M. Martins

The SARS-CoV-2 Spike is a virulence determinant and plays a major role on the attenuated phenotype of Omicron virus in a feline model of infection

This study shows the Omicron BA.1 Spike protein reduces SARS-CoV-2 virulence in a feline model by impairing viral spread and causing less severe disease.

Development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals

This paper develops a monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals, achieving high sensitivity and specificity across multiple species.

Context-induced renewal of passive but not active coping behaviours in the shock-probe defensive burying task

This study investigates whether passive and active coping behaviors show renewal after extinction in a shock-probe defensive burying task, finding renewal in passive behaviors but not active ones.

A linear SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidate reduces virus shedding in ferrets

This study evaluates a linear SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine delivered via electroporation in ferrets, showing reduced virus shedding and immune responses.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) may serve as a wildlife reservoir for nearly extinct SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 infects and circulates in white-tailed deer, with multiple variants co-circulating long after they disappeared from humans.

Optical Control of Translation with a Puromycin-Photoswitch

This paper introduces puroswitch, a photoswitchable puromycin analog that optically controls translation and enables tracking of new protein synthesis.

The Omicron variant BA.1.1 presents a lower pathogenicity than B.1 D614G and Delta variants in a feline model of SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study shows that the Omicron BA.1.1 variant causes less severe disease, lower viral shedding, and reduced tissue replication compared to D614G and Delta variants in a feline model.

Interspecies isobaric labeling-based quantitative proteomics reveals protein changes in the ovary of Aedes aegypti co-infected with ZIKV and Wolbachia

This study uses quantitative proteomics to analyze protein changes in Ae. aegypti ovaries co-infected with ZIKV and Wolbachia, identifying immune and reproductive pathway alterations.

From Deer-to-Deer: SARS-CoV-2 is efficiently transmitted and presents broad tissue tropism and replication sites in white-tailed deer

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 efficiently transmits between white-tailed deer and replicates in multiple tissues, highlighting their potential as a reservoir for the virus.

Age-related susceptibility of ferrets to SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study investigates age-related differences in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in ferrets, finding that aged ferrets require lower infectious doses and show higher viral replication and expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2.

Susceptibility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to SARS-CoV-2

This study shows white-tailed deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, shedding virus in nasal secretions and transmitting it to contact animals.

Comprehensive quantitative proteome analysis of Aedes aegypti identifies proteins and pathways involved in Wolbachia pipientis and Zika virus interference phenomenon

This study uses proteomics to identify Wolbachia-regulated proteins and pathways that interfere with ZIKV infection in Aedes aegypti.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection And Longitudinal Fecal Screening In Malayan Tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni), Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), And African Lions (Panthera leo krugeri) At The Bronx Zoo, New York, USA

This paper reports the first known natural SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to animals in the USA, documenting clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and prolonged fecal RNA shedding in tigers and lions.

Behavioral thermal tolerance predicts distribution pattern but not habitat use in sympatric Neotropical frogs

This study compares thermal tolerance between two sympatric frog species and finds that differences in behavioral thermal tolerance correlate with distribution patterns but not habitat use.

Heterogeneous expression of Pil3 pilus is critical for Streptococcus gallolyticus translocation across polarized colonic epithelial monolayers

This paper shows that heterogeneous Pil3 pilus expression in Streptococcus gallolyticus enables translocation across intestinal epithelial barriers.

Structural and Biochemical Studies of Dihydrofolate Reductase from Streptococcus pyogenes as a Target for Antifolate Antibiotics

This study identifies potent DHFR inhibitors against S. pyogenes and determines its crystal structure to guide antifolate antibiotic development.

Computational fluid dynamic analysis reveals the underlying physical forces playing a role in 3D multiplex brain organoid cultures

The paper uses computational fluid dynamics to compare multiplex brain organoid culture systems and finds that steering plates match spinner flask shear stress parameters, improving organoid formation.