Weighing an average of 1.3 kilograms, the human brain is a marvel of nature. Our brain has evolved to provide us with amazing sensory, emotional, memory and cognitive abilities. From an evolutionary perspective, it has even been argued that the most critical changes imposed on the human brain are directly linked to refinements in the “social brain”. Mammals use several brain regions to fully process and respond to social environments – from the senses, to memory of others and emotional centers, many regions are needed for the expression of social behaviors. As a consequence of this complexity, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders share impairments in social behaviors.
Our research aims to understand at the molecular, cellular and circuit levels, how genetics, environment and gene-environment interactions control neuronal circuit function in health and disease, with a specific focus on neurodevelopmental disorders and social behaviors. To achieve this goal, we use a combination of molecular genetics, behavior, electrophysiology and optogenetics techniques. Specifically, we develop both mouse and human cell-based models of disease to understand both the genetic and environmental components of neurodevelopmental diseases, with a special focus on the mechanisms that underlie behaviors reminiscent of these conditions.
Information about journal articles, updated at 19-03-2023, from platform CIÊNCIAVITAE.
Abnormal mGluR-mediated synaptic plasticity and autism-like behaviours in Gprasp2 mutant mice
Edfawy, Mohamed; Guedes, Joana R.; Pereira, Marta I.; Laranjo, Mariana; Carvalho, Mário J.; Gao, Xian; Ferreira, Pedro A.; et al, 2019. Nature Communications. 1. 10. 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9 . 10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9 . Nature Communications
Distinct subnetworks of the thalamic reticular nucleus
Li, Yinqing; Lopez-Huerta, Violeta G.; Adiconis, Xian; Levandowski, Kirsten; Choi, Soonwook; Simmons, Sean K.; Arias-Garcia, Mario A.; et al, 2020. Nature. 819 - 824. 7818. 583. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5 . 10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5 . Nature
Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviours and striatal dysfunction
Peça, J.; Feliciano, C.; Ting, J.T.; Wang, W.; Wells, M.F.; Venkatraman, T.N.; Lascola, C.D.; Fu, Z.; Feng, G., 2011. Nature. 437 - 442. 7344. 472. 2011. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79955536349&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1038/nature09965 . Nature
miRNA-31 Improves Cognition and Abolishes Amyloid-ß Pathology by Targeting APP and BACE1 in an Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Barros-Viegas, Ana Teresa; Carmona, Vítor; Ferreiro, Elisabete; Guedes, Joana; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Cunha, Pedro; Pereira de Almeida, Luís; et al, 2020. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids. 1219 - 1236. 19. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010 . 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010 . Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids
Information about journal articles, updated at 19-03-2023, from platform CIÊNCIAVITAE.
Attenuation of Autism-like Behaviors by an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract from Portuguese Blueberries via Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis Modulation in a Valproic Acid Mouse Model
João Peça; Diana Serra; Joana Henriques; Fábio J. Sousa; Mariana Laranjo; Rosa Resende; Ferreira-Marques, M.; et al, 2022. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 9259 - 9259. 16. 23. 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169259 . 10.3390/ijms23169259 . International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Generation and Characterization of Novel iPSC Lines from a Portuguese Family Bearing Heterozygous and Homozygous GRN Mutations
Ana Rafaela Oliveira; Solange Martins; Giuseppe Cammarata; Mariana Martins; Ana Maria Cardoso; Maria Rosário Almeida; Maria do Carmo Macário; et al, 2022. Biomedicines. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10081905 . 10.3390/biomedicines10081905 . Biomedicines
Efficient spatially targeted gene editing using a near-infrared activatable protein-conjugated nanoparticle for brain applications
Rebelo, Catarina; Reis, Tiago; Guedes, Joana; Saraiva, Cláudia; Rodrigues, Artur Filipe; Simões, Susana; Bernardino, Liliana; et al, 2022. Nature Communications. 1. 13. 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31791-6 . 10.1038/s41467-022-31791-6 . Nature Communications
Aberrant hippocampal transmission and behavior in mice with a stargazin mutation linked to intellectual disability
Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Inácio, Ângela; Beltrão, Nuno; Barreto, Carlos A. V.; Ventura Rodrigues, Marina; Rondão, Tiago; Macedo, Renato; et al, 2022. Molecular Psychiatry. 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01487-w . published Molecular Psychiatry
Microglia-dependent remodeling of neuronal circuits
Joana R. Guedes; Pedro A. Ferreira; Jéssica M. Costa; Ana L. Cardoso; João Peça, 2022. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15689 . 10.1111/jnc.15689 . Journal of Neurochemistry
The old guard: Age-related changes in microglia and their consequences
Jéssica Costa; Solange Martins; Pedro A. Ferreira; Ana M.S. Cardoso; Joana R. Guedes; João Peça; Ana L. Cardoso, 2021. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. 111512 - 111512. 197. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2021.111512 . 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111512 . Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
Regeneration of pulp-dentin complex using human stem cells of the apical papilla: in vivo interaction with two bioactive materials
Sequeira, Diana B.; Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Seabra, Catarina M.; Palma, Paulo J.; Ramos, Carlos; Figueiredo, Maria H.; Santos, Ana C.; et al, 2021. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-03840-9 . 10.1007/s00784-021-03840-9 . Clinical Oral Investigations
Ligand-independent activity of the ghrelin receptor modulates AMPA receptor trafficking and supports memory formation
Ribeiro, Luís F.; Catarino, Tatiana; Carvalho, Mário; Cortes, Luísa; Santos, Sandra D.; Opazo, Patricio O.; Ribeiro, Lyn Rosenbrier; et al, 2021. Science Signaling. 670. 14. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.abb1953 . 10.1126/scisignal.abb1953 . Science Signaling
Social subordination induced by early life adversity rewires inhibitory control of the prefrontal cortex via enhanced Npy1r signaling
Franco, Lara O.; Carvalho, Mário J.; Costa, Jéssica; Ferreira, Pedro A.; Guedes, Joana R.; Sousa, Renato; Edfawy, Mohamed; et al, 2020. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1438 - 1447. 9. 45. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0727-7 . 10.1038/s41386-020-0727-7 . Neuropsychopharmacology
Distinct subnetworks of the thalamic reticular nucleus
Li, Yinqing; Lopez-Huerta, Violeta G.; Adiconis, Xian; Levandowski, Kirsten; Choi, Soonwook; Simmons, Sean K.; Arias-Garcia, Mario A.; et al, 2020. Nature. 819 - 824. 7818. 583. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5 . 10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5 . Nature
miRNA-31 Improves Cognition and Abolishes Amyloid-ß Pathology by Targeting APP and BACE1 in an Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Barros-Viegas, Ana Teresa; Carmona, Vítor; Ferreiro, Elisabete; Guedes, Joana; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Cunha, Pedro; Pereira de Almeida, Luís; et al, 2020. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids. 1219 - 1236. 19. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010 . 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010 . Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids
New insights on synaptic dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders
Lima Caldeira, Gladys; Peça, João; Carvalho, Ana Luísa, 2019. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 62 - 70. 57. 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2019.01.004 . 10.1016/j.conb.2019.01.004 . Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Abnormal mGluR-mediated synaptic plasticity and autism-like behaviours in Gprasp2 mutant mice
Edfawy, Mohamed; Guedes, Joana R.; Pereira, Marta I.; Laranjo, Mariana; Carvalho, Mário J.; Gao, Xian; Ferreira, Pedro A.; et al, 2019. Nature Communications. 1. 10. 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9 . 10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9 . Nature Communications
Effects of a New Bioceramic Material on Human Apical Papilla Cells
Sequeira, Diana; Seabra, Catarina; Palma, Paulo; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João; Santos, João, 2018. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 4. 9. 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jfb9040074 . 10.3390/jfb9040074 . Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Blue light potentiates neurogenesis induced by retinoic acid-loaded responsive nanoparticles
Santos, Tiago; Ferreira, Raquel; Quartin, Emanuel; Boto, Carlos; Saraiva, Cláudia; Bragança, José; Peça, João; et al, 2017. Acta Biomaterialia. 293 - 302. 59. 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2017.06.044 . 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.06.044 . published Acta Biomaterialia
Functional Consequences of Mutations in Postsynaptic Scaffolding Proteins and Relevance to Psychiatric Disorders
Ting, Jonathan T.*; Peça, João*; Feng, Guoping, 2012. Annual Review of Neuroscience. 49 - 71. 1. 35. 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150442 . 10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150442 . Annual Review of Neuroscience
Cellular and synaptic network defects in autism
Peça, J.; Feng, G., 2012. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 866 - 872. 5. 22. 2012. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84867426528&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1016/j.conb.2012.02.015 . Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviours and striatal dysfunction
Peça, J.; Feliciano, C.; Ting, J.T.; Wang, W.; Wells, M.F.; Venkatraman, T.N.; Lascola, C.D.; Fu, Z.; Feng, G., 2011. Nature. 437 - 442. 7344. 472. 2011. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79955536349&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1038/nature09965 . Nature
Neuroscience: When lights take the circuits out
Peça, J.; Feng, G., 2011. Nature. 165 - 166. 7363. 477. 2011. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-80052602669&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1038/477165a . Nature
SnapShot: Autism and the synapse
Peça, J.; Ting, J.; Feng, G., 2011. Cell. 3. 147. 2011. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84855174133&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.015 . Cell
Using Light to Reinstate Respiratory Plasticity
Arenkiel, Benjamin R.; Peça, João, 2009. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1695 - 1698. 4. 101. 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00009.2009 . 10.1152/jn.00009.2009 . Journal of Neurophysiology
Cortico-striatal synaptic defects and OCD-like behaviours in Sapap3-mutant mice
Welch, Jeffrey M.; Lu, Jing; Rodriguiz, Ramona M.; Trotta, Nicholas C.; Peca, Joao; Ding, Jin-Dong; Feliciano, Catia; et al, 2007. Nature. 894 - 900. 7156. 448. 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature06104 . 10.1038/nature06104 . Nature
High-speed mapping of synaptic connectivity using photostimulation in Channelrhodopsin-2 transgenic mice
Wang, H.*; Peca, J.*; Matsuzaki, M.*; Matsuzaki, K.; Noguchi, J.; Qiu, L.; Wang, D.; et al, 2007. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 8143 - 8148. 19. 104. 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0700384104 . 10.1073/pnas.0700384104 . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
In Vivo Light-Induced Activation of Neural Circuitry in Transgenic Mice Expressing Channelrhodopsin-2
Arenkiel, Benjamin R.; Peca, Joao; Davison, Ian G.; Feliciano, Catia; Deisseroth, Karl; Augustine, George J.; Ehlers, Michael D.; Feng, Guoping, 2007. Neuron. 205 - 218. 2. 54. 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.03.005 . 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.03.005 . published Neuron
5 24 out of 24 Publications
Syn2Psy - Synaptic Dysfunction in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
2019-03-01
Does healthy microglia rescue neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction in human cerebral organoids with FTLD-associated mutations?
2021-03-31
ProTeAN - Production and Testing of Human Neurons and Brain Organoids
2018-05-07
Pfizer Prize - Basic Science
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