa, Silva BM, Oliveira PF (2015). Caffeine-induced alterations in human Sertoli cells metabolism and oxidative profile. FEBS J. 282 (Suppl. 1) 55: 386.
10. Rato L, Duarte AI, Tomás GD, Santos MS, Moreira PI, Socorro S, Cavaco JE, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2014). Pre-diabetes disrupts testicular PGC1-α/SIRT3 axis prompting oxidative stress. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics 1837:e64.
9. Vaz CV, Alves MG, Marques R, Moreira PI, Oliveira PF, Cavaco JE, Maia CJ, Socorro S (2014) Androgens regulate gene expression of glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes in prostate cancer cells. Endocrine Abstracts 35: P571. (DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.35.P571).
8. Cavaco JE, Rato L, Alves MG, Dias TR, Lopes G, Socorro S, Oliveira PF (2013) Fast-Food may Induce Pre-Diabetes Impairing Testicular Function in Rats. Hum Rep. 28: 23-24.
7. Rato L, Duarte AI, Alves MG, Santos MS, Moreira PI, Cavaco JE, Socorro S, Oliveira PF (2013) Testicular mitochondrial bioenergetics is altered in pre-diabetes induced by a high-energy diet in rats. FEBS Journal. 280(S1): 1–661.
6. Alves MG*, Jesus TT*, Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Sá R, Sousa M, Oliveira PF (2013) Water transport in seminiferous tubule: aquaporins identification in Sertoli cells. Proc. 37th IUPS, LB91.
5. Bernardino RL, Martins AD, Jesus TT, Sá R, Sousa M, Socorro S, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2013) Regulation by estrogens of bicarbonate secretion mechanisms in Sertoli cell. Proc. 37th IUPS, LB113.
4. Martins AD, Simões VL, Alves MG, Cavaco JE, Socorro S, Oliveira PF (2012) Hormonal Regulation of Na+H+ Exchanger 3 (NHE3) in Sertoli Cells: A Possible Role for Estrogens in Spermatogenesis. J. Reproduktionsmed. Endokrinol. 9(5): 371.
Books
Book chapters
10. Dias TR, Carrageta DF, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Silva BM. (2017) White tea extract. In Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Editors: S.N. Nabavi & A.S. Silva - Elsevier: Amsterdam, Holland (in press).
9. Nunes AR, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Silva LR, Silva BM. Bioactive compounds and health-promoting properties of Ficus carica (L.): a review. In Natural Bioactive Compounds from Fruits and Vegetables as Health Promoters (vol. 1). Editors: L.R. Silva & B.M. Silva - Bentham Science Publishers Publishers: Berlin, Germany (in press).
8. Silva BM, Tomás GD, Nunes AR, Ramalhosa E, Pereira JA, Alves MG, Oliveira PF. Phytochemical, nutritional, antioxidant and anticancer properties of Juglans regia (L.) In Natural Bioactive Compounds from Fruits and Vegetables as Health Promoters (vol. 2). Editors: por L.R. Silva & B.M. Silva - Bentham Science Publishers Publishers: Berlin, Germany (in press).
Publications
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
125. Carrageta DF, Dias TR, Jarak I, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Van der Walt MM, Terre'Blanche G, Monteiro MP, Silva BM (2018) 8-(3-phenylpropyl)-1,3,7-triethylxanthine is a synthetic caffeine substitute with stronger metabolic modulator activity. Toxicol in Vitro 53:114-120. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2018.08.002
118. Antunes H, Tavares-da-Silva, Marques I, Abrantes AM, Alves MG, Botelho MF, Figueiredo, A. Metabolomics and bladder cancer: current state and future perspectives. Acta Urologica Portuguesa (In press)
111. Carrageta DF, Dias TR, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Monteiro MP, Silva BM (2018) Anti-obesity potential of natural methylxanthines. Journal of Functional Foods. 43:84-94. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2018.02.001
105. Mathur PP, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2017) Obesogens and sperm maturation. Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry. (in press)
101. Almeida SS, Rato L, Alves MG, Oliveira PF (2017) Editorial: The Aging Male: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutic Perspectives. Curr Pharm Des 23 (30):4427-4428. doi:10.2174/138161282330171128161104
71. Oliveira PF*, Tomas GD*, Dias TR, Martins AD, Rato L, Alves MG, Silva BM (2015) White tea consumption restores sperm quality in prediabetic rats preventing testicular oxidative damage. Reprod Biomed Online 31 (4):544-556. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.06.021
* both authors contributed equally
Editorial activities in international scientific journals
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (IF=6.1) - Reviews Editor
Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents (2.8) - Editorial Board
Medicine (Impact Factor 5.7) - Academic Editor
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology - Reviews Editor of specialty section in Molecular and Cellular Reproduction
Current Pharmaceutical Design (Impact Factor 3.3) - Guest Editor
Current Molecular Pharmacology - Guest Editor
AIMS molecular Science Journal - Editor Board Member
Antioxidants - Editorial Board Member
Antioxidants - Guest Editor of the Special Issue "Antioxidants, Oxidative Stress and Non-Communicable Diseases"
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling - Editorial Board Member
Applied Sciences - Editor Board Member
International Journal of Stem Cell Research and Transplantation (IJST) - Editor Board Member
Nutrition & Metabolism - Editor Board Member
Peak Journal of Biotechnology - Editor Board Member
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology - Editorial Board Member
Peer-reviewer in international scientific journals
Andrologia (ISSN: 1439-0272)
Andrology (ISSN: 2047-2927)
Antioxidant & Redox signaling (ISSN: 1523-0864)
Asian Journal of Andrology (ISSN:1008-682X)
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine (ISSN: 1995-7645)
BBA General Subjects (ISSN: 0304-4165)
BBA Molecular Basis of Disease (ISSN: 0925-4439)
Bioenergetics (ISSN: 2167-7662)
Biological Reviews (ISSN: 1469-185X)
Biology of Reproduction (ISSN: 0006-3363)
Biology of the cell (ISSN: 0248-4900)
Biomed Research International (ISSN: 2314-6133)
Bioscience Reports (ISSN: 01448-463)
Brain Research Bulletin (ISSN: 0361-9230)
British Journal of Pharmacology (ISSN: 0007-1188)
Cardiovascular Toxicology (CATO) (ISSN: 1530-7905)
Cell Proliferation (ISSN: 1365-2184)
Chemosphere (ISSN: 0045-6535)
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets (ISSN: 1871-5273)
Current Aging Science (ISSN: 1874-6098)
Current Alzheimer Disease (ISSN: 1567-2050)
Cell Death & Disease (ISSN: 2041-4889)
Current Diabetes Reviews (ISSN: 1573-3998)
Current Drug Metabolism (ISSN: 1389-2002)
Current Genomics (ISSN: 1389-2029)
Current Molecular Pharmacology (ISSN: 1874-4672)
Diabetologia (ISSN: 0012-186X)
EBioMedicine (ISSN: 2352-3964)
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (ISSN: 1382-6689)
European Journal of Cardio-thoracic surgery (ISSN: 1010-7940)
European Journal of Clinical Investigation (EJCI) (ISSN: 0014-2972)
European Journal of Pharmacology (ISSN: 0014-2999)
European Journal of Nutrition (ISSN: 1436-6207)
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology (ISSN: 0301-2115)
Experimental and Molecular Pathology (ISSN: 0014-4800)
Experimental Biology and Medicine (ISSN: 1535-3702)
FASEB J (ISSN: 1530-6860)
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica (ISSN: 0239-8508)
Food Chemistry (ISSN: 0308-8146)
Food & Function (ISSN: 2042-6496)
Frontiers in Neurology (ISSN: 1664-2295)
Frontiers in Pharmacology (ISSN: 1663-9812)
Human Fertility (ISSN: 1464-7273)
Human Reproduction (ISSN: 0268-1161)
International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (ISSN: 1357-2725)
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (ISSN: 2169-3048)
International Journal of Fertility and Sterility (ISSN:2008-076X)
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (ISSN:0021-8561)
Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (ISSN: 0160-2446)
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (JCB) (ISSN: 1097-4644)
Journal of Cellular Physiology (ISSN: 1097-4652)
Journal of Diabetes and its complications (ISSN: 1056-8727)
Journal of Endocrinology (ISSN: 0022-0795)
Journal of Ethnopharmacology (ISSN: 0378-8741)
Journal of Fluorescence (JOF) (ISSN: 1053-0509)
Journal of Food Biochemistry (ISSN: 1745-4514)
Journal of Functional Foods (ISSN: 1756-4646)
Journal of Molecular Endocrinology (ISSN: 0952-5041)
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (ISSN: 0955-2863)
Journal of Pharmacological & Biomedical analysis (ISSN: 2327-4638)
Journal of Pineal Research (ISSN: 1600-079X)
Journal of Proteomics (ISSN: 1874-3919)
Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ISSN: 0960-0760)
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B (ISSN: 1521-6950)
Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B (ISSN: 1673-1581)
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery (ISSN: 1570-1808)
Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) (ISSN: 1857-5749)
Medical Science (Omics Group)
Medicinal Chemistry (ISSN: 1573-4064)
Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental (ISSN: 0026-0495)
Metabolomics (ISSN: 1573-3882)
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry (ISSN: 1389-5575)
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology (ISSN: 0303-7207)
Molecular Neurobiology (ISSN: 0893-7648)
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (ISSN: 1613-4133)
Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049)
Natural Product Research (ISSN: 1478-6419)
Nutrition (ISSN: 0899-9007)
Nutrition Reviews (ISSN: 1753-4887)
Obesity Research & Clinical Practice (ISSN: 1871-403X)
Oncotarget (ISSN: 1949-2553)
Pathophysiology (ISSN: 0928-4680)
Peak Journal of Agricultural Sciences (ISSN: 2331-5784)
PeerJ (ISSN: 2167-8359)
PLOS ONE (ISSN: 1932-6203)
PPAR Research (ISSN: 1687-4765)
Prudence Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (ISSN 2354-3205)
Reproduction (ISSN: 1470-1626)
Reproduction, Fertility & Development (ISSN: 1031-3613)
Reproductive Biology (ISSN: 1642-431X)
Reproductive Biomedicine Online (ISSN: 1472-6483)
Reproductive Sciences (ISSN: 1933-7191)
Reproductive Toxicology (ISSN: 0890-6238)
Revista Internacional de Andrología (ISSN: 1698-031X)
Scientific Reports (ISSN: 2045-2322)
Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine (ISSN: 1939-6368)
Theranostics (ISSN: 1838-7640)
Theriogenology (ISSN: 0093-691X)
Tissue and Cell (ISSN: 0040-8166)
Toxicological Sciences (ISSN: 1096-6080)
Toxicology (ISSN: 0300-483X)
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (ISSN: 0041-008X)
Toxicology in vitro (ISSN: 0887-2333)
Toxicology Letters (ISSN: 0378-4274)