Dr. Marta Martins
Assistant Professor/ Head of Discipline, Microbiology
Biography
Dr. Marta Martins has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, specialisation of Microbiology, conferred by the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon (IHMT/UNL), Lisbon, Portugal. Currently, her research addresses the study of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of public health importance, along with aspects of the infection biology, using a combination of classical microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology and functional genomic techniques. She is mainly interested in the way that bacteria adapt to certain environments and respond to the stresses encountered, focusing on the bacteria physiological and molecular mechanisms. In the last few years she has published several book chapters addressing this subject. She is also a member of the European network in antibiotic resistance, COST Action- Antibiotic transport & efflux: new strategies to combat bacterial resistance.
She is currently a reviewer, by invitation, of manuscripts submitted for publication to Immunotherapy; Biochemistry and Pharmacology; The Open Microbiology Journal; European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, being also a member of the Editorial Board of Conference Papers in Microbiology and a Guest Editor of Frontiers in Microbiology.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Niamh Mohan, Unravelling a food derived bioactive peptide with dual functionality of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capabilities, Trinity College Dublin, 2020
McCusker MP, Ferreira DA, Cooney D, Alves BM, Fanning S, Pagès JM, Martins M*, Davin-Regli A, Modulation of antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacter aerogenes - a strategy combining antibiotics and chemosensitisers, Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 16, 2019, p187 - 198
Mohan NM, Zorgani A, Jalowicki G, Kerr A, Khaldi N, Martins M., Unlocking NuriPep 1653 From Common Pea Protein: A Potent Antimicrobial Peptide to Tackle a Pan-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii., Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, (2086), 2019, p1 - 16
Machado D, Antunes J, Simões A, Perdigão J, Couto I, McCusker M, Martins M, Portugal I, Pacheco T, Batista J, Toscano C, Viveiros , Contribution of efflux to colistin heteroresistance in a multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolate, Journal of Medical Microbiology, 67, (6), 2018, p740 - 749
D. A. Ferreira, D. Luís, L. M.D.R.S. Martins, A. R. Fernandes, and M. Martins, Drug repurposing of zinc and cobalt organometallic compounds to uncover effective antibacterials, ECCMID, Madrid, Spain, 21-24 April, 2018
D.Machado, J. Antunes, A. Simões, J. Perdigão, I. Couto, M. P. McCusker, M. Martins, I.Portugal, T. Pacheco, J. Batista, C. Toscano, and M.Viveiros. , Contribution of efflux to colistin heteroresistance in a multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolate., ECCMID, Madrid, Spain, 21-24 April, 2018
Anes J, Martins M, Fanning S, Reversing Antimicrobial Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae of Clinical Origin Using 1-(1-Naphthylmethyl)-Piperazine, Microbial Drug Resistance, 24, (10), 2018, phttp://doi.org/10.1089/mdr.201
Baptista PV, McCusker MP, Carvalho A, Ferreira DA, Mohan NM, Martins M*, Fernandes AR*, Nano-Strategies to Fight Multidrug Resistant Bacteria - "A Battle of the Titans", Frontiers in Microbiology, 9, 2018, p1441 - 1468
D. Alves Ferreira, D. Luís, L.M.D.R.S. Martins, A. R. Fernandes and M. Martins. , Drug repurposing of zinc and cobalt organometallic compounds to uncover effective antibacterials., ESCMID/ASM Conference on Drug Development to Meet the Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance, Lisbon, Portugal, 4-7 September, 2018
D. Alves Ferreira and M. Martins. , New tricks for old drugs - Uncovering the mechanism of action of thioridazine in Salmonella Typhimurium, ESCMID/ASM Conference on Drug Development to Meet the Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance, Lisbon, Portugal, 4-7 September, 2018
D. Alves Ferreira, D. Luís , L.M.D.R.S. Martins , A. R. Fernandes , M. Martins. , Repurposing zinc and cobalt organometallic compounds as effective antimicrobials against Gram-‐positive and -‐negative bacteria., SGM Focused meeting, Maynooth, Ireland , 2017
A. McGurrin, N. Mohan, M. Martins, Combined therapy to treat antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, SGM Annual Conference, EICC, Edinburgh , 3-6 April, 2017
A. J. Charmier, Pedro Fernandes, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Marta Martins, Catarina Roma-‐Rodrigues, Susana Morgado., Microwave technology and enzymatic modifications of plant extracts to obtain compounds with antibacterial activity. , SGM Annual Conference 2017, EICC, , Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 April, 2017
S. Odekunle, N. Mohan, M. P. McCusker, M. Martins., Uncovering the mechanism of action of thioridazine in Salmonella, SGM Annual Conference, EICC, Edinburgh , 3-6 April, 2017
D. Alves Ferreira and M. Martins, New tricks for old drugs -‐ Revealing the mechanism of action of thioridazine in Salmonella, SGM Focused meeting, Maynooth , 2017
N.M. Mohan, B. Molloy, C. Colombo, M. Martins and N. Khaldi, Data Mined Plant Antimicrobial Peptides as a Strategy to Control Pseudomonas aeruginosa., Gordon Conference, USA, 2017
Anes J, Hurley D, Martins M, Fanning S. , Exploring the Genome and Phenotype of Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae of Clinical Origin., Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, (1913), 2017, p1 - 15
M. Hannon, N. Mohan, D. Luís, L. M.D.R.S. Martins, A. R. Fernandes, M. Martins, Antibacterial activity of repurposed zinc organometallic compounds - from anticancer to effective antimicrobials against E. coli. , SGM Annual Conference , Edinburgh, 3-6 April, 2017
N.M. Mohan, B. Molloy, C. Colombo, M. Martins, N. Khaldi. , Unveiling novel antimicrobial peptides from nature to combat food spoilage pathogens., IV International Conference on Antimicrobial Research (ICAR)., Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain, 29 June-1 July , 2016
A. J. Charmier, A. R Fernandes, S. Morgado, M. Martins, P. Fernandes, A. J. L. Pombeiro, Towards Green Downstream Processing: Microwave Technology For Extraction Of Active Biomolecules. , European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering Sciences., Dublin, Ireland, 11-14 September, 2016
N.M. Mohan, B. Molloy, C. Colombo, M. Martins, N. Khaldi, Using Natures Own Defences to Develop New Preservatives, IUFOST 18th World Congress of Food Science and Technology, Dublin, Ireland, 21-25 August, 2016
Machado D, Pires D, Perdigão J, Couto I, Portugal I, Martins M, Amaral L, Anes E, Viveiros M, Ion Channel Blockers as Antimicrobial Agents, Efflux Inhibitors, and Enhancers of Macrophage Killing Activity against Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, PLoS One, 11, (2), 2016, pe0149326-
Daniel Hurley, Maria Hoffmann, Tim Muruvanda, Marc W Allard, Eric W Brown, Marta Martins, Séamus Fanning, AtypicalSalmonella entericaserovars in murine and human infection models: Is it time to reassess our approach to the study of salmonellosis?, 2016
Martins M. and McCusker MP, Alternative therapeutics against MDR bacteria - fighting the epidemic of antibiotic resistance, Frontiers in Microbiology, 7, (1559), 2016, p1 - 2
Brennan E*, Martins M*, McCusker MP, Wang J, Alves BA, Hurley D, El Garch F, Woehrlé F, Miossec C, McGrath L, Srikumar S, Wall P, Fanning S, Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli in Bovine Animals, Europe, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22, (9), 2016, p1650 - 1652
Applied and Environmental Microbiology (AEM), USA, American Society of Microbiology, [eds.], 2016-2019
Martins M, Baptista PV, Mendo AS, Correia C, Videira P, Rodrigues AS, Muthukumaran J, SantosSilva T, Silva A, Guedes da Silva MF, Gigante J, Duarte A, Gajewska M, Fernandes AR, In vitro and in vivo biological characterization of the anti-proliferative potential of a cyclic trinuclear organotin(iv) complex, Molecular Biosystems, 12, (3), 2016, p1015 - 1023
N.M. Mohan, B. Molloy, C. Colombo, J. Carrigan., M. Martins, N. Khaldi. , Using natures own defences to develop new preservatives, Food Micro, Dublin, Ireland, 19-22 July, 2016
Denis O'Leary, Evonne Mc Cabe, Matthew P. McCusker, Marta Martins, Seamus Fanning and Geraldine Duffy., Acid environments affect biofilm formation and gene expression in isolates of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium DT104, International Journal of Food Microbiolog, 206, 2015, p7 - 16
I. Roca, M. Akova, F. Baquero, J. Carlet, M. Cavaleri, S. Coenen, J. Cohen, D. Findlay, I. Gyssens, O. E. Heure, G. Kahlmeter, H. Kruse, R. Laxminarayan, E. Liébana, L. López-Cerero, A. MacGowan, M. Martins, J. Rodríguez-Baño, J.-M. Rolain, C. Segovia, B. Sigauque, E. Taconelli, E. Wellington and J. Vila, The global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance: Science for Interventi, New Microbes and and New Infections, 6, 2015, p22 - 29
Qiongqiong Yan, Juan Wang, Jayanthi Gangiredla, Yu Cao, Marta Martins, Gopal Gopinath, Roger Stephan, Keith Lampel, Ben Tall, and Seamus Fanning, Comparative genotypic and phenotypic analysis of Cronobacter species cultured from four powdered infant formula production facilities - indication of patho-adaptation along the food chain, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81, (13), 2015, p4388 - 4402
João Anes, Matthew P. McCusker, Séamus Fanning, Marta Martins, The ins and outs of RND efflux pumps in Escherichia coli, Front. Microbiol., 6, 2015
Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers, [eds.], 2015-2018
João Anes, Matthew P. McCusker, Séamus Fanning and Marta Martins, The Ins and Outs of RND Efflux pumps in Escherichia coli, Frontiers in Microbiology, 6, (587), 2015, p1 - 14
Robert Doran, Michael P. Carroll, Ramulu Akula, Bryan F. Hogan, Marta Martins, Séamus Fanning and Patrick J. Guiry, A Stereoselective Switch: Enantiodivergent Approach to the Synthesis of Isoflavanones, Chemistry European Journal, 20, 2014, p1 - 7
"Cap. III - Princípios do Diagnóstico Microbiológico Médico" in, Meliço Silvestre A, Barroso H & Nuno Taveira , Microbiologia Médica - "Métodos de Diagnóstico serológico", Portugal, LIDEL, 2014, pp51 - 60, [M. Martins, R. Castro, M. L. Vieira]
McCusker MP, Hokamp K, Buckley JF, Wall PG, Martins M, Fanning S, Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Agona Pulsed-Field Type SAGOXB.0066, Cause of a 2008 Pan-European Outbreak., Genome announcements, 2, (1), 2014
Daniel Hurley, Matthew P. McCusker, Seamus Fanning, Marta Martins, Salmonella-host interactions - modulation of the host innate immune system, Frontiers in Immunology, 5, (481), 2014, p1 - 11
Finn S, Hinton JC, McClure P, Amézquita A, Martins M, Fanning S., Phenotypic characterization of Salmonella isolated from food production environments associated with low-water activity foods, Journal of Food Protection, 76, (9), 2013, p1488 - 1499
, Correction: Exploring the contribution of efflux on the resistance to fluoroquinolones in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 2013
Marta Martins, Matthew P. McCusker, Miguel Viveiros, Isabel Couto, Séamus Fanning, Jean-Marie Pagès, Leonard Amaral, A Simple Method for Assessment of MDR Bacteria for Over-Expressed Efflux Pumps, The Open Microbiology Journal, 7, (Suppl 1-M6), 2013, p72 - 82
O'Leary D, Cabe EM, McCusker MP, Martins M, Fanning S, Duffy G, Microbiological study of biofilm formation in isolates of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium DT104 and DT104b cultured from the modern pork chain, International Journal of Food Microbiology, 161, (1), 2013, p36 - 43
L. Amaral, M. Martins, I. Couto, M. Viveiros, Therapy of the XDR-TB patient with thioridazine - an old drug with new applications., Tuberculosis: laboratory diagnosis and treatment strategies, 2013, p232--242
Martins M, McCusker MP, McCabe EM, O'Leary D, Duffy G, Fanning S, Evidence of metabolic switching and implications for food safety from the phenome(s) of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 cultured at selected points across the pork production food chain, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 79, (18), 2013, p5437 - 5449
, Inhibitors of mycobacterial efflux pumps as potential boosters for anti-tubercular drugs, 2012
"Chapter 4 - Structure, genetic regulation, physiology and function of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. in, G. Tegos and E. Mylonakis , Antimicrobial drug discovery: emerging strategies. , UK, CAB International, 2012, pp44 - 61, [Amaral L., A. Martins, G. Spengler, M. Martins, L. Rodrigues, M. McCusker, E. Ntokou, P. Cerca, L. Machado, M. Viveiros, I. Couto, S. Fanning, J. Kristiansen, J. Molnar]
Miguel Viveiros, Marta Martins, Liliana Rodrigues, Diana Machado, Isabel Couto, José Ainsa, Leonard Amaral, Inhibitors of mycobacterial efflux pumps as potential boosters for TB drugs in: Targeting Antibiotic Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis - An Emerging Trend in Tuberculosis Drug Development, 10, (9), 2012, p983 - 998
L. Amaral, A. Martins, G. Spengler, M. Martins, L. Rodrigues, M. McCusker, E. Ntokou, P. Cerca, L. Machado, M. Viveiros, I. Couto, S. Fanning, J. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, Structure, genetic regulation, physiology and function of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump of Escherichia coli and Salmonella., Antimicrobial drug discovery: emerging strategies, 2012, p44--61
Marta Martins, Is adjuvant therapy a potential road for fighting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance? , Expert Reviews Anti Infective Therapies, 10, (11), 2012, p1225 - 1227
Spengler, G., L. Rodrigues, A. Martins, M. Martins, M. McCusker, P. Cerca, L. Machado, S.S. Costa, E. Ntokou, I. Couto, M. Viveiros, S. Fanning, J. Molnar, L. Amaral, Genetic response of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis to thioridazine rendering the organism resistant to the agent, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 39, (1), 2012, p16 - 21
Amaral, L., M. Martins and M. Viveiros. , Thioridazine: Alternative and Potentially Effective Therapy of the XDR-TB Patient., Letters in Drug Design & Discovery , 8, 2011, p130 - 132
S. S. Costa, Falcão, C., M. Viveiros, D. Machado, M. Martins, J. Melo-Cristino, L. Amaral and I. Couto. 2011, Exploring the contribution of efflux on the resistance to fluoroquinolones in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, BMC Microbiology, 11, 2011, p241-
Martins, M., M. McCusker, L. Amaral, S. Fanning., Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella: Efflux Pumps, Genetics, Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation., Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, 8, 2011, p114 - 123
Marta Martins, Targeting the Human Macrophage with Combinations of Drugs and Inhibitors of Ca2+ and K+ Transport to Enhance the Killing of Intracellular Multi-Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) - a Novel, Patentable Approach to Limit the Emergence of XDR-TB, PRI, 6, (2), 2011, p110--117
Karczmarczyk, M., M. Martins, T. Quinn, N. Leonard, S. Fanning, Mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from food-producing animals, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 77, (20), 2011, p7113 - 7120
Ramalhete, C., G. Spengler, A. Martins, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, S. Mulhovo, M.J. Ferreira, L. Amaral., Inhibition of efflux pumps in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Marta S. L. Martins - Curriculum vitæ 10/43 Enterococcus faecalis resistant strains by triterpenoids from Momordica balsamina., International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 37, 2011, p70 - 74
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, I. Couto, S.S. Costa, T. Pacheco, S. Fanning, J.M. Pagès, L. Amaral, Identification of efflux pump-mediated multidrug-resistant bacteria by the ethidium bromide-agar cartwheel method. In Vivo. 25(2):171-178, In Vivo, 25, (2), 2011, p171 - 178
Martins, M. , Targeting the Human Macrophage with Combinations of Drugs and Inhibitors of Ca(2+) and K(+) Transport to Enhance the Killing of Intracellular Multi-Drug Resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB) - a Novel, Patentable Approach to Limit the Emergence of XDR-TB, Recent Patents on Anti-infective Drug Discovery , 6, (2), 2011, p110 - 117
Amaral, L., A. Martins, J. Molnar, J.E Kristiansen, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, L. Rodrigues, G. Spengler, I. Couto, J. Ramos, S. Dastidar, S. Fanning, M. McCusker and J.M. Pages., Phenothiazines, bacterial efflux pumps and targeting the macrophage for enhanced killing of intracellular XDR-TB, In Vivo, 24, 2010, p409 - 424
Viveiros, M., M. Martins, I. Couto, L. Rodrigues, D. Machado, I. Portugal and L. Amaral, Molecular tools for rapid identification and novel effective therapy against MDRTB/XDRTB infections, Expert Reviews Anti Infective Therapies, 8, 2010, p465 - 480
"Evaluation of efflux activity of bacteria by a semi-automated fluorometric system in, editor(s)John Walker , Antibiotic Resistance Protocols for the Methods in Molecular Biology Series, London, UK, Humana Press, 2010, pp159 - 172, [Viveiros, M., L. Rodrigues, M. Martins, I. Couto, G. Spengler, A. Martins, L. Amaral]
Karczmarczyk, M., M. Martins, M. McCusker, S. Mattar, L. Amaral, N. Leonard, F. M. Aarestrup and S. Fanning, Characterization of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica food and animal isolates from Colombia: identification of a qnrB19-mediated quinolone resistance marker in two novel serovars, FEMS Microbiology Letters, 313, 2010, p10 - 19
"Identification of efflux-mediated multi-drug resistance in bacterial clinical isolates by two simple methods in, editor(s)John Walker , Antibiotic Resistance Protocols for the Methods in Molecular Biology Series, London, UK, Humana Press, 2010, pp143 - 157, [Martins, M., I. Couto, M. Viveiros, L. Amaral]
Martins, A., G. Spengler, M. Martins, L. Rodrigues, M. Viveiros, A. Davin-Regli, J. Chevalier, I. Couto, J.M. Pagès and L. Amaral, Physiological characterization of the efflux pump system of antibiotic susceptible and multi-drug resistant Enterobacter aerogenes, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 36, 2010, p313 - 318
Chapter XII - Genetic regulation, physiology, assessment and inhibition of efflux pumps responsible for multi-drug resistant phenotypes of bacterial pathogens in, Agoston Meszaros and Gusztav Balogh , "Multiple Drug Resistance, New York, USA, NovaScience Publishers, 2010, pp225 - 244, [Amaral L, Fanning S, Spengler G, Rodrigues L, Iversen, C., Martins M, Martins A, Viveiros M, Couto I]
, Evaluation of Efflux Activity of Bacteria by a Semi-automated Fluorometric System, 2010
Paixão, L., L. Rodrigues, I. Couto, M. Martins, P. Fernandes, C., CCR de Carvalho, G. Monteiro, F. Sansonetty, L. Amaral and M. Viveiros , Fluorometric determination of ethidium bromide efflux kinetics in Escherichia coli., Journal of Biological Engineering, 3, 2009, p18-
Spengler, G., C. Ramalhete, M. Martins, A. Martins, J. Serly, M. Viveiros, J. Molnár, N. Duarte, S. Mulhovo, M.J.U. Ferreira, L. Amaral., Evaluation of cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from Momordica balsamina on P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) by flow cytometry and real-time fluorometry, AntiCancer Research, 29, 2009, p3989 - 3994
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, I. Couto, and L. Amaral., Targeting human macrophages for enhanced killing of intracellular XDR-TB and MDR-TB., International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 13, 2009, p569 - 573
Spengler, G., A. Martins, Z. Schelz, L. Rodrigues, L. Aagaard, M. Martins, S. Santos Costa, I. Couto, M. Viveiros, J. E. Kristiansen, S. Fanning, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Characterisation of intrinsic efflux activity of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 by an automated ethidium bromide method, In Vivo, 23, 2009, p81 - 87
Spengler, G., Viveiros, M., Martins, M., Rodrigues, L., Molnar, J., Couto, I., and Amaral, L. , Demonstration of the activity of the P-glycoprotein by a semi-automated fluorometric method. , Anticancer Research , 29, 2009, p2173 - 2177
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, J. Ramos, I. Couto, J. Molnar, M. Boeree, and L. Amaral. , SILA 421, an inhibitor of efflux pumps of cancer cells, enhances the killing of intracellular extensively drugresistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB)., International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 33, 2009, p479 - 482
Martins, A., G. Spengler, L. Rodrigues, M. Viveiros, J. Ramos, M. Martins, I. Couto, S. Fanning, J.M. Pagès, J.M. Bolla, J. Molnar and L. Amaral, pH Modulation of Efflux Pump Activity of MultiDrug Resistant E. coli: Protection During its Passage and Eventual Colonization of the Colon, PLoS One , 4, (8), 2009, pe6656-
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, and L. Amaral, Enhanced killing of intracellular pathogenic bacteria by phenothiazines and the role of K+ efflux pumps of the bacterium and the killing macrophage. , Anti-Infective Agents In Medicinal Chemistry, 7, 2008, p63 - 72
Amaral, L., M. Martins, M. Viveiros, J. Molnar, and J. E. Kristiansen. , Promising therapy of XDR-TB/MDR-TB with thioridazine an inhibitor of bacterial efflux pumps. , Current Drug Targets, 9, 2008, p816 - 819
Martins, M., The role played by efflux systems on the resistance to antibiotics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (New University of Lisbon), 2008
Martins, A; Vasas, A; Schelz, Z; Martins, M; Viveiros, M; Molnar, J; Hohmann, J; Amaral, L , Purification and identification of active compounds of Carpobrotus edulis against the reversal of resistance of human mdr1 gene transfected mouse lymphoma cells. , Planta Medica , Seventh Joint Meeting of AFERP, ASP, GA, PSE & SIF - Natural products with pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic and agrochemical interest, Athens, Greece, 3-8 August, 74, (9), 2008, pp1004-
Viveiros, M., M. Martins, I. Couto, L. Rodrigues, G. Spengler, A. Martins, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar and L. Amaral. , New Methods for the identification of efflux mediated MDR bacteria, genetic assessment of regulators and efflux pump constituents, characterization of efflux systems and screening for inhibitors of efflux pumps, Current Drug Targets, 9, 2008, p760 - 778
, The TB laboratory of the future: macrophage-based selection of XDR-TB therapeutics, 2008
Viveiros, M., A. Martins, L. Paixão, L. Rodrigues, M. Martins, I. Couto, E. Fähnrich, W. V. Kern, and L. Amaral. , Demonstration of intrinsic efflux activity of E. coli K-12 AG100 by an automated ethidium bromide method, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 31, 2008, p458 - 462
Martins, M. , The antimycobacterial activity of thioridazine derivatives against drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (New University of Lisbon), 2008
Couto, I., S. Santos Costa, M. Viveiros, M. Martins, and L. Amaral, Efflux-mediated response of Staphylococcus aureus exposed to ethidium bromide., Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 62, 2008, p504 - 513
Amaral L., Spengler G., Viveiros M., Rodrigues L., Martins A., Couto I., Martins M., Fanning S., Pages J.M., Molnar J. , Assessment and comparison of efflux pumps of cancer cells and MDR bacteria under physiological conditions by a real-time semi-automated system. , Anticancer Research - International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment , Eighth International Conference of Anticancer Research, Kos, Greece, 28, (5C), 2008, pp18-
Martins, M., S. G. Dastidar, S. Fanning, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, J. M. Pagès, Z. Schelz, G. Spengler, M. Viveiros, and L. Amaral. , Potential role of non-antibiotics (helper compounds) in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections: mechanisms for their direct and indirect activities, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 31, 2008, p198 - 208
Mishra, U. S., P. Chakraborty, A. Dasgupta, S. G. Dastidar, M. Martins, and L. Amaral, Potent Bactericidal action of a flavonoid compound isolated from the stem bark of Butea frondosa., In Vivo , 23, 2008, p29 - 32
Spengler, G; Viveiros, M; Martins, A; Rodrigues, L; Martins, M; Molnar, J; Couto, I; Amaral, L. , Demonstration of the activity of p-glycoprotein by a fully automated ethidium bromide method. , Anticancer Research - International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment , Eighth International Conference of Anticancer Research, Kos, Greece, 17-22 October , 28, (5C), 2008, pp630-
Martins A, Vasas A, Schelz Z, Martins M, Viveiros M, Molnár J, Hohmann J, Spengler G and Amaral L. , Constituents of Carpobrotus edulis inhibit p-glycoprotein of human mdr1 gene transfected mouse lymphoma cells, Anticancer Research , Eighth International Conference of Anticancer Research, Kos, Greece, 28, (5C), 2008, pp3397-
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, and L. Amaral. , The TB Laboratory of the Future: The role of the macrophage in the selection of agents that can be used for the successful therapy of an XDR-TB infection. , Future Microbiology, 3, 2008, p135 - 144
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, and L. Amaral. , Inhibitors of Ca2+ and K+ transport enhance intracellular killing of M. tuberculosis by non-killing macrophages. , In Vivo, 22, 2008, p69 - 75
Amaral, L., M. Martins, and M. Viveiros. , Enhanced killing of intracellular multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by compounds that affect the activity of efflux pumps: a review, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 59, 2007, p1237 - 1246
Viveiros, M., M. Dupont, L. Rodrigues, I. Couto, A. Davin-Regli, M. Martins, J. M. Pagès, and L. Amaral., Antibiotic Stress, Genetic Response and Altered Permeability of E. coli., PLoS One, 2, 2007, pe365-
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, and L, Amaral. , The curative activity of thioridazine on mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis., In Vivo , 21, 2007, p771 - 776
Schelz, Z., M. Martins, A. Martins, M. Viveiros, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Elimination of plasmids by SILA compounds that inhibit efflux pumps of bacteria and cancer cells. , In vivo, 21, 2007, p635 - 640
Martins, A., I. Couto, L. Aagaard, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, J. E. Kristiansen, and L. Amaral., Prolonged exposure of MRSA COL to increasing concentrations of oxacillin result in an MDR phenotype, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 29, 2007, p302 - 305
Amaral, L., M. Martins, and M. Viveiros. , Phenothiazines as Anti-Multi-Drug Resistant Tubercular Agents, Infect. Disord. Drug Targets, 7, 2007, p257 - 265
Martins, M., Z. Schelz, A. Martins, J. Molnar, G. Hajös, Z. Riedl, M. Viveiros, I. Yalcin, and L. Amaral. , In vitro and ex vivo activity of thioridazine derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis., International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 29, 2007, p338 - 340
Dutta, N. K., A. Subramanian, K. Mazumdar, S. G. Dastidar, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, M. Martins, and L. Amaral. , Potential management of resistant microbial infections with a novel nonantibiotic: the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium. , International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 30, 2007, p242 - 249
Duarte, N., M. J. Ferreira, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, and L. Amaral, Antibacterial activity of ergosterol peroxide against Mycobacterium tuberculosis: dependence upon system and medium employed. , Phytotherapy Research , 21, 2007, p601 - 604
, Prolonged exposure of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) COL strain to increasing concentrations of oxacillin results in a multidrug-resistant phenotype, 2007
Martins, M., M. Viveiros, D. Ordway, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Reserpine, ouabain and the calcium channel blocker verapamil, cause intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus., Research Journal of Microbiology , 1, 2006, p203 - 209
Martins, M., B. Santos, A. Martins, M. Viveiros, I. Couto, A. Cruz, J. M. Pagès, J. Molnar, S. Fanning, L. Amaral, and Management Committee Members of COST B16; European Commission/European Science Foundation. , An instrument-free method for the demonstration of efflux pump activity of bacteria., In Vivo, 20, 2006, p657 - 664
Amaral, L., M. Martins, and M. Viveiros. , Treatment of Tuberculosis in HIV Infected Patients. , Int. J. Infect. Dis. , 10 , (Suppl1), 2006, ppS228:50-
Martins, A., I. Couto, L. Aagaard, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, J. E. Kristiansen, and L, Amaral. , Increasing concentrations of oxacillin yield efflux pump mediated MDR phenotype of MRSA COL. , Research J. Med. Sci, 1, 2006, p13 - 15
Kristiansen, M. K., C. Leandro, D. Ordway, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, T. Pacheco, J. E. Kristiansen, and L. Amaral. , Thioridazine reduces resistance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting a reserpine and CCCP sensitive putative efflux pumps, In Vivo , 20, 2006, p361 - 366
Viveiros, M., A. Jesus, M. Brito, C. Leandro, M. Martins, D. Ordway, A. M. Molnar, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Inducement and reversal of tetracycline resistance in Escherichia coli K12 through the expression of proton gradient dependent multidrug efflux pump genes. , Antimicrobial Agents and Chematherapy, 49, 2005, p3578 - 3582
Viveiros, M., M. Martins, I. Couto, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnár, and L. Amaral. , The in vitro activity of phenothiazines against Mycobacterium avium: potential of thioridazine for therapy of the coinfected AIDS patient., In Vivo, 19, 2005, p733 - 736
Martins M., Santos B., Viveiros M., Couto I., Pages J.M., Molnar J., Fanning S., Cruz A., Amaral L. , An instrument-free method for precise demonstration of efflux pump activity of bacteria, Seventh European Congress of Chemotherapy, Florence (Italy), 20 October, 17, (Suppl.3), 2005, ppS38-S38 -
Duarte N., Ramalhete C., Martins M., Amaral L., Abreu P., Viveiros M. and Ferreira M.J.U., Isolation of terpenic compounds from the methanolic extract of Euphorbia lagascae. Screening of their in vitro activity against M. tuberculosis and S. aureus. , Revista Portuguesa de Farmácia, 52, 2005, p88 - 89
Martins, M., D. Ordway, M. Kristiansen, M. Viveiros, C. Leandro, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Inhibition of the Carpobrotus edulis methanol extract on the growth of phagocytosed multidrugresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Fitoterapia , 76, 2005, p96 - 99
Ordway, D. J., M. Martins, L. Costa, M. Freire, M. J. Arroz, H. Dockrell, and F. A. Ventura. , Aumento da produção de IL-4 como resposta ao Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulento em doentes com tuberculose em estádio avançado. , Acta Médica Portuguesa, 18, 2005, p27 - 36
Ordway, D. J., L. Pinto, L. Costa, M. Martins, C. Leandro, M. Viveiros, L. Amaral, M. J. Arroz, F. A. Ventura, and H. M. Dockrell, Gamma delta T cell responses associated with the development of tuberculosis in health care workers, FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 43, 2005, p339 - 350
Martins M., Viveiros M., Ordway D., Amaral L. , Killing activity of macrophages infected with multi-drug resistant bacteria is enhanced by thioridazine, ouabain, reserpine and verapamil. , Journal of Chemotherapy, Seventh European Congress of Chemotherapy, Florence, Italy, 17, (Suppl3), 2005, ppS60-S60-
Amaral, L., M. Viveiros, C. Leandro, M. Martins, D. Ordway, A. N. Molnar, and J. Molnar. , Inducement and reversal of tetracycline resistance in Escherichia coli K-12 through the expression of proton gradient dependent multidrug efflux pumps, Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents , 24, (Suppl 2), 2004, ppS207-
Ordway, D. J., L. Costa, M. Martins, H. Silveira, L. Amaral, M. J. Arroz, F. A. Ventura, and H. M. Dockrell, Increased Interleukin-4 production by CD8 and gamma delta T cells in health-care workers is associated with the subsequent development of active tuberculosis. , Journal of Infectious Diseases, 190, 2004, p756 - 766
Martins, M., W. Bleiss, A. Marko, D. Ordway, M. Viveiros, C. Leandro, J. Molnar, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Wecke, and L. Amaral, Clinical concentrations of thioridazine enhance the killing of intracellular methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an in vivo, ex vivo and electron microscopy study, In Vivo, 18, 2004, p787 - 794
Leandro, C., D. Ordway, M. S. Martins, M. Viveiros, L. Pinto, M. J. Arroz, F. A. Ventura, H. M. Dockrell, and L. Amaral. , Health care workers who are to progress to active TB disease present a panel of T cell immune markers predicting such progression, Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents , 24, (Suppl. 2), 2004, ppS167 - S168
Amaral, L., D. Ordway, M. Viveiros, M. Martins, and C. Leandro, Thioridazine: evidence supporting its use as alternative therapy for MDR-TB, Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents , 24, (Suppl. 2), 2004, ppS169-
Kristiansen, M. M., C. Leandro, D. Ordway, M. Martins, M. Viveiros, T. Pacheco, J. E. Kristiansen, and L. Amaral. , Phenothiazines alter resistance of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to oxacillin in vitro, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 22, 2003, p250 - 253
Ordway, D., M. Viveiros, C. Leandro, R. Bettencourt, J. Almeida, M. Martins, J. E. Kristiansen, J. Molnar, and L. Amaral. , Clinical concentrations of thioridazine kill intracellular multidrugresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 47, 2003, p917 - 922
Ordway, D. J., H. Silveira, L. Costa, S. Costa, M. Martins, R. Badura, M. J. Arroz, H. M. Dockrell, S. Young, and F. A. A. N. Ventura. , Comparação das respostas celulares imunes induzidas por proteínas filtradas da cultura de Mycobacterium tuberculosis., Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia , VIII, 2002, p629 - 643
Martins, M. , Study of the cytokines IL-5 and IFN-γ in patients with Tuberculosis and HIV, Universidade Lusofona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (Lusophone Uni of Humanities & Technologies), 2000
Research Expertise
Description
Dr. Martins is interested in the way that bacteria adapt to certain environments and respond to the stresses encountered, focusing on the bacteria physiological and molecular mechanisms. An area of interest is the way that certain bacteria (e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis) are able to manipulate the host, such as the macrophage. Her main interests reside on the use of alternative therapies to treat multidrug resistant bacteria as well as the use of compounds to activate the infected host.Projects
- Title
- TRINITY - Tackling antibiotic Resistance IN Intracellular Salmonella using Thioridazine
- Summary
- The worldwide occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and the lack of new antibiotics is jeopardising our ability to treat infections. This triggered the search for novel molecules as well as for the repurposing of existing drugs. One of these compounds, Thioridazine, with activity reported against Mycobacterium tuberculosis will be studied to elucidate its mechanism of action using Salmonella as a model of infection, focusing on its effects on the infected host cells.
- Funding Agency
- Welcome Trust
- Date From
- 2017
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- Unravelling food derived bioactive peptides with dual functionality of antimicrobial and immunomodulating capabilities
- Summary
- In this project we used a computational data-mining and feature based approach to unravel the abundance of unexplored peptides from nature and to identify potent, novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from phyto-proteins. We explored Pisum sativum hydrolysed (PSH) protein and evaluated its potential as a bio-preservative. As the "clean label" revolution takes hold, paired with increased consumer demand for natural products, alternative preserving solutions are needed to maintain food safety and limit spoilage. PSH offers an attractive plant-based solution, capable of reducing disease causing pathogens while being economically viable, and environmentally friendly. Expanding on the potential of the PSH, we identified NuriPep 1653, an individual peptide component of the hydrolysate with remarkable antimicrobial activity. AMPs are an integral part of every species contributing to host defence and have been lauded as contenders in combatting the antibiotic crisis. Despite immense scientific efforts to bring antibiotic alternatives to the market, very few have been approved for market sale as they have yet to surpass the activity of traditional therapies. Paired with the reluctance from the pharmaceutical industry to financially support antimicrobial research, this means that the need for novel antimicrobial compounds has never been greater. We have explored the therapeutic potential of NuriPep 1653 against clinically relevant pathogens and highlighted its appeal for the pharmaceutical sector given its limited propensity for inducing resistance, rapid kill kinetics, non-toxic nature, ability to reverse resistance and synergise with conventional antibiotic therapies. Moreover, NuriPep 1653 reduced the activation of pathways and cytokines associated with pro-inflammatory response indicating its abilities to modulate the host immune response. This vastly expands the therapeutic potential of the peptide. Overall, we were able to use a novel discovery approach to identify AMPs encrypted within phyto-proteins. Through PSH and NuriPep 1653, we hope to expand on the current knowledge related to protein hydrolysates and AMPs and inch closer to providing novel antimicrobial solutions across the food and pharmaceutical industries.
- Funding Agency
- Irish Research Council (IRC)
- Date From
- 2015
- Date To
- 2019
Recognition
Representations
ESCMID Database of Trusted Reviewers as Research Grant Reviewer of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
Awards and Honours
Provost's PhD Award, Trinity College Dublin
Society for General Microbiology Travel Grant
Newman Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Food Safety; Vétoquinol SA
Short Term Scientific Mission grant, COST scientific programme on Antibiotic Transport and Efflux: New Strategies to combat bacterial resistance (ATENS).
ASM Student and Post Doctoral Fellow Travel Grant.
PhD fellowship grant awarded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal.
Memberships
American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
Society for Applied Microbiology (sfam)
International Association for Food Protection (IAFP)
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)
Society for General Microbiology (SGM)