This work introduces the IST-Yeasts Culture Collection (IST-Yeasts CC) – a new biological resource assembled and preserved over the past few years by Isabel Sá-Correia‘s research group, with the key involvement of Madalena Matos and Mónica Fernandes, at the Biological Sciences Research Group, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Departamento de Bioengenharia, Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon). The collection is dedicated to non-conventional “blue” yeasts isolated from (micro)algae-associated environments in Portugal.

It currently holds 115 yeast strains, mostly from the phylum Basidiomycota (92%), with a strong representation of the genus Rhodotorula, alongside species from Cystobasidium, Vishniacozyma, Moesziomyces, Sporobolomyces, Naganishia, and Ascomycota members such as Meyerozyma, Yamadazyma, and Cyberlindnera.

Initial functional screening revealed that these strains can produce carotenoids, lipids, riboflavin, biosurfactants, bioemulsifiers, and auxins, as well as growing on a wide range of carbon sources.

These characteristics highlight their biotechnological potential within the circular bioeconomy and sustainable bioprocesses, positioning them as promising sources of bioactive natural products.

By providing access to a diverse collection of marine-associated yeasts, the IST-Yeasts CC supports the development of innovative solutions in marine biotechnology and marine drug discovery, including the design of more resilient and high-performance algal cultivation systems through targeted co-cultivation strategies.

This work was developed within the scope of the Pacto da Bioeconomia Azul, funded by Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the European Union – Next Generation EU

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13070807
Explore the yeast collection: https://blueyeastscc.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.

Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14061355

The researchers collected brine and sediment samples from hypersaline sites scattered across Eurasia through the salt lakes of Russia’s Kulunda Steppe, the marine salterns of Samouco in Portugal and Trapani in Italy, and the salt production fields of Nha Trang and Cam Ranh in Vietnam.

Using enrichment cultures, they went looking for organisms able to grow on hyaluronic acid as their sole source of carbon and energy: a glycosaminoglycan best known for its structural role in skin, joints and connective tissue, and prized by the cosmetics and biomedical industries.

They found it. The isolates that thrived on hyaluronic acid turned out to belong to new species within the genera Natronoarchaeum and Haloarcula, the first haloarchaea ever shown capable of using this compound as an energy source. It’s a small discovery with a big implication: even within one of biology’s most extensively studied groups of extremophiles, entire metabolic pathways were still waiting to be found, with potential relevance for biotechnological applications such as the biodegradation of hyaluronic-acid-based biopolymers.

The study is published in Frontiers in Microbiology: doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1846936

Using patient-derived brain organoids and an integrated multi-omics approach, the researchers mapped how changes in gene and protein expression unfold throughout early brain development. Their work revealed disruptions in key biological processes involved in neuronal development and communication, particularly in GABAergic signalling, while also identifying long non-coding RNAs and imprinted genes as potential contributors to RTT pathology.

By providing a detailed view of the molecular mechanisms underlying Rett syndrome, this study offers new clues into how the disorder develops and highlights promising avenues for future research into targeted therapies that could improve the lives of individuals affected by RTT.

Link to publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11689-026-09699-9 

What we did: Researchers Luís C. de Sousa and Carla C. C. R. de Carvalho (2BRG), within the EU-funded FuturEnzyme project, demonstrated a greener alternative. Using lipase enzymes produced by project partners and real polyamide-with-elastane textiles supplied by an industrial partner, the team developed both the biocatalytic hydrolysis step and the accompanying washing process.

The outcome that matters: Enzymatic treatment paired with optimized washing conditions removed spin finishes with performance comparable to existing solvent-based methods, proving that a biological process can match the industry standard while offering a cleaner profile.

Why it’s significant:

• Environmental impact: Replacing solvents with enzymes points toward lower-toxicity, more sustainable textile processing.
• Industrial relevance: Validation on commercial materials and conditions, not just lab samples, shortens the path to real-world adoption.
• Collaborative value: A working pipeline spanning enzyme producers, academic researchers, and industrial partners shows the FuturEnzyme model delivering applied results.

The bigger picture: This work moves enzyme-based textile cleaning from concept to credible competitor, supporting the textile sector’s transition toward more sustainable, bio-based manufacturing.

Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/textiles6020056

What’s inside the presentation

• Overview of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships programme
• Why choose iBB as your host research centre
• Available research groups and supervisors
• Application process
• How to get in touch with us

View hosting opportunities @iBB

Ready to apply?

If you are considering iBB as your host for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, submit your Expression of Interest to let us know about your research interests and potential supervisors.

Submit your Expression of Interest

Application deadline: 15 June 2026 </]

Contact: pre-award@ist-id.pt

Learn more about MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships: Official EU page

For decades, we’ve understood proteins through a simple logic: sequence → structure → function.
But not all proteins follow the rules.

A new study published in Nature Methods challenges this view by focusing on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), proteins that don’t settle into a single structure, but constantly shift between many. Elusive, dynamic and deeply involved in processes like cell regulation, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The work, “Towards a Unified Framework for Determining Conformational Ensembles of Disordered Proteins,” brings together researchers from Europe and the US, including Ana M. Melo affiliated with Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences

Ana Melo applies single-molecule FRET (smFRET), a technique that tracks how individual protein molecules change shape in real time. Not averages. Not snapshots. But motion, as it happens. This capability is rare. The smFRET instrumentation available at Técnico is unique in Portugal, placing it among a small number of laboratories in Europe able to probe protein dynamics at this level.

By combining experimental approaches like smFRET with computational modelling, the study proposes a unified way to describe these constantly shifting proteins.

Because when structure is no longer fixed, biology becomes less predictable.
And understanding that complexity is where the next breakthroughs will come from.

Researchers from iBB,  Luís C. de Sousa and Carla C. C. R. de Carvalho, developed a new analytical approach combining methylation and silylation to evaluate how effectively lipases act on textile materials.

Crucially, the approach was applied directly to textile substrates, including materials relevant to industrial settings such as spin-finished fabrics and stained textiles. This enabled the evaluation of enzyme performance under application-relevant conditions.

The results show that relying on a single method can overlook important aspects of enzyme activity. In contrast, combining methylation and silylation provides a more complete understanding of both fatty compound removal and enzymatic action.

By enabling the direct assessment of enzymes on textile materials, this work offers a practical tool to support the selection and optimisation of lipases for industrial processes, including more efficient detergent formulations.

Link to publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589014X2600157X

BIO4PAK combines interdisciplinary research in polymer science, microbiology, biotechnology, and materials engineering to create intelligent packaging that not only protects food but also offers environmental benefits and circularity throughout its lifecycle. A notable focus of the project is the development of phage-based antimicrobial coatings using an innovative PhagTec delivery system designed to trigger antimicrobial action in the presence of specific bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria, reducing contamination and improving shelf life.

Participating researchers from IST‑ID Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico and iBB including Nuno P. Mira, Ana Azevedo, and Jorge H. Leitão, contribute to the project’s scientific development, focusing on nature-inspired, biodegradable materials suited for practical use in the food industry. According to the Instituto Superior Técnico, the aim is to develop packaging that goes beyond passive containment to act as a “sentinel” material, responding functionally when biological threats are detected.

The international consortium also includes University of Gdansk, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology, and Hasselt University, uniting expertise in agriculture, industry, regulatory frameworks, life-cycle assessment, and advanced materials.

The project’s kick-off meeting, held on 15–16 January, marked the official start of collaborative activities and strategic planning among partners. BIO4PAK also explores synergies within the EIC Circular Bio‑based Plastics Portfolio, underscoring the importance of cooperation to accelerate the transition to sustainable and circular food packaging solutions.