João M. P. Alves

This study quantitatively characterizes the kinetic parameters and substrate specificity of the NADPH-dependent 17α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase encoded by the desF gene in Clostridium scindens VPI 12708, revealing its role in epitestosterone formation.

This study identifies a bacterial pathway for androgen production, showing that gut and urinary bacteria can convert androstenedione to epitestosterone and testosterone, which promote prostate cancer growth.

This study analyzes the pangenome of 34 C. scindens strains and 200 MAGs to understand genetic variability and functional roles in bile acid and steroid metabolism.